May 4, 2010 / Staff Fun

Take a break in May and celebrate

Written by Elizabeth Braden, CJE

Since school will be ending soon, it is time to start cleaning the classroom, checking equipment for repairs and replenishing supplies, even if you are a fall delivery book.

Whether your staff has worked hard this year or is still working hard, an occasional break can make work go faster and smoother.

One event you should be planning now, if you haven’t started, is the yearend banquet or awards ceremony. Schedule this for a special evening and invite parents, administrators and others who helped the staff throughout the year. Have attire be business or even semi-formal. Plan a dinner, catered or potluck, and give out awards and announce scholarships. Such an event is a nice way to acknowledge the staff’s work this year.

For smaller diversions, here are a few days to celebrate if you want a theme to your amusement.

  • May is National Hamburger Month. Have a cookout featuring hamburgers and this year’s and next year’s staff members.
  • May is Teacher Appreciation Month, with National Teacher Day on May 4 this year. Have your staff honor teachers they have appreciated this year with cards or cookies.
  • World Laughter Day is May 7. Read to the staff from a joke book.
  • National School Nurse Day is May 8. She also may like a card or cookies to acknowledge all of the TLC she gives to students.
  • Have car races with Matchbox cars or radio-controlled cars in honor of the annual Indianapolis 500.
  • International Pickle Week is the last week in May. Have your staff bring in several varieties.
  • National Etiquette Week is the fourth week of May. Discuss manners, anything from cell phone etiquette to “please and thank you.” Have students discuss pet peeves they have about ill-mannered behavior, and the manner rule to correct it.

One Response to “Take a break in May and celebrate”

May 04, 2010 at 9:31 am, yearbookforever said:

Take a break in May and celebrate http://goo.gl/fb/znuu6

This comment was originally posted on Twitter

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Elizabeth Braden, CJE

Elizabeth Braden, CJE, is the former editor of Idea File magazine. Before retiring, she was a copywriter for Walsworth Yearbooks for more than 15 years, writing articles for various marketing materials, and proofreading copy for the Yearbook and Commercial divisions. Her career included reporting and editing for United Press International and editing for Knight-Ridder Financial News. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Media News from the University of Tulsa.