We are excited to kick off the 2025-2026 year with some new things! Below are tools you can use and a review of what’s new!
Appreciation Checklist
TOOLS
[ ] Bus Driver Day Packet
[ ] All Songs Packet
[ ] Parent Sign Up Sheet
[ ] Master Calendar
[ ] All Appreciation Packets
[ ] Facebook Coordinators Group
[ ] Utrust University
SAMPLE LETTERS
[ ] To Student Groups
[ ] To Parents
[ ] To PTO
[ ] To Churches
[ ] To Businesses
(Get sample letters HERE)
To Do
[ ] Complete Utrust U Certification (Required – Info below)
New This Year!
G-FORCE ROLE
G-Force Role – This year we have made the roles of the A-Team and G-Force much easier to understand. The A-Team will be responsible for planning all 8 Appreciation Days and the G-Force will be responsible for planning the Culture Quest activities a and the Birthdate Challenge.
SHINING STAR AWARD
Shining Star vs Lucky Star – This year, we want to see you SHINE! The Lucky Star award is now the Shining Star award. You’ll still post a minimum of 5 photos and a description of your activities. Our Utrust team will select the “Shiniest” executed Appreciation Days to enter the drawing for an award of $100 for the school to further appreciation efforts.
NEW CULTURE QUEST
New Culture Quest – We have replaced the Video Contest with Culture Bingo! Students will get a Bingo card. Numbers will be called over the announcements. If a student has the number, they can complete the corresponding kindness task to mark it off their card. If they win bingo, the card it put into a drawing for a prize. More details coming to the Utrust.org website.
MONDAY ALERTS
On Mondays, pop over to the Coordinators Facebook Group for reminders, tips, resources and more!
You can search by hashtag to see all that has been posted about each of these categories: #UtrustReminder #UtrustTip #UtrustResource #UtrustCulture #UtrustAwards
UTRUST UNIVERSITY (AKA UTRUST U)
This is HUGE! We have compiled all the training materials you need to understand how the Utrust Appreciation Programs work. Certification REQUIRED for grant eligibility as follows:
- School Coordinator – Appreciation and Culture Certification (Required)
- Principals – Appreciation and Culture Certification (Required)
- A-Team Advisers* – Appreciation Certification (Required)
- G-Force Adviser – Culture Certification (Required)
*A separate adviser is required for each of the 3 A-Team Crews.
Make the Most of Registration Day
BEFORE Registration Day…
Have students create a poster board enlisting parents to participate in the Utrust Appreciation Program.
Make the board very specific to your needs with information including the names of the appreciation days and things you want such as:
• Water bottles
• Chocolate bars
• Thank you notes
• Brownies
• Cookies
• Other baked goodies
ON Registration Day…
Set up a table with a few A-Team students inviting parents to participate in the program.
Have the students ask parents to sign up using the sign up sheet we provide (link below).
Once you have parents signed up, the Action Crew will call them throughout the year to remind them to send in the items for the appreciation day(s). That way “everyone does a little so no does a lot”.
2025-2026 THEME
BE BRAVE!
Get ready for a school year of adventure as we celebrate our brave school heroes!
APPRECIATION DAYS vs CULTURE QUESTS (A-Team vs G-Force)
