Quote & Image from Krissy Venosdale’s blog, which can be found here

“Teaching is one of the hardest jobs in the world, but it’s also one of the most rewarding. Although my role has changed and I’m lucky enough to teach teachers, teach students, and teach myself on a daily basis, I’m still a learner first. I updated this image with some fun colors & a mosaic background, because our teaching life is made of millions of tiny learning moments, melded together into one unique experience that makes us who we are as a teacher. And that? It’s something pretty special.”

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, February 1st
ACCESS Testing continues <–click for updated schedule

Tuesday, February 2nd
Tech Roll-Out Evening for 3rd-8th grade students & parents @ LMS (5:30pm-7:30pm)

Wednesday, February 3rd
2nd Grade/Lincoln Buddies Event
MyOn Meeting for classroom teachers in cafeteria (1:55pm-2:55pm)

Thursday, February 4th
SLT Meeting @ 3:00pm
I Heart Art Show (6:00pm-7:30pm) <—-click for flyer/invitation
Happy Birthday Anne Weinthaler 🙂

Friday, February 5th
Pre School Screening
5 by Friday! Remember to make those 5 positive connections with students by Friday!
Happy Birthday Jenna Bartello 🙂

(02/06) Happy Birthday Dina Natalie & Heather Longo 🙂
(02/07) Happy Birthday Alanna Mixter 🙂

Mark Your Calendars:
Jump Rope for Heart takes place February 8th-12th
Talent Show Permission Slip (<–click to view) due by Friday 2/5
Kindergarten Information Night for incoming Kinder students (including those in our PreK program) on Wednesday, 2/10
1st-3rd Grade students go to LMS to see Washington School’s Musical on Thursday, 2/11
Trimester 2 Ends on Friday, 2/12
NO SCHOOL on Monday, 2/15

Blog Posts Worth Reading:
Detour “Around the Danger Zones” of Classroom Management

Building Relationships With Families of ELLs

Share 6 Encouraging Words #6WordEncourage

6 Ed Tech Tools to Try in 2016

Here’s our week at a glance:

(01/24) Happy Birthday Ofelia Golden 🙂

Monday, January 25th
ACCESS Testing Begins > > REMINDER: NO READING ROOM
*See Anne’s email in Kennedy Conference for schedule
NO BOOK CHECKOUT (Becky will push into your classrooms for a read-aloud)
Happy Birthday Brooke Gorowski 🙂

Tuesday, January 26th
100th Day of School
Faculty Meeting @ 2:50pm <—agenda will be emailed
Happy Birthday Brian Key 🙂

Wednesday, January 27th
Technology Common Plan <–click for agenda/breakout sessions

Thursday, January 28th
Yearbook Committee Meeting @ 2:35pm

Friday, January 29th
Spirit Assembly

100th Day Ideas from Pinterest

Today we celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr…..let’s honor Dr. King’s memory as we begin our work week. The following Dr. King quote can help us reflect on the work we are doing at Kennedy School.

“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character, that is the goal of education.”

Do we hold high expectations for all of our learners?
Is critical thinking reinforced for all of our learners?
Is character education a focus in our classrooms everyday?
Are we serving others in our school community?

As you begin your week, keep the above quote in mind as you reflect on your practice.
Let’s have a great 4-day week!

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, January 18th
NO SCHOOL: MLK

Tuesday, January 19th
Appy Hour in Room 110 @ 2:45pm
*Come eat some snacks & learn about QR codes! Bring your iPad!

Wednesday, January 20th
Community Information Night @ Kennedy School (6:00pm)
Board of Education Meeting at Kennedy School (7:00pm) – gymnasium

Thursday, January 21st
PreK Field Trip to Museum of Science & Industry
SLT Meeting @ 3:00pm

Friday, January 22nd
Winter Birthday Breakfast int he Lounge @ 7:30am
Kindergarten Field Trip to Disney on Ice
Happy Birthday Michelle Morgan 🙂

(01/23) Happy Birthday Jen Yarnell 🙂

Are you using Go Noodle for indoor recess? If not, check out this blog post!

Looking for helpers! If you haven’t signed up already, consider spending time helping out at our 1st annual “I Heart Art” show on Thursday, February 4th. Helpers will be compensated for their time.

Also, the annual Stars on Stage Talent Show will be on Thursday, March 17th. We are still looking for helpers to facilitate the rehearsals leading up to the main event! Helpers will be compensated for their time.

Thank you to those who are able to commit to attending the Community Information Night on Wednesday evening, as well as our Board of Education meeting, both being hosted at Kennedy School this month. Please let me know if you are able to attend! Your presence and support are valuable and greatly appreciated!

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, January 11th

Tuesday, January 12th
Faculty Meeting @ 2:50pm in cafeteria
Mentor Meeting @ 3:45pm (LMS, Room 313)

Wednesday, January 13th
1/2 SIP Day (agenda will be emailed on Monday)

Thursday, January 14th
Happy Birthday Jen Fullone 🙂

Friday, January 15th
Happy Birthday Ami Freeman 🙂

(01/17) Happy Birthday Cheri Grimaldi 🙂
(01/18) NO SCHOOL: MLK

Make sure the day off of school next Monday today isn’t just about a day off. It’s a reminder, from our past, that we are all here to do something. Ask your students, colleagues & each other, what that something is.

Thanks to Martin Luther King, Jr. for the great quote & the great reminder:

Below From Venspired:
The best part about a New Year is that it always feels like a fresh start. No matter what. We turn the page, finish one calendar and start another. We try to start remembering to put the right year when we write the date (I’m sure most of us will be writing 2015/2016 tomorrow on our boards!).

2015 was a year full of memorable moments—may your 2016 be a year of “new”….
new ideas, new connections, new challenges, new gratitude, new perspectives.

As we embark on the second half of the school year, I encourage everyone to take some time and reflect on your performance since the beginning of the school year. The KEEP, STOP, and DO activity always helps me reflect on my practices; both professional & personal. What do I want to keep doing? What do I want to stop doing? What do I want to start doing?

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, January 4th
School Resumes
MAP makeups this week
*2nd, Multiage & 3rd Grade Teachers: Please be sure to enter your Winter MAP data into the Google Doc & schedule a Winter MAP Data meeting with me by the end of the week.
Aimsweb Winter Benchmarking Begins

Tuesday, January 5th
PATS Field Trip to Museum of Science & Industry
Dr. Seuss Committee Meeting @ 2:30pm (Room 110)
Yearbook Committee @ 2:35pm

Wednesday, January 6th
Happy Birthday Mayra Tellez 🙂
Happy Birthday Callie Biasco 🙂
Curriculum Pacing/Planning Common Plan Time

Thursday, January 7th
SLT  Meeting @ 3:00pm

Friday, January 8th
5 By Friday !

Below are some New Years Ideas from Pinterest:

Blog Posts Worth Reading:

9 Strategies Teachers & Leaders Should Add in 2016

Excellent Websites for iPads in the Classroom

New Year, New Challenges