Planning an End of the School Year Party for Teachers

Every classroom has an end of the school year party for the students, but what about the teachers? After another year of hard work, consider throwing a staff party for the teachers and administration to celebrate. This can give teachers who only see each other occasionally during the school year a chance to get to know their co-workers better.

Planning an end of the school year party for teachers: Outdoor parties

The first consideration when planning an end of the school year party for teachers is where to hold the event. School is often the default choice, but many teachers are itching for a chance to get away by the time the end of the year rolls around. A party at someone's home can be fun, especially if they have a pool or barbecue everyone can use. Of course, this is a hassle for the teacher who is hosting the party, so a public location may be a better choice. Since the weather is usually good in the summertime in most locations, outdoor end of the school year parties work well. A public park or beach is a great place to hold an outdoor summer party and you can often reserve an entire picnic area just for your group of teachers.

Planning an end of the school year party for teachers: Indoor parties

If you would prefer an indoor location for your teachers' end of the school year party, a restaurant or bar may also be an option. The place you choose will depend on if the party is an adults-only event or if the teachers will be bringing their children. Ask for opinions at a staff meeting before planning an end of the school year party at an adults-only establishment. If your school has mostly younger teachers, attendance may be lacking because of the difficulty in finding a babysitter. Some family-friendly venues that can work for a teachers' party include a local pizza parlor, bowling alley, or even an all-ages billiards hall. If you are permitting children, try to choose a location that gives them something to do.

Planning an end of the school year party for teachers: Gifts and acknowledgements

The end of the school year party is a good time to hand out awards or special gifts to the other teachers. This can be something simple and personal like a photo album of pictures taken during the past school year or something more significant like a gift certificate to an expensive restaurant for a teacher who is retiring. Acknowledging the new teachers on your staff can help them feel like they have done a good job at the end of their first school year.