END OF THE YEAR TIPS
Mar 25, 2021
You may be asking "Why are they talking about the end of the year already?" Well, those who have been school principals for awhile know that the next few months are going to fly by and the last day of school will be here before you know it.
We have pulled together a list of "End of the Year Tips" to help you begin thinking about and planning for that inevitable day. Here they are:
1. Crazy schedule solution: Be sure to communicate with your administrative assistant and be sure s/he has access to your professional calendar. S/he can help ensure you are in the right place at the right time during these last few very hectic months or weeks.
2. Handbook revisions: Know the dates your school board wants student/parent/staff handbooks (and other documents) by and begin revisions as appropriate. Often handbook revisions require more than one read by school boards and boards may meet less frequently in the summer than during the school year. Backwards plan so that all printing, if required, is completed well before the first day of school. Athletic handbooks often are handed out to student-athletes and parents BEFORE school starts so be sure to complete any required revisions well in advance. Major revisions may require committee input (challenging to gather folks the last few weeks of school). Less significant revisions may be able to be made by your administrative assistant with you giving them the final OK before going to the Board.
3. Faculty and Staff Recognitions: Be thinking about how you wish to honor your faculty and staff at the end of the year. Often, there is a final after school faculty meeting and an end-of-the-year gathering for all faculty and staff. Ice cream is an inexpensive way to show your appreciation. Ice cream sundaes help to lighten the mood. In addition to food, I once laid out small squirt guns, slinky's, PlayDoh, Crazy 8 balls, and bottles of bubbles on the tables at our last faculty/staff gathering. I thought our faculty and staff needed a little fun and laughter after an exceptionally challenging year. I didn't say anything about the items at the start of the meeting, just simply watched to see what would happen. Needless to say, it was one of our most memorable meetings! Personally, I enjoyed watching our team smile, laugh, and joke with one another.
4. Keep the Focus on Learning: Great leaders recognize that every day is a learning opportunity day. Be certain to carefully maintain a balance between "learning days" and "lounging days" especially the last few weeks of school (and when the weather gets nicer if you live in a cold weather area). It becomes easy for teachers and students to justify slacking off. Avoid falling into destructive thinking such as, "It's Friday. Let the kids have the day off." Or, "It's the end of the year, they've earned it." Keep your expectations high. If you slack, your teachers will slack. If your teachers slack, your students will slack. It's a balance between keeping high expectations for excellence and meeting the emotional/social/mental needs of all.
5. Schedules and Calendars for the Next Year: Look to schedule school events, faculty/staff meeting dates, cultural arts schedules, etc. before the end of the year. These schedules or calendars often require input from faculty and/or staff and it is difficult to reach folks in the summer. Dates may change but at least you will have a draft calendar created before everyone leaves.
6. Final Observations/Evaluations: It is important to ensure all final teacher observations, staff evaluations, and administrator evaluations, if applicable, are completed as required contractually but definitely before the end of the school year. In reality, teacher observations should not be done the last couple of weeks of school. It is very difficult working around end-of-the-year testing, field trips, test prep lessons, and half-day schedules. You have limited opportunities to actually see teachers teaching and facilitating student learning. Know what your support staff contract language says and complete evaluations accordingly.Use your administrative assistant to help you create a final schedule of observations, post observations, final evaluations meetings, etc.
7. End-Of-The-Year Schedule: Get a final schedule out to faculty, staff, parents, and students as soon as possible (at least one month before the end of school is helpful for all involved). The last few weeks of school are exceptionally busy and require careful planning. Depending on your audience, include the following: test schedules, test prep sessions, field trips, prom, sporting events, graduation information including rehearsals, early dismissal days/half days if applicable, last day(s) of school, and end-of-the-year busing schedules if different.