However, there are lots of things we can take forward into next year to continue to grow and thrive.

As we look at finishing out this school year, we invite you to consider joining in self-selected teams of four in an HMS workplace-friendly competition between coworkers.

The purposes of this competition are to:

• Engage in some cooperative competition between HMS adult teams
• Bolster teamwork, raise motivation, and foster camaraderie
• Have some fun towards the end of a very challenging school year

In addition, there will be some small prizes along the way, and one large prize for the winning team of four of the competition!

In the event of a tie between teams at the end of the competition, a random draw will determine the competition winner.

The rest of this newsletter will give you information on how to participate, and a preview of the events for week one so you have an idea about what the competition involves. A few activities are the same each week, and a few activities will change.

Each week, every team competing will receive a newsletter with all applicable links to report their points. You have one week to do any or all of the activities, and the deadline for reporting the activities for points is 5:00 p.m. on the announced day.

Thank you for considering forming a team of four and joining this cooperative competition.

We hope that many of you join the challenge!

Please read below for more details.

Kind regards,

Christen & Donna

P.S. ** LARGE GRAND PRIZE ** - The large grand prize-winning team members will each receive a $100 gift card to the Hershey Spa that can be used towards a massage, facial, manicure, pedicure, food, time to relax, sit by the pool, etc. during their half-day off from work to go and enjoy this wonderful prize generously donated by our PTO and Erick, Aaron and Jackie! :)

April 21 - Faculty Kick-Off

• Invitation to participate at the April Faculty Meeting

April 21 - April 27 (5:00 p.m.) - Volunteer Sign Up & Formation of Teams

• Anyone wishing to participate will form a team of four HMS staff members.
• Name your team.
• Enroll by submitting a Google Form on or before April 27 at 5:00 p.m. (No late entries will be accepted.)
  
• Get to know your team by earning a possible 4 pre-challenge points by completing a free Enneagram (free basic test) and record their highest number for them and their 3 teammates on the Google Form.
• This week, only one team member will submit the application for the entire team.

April 28 - May 4 (5:00 p.m.) - Week 1

• Complete any of the offered challenges for Week 1 on or before the deadline.
• Each team member will submit their own Google Form in the Week 1 newsletter.

May 5 - May 11 (5:00 p.m.) - Week 2

• Complete any of the offered challenges for Week 2 on or before the deadline.
• Each team member will submit their own Google Form in the Week 2 newsletter.

May 12 - May 18 (5:00 p.m.) - Week 3

• Complete any of the offered challenges for Week 3 on or before the deadline.
• Each team member will submit their own Google Form in the Week 3 newsletter.

May 19 - End of cooperative team challenge

• Winning team announced
• The administration will inform the team about what day the winning prize will occur.

Anyone wishing to participate will talk to HMS staff and create your team of four volunteer members.

• All teams must consist of four members in order for possible points to be fair.

• Your team may include any HMS staff: teachers, paraprofessionals, teacher aides, secretaries, lunch aides, custodians, guidance, nurses, our two building subs, etc. However, the only staff members who may not be included on a team are administrators and instructional coaches.

What is Enneagram?

The Enneagram is a system of personality typing that describes patterns in how people interpret the world and manage their emotions. The Enneagram describes nine personality types and maps each of these types on a nine-pointed diagram which helps to illustrate how the types relate to one another

To earn these points, all 4 members must complete the Enneagram of Personality profile individually (free basic form) and get their individual results and the four points. This is an all or none pre-challenge activity for team members.

Then, when one team member completes Task #4, the name of each team member's Enneagram Personality Profile will need to be reported. These names include the Reformer, the Helper, the Achiever, the Individualist, the Investigator, the Loyalist, the Enthusiast, the Challenger, or the Peacemaker.

You can access the Enneagram test here or at the button below.

You are only taking the free version. Please take note of your highest scoring category which you will need to report in Task 4.

Want to learn a little more about Enneagram? Click here for some additional information from Brian Mendler.

Once you have your tasks finalized (Tasks #1 and 2 [required] and Task #3 [optional]) you should fill out this form.

You can submit team information at the hyperlink above or the button below.

For this week, only one team member needs to submit for the entire team.

Then, starting Week 1, each team member will need to submit their own information.

Each team member earns points for the team and reports them through a weekly Google Form on an individual basis.

Only the "Did you hear that..." and the "Do something good for yourself..." categories will change each week to different topics.

Week 1 Point Challenges

1. Did you hear that...Question of the Week - 1 point per participant (maximum 1 submission per week per participant)

Join us on a collaboration board each week to answer a random question from Donna and Christen. A link to each week’s board will be included in the weekly newsletter. So that you can be awarded a point, you will be required to record your name, but your name will not appear on the public board. Feel free to like other participants’ answers. Earn the point once per week for your participation.

2. Try something new...- Growth Mindset - 2 points per submission (maximum 3 submissions per week per participant)

Use the weekly Google Form to report on something new that you tried this week. It can be simple - it just needs to be something new that is related to your position at HMS. Earn the points for each submission.

3. Tell us something... - Shout Out - 2 points per submission + 2 points for your “mentionee” (maximum of 3 shout outs per week per participant)

Submissions will be shared anonymously to all staff through the Principal’s Bulletin/Update each week. Earn two points for making a submission and your mentionee is also awarded two points (if that person is participating). Better than BOGO! You will document your submission to us for counting towards your total on the weekly Google Form.

4. Reflect & plan for the future... - Coaching Conversation (maximum of 1 meeting per participant for the entire competition)

Set up a minimum 15-minute meeting with an instructional coach (Christen, Donna, Katie, or Dave) to reflect on this year and start planning with a goal for something you want to work on for the next school year with a coach - 7 points for your team and take away 3 points from another team. (Each participant on a team can only meet with a coach once to get credit for this category for the entire competition but you can arrange this meeting for week 1, 2, or 3.)

5. Do something good for yourself... - Physical Health - 2 points per submission (maximum of 2 submissions)

Document at least a 30-minute physical activity. In the weekly Google Form upload a screenshot of a fitness tracker that recorded a physical activity or upload an actual picture of you doing the activity.

6. Don’t stop believing… - You Learned A Lot this School Year and You Have A Lot to Share - 3 points, 6 points, or a whopping 9 points! (maximum of 1 submission per week)

Tell us about a successful instructional practice you used this year on a Google Form for 3 points. Want 6 points? In addition to explaining your instructional practice, you also share an example of the practice with a picture, video, or link for a double dip. Want 9 points? Share your instructional practice, an example, AND allow us to share it with HMS staff members for a triple dip.