As I visited each classroom in our school this past week, I observed each of you setting the tone for a culture of caring in your classrooms; classrooms where teachers and students care about learning, about each other, and care about our community. The first weeks of school set the tone for the entire year. If our students leave school feeling excited about themselves as learners & about you as their teacher, then we’re doing something right!  Always remember that our kids will meet any expectations we set for them, as long as we are firm, fair, and consistent with these expectations and build relationships with our students so that they will want to meet them. The primary way to accomplish this positive relationship-building with our students is simply caring deeply about them as learners and young people and taking the time to get to know them, as well as showing them just how much you care.

Here’s our week at a glance:

(08/26/16) Happy Belated Birthday Melissa Berlanga 🙂
*Remember: Emergency Drills will be rescheduled to future dates, after Pre School begins! 

Monday, August 29th:
New Teacher Meeting @ 2:50pm (Room 104)

Tuesday, August 30th
Mentor Meeting @ 3:45pm

Wednesday, August 31st

Thursday, September 1st

Friday, September 2nd
Pre School Meet & Greet (9-10am and 12-1pm)

(09/05) NO SCHOOL: Labor Day

What a great first week (technically 3 days) at Kennedy! As expected, there were a few tears, but the smiles and giggles outweighed the few. I appreciate everyone’s help and extra care during arrival. With the new traffic patterns & arrival procedures, it would not have gone as smoothly without everyone’s help and patience. Thank you to ALL staff for going the extra mile to help get our year off to an amazing start.  Let’s continue on the path with a smooth week ahead — any and all help is greatly appreciated as we help our Kennedy Kubbies acclimate to the arrival and dismissal procedures.

As we prepare for our first full week with the students, I hope you will take a few quiet moments to put aside lesson planning, forget about your “To-Do” list and consider our purpose (as a school, and as individual educators). When we walk in on Monday morning, please remember that you are a difference maker! The small gestures you make to welcome students and show an interest in their lives will have an impact. This year, you will have opportunities to build confidence where it hasn’t existed, develop connections that have never been present, and generate hope with your students. Our classrooms are filled with individuals with a variety of needs, and it’s up to US to make sure they thrive! The only way for that to happen is to build a connection with each student. When we truly know them all as individuals, we can understand them as learners. Please take some time to read this blog post entitled, “Dear Teacher…” as it perfectly captures the life of an educator.

Here’s our week at a glance:

(08/21) Happy Birthday Lisa Bilotta 🙂

Monday, August 22nd
Aimsweb Fall Benchmarking Begins

Tuesday, August 23rd
Faculty Meeting @ 2:50pm

Wednesday, August 24th

Thursday, August 25th
MAP Testing will begin with 3rd Grade

Friday, August 26th
5 Positive Family Connections by Friday
Please use the Positive Postcards in the office, as well as any other form (phone call, email, note home, certificate) to make 5 positive connections with your students’ families by Friday!  🙂

Sunday, August 28th ABC Pool Party Event for Kennedy Families
**Please talk this event up with your students this week 🙂