I know that this is right out of date for you in the Northern Hemisphere but some friends in the south have sent this through and I think is one of the best starters for the year I have come across.

Maybe you can bookmark this or copy the idea and save it somewhere for the beginning of the next school year.

Welcome Bag

The items in this bag have special meanings.
They will help us learn and play together.

• The cotton wool is to remind you that our room of full of warm feelings and kind words.

• The tissue is to remind you to look after your class mates and help dry their tears.

• The sticker is to remind you to give appreciations to others and to yourself.

• The star is to remind you that everyone is special in some way and that, with help, we can all shine.

• The toothpick is to remind you to look for qualities in others and ‘pick out’ their good points.

• The bandaid reminds us to help mend hurt feelings, look after ourselves and others.

• The rubber band is to remind you to stick together and give someone a hug.

• The wool reminds us that friendship binds our hearts together.

• The life saver is to remind you that you can come to me if you need help with anything.

Mutual Respect, Attentive Listening, Appreciations/No Put Downs.

Participation and the Right to Pass.

This is one of a series of great ideas shared by Jacqueline Clarke on Scholastics’s Welcome to the First Day of School! page. A great one to store in your Diigo bookmarks.

Picture: Drawing on brown paper bag 19 by barnsley anna