5 Festive Holiday Staff Morale Activities for December

I love December. I know it can be a crazy busy time, but there's no denying the festive flair floating through the air as the holidays inch closer. With so much to celebrate, and limited time, it's important to keep staff morale top of mind this month. Check out these fun holiday staff morale activities to connect with staff and celebrate together!

Making Room for Staff Morale Activities in December

We all know that this time of year is busier than ever, but this doesn't mean that staff morale activities and games should fall by the wayside. Actually, anytime we have a busier than usual schedule, is usually when we need a boost the most. That's why it's so important to prioritize some holiday staff activities to keep everyone cheery and happy to be at work!

And don't worry friends... these holiday staff morale activities won't have you working all hours like a Christmas elf! These easy-to-prep ideas come together quickly so that you can spread a little holiday cheer to your staff members without burning the candle at both ends! 

1. Staff Secret Santa 

Let's kick this list off with a holiday classic - Secret Santa! I love Secret Santa because it allows for a bit of mystery and fun during the holidays. The version that I used in my school has a bit of a twist that makes this even easier and less pressure to facilitate as well. It works by placing a poster with a picture of Santa on a co-worker's door or at their desk with some kind of seasonal treat. Then, they get to play Santa and choose a co-worker to gift next. I would often start this off by choosing two co-workers and then letting the snowball continue. 

I always recommend starting this one early so that there will be time for the posters to travel through your school to everyone. I also usually send out a little note with gift ideas so that staff know they need not be large or extravagant. I suggest items such as:

• holiday candy 
• peppermint latte 
• holiday stickers
• microwave popcorn 
• classroom decorations
• red and green class art supplies
• favorite seasonal read-aloud and more

I love seeing how creative the staff get with this one and it's fun seeing all of the Santa posters displayed all over the school as people are gifted. This is a great holiday staff morale activity to kick off the fun in your school!

2. Hot Cocoa Bar 

Staff snack bars are among my favorite ways to celebrate when it gets busy because they allow staff to visit the break room and grab a treat when it fits their schedules. In December, I always host a Hot Cocoa Bar to add some holiday magic to our day! This is a lot of fun to put together and totally customizable for your group. 

First, you'll gather your supplies. You can choose to host this activity potluck style or use funds from your Sunshine Committee to fund it. I liked to make a few large pots of homemade hot cocoa and then keep them warm in slow cookers. You can also use coffee urns with hot water and cocoa packets as well if you prefer. I also made sure to grab plenty of toppings and add-ins, because that's what makes this so much fun! Some things to consider include:

• whipped cream 
• peppermint sticks
• sprinkles
• candy
• sweet treats to eat with cocoa 

I also liked to grab some holiday decorations and plastic tablecloths from the dollar store to add a bit more fun to the mix. Then, on the day of, I set everything up and hang some signs to let staff know they can come to grab a cup of cocoa in the break room. Bonus points if you can get some holiday music playing in there too! Everyone loves this and it tends to create a sense of warmth and camaraderie among the staff. They'll often sit and visit as they sip their cocoa and talk about their holiday break plans. It's a wonderful moment to connect, chat, and take a breather together during the busy holiday season! 

If you want to simplify this process, be sure to check out my Hot Cocoa Bar Resource. Inside you'll find instructions, a shopping list, a recipe for hot cocoa, room decor and signs, as well as labels for cocoa and add-ins. This resource has everything in one place and will make it super quick and easy to set up a cocoa bar of your own!

3. Holiday Postcards

If you need an inexpensive way to thank and recognize each of your staff members this holiday season without breaking the bank, I think you'll love these Holiday Postcards! These were designed to allow you to send a customized message to each member of your staff. There are a variety of card designs included for different holidays and seasonal sentiments. 

There are even some designs included that can be sent to loved ones of staff to tell them how much you enjoy working with their family member. This is an extra special touch that goes a long way and really makes staff feel valued. No matter which option you choose, I know your staff will love receiving these!

To use, you will simply choose your design and copy both a front and back side to each card. Then, cut, and fill them out and you're good to go! They're ready to be addressed and mailed out. You can also pop these into staff mailboxes, but I think receiving them at home makes it even more special. 

4. White Elephant Book Exchange 

I am always looking for ways to make holiday fun more affordable for staff members. I never wanted anyone to feel stretched too thin or stressed out about participating in an event. That's one of the reasons I absolutely love this White Elephant Book Exchange! It's the perfect staff morale game for your holiday party or meeting and is super simple to facilitate!

To set this up, you'll send out a letter to staff that lets them know you'll be hosting a book exchange. Their task is to bring a book to swap. It doesn't have to be new, gently used is absolutely fine, making this a budget-friendly option. They will wrap the book in holiday paper and bring it to the exchange. 

Then, you'll set up all the books in a display and have each staff member draw a number. Then, going in numerical order, each person will choose a book. After they choose, they open it and can either keep it or steal/swap it for another book. This continues until everyone has gone and had an opportunity to "steal". If you've never played White Elephant before, this really gets to be a lot of fun once a few people have stolen books! When you're finished, everyone will have a "new to them" book to read over the holiday break!

5. Holiday Simmer Pot 

Last on my list is another fun, inexpensive gift idea for your staff members. This Holiday Simmer Pot is the perfect gift to hand out before the holiday break. Staff will love setting this up and using it over the holidays while they relax at home. Each bag of goodies contains the following:

• orange (or mandarin)
• cinnamon sticks 
• cloves
• fresh cranberries
• rosemary sprigs

You'll bag all of these items up in a small cellophane bag and tie it with a holiday ribbon. Then, you'll attach a tag with instructions to each bag. To use, staff will empty the contents of the bag into a pot or slow cooker, cover them with water, and simmer on low for a wonderful holiday fragrance that will fill their home. This is such a wonderful gift to hand out as it's low-cost, thoughtful, and adds so much festive holiday flair to the air!

Make Planning Holiday Staff Morale Activities Simple

So, which one of these holiday staff morale activities was your favorite? It's always hard for me to choose, which is why I tend to incorporate them all. Since they are all inexpensive, low-prep, and easy to facilitate, it's a no-brainer in my book! I love that with just a few simple activities, staff will feel valued and connected to each other during this crazy busy time of year. If you'd like to simplify your staff activities in December too, be sure to check out the December Staff Morale Bundle. 

Inside you get all 5 of these activities so that you can get started right away with prepping! Each of the resources includes detailed instructions and just about everything you need to sprinkle some holiday magic among your staff! I know you'll love not having to worry about planning engaging staff morale activities during this already busy time of year. Have fun celebrating with your staff! 

Looking for More? 

Be sure to check out these posts for more ways to celebrate with staff! 

• 5 Staff Morale Boosters That Aren't Food
• 6 Cozy Staff Appreciation Ideas for Winter
• 6 Tasty Staff Snack Bars That Everyone Will Love!

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What is a Sunshine Committee?

If you've been around here a while, you might have noticed that I have a passion for helping administrators, teachers, and volunteers keep school staff morale high. This is because I was the leader of the Sunshine Committee in my own school for many years and saw firsthand just how valuable this practice is. But what exactly is a "Sunshine Committee"? If you've been wondering, I've got answers! Today we're talking about the what and how of Sunshine Committees. And. . . how it can help boost staff morale and motivation in your school! 

What is a Sunshine Committee Anyway?

First things first... what exactly are we talking about here? A Sunshine Committee is a group of people who are charged with the task of spreading a little sunshine to teachers and other school staff members regularly. Their goal is to tune into the pain points of school employees and come up with creative ways to make work more enjoyable, supportive, and fun for everyone. As the leader of this group for many years at my own school, I have to say... it's a pretty good gig! 

I was also a teacher, so I knew firsthand what my teaching colleagues were facing. But beyond this, it allowed me the unique opportunity to learn what other school staff members struggle with and how to help them as well. Remember, a school is made up of much more than teachers. We have support staff, nurses, secretaries, administrators, custodians, specials teachers, counselors, cafeteria workers, and more! All of these people play an integral role in the health and culture of the school environment, so it's key that we do our best to consider each and every one of them! 

Why You Need a Sunshine Committee

So why do we need this group in our schools? Well, simply put... to help staff stay motivated, feel valued, and foster a sense of community. We all know that teaching and working in schools is harder than ever. School workers are faced with new challenges every day and carry a very heavy load. If we didn't focus on building community or boosting morale among staff, what do you think would happen? 

I think we all know that it's likely that we would end up with a group of unmotivated people who feel undervalued. No one wants this in their school climate! Instead, the Sunshine Committee is strategic in ensuring that events and parties are planned to help make work more fun. Team building activities, contests during staff parties, or monthly potlucks can truly go a long way when it comes to boosting morale!

Getting Started

So, you're ready to take on the task of recruiting and organizing a Sunshine Committee in your school - YAY! Let's dive into how you can get started. 

Members of the Sunshine Committee

Members of the Sunshine Committee are typically volunteers and other staff members. In my school, we needed at least one team member from each grade level or staff team to ensure that the views of that section of our school were conveyed. When recruiting members, I think this is a great place to start as it will ensure a well-rounded group! 

Roles of the Sunshine Committee 

Every school is different of course, but in general, one of the most important jobs of the Sunshine Committee is to plan parties, events, and even condolences for staff members in a time of need. This can cover a very broad range of events. In my school, our Sunshine Committee was in charge of the following:

• Seasonal Parties (Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.)
• Monthly Staff Meeting Activities (team building, games, contests, etc.)
• Hospitalizations, Illness, or Funeral Donations or Gifts (flowers, cards, etc.)
• Retirement Celebrations 
• Weddings & Baby Showers

This, of course, isn't an exhaustive list, but rather a way to get you thinking about how a Sunshine Committee could serve in your school. Consider the needs of your school, where things seem to be lacking, or how you could make staff feel more excited to be at work. These are all great questions to ask yourself as you begin navigating how to put a Sunshine Committee in place in your school. 

More Support to Build Your Sunshine Committee

If you need some more ideas and support in setting up a Sunshine Committee then this resource is for you. Inside, I walk you through the specifics, or the nuts and bolts, as I like to call them, of putting together a Sunshine Committee. I share many of the policies from my own school to help you put together a committee at your school! 

How to Stay Organized in Your Sunshine Committee

One of my best tips for running a successful Sunshine Committee is to stay organized. Like really organized! When I was head of our committee, I used a year-long planner to make this easier. Inside my planner, there were tons of pages and prompts to help keep me focused on the goals decided upon by the members of the committee and ensure that nothing fell through the cracks! Here are some of the pages I used to stay organized:

• monthly calendars 
• monthly informational pages 
• recognition trackers
• quote posters

All of these pages are included in my Year Long Staff Morale Planner. This resource is ideal for principals, administrators, and leaders of the Sunshine Committee. Once I started using it, it was SO much easier to stay on task with our goals!  I put all of these pages together in a 3-ring binder to help me stay on track. My favorite of these pages is the monthly information sheets. They include fun celebrations, a monthly challenge, a quote of the month, and other great little tidbits that kept me organized. 

I also included some blank pages for staff meeting ideas, checklists, reminders, wish lists, and anything else that popped into my head! Over time this binder became my command station that was filled with everything I needed for a fun month with staff. When a new year began, I always enjoyed flipping through to grab ideas and reflections to apply to the new year. 

Plan Engaging Activities to Boost Staff Morale

Once you've got your planner all set up, it's time to start filling those pages right?! I have an awesome, FREE resource to help you plan for the whole year without spending hours searching for fun ideas. Simply follow this link to download a free Staff Morale Catalog.

Inside, you'll find ideas and resources for every month of the year and every occasion. No matter what you're looking for, there's likely something inside for you! Make sure to take advantage of this freebie as you begin your journey setting up a Sunshine Committee in your school. Not only will it streamline your planning, it will provide inspiration in those months when you need it most! 

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5 Fall Staff Morale Resources Perfect for November

November always seems to be gone in the blink of an eye! It's a busy month and many schools get a week off for Thanksgiving, so you've got to be super intentional with planning to fit everything in before break. That means your staff and teachers are going to be feeling the pressure. Busy months like these call for fun staff morale resources to keep motivation high. If you're looking for some fun fall ideas to use at your November staff meeting, or during the busy November days, you've come to the right place. Today I'm sharing some fall staff morale resources that are perfect for November!

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: This post includes Affiliate Links to some of my favorite products. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Making Time for Staff Morale Activities in November 

Are you worried about how you're going to "fit in" more activities into an already packed month? I get it! As the leader of the Sunshine Committee in my school for many years, this was a constant stressor during busy months of the year. Back to school, the holiday season, and the end of the year... I'm looking at you! 

But, I want to provide a little perspective shift for you.  Making time for staff morale-boosting activities during these busy months may actually give you and your staff some of your sanity back. What do I mean? So glad you asked!

It's no secret that working in a school is a taxing job. Teachers, administrators, and school staff work hard to make schools a safe, loving, supportive, and fun place to be. Add a short month packed to the brim with extra holiday activities and you've got a recipe for overwhelm! By using some fun fall staff morale resources in your school during this busy time, you'll be infusing some extra motivation and encouragement into those hectic days when staff need it most! 

Never underestimate the power of team-building activities, staff morale boosters, small prizes, and games in your staff meetings. These "little" things actually end up being big things in the long run! They'll reenergize your staff, boost motivation, and help carry them through! Making time for these is an absolute must, if you ask me. 

Fun Fall Staff Morale Resources

Alright, are you convinced that you NEED some fun fall staff morale resources in your plan for November? I hope so! The ideas I'm about to share will make a huge, and meaningful impact in your school. I know they did for us! 

1. Fall Staff Morale Scratch-Offs 

Are you using scratch-offs in your staff meetings yet?! If not, I know you will love this first idea. Scratch-offs are a fun prize to hand out during staff meetings, or anytime you feel like making staff smile. They work like those BINGO scratch-offs you get at the gas station, except when staff scratch them off, a fun school-related prize is revealed. 

The best thing about these though is that they're great for small budgets. Many of the prizes that we used were low-cost, or even no-cost! Here are some examples:

• jeans day 
• front row parking
• copies made
• lunch/recess duty coverage 
• class coverage 
• lunch provided
• pack of pens or Post-its

Try using these Thanksgiving-Themed Scratch-Offs in November with your staff. Each ticket has a cute fall theme, a prize, and a place to add a scratch-off sticker or cover with scratch-off paint. There are pre-printed ticket options as well as blanks so you can add your own prize ideas. I love this feature because it means they can easily be customized to fit any budget. If your budget is small, choose more of the low-cost or no-cost prices. Bigger budgets might include some more custom prizes like gift cards or office supplies. Need more prize ideas for your scratch-offs? Read this post next!

2. Staff Morale Gratitude Jar 

November is a month focused on thankfulness, so why not make a Staff Morale Gratitude Jar?! Year after year this was one of my favorites. As a bonus, it's super simple to implement too! This resource includes two options, one for making a real jar, and one for creating a gratitude notebook. Both are a lot of fun! 

The idea behind the real jar is that staff will write down notes of appreciation for fellow colleagues. They leave them in the jar throughout the month or a specific number of days. As the jar fills up, the notes can be read aloud at a staff meeting or displayed on a bulletin board in the breakroom. You might even decide to deposit the notes into specific staff mailboxes as well! 

The gratitude notebook is similar to the jar, except staff write their notes down on the pages of a bound book. You can pass the book around for staff to read through, or leave it in a central location. No matter what you choose, it's a fun way to show appreciation and gratitude for staff while also keeping motivation high during the month of November. 

3. Staff Morale Mirror Shout Outs

Looking for a simple way to decorate staff spaces without spending a ton of time or energy? You'll love these Fall Mirror Shout-Outs! 

These fun printable signs are designed to be displayed on a mirror and serve as a quick pick-me-up to your staff. At my school, I used these on the staff bathroom mirror. The messages are short and sweet, with a fun fall flair. They'll add a little seasonal pizazz to your space while also making staff smile. 

I always liked to print these out on fall-colored paper and then cut them out. Then, you can tape them to the mirror or other high-traffic areas in the staff breakroom. Bulletin boards, kitchen cabinets, and  staff mailboxes are great places to leave these fun messages! There are 10 different fall messages included, so you can even switch them out on a weekly basis during the month of November to keep staff guessing and looking forward to new messages. 

4. Fall Windshield Messages 

Can you imagine walking out to your car after a challenging, tiring day at work to find a thoughtful note pinned to your windshield? Pretty great, right?! That's exactly the idea behind these Fall Windshield Messages. To use, simply choose the desired messages, print them out, and place them on the windshields of your staff's vehicles! This fall staff morale resource couldn't be easier to use and will truly make staff smile! The fall messages include things like:

• I be-leaf in you.
• You are awesome to the core. 
• Your students are falling in love with learning. 
• Thanks for planting seeds that will grow forever.

This resource includes 8 different fall messages that print 4 to a page. Each one has a cute fall border to add some festive flair. All messages come in both color and black and white so you can choose what works best for your school. The black and white version looks great on autumn colored pager. I loved pinning these to cars on a Monday when we still had a week to go until break. This is the perfect way to boost motivation and help staff feel appreciated during an extra busy week!

5. Staff Morale Trail Mix Bar 

I saved the BEST for last! A Trail Mix Bar is one of my favorite fall staff morale resources to use in November. It's super customizable, easy to organize, and best of all - great for busy times of the year! Since the trail mix add-ins are non-perishable, you'll be able to set this up ahead of time and allow staff to come and go to grab a treat as they are able. No need to coordinate schedules during an already jam-packed month. So, how does this work exactly? Let's get to it!

To set up a trail mix bar for your staff, you'll shop for trail mix ingredients like cereal, pretzels, nuts, mini marshmallows, crackers, chocolate chips, and more. Then, on the day of your trail mix bar, you'll arrange all the goodies in small bowls with serving spoons. I also include baggies or cups for staff to fill as well as labels for each treat item. Then, decorate the space with cute signs and instructions to invite staff to create their own unique sweet and salty treat. 

This is a great activity to host the week before Thanksgiving break and is always appreciated by everyone! It's great for schools with allergies since everyone can choose exactly what they'd like to have. Just be sure to keep nuts (or other allergens) on a separate table if you're worried about cross-contamination. This resource includes everything you need to take the guesswork out of planning a trail mix bar for your staff. Inside you'll find detailed instructions, signs, snack labels, and even a shopping list! There's also an option to host this one potluck style if you'd prefer to have staff sign up for items to share. Either way, it's bound to be a hit!

Oh and if you're interested in hosting more snack bars, be sure to read this post next!

Simplify Staff Morale This November

Loving all of these ideas way too much to choose a favorite?! I've got good news... you don't have to! These Fall Staff Morale Resources can all be found inside the November Bundle. Inside you get all 5 activities in one, convenient package so you can simplify your staff morale planning and make the most of your limited time! 

If you love the idea of monthly staff morale kits, be sure to check out my Annual Staff Morale Bundle too. You'll find a fun-filled package for each month of the year, making it super simple to plan staff morale activities and keep motivation high all year long. 

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How to Boost Staff Morale in October: Ready to Use Resources You Don't Want to Miss

Looking for fun and easy ways to boost staff morale in October? You're in the right place! Today we're diving into 5 frightfully fun October staff morale resources and activities. Teachers, school counselors, nurses, cafeteria staff, and more will all love participating in these unique activities. Come along for some seasonal ideas to boost staff morale in your building all month long!

DISCLOSURE: This post includes affiliate links to some of my favorite products. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases but this does not change the price you pay.

Making Staff Morale Fun in October

The kids aren't the only ones who get to have fun in October! This month of the year is notorious for fun tricks and treats! When I was head of the Sunshine Committee at my school, I loved playing on the fun Halloween themes in our staff morale activities. Incorporating some seasonal and holiday touches is the perfect way to keep things interesting in your school and boost staff morale with ease! Not to mention, everyone will get a kick out of these fun activities and resources! 

1. October Edition Rock Paper Scissors

As kids, I think we all played our fair share of Rock, Paper, Scissors. It's a simple game that is beloved by all! I used this game to boost staff morale in my school and kept it interesting by using a fun seasonal theme each month. In October, our Rock, Paper, Scissors Game gets a Halloween twist! 

This staff morale idea is fairly inexpensive and super simple to prep - which always made it a winner in my book! All you need is one plastic beaded necklace for each staff member and the printable tags included in this resource. I liked to grab fun Halloween necklaces from Amazon, but you can typically find cheap plastic necklaces at the dollar store and party supply stores as well. 

To prepare, you will wrap a Halloween tag around each necklace and hang the reminder signs up the day before your event. On the day of, staff get a letter and a necklace in their mailbox. The letter instructs them to wear the necklace and challenge other staff members to a friendly game of Rock, Paper, Scissors throughout the day. The winner of each game gets to "steal" their co-workers' necklace. Staff members with the most necklaces at the end of the day win the challenge! 

You can decide what types of prizes fit your budget best. And don't forget - no cost prizes are a lot of fun too! Things like jeans day, prime parking spaces, class coverage, and copies made were always a hit in my school! 

2. You've Been Boo'ed

Have you ever seen homes get "Booed" in your neighborhood around Halloween time? The idea is that neighbors will leave some kind of treat or surprise on their neighbors' doorstep along with a sign. Then, that neighbor pays it forward by doing the same for another. This is exactly the idea behind my October Staff Boos Resource, except for the houses turn into teacher classrooms or staff desks! 

To start this off, I would "Boo" 2 staff members by leaving a fun sign on their classroom door or on their desks along with a special treat. These can be things candy, coffee, some special pens, or really anything you want! Then, those staff members do the same for 2 more colleagues. You can choose a higher number if you'd like - this will make the "Boos" add up quick! 

This is a great activity to use during the week of Halloween in your school, or even all month long. I liked to encourage staff to pick small, but thoughtful things to "Boo" their fellow staff with. It doesn't have to be expensive to be meaningful! 

3. Apple Snack Bar 

Snack bars are one of my all-time favorite ways to boost staff morale! They are super versatile, easy to execute, and just plain fun! In October, I loved to use a fall-themed Apple Snack Bar. This time of year, apples are at their peak. Why not use these crisp, delicious fruits to treat your staff?

To use this idea, you'll need a variety of fresh apples. I liked to visit the local orchard down the street, but the grocery store also has a nice variety at a great price this time of year. Once you choose your apples, you'll want to collect some toppings for your Apple Bar. Some of the things I used include:

• chopped nuts
• peanut butter
• caramel sauce 
• chocolate sauce 
• chocolate chips
• coconut flakes
• crushed cookies

Really anything sweet and festive will work here - have fun with this part! Then, you'll arrange all of your apples, toppings, and paper goods in the break room. I also decorated with some festive signs to let staff know that a treat was waiting for them in the breakroom. 

Then, as they are able, they can select an apple, use a slicer to prepare it, and then top it with some goodies! Snack bars like this are great for schools that have varied schedules since staff can come and go as they please. 

4. Pumpkin Decorating Contest 

Over the years, I have found that one of the best ways to boost staff morale in October is with some friendly competition. My favorite way to facilitate this is with a Pumpkin Decorating Contest! Not only will staff love competing for the award of "best pumpkin" but the decorating pumpkins will serve as a perfect Halloween decoration for your office or hallway. 

For this activity, staff will each get to decorate a pumpkin. They will label it with a number and then display it in an area for judging. The judging portion is a group effort as well! Everyone gets to vote for the best pumpkin. Then, the votes are counted and the winners are awarded a prize! 

It's a fun idea to provide art supplies during a meeting and encourage staff to spend a portion of the meeting decorating their pumpkin. This is a great team-building activity that everyone will love! If you're interested in trying this activity, check out this resource to simplify the process. Inside you'll find voting ballots, numbers for your pumpkins, detailed instructions, suggested supplies, and more! 

5. October Scratch Off Tickets 

Looking for a super simple (and fun) way to boost staff morale in your meetings this month? Give scratch-offs a try! These little tickets will make your staff smile as they "scratch off" the stickers to reveal a prize. Not to mention the cute ghost theme is perfect for the month of October! 

These come pre-filled with prizes like jeans for a day, class coverage, lunch provided, a book of your choice, and more! There are also blank versions that you can fill in yourself. Then, cover them with a scratch-off sticker or paint and pass them out to staff. You can use these as prizes for your other staff morale games and activities, or simply hand out one to each person at your meeting. Either way, these are sure to be a hit! 

Simplify Staff Morale in October

These October Staff Morale ideas are so much fun! Whether you decide to have a Pumpkin Decorating Contest or an Apple Bar, these ideas make boosting staff morale fun and easy for anyone! Can't decide on a favorite? You can find ALL five of these resources inside the October Staff Morale Bundle. 

Grabbing the bundle means you can simplify your staff morale resources and set yourself up for success for the whole month! As a former Sunshine Committee leader myself, I know how valuable it is to be prepared! And if you want to plan the whole year, be sure to check out the Monthly Round-Up Mega Bundle for even more great resources. 

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September Staff Morale Resources to Boost Motivation

September is usually a busy month for school employees. While many of us around the country go back to school in August, September is usually just as busy! And. . . if you start school in September it is even busier. Help boost motivation and remind teachers and other school employees that they are valued and appreciated with some fun September staff morale resources! 

DISCLOSURE: This post includes affiliate links to some of my favorite products. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases but this does not change the price you pay.

Staying on Top of Staff Morale 

Being an administrator comes with many of its own unique duties and responsibilities. One of which usually includes monitoring staff and ensuring the employee climate stays positive. If you are in charge of this task, you know firsthand it can feel a tad overwhelming. But even though it can feel a bit tricky to juggle at times, staying on top of staff morale is SO worth it. When you work hard to focus on boosting motivation and morale in your school, you can look forward to:

• better relationships 
• better work ethic
• more positive staff meetings 
• a sense of community among staff 
• happier students and families and so much more! 

There's no end to the value of taking care of your staff and focusing on team building. This is especially true during busy months like September. So whether you start the school year in August or in September, making staff morale a priority this month will go a long way.  Here are 5 ways you can stay on top of staff morale in September! 

1. Back to School Scratch-Offs 

Have you tried using scratch-offs in your staff meetings yet? If not, you're in for a major treat! The idea behind this staff morale resource is a bit like those lottery tickets you can get at the gas station. You'll pass out cards that are pre-filled with prizes and covered with scratch-off paint or stickers. Then, staff will get to scratch off their ticket to reveal a fun prize. And don't worry, you don't have to spend tons of money on the prizes for them to be fun! 

My Back to School Scratch-Offs feature prizes like class coverage, copies made for the week, an impromptu jeans day, and prime parking. You can pick and choose the prizes that work best for your group and print them off accordingly. I think it's fun to pass out a single ticket to everyone, but you can also use these as a prize for other games and team-building activities you might be using during your meetings. There are also blank tickets that you can fill out yourself for other types of prizes as well. For more fun prize ideas, be sure to read this post next! 

2. September Staff Morale Photo Scavenger Hunt 

Speaking of team-building games for your staff meetings, I've got a really fun one for you to try! This Staff Morale Photo Scavenger Hunt is fun and easy to play at your September meeting and will have everyone eager to participate! To play, you'll choose from a list of 45 different prompts for pictures to search for in phone photo libraries. This resource comes with 3 different categories including Teacher Life, My Work Family, and Work-Life Balance. 

After you select the categories and slides to use, you will display them one at a time on a SmartBoard during your staff meeting. You can also print the cards off to be used like task cards instead of displaying them digitally. Staff will have to search their own personal phone photo library to see if they can find a photo to fit the prompt. If they can, they mark it down on their sheet. If they can't they have to move on to the next prompt. When all the slides are gone through, you'll be able to award prizes to winners who were able to "find" the most photos! This is a fun game to play in teams and really helps your staff get to know each other well. 

3. Breakfast Cart 

Is there anything better than having breakfast prepared or picked up for you? I don't think so, which is why I recommend using a Staff Breakfast Cart in your September staff morale activities! When teachers and other staff members are feeling a bit run-ragged from back-to-school festivities, they will be so happy to see a delicious cart filled with goodies waiting for them! If you don't have a cart, this is a great purchase and you will get a ton of use out of it. Check out this one as it will definitely do the trick! 

At my school, I used the resources in this packet to simplify this process. We used it monthly each year, so I liked to laminate the signs for future use. This resource will last you well beyond September! Inside you'll find sign-up sheets for 9 months. The idea is that every month a different staff team hosts the breakfast cart. This is a great way to show staff appreciation for each other, build a sense of community, and work in some time to socialize with colleagues. 

You may also decide to use Sunshine Committee funds or admin funds to organize it for the first month. This is an especially great idea for September when administrators are looking to show appreciation to staff. Then, every following month, another staff team can host. A monthly breakfast cart will absolutely make staff feel valued and appreciated during the busy month of September and beyond!

4. Sunshine Post-it Notes 

Looking for a simple way to spread a little sunshine during September? Try these post-it
note messages, which are designed to make your staff feel valued and appreciated! This resource includes printing instructions and templates so that you can print off these fun little notes for your staff. Each one has a cute phrase and image. There are 18 total messages to choose from, making this a great option to personalize the messages for specific staff members. 

To use, simply print them off, add a personal note if desired, and leave them in mailboxes, on desks, or car windows. I know your staff will LOVE beginning or ending their day with a personalized note just for them! Each of these notes has a "sunshine" theme, making them perfect to use all year long!

5. Hop to It Scavenger Hunt 

Alright friend, I've got one more fun September staff morale resource to share with you today! In this Hop to It Scavenger Hunt, staff members will scour the school for small, plastic frogs that have been marked with numbers 1-100 and hidden. At the end of the day, you will all meet up and take stock of which frogs have been found. Then, you'll draw numbers from a hat, and the staff member with the frog with the corresponding number wins a prize! 

This is a fun activity, especially if you get creative with how you hide the frogs throughout your school. I liked to place some in obvious areas, and others in no-so-obvious areas. You can find plastic frogs frequently at the dollar store, or on Amazon. If you choose to incorporate this activity, you'll also want to consider what prizes to include. These can be low-cost items like packs of pens, candies, gum, or scratch-offs, as well as larger items like gift cards. The best part about this game is that it's easily adjustable to your school, and your staff morale budget! 

September Staff Morale BUNDLE

Looking for a way to take some of the stress off your plate when it comes to planning staff morale activities for September and beyond? If so, I know you'll love my resource bundle options! You can find all of the September Staff Morale Resources mentioned here in the September bundle. You get all 5 activities, so you don't have to worry about planning and can instead just print and go! This bundle will make it super simple to ensure you have some fun staff morale activities ready to go in September. 

And if you'd prefer to be prepared for the whole year, I've got good news! I've bundled together 60 different resources perfect for motivating your staff all year long! Each month includes 5 different resources that align with the month, season, and holidays. This huge bundle will remove all of the stress from planning staff motivational activities and put the fun back into showing your staff how much you care! Check out the Full Year Staff Morale Bundle to get ahead on your planning so you can sit back and enjoy these activities with your staff each month. 

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August Staff Morale Resources to Start the Year Off Right

There's no denying that back to school time is one of the busiest seasons for administrators, teachers, and school staff! This crazy time of year is known for zapping the energy right out of us with endless to-do's, organizing, and prep work. If you're ready to welcome staff back to school in a new way this year, I've got your back! Let's talk about my favorite August staff morale resources to start the year off right! 

Why Staff Morale Counts from the Start! 

Working in a school is often a thankless job. This is especially true at the beginning of the school year. The students haven't arrived yet, but there is much to be done in preparation for the new year. There are floors to wax, cafeterias to stock, classrooms to prep, and new students to enroll. There are many moving pieces in a school and even before the year starts your staff is laying the foundation for another great year! Because of this, I think it is SO important to recognize your entire staff's hard work and acknowledge all they are doing.  

By taking some time to plan a few August staff morale activities, you'll be able to show your appreciation, encouragement, and gratitude to your amazing staff members. This, in turn, helps build increased productivity and a sense of community in the workplace. It's a win-win, no matter how you slice it! 

But let's not forget how busy you are! That's why today we are focusing on staff morale activities that you can prep in advance for August or the beginning of the year. These are things you can plan for during the summer and have them ready when everyone returns.

August Staff Morale Resources That Don't Take Hours to Prep 

Now don't worry friends! I'm not suggesting you spend endless summer hours prepping materials and activities. In fact, with some strategic resources, you won't need to spend much time or energy at all! Showing your staff that you notice their hard work and appreciate all they are doing does not have to take a big production or be a costly endeavor. In fact, it's often the small things that staff members appreciate because they come at just the right time.

These August staff morale resources come together easily and will wow your staff during the back to school season! Take a look at these ideas to start planning your own staff morale activities for the new year! 

1. Staff Favorites Booklet 

First off, let's start with a staff favorite... literally! This Staff Favorites Book was always something I looked forward to creating because it was so versatile. The idea behind this is that you will pass out pages with a list of blanks to fill in. The "favorites" on the page include items such as:

• favorite hot & cold drinks
• favorite sweet treat 
• favorite healthy treat 
• favorite store 
• favorite pens, and more!

Everyone will get their own page to fill out, and then turn them back in to be bound into a book. I like to make a few copies before binding. Then, the books get placed in strategic areas throughout the school. The staff lounge, office, and near the copier are all good places! I also make sure to share one with the PTO leadership.

Then, when someone would like to surprise a co-worker or get them a gift, they can flip through the book and find the perfect option! I love that this idea encourages a sense of community and doing good for others. Plus, the wide variety of "favorites" makes it easy to find something that fits a small budget! 

Print these pages off on summer break and plan to pass them out at the beginning of the year.  Better yet, set aside 5-10 minutes during an in-service meeting and have everyone fill them out at that time.  

2. Staff Birthdays 

Do you celebrate birthdays at your school? If not, you're missing out on a valuable opportunity to share a little recognition to each individual staff member throughout the year! But don't worry friend, this doesn't need to be an all-out production! In my school, I keep things simple with a fun monthly bulletin board display and birthday book to keep track. 

I used the printable pages in this resource to make a bound book with a list of all the birthdays in our school by month. The easiest way to do this is to print off the pages, bind them into a book, and pass it around at the first staff meeting of the year. Everyone will jot down their birthday under the appropriate month. 

Then, using the bulletin board supplies in the resource, create a fun birthday board for the staff lounge. Monthly posters are also included so you can see the list of names and birthdates for that month. I liked to laminate them ahead of time and put them on a binder ring. Then, just use a dry-erase marker to write down the names and birthdays each month. It's super quick and easy to flip the sign each month and fill it out! This simple gesture makes staff feel valued and encourages co-workers to browse the staff favorites book for a special treat for their colleagues.

 

3. Stock the Fridge 

Part of back to school time is spending a couple of weeks getting the classrooms and other areas of the school in order and ready to welcome students. Teachers and other staff members work extra hard during this time, often pulling long hours in the summer heat! Show appreciation by stocking the fridge with some cold beverages while they work! 

This Stock the Fridge resource is one of my favorite staff morale boosters for August because it's super simple and everyone loves it! All you need to do is print off the colorful signs and hang them around the school to notify everyone that cold drinks are available to them in the lounge fridge. Then, stock up the fridge with a variety of fun sodas, juices, and sparkling waters to treat your staff! 

This download includes 8 cute and colorful signs to let staff know that they are more than welcome to grab a cold drink while they get settled for the new school year. This will be a fun tradition that everyone will look forward to and appreciate!

4. Welcome Back Poem 

Looking for a heartfelt way to welcome staff members back to school in August? If so, I know you'll love this Welcome Back Poem! 

Included in this resource is an original poem written by yours truly! It's printed on a colorful, school-themed paper that makes it super simple to print and use. 

I recommend printing one for each staff member over the summer and folding them or rolling them up. If you want to get really fancy, you can use some pretty ribbon to tie the rolled-up poems. 

Then, on the first day, place one in each mailbox to welcome staff back and start the year off right! Your teachers and staff will be delighted to receive this special gift. 

5. Years of Service Award 

Last on my list of August staff morale resources is one that is perfect for recognizing your staff for their hard work and dedication. Years of Service Awards will be a wonderful surprise to your staff as you begin the busy back-to-school season. 

I liked to print these off and use them at our first staff meeting of the year. It's so much fun to pass out the awards and start the year off with a celebration! 

The certificates I use come in both color and black and white options for years 1-40. I liked to print them off on heavy cardstock and use a fancy pen to fill them in. This personal touch really adds to the gift and makes staff feel valued and appreciated. 

You can choose which years you'd like to recognize or make one for every staff member. Either way, this is a fun staff morale-boosting activity to use in August as you begin another year! 

Grab All of the August Staff Morale Resources In One Place!

Love all of these staff morale resources and ideas? Good news! You can find all of them inside the August Staff Morale Bundle! Simplify your planning for the whole month by grabbing the bundle! You'll get all 5 resources at a reduced price in one, easy download. This way, you can prep all of these activities over the summer and return to school in August ready to welcome staff with open arms! I know you'll be glad you did, especially as the busy season begins. 

I know this time of year is notorious for being busier than ever, but keep in mind that with a little bit of summer prep, you can recognize staff and start the year off on such a positive note. Choosing to incorporate some August staff morale resources will make all the difference when it comes to beginning the year on the right foot! 

Looking for More? 

If you know me, you know I love staff morale resources and activities! Here are some more posts to start your year off right! 

• Using Staff BINGO to Boost Morale
• 8 Ways to Boost Staff Morale in Your School This Year
• Create a Staff Morale Hub to Spread a Little Sunshine!

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