Week 34: 04/30/18 – 05/04/18

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Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, April 30th
Reading Room Plan with 1st Grade @ 2:35pm

Tuesday, May 1st
Volunteer Breakfast (8:45am-9:45am in cafeteria)
Kindergarten Young Author Day @ 1:30pm

Wednesday, May 2nd
1st Grade Visits LMS for Buddies (9-10am)
Kennedy Art Show 6:30pm-7:30pm

Thursday, May 3rd
Happy Birthday Michelle Sosa 🙂
1st Grade Field Trip to Schiller Park Library
4th Grade Visits PreK Buddies
SLT (Math) Meeting @ 2:35pm

Friday, May 4th
5 by Friday! 🙂
Happy Birthday Abby Domingo 🙂

(05/05) Happy Birthday Jenny Maier 🙂

Blog Posts Worth Reading:
26 Habits Highly Successful People Have (and the Rest of us Probably Don’t) via Inc.com

Why We Need to See Each Other Teach via Cult of Pedagogy

8 Ways to Lead – A Mindset Shift for Teachers via Medium

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Week 33: 04/23/18 – 04/27/18

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Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, April 23rd
*Welcome Brian Key: He will be shadowing Jackie Hood this week & taking over for Jackie when she goes on maternity leave
Reading Room Plans with 2nd Grade @ 2:35pm

Tuesday, April 24th
3rd Grade Field Trip to FIELD MUSEUM
Faculty Meeting @ 2:50pm
BPAC Meeting @ 4:00pm

Wednesday, April 25th
Administrative Assistants’ Day
PreK/PATS Spring Sing (9-10am and 1-2pm)
TAPS (PreK, K, 1st)
DLA Learning Symposium 3:30pm-5:30pm

Thursday, April 26th
Kennedy Singers to LMS for Rehearsal (8:30-10:00am)
Spring Choral Concert @ 6:30pm

Friday, April 27th
Spirit Assembly
GO BLUE FOR AUTISM!

Week 32: 04/16/18 – 04/20/18

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As the ABC Countdown begins this Friday which counts down the final 26 days of the 2017-2018 school year, remember to look to the end of the year as setting the stage for next year. A strong finish helps build for a successful year to come. To ensure a strong finish and a positive launch to the next school year, keep the following in mind:

*Have high expectations for all. The end of the school year is not only about celebrations. It’s about learning. Focus on what is important and find the balance between keeping learning at the forefront of your classroom and enjoying those “end of the year” celebrations.

*Be well planned. Act with intention and purpose each day. Students thrive on routine and consistency. Just because the weather is getting warmer and field trips are blooming, the last thing you want to do is lose focus. It’s important to ensure that the learning process continues to bloom and that students are engaged!

*Keep a positive and hopeful attitude. This time of the year can be emotional and exhausting for all. Remember to find the good stuff. It’s there if you take time to look for it.

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Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, April 16th
Reading Room Plans with 3rd Grade @ 2:35pm

Tuesday, April 17th
District Discipline Committee Meeting @ 3:45pm

Wednesday, April 18th
1/2 SIP Day
5th Grade Buddies Visit Kennedy Kindergarten
Baby/Bridal Shower  (11am-12pm)
Board Meeting @ 7pm

Thursday, April 19th
Happy Birthday Chris Gonzalez 🙂
SLT- ELA @ 2:35pm (Upstairs PD Space)
PATS Trip to Navy Pier (3:45pm-8:30pm)

Friday, April 20th
SLBC Swimming
5 Positive Connections by Friday!
Go Blue for Autism!

Week 31: 04/09/18 – 04/13/18

Screen Shot 2016-04-17 at 10.38.19 PMHere’s our week at a glance:

Monday, April 9th
Reading Room Plan with Kindergarten @ 2:35pm

Tuesday, April 10th
Faculty Meeting @ 2:50pm

Wednesday, April 11th
TAPS (2nd & 3rd Grade)
West 40’s SCOTY (School Citizen of the Year) Awards @ 4:00pm (Congrats to Candice Smith, our award winner)

Thursday, April 12th
3rd Grade to CUBS GAME @ Wrigley Field (11:30am-6pm)

Friday, April 13th
Spring/Summer Birthday Treats in Lounge for Breakfast
Kindergarten Field Trip to Morton Arboretum
5 Positive Connections by Friday!
GO BLUE FOR AUTISM!

Blog Posts Worth Reading:
Regret Prevention by Aaron Hogan

Relevance is the Fuel of Learning by Eric Sheninger

Week 30: 04/02/18 – 04/06/18

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It is my hope that you all had a restful, relaxing Spring Break. As we enter the final 8 weeks of school, I realize this can be a challenging time for us, as both students & staff get Spring Fever. We have been working hard for 7 months and we’re getting closer to the end of the school year. Now is when we must do our best work. The cliche of “it’s not how you start, but how you finish” is so true! We must finish strong and carry out our momentum until the end of the school year. Keep in mind, the more you stray from your classroom routine/schedule, the more antsy your students will get. If you keep focused, they will follow your lead.

As we approach the final 8 weeks of the school year, it is easy for many teachers to get into that familiar habit of wishing that the year would end. I want to encourage you not to fall into that rut and make the last 8 weeks enjoyable and productive for your students.

Each and every day our students need us. Remember that you may be the only constant presence in some of our students’ lives. Make a choice each day for your presence to be a positive, constant factor. It is a great opportunity that we have to come to school and have an impact on students’ lives from day to day. We all became educators because we care about kids. When the students feel that their teachers care about them, when they feel safe in our classes, optimal learning will take place.

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, April 2nd
Welcome Back! School Resumes!

Tuesday, April 3rd

Wednesday, April 4th
8th Grade Buddies visit Kennedy 3rd Grade Buddies (10-11am)

Thursday, April 5th
SLT – Math @ 2:45pm (Upstairs PD Space)

Friday, April 6th
1st Grade Field Trip to Kohl Children’s Museum (10am)
SLBC Swimming

(04/07) Happy Birthday Beata Dering 🙂
(04/08) Happy Birthday Sharon Muntova & Mirta Cruz 🙂

Blog Posts Worth Reading:

Anchor Charts 101: Why and How To Use Them by WE Are Teachers

Leaders Are Readers by TalentCulture

7 Ways for Teachers to Beat the Sunday Blues by Angela Watson