By Jamie Bricker and Jack Barclay
The upcoming holiday break offers a natural pause in the school year—a chance for principals and school leaders to reflect on progress, recalibrate plans and recharge for the months ahead. As the mid-year point approaches, focusing on three practical priorities—Reflection, Recognition and Relaxation—can help leaders sharpen direction, support staff and return to work refreshed and ready to lead.
REFLECTION
Ensure a Unified Effort
With the school year at or near its midpoint, principals should lead a deliberate review of goals and initiatives. Identify which objectives have been met, which need adjustment and which should be discontinued. The school plan should remain a living document, not a formality, and regular review helps keep the entire staff aligned and committed.
Leaders should encourage open professional dialogue where staff feel empowered to share honest feedback about what’s working and what isn’t. At this stage, everyone on the team must commit to agreed priorities. Balancing pressure with support is one of the most important—and most difficult—responsibilities of school leadership.
Prioritize Relationships
Strong working relationships are essential to a school’s culture and effectiveness. By midyear, connections with staff should be established but still need ongoing attention. Principals should actively nurture those relationships, listening for concerns, celebrating small wins and modeling steady, resilient leadership.
The past few years have brought exceptional stress to education. Staff and leaders alike benefit when principals model calm, consistent resilience—demonstrating how to respond constructively to setbacks and maintain focus on student learning and wellbeing.
Embrace Personal Assessment
Self-reflection is often the hardest part of a leader’s midyear review. Principals must honestly assess their own strengths and areas for growth, considering what leadership practices have produced results and where change is needed. This internal conversation should lead directly to concrete actions—what the principal will start, stop or continue doing to better support teachers, students and the school’s goals.
RECOGNITION
Acknowledge Effort
Recognition fuels morale. Take time to acknowledge both individual and collective progress: teachers adapting to new grade levels, staff implementing fresh instructional strategies, and colleagues taking on extra responsibilities like clubs or teams. Genuine appreciation matters; some staff prefer private thanks while others value public recognition. Tailor your approach to the individual so acknowledgements resonate.
Affirm Holiday Stress
While holidays are often portrayed as joyful, for many people the season brings stress, grief or financial strain. Some families will feel increased anxiety as routines shift and students spend more time at home. Principals should acknowledge these realities and be proactive in offering support.
“My door is always open” is a worthy sentiment, but some people won’t seek help even when they need it. School leaders should be prepared to initiate supportive conversations and reach out to staff or families who may be struggling, providing empathy, resources and practical assistance where appropriate.
RELAXATION
Clear Your Desk
True relaxation requires intentional work beforehand. In the final days before the break, focus on resolving or delegating pressing matters so they do not hang over the holiday. At the same time, resist the temptation to rush through complex decisions merely to close them out. Some issues benefit from distance; stepping away for a short time can bring clarity and lead to better choices.
Enjoy Family Time
The holiday period is a time to prioritize personal wellbeing and relationships. Replace work routines with family conversations, shared activities and rest. Don’t feel guilty about temporary shifts in sleep or schedule—this pause supports long-term effectiveness.
Use the break to tend to your physical and emotional health: schedule overdue medical or dental appointments, revisit a hobby, read for pleasure or get regular exercise. These restorative activities help leaders return to work renewed.
Begin the Transition
A few days before staff and students return, gently refocus on upcoming goals and challenges. The latter part of the break is an ideal time for honest reflection away from the building—review priorities, set or adjust short-term objectives and plan how to reengage staff with clarity and purpose.
About the authors
Jamie Bricker and Jack Barclay are retired school principals who live just outside Toronto, Ontario. They co-host the Matters of Principal podcast.
This article was originally published by The Learning Counsel, a research institute and news media hub focused on the shift in education toward digital curriculum.