by Rebecca Thomas
As a school leader, the responsibility for planning the first teacher-only day of the year looms. While others soak up the sun, you find yourself staring at notebooks, scribbles, email drafts, and a growing to-do list. Despite the best will in the world to enjoy the downtime and rest without guilt—you need to get the first day right.
The stakes feel high.
This is the day that sets the tone for the year ahead—a chance to inspire, connect, and organise. But how do you balance competing priorities without overwhelming your staff—or yourself?
The internal mental tug of war begins:
New Staff Induction
There are new faces in the room. They don’t yet know the rhythm of the school, its values, or how it operates. They need to feel welcome and equipped to hit the ground running. But how do you integrate them without turning the day into a never-ending orientation session?
The Administration Avalanche
There are the inevitable systems, schedules, and policies to review. Health and safety updates, medical needs, stock to reroute. Procedures for everything from evacuation and lockdown drills to lunchtime duty rosters and bus timetables. It all needs to be covered, but no one wants to sit through a laundry list of logistics.
The New Curriculum
The Ministry has set expectations. There’s a new maths curriculum to unpack, timelines to meet, PLD to schedule with providers the school has no relationship with yet, and those new resources to explore. The guidelines are full of videos, PowerPoints, and seemingly endless lists of what needs to be done. How do you meet these requirements while keeping the process engaging and relevant to your school’s unique context?
Strategic Planning Without Overload
Your school’s strategic plan is a big deal. It reflects months of thought and consultation. But presenting the plan can quickly become a top-down exercise that overwhelms rather than inspires. How do you share the vision without turning it into a lecture?
The Whanaungatanga Factor
Staff need to reconnect, especially after the summer break. But icebreakers are a hard no—no one wants to play “two truths and a lie” at 9 a.m. So, how do you create authentic opportunities for connection that go beyond the superficial?
Your Own First Impression
As a new principal or deputy principal, you’re not just leading the day; you’re being evaluated too. You want to convey competence and vision, but also humility and openness. It’s a tightrope walk between being authoritative and approachable.
Staff Expectations
If only the teaching staff on the other end of the meeting knew just how much you have to juggle and balance in such a short space, maybe they wouldn’t be so quick to criticise.
“Make it engaging!” Teachers want an inspiring start to the year, but they often don’t realise how hard it is to balance energy and information delivery in a single day.
“Don’t waste our time!” While teachers value meaningful activities, they’re quick to dismiss anything they perceive as unnecessary or irrelevant.
“We need clarity!” Staff crave clear direction for the year ahead but can be overwhelmed by too much detail all at once.
“What about us?” Teachers want their expertise and contributions acknowledged—not to feel like passive participants in a pre-planned agenda.
Meeting these expectations while battling your own pressures is no small feat. It’s a careful dance of managing content, context, and connection.
The Reality Check
The truth is, no single day can meet every need, or solve every problem. Staff arrive with varying levels of enthusiasm, energy, and focus. Some are eager to dive in; others are still mentally on holiday.
As a leader, your role isn’t to create a perfect day but to create the conditions for success.
It’s not about checking every box.
It’s about creating a day that reflects your school’s values and culture—a day where staff feel seen, heard, and prepared for the journey ahead.
Maybe that means a walking kōrero instead of a PowerPoint. Maybe it’s a reflective circle instead of a treasure hunt. Maybe it’s as simple as sharing kai and giving people space to talk about what matters to them.
And here’s the thing: The perfect teacher-only day doesn’t exist.
But the effort to make it meaningful?
That’s what your staff will remember.
Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi.
With your food basket and my food basket, the people will thrive.
Of course if you are still overwhelmed and don't know where to start here are a few ideas that might inspire your planning and give you practical ways to balance priorities while valuing your staff:
Walking Kōrero
Staff pair up or form small groups and take a walk around the school grounds or a nearby outdoor space.
Guiding Themes:
"What does the new maths curriculum mean for our students and values?"
"How can we embody whanaungatanga in our teaching this year?"
Encourage open, meaningful kōrero, allowing time for natural conversations without interruptions.
Mahi Tahi: Solving a School Problem
In groups, use cardboard boxes and craft materials to design a "futuristic gadget" that solves a real problem at your school.
Why It Works: This playful, creative activity encourages collaboration while subtly addressing practical challenges.
Visual Visions
Using humour and creativity, staff illustrate their personal and professional goals as metaphors.
Example Prompts:
"If my year ahead were a piece of art, what would it look like?"
"What’s my role in making data meaningful for our students?"
Rākau Reflections
Each staff member selects a talking stick (rākau) and shares a personal or professional aspiration.
Focus Areas: Strengths, challenges, and commitments to growth.
Rākau Creations
Staff decorate a chosen rākau using markers, wool, buttons, or natural materials. Each decoration symbolises milestones, challenges, and connections from the past year.
Outcome: A collective display of resilience and unity.
If these ideas resonate with you, our self-help PLD guides offer more tools for crafting meaningful teacher-only days. Contact us at Engaging Learning Voices, or explore Flight, Steve’s new PLD service for customised support.
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