This week we have some changes to our usual routine — Santa Visits, Assembly, 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 Thursday, 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, boots, 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!

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, December 16th
Santa’s Secret Shop (THIS WEEK)
Happy Birthday, Sue O’Connell 🙂
Reading Challenge Committee Meeting @ 2:35pm
Wear anything that sparkles or lights up!

Tuesday, December 17th
MTSS Committee Meeting @ 2:45pm
3rd Grade After School Clubs (2:30pm-4:00pm)
Wear your favorite seasonal color like red, blue or green!

Wednesday, December 18th
Happy Birthday, Kim Sendelbach 🙂
Happy Birthday, Denisse Barrios 🙂
Board of Education Meeting, 7pm
Wear a festive holiday headband, hat, necklace or glasses!

Thursday, December 19th
December Buddy Event
Happy Birthday, Marcela Barron 🙂
NO Kennedy Singers
Wear your favorite holiday socks, flannel shirt, something plaid or a scarf!

Friday, December 20th
Spirit Assembly!
Santa Visits Kennedy
Wear your holiday pajamas!

WINTER BREAK! 🙂

12/25 Happy Birthday Kathy Risolvo 🙂
1/2 Happy Birthday Chrysanthe Agos 🙂

1/6 – Teacher Institute Day
Happy Birthday Mayra Tellez 🙂

1/7 School Resumes for Students

December can be a crazy time in the classroom. The kids are antsy, your personal to-do list is a mile long (professional and person), and you’re still trying to cover the curriculum while you can. But it’s also a time for gratitude, tradition, and reflection, which is why Tales from a Very Busy Teacher created the December Kindness Calendar (above) for the classroom! Download it, print it, and share it with your students!

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, December 9th
MAP Fluency Testing This Week
8th Grade Buddies Visit 3rd Grade (10:15am-11:30am)
New Teacher Meeting @ 3:05pm

Tuesday, December 10th
7th Grade Buddies Visit 2nd Grade (10:15am-11:30am)
Yearbook & STEM Club
3rd Grade After School Clubs (2:30pm-4:00pm)

Wednesday, December 11th
Kindergarten Gingerbread Hunt
6th Grade Buddies Visit 1st Grade (9:15am-10:30am)
CPT Meetings
BPAC Winter Holiday Fest (3:30pm-4:30pm)

Thursday, December 12th
5th Grade Buddies Visit Kindergarten (8:45am-10:00am)
Kindergarten Gingerbread House Making (1:30pm-2:00pm)
Kennedy Singers (2:30pm-3:00pm)

Friday, December 13th
Vision & Hearing Re-Screening
4th Grade Buddies Visit PreK (8:45am-10:00am & 12:30pm-1:30pm)

(12/15) Happy Birthday Kat Zoladz & Anastasiya Todorova

Welcome Back! 

I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving Break, spending time with family, friends & those you love. As we move to the month of December, full of learning, fun, and special events…and a holiday break to enjoy in just a few weeks! We have lots to do with our kids from now until December 20th, and look forward to their growth when they return in January. They always seem more grown up right after the break…happens every year!

Things to keep in mind:

* For some of our students who will say “it’s almost Winter break” and lack motivation, it is time to push them & keep them excited and eager to learn

* For our students who come from challenging circumstances at home and are feeling anxiety about not being at Kennedy for over two weeks (and acting out because of it), it is time to show them how much you care & make the most of these next 14 days.

* For our students that just keep smiling & working hard each day, it is time to pull them aside and tell them how much you appreciate them (Positive Postcard? Good News Call Home?)

Be proud of what we’ve accomplished with our students so far this year, but please keep the focus on learning in your classrooms as we return from Thanksgiving Break. In addition, I’d encourage you to:

*Take a second and tell a colleague that you’ve noticed how hard they are working and that you appreciate them working so hard. Gratitude and appreciation are also essential for a healthy work environment. A simple thank you and a show of appreciation can make all the difference.
*Make time to reflect on some of the positives that we’ve had this year that may have been overlooked as we have overcome the challenges of not having enough time.
* Set a tone for your students that regardless of how much time is left before a long break that all of us will work hard and make the most of our school days.

* Celebrate being a member of our Kennedy School family

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, December 2nd
No Student Attendance / Parent-Teacher Conferences
Scholastic Book Fair Week~!

Tuesday, December 3rd
After-School Clubs (2:30pm-4:00pm)
Book Fair PREVIEW Day

Wednesday, December 4th
Happy Birthday Michelle Miro 🙂
Kennedy Singers to LMS for Rehearsal (8:45am-10:30am)
Book Fair BUY Day

Thursday, December 5th
Kennedy Singers to LMS for Rehearsal (8:45am-10:30am)
*Winter SLC/SLBC Celebration – Kennedy to Washington (8:45am-10:30am)
Book Fair BUY Day
Winter Choral Concert (3-8th) 6:00pm

Friday, December 6th
PreK Screenings
3rd Grade Field Trip to Tivoli Theater (8am-12:15pm)