In only a couple of weeks, May 7-11, Teacher Appreciation Week will be celebrated at schools across the country.  It is an opportunity to say “Thank You” to teachers, staff, and volunteers for the work they do all year long.  Whether educating children or adults, from elementary school to secondary to graduate programs, teachers show commitment, patience and caring to their students to ensure they receive the best education available to them.  It is important to take time to thank teachers and educators, so they know that they are appreciated and the work they do matters.  Do something meaningful and special that they will remember, such as sponsoring a light breakfast with coffee, tea, and fruit or offering a gift of something they can enjoy in their personal time, such as golf or gardening.  It doesn’t take much, but a simple “thank you” can mean the world and shows that you recognize the talent it takes to guide our leaders of tomorrow.

Yesterday was the kickoff of Kindness Week at my daughter’s elementary school.  Each day has a theme, with some special events.  Some of these include special dress-up days (since they have a dress code, this is a big treat!) – sports apparel day, to represent teamwork, and clash day, because everyone is unique.  There are giveaways throughout the week for each child, also, including shaped erasers and cookies from a local bakery.  Each student will also be getting a Kindness T-Shirt to wear during special days throughout the school year.  The kids are all very excited and are really looking to these daily events since they are actively participating in them, and the giveaways are a way to remind them of Kindness Week all year long.

Do you have any events planned for students this year?  Whether it is promoting kindness, teamwork, or school spirit, make it fun and encourage participation by planning special activities, such as lunches, scavenger hunts and pep rallys.  Giveaways such as pencils, coloring books, stickers, and spirit products can communicate your message, and keep it top of mind all school year!

It’s coming….

No one wants to admit it or even think about it…. and we can’t stop it.

It’s BACK TO SCHOOL time.

Summer is a great time of leisure and vacations, and it’s even harder to let go of the warm, sunny days (especially here up North!). But this year, there’s something that we hope will make going back to school a little easier, and it’s a really “novel” idea for back to school promotions:

The Original Jumbo Book Sox!

These stretchy, fabric book covers go on in seconds and won’t tear like drab ol’ paper grocery bags. And since you can wash and reuse these each year, they’ll get plenty of use term after term.

Check out our product video to see it in action and get some great ideas on how to use it for your custom giveaway or promotional campaign!
Product Video: The Original Jumbo Book Sox

It may be the middle of summer, but soon parents will be thinking about school supplies, if they haven’t already!

I recently received my daughter’s school list, and in a couple of weeks, we’ll be off to do our shopping.  She will be going into kindergarten, so her list consists primarily of glue sticks, markers and crayons, but there are certainly some items that are needed at all age levels.

If your school is hosting any orientation activities prior to the first day of school, consider some practical supplies as giveaways, and products that will be used throughout the year.

Pencils are great for any students – since they are erasable! – plus they come in mechanical, colors, and even scents!

Rulers offer space to really show off your school logo and are available in sizes from 6” to 36”.

For keeping students organized, don’t forget folders!  Younger students can use them for carrying papers home to mom and dad, and high school and college students can stay organized by subject.

Back to school time will be here before we know it, so check out 4imprint’s Back to School Supplies Store for more practical giveaways!

As we near the end of the school year, we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, this week, May 2-6.    Whether educating children or adults, from elementary school to secondary to graduate programs, teachers show commitment, patience and caring to their students to ensure they receive the best education available to them.  It is important to take the opportunity to thank teachers and educators this week, so they know that they are appreciated and the work they do matters.  A little thank you can go a long way.

Thank you for all you do!

I am an incredibly sentimental person, and I have the ‘stuff’ to prove it.  Just ask my husband – I save everything!  Well, not literally everything, but items that commemorate special and important times in our lives – the clothes my babies wore when we brought them home from the hospital,  cards my husband has given to me over the years, and keepsakes from our wedding, just to name a few.  I even have things from college, which I had displayed proudly in my dorm room.

Some of things that I have hung to from my school years are picture frames and photo albums, ribbons and plaques.  I still look back from time to time, and when I get together with friends, it is always fun to go through memorabilia from those years.

As it nears the end of the school year, and graduation time approaches, students, educators, and parents will begin looking back and remembering the special times.  Take some time to be sure that the next couple of months will be enjoyable and memorable for all.  What can you give to students as a remembrance of the year?  How can you thank teachers and staff for all they’ve done?  How will you show appreciation for parents that have helped out with field trips, athletic events, or fundraisers?

Distance education is not a new concept.  In fact, colleges and universities have been offering it for years.  It can be a great opportunity for adult students to continue their educations while working and raising families.  If it weren’t for the option of online courses, I may not have been able to earn my MBA a few years ago.  It may or may not have happened, but certainly would not have happened within the time frame it did.

I have been hearing a lot of radio advertisements and reading a lot of articles recently about virtual education for the K-12 grade levels, too.  It may or may not be the right option for your school district, but this is a trend that is definitely on the rise.

If you are looking to add an online education option or courses to your district’s curriculum, take a look at this newsletter from 4imprint with ideas on how to help students make the most of this opportunity.

It’s hard to believe, since it’s about 8 months away, but my husband and I will be making a decision on where to send our oldest to kindergarten within the next couple of weeks.  Seems like it’s coming up quickly, and I am certainly not ready for that stage in her life (or mine!), but since registration is early February, it has to be done.

We have 2 options, and have taken tours and received plenty of information.  The schools have been very accommodating answering our questions.  I also appreciate that they are holding some upcoming events that we can attend – ‘Kindergarten Round-ups’ – where we can meet with teachers, talk with other parents, and ask additional questions that we may not have already asked.

At any school level, whether it is elementary, middle, high school, or college, parents want to be involved and get plenty of information on where their children will be getting their education.  What types of recruitment events are you holding, and how do you communicate with the parents of prospective students?  What are you doing to get parents involved upfront?

4imprint recently published a Blue Paper entitled Corporate Involvement in Schools, and I thought it would be very helpful for schools as they plan for the new school year.  Although it is directed at business, it can be a great resource on how you can partner with businesses to benefit your school.

Local companies can attend career fairs on your campus, to provide details on their industries or specialties to students. You could also work with a business to set up a work shadow program, which would allow students to follow local professionals for a day or two, to understand what is all involved in a career that interests them.  Beyond career information, there are also opportunities for collaboration on fundraisers, student performance incentives, and sponsorship opportunities.  The business that you partner with benefits by becoming more visible in the community, promoting their name, and possibly tax benefits from donations to the school, so teaming up becomes a win for both the school and the business.

Take a look at the Blue Paper, or listen to the Podcast.  There may be some ideas you want to pursue.