SCHOOL CULTURE IDEAS

Feature the talents and school pride within your students with disabilities by creating a relaxed cheer team of their own called The Sparkle Squad! School Type:…

Bring students and your wider community together to celebrate gratitude and service. Feast of Thanks gives students the opportunity to share a meal, connect and recognize…

Encourage future students to participate in Homecoming the next year by creating special initiations with important information. School Type: High school Activity Goal: Increase homecoming participation…

Say goodbye to the Monday blues and hello to good vibes! Move-It Monday is a way of kicking off the week with energy and excitement. As…

Spread smiles throughout the student body on your campus through Winter Wishes, a special day before winter break where your leadership crew grants wishes to students…

Increase student voice and participation by holding a tournament style vote for what movie to watch at a school Halloween celebration. School Type: High school, middle…

This idea will feel familiar to those who remember the days of Top 100 radio. Stations would often have a contest in which caller number 10…

Celebrate Spread the Love Day by recognizing the unique qualities that make each person special. Students and Staffulty™ (staff + faculty) are encouraged to spot strengths…

This inclusive freshman orientation is designed to help incoming students succeed from day one. Listen to Principal Lizzie Herring detail her school’s student-led orientation day from…

Make learning about Staffulty a reward by creating Staffulty Trading Cards! School Type: Elementary school, Middle School, High School (1-12) Activity Goal: Boost Climate and Culture and…

Make a difference in your city while teaching empathy and respect to your students by teaming up with a senior citizen center, nursing home, or assisted…

Students can have fun and learn more about your school’s Staffulty in this special edition of Guess Who!   School Type: High school, middle school, elementary…

Have a Renaissance class or club that is overcrowded or at a time that constantly conflicts with other school activities? Introducing RAD: Renaissance After Dark! This…

Spread the love to clubs on campus that may not always draw the biggest crowds. School Type: High school, middle school Activity Goal: Boost general school…

Place student care stations throughout your school with school supplies and hygiene products to help students feel prepared and confident every day at school, no matter…

Break up the day and have some fun by having a Bubble Gum Blowing Tournament!  This will get students excited to be at school and will…

Build relationships within your school and broader community by hosting a Trunk or Treat in your school parking lot or gym! This is a great opportunity…

Start the school year on a positive note with day one fun. Watch teacher Amber Carls share as many first day of school ideas as she…

Have your student athletes and their coaches lead games and activities for your school district’s students with special needs in an engaging morning called All Star…

Have your elementary students practice reflecting and goal setting by instructing them to write a letter to themselves as a high schooler. School Type: Elementary school…

Decorate a Compliment Chair where students and Staffulty members can take a turn sitting to receive compliments from their peers – a great SEL activity for…

Let’s face it – students are on social media and most use it daily. Why not make sure they are seeing your content there so they…

Reinforce school values and the idea that everyone’s thoughts matter by hosting a Town Hall meeting for students. Invite a speaker and offer breakfast or treats…

Welcome your incoming 9th grade freshmen to your school community with a gift bag that includes school swag for them to wear and encourage school spirit.…

Build relationships anytime during the school year with either students, Staffulty, or both with these easy to use discussion cards. Just print, pass, and start getting…

Reinforce the behaviors that you want to see in your school’s hallways by offering a small tangible, reward to any student anytime they demonstrate those qualities.…

Boost school spirit anytime, not just Homecoming, with a competitive spirit week! Activity goal: General Culture and Climate Timing: Anytime you need some school spirit  …

AHHHH!!! Here is your next ice breaker game from Dr. Farah Ortega-Choate that is both silly, loud, and doesn’t need any materials! Activity Goal: Build Culture…

Reinforce a culture of joy by creating a fun scavenger hunt at school in which students search for designated items, like dollar store dinosaurs, around campus.…

Promote mental wellness to your students and Staffulty by having therapy dogs visit your campus. School Type: Elementary school, middle school, high school (K-12) Activity Goal:…

Bring awareness to the importance of mental health for Staffulty and students alike during a Mental Wellness Week. Each day, introduce a focus area and a…

Celebrate Black History Month with an event that your entire community can attend and enjoy together at school. School Type: High school Activity Goal: General Culture…

Encourage participation in your school’s spirit week by playing a variety of Minute to Win It games that are quick and entertaining during lunch periods. School…

Get your community excited for the first day of school with a pancake feed – breakfast is the most important meal of the day after all!…

Help students process their grief or other large feelings by creating origami cranes of peace, based on the story of Sadako Sasaki – a survivor of…

Celebrate the beginning of summer and the end of a great school year by bringing your school community together for a school-wide 6 vs. 6 volleyball…

“What would you do for a Klondike® bar?” Host a Klondike Bar Challenge Day – a day of challenges that your students and Staffulty can do…

A spooky good time for all! Organize an Halloween Egg Hunt during October to connect students and Staffulty. School type: K-12 Activity goal: General Culture and…

Spread giggles (and maybe some groans) through your whole school with Taffy Time – an easy-to-do activity of passing out candy during class and sharing a…

Building relationships between students and Staffulty™ keeps everyone, especially elementary students, enthusiastic about coming to school. Get started with these elementary first day of school ideas…

We love back to school season! Start your year off on a positive note with these spectacular back to school culture building ideas from Horizon Middle…

Looking for some new rewards that won’t break the bank? Check out the list below for ideas for big or small low cost rewards for students…

Do an audit of your student body and the percentage of students that are involved in some type of club, competitive student organization, or athletic program…

It’s not a secret that administrators and teachers are leaving schools at a high rate. More than ever, school culture and climate is key to attracting…

Have your principal (or other administration Staffulty member) send a Monday Memo to communicate all of your school’s Renaissance initiatives to students, parents and Staffulty using…

Host a Back to School BBQ Bash to bring together your entire school community (Staffulty, students, parents, and community partners) for a night of fun, and…

Bring together students involved in the many clubs and organizations at your school by hosting a Student Club Cookie Exchange – a great way to celebrate…

Invite your school community to bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets to your school’s green space on the first Friday of each month for Lunch on…

Reinforce your school’s values by starting or ending the day with an inspirational quote or other daily words of wisdom for students. Share on social media…

Looking for some new dress up day ideas that you can do at your school? Check out the list below for ideas where you can go…

How do students in your middle or high school find out about student groups or clubs? Make a fun event out of the search for new…

EVERYONE can participate in creating an all school lip dub. And that’s an easy recipe for building a lasting sense of inclusion and camaraderie. School Type:…

We’ve all seen it. We’ve all felt it. And we know it works, but it’s easy to forget how effective it is for motivation and building…

Use Renaissance to build on the positive things happening at your school. Hear Tina’s perspective on how she does it at the elementary school level in…

Harbor Homeroom can support SEL and help you discover more student leaders on your campus than you ever imagined. Implement school-wide discussions about character development and…

With a timer counting down, how many ideas can Steve Bollar give? He’ll be sorry if he takes too long! One minute. 60 seconds. Ideas Ideas…

It’s as simple as it sounds. High Five Fridays are an easy, free, and effective way to reinforce positive relationships between Staffulty and students. Activity Goal:…

A celebration of the people in your school At Rock Hill High School, TX, a wooden box sits on a prominent round table in the middle…

Provide free laundry services for students who may not have access to a washer and dryer at home. In this initiative, Renaissance students wash, dry and…

Make the first day of school even more fun by creating a photo backdrop with photo props for students and Staffulty to take pictures all day.…

Build school-wide involvement and positive interactions between students and Staffulty through Trick or Treating activity. School type: Middle School, High School Activity goal: Build school-wide involvement…

Talking with others on video calls gives us a glimpse into their living situations. Some educators, as well as students, might prefer not to share their…

Walker Junior High School in La Palma, CA From Jennifer Sasai, Jostens Renaissance Hall of Fame Member Here is the Google Site I created for our…

Share these prompts to encourage your students to do something a little different each day they are virtual learning. Each prompt includes: A check-in question to…

Students are often the first to know when another student is having a rough day or could use a little extra attention. These Just Checking In…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Create a feeling of belonging to the school community for the new class of students by having a pinning ceremony. School type: High School Activity goal: Welcome…

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…

Welcome students to campus with positive messages on the sidewalks, setting the tone of your school as a fun place where everyone belongs. School Type: K-12…

Place compliment notes on each locker – a great way to display your positive culture in the hallways! School type: K-12 Activity goal: Recognize students Submitted…

Recognize and thank your school board for their contributions to making your school a better place. School type: K-12 Activity goal: Recognize your school board 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 your students celebrate the end of the semester, school year or achievement with a movie night at school! School type: Elementary School, Middle School, High…

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…

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 honor and recognize a very special group of students in your building with an adapted prom night, creating a night they will…

Celebrate a day of writing and delivering notes to recognize and say “thank you” for all students and Staffulty at your school. School type: K-12 Activity…

A great way to get all students to care about their attendance. Because it matters!   School type: High school, middle school Activity goal: Recognize and…

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…

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…

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…