By David Bielik

As the start of the new school year quickly approaches, school administrators hold the unique power to shape what kind of year it will be, not just for students, but for teachers, staff, and families. The first few weeks of school aren’t just a logistical ramp-up; they’re a critical window for building trust, fostering relationships, and creating the culture that will define the year. A recent study by the The Grad Partnership of 41 schools, found that a relationship-centered approach to supporting students (connection with caring adults, valuing student voice, and providing a welcoming environment) resulted in a 5% drop in student course failures, and a 6% drop in chronic absenteeism. Creating a supportive school culture does more than make students smile, it’s proven to help students persevere. What’s more, student success has a ripple effect, increasing teacher and staff engagement, and family and community involvement.

Here are three high-impact priorities administrators should focus on as you begin to plan for the first few weeks of the new school year.

1. Build Connections Starting on Day One

School is ultimately about people. And relationships (among educators, among students, and between the two) are the foundation of every successful learning community.

Action Steps:

Create intentional space for teacher-to-teacher connection: Use early professional development days not just for compliance training, but for team-building. Invite staff to share stories, collaborate on goals, and affirm shared values.
Model relational leadership: Walk the halls, greet students and staff by name, and show presence in classrooms during the first weeks.
Support advisory or homeroom programs: Ensure teachers have time and structure to build classroom relationships that go beyond content delivery.

2. Set a Culture of Positivity and Belonging

Students and staff return to school with all sorts of hopes and fears, and they need to feel heard and supported to feel like they belong and can flourish. Being intentional about supporting and listening to students and teachers will set the tone and build a strong foundation for the new year.

Action Steps:

Open the year with a shared vision: Use opening staff meetings and student assemblies to articulate what kind of community you want to be (inclusive, joyful, curious, supportive) and why it matters.
Lift up adult positivity: Acknowledge the energy and emotion teachers bring to the first weeks. Send notes of encouragement. Celebrate small wins, like a well-run classroom routine or a relationship-building opportunity with a student.
Invite student voice early: Whether it’s through surveys, open forums, or student ambassadors, let learners know their perspective matters from the start.

3. Build Systems That Celebrate Growth and Success

The beginning of the year is the perfect time to establish systems that reward effort, improvement, and community contributions, not just academic achievement.

Action Steps:

Start with strengths: Begin the year by highlighting students’ passions, identities, and talents. Encourage activities like student-led introductions in classrooms (whatever form that may take) or “passion poster” displays on bulletin boards to help students feel a sense of belonging.
Establish recognition programs: Create monthly or quarterly moments to celebrate student success, academic, behavioral, and relational. Make it visible, inclusive, and fun.
Empower teachers to lead celebration efforts: Give educators autonomy to recognize their students in ways that are personal and build relationships.

A strong start isn’t about perfection, it’s about showing up with purpose and intention. The human-centered investments you make at the beginning of the year will create a foundation that you can build on all year long. Prioritizing relationships, fostering positivity, and celebrating growth are not soft strategies. They are strategic factors that improve engagement, resilience, and long-term academic success.

The DMC Learning Success Team has over 30 years of combined experience in education, teaching in K-12 settings, and supporting learning success in college/university settings. Drawing from these experiences, DMC is committed to providing resources and tools related to our current work, which involves helping educational partners improve their culture through intentional and scalable solutions.