Summer Planning

Summer Planning Resources for School Leadership

Summer gives school leaders room to plan ahead for the culture they want to build next year. These resources support thoughtful planning for staff wellbeing and school climate before the new year begins.

A laptop with logos for MagicSchool and Alpaca on the screen sits on a wood desk with a coffee cup and jar of pens.
A laptop with logos for MagicSchool and Alpaca on the screen sits on a wood desk with a coffee cup and jar of pens.

How to Use AI to Build a Stronger School Culture

A five-step leadership framework for building school culture and staff wellbeing, plus AI tools to help.
Varies
A hand writes on a postcard that says "welcome to the team."

Postcards to Welcome New Staff to Your Building

A low-prep onboarding activity that helps school leaders build connection from day one.
5 min
Two women sit at a table with pens in hands. they write on notecards.

Quick Quarterly Questions Icebreaker

A quick staff icebreaker activity for reflecting on quarterly wins, goals, and gratitude.
15-20 min
A woman stands in a doorway to a school waving. Two women walk toward her.

Back-to-School Night Ideas That Families Will Remember

A list of ideas to engage families and students.
1-2 hours
Papers are taped to a white wall with purple sticky notes stuck around them. A hand reaches in to place a note.

Sticky Note Stations

A simple way for teachers to share honest feedback and ideas anonymously.
Ongoing
Two women look down at a notecard with handwriting on it.

Goal Buddy Pair-Ups

A simple professional development idea that builds lasting peer support.
5-10 min
A man sits at a desk in a classroom. He is looking at blank notecards and making notes in a notebook.

Glow and Grow Cards

A quick peer feedback activity for staff meetings and PD days.
5-10 min
A woman stands in a hallway smiling while another woman hands her a small piece of paper.

Staff Meeting Exit Ticket

A quick slip for the end of a meeting or PD session to capture takeaways and questions.
2-3 min
A hand places a notecard with handwritten notes on it in a slot mailbox.

Appreciation Avalanche

A simple teacher recognition idea.
Ongoing
A woman sits reading notecards with hand-written notes on them.

If I Were Principal...

A quick staff feedback activity that gives every teacher a voice.
10-15 min
A woman sits at a wooden desk writing on a piece of paper.

The Streamline & Simplify System

Practical first year principal tips to simplify daily duties.
Ongoing

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