Thanksgiving, Renaissance® Style
In a Jostens® Renaissance school, Thanksgiving is more than a single-day celebration — it’s an attitude of gratitude that lasts all month long. Try these five Renaissance-favorite ideas to bring gratitude to your school! A simple gesture can have a powerful impact on your students and Staffulty™.
Five Thanksgiving Activities for Schools this November
1. Gratitude Wall
Place a wooden box, index cards and pens on a prominent table in a common area. Encourage students and Staffulty to write a note and put it in the box. Each week in November, have your principal read select cards as part of morning announcements and staple them to a bulletin board for all to see!
2. Schoolwide Gratitude Grams
Give your students and Staffulty an opportunity to recognize people at school by delivering a small bag of candy with a personal note. Take it a step further by watching the All In episode on gratitude.
Bonus Idea for Staffulty: Sweet Notes of Appreciation
Spread appreciative vibes among your Staffulty members. Leave paper, pens and a bowl of candy in your staff lounge to encourage them to leave a kind note and a tasty treat in a coworker’s mailbox. It will brighten their week!
3. Threads of Thanks
Have your student leadership team take charge of this project where everyone in the school writes what they are thankful for on a ribbon to create this beautiful and meaningful display.
4. Gratitude Parachutes
Do this hands-on activity where students create a display of a parachute after watching the All In episode The Parachute: Gratitude.
5. See, Hear, Love Notes
If you teach a class like yearbook or theatre that’s enhanced with outside help, establish a culture of gratitude by writing thank you notes to those who support the work you do. Gel pens, brightly colored paper and stickers are optional, but highly encouraged!
BONUS: Curbside Coffee for Bus Drivers
This may take a little more planning and effort, but the impact is HUGE! Organize a curbside showing of appreciation for your bus drivers with coffee, other sweet treats and hand written notes of appreciation.
November Culture Challenge: Daily Difference Makers
Submit photos of your students and Staffulty completing a gratitude-based activity for a chance to WIN $500 for your school. Pick an idea from above or brainstorm one of your own!