Everybody loves a cookie, so why not celebrate all of the different varieties?  December 4th is the day to celebrate the goodness of this treat. You can hand out free cookies and just make everybody happy! Cookies appear to have their origins in 7th century AD Persia, shortly after the use of sugar became relatively common in the region.  By the 14th century, they were common in all levels of society throughout Europe, from royal cuisine to street vendors. One of the most pop

Our Student Council endeavors to promote respect and raise school spirit. To accomplish this goal, The EDSS Student Council has developed a new way of recognizing EDSS students who improve their school community. With the gracious support of Administration, Student Council hosts “Breakfast with the Principal.” Once a week, a small group of students meets our principal or a Vice-Principal for breakfast during period A. Breakfast with the Principal gives positive and spirited s

The dollar stores are indispensable allies in the hunt for teacher appreciation ideas. We buy our staff two gifts a year that we try to keep in the $5 or under range. Coffee mugs, plastic apples, portfolios, pens have been our recent purchases and we do one at either the start of school or at the winter break and the other at Teacher Appreciation week in May. Here’s a list of some things we have done but you can come up with your own just as easily: A small mirror with the no

Three years ago, with these points in mind, members of our Student Council created a new end-of-year Student Activity Awards Assembly, that has since become known as – The Golden Bagels. Here are a few of the highlights of our last two Golden Bagels: The assembly begins with heavy fog from our tech committee, flashing lights, cool music, confetti, and of course, the raising of the Golden Bagel to the rafters of our school gym (the bagel is a huge inflated tube – painted to lo

For our staff appreciation activity we decided to take the party to the staff. Several students put together small loot bags with treats and goodies to be presented to each staff member. They included pencils, care bears with “you care about students” messages, etc. Then, each student was to find out three neat things about the staff member who they were an ambassador to. They found this information by talking to other staff or students. (You have to teach them how to be tric

We treat our teachers to Room Service after the exam period. They have a day at school without classes for a between semester turnaround, so student council provides a “breakfast in your room” treat for them. Prior to this day, we supply an order card for them in their mailboxes with the following note: Report Cards are finished, Parent-Teacher Interviews are over, and it’s time for you to relax and enjoy some breakfast on us! Name: Where will you be during Period 1 on [date]

We have nomination forms in student activities, and we promote this at least once a week on the morning announcements to remind students. Basically, students can nominate any staff member they feel goes above and beyond the call of duty – whether it be an amazing lesson, a little extra slushy in the glass or countless hours spent after school with a team or club. Student nominators are asked to provide a short written explanation of why their nominee deserves the recognition,