The break for the holidays is right around the corner, and if you’re like me, you are looking forward to taking some time away and re-charging. Connecting with family & friends, sleeping in past 5:00am…..:) I wish you and your families the most joyous of holiday seasons. Thank you to the entire Kennedy staff for always caring and and taking pride in what you do! Thanks for persevering through the stressful times. Thanks for finding blessings & positives all around you. It has been a fantastic 2011; I’m already looking forward to seeing you all again for what promises to be an even brighter 2012! We have made a difference with our work here at Kennedy School because we Teach With Passion each day!

At this time of the year, it is appropriate that we reflect on the past year. Last week, Google launched their 2011 Zeitgeist site, which features a menu of the most-searched terms of 2011. Below is the year in review video, which features a lot of short video clips and pictures of the year’s biggest stories. What were YOUR highlights of 2011?

*Cycle 3 Assessments this week!
Happy Belated Birthday to Lauren Paar (12/16)

Monday, December 19th:
Santa Visits Kennedy: Arriving @ 8:30am (Classrooms will be called down to lobby)
**Remember to remind students to be ready to tell Santa 1 item they want for Christmas 🙂 Teachers, thank you in advance for helping make this run quickly and smoothly, as Santa needs to visit other Schiller Park friends 🙂
SLC to YMCA for Swimming
SLBC to Choo Choo Diner

Tuesday, December 20th:
Kindergarten Buddy activity with 5th Graders
Happy Birthday Danielle Standa! 🙂

Wednesday, December 21st:
Spirit Assembly @ 9:00am
POLAR EXPRESS DAY!
Common Plan: Curriculum Checkpoint

December 22nd-January 8th: WINTER BREAK
Happy Birthday Jimmy Kennedy (12/29)
Happy Birthday Elise Lagattuta (01/05)
Happy Birthday Mayra Tellez (01/06) 

Monday, January 9th: School Resumes

 **Resources Worth Checking Out**
We Give Books :  A website where students can read books online (great to show on the Promethean Boards-Thanks for passing this along, Carrie!)
Holiday Ideas : A collection of some fun, holiday activity ideas from the blog, Second Grade Shenanigans.

As the holidays are around the corner, here are a couple of resources you might want to bookmark:

Storyline Online is now hosting The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
Portable North Pole is a website that allows you to create a personalized video message from Santa!

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, December 12th:
Technology Committee Meeting @ 2:30pm (Room 202)

Tuesday, December 13th:
Faculty Meeting @ 2:30pm & 3:30pm <—click for agenda

Wednesday, December 14th:
SLC to Washington School
Common Plan: Technology
PATS/PreSchool Tree Decorating Party (2:00pm-3:30pm)
Board Meeting @ 7:00pm (LMS)

Thursday, December 15th:
Kennedy Singers @ 2:20pm
RTI Committee Meeting @ 2:30pm (Room 118)
Vision Committee Meeting @ 2:30pm (Room 127)

Friday, December 16th:
First Grade Field Trip to Stahl Theater
December Birthdays Luncheon
Happy Birthday Ola Heitz 🙂

Have you been wishing/hoping your students could access our Tumblebooks subscription on the iPads? BIG NEWS:

“Dear Teachers,
       We are pleased to announce that we have begun a project which will allow your students and patrons to access your TumbleBooks picture book collection on the iPad and iPhone 4!!
       As you may know, TumbleBooks are created using flash animation and Apple has been steadfast in refusing to include flash in their iPads and iPhones.
       So, in the spirit of, “if you can’t beat them, join them”, and in our continued efforts to give our subscribers the best experience possible, we are making non flash videos especially for the iPad.
       You can check out our first batch of iPad-compatible TumbleBooks by signing into TumbleBookLibrary on your iPad and going to the Story Books section. There are currently 44 iPad books to choose from!
       Just below the “Story Books” heading, there is a link called “Click here for iPad-compatible titles”. Click on this link, and the iPad books will be sorted for you. Now, simply click on the “iPad” button to launch the book of your choice! The book will appear in a small window at first, but to expand, simply click on the “full screen” button.
       In the coming months, we will be creating iPad content for the entire TumbleBooks animated picture books collection.
        Thank you for your time! We would love to get feedback from those of you using iPads, so be sure to tell us what you think. Please email comments and questions to me at marianne@tumblebooks.com.

        All the best,
        Marianne Last”

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, December 5th:
SLC Swimming @ YMCA

Tuesday, December 6th:
Buddies Committee Meeting @ 7:30am (Room 109)
RTI Committee Meeting @ 2:30pm (Room 118)

Wednesday, December 7th:
Happy Birthday, Kim Boryszewski 🙂
Community Outreach Committee Meeting @ 7:20am OR 3:00pm (Room 206)
Common Plan: SEL
Celebrations Committee Meeting @ 2:45pm (Room 104)
District SPED Meeting @ 3:45pm (Media Center @ Kennedy)

Thursday, December 8th:
Happy Birthday Cindy DeRose 🙂
Picture Retake Day
Kennedy Singers @ 2:20pm
SLT Meeting @ 3:00pm
District Winter Band Concert @ 7:00pm (LMS)

Friday, December 9th:
HAT DAY!
Reading Room Plan

Krissy Venosdale, one of my favorite bloggers, posted this on her most recent post:

Do you ever have those conversations with your class?  You know the ones, that come up, at random, opportune times where you talk about risks, about never giving up, and about reaching for the highest star? Want to remind them to never give up?  Make them think about their goals, even when they seem different from everyone else’s, and how to achieve them?  Share this video.  288,000 jelly beans and 22 months of creativity and hard work made this video.   Don’t wait for your students to be inspired… Inspire them.

(If you have time….check out the “Making Of” video to see how it was made! VERY COOL!)

**As we embark on the next 13 days before Winter Break, remember to continue to inspire your students & engage them in learning! Thank you for Teaching With Passion each day!