At my main school building we have a large bulletin board just inside the main entrance.  Each year I put up a back-to-school bulletin board containing identified photos of all faculty and staff.  This functions as a service to students and parents (and new staff) but it also serves to build community among the faculty because we have fun with it.

In the past, during the first teacher attendance day, the teachers at HGS have agreed to dress as Greek Gods & Goddesses (the year of Disney’s “Hercules”), posed with cardboard cutouts the local theatre donated from “George of the Jungle”, or as pirates (the year of “Pirates of the Caribbean”).  I gather the props (with their help) - faculty and staff just have to submit to looking somewhat foolish as they have their photo taken.  I always come up with a slogan to suit the theme.

Last year I used a Hollywood theme.  An e-mail soliciting props from faculty and staff yielded film reels, fur coat, sunglasses, director’s chair and more.  I just put out the props, they choose, and pose.  The digital camera does the rest.

This is a time consuming project for me.  And it consumes time right at the beginning of the year when I have libraries in three buildings to get open for the school year.  But it is worth it.  Faculty & staff, parents and students look forward to it each year.  Actually, when I saw our principal in late July her first words to me were, “What’s the theme this year?”

“Get a Gold Medal Education at HGS” is the theme I selected.  With the Bejing Olympics in full swing it is timely!  A flag, track medals from one faculty member’s talented daughter and we’re off!

Again – this takes time…and I’ll take the time.  I’ll take the time because library service takes many forms, and I see the back-to-school bulletin board as an important service toward building our school community.  And since I coordinate the School Library Media CENTER, I like being CENTRAL to something positive kicking off our school year.

Take the time.  “Put together” a back to school bulletin board for your building!  If the school year has already started – do it for Open House or Parent Teacher Conferences.