Magnificent May Staff Morale Boosters!

May is one of the busiest months in any school. With summer on the horizon, teachers, administrators, and other school staff members are all hard at work to wrap up the year. I know that when life gets busy it can be easy to let staff morale activities slip. But, the truth is, this is when we need them most! Come along to see some magnificent May staff morale boosters that won't break the bank or take hours to prep!

Making Staff Morale Activities a Priority in May 

We all know that this month is a busy one for classrooms and schools. When things are busy, school workers often feel a bit frazzled, which means building staff morale is more important than ever. The last thing we want is for school workers and teachers to end the year in full-blown burnout mode. This is certainly not ideal! So even though this is a busy time, I encourage you to prioritize staff morale activities in May. I promise you will see a big payoff in your school culture!

"But how?!", you might be asking. Well, my friend, you're in the right place! Today, I have 5 May staff morale boosters to share that come together quickly, take minimal effort to prepare, and, best of all, are actually affordable to execute. These ideas will allow you to ensure that staff know they are appreciated and end the year on a cheerful and encouraging note! Ready? Let's go!

1. Staff Morale Rock, Paper, Scissors Challenge 

This first idea is one of my absolute favorites because it's super simple to pull off and a little different from some of the other ideas you might typically use. Everyone loves a good game, right? That's how the Rock, Paper, Scissors Challenges were born! In this Spring/Summer Rock, Paper, Scissors Challenge, staff members will face off to win! Here's how it works:

First, you will distribute a letter that explains the rules of the game to all of your staff members. You'll also distribute to each person a floral lei necklace with a fun tag attached. To play, teachers and staff members will challenge each other to a game of rock, paper, scissors when they pass each other in the halls. The winner gets to "steal" the floral lei necklace from the person they challenged. This continues throughout the day, and staff continue to collect necklaces. If someone with multiple necklaces loses a match, they only need to give away one to the winner. At the end of the day, the leis are counted up, and then prizes are distributed to the winners!

You can choose winners in a few different ways to make this work for your school. The staff members with the most necklaces can be awarded prizes, or you can give out prizes to anyone who still has at least 1 necklace. Either way allows for a lot of people to win! This game is a fun way to help staff feel connected and get a chance to check in and visit with each other for a couple of minutes throughout the day. It's the perfect May staff morale booster to lighten the weight of this hectic time and make your staff smile!

2. Staff Morale Taco Bar Luncheon 

It's taco time! I don't know about you, but I always loved a good luncheon, potluck, or group meal at my school. It was such a wonderful way to get the staff to come together, chat over lunch, and just enjoy each other's company. May is a great time to host a Taco Bar Luncheon in honor of Cinco de Mayo! But really, everyone loves tacos any time of year, so feel free to use this idea whenever it fits your schedule best. 

Taco Potluck 

There are a couple of ways we put together the Taco Bar at my school. The first was potluck style. In this case, I put out sign-up sheets ahead of time and everyone brought a little something to pull this lunch off. This is nice because you only need to do the organizing, and everyone works together to bring in taco fixings. Here are some of the things I recommend:

• seasoned proteins in crockpot (beef, chicken, plant-based)
• rice & beans
• lettuce / tomato
• salsa / pico de gallo
• shredded cheese
• sour cream 
• tortilla chips
• tortillas 

Everyone signs up to bring something, and then you, as the organizer, get everything laid out and ready for lunchtime. I liked to put out some festive decor and signs to take this up a notch. This is so much fun, and everyone loves enjoying tacos together!

Partial Catering Option

Another option, if you want to simplify this for your staff, is to have the meal, or part of it, catered. You could have a local restaurant provide the meats and beans, and then have staff sign up for toppings and fixings. This, obviously, is much more expensive and would require some funding from the administration or your Sunshine Committee to pull off. But, with some careful planning and fundraising ahead of time throughout the year, it certainly can be done! And. . . if you align this with Cinco de Mayo there is a really good chance that it falls during Teacher Appreciation Week, too! If you go this route, fill in the name of the restaurant for all the parts of the meal they will be providing, and allow staff to sign up for the other items. 

Oh, and don't forget, to help simplify this process, I created a resource to help! Grab this Taco Bar Luncheon Pack for shopping lists, sign-up sheets, decor, and more. No matter what you choose, this is bound to be a celebration that everyone will love. 

3. Scratch-Off Tickets 

I think we can all agree that winning prizes is just plain fun! I'm sure that's why so many people love those little scratch-off lottery tickets you can buy at the gas station. It's exciting to reveal a prize! That's where the idea for these April & May Scratch-Off Tickets came from. They are just like those fun little lottery tickets, except you get to choose prizes and rewards that your staff will love! 

To prepare, you simply choose the tickets you'd like to include and print them off. There are a few different options, as well as blank tickets so that you can write in your own prizes. After printing, you'll cover up the prize with a scratch-off sticker or paint. Then, pass them out and let the fun begin! There are so many great options for prizes out there, so you can really mix it up depending on your budget. I actually wrote a whole post about prizes that work well for scratchers, so be sure to read that next!

Pass these fun little tickets out at your May staff meeting, place them in mailboxes, or give them out just because. Each one features a fun, seasonal phrase, a cute image, and of course - a prize! I know that your staff will absolutely love these. 

4. Staff Appreciation Banner 

May includes Teacher Appreciation Week, and we have so much to thank our wonderful teachers for! Many other staff appreciation days and weeks for administrators, nurses, and lunch workers fall around this time of year, too. Not to mention, Employee Appreciation Day is May 7th, so why not celebrate everyone?! 

That's exactly why I made this Staff Appreciation Banner! This is a wonderful way to recognize your entire staff at once and make everyone feel valued and appreciated. Inside the resource, you get a set of adorable black and white pennant flags that can be arranged in 4 different ways to recognize your staff. Just print, cut, and string them together, and you're ready to go. It's simple and easy to prep, but will make a big impact! It's perfect for the staff lounge, school office, or a hallway that all the staff use. 

The best part of this resource, though, is the fillable pennant pages. These were created so you can create personalized messages for specific staff members or teams to add to the banner. You could string these on their own and hang them below the Staff Appreciation Banner for even more fun. Everyone will love finding their personalized flag and reading the note from administration or the Sunshine Committee. If you want to add some personalized recognition to your May staff morale activities, I know you'll love this resource!

5. Staff Morale Windshield Messages 

Last on this list of May staff morale boosters is another great way to make each member of your school feel valued! These May Windshield Messages are sure to brighten up every staff member's day! The idea here is to print them off and then head out to the parking lot to tuck them under each staff member's car windshield wipers. Each one includes a fun spring message, so you can simply print and go! There are 9 different seasonal messages included, such as:

• Live like it's Spring
• You are the Bee's Knees!
• We've got sunshine on a cloudy day!
• The earth laughs in flowers. 

These adorable spring-themed messages are decorated with colorful text and cute designs to add to the fun. Additionally, there is a black and white option that looks great printed on bright, colorful paper! You can even personalize them by adding a sentence or two on the back for specific staff members if you'd like. No matter how you choose to use them, I know everyone on your team will feel valued when they find their note. 

Simplify May Staff Morale Activities 

Which of these May Staff Morale Boosters was your favorite? Can't decide? Me either! And the good news is that we don't have to. With the May Staff Morale Boosters Bundle, you get all 5 of these great activities at one low cost. Not only will you save by purchasing the bundle, but you'll also get the opportunity to simplify your planning. I know you will love being able to take the task of staff morale activities off your plate this May, so be sure to check out the bundle! Have fun celebrating with staff and wrapping up another great year at your school. 

Looking for More Staff Morale Boosters?

The May Staff Morale Boosters Bundle is part of a year-long bundle that's designed to take the stress out of planning your faculty activities. Each month, you'll be well prepared with seasonal and holiday-themed staff morale activities that I know everyone at your school will love! Take the worry out of planning staff morale boosters at your school and check out the Staff Morale Monthly Round-Up Bundle!

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Little Things That Make a Big Impact on Staff Morale

Staff morale can feel like a big undertaking at times, especially in the hustle and bustle of a busy school year! If you've felt this way but still want to show appreciation to your staff, you're not alone. Today, I'm going to show you how to cut through the overwhelm and focus on the little things that make a big impact on staff morale!

Small Gestures Add Up to BIG Rewards

Managing staff morale activities can sometimes feel like a big "to-do". No one likes feeling like this! It's discouraging and difficult to manage, especially when you've got a million other things on your plate. But...what if I told you it doesn't have to feel this way? 

Over my many years as the leader of the Sunshine Committee in my school, I discovered an important fact. Small gestures, or "the little things," add up to big rewards. Most people just want to be thought of. I know I feel this way. Small but kind and thoughtful gestures are really all it takes to make people feel valued and appreciated. 

This is good news if you've been feeling overwhelmed by managing staff morale. It doesn't have to feel this way! Instead, let's talk about some of the most meaningful, small gestures you can use to help staff know they are appreciated for all their hard work. 

Staff Birthday Cards 

This one is always at the top of my list because I think everyone deserves to be celebrated. Even those who say they don't want to make a fuss about their birthdays usually crack a smile when they realize they were remembered. The great thing about sending out birthday cards is that you can write a customized note for each person. This means SO much! Whether you decide to pass around a birthday card for others to sign or send one out on your own, you can't go wrong.

I liked to use these cards. I saved them on my computer and once a month went through my list to see what birthdays were coming up. Then, I'd print one off for each person and personalize it. This resource also includes a graphic organizer to help you keep track of birthdays each month. This is a small gesture that always makes staff members feel valued!

Water Bottle Labels 

Another fun thing you can do to show staff they are appreciated is to stock the staff lounge fridge with water bottles. Everyone loves a nice, cold drink, and it's great to have them available at your fingertips. Take this a step further by adding printable water bottle labels that spread a little sunshine. These year-round labels include fun sayings such as:

• Welcome Back 
• Spooktacular October
• November to Remember
• Dash through December and more!

Best of all, these are so easy to use! Just print them out, cut them apart, and tape them over the label of regular water bottles. Then, place them in the fridge or out on a table for staff to grab. This is a fun and easy way to show staff you're thinking of them all year long. 

Popcorn Labels 

Everyone needs a snack to go with their drink, right?! Try these Popcorn Labels to boost staff morale and pass out a non-perishable snack to your team. These are easy to prepare and so much fun. Simply print the labels, wrap them around a microwave popcorn package, and tape them into place. Then, you can personally "pop in" to drop them off to each person. I find that hand-delivering them increases the gesture and makes staff feel super valued! 

You might also consider making these a special treat that you can leave on the teacher's desk after you do a walk-through or classroom observation. It's just a small token that helps to make those pop-ins less stressful.

You can buy a large package of Microwave Popcorn at places like Sam's Club or Costco. I've also seen them at Walmart and even on Amazon! This is a quick and easy way to show staff appreciation and pass out a fun treat!

Post-It Notes

One of my favorite "little things that mean so much" is a good, old-fashioned note. Simply giving someone a note is like a written high-five and easily boosts staff morale and mood. One of the ways that I made this easier on myself is by using templates to print bulk notes out on Post-Its. This is super simple. You just use the template to place sticky notes on, then place that page in your printer and print off a whole bunch at once! 

This resource includes 30 different post-it note messages that print 6 to a page. These are an easy way to reach out to staff and say well done! I liked to preprint a variety of notes to keep on hand. That way, they were ready to go when I wanted to share one. You can even jot a little message down on each one if you want to add a personal touch. 

Lottery Tickets 

Playing the lotto, or using a scratcher, is just plain fun! Best of all, though, these are an inexpensive way to reward staff at your school. There are many varieties that are only one dollar, and you can pass these out during staff meetings, as holiday gifts, or just for fun! 

When we used these at my school, I liked to personalize them a little more with a fun tag. These tags say "Thanks a Lotto" and look so cute attached to a lottery ticket. There are 3 different options to choose from, so that you can pick which one suits your needs best. 

At my school, these would randomly appear after a staff member had gone above and beyond or just helped in an unexpected way. There are tons of ways to use lotto tickets, and I know that no matter which one you choose, your staff will be super appreciative. 

Get Everyone Involved

When it comes to doing little things that make a big impact, you can get everyone involved with these Random Acts of Kindness Posters. These tear off posters feature a variety of fun and easy ways staff can make someone else's day. The suggested activities are no or low cost and take very little time. But to the receiver, it means a lot. 

I liked to print off one poster and hang it in the staff lounge or near the staff mailboxes.  It doesn't take long for someone to tear off a task and complete it. Before you know it, the small tasks of kindness become contagious. It is a great way to build a work environment where everyone looks out for each other and helps when there is a need. I don't know about you, but that is a great type of working environment.

Small Gifts to Boost Morale 

I saved my personal favorite for last! One of my favorite ways to boost staff morale and show appreciation was with small gifts that could be worked into the budget. Most everyone who works in a school loves office supplies and snacks, so why not use these items as small gestures to show appreciation?! The options are endless. Here are some ideas:

• pens
• post-it notes
• dry erase makers
• pretzels or chips
• packaged muffins 
• small bags of cookies, and more!

There are so many fun things that are inexpensive and easy to pass out to staff. Make this even more fun with a gift tag that correlates to the item you're giving out. This resource includes 30 different gift tags that are themed to go with specific items. They all have cute little sayings and are sure to make your staff smile! 

The Little Things Mean SO Much! 

I hope this list has inspired you to take the overwhelm out of the equation when it comes to staff morale. While planning big events and activities can be fun sometimes, it's often not necessary to show staff that we appreciate them and value their hard work. When we focus on small gestures that make a big impact, it allows us to sprinkle more joy into the workplace without getting stressed and overwhelmed! 

So, whether you hand out little treats, write meaningful notes, or give out personalized gift cards, these little things really do mean so much! If you need more inspiration, be sure to head on over to my TPT Store to check out all my Staff Morale Resources. Have fun, friends! 

Need Help Budgeting for Staff Morale?

Budgeting for staff morale can often be one of the things that can cause the most stress and overwhelm. If you're not sure how to manage this piece of the puzzle, be sure to read this post next! 

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This post is jam-packed with ideas and is sure to come in handy as you plan your staff morale activities. Make sure to pin it on Pinterest so that you can come back to it when you're in need of more easy and effective staff morale activities.