Keeping up the morale - not forcing it

[Linguist92021]

So on a positive notes, what is everyone experiencing at your schools, that are actually lifting your spirits or keeping the morale up?

At our region (technically it's a district, but we call it a region, with 3 schools) for Thanksgiving we had potlucks at the schools. Lots of yummy food.

Tomorrow is our regional meeting at a casino - this casino is really close to all 3 schools, kind of in between. We'll have a buffet, we only have to pay $5, plus something to tip the wait staff (they'll rent out a room). We'll do a gift exchange, I think it's called white elephant (?) The P said not to spend money, bring something from home we don't use, but it's in good condition (even if it's a candle, etc).

And get this: next Wednesday probation is holding a raffle, teachers are invited. Each raffle ticket is $1. Prizes include 42 inch TV, Kindle Fire, X box something (I don't know the number), some very nice jewelry / watch set, iPad, and a bunch of other stuff.

Then next Thursday they'll have a talent show, students and some of the teachers will perform, all voluntary (teachers will mostly sing or play an instrument).

I think this is totally cool!

[FourSquare]

Truly nothing fancy...they just say THANK YOU on a regular basis. Like "I noticed you worked extra hard on XYZ, thanks for thinking of the kids!"



Keeps me coming to work!

[HeartDrama]

The teachers at my school have a happy hour at a local restaurant once a month or so. I think there will be a holiday pot luck, I'm not sure if I'm invited, but if my master teacher mentions it to me I'll go. He asked me to come to the last happy hour, but I had way too much homework.

[readingrules12]

Our P this year is really great. He gave all the teachers a Starbucks gift card and a greeting card the day before Thanksgiving. He also bought pizza for the teachers a day where he wanted us to stay late for an evening parent night. (No teachers had to attend.)

The best is he takes time to take an interest in us and never once have I seen him get angry. Morale isn't perfect at our school, but he does help make it fairly good.

[Caesar753]

Morale at my school is slightly better than it has been the last few years, but it's not great. Admin tries, usually in the form of raffle prizes at staff meetings, but it's not enough. I'd really appreciate something more personal, maybe a note or something specifically written to me and addressing something that I specifically am doing right. Honestly, I'm not even sure that most of the admin even knows my name or what I teach. It's hard to feel like you matter when no one even knows who you are even after you've worked there for seven years....

[MrsC]

Yesterday, our principal and vice-principal provided us with treats at recess--cheese and crackers, fruit, cookies, brownies, rice krispie treats, chocolates and punch. The P gave a lovely speech, thanking us for all that we do each and every day. It was particularly thoughtful considering the job action that is currently in progress (and the fact that we are engaging in a one day walk out tomorrow). They are also great about thanking us, privately and publicly, on a regular basis.

[mclaugcr]

Right now, my P is giving us what she calls "The 10 days of Christmas." There are several small things for staff each day. For example, during this week, there are three days where there are people available to give massages (if you want one), lunch is being provided one day, next week is a jeans week, etc. She also will implement "Just Because" weeks with a similar set up (though no massages or luncheons). All of these are presented to us as a means of saying thank you for what we do with/for the kids.

[catnfiddle]

My department head and assistant head are springing for custom school t-shirts for all of the high school English teachers. This is out of their own pockets and will be unique to our department. Sweet!

[DizneeTeachR]

When I started teaching the teacher's were given "school Tshirts" to wear on the jean day except I thought they were so ugly. I still wore it!!!

[czacza]

Nice thread, I was thinking along the same lines today! Thanks for starting it!

We had a cookie exchange this morning in the faculty room....such happy teacher faces swapping cookes and baking tips...the breakfast of champions.

Lots of holiday activities in classrooms: tradition sharing (I have parents coming in to play dreidel game, make ornaments, eat latkes, decorate cookies, Indian henna tattoos...)

Monthly staff breakfasts