AWSP Blog

How in the world did it get to June? We are almost halfway through 2022 and I am not sure how that happened. I learned a long time ago the days can go by so slowly, BUT the years, they fly by. This seems more true now than ever. I know many of you have already completed your 2021 | 2022 school year, however, a few of us (myself included) still have a couple of weeks of celebration and milestones to push through. The finish line is in sight, so remember to find joy in the work EVERY single day. You are amazing and YOU are making a difference in the lives of so many. Be well and remember to drop me a line if you need any support. Happy June, Cindy.

How in the world did we get to the month of May so quickly? May is a month full of celebrations, which is often needed to help staff and school leaders push through to the end of the school year. This is the month we celebrate our teachers, nurses and lunch heroes. However, there are also a ton of other fun and simple days to add to your calendar to bring joy, fun, and laughter to your staff. I want to encourage you to go outside the traditional celebrations and have some fun with your staff this month. As always feel free to reach out to me if I can support your work. We are in this together and I absolutely believe in you.

I love APRIL. Spring time brings crazy scheduling for the Cromwell Family. Cooper, is playing baseball on two teams, and Kenzi, is preparing for high school graduation. We are taking time to enjoy these precious moments with our children along with the later sunsets, the blooming flowers (even though it brings out my husband's allergies), the birds in the morning, smell of fresh bark, and evenings on my deck. All of those signs of spring make me smile. However, April brings with it a new level of exhaustion for educators. This is the month you need to not feel guilty about shutting down your phone for an evening or weekend. Go for a walk, turn the music up a bit louder on your drive to and from work, get a massage, AND treat yourself to some me time. April is when we are starting to see the finish line for this school year so fill YOUR bucket because you can't take care of others if you don't have anything to give from. I hope you find this edition of my newsletter helpful to bring laughter and joy to your work. Feel free to reach out to me if I can do anything to support your work or be a sounding board for ideas. You got this.

October is full of many events, happenings, and holidays that are woven into our schools' fabric. Homecomings, spirit days, and Halloween festivities take shape and create a sense of camaraderie, connection, and even fun for students and the community. One tricky aspect of navigating dress-up days and even Halloween festivities: being aware, sensitive, and mindful of cultural appropriation. As you consider your school's community and cultural context, what shifts can be made to ensure dress-up days become opportunities for fun and unity rather than opportunities for pain and harm?

Chances are you’ve participated in or at least heard of a white elephant gift exchange. Each year before we close the office for the holidays, the AWSP staff holds a white elephant gift exchange, typically at our office or a restaurant. We gather around a table and one by one, choose, open, and steal gifts. We’ve had people bring old mix tapes, creepy bird paintings, and even a full-size family wall portrait. Many people leave the exchange with something cute or fun – silly socks, tasty treats, or new bowls for their kitchen. But undoubtedly someone leaves with something they never expected, never wanted, and aren’t sure what to do with now. They take the gift home awkwardly, vowing to save it and pawn it off on someone at next year’s exchange.  When you think about it, 2020 has been a white elephant year of sorts. We certainly weren’t expecting it, most of us had no idea what to do with it, and I’m pretty sure we’ve all thought more than once that we wish we could send it back. (Sorry! Leaving unwanted gifts behind at the restaurant is not allowed.) Being stuck with it, we’ve had to learn to make the most of it.