Staff Traditions

Hearing Alan talk today about his staff structure and seeing Mike's pictures of his classroom reminded me of my staff's traditions. We make a big deal out of our seniors' last week of school. We have a senior luncheon where staff members present each other with gag gifts and seniors hand out paper plate awards.

Chaim, my stepson, explains that his gift of "stalker glasses" to Brianna. At CSPA and NSPA, she hunted down the St. Mark's staff and friended them all on Facebook. 

Vallen hands a bouquet of celery to a classmate who eats nothing but. Vallen chose to move on to photography next year instead of staying with yearbook, hence the placard she is wearing.

Editor-in-Chief, Alexa, hands out the paper plate awards at our senior luncheon. Underclassmen brought in sides and appetizers and I ordered two huge salads from Panera.

On the last day of school for seniors, our underclassmen editors delivers a flower bouquet and a special theme-specific senior gift to each senior's first period. This year, since our theme was "The Box" (our school has no windows -- and our book was divided into two sections -- inside the box and outside the box), one of our parents handmade wooden keepsake boxes for every senior. My rising EIC secretly surveyed every staff member gathering words and phrases describing each senior and she included those in a Wordle-type graphic including their senior picture that was then placed on top of each box. I included a personal card to each senior from me inside of the box. Oh, and they also got Frappuccinos.

Alexa receiving her senior gift and flowers on her last day of school.

A close up of the Wordle-type phrases customized for each senior. 

Flower bouquets for senior editors handed out on their last day.

For further ideas end-of-the-year ideas for your staff, visit my website and watch the slideshow or scroll down and download the activity worksheets describing the projects.

Slide from the session "The Book's Done, Now What" presented at NSPA and CSPA during the spring of 2013.

Adrienne Forgette
Northern HS
Owings, MD