TL;DR: Remember to offer in-person, live, virtual, and recorded access to events so everyone has access. Make sure your school website is up to date. Consider the use of video messages as a form of communication. Consider different modalities of communication and participation for families and the community to get involved with the school. Every beginning to a new school … Read More
Welcome Forward! Creating an Engaging First Day of School
TL;DR: Plan your first day of school so that students (and staff) are excited for day two. Increase engagement and excitement on the first day of school with chalk the walk, photo ops, pep rallies, and music & competition. Although some of you may have already returned to school, we’re gearing up for the 2021-2022 school year on the East … Read More
Welcoming Staff Back to the Building
TL;DR: Be mindful as you plan for return to school team-building activities. Consider your staff’s comfort level. You can survey staff prior to the start of the school year. In this post, you will learn some suggestions on how to build school culture at the beginning of the year. As I write this blog post, many districts where I live … Read More
Developing School Culture No Matter Who You Are
TL;DR: When hiring new staff, consider those who move your vision forward. Non-teaching staff members (counselors, librarians, paraprofessionals, custodians, etc.) play a big role in developing school culture. Parents and community members are vital to the building of school culture. My assistant principal is involved in a book study for a book that is based on the premise that you … Read More