IDEA EXCHANGE
One of the most powerful aspects of Jostens Renaissance® is the collection of great ideas shared by schools like yours. Ideas are compiled here and sorted by the foundational elements of a successful Renaissance program. Browse the library to find new ideas that suit your Jostens Renaissance needs and login to download a step by step guide to try these ideas at your school!
Recognize your staff’s tireless work efforts with the Tireless Staff Award. School type: Elementary, Middle School, High School Activity goal: Awarded to a staff member who […]
Welcome students as they arrive on the first day of school with applause and cheers from the school staff. School type: Elementary, Middle School, High School […]
Motivate seniors during their final year of school and prevent them from crashing and burning academically. School Type: High School Activity goal: Motivate seniors to finish […]
A formal ceremony that, allows school staff to recognize outstanding students for reasons such as hard work, leadership or any criteria they choose. School Type: Middle […]
The goal of the Staffulty Wall Signing is to help welcome new Staffulty to your school, and to show our commitment as Staffulty to students, parents, […]
Students are often the first to know when another student is having a rough day or could use a little extra attention. These cards give them […]
Provide an opportunity for seniors, alumni and community members to leave a legacy. By creating an engraved brick wall or walk way. People can buy bricks […]
Teachers recognize students all day every day, but often don’t receive much recognition themselves. Make it easy for students and other Staffulty to show appreciation for […]
Parents and other adult volunteers are critical to making your school’s activities run smoothly. Be sure to show them how much you appreciate their donations of […]
Signing a piece of paper makes any commitment seem more real. Reinforce your Commitment to Graduate® efforts by having students and their adult supporters sign these […]
Encourage new students to get to know the adults in your school by having conversations about an interesting aspect of their lives. School type: Middle School and High […]
A great way to recognize students for having good attendance, making progress in the classroom, or for completing assignments on time. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Recognize […]
New students need a little extra time to find their way around the school and understand expectations. These cards are an easy way to show them […]
Create a connection between athletics and academics by rewarding the varsity team with the highest in-season GPA. School type: High School Activity goal:Create a strong connection between […]
It is important to thank everyone in your building for what they do. Here is a fun way to recognize the custodial staff in your school. […]
Recognize the cafeteria staff throughout the year by creating a bulletin board that celebrates who they are and all they do for their school community. School […]
Build classroom community by writing an encouraging message to students on the day of an important test or presentation they have been working hard on. School […]
Celebrate staffulty birthdays Jostens Renaissance-style by using the birthday ambush. School type: High School Activity goal:Recognize staffulty birthdays Submitted by: Jostens Renaissance Education
Put together packets filled with supplies that will help students prepare and perform well on state exams or other tests. School type: Elementary School, Middle School, High […]
Inspire students to consider the benefits of graduation in a fun and engaging way that’s also backed up by hard facts. School type: Middle School, High School […]
Use these notepads to write fun notes to teachers, to show you appreciate what they do with students every day. School type: Elementary School, Middle School, High […]
An “at-your-fingertips” message notepad that makes it easy and convenient for teachers to quickly express appreciation and encouragement to a student at a moment’s notice. School […]
Create a committee in your school that is in charge of decorating the school and making it look great. School type: Middle School, High School Activity goal: […]
Deliver your school’s “Teacher of the Year” award in an exciting and memorable way. School type: Elementary School, Middle School, High School Activity goal:Recognize the excellent work […]
Clean up the entrance to your school and make it welcoming so you can give a great first impression. School type: Elementary School, Middle School, High School […]
Provide special lunch seating and perks for students who earn it. School type: Elementary School, Middle School, High School Activity goal: Reward students for positive actions. Submitted by: […]
Tell a joke during morning announcements to set a positive tone for the rest of the day. School type: Elementary School, Middle School, High School Activity goal: Start […]
A great way to recognize members from each department of your staffulty throughout the school year. School type: Elementary, Middle School, High School Activity goal: Recognize a […]
Create a positive vibe to kick off the day. Have students and staff at each door giving Hi Fives to everyone who enters. School type: K-12 […]
Students pay $1 to get out of class to participate in a gym event. School type: Middle School or High School Activity goal: Fundraising and fun Submitted […]
Create a feeling of belonging to the school community in the new class of students by having a pinning ceremony. School type: High School Activity goal: Welcome […]
Increase homework completion and recognize students who consistently turn in their homework with a prize incentive program. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Increase homework completion Submitted by: […]
Celebrate students that are continuing their education by having a college signing event. School type: High School Activity goal: Recognize the achievements and commitments of students […]
Have a rally for parents and their students to get them involved in the school community. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Involve parents in the school […]
Provide food for certain support staff members to show that you appreciate their hard work. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Show appreciation for the support staff […]
Provide personal and public recognition of character qualities you want to encourage in students. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Recognize more students with different strengths Submitted by: Jostens […]
Place these clings in various locations around the school as a visual reminder to keep a positive attitude and share it with others through compliments and […]
Establish a “Staffulty All-Star” or “Student All-Star” recognition and provide this pennant as a visible award. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Recognize staffulty or students with a […]
Allow graduating seniors to give an honorary diploma to any teacher or staff member throughout their school experience who has made an impact and helped them […]
Make it easy for students to write a meaningful message of thanks to an adult who made a difference, or for faculty and staff to express […]
Bring a splash of color and inspiration to your stairways. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Brighten up your school with inspirational expressions Submitted by: Jostens Renaissance Education […]
A fun ceremony that celebrates the accomplishments of the graduating class and the advancement of underclassmen from one grade to the next. School type: Elementary School, Middle […]
Have a competition among staffulty to decorate the bulletin boards to create a better school aesthetic. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Decorate the school and foster […]
Recognize the theatre programs in your district or region with an award’s ceremony. School type: 6-12 Activity goal: Provide recognition for theatre programs Submitted by: Robinson Secondary […]
Set the tone of your school as a welcoming, fun place where everyone belongs. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Welcome students to campus with positive messages […]
A great way to display your positive culture in the hallways School type: K-12 Activity goal: Show your students some recognition easily and inexpensively Submitted by: Jostens […]
Recognize your graduating seniors and their postsecondary plans! School type: 9-12 Activity goal: Promote and encourage postsecondary opportunities Submitted by: Andrea Henry
Recognize and thank your school board for their contributions to making your school a better place. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Provide recognition and thanks to your […]
Add color, life, and pride to your school. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Create a fun, colorful atmosphere in your school. Submitted by: Tara Campbell
Add color and life inside your building School type: K-12 Activity goal: Create a colorful environment inside your school Submitted by: Tara Campbell
Recognize your graduating seniors as they are accepted to postsecondary opportunities School type: 9-12 Activity goal: Encourage and promote postsecondary opportunities Submitted by: Sunrise Mountain High School
Recognize students that graduate from your high school and serve in the military. School type: High School Activity goal: Recognize graduates that serve in the military. Submitted by: Tara […]
Recognize students for achieving the honor roll (or other selected criteria) School type: K-12 Activity goal: Provide recognition and ownership in your school Submitted by: J.W. Wiseman Elementary […]
Add some fun to your staffulty meeting! School type: K-12 Activity goal: Add fun and excitement to your staffulty meeting Submitted by: Dwight Carter
Brand your school with the ultimate goal in mind: GRADUATION!!! School type: K-12 Activity goal: Keep your school’s ultimate goal in front of your students and staffulty […]
Brand your building with the ultimate goal in mind: graduation! School type: K-12 Activity goal: Create constant reminders of our ultimate purpose for our students and staffulty […]
Recognize various staffulty members throughout the school year. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Provide recognition to staffulty members throughout the school year. Submitted by: Tara Campbell
Add fun and life outside on your campus! School type: K-12 Activity goal: Create a fun and uplifting tone outside on your campus Submitted by: Tara Campbell
Increase school pride with entrance signs on your campus School type: K-12 Activity goal: Increase school pride Submitted by: Tara Campbell
Display and promote the future plans of your senior class. School type: 9-12 Activity goal: Encourage students to pursure post-secondary opportunities Submitted by: Tara Campbell
Raise funds for your renaissance program and create community involvement simultaneously. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Raise funds and build community involvement Submitted by: Tara Campbell
Entertain, excite, and involve your student body with renaissance School type: K-12 Activity goal: Recognize and reward students during a renaissance rally Submitted by: Andrea Henry
Promote kindness on a school-wide level School type: K-12 Activity goal: Spread kindness throughout your school building Submitted by: Joanna Schley
Help students learn how easy it is to be generous. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Teach students simple ways that they can be generous Submitted by: Joanna Schley
Help students learn how to grow into their greatness. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Help students learn how to attain greatness Submitted by: Joanna Schley
Build teamwork and camaraderie with your staffulty. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Build teamwork and unity with your staffulty in a setting outside your school building. Submitted […]
Add some energy and fun to a rainy day. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Set a positive tone on a rainy day Submitted by: Steve Bollar
Help students learn about people that have overcome the odds to achieve success. School type: 6-12 Activity goal: Inspire students to never give up Submitted by: Samantha Grimes
Help students learn about service opportunities within your school. School type: 6-12 Activity goal: Expose students to service opportunities in your school Submitted by: Samantha Grimes
Help your students learn how to be more kind to one another. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Create more acts of kindness Submitted by: Samantha Grimes
Help your students overcome challenges and obstacles they face. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Aid students in overcoming challenges Submitted by: Samantha Grimes
Encourage your students to finish the semester and/or school year in a strong way. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Help students get “over the hump” at the […]
Recognize students that overcome adversity to excel in academics and citizenship School type: K-12 Activity goal: Recognize students that have overcome adversity to excel in your school […]
Recognize ALL of your staffulty members throughout the school year! School type: K-12 Activity goal: Recognize all staffulty members with a prize at some point during the […]
Help your students celebrate the end of the semester or school year with a movie night School type: 9-12 Activity goal: Host a fun, safe event for students […]
Teach students the power of forgiveness. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Teach students how to forgive people for their wrongdoings. Submitted by: Samantha Grimes
Create a sense of hope in your students for a better future. School type: 6-12 Activity goal: Help your students set realistic and attainable goals for their futures […]
Teach students how to manage healthy and unhealthy relationships. School type: 6-12 Activity goal: Aid students in developing and nurturing more healthy relationships in their lives Submitted by: Samantha […]
Encourage students to become more environmentally aware. School type: 6-12 Activity goal: Teach students how to be more aware of the environment around them Submitted by: Samantha Grimes
Teach your kids how to use “pressure” in a positive way. School type: 6-12 Activity goal: Teach students how to use pressure in a positive manner. Submitted by: Samantha […]
An activity to help your staff and faculty ensure all students feel connected. School type: MS, HS Activity goal: Identify your “invisible” students so you can ensure all […]
Invoke students to think about the legacy they will create for themselves. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Creating a positive legacy Submitted by: Samantha Grimes
A great way to recognize students and staffulty during their birthday month. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Provide recogntion for all students and staffulty members. Submitted by: Tara […]
A great way to encourage and promote postsecondary opportunities. School type: High School Activity goal: Promote learning institutions beyond high school. Submitted by: Tara Campbell, Portland High School, Portland, […]
A great way to honor and recognize a very special group of students in your building. School type: High School Activity goal: Inclusion of All Students Submitted by: Tara […]
A special way to honor and recognize the retiring members of your staffulty. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Schoolwide recognition for your retiring staffulty members for their […]
Set a positive tone at your staff meetings by getting things started with a monthly inspirational staff moment. School type: HS Activity goal: A way to help your […]
Just as you would give recognition to your students and staffulty, give it to members of the School Board. School type: K-12 Activity goal: To recognize School […]
Catch your students doing the things you want them to do. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Encourage positive behavior Submitted by: Carol Trott, Oxford Intermediate School Buy tokens […]
Set a positive tone at your staff meetings by getting things started with a monthly inspirational staff moment. School type: HS Activity goal: Remind Sophomores that their Commitment to […]
Give students positive one-on-one time with administrators and reward them for good behavior. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Recognize positive behavior by surprising your students with […]
This visual reminder of students’ commitment to graduate will also help display the “look of Renaissance” School type: K-12 Activity goal: To create a visual reminder of […]
There are different Commitment to Graduate activities for each high school year. This activity is generally done with 10th graders and helps them focus on their […]
The first episode of The Harbor discusses judgement, and the dangers of it. This activity will allow students to make flash judgements themselves and see how […]
Finding a relevant voice to teach character development is not always easy. The Harbor by Jostens builds character in the classroom and positive culture on campus. […]
Host a Homecoming Bonfire to build a community and raise funds for Renaissance activities. School type: High School Activity goal: 1. Fundraising for Renaissance program 2. Create […]
Submitted by: Jostens Renaissance Education Renaissance Rallies are a great way to celebrate all of the positive behaviors you look for in your students. Celebrate great grades, improving […]
Submitted by: Jostens Renaissance Education Renaissance Rallies are a great way to celebrate all of the positive behaviors you look for in your students. Celebrate great grades, improving […]
Submitted by: Jostens Renaissance Education Renaissance Rallies are a great way to celebrate all of the positive behaviors you look for in your students. Celebrate great grades, improving […]
Submitted by: Jostens Renaissance Education Renaissance Rallies are a great way to celebrate all of the positive behaviors you look for in your students. Celebrate great grades, improving […]
An opportunity for students to give thanks to all stakeholders in the building. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Give thanks, practice writing Submitted by: Steve Bollar
Encourage your students to give teachers a pat on the back during American Education Week in November by nominating their favorite staffulty members. School type: K-12 […]
Set a positive tone at your staff meetings by getting things started with a monthly inspirational staff moment. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Set positive tone […]
An opportunity to give thanks to all stakeholders in the building and for students and staffulty to give thanks to those who are deserving within the building. […]
For the past five years, Grant Union High School has recognized and rewarded staffulty members with perfect attendance for the entire school year at our Staffulty Rally […]
In many schools, staff can nominate one student for “student of the month” recognition. This idea is to expand the criteria so that staff can nominate as […]
READ AN ARTICLE FROM MONROVIA HIGH SCHOOL ABOUT “SIGN ON THE LINE” The SIGN ON THE LINE ceremony is an academic play off of when high […]
An ongoing program that makes it easy to reward students on the spot. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Encourage positive behavior Submitted by: Mary Allen, Yakima, WA
This is an activity that all students can participate in, whether they are 4.0 or .5 GPA students. It is called BUG, which stands for Bring […]
Recognize your students quarterly with a special breakfast with the principal, vice principals and school leaders. School type: Middle School, High School Activity goal: Encourage positive behavior Submitted […]
Renaissance Rallies are a great way to celebrate all of the positive behaviors you look for in your students. Celebrate great grades, improving grades, athletic achievement, […]
This idea is for Test Care Packages that Renaissance students can sell during lunch to any student that wants to give a little motivation to a […]
Empower students and staff by turning name calling into something positive. School type: Elementary School Activity goal: Encourage positive behavior Submitted by: Tina Dietrich, Fountain Woods Elementary, NJ
A great way to get all students to care about their attendance. Because it matters! School type: Middle School, High School Activity goal: Improve attendance Submitted by: Alison Kramer, Bellefonte […]
A good example of a creative reward for good behavior: VIP, home-style seating at varsity games. School type: High School Activity goal: Encourage positive behavior Submitted by: […]
Give students Attendance Bucks for good attendance. Allow them to use those bucks to enter a drawing for various prizes. For even more fun, allow teachers […]
A special ceremony for students to make a commitment to scholarship and high school graduation. School type: High School Activity goal: Commitment to scholarship and graduating from high […]
A large landscape boulder created as the C2G Rock – a visual. This idea is great to do during the summer or at a break for […]
“When people come into our lobby and see it for the first time, they are drawn toward it. If they do not have children in our […]
Create suspense and anticipation by spacing out each part of this project without giving away its goal until complete. This project is a little more expensive […]
Encourage kindness and compassion with a “Give Me a Hand” wall. School type: Elementary School Activity goal: Encourage kindness and compassion Submitted by: John McCullar, AL […]
Reinforce good behavior while creating visual reminders for other students by giving bracelets for good behavior. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Reinforce acts of good character […]
This idea hits a lot of goals at once—community relationships, inspiration for current students, and a way to create a “Look of Renaissance” for your school. […]
Invite your incoming 8th graders (or highest level grade) to a special workshop designed to help them be good leaders as they begin their final year […]
Raise money, visibility and give your staffulty a perk, too! One school raised close to $500! School type: K-12 Activity goal: Create visibility for the Renaissance […]
One of the most successful fundraising ideas we’ve seen. Some schools have made between $3,000-$6,000 over Halloween. School type: High School Activity goal: Fundraising Submitted by: […]
It’s not always easy to know where to start, but educators have been using Renaissance ideals for decades. The following are some great tips to keep […]
As you get your Renaissance Card program started, you will need to have some great prizes to reward the students who are doing the right thing […]
As you develop your Renaissance program, you will want to engage more staffulty, as well as community members. Here is a program that tends to be […]
A good early step in starting Renaissance at your school is to form a Renaissance Committee. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Create a committee for Renaissance […]
Introduce students to a typical Renaissance event at the beginning of the year with this easy event that can be scaled to accommodate the entire school. […]
Challenge a few “celebrity” contestants to a round of “Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader” for little or no cost while charging admission at the […]