Start the School Year Strong

As a new school year begins, facilitators are preparing to welcome young people back into spaces where they can connect, build relationships, and grow. A little preparation before Circles begin can make a big difference in helping facilitators feel confident, supported, and ready for the year ahead.  

Here are a few ways organizations can set their facilitation teams up for success this fall:  

Review Your Facilitator Manual & QA Tool 
The Facilitator Manuals for Girls Circle and The Council for Boys and Young Men are a wealth of support and information to ensure you feel confident and fully equipped to be an effective Circle group facilitator. If you don’t have time to read the entire thing, skip to the Quality Assurance tool in the back of each manual to recap a helpful checklist to ensure you’re maintaining fidelity to the model and doing your best to create open and safe spaces for the youth you serve.  

Refresh Skills Through Training 
Even experienced facilitators benefit from opportunities to strengthen their skills. Before the year gets too busy, revisit foundational practices, participate in professional development, or attend a facilitator training. Training can help new facilitators build confidence while allowing returning facilitators to refresh their skills and reconnect with the purpose behind the Circle model.

Revisit Your Curriculum 
Back-to-school season is a great time to review the curricula you already have and explore new resources that can meet the needs and interests of your groups. Look through upcoming sessions, identify activities that may resonate with participants, and make sure that you have the materials that you need. 

Looking for something new? Explore One Circle Foundation’s collection of curricula to find resources that support the youth you serve.  

We also know that budgets can be a challenge, which is why we have our curriculum scholarship program. The scholarship program makes our research-based curricula more accessible to organizations and facilitators who may need financial support. If purchasing new materials isn’t in your budget, we encourage you to learn more about the scholarship opportunity. 

Gather in Community and Ask for Help 
Participate in Circle as adults. A great way to build a community of facilitators is to participate in Circle as adults. You can take turns facilitating from week to week. OCF’s Mitigating Gender and Racial Bias: Intersectionality and Allyship activity guide was written for use with adults. It's a great way to ensure all facilitators are on the same page in how they work with youth, and it keeps you connected to what it means to be a Circle participant.  
Consider co-facilitation. Doing the work on your own is a fine way to go but doing it with a partner offers great support.  

Join the OCF Facilitator Support Group. One Circle Foundation offers a free monthly facilitator support group where facilitators can connect, share experiences, ask questions, and learn from others doing this work. Whether you’re new to facilitation or have been facilitating Circles for years, you don’t have to navigate challenges alone. 

Start the Year Strong 
Fall preparation doesn’t have to be complicated. A thoughtful training refresh, the right curriculum, and ongoing support can help you enter the new year feeling prepared and connected. 

At One Circle Foundation, we’re here to support you throughout the journey. Whether your team is facilitating Girls Circle, The Council for Boys and Young Men, Unity Circle, Mother-Daughter Circle or, Women’s Circle, taking time to prepare now can help create meaningful Circle experiences all year long.