May is a lot. Testing is wrapping up, schedules are shifting, and everyone is running on the last bit of energy they have. We know you've been carrying a full load this year, and we're not here to add to it.

What we do want to offer is a simple reminder: the final weeks of the school year are actually one of the most powerful windows you have with girls.

They're reflective right now. They're feeling the weight of transitions, and they are also feeling lighter with the majority of major testing coming to an end. And a little bit of intentional attention from you can leave them walking into summer feeling more grounded and more confident than they came in.

Here are three simple things worth doing before the year ends.

Celebrate the connections that formed this year

What we see with girls is that belonging is often something they feel but can't always name. One of the most meaningful things you can do before the year closes is help them see it. Think about the relationships that formed in your classroom or group this year, the girl who found her people, the moment a small group came together around something hard, the friendships that surprised you. Name those things out loud. Acknowledge them in front of your girls. When students hear an adult reflect on the connections they built, it reinforces that those relationships were real and that they mattered. That's not a small thing, especially for girls who are still learning to trust that they belong somewhere.

Give girls a moment to see their own growth

This one doesn't require any prep. Before the year ends, carve out even five minutes for girls to reflect on who they were in September compared to who they are now. Not their grades, not their performance, but how they showed up. Ask them something simple, like:

“What's one thing you handled better this year than you thought you could?”

“What's something you're proud of that nobody gave you a grade for?”

Girls who have been evaluated and measured all year long respond deeply to being asked about their own experience. It shifts something. And it gives them something real to carry into summer.

Give yourself the same grace you're giving them

This one is for you. Before you close out the year, take a few minutes to acknowledge the culture you created. Think about one moment where a girl felt safer, more confident, or more connected because of something you did, even something small you may have forgotten about already. Educators are almost always the last ones to recognize their own impact, and the truth is that the environment you built this year didn't happen by accident. You made choices, big and small, that shaped how your girls experienced school. That's worth sitting with before you move on to everything summer brings.

Looking ahead to next year

If you've been thinking about how to build on the culture you created this year and want a more structured way to support your girls or your boys going forward, we'd love to have that conversation. Rise Girl™ and Rise Guy are designed to give schools a simple, practical way to build confidence, connection, and belonging without adding more weight to your team. Many of our school partners plan over the summer so they're ready to go from day one in the fall.

If that sounds like something worth exploring, we're here for it. No pressure, just a real conversation about what your school needs and whether we might be the right fit.

Let's Talk — Book a Call

Thank you for everything you've poured into your girls this year. It matters more than you know.

With love,
Ali & the Rise Girl Team