The end of the school year can bring up a variety of emotions. Many of us are relieved about the break ahead, but it’s also normal to feel sadness, frustration, and plain old fatigue—especially when testing, graduation, and perhaps a few behavioral spikes are on the calendar ahead.
I find that taking a deep breath and eating a snack can solve a surprising number of concerns. But when it comes to the final push of the academic calendar, these are the five rules I live by.
1. Slow down to speed up. I get it. It seems counterintuitive to slow down at this time of year when so many things are coming at us so quickly. However, there’s nothing like chaos to influence bad decisions. On the contrary, I find that when we intentionally slow things down, we also slow our stress response and reaction rate. Slowing down makes us thoughtful, which is often the best thing we can be when student emotions are high. When there are more things on my to-do list than I can handle and I feel that familiar overwhelm, I know that’s my cue to take things one step at a time and not rush into anything.
2. Celebrate small wins. We hold an event called “Data and Donuts” three times a year. It happens once in the fall and twice in the spring, which is on purpose. “Data and Donuts” is an informal, relationship-forward way to change the conversation around assessment results. More importantly, it’s a date on the calendar where students and staff gather with some donuts before school to celebrate wins. Our goal is to collaboratively create a growth mindset in an environment where students know they are safe to share their struggles as well as their strengths.
This is also the time of year I make sure to recognize our teachers and staff for all they do. Whether it’s a day to treat everyone to lunch or honor someone publicly, I always want to acknowledge how hard my teachers and staff work to create an environment of optimal learning.
3. Get outside. Spring fever is real. When kids and teachers are at capacity, this is the time to take learning on the road. Whether it’s a field trip to a nature center or an indoor experience at a local go-kart track, spring is the season to reward behavior and use the resources available.
We don’t have to make every experience “educational” in the textbook way. It’s important to remember that middle school and high school students are also building their emotional IQ. Even if a field trip is “just for fun,” you never know what your students will learn about themselves and their ability to relate to their peers and the world around them.
4. Remember the vision. There will be a day this month when you will question why you thought it was a good idea to go into education in the first place. When these thoughts creep in, take a second to remind yourself about the aspects of the job you love and get to do each day. It’s also helpful to remember that our scholars won’t be with us forever and that they are sharing a special part of their lives with us.
And if none of that resonates, laugh when you can and enjoy the ride!
5. Don’t forget to eat. I have the most amazing staff, who know me well. Sometimes, they gently ask me, “Did you eat today?”
It’s another way of saying, “Hey, I care about you and I want you to care about yourself.”
This is something we can all do for each other.
The last few months of the year are a big push. But we can also make it a wonderful end to the year if we can take care of ourselves and our students enough to enjoy it.
For more on mental health and well-being, check out the May issue of Principal Leadership.
