Sports Team Day Spirit Week? All Answers

TL;DR:

Spirit Week can have good intentions, but it’s important that all students feel involved every day.

The following spirit days are considered: Beach Day, College Spirit Day, Disney Day, Fancy Friday, Jersey Day, School T-Shirt Day and Tacky Christmas Sweater Day.

Make sure your school’s theme week aligns with your school district’s mission statement.

Spirit Week is a fun way to promote school spirit, a positive culture and unity among students. While these may be Spirit Week’s intended goals, some students may feel left out during these annual events. “The unwritten slate of social expectations found in a culture affects almost everything that happens. Culture influences and shapes the way teachers, students and administrators think, feel and act” (Peterson & Deal, 2002, p. 18).

How can Spirit Week exclude some students while making it a week of fun and positive memories for others? Over the years, Spirit Week has been part of Homecoming, Red Ribbon Week, Read Across America Week, and the annual PTO Fundraiser Drive. By examining Spirit Week, teachers, staff and families can determine if students are feeling empowered or embarrassed. There is no need to remove the “fun” from school. However, a K-12 experience should focus on all students and not those who can afford a costume for the daily themes.

Inclusive vs. exclusive

There are several ways to celebrate the school spirit and encourage students to feel part of the school community. The following examples highlight some considerations when planning your next Spirit Week.

Spirit Week: Beach day

Who wouldn’t enjoy a day at the beach? Students could wear swimming trunks, carry a beach ball, or wear goggles. If you live near a beach, it becomes clear which students actually went to the beach. Some students have a beach chair, designer sandals, a boogie board, and a t-shirt with the name of the beach where their family takes their annual vacation.

While beach day sounds student-friendly, there may be several students in each class who are reminded of their economic status and the difference between their outfits and those who have actually experienced life in a beach house or a week on the sand.

Spirit Week: College Spirit Day

College and Career Readiness Day often encourages college students to wear their favorite college t-shirt or hoodie. The assumption is that every student has a favorite team or can buy a sports t-shirt. Some families are season ticket holders and have the team’s latest jersey. Students can come to school with an autographed t-shirt or the team’s latest attire.

Some students may wear the t-shirt their parents attended college in, while other students will become first-generation college students. College Spirit Day might seem like an easy option for college students, but the reality is that not every student owns an officially licensed college (team) shirt or hat.

Ghost Week: Disney Day

Who doesn’t love to dress like a Disney princess, character or wear their favorite theme park shirt? Disney Day is a popular day for most students. School staff should be careful when planning Disney Day, as students can easily be divided into two groups: those who can afford to go to Disney World and those who cannot.

When students wear the official Disney t-shirts, Mouseketeer ears, and other items they bought from their last vacation, it can be difficult for students to feel included. Inevitably, students will ask each other, “Have you ever been to Disney?” The question is self-explanatory, as one could observe what each person is wearing to determine who has been to the theme park.

Kids love Disney movies and it could be argued that a Disney t-shirt can be bought from Amazon or the local mall. The reality is that some families can’t afford a Disney t-shirt or hat to make their child feel like part of the school community.

Spirit Week: Fancy Friday

If students are dressed in their finest clothes, interview outfits, or “Sunday Best,” students are segregated based on socioeconomic status. Most school staff don’t want to hurt students or create a sense of exclusion, but Fancy Friday is a reminder for some students not to have fancy clothes.

“Unequal opportunity, privilege, and life experiences based on economic class deeply affect the lives of young children” (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2020). What is the psychological impact on a child when he/she realizes that his/her smartest outfit is their older sibling’s old clothes?

Spirit Week: Jersey Day

Jersey Day is similar to College Spirit Day, with one distinct difference. College Spirit Day can be done with a t-shirt, face paint, necklace or by wearing the school colors. At Jersey Day, students must wear either an athlete’s jersey or one of their own jerseys. Some NFL, NBA, and collegiate athletic jerseys range in price from $50 to $200. Retro jerseys can cost even more. This is not the kind of thing that a parent can go out and buy the night before Spirit Week starts.

One problem with students wearing their own jersey is that some students don’t play sports, while other students may not be able to afford AAU or Rec-League sports. Perhaps the most expensive Spirit Day option, Jersey Day creates a mood of haves and have-nots.

Spirit Week: School T-Shirt Day

What could go wrong at school t-shirt day? Some primary schools have School Spirit Day every Friday. If a school t-shirt costs between $10 and $20, some students may not be able to afford a school t-shirt. One way to avoid this dilemma is to gift each student a t-shirt at least once a year (e.g., field trip, class program, field day, tie-dye shirts, or 100 days of school).

If every student owns a school t-shirt, then perhaps this is the fairest Spirit Day. Most students have school pride and school spirit. The question to ask is, “Do all students have a school t-shirt?”

Spirit Week: Tacky Christmas Jumper

The Tacky Christmas Sweater theme is fun and lighthearted. Most middle and high school students enjoy this theme day. It should be noted that not all families celebrate Christmas. By requiring students to wear Christmas sweaters, you may be challenging a family’s beliefs or making some students uncomfortable.

Some teachers might say, “Anyone can go to the thrift store and buy a tacky sweater.” Is it realistic that every family in your class could buy a $5-$10 tacky sweater for Spirit Day? In addition to buying a tacky sweater, some families may be offended when your idea of ​​”tacky” matches their current wardrobe. This may seem like an innocuous subject, but it has many implications for students, and they are not all positive.

Spirit Week: Five Questions School Teams Should Ask

Does this Spirit Day theme have the potential to marginalize individuals or groups? Does this issue bring families into financial difficulties? Which students will benefit most from this topic and which students will feel embarrassed or left out? Does this topic focus on the majority culture or does it involve all students? What are our measurable goals related to equity and inclusion?

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mission statements

This is an example of a mission statement (similar to the mission statement in most school districts).

By respecting each person’s unique identity, perspective, and learning style, we create a stronger community. We honor differences, including race and culture, gender and sexuality, ability and aspiration, identities and affiliations, socioeconomics and worldviews. Accepting diversity prepares our students to thrive in an increasingly complex global community.

Does your school’s theme week align with your school district’s mission statement?

About Steven Weber

dr Steven Weber is Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning at Fayetteville Public Schools (AR). His research areas include curriculum design, formative assessment, professional learning, and school leadership.

Homecoming week is usually when schools decide to have fun and introduce a different theme for each day; sometimes this is called spirit week. Schools allow students and teachers to dress up according to a pre-selected theme, such as: B. Pajama Day, School Ghost Day, and even Crazy Tacky Day. The aim is to get everyone to participate in the spirit of the school by creating the most imaginative ensembles possible. Wacky Tacky Day is one of those days that encourages you to don the most outrageous outfit of the week.

Wear as many colors as possible. The key is to be as wacky and cheesy as possible, and few things you can do as wacky as wear each item of clothing a different color.

Put on two different shoes. Maybe in the past you accidentally wore a pair of black and navy blue shoes to school without realizing it, but today you want to wear different shoes on purpose. Obviously choose different shoes e.g. B. a flip-flop and a tennis shoe.

Stack the accessories. Wear five necklaces, pearls, bracelets, rings, earrings, a tiara, a hat, three belts and crazy socks. Try single toe socks, knee socks, or two completely different socks.

Go crazy and pull your swimsuit over your shirt or carry a fanny pack. Paint your nose white with sunscreen.

Wear scarves around your neck, in your hair and pull a tie over your t-shirt. Don’t brush your hair. Or brush and spike it in different directions or wear it in multiple ponytails.

mix pattern Wear stripes with plaids and throw in polka dots wherever you can. The best thing about Wacky Tacky Day is that the worse your outfit looks, the better. You can wear virtually anything as long as it is appropriate and complies with all school rules and regulations.

Credit: Vladimir Bolokh/iStock/GettyImages

Halloween is a time when adults dress up for parties or go trick or treating with the kids. Even if you’re going all out for an adult event, dressing up in young children’s costumes is a cost-effective alternative to renting or buying an extravagant outfit that you may only wear once. With a few accessories you can transform your leggings, jeans and oversized shirts into an expression of a lovingly remembered childhood.

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video of the day

Toddler Dress Up Ideas

Toddlers are the transitional phase between babies and children, when they may still be in diapers and carrying a bottle or pacifier. Since toddlers tend to be small and a bit bulky, oversized clothing items help convey the feeling of a little kid. Footed one-piece pajamas or a long, warm nightgown, a teddy bear, and “showy shoes” that light up with every step will keep you warm while you go door-to-door in search of treats.

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Add two or three layers of ruffles to pink or blue sweatpants or a large fabric bow at the back of your leggings for a toddler dress-up statement. Complete the outfit with a polka dot tee or a matching sweatshirt for a cute combo. Alternatively, you can throw on a bodysuit and then layer a ruffled tutu over leggings and practice dancing like a ballerina.

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Classic toddler outfits

Credit: Lana2011/iStock/GettyImages

Going back to your own childhood provides many ideas for classic toddler outfits. Start with the old-school black and white loafers, which also come in adult sizes, and wear white knee socks and an oversized smocked dress with a gingham or floral print. A white Peter Pan collar, a hair bow and a doll in a matching dress make you look like a classic little kid.

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If dresses aren’t your style, consider a farm boy look. Put on jeans with rolled-up cuffs or denim overalls, a plaid or plaid shirt, and a cowboy hat. Add freckles with a light brown eyebrow pencil. Don’t forget your warm jacket when it’s chilly outside.

Alternatively, get inspiration from movies or television. To dress like the little kid from Up, look for a light yellow or khaki shirt and hat, tan or brown shorts and boots, and an orange scarf. Make a merit badge sash with a variety of buttons. Carry a triangular orange flag on a stick and some colorful helium balloons attached to your brown or brown backpack.

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Modern children’s dress

To transform into a modern little kid, put on your Vans or Converse sneakers and baggy jeans. Add a t-shirt or hoodie with your favorite superhero or athlete, or don a football or hockey jersey and baseball cap. If you’re a die-hard superhero fan, add a colorful towel or small blanket as a cape. Carry a skateboard, football, basketball, or hockey stick if you’re a sports fan, or your favorite book or comic book if you prefer.

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Photo credit: Image taken by Mayte Torres/Moment/GettyImages

For a girly look, put on your jeans or leggings and add boots or rain boots. An oversized sweater, a hair bow, and a small backpack or purse complete the look. Pink, gray and purple tend to be popular colors for girls, but don’t neglect blue and yellow. Boys in blue and girls in pink are a modern invention, so don’t let that hold you back when putting together your Halloween costume. Wear your cheerful colors and put on a big smile to blend in with the other kids, big and small.

School spirit is key to creating a positive school culture. It builds school pride, brings the student body together and creates excitement on campus! Most importantly, your students feel like they are part of a community larger than themselves. But how do you increase school spirit? Here are 10 easy and creative ways to try at your school!

Spiritual Fridays

Have students and teachers dress in school colors or something that reflects your school (mascots, school t-shirts, etc.). Host makeup stations and sell school supplies at lunchtime. You could even have makeup contests where the student with the coolest design wins.

Spiritual theme weeks

It’s fun to pull these out during exciting times at school e.g. B. before the winter or spring break or after the exam season. You can theme each day of the week, e.g. B. Pajama Day, Twins Day, Wacky Hair Day or 60s Day. During lunch you can have cool competitions (e.g. Best Dressed) and activities for students.

Door Decorating Contests

This could be used as a monthly competition for classes. Each month can have a different theme (Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, etc.). Have some cool school prizes for the winning class!

school movie night

Invite students and families to the school and project a movie on the school’s page. Make sure everyone brings chairs and blankets to sit on, and give out some snacks.

T-shirt decoration contest

Let creative students create designs for school clothes! Then hold a contest where the student body can vote for their favorite. The winning design may be the design for this year’s school uniform. The design will be what the students want – and you can show how artistic your students are!

school spirit swag

Get stickers, temporary tattoos, car flags, posters, bumper stickers and more so your students can show their school pride in any way they can.

talent show

This is a great event to showcase your students’ diverse talents and for the more shy students to support and watch. Bonus points for school-related talents (example: performing a school song).

celebrate the school’s birthday

Throw a school birthday party with cake, party decorations and games!

Teach school history

Teach your school history through fun stories and let successful alumni talk to students. Students who know the history of their school feel more connected to the school and increase pride in the school.

community day

Bring the school together to help the local community – host a sidewalk clean, plant trees or raise money for a good cause. Uniting the school around a common goal of helping others is a great way to build strong bonds.

By using these activities you can create pride and a sense of community within your school. Here at Minga, we help create school spirit by providing a place for students to interact, brag about their school, and come together to share the good news. Ask us more about how Minga can help create a positive school culture!

Inside: Cute Twin Day Outfit Ideas

Ah, the beloved Spirit Week is fast approaching, so now is a wonderful time to start planning and preparing your Twin Day costume!

This week is such a fun way for kids to express themselves while sneaking in a little extra fun in the middle of the school year. Depending on how old your child is, it can be just as much fun for both the parents and the kids! This tradition continues even from middle school through high school. How cool is that!

If you’ve made it this far and you’re wondering, what the hell are you talking about? Well then let me explain.

What is Spirit Week?

Spirit Week is a week per school district dedicated to fostering school spirit! This is achieved through various themed days in which each of the students participate. For example:

Monday is Crazy Hair Day. So every student comes to school with the craziest hairstyle they could achieve.

is Crazy Hair Day. So every student comes to school with the craziest hairstyle they could achieve. Tuesday is dress-up day, when students can come to school in their smartest attire

is Dress Up Day, when students can come to school in their fanciest outfits.

if School Pride Day, students can come to school and fully reflect the colors of their school. Thursday is Twin Day, when students come to school and match one of their classmates (whom they had previously planned with) to look like twins.

is Twin Day, when the students come to school and team up one of their classmates (whom they had previously planned with) to look like twins. Friday is Disney Day! Students can come to school dressed as their favorite Disney characters.

Seems fun, right? You may also be thinking how this can benefit my child’s educational experience. While it may seem pointless, this week is actually proving to be very beneficial for your child’s academic performance!

According to RattlerReport.org, “A survey conducted by Harris Poll found that school spirit students perform better academically than other less school spirit students. 1,500 people took part in the survey, which was asked about their school pride, academics and involvement in their communities. The aim of the survey was to find out whether school spirit affects academics or not. The survey found that 75% of students with high school spirit also have above-average grades. While only 42% of students with very little school spirit have above average grades.”

The report goes on to say, “The survey also showed that 94% of school spirit students enjoy school, while only 42% of school spirit students actually enjoy school. Finally, the survey found that 92% of school spirit students have meaningful and connected relationships with their peers, while only 28% of school spirit students think so.”

So there you have it! Not only is this week an extremely fun way for students to express their school spirit, but it will also help their grades!

Spirit week twin day ideas

Now that you know what you’re dealing with, let’s dive into today’s topic; twin day ideas! We have compiled a list of 63 easy Twin Day costumes for you to get your inspiration. Take a look at them below to get a good feel for the spirit of Twin Day and some possible costume ideas your kids can rock at school with! Extra points if you have actual twins to dress up.

1. Gemini Angels

2. Simple thing 1 & 2 t-shirts

3. Triple the sweats

4. TWINkies

5. Construction workers

6. Matching overalls

7. Twin deer

8. White sweatshirts & sneakers

9. Soccer Twins

10. Cheetah print

11. Matching flannel shirts

12.Twin bucket hats

Easy Twin Day ideas for Spirit Week

Sometimes life is too busy to put too much time or energy into a costume when you need to make a new one tomorrow. This is completely right! Then this simple Gemini day ideas list is for you. Take a look at these easy ways to kill it on Twin Day without killing the bank!

13. Matching white t-shirts

14. Pair of pink sweatshirts

15. Gym Partners

16. Twinning outfits with pink hats

17. Matching camo combo

18. Cardigan Double Trouble

19. Sunglasses and t-shirts

20th training pair

21. Matching ripped jeans

22. Triple Hoodie Triplets

23. Sherpa Sisters

24. Bucket hats and palm trees

25. Twinning with your teacher

26. School pride twins

Creative ideas for twins day

These next costumes are a little more time consuming, but oh so cute! Check them out below.

27. Thing 1 & 2 with wigs

28. Alien Triplets Costume

29. Mike, Sully & Boo from Monsters Inc.

30. Michelle Tanner-Twins

31. Ugly Christmas Sweaters

32. Cast of Winnie the Pooh

33. M&M’s

34. Andy’s toy

35. Gemini hippies

36. 101 Dalmatians

37. Fruit twins

38. Blue & Magenta

Funny Twin Day Ideas

Some of the best Twin Day costumes are the ones that make you laugh. We have compiled a list of the funniest twins costumes for you. Try not to laugh!

39. Netflix & Chill

40. Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Mute

41. Brother twin girls

42. Hot sauces

43. Old Ladies

44. Hallie & Annie from Parent Trap

45. Copy & Paste

46. ​​Mario & Luigi

47. Twin Tacos

48. Three blind mouse triplets

49. Mermaid Man & Barnacle Boy

Cute Twin Day Ideas

Finally, we just had to gather our favorite cute Twin Day ideas. Sure, some of them are triplets, but we won’t babble about it if you don’t! Check out these adorable costumes to see which one might be right for you!

50. Better together t-shirts for best friends

51. American Flag Trio

52. Rugrats twins

53. Care Bears

54. Peanut & Jelly

55. Arthur matching twins

56. Alvin and the Chipmunks

57. Lilo & Stitch

58. Friends duo

59. Rock, Paper, Scissors

60. We are twinning shirts

61. Up! Twins

62. Starbies sisters

63. Nerd triplets

Now you have all the tools to make your child’s twins day one to remember. Have fun with it!

More ideas teens will love!

The school spirit is in many ways the heart of a school. Pride is synonymous with the spirit of the school because it helps foster a sense of belonging between students and staff who are part of the school. It is often a direct reflection of a school’s culture, which can have a powerful impact on overall academic performance. A strong sense of school spirit makes staff and students feel more involved in their school, making them happier and motivating them to work harder and help each other. Schools of all levels can improve their culture and performance by actively promoting school spirit on their campus.

Tip School spirit is generally defined as a sense of pride, identity, and community shared by members of an educational organization.

What is school spirit?

When it is at its strongest, the school spirit inspires active participation in school activities and events. While most people associate school spirit with high attendance at wake-up calls and sporting events, it also includes joining school clubs and participating in all kinds of extracurricular activities. Uniforms and club shirts serve as a form of spirit dress, meaning that adhering to a dress code encourages a sense of belonging to the school family. Positive relationships between teachers and students foster a strong sense of school spirit. Many schools hold annual ghost weeks, where everyone is encouraged to dress up based on a given theme.

Importance of school pride

When people are proud of something, they tend to work harder and feel more invested than they would without that pride. For better or for worse, the school spirit is contagious. Students and staff who are excited about being a part of the school are likely to encourage their peers to do the same, leading to greater participation in school activities and boosting both morale and achievement. However, since the opposite is also true, students and staff who show contempt or apathy for their role in the school can have a negative impact on morale and performance. Schools with a stronger sense of pride and spirit tend to outperform their competition in both athletic and academic fields.

What does school spirit look like?

School spirit looks like teamwork. It includes events and activities that bring members of the school community together in some way. In addition to the positive effect on morale and performance, school spirit is generally fun. It celebrates successes and creates a sense of togetherness. From colorful posters reflecting school-wide goals to awards ceremonies, special events and team building activities, the school spirit looks like a community of learners and educators working together for the common good.

school spirit at the elementary level

For elementary school students, fun is the name of the school spirit game. An easy way to have fun while showing school spirit is to schedule dress-up days around a common theme. Students can come to school for pajama day in their comfiest pajamas or dress up like their favorite storybook character. Pep rallies are another way for elementary schools to dial in the fun and sense of pride. During the rally of encouragement, schools can play lively music and even make their own songs to sing about their community. Games are another great component of pep rallies. Students can be randomly selected to represent each grade level and then participate in a variety of games while the school cheers them on. Movie nights to encourage family engagement can also be useful school spirit events.

school spirit in secondary school

Just like their elementary school counterparts, secondary schools can also benefit from themed dress-up days and lively pep talks or spirit gatherings. Schools can line the hallways with exceptional examples of student work and creativity. Field days and sports competitions between teachers and students are fun ways to encourage school spirit and team building. A school talent show can strengthen the spirit of the school by giving members of the community an opportunity to shine while doing what they do best. Secondary schools can also host themed dances where students can let go and show off their best dance moves.

School spirit at post-secondary level

School spirit is just as important in higher education as it is in the lower grades. From museum evenings to theatrical performances to athletic competitions, colleges and universities have many opportunities to foster their school spirit. The manufacture and sale of spiritwear that reflects the school’s sports teams is also a useful vehicle for encouraging a sense of pride at the post-secondary level.

Annual LGBTQ Awareness Day

Spirit Day is an annual LGBTQ awareness day observed on the third Thursday of October.[1] It was created in 2010 by Canadian teenager Brittany McMillan and originally started in response to a series of bullying-related gay school student suicides in 2010, including that of Tyler Clementi.[2] Sponsored by GLAAD, observers wear the color purple as a visible sign of support for LGBTQ youth and against bullying during National Bullying Prevention Month[1][3] and to honor LGBTQ victims of suicide.

history [edit]

The first celebration took place on Wednesday October 20, 2010. Later celebrations took place on Thursday 20 October 2011[4] and Friday 19 October 2012[5] before the third Thursday of October tradition was introduced in 2013.[6][7]

After GLAAD’s launch ceremony was promoted, many Hollywood celebrities wore purple that day to show their support for the cause[8][9][10] and many websites added a distinctive shade of purple to their design. On Facebook, event pages created for the celebration have attracted more than 1.6 million users worldwide.[11][12][13]

Further national and international attention was drawn to Spirit Day when Clint McCance, the vice president of an Arkansas school board,[14] posted inflammatory anti-gay statements on Facebook.[15] McCance eventually apologized and resigned from the CNN program Anderson Cooper 360°;[16] however, he received further criticism for what many perceived as a disingenuous non-apology, including from Dr. Phil in a later interview with Anderson Cooper.[14] ][17][18] McCance submitted his letter of resignation to the Midlands School District effective November 1, 2010.

In 2016, a few years after Spirit Day became an official LGBT holiday, McMillan said, “It’s the participants that make Spirit Day what it is; they create their own events and their own art, all in the name of showing LGBTQ youth that they care… I know how much it means to people around the world to know that they have the support of their communities.” Additionally, GLAAD’s VP of Programming, Zeke Stokes, shared the appreciation, saying that the words and images that come from a holiday like Spirit Day illustrate the love and compassion for the LGBTQ community and cause young people lead their authentic lives. McMillan explained that as the internet and social media are constantly changing, she’s trying to find ways to keep Spirit Day going.[20]

Brittany McMillan[edit]

Brittany McMillan was a high school student in 2010 when she began working with GLAAD to create the very first Spirit Day. McMillan said of the event, “Ultimately, on Spirit Day, I want just one person to feel a little bit better, feel confident enough in their own skin, to be proud of who they are.” McMillan has said that they took inspiration from Canada’s Pink Shirt Day when creating Spirit Day’s signature purple colorway. Since 2010, with the help of GLAAD, Brittany has inspired many celebrities, businesses and schools to wear purple and take a stand against bullying.[21]

Celebrity participation[edit]

Among the many celebrations that have taken place since 2010 are some notable celebrities such as Britney Spears, Ana Marie Cox, Vanessa Carlton and Kristin Chenoweth.[22]

In 2013 support was expanded from the White House, Oprah Winfrey, Ashton Kutcher, MTV, OWN, Logo, Sundance, Facebook and others. During the 2013 holiday, the White House “tweeted #SpiritDay and directed its followers to stopbullying.gov.” Additionally, many celebrities have changed their social media platforms to reflect the LGBT holiday. American Apparel set up a separate store for Spirit Day where shoppers would receive 10% off select purple items and the company would donate 10% to support GLAAD’s work for equality.[23]

In 2014, Laverne Cox, a transgender actress and activist, went to New York City and hosted an event where she helped turn on the lights on the Empire State Building. In support of Spirit Day, she said, “All of our children need to feel safe at home, at school, and in our communities, to be themselves.”[22]

Symbolism [edit]

The name “Spirit Day” comes from an association with the purple stripe of the Rainbow Pride flag, which flag creator Gilbert Baker says represents “Spirit”.

Variants [edit]

Netherlands [ edit ]

Het Baarnsch Lyceum dressed in purple for the 2013 Paarse Vrijdag. Students from 2013 dressed in purple

In December 2010, COC Nederland named the second Friday in December “Paarse Vrijdag” (Purple Friday). The Gender Sexuality Alliance Network has celebrated the observance annually since then.[24][25]

See also[edit]

School spirit is key to creating a positive school culture. It builds school pride, brings the student body together and creates excitement on campus! Most importantly, your students feel like they are part of a community larger than themselves. But how do you increase school spirit? Here are 10 easy and creative ways to try at your school!

Spiritual Fridays

Have students and teachers dress in school colors or something that reflects your school (mascots, school t-shirts, etc.). Host makeup stations and sell school supplies at lunchtime. You could even have makeup contests where the student with the coolest design wins.

Spiritual theme weeks

It’s fun to pull these out during exciting times at school e.g. B. before the winter or spring break or after the exam season. You can theme each day of the week, e.g. B. Pajama Day, Twins Day, Wacky Hair Day or 60s Day. During lunch you can have cool competitions (e.g. Best Dressed) and activities for students.

Door Decorating Contests

This could be used as a monthly competition for classes. Each month can have a different theme (Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, etc.). Have some cool school prizes for the winning class!

school movie night

Invite students and families to the school and project a movie on the school’s page. Make sure everyone brings chairs and blankets to sit on, and give out some snacks.

T-shirt decoration contest

Let creative students create designs for school clothes! Then hold a contest where the student body can vote for their favorite. The winning design may be the design for this year’s school uniform. The design will be what the students want – and you can show how artistic your students are!

school spirit swag

Get stickers, temporary tattoos, car flags, posters, bumper stickers and more so your students can show their school pride in any way they can.

talent show

This is a great event to showcase your students’ diverse talents and for the more shy students to support and watch. Bonus points for school-related talents (example: performing a school song).

celebrate the school’s birthday

Throw a school birthday party with cake, party decorations and games!

Teach school history

Teach your school history through fun stories and let successful alumni talk to students. Students who know the history of their school feel more connected to the school and increase pride in the school.

community day

Bring the school together to help the local community – host a sidewalk clean, plant trees or raise money for a good cause. Uniting the school around a common goal of helping others is a great way to build strong bonds.

By using these activities you can create pride and a sense of community within your school. Here at Minga, we help create school spirit by providing a place for students to interact, brag about their school, and come together to share the good news. Ask us more about how Minga can help create a positive school culture!

Who’s ready to plan a spectacular Spirit Week that boosts employee morale and engagement? They are! Well, if you’re not quite ready now then you will be after checking out these Spirit Week ideas for work – we love getting our custom made swag for Spirit Week here.

We have real-life examples of Spirit Week themes and ideas for every type of team out there – small teams, large teams, formal teams and more.

Who would you like to give presents to?

Customers & Customer Employees

What is Spirit Week for Work?

What is Spirit Week? This response will vary from company to company, but generally it is a week of focused employee engagement activities and events. It’s a time to celebrate achievements, network with colleagues, prepare for new challenges, talk about new goals, celebrate company culture and much more.

Looking for something to do with your hybrid team?

Here are five of our favorite team-tested activities to help managers fully onboard remote and in-person workers:

Our Favorite Spirit Week Activities for Hybrid Teams 1 📺 Colleague Feud – Poll Says You’ll Love This Game That Puts Your Colleagues To The Test To See Who Really Knows The Most! 2 💎 Virtual Escape Room (Jewel Heist) – Race against the clock in this virtual twist on the popular Escape Room activity. 3 🤣 Laughter Gym – Part comedy show, part improvisation and a pinch of laughter. This event engages your group in a fun new way! 4 🧠 Jeoparty Social – What is “a fun trivia game for colleagues!” 5 📅 Labor Day update! – This comedic live news segment educates your team on the best and latest in your workplace.

Ghost Week Benefits

Now you may be wondering what the purpose of Spirit Week is. What is the benefit?

Remember all those pep rallies you went to in high school? Or maybe your school actually did have a Spirit Week and you have fond memories of it. Think about how those events made you feel, even if you rolled your eyes and winced at the time.

No one can prove that these events helped you get top marks on your next exam or throw the winning shot during a basketball game, but the unity, dedication, and enthusiasm you gained during these events may have you at your best inspired, even if this is the case. Inspiration happened on a subconscious level.

Workplace Spirit Weeks have the same inspiring effect on employees; They help employees feel close to their peers, committed to the company’s mission, and excited to pursue new goals.

Here are just a few examples of what Spirit Weeks can do in the workplace.

Laugh

All of these Spirit Week activities are sure to inspire laughter, which can reduce stress, boost the immune system, and build resilience.

Tip: If you’re looking for help during your upcoming Spirit Week, try the pros! Laughter On Call works with professional comedians to engage your team in highly interactive games that will have benefits well beyond Spirit Week. Their tailor-made events not only make your team laugh, but also help people gain confidence, feel a sense of belonging and foster trust between colleagues.

Empowerment and Commitment

A survey of Spirit Weeks in high schools shows that the celebrations can help students feel empowered to do well, become more involved, and find happiness and fulfillment. A quote taken from one of the survey participants can apply to employees in any company, as well as students:

“When students feel a sense of effectiveness, they tend to be more involved and more attuned to the great opportunities that exist on their campus.”

team building

Just one week of intense group activity can foster teamwork and build lasting friendships in the workplace, ultimately leading to improved communication, collaboration, and potentially employee retention.

Pro tip: If you’re on board to bring more team building to your office and you want the experts to step in and do all the details and planning for you, then be sure to check out our friends at Outback. They make hosting engaging team building activities like scavenger hunts and game shows as easy as submitting an online form. (Expert game producers take care of every step of the way afterwards.)

Ghost week ideas

These Spirit Week examples and ideas should inspire you to plan your very own Spirit Week with your own flair.

Spirit week ideas for small teams

Spirit week ideas for small teams should be relatively inexpensive, easy to plan, and full of opportunities for quality bonding.

garlands company

Spirit Week Highlights:

Fundraising for local and national charities (auctions, raffles, bake sales and more)

bandwidth

Spirit Week Highlights:

Dress up to match the theme of the day

Laughter during breaks in dancing

play water polo volleyball

Participated in lip-synching competitions

An employee writes in the Bandwidth Blog:

“When I think of Spirit Week, I think of Instagram-worthy costumes, team bonding via matching bandanas, and intense competition that scares you more than The Bachelor’s finale.”

Additional ideas:

High Five Every Day (Encourage your employees to give high fives to everyone they see. If they see someone they don’t know, they can introduce themselves and then give high fives.)

Secret Cheerleader Day (Employees give each other anonymous notes to praise their excellent work.)

Founder’s Day (Remember your company’s founder and honor them by enjoying trivia about the founder, eating some of their favorite foods, and maybe even browsing through some old photo and film collections from the company archives.)

Games at lunchtime. (Ask everyone to bring their favorite board games and spend Spirit Week playing them as a group.)

“Take 5” Games (Introducing team building activities that take just 5 minutes of everyone’s time is doable for even the busiest teams.

Spirit week ideas for large teams

Spirit Week ideas for large teams can include high profile fundraising initiatives, large events and catered meals. Big teams have the bandwidth to make all these ideas a success.

BlueCross BlueShield from North Carolina

Spirit Week Highlights:

Wearing 80’s outfits like it’s 1985

Conduct flash mobs during staff meetings

Family evenings to get everyone involved

Collecting books for children

Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity

How much fun did they have? See for yourself. Check out the BCBS NC photo album.

MRI software

Spirit Week Highlights:

Eat donuts served by management

Dress like superheroes and enjoy seeing everyone else, including the company founder, also in costume

Enjoy delicious food

Additional ideas:

Host a variety show. Here’s an idea from our post on team building activities. This can be easily integrated into Spirit Week.

Host a LipDub Challenge with the help of Go Game’s team building experts.

“Here at SnackNation, our cultural committee hosts a variety show for our office. Similar to a talent show, at the event we invite our colleagues to share their particular talents at an open mic on Friday evening. Lots of people perform together, which is a great way to bond over common interests and show off your guitar skills or test new stand-up jokes.”

Host Spirit Awards to recognize employees who show spirit not just during Spirit Week, but throughout the year. Name a handful of your company’s core values. Then have other employees nominate peers to receive an award for exemplifying those qualities. For example, if integrity is always high on your list of core values, an employee might nominate a colleague who has never compromised in her creative work.

Spirit week ideas for formal offices

Spirit Week ideas for formal offices should focus on tradition. The events will still be fun, of course, but they won’t involve anything too whimsical.

iDashboards

Spirit Week Highlights:

Enjoy a staff picnic

Celebrate Christmas in July

Live it out at happy hour

Participation in mission-oriented company presentations

golfing

Gathering for a staff and family picnic

Additional ideas:

Brainstorm off-site to keep Spirit Week mission-focused but also different from any other day in the office.

Do a “job swap day”. Employees can meet colleagues and learn a few new skills at the same time.

Have a nice dinner in town.

Perform internal speed networking. Set up an event where employees only talk to each other for a whirlwind minute at a time.

Spirit week ideas for casual offices

Spirit Week ideas for casual offices capitalize on this anything-goes mentality.

duarte

Spirit Week Highlights:

Wearing the colors in the company’s brand palette

Put on shiny shirts, both homemade and store-bought

Remember to be green while wearing green for Going Green Day

Take a trip to the beach

Additional ideas:

Set up a “Take your pet to work” tag.

Set up a “take your child to work” tag. (Sure, it’s almost the same as the idea above, but each option could result in radically different events.)

Take a bus tour of your city. Wear corporate shirts so everyone knows who you are and interact with people in your community. Tell everyone what you do and why you love it.

Play Freeze Tag at the local park. Anyone frozen can free themselves by correctly answering a few company quiz questions.

Spirit week ideas for busy offices

Spirit week ideas for busy offices should include low-maintenance events that require minimal planning from organizers and attendees. The events should not last too long either. Dress-up days find a niche in busy offices; Employees can appear in costume and still get a lot of work done.

pike13

Spirit Week Highlights:

Having crazy hair and/or crazy hat days

wear team colors

Dress up in costumes from decades ago

wear company colors

wear pajamas to work

Additional ideas:

Host weekend group yoga. People in busy offices may not be able to devote time to Spirit Week, but a relaxing weekend event is doable and can even ease the stress of busy office life.

Work Sprints.* Getting work done faster than usual may not seem like a compelling Spirit Week idea at first glance. But in busy office environments, when time always flies before work is done, getting some chores done is perhaps the most fun anyone has had all year. * You work in the sprint, when you commit to one idea for a certain amount of time, just one idea, and only focus on getting from the beginning (the idea itself) to the end (sending the result of your idea to the world). reach. Experts agree that this process helps most people focus, evaluate the feasibility of ideas, avoid procrastination, and make decisions.

Spirit Week ideas for creative offices

Spirit week ideas for creative offices should involve employees in the planning process.

JCPenny

Spirit Week Highlights:

Go to work in sportswear

Good Deeds During Golden Rule Day

Celebrating “Black Friday in July” (a similar concept to Christmas in July)

Planning of in-store events for local customers

Additional ideas:

Draw a group picture.

Get together and rearrange some office furniture.

Pretend you’ve been asked to brainstorm a new company slogan and enjoy an hour of open-ended, risk-free brainstorming.

Produce your own film by teaming up with event producers at Go Game.

BONUS! Spirit Week ideas that work for all teams

competitions! Pick a contest that makes sense for your business and gets everyone excited. Some exciting competitions include: Selling Cooking or eating Sports tournaments Puzzle solving (The first team to figure out who stole the fridge wins!)

office games. Universally loved by employees of all types of companies, games never disappoint. Every single person in the world can probably find a game that suits their interests. Here are some to try during Spirit Week: Video Games (Have a gaming tournament and encourage everyone to make brackets.) Lawn Games. (Badminton or croquet are perfect for hilarious themes. And since almost no one is really good at either of those games, I’m sure everyone will laugh together. Board games. (We could also list a million subcategories of board games; you get the idea.) Athletic games Mentals Games (Trivia, Debate, Philosophy and more.)

Did we miss any outstanding ideas? Share your favorite Spirit Week ideas and activities in the comments below and help others spread Spirit across their teams!