Twenty Blueprints to Make Your School the Most Inviting Place In Town:

For Background See [Blue Leader One:  A Metaphor For Invitational Education]

William Watson Purkey and Friends
University of North Carolina at Greensboro

The following ideas are practical examples of how the “Blue & Orange” metaphor can be transformed from theory to practice in most schools:

1. Blue Day: Have a special day where everyone in the school wears blue to be a reminder to treat one another with respect, warmth, and politeness.
2. Blue Chalk: On a special day of the school year, every teacher in the school uses blue chalk. At the end of the day, teachers give the chalk to students to serve as a reminder of respect for others.
3. Blue Can: A standard classroom trash-can can be sprayed blue. Custodians select the neatest classroom each week. The winning class gets to keep the can for one week. The classroom winning the can the most times during the school year gets to “retire” the can and gets a special treat.
4. Blue Melodies: Play classical and semi-classical music during lunchtime. If students cannot hear the music, they are being too loud.
5. Blueberry Muffins: Serve blueberry muffins at faculty meetings and other occasions to remind everyone to have a “berry good time.”
6. Blue Links: Fold strips of blue paper into a link. Each link is inscribed with a student name. The links for a chain throughout the school.
7. Blue Pass: Pass rewarded to a student for effort or achievement that allows the student to leave class early.
8. Blue Banner: Blue posters and banners are placed around the school with “inviting” messages.
9. Blue Route: Paint a special walking trail around the school (with footsteps painted) to encourage faculty, staff, and students to walk a mile or more during the school day.
10. Blue Notes: Send notes home to parents commending their student’s performance or improvement.
11. Blue Brunch: Designate a special “Blue Table” in the school cafeteria that is beautifully decorated with blue china and silverware for special recognitions (most improved, best behaved, etc.).
12. Blue Plate Special: Ask the school cafeteria to provide a special low-cal meal for those trying to lose weight.
13. Blue Beginning: Start each school day with a positive message through the intercom.
14. Blue Bill: Tape a dollar bill to the bottom of a chair before each faculty meeting. The teacher in the lucky chair receives the bill.
15. Blue Parking: Paint a coveted parking space blue and hold regular drawings for the space at regular faculty meetings.
16. Ima Blue: Create a mystery faculty member who sends notes and small gifts to colleagues. lma should have her own mailbox to receive mail, and her name should appear on all school rosters.
17. Blue Cross: The principal visits any student who is in the hospital.
18. Blue Line: Tape or paint a blue line across the school entrance doorway to remind everyone who enters of the Blue & Orange Metaphor.
19. Blues Brothers & Sisters: Organize a singing group to sing “blue songs” at meetings.
20. Blue Hunt: Plan a surprise scavenger hunt at a faculty meeting. Assign teams, provide one list per team, and while teams are searching for “blue” items within the ten-minute time period, announce each passing minute over the intercom. Have prizes for everyone.