“Life is a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats.” -Voltaire

Life is NOT a shipwreck, but it definitely presents challenges. Sometimes, when it is too hard to concentrate, when the kids don’t behave as you’d like, when a lesson doesn’t go as planned, or when the work piles up and time slips away, it can be difficult to find our singing voice. When we have “these days” it is important that we take time to celebrate the successes in our school. It doesn’t mean we ignore the problems, but we can certainly use “the positives” to energize our efforts to address the challenges.

Challenge for the Week: Pick at least 1 positive thing that has happened in your classroom or at school and email it to a colleague or two. Encourage them to add to the list and pass it along. Like a chain-letter (without the associated misfortune) it will be good to hear the singing…even if we aren’t in lifeboats!

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, October 31st:
Happy Halloween! 
AM PreSchool Parade @ 10:30am (through the hallways of the school)
*an announcement will be made if your class would like to sit in the hallways to watch the PreSchoolers parade around the school*
1:00pm Parade Begins!! Please review the Halloween Info to see where your class will take group photos after the parade & which door you will re-enter Kennedy School.
*THANK YOU to the Halloween Helpers, too! Click here to refer to the areas where you will be helping!*

Tuesday, November 1st:
Art Stamps Due!
Cycle 2 Assessment Week!
3:00pm CPI Training (new) @ 3:00pm (Washington School)

Wednesday, November 2nd:
Math/Writing Common Plan
Community Outreach Committee Meeting @ 7:15am (Room 206)
104/105 Field Trip to Native American Museum
3rd Grade Field Trip to E. Leyden to see Jack & the Beanstalk
SLC to Washington School
District SPED Team Meeting @ 3:45pm (Washington School)

Thursday, November 3rd:
106/115 Field Trip to Native American Museum
Kennedy Singers @ 2:20pm
SLT Meeting @ 3:00pm

Friday, November 4th:
Trimester 1 Ends
103/107 to Native American Museum
5 by Friday!!!

(11/5) Happy Birthday Shannon O’Malley 🙂 

 I hope you had a wonderful, relaxing weekend!
Please take a moment to read this blog post on TeachFactory
about the best type of teaching we can provide our students.

Monday, October 24th:
SLC Swimming @ 10:30am (YMCA)
Math & Writing Committee Meeting @ 2:30pm (Room 107)

Tuesday, October 25th:
Ronald McDonald Friendship Assemblies <–click for schedule
School-wide voting on Kubbie mascot’s name (lobby)
Faculty Meeting @ 2:30pm & 3:30pm <–click for agenda
Mentor Meeting @ 3:45pm (LMS)

Wednesday, October 26th:
Unity Dance Day
SLC to Super Low @ 10:00am
Common Plan: SEL *Please bring your laptop to take KEYS Survey as team*
Celebrations Committee Meeting @ 2:45pm (Room 104)

Thursday, October 27th:
3rd Grade Field Trip to Goebbert’s
Kennedy Singers @ 2:20pm
FUN FAIR/CARNIVAL @ 6:00pm-7:30pm
(Volunteers: Please plan on arriving at 5:30pm)

Friday, October 28th:
Spirit Assembly @ 9:00am (Teamwork)

Are you ready for Monday?

“Every Monday morning, when the alarm goes off, we have a choice. We can go, “Ugh…here we go again.” Or, we can see it as an opportunity. Afterall, every Monday could be seen as just the beginning. This could be the week we start something big. So…..are you ready for Monday, or should I say….is Monday ready for you?”

In honor of Fire Prevention Week, the Schiller Park Fire Department will be at Kennedy on Tuesday and Friday. Please check out the schedule below to see when your class will participate. HERE are some fire safety printable activities if you are interested.

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, October 17th:
Pre-K Field Trip to Goebbert’s
Event Planning Committee Meeting @ 2:30pm (Room 115)

Tuesday, October 18th:
Helping Hands Committee Meeting @ 7:30am (Room 109)
Schiller Park Fire Department Visits <–click for schedule
Dental Exams
Reading/ELL Committee Meeting @ 2:30pm (Room 110)
Multicultural Committee Meeting @ 2:30pm (Room 118)
School Vision Committee Meeting @ 2:40pm (Room 127)
CPI Re-Certification @ 3:00pm (Cafeteria)

Wednesday, October 19th:
Happy Birthday Eva Popowska 🙂
NO SCHOOL: Teacher Institute Day
District Technology Training Agenda
Kennedy Agenda
Board of Education Meeting @ 7:00pm (LMS)

Thursday, October 20th:
Kennedy Singers @ 2:20pm
SLT Meeting @ 3:00pm
CPR Training @ 3:30pm (cafeteria)

Friday, October 21st:
Put a Cap on Bullying *wear a hat to school*
Schiller Park Fire Department Visits <–click for schedule
Reading Room Plan
5 by Friday! 🙂

*Congratulations to Kate Schnelker-Parks on her recent engagement!*

I hope you had a wonderful 3-day weekend and enjoyed this beautiful October weather with your family & friends! Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, October 10th:
NO SCHOOL: Columbus Day

Tuesday, October 11th:
Buddy Committee Meeting @ 7:15am (Room 109)
Dental Exams
Faculty Meeting @ 2:30pm/3:30pm <—click for agenda

Wednesday, October 12th:
Dental Exams
PATS Field Trip to Cosley Zoo
SLC to Super Low
Common Plan: Theme
RTI Committee Meeting @ 2:45pm (Room 118)

Thursday, October 13th:
PreK Field Trip to Goebbert’s
Kennedy Singers @ 2:20pm
PEP Event @ 6:00pm (LMS)

Friday, October 14th:
Team Up Against Bullying (Wear your favorite sports team clothes)
*Here* is a calendar of this month’s Bully Free/Drug Free events for your reference
PreK Screenings
Kindergarten Field Trip to Didier Farm

Happy Birthday Rose Karas (10/15)

As we enter this short 4-day week, I’m hopeful you’ll take some time to read this great blog post by Krissy Venosdale regarding Energy in the Room. 

What energy are you bringing to Kennedy School each day?

THANKS to Eric for creating this awesome video of our 1st Spirit Assembly with our beloved Kennedy Kubbie Mascot:

Also, pictures from the assembly & the Kubbie’s visit to classrooms are posted on our school Flickr page here.

Enjoy some photos from the Project HeartWell 5K yesterday:

Again, thank you to everyone who supported this wonderful event! It was a huge success and a great example of our District’s commitment to a stronger community/school partnership.

Thank you to everyone who participated at our first annual Project HeartWell 5K Run yesterday! What a successful and FUN event. Many thanks to the volunteers, committee members, and participants who came to support our community/district partnership. It was great to see so many Kennedy faculty & staff members supporting this wonderful cause. It’s wonderful to see what our district and community can accomplish when we work together! Pictures coming soon……

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, October 3rd:
Kindergarten Breakfast in Cafeteria (before school) Begins!
1st Grade Field Trip to Goebbert’s Pumpkin Farm
SLC Swimming at YMCA

Tuesday, October 4th:
Happy Birthday Stephanie Alessi 🙂
Multiage Field Trip to Goebbert’s Pumpkin Farm
RTI Committee Meeting @ 2:45pm (Room 118)
Event Planning Committee Meeting @ 3:00pm (Room 115)
ELL Parent Meeting @ 6:00pm

Wednesday, October 5th:
Happy Birthday Barbara Brzozowska 🙂
Community Outreach Committee Meeting @ 7:15am (Room 206)
Dental Exams
SLC Outing to Schiller Park Police Station @ 10:00am
TAPS Common Plan
District SPED Meeting @ 3:40pm (Washington Media Center)

Thursday, October 6th:
Happy Birthday Anna Gabriel 🙂 (remind your green bus friends)
2nd Grade Field Trip to Goebbert’s Pumpkin Farm
Kennedy Singers @ 2:20pm
SLT Meeting @ 3:00pm

Friday, October 7th:
Happy Birthday Nicole Boulanger 🙂
KENNEDY SCHOOL Faculty & Staff Group Photo @ 7:15am (playground)
Picture Day! <–click to see schedule
Reading Room Plan Day
HIP Hanging Ornaments Sent Home with Students
(This letter will be provided in your mailboxes to staple to each ornament before sending home)

Happy Wedding to Allyson Hocking (10/08)!
NO SCHOOL Monday, October 10th

Have a great week! 🙂