Gratitude Notes
A set of free printable thank-you cards leaders can leave for staff throughout the year.
2-3 min
Joy Jar: A Month-Long Staff Wellness Activity for Schools
A month-long activity where staff write down joyful moments and add them to a shared jar.
Megan Rogers
A month-long staff wellness activity where people write down joyful moments and add them to a shared staff joy jar in the lounge. Writing down the good things shifts focus toward gratitude and gives staff a visible reminder of how much positivity fills their days.
Why try it
A joy jar that your staff contributes to helps build positive school culture
Give staff a simple, feel-good way to celebrate the little moments that make each day special. A shared joy jar in the staff lounge invites everyone to add happy moments, kind words, or small wins throughout the month—and enjoy reading each other's notes along the way.
Noticing the good moments helps counter the negativity bias that can often creep into schools, especially during difficult times like the mid-year slump. Plus, an anonymous staff joy jar makes it easy for everyone, even quieter staff members, to participate in a low-pressure way that makes peer recognition visible.
What's included
Browse the printables included with this resource.
Things you'll need
Printed "Share Your Joy" slips
Pens or markers
A large jar/container
Instructions
1
Introduce the habit
Announce Joy Jars as this month's habit at a staff meeting, morning huddle, or in your weekly email. Share why it matters: writing down good moments helps shift focus toward gratitude and celebrate the everday moments that make your school community special.
2
Set up the jar
Place the shared jar and a stack of the included cards in the staff lounge where everyone can reach them.
3
Encourage and model
Lead by example. Add a few of your own joyful moments to the jar and invite staff to do the same. Seeing you participate helps create a culture where everyone feels encouraged to join in.
4
Reflect and reset
At the end of the month, gather staff to read a few favorite moments from the jar and celebrate the highlights together. Invite everyone to share what they enjoyed most and use their ideas to inspire next month's habit challenge.
Activity variations
Adapt to fit your school's vibe, budget, and setting.
Individual jars
Give each staff member their own jar to decorate at a staff meeting, then have them keep it at their desk to fill throughout the month.
Read favorites out loud
Instead of reading at the end of the month, pick a few moments to read aloud at each staff meeting to keep the momentum going.
Go deeper
Additional tips for running this resource.
Leader Tip #1
Keep cards nearby
Leave a stack of the included cards next to the jar so staff can jot down a moment as soon as it happens.
Leader Tip #2
Find an accountability buddy
Encourage staff to pair up with a buddy who can remind them to add to the jar throughout the month.
Leader Tip #3
Classroom joy jar
Have teachers keep a Joy Jar in their classroom and invite students to add their own happy moments alongside staff.
Built by Educators, for School Leaders
This resource was created in collaboration with passionate educators and school leaders who believe in the power of intentional connection.
Megan Rogers
Teacher
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