Week 37: 05/16/16 – 05/20/16

Screen Shot 2015-05-25 at 11.35.16 AM

Grab a piece of paper and try to answer the above questions as you reflect on the 2015-2016 school year.

It’s hard to believe we have reached the point in the year where we only have 4 days left! It has been a great year of teaching & learning, and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for your friendship and support.

In the middle of packing away materials, finishing report cards & last minute projects, there is one part of the year that is so bittersweet….the good-byes! Remember to take time to tell your students what they mean to you this week. Have lunch in the classroom or outside. Ask each student to share their favorite memory. Share your favorite memories with your class. Send a Kennedy Kubbie positive postcard to every student and put it in the mail on the last day of school to wish them a great summer! ENJOY THESE LAST FOUR DAYS! It’s the happiest & saddest time all in one. So, while you’re counting down the last 5 days and trying to cross off those final items from your never-ending to-do list, remember to enjoy your final time together & make your end of the year count! :)

For those of you moving on to new adventures, remember that you’re only as good as your last exit…….and for those of us returning, know that students remember the educators that we are the last week of school…..so let’s make sure they remember the best of what we have to offer. This last week (4 days) is going to FLY by so please commit to making them count. Let’s all feel great about what we’ve accomplished this year! Finish strong and wrap up the year with a beautiful bow…Have a wonderful week and remember to be great for our Kubbies and each other.

“No one has a problem with the first mile of a journey. Even an infant could do fine for a while. But it isn’t the start that matters. It’s the finish line.”

  ― Julien Smith

Here’s our final week at a glance for the 2015-2016 school year:

Monday, May 16th
PreK Celebrations
3rd Grade “Fly Up Day” to Washington School
Kindergarten Graduation Rehearsals @ LMS
Multiage Picnic
8th Grade Graduation @ 7:00pm (E. Leyden HS)

Tuesday, May 17th
Kindergarten Graduations @ LMS (9:00am and 11:00am)

Wednesday, May 18th
2nd Grade Bowling Field Trip
3rd Grade Dinosaur Fair
1st Grade Picnic

Thursday, May 19th
Last Day of School for 1st-3rd Grades (Full Day)

Friday, May 20th

“Just know that, even if nobody said “Thank You,” today, there’s a kid somewhere who loves you, who appreciates you, and who is wondering about something because of something you said in your classroom. Right now there might be a parent who thinks you are the best thing under the sun because you might be the very first person who has understood her child. There’s an administrator who is grateful to have you on staff at your school. At this very moment, there is a student close to graduating high school who found a photo from your classroom that she has saved all these years because you were her favorite. Tonight, a colleague of yours will go home with a smile because something you took the time to say today. One of your students that pretends not to care about his work will be working extra hard tonight, because he wants to show you he can do it.

You’re appreciated. You matter to more kids than I can count on my fingers and toes, and your message to the world will travel well into the future in the hearts of kids who will grow up with dreams and passions that all started right where you are. In your classroom.

Just in case you forget.”

Screen Shot 2014-04-13 at 11.22.46 PM

BLOG POSTS WORTH READING:
Until the Final Bell

I Don’t Want to Leave

Thank You To All The Teachers Who…

Week 36: 05/09/16 – 05/13/16

Screen Shot 2016-05-08 at 4.29.15 PM

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother’s Day Weekend. I saw this post from a blogger named “Farley” & wanted to share:

I have come to realize Mother’s Day is a celebration of
living moms
angel moms
birth moms
adoptive moms
moms with fur kids
step moms
grieving moms
those trying to become moms
and those that care for kids like a mom

Everyone’s path through life leads them on a different journey
as some may be on a mountain… others might be in a valley
but both travelers need LOVE!!!

Happy Mother’s Day to everyone
you may not hold the roadmap to your life but
remember to count your blessings along the way, follow your heart,
and always look for a sliver lining.
Screen Shot 2015-05-10 at 10.31.15 PMMonday, May 9th
Cycle 6 Assessments
2nd Grade/101/109 Trip to Brookfield Zoo
Kindergarten Picnic

Tuesday, May 10th
3rd Grade Trip to Brookfield Zoo
2nd Grade Pinic
*Last* Faculty Meeting of the Year @ 2:50pm

Wednesday, May 11th
1/2 Day of School
Multiage & 1st Grade Rehearsal @ LMS for Memorial Day Performance @ 9:00am
Retirement Party @ Biagio’s (4:00pm)

Thursday, May 12th
Last Day of Reading Room
Memorial Day Performance @ 9:00am (LMS)
3rd Grade Picnic
2nd Grade Young Author Day @ 11:00am

Friday, May 13th
Field Day
Kindergarten Graduation Rehearsal @ LMS
Happy Birthday Leah Ernst 🙂

Week 35: 05/02/16 – 05/06/16

Tomorrow marks the start of Teacher Appreciation Week! The entire week is about celebrating ALL OF YOU who influence the lives of our students. I certainly appreciate all the little things you do, but what I appreciate the most is the safe, nurturing learning environments you create for our children. I’m reminded daily of how hard you work to make a difference in your students’ lives and the lives of each other.

Thank you for your unwavering commitment to the children at Kennedy School. I continue to be both inspired and empowered by your dedication and passion! The children are blessed to have the experiences you provide. I hope you enjoy your special week and as we enter into the “home stretch”, please keep your eye on the children and know you have made an incredible impact on their lives.

I hope you know how much I enjoy working with you and how proud I am to be your colleague. Thank you for all that you do here at Kennedy School. You are changing lives!

Monday, May 2nd
PreK/PATS Field Trip to Brookfield Zoo

Tuesday, May 3rd
Breakfast in Lounge (courtesy of SPEA)
Kindergarten Field Trip to Brookfield Zoo
*Chipotle’s BOGO Teacher Appreciation Day Deal
Screen Shot 2016-05-01 at 8.04.24 PM

Wednesday, May 4th
Teacher Appreciation Luncheon in Lounge (courtesy of Dr. Boryszewski & Board of Education)
Multiage Bowling Field Trip (9:30am)
Happy Birthday Abby Domingo 🙂

Thursday, May 5th
Pre School Picnics @ North Park
Kindergarten Young Author Day (9:00am)
1st Grade/103/107 Field Trip to Brookfield Zoo
SLT Meeting @ 3:00pm
Mentor Program Celebration

Friday, May 6th
Pre School Screening Day
Last Day of Morning Interventions
Summer Birthdays Breakfast in Lounge
3rd Grade CUBS GAME Trip
Young Authors Day (110 & 108) @ 1:00pm
Young Authors Day (100 & 102) @ 1:50pm

(05/08) Happy Birthday Jen Mauck 🙂

One More Thought….Screen Shot 2016-05-01 at 7.36.13 PM I don’t think anyone knows the meaning of the phrase “Only so many minutes in a day!” better than someone in education.  There is always something waiting for us. Meetings. Papers. Calls to make. Email to answer. Things to file. Things to look up. Lessons to plan. Committees. Grad classes. Tech tools to figure out. Family. Commitments. PD.   There may be days when we are stretched to the limit, feeling more like some human version of Stretch Armstrong with our arms pulled in different directions, about to break off.   But, at the end of the day, it’s true.  The things that matter?  We make time for them.   Those people that say,  ”Oh, I don’t have time for that…”  Is this an insinuation that some of us just have more time than others?   Time is not something we just ‘have,’ it’s something we make.  It’s something we make when things matter to us.

-Calling a parent with positive news about their child
-Sending a hand-written note to someone in the mail
-Making a home visit or watching a child’s extra curricular activity outside of school  to support them in their educational journey

People appreciate — they remember — it’s valued — and hopefully they will reciprocate when you take the time to show you care!

People remember…..When you take the time to acknowledge how you feel
….when you take the time to express your gratitude about someone else or something.

Check out the video below….please always choose to make time.