Let’s make this an amazing week for our KUBBIES!

This week we have some changes to our usual routine — Santa Visits, Parents’ Night Out, Holiday Celebrations and sharing holiday wishes. Then on Friday, we all head home for Winter Break where our celebrations continue with our family and friends.

From Jennifer Dinielli’s Blog:
“True for some, not for all. As Winter Break draws near, along with all of the excitement, it is not uncommon to see an increase in undesired behaviors and regression to previous behaviors in our students. For many of our students, home is a place where relationships are unhealthy, meals are not prepared, and drugs/alcohol or violence are part of daily life. For these students, many of whom we may not even be aware of their circumstances, the most consistent, positive and secure part of their life is time at school. No wonder they are exhibiting some stress. When these students walk out of our doors on Friday, there may be no breakfast or lunch, no counseling services, no celebrations, no gifts, and no one to encourage and support them.

So we support our children. We collaborate with our community to provide basic necessities (food, coats, meals). We give our kids books from our classrooms to read over the break. We express that we are thankful for each other and look forward to being together again as a school community in the new year.

And even though we are tired and looking forward to a much-needed break ourselves, we keep an eye on those who are acting out more than usual. We give them structure and routine. We give them a break. We give them encouragement. This may not be their favorite time of the year.”

Thank you for ALL YOU DO for our Kennedy Kubbies EVERYDAY 🙂 

Santa & his elves will be visiting the students at Kennedy School on Thursday, December 20th. Santa will be set up in the front lobby for K-3rd (the couch area). *Santa will set up in the Pre School entryway near Door 22 for our PreK/PATS friends!

Thank you for your flexibility. As always, the office ladies will call your class down to greet Santa. Please remind your students, in the best interest of allowing Santa to visit with all 700 students, each Kubbie should be prepared to ask Santa for 1 item 🙂 We will be on hand to take photos of students & 1 “class” photo, which will then be posted on our school Flickr account for you to easily download.

Here’s our week at a glance:

(12/16) Happy Birthday Sue O’Connell 🙂

Monday, December 17th
Winter Benchmarking Continues
Holiday Fund Gift Wrapping (2:30pm)
3rd Grade Data Meeting with RR
RTI Committee Meeting (3:00pm)

Tuesday, December 18th
Winter Benchmarking Make-Ups
Happy Birthday Kim Sendelbach 🙂
Charity Committee Meeting (7:35am in RR E217)
Parents’ Night Out (4:30pm – 7:30pm) >> It’s not too late to volunteer! Sign up here! 

Wednesday, December 19th
Reading Room Resumes!
PATS Field Trip to the Schiller Park Library (9:15am-11:30am)
TAPS (2nd & 3rd Grades)
Board Meeting @ 7:00pm

Thursday, December 20th
Santa visits Kennedy School
*KUBBIE holiday postcards due to office!

Friday, December 21st
Reading Room Drop Off
Spirit Assembly 9am
Pajama & Movie Day 🙂

(01/06) Happy Birthday Callie Biasco 🙂

Blog Posts Worth Reading:
3 Ideas for Taking Care of Yourself Before the Break by George Couros

Our Students by George Couros

What is the Point of a Makerspace by Jennifer Gonzalez of Cult of Pedagogy

Strong Relationships with Students Matter. Here’s How via Bill Ferriter

Will You Check On Me? via Danny Steele