The “Big Germ”, in physically distancing us, has forced us to invent and innovate new ways of doing things, including school. Despite the complaints of “crisis schooling” and the general agreement that face-to-face learning is ideal, many individuals and communities are not ready to go back to “brick and mortar” education. Remote learning, or distance learning, differs from virtual, online classes in that it provides for a more interactive and personalized experience while allowing students and teachers to seamlessly reenter the physical school building at a later date. At least in theory.
All of these education models clearly have their plusses and minuses, one of which is the division it creates between members of the school community. How, then, can Harvest Print help your school to maintain their school spirit? Can absence make the heart grow fonder? We believe it can! Here are some of our best team-building ideas to bring together students in different locations & that Harvest can print:
- Use direct mail. Personalized mail is so fun to receive! Provide your students with pre-addressed, stamped envelopes and pair up remote and face-to-face students as pen pals. We can provide these as well as prepare large mailings where we do all the work and save you a bundle on postage! From birthday postcards and welcome messages to school spirit packages, we are here to help!
- Love those magnets and decals on other people’s cars? Create your own for the entire school or individual clubs and organizations. These make great freebies, rewards, AND fundraisers!
- Personalized pens and pencils celebrate birthdays, special occasions, individual grades and clubs, and entire schools! They are easy to mail or include in welcome bags and resource packs.
- Planners have always been a way for schools to teach organization and facilitate parent-teacher communication. Oftentimes, they are fully funded through advertising and business partnerships and include important school information and educational resources. Providing one for every student creates a sense of continuity among learners of every style.
- Want to use a proven literacy technique to build community among remote learners? Publish a class book! Class books include contributions from each class member and can be “checked out”, rotated, or printed for each student.
- Paperback yearbooks are just the right size for our printing presses! Create your own design or enlist the help of our team of professional graphic designers. We are able to complete the entire process in house and will work with you to come up with the perfect solution for commemorating your school’s year!
- Bookmarks are handy and an inexpensive way to promote reading, organization, and other learning. For instance, bookmarks might be printed with multiplication tables, calendars, reading logs, affirmations, names of Presidents, or anything you can dream up!
- School clothing is not only practical but promotes school spirit and is a great fundraiser and item for the school store. Face-to-face and online students alike can sport various types of T-shirts, hoodies, and sweatshirts emblazoned with the school’s name and mascot.
- School drawstring backpacks are also popular in school stores and are appreciated when a lightweight option is needed for each student.
- Lanyards hold school IDs, name tags, face masks, and collectible rewards (like Run Club feet and spirit sticks). They can be personalized in different ways such as labeled for individual classes, grades, and clubs or color-coded.
- School IDs for both remote and in-person students provide a sense of belonging and ownership. They can also be useful for student discounts and on campus contactless payment.
- Sticky notes and notepads adorned with a school’s name and logo, teacher’s name, or other affirmation are not only useful tools, but excellent opportunities to appreciate employees and promote your school community.
- Stress toys and stickers are fun rewards to include in “goody bags” for students. A drive-thru party/pickup provides an opportunity for safe and socially distant interaction for all.
- Stickers and paper bracelets are great tools for reminding families of school events (Picture Day Tomorrow, Open House Tonight), deadlines (Order Your Yearbook, Fundraiser Deadline Friday), and specific skills (Wash Your Hands, Word of the Day). They are also fun to give for special achievements (I Lost a Tooth, I Know My Doubles!), and birthdays.
Regardless of what style education your school is choosing, school spirit is important and we at Harvest would love to help! There are so many ways that a school board, PTO or school itself can promote spirit and Harvest would love nothing more than to be a partner in making this happen. Don’t be scared of what’s to come – be prepared. Prepare in safety measures and ways to keep our kids, our future generations, in moving forward with learning AND making it fun!