There are so many great things about this special month that make it special. February is the month of love, a new grading term for some, my daughter's birthday, and IT is finally starting to stay light a bit longer on my drive home. (YAHOO to all of them). February is a time for magical learning in the classroom when our students begin to hit their stride and "get it". Our seniors are coming to the realization that graduation is around the corner. All of our hard work IS paying off and we see the fruits of our labor. Each and every day, educators are making a difference in the lives of students, staff, and the community. Your never ending belief in those you serve is a true game changer. You are an inspiration. You will find this newsletter full of easy to use ideas to bring joy, laughter and support to your team. February celebrations seem to all revolve around food so you may want to purchase some Pepcid to keep on hand next time you are at the store. As always feel free to reach out to me if I can support your work and to share your celebrations. You can always find me on Twitter @sholtys or email cindy.cromwell@kelsosd.org. We are in this together no matter the distance between our zip codes. Peace and Love, Cindy

Feb 1 | National Dark Chocolate Day With the grocery store aisles lined with candy, this should be an easy one. Look for individual chocolates to share with your staff today.

Feb 2 | National Ukulele Day The Ukulele is simply a beautiful instrument. Play "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole to set the stage for an awesome day as students enter, during announcements, or put it on repeat as you will never get tired of this song. AND, it is also National Bubble Gum Day-Bubble blowing competition for staff. Another idea might be to have staff share their favorite flavor of gum and brainstorm with their students a recommended new flavor they wish existed. Prizes for the most creative and tasty of ideas. AND, Feb 2 is also Tater Tot Day!! Could you have a tater tot bar for your staff with various dips and toppings for a staff lunch?

Feb 5 | National Nutella Day Nutella snack packs come with a variety of treats. From pretzels to bread sticks, purchase these for your staff. P.S., Costco can hook you up at a reasonable price. AND, it's also Weatherperson’s Day, which could be a great time for science class.

Feb 6 | National Chopsticks Day “Chopping Through the School Year Together”.

Feb 7 | National Send a Card to a Friend Day (and my daughter Kenzington's Birthday) Handwritten notes seem to have become a lost art. Take a couple minutes today to encourage all staff to send a note of encouragement and appreciation to someone they care about. Provide staff with a notecard and a stamp for the finishing touch.

Feb 8 | National Kite Flying Day Where I live, in the Pacific Northwest, we usually do not have kite flying weather in February. However, I will be heading to the Dollar Tree to pick up a kite for each staff member. Add a note that says, "Our students soar like kites because you help them fly. Happy Kite Flying Day."

Feb 9 National Pizza Day Raffle ticket drawings throughout today for a gift certificate for a pizza dinner. Check with your neighborhood pizza parlor for a BIG discount. Feb 9 Is also the Friday before the Super Bowl. Now that my Patriots and Seahawks have been eliminated I will have more time for cooking for this occasion. Why not have a potluck with staff today full of favorite appetizers?

Feb 13 | It's Mardi Gras!!! Have a bead necklace on the desk of every staff member this morning with a note about every day being a celebration at your school because of staff like you.

Feb 14 | Valentine's Day Plan ahead if you are giving out staff Valentine's Cards.

Feb 16 | No One Eats Alone Day Based on your school lunch set up, you can create something for either staff or students. If you choose to celebrate this with your staff, create a calm ambiance in your staff room with table cloths, battery-operated candles, and cute desserts. With your students, you could create activities for a fun cafeteria feel to remind everyone they have a place at the table. Feb 16 is also National Almond Day. Take advantage of the after Valentine's sales and pick up some almond candies to share.

Feb 20 | National Love Your Pet Day Staff share a picture of their pet, and students can guess which pet belongs to which staff member. It is also National Muffin Day, which is a great choice for a breakfast snack for your staff after a 3-day weekend.

Feb 21 | National Sticky Bun Day Little Debbie will be your best friend today. Go to any grocery store and pick up a few of these cheap and unhealthy snacks to share.

Feb 22 | National Walking the Dog Day You could do the obvious here or get a bit creative and give out some Yo-Yo's. Share a YouTube video on how to "walk the dog" and then have a staff competition. AND, it's also National Chili Day. If you know me at all, you know I LOVE Seinfeld. My cats are even named George and Newman as a tribute to this great show. Fans of the show will understand this one--- purchase several cans of chili. Have a drawing where staff pull out a paper from a basket. Winning papers will say "soup for you", and they win a can of chili OR draw a paper that says "NO SOUP FOR YOU" which is a losing ticket.

Feb 26 | National Pistachio Day My Aunt Betty's favorite day - Have pistachio snack bags for everyone or bowls of this great treat available during breaks.

Feb 27 | National Strawberry Day Strawberry soda floats, strawberry snacks, or strawberry seeds for staff to plant.

Feb 29 | Leap Day Provide Leap Day Awards for students or staff who have made significant "leaps" in achievement. Create a special playlist with songs that have “leap” or “jump” in their titles and play this music throughout the day.