December Newsletter: Ending the Year with Connection and Cheer

By Veronica Gerald, Founder & CEO, Education Leadership Services, LLC

As the holiday season approaches, schools are buzzing with festivities, reflections, and plans for the new year. This is the perfect time to celebrate achievements, strengthen connections, and bring some extra joy to your school community. Let’s make the end of 2024 memorable!

1. Holiday Season Activities to Build Connections

Keep the season meaningful and engaging with these ideas:

• Experiential SEL Calendar: Create a daily activity calendar that incorporates kindness, gratitude, and cultural celebrations. Ideas include acts of service, classroom traditions sharing, and fun games that teach collaboration.
• Cultural Celebrations: Host an event where students and staff can showcase holiday traditions from different cultures.
• Random Acts of Kindness Week: Encourage students to spread positivity by completing small, impactful acts of kindness around the school.

2. Reflect, Recognize, and Recharge

Use December as an opportunity to reflect on growth and set the stage for success in the new year.

• Student-Led Celebrations: Allow students to lead year-end assemblies or presentations to celebrate their achievements.
• Teacher Spotlights: Recognize educators who’ve gone above and beyond with personalized shout-outs or small gifts.
• Schoolwide Gratitude Projects: Create a "Thank You Wall" where everyone can post notes of appreciation to peers, staff, and families.

3. Prepare for a Strong Start to 2025

With the new semester on the horizon, planning ahead can make all the difference.

• Mid-Year Goal Setting: Help teachers and students reflect on their progress and set specific, achievable goals for January.
• Holiday Break Reset Plans: Provide staff with simple strategies to mentally recharge during the holidays, such as mindfulness exercises or unplugged days.

Instructional Refreshers: Share quick resources to help teachers revitalize lesson plans for the spring semester.

4. Promote Leadership Development Through Coaching

This December, we’re thrilled to share that enrollment is still open for our 12-Week Virtual Coaching Pilot Program. Designed for school leaders, this program offers:

• Personalized coaching tailored to your school’s unique needs.
• Actionable strategies for improving behavior management and school culture.
• Results-driven sessions to ensure measurable progress in leadership goals.

Start 2025 with stronger leadership and a renewed vision for success.

Book a Call with Us to discuss how this program can transform your school’s leadership journey.

"December is not the end—it’s the launchpad for new beginnings. Let’s wrap up the year with purpose, joy, and a shared commitment to excellence in education."— Veronica Gerald