Many administrators admit to being overwhelmed by the workload. Often, this feeling results from a lack of long-range planning. They leave routine tasks until the last minute, then, when one of those day-to-day crises or events happen, they fall further behind, causing themselves more stress. It is crucial to plan time for the important so that you are not consumed by the urgent.
Ten Principles for New Principals: A Guide to Positive Action, M. Joel, p. 20
Daily Routines
- Greet the students each morning in the front foyer. Be in the halls during class changes.
- Eat lunch with the students in the cafeteria regularly. Eat lunch with staff as well.
- Be in the front foyer as the students leave in the afternoon.
- Make the announcements each day, pointing out the most recent accomplishments of staff and students.
- Circle through the staff room at recess, noon hour and before school to offer friendly greetings.
- Walk through the entire school at least once in the morning and once in the afternoon.
- Make a point of greeting everyone with a smile.
- Never walk by a situation where students are not carrying out school policy.
- Drop into one or two classes during daily rounds for a friendly interaction with students.
- Report to the custodial staff any areas that need cleaning or repair.
- Meet with the student leaders.
- Clear all mail and correspondence off your desk.
Weekly Routines
- Meet with administrative team to go over calendars and be briefed on each area of responsibility.
- Review progress on school-wide initiatives.
- Monitor activity in staffing and school program portfolio.
- Inspect the school premises at least weekly and report required repairs and any lack of attention on the part of building maintenance staff.
- Review plant projects to see that they are on track.
- Attend student activities and special presentations.
- Attend all semi-final and final games of school teams.
- Consciously think to praise staff and students for particular things they have done.
- Back up electronic files and records.
- Meet with custodian; conduct scheduled walk-through of facilities.
- Prepare weekly bulletins/updates for staff.
Monthly Routines
- Meet the curriculum leaders to review responsibilities and initiatives.
- Meet with staff to review responsibilities and provide professional development. (Check collective agreement.)
- Meet with the chair of the school council.
- Attend the school council meeting.
- Visit classes for teacher performance appraisals and submit TPAs to board.
- Attend principals’ association meeting.
- Attend superintendency meeting.
- Attend area/board meetings.
- Review budget expenditure with staff.
- Compile and submit monthly reports (e.g. budget, attendance).
- Attend and review in-school committee meetings as often as possible.
- Maintain a positive attitude toward change in all staff meetings and informal interactions with staff.
- Review the environment of the school to ensure that teaching and learning have priority.
- Reinforce at every staff gathering that students must be treated fairly and be given due process in every situation.
- Review progress toward school improvement plan objectives.
- Support staff and student recognition programs (e.g. Student of the Month).
- Conduct fire or other emergency drills.
- Review and follow up regarding student behaviour and discipline trends.
- Conduct mentoring sessions with beginning teachers and aspiring leaders.
- Distribute regular monthly newsletter and calendar.
- Review school web page.
- Visit local service clubs.
Quarterly Routines
- Review all class medians; compute the school median average.
- Review program procedures such as board-wide testing.
- Meet with parents of students involved in cultural exchanges.
- Review Information and Communication Technology Plan.
- Attend at least one professional development activity.
- Contribute to school newsletter.
- Review all student report cards.
- Attend school dances and other school performances.
- Monitor commencement activities.
- Follow through on any personal goals or initiatives - e.g. contacting families new to the school.
Yearly Routines
- Review and edit staff handbook.
- Review and edit student agenda handbook.
- Review and edit safe schools procedures.
- Submit teacher performance appraisals for designated staff.
- Run in-service for all new staff and all staff in general.
- Hire new staff.
- Plan celebration for those leaving the staff.
- Submit plan for school plant improvements.
- Set budget with departments to align with school improvement plan.
- Establish timetable for the year with the administration team.
- Attend student-led events.
- Accompany students on at least one field trip.
- Review school year and plan for next year with curriculum leaders and vice-principals.
- Review strategies to improve results on board-wide and province-wide tests.
- Review activities and implement new ones with respect to the school mission and vision.
- Set out the expectations for students and staff in September.
- Review program for parents’ and curriculum nights.
- Review procedures for parent/teacher interviews and student-led conferences.
- Review roles and responsibilities of office staff.