The end of the school year is an exciting time. Students cannot wait to begin their summer adventures, and teachers look forward to some well-deserved time off. Before teachers get to enjoy some fun in the sun, though, there’s grades that are due, graduations to plan for, classrooms to clean, and about a million other things.
It’s an insane time of the year, and while it’s difficult to resist the anxiety and stress that ensues in the last few days, at Sycamore Education, we have some helpful suggestions to help schools avoid the year-end panic.
Take Time to Reflect
Instead of adding more stress and exhaustion to an already difficult year, teachers should take some time to reflect on everything they’ve accomplished this past year. Remember that with all the challenges and hardships in a school year, there were also wonderful moments of success and growth.
The end of the school year becomes a bit less stressful and more meaningful when you look back at the relationships, memories, and progress that was made with your students. So in the midst of the chaos in the last few days, take a moment to smile and focus on the positives and all the accomplished goals for yourself and your students.
Know That You Are Not Alone
Especially in the final few days of the school year, it’s not uncommon for teachers to feel like they’re on an island. The principal wants your data for the entire year, evaluations are pending, parents are emailing about their students’ grades, and if that wasn’t enough, students are slightly more rambunctious than usual counting down the days until summer vacation.
It’s important to remind teachers that they are not alone. Whether you’re a secretary, teacher, administrator, etc., there are deadlines due for everyone and many tasks to complete. Everyone around you has a similar endpoint, so if you’re feeling overwhelmed and stressed beyond belief, don’t be afraid to lean on your co-workers and develop a support system.
Ending the Year in Sycamore
In Sycamore’s integrated school management system, we also have our own procedure in ending the school year. We refer to it as the Year End Closeout Process, and it consists of archiving, processing, clearing, and finalizing data to close out the previous school year to make sure you are ready for the next school year. The Year End Closeout Process is reserved for administrators at the school, as they are the ones responsible for managing that data throughout the course of the school year.
Much like ending a school year, the Year End Closeout Process can be overwhelming and stressful to some, which is why we are here to help! In addition to training videos and our comprehensive online help manual, we also have a free microlearning course dedicated specifically to Year End Closeout. This course walks you through the process every step of the way, with the ability to access the course at any time of your choosing. Not to mention, we have a trained and dedicated support team to assist with any hurdles or roadblocks you encounter.
To learn more about how Sycamore Education’s powerful online school management system can help you close out your school year through archiving grades, report cards, attendance, and more, please schedule a demo to start your free trial today.
