“When asked to identify what made the school so good, every person, without fail, said it was the people of the school: the children, the families, and most importantly, the staff. Nobody said, ‘We have a really great computer lab’ or ‘a brand new reading textbook.’
(Eaker, DuFour, & DuFour, 2002)

With the Thanksgiving holidays quickly approaching, I thought it was a great time to simply offer heartfelt thanks to all of you for enriching the lives of our students. Whether you are a returning teacher, a teacher in a new role, or a teacher new to Kennedy School, I am sincerely thankful that you are here. Donna and I have the best jobs in the world because we are surrounded by the hardest-working teachers in the world. In the above quote, Eaker & colleagues have clearly stated what makes our own school great: It is not our facilities, or our curriculum, or technology; instead, it is each of you performing great deeds day in and day out. THANK YOU for teaching us so clearly what effective teachers do differently, and thanks for teaching with passion each day!

The timing and relevance of this blog post are most appropriate ….. Please take 2 minutes to read Beth Houf’s post, entitled Exhausted Educator, I See You!  As she says:

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, November 14th
Vision/Hearing (K-3 Students)
Motivational Monday
1st Grade Data Review Meeting @ 2:45pm (E221)
New Teacher Meeting @ 2:50pm (D205)

Tuesday, November 15th
Vision/Hearing (K-3 Students)
Happy Birthday Sandy Montes de Oca 🙂
New Teacher/Mentor Meeting (4:00pm)

Wednesday, November 16th
Staff Thanksgiving Feast in Lounge (sign up to bring something here)
CPT Meetings
Board of Education Meeting @ 7:00pm

Thursday, November 17th
November Buddy Event
Kennedy Singers @ 2:30pm
TWD @ Bub City (3:15pm)

Friday, November 18th
NO Spirit Assembly Today (we are waiting on the new sound system in the gymnasium)

(11/19) Happy Birthday Shandi Hammer
(11/20) Happy Birthday Rosa Worwa

11/20 – 11/25 THANKSGIVING BREAK

(11/21) Happy Birthday Emily Kronlage
(11/22) Happy Birthday Suzanne Schoepke

(11/28) No Student Attendance / Full Day Parent-Teacher Conferences

How often do we pause & think why we are grateful? I challenge each of you to take some time each day to reflect on the things, events, or people you appreciate. Better yet….if it’s a person, let them know how thankful you are for their role in your life. THANK YOU are two simple words that have the power to transform our health, happiness, performance, and success. Grateful people are happier & more likely to maintain good friendships. Gratitude and appreciation are also essential for a healthy work environment. A simple thank you can make all the difference. Be sure to say thank you to those around you each and every day! Below is a November kindness & gratitude challenge…..give these a try!

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, November 7th
Happy Birthday Julie Taggart 🙂
Yearbook Club (2:30pm – 4:00pm)
3rd Grade Data Review Meeting w/Reading Room (E221)

Tuesday, November 8th
NO SCHOOL for students or staff – Election Day
Happy Birthday Maria Rodriguez 🙂

Wednesday, November 9th
Veterans Day Rehearsal (3rd grade) 9-11am
CPT Meetings

Thursday, November 10th
Veterans Day Rehearsal (3rd grade) 9-11am
Kennedy Singers (2:30pm – 3:00pm)
Spirit Committee Meeting @ 2:45pm (Art Room)

Friday, November 11th
Happy Birthday Becky Shoufer 🙂
Happy Birthday Julie Fister 🙂
FALL BIRTHDAYS CELEBRATION
Vision/Hearing Screenings
Veterans Day Performance @ LMS Little Theater 9:30am

*Please make sure to keep the master Fall 2022 Conference Google Doc updated as changes are made! Also, please notify staff members who have added a “comment” or “note” in the cell so they are aware that a conference time was changed!

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, October 31st
Halloween Parades

Tuesday, November 1st
Culture/Celebrations Committee Meeting @ 2:45pm (Room E221)

Wednesday, November 2nd
Happy Birthday, Kelly Tarasiewicz 🙂
Safety CPT With Schiller Park Police Department (2-3pm in Cafeteria)

Thursday, November 3rd
SLT Meeting @ 2:50pm (Room B101)
VETERANS visiting 3rd Grade Classrooms
NO KENNEDY SINGERS!

Friday, November 4th
Pre School Parent Workshop (not a regular student attendance day)
5 by Friday! Continue making positive connections with families!

(11/05) Happy Birthday Giselle Alvarez

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, October 24th
Motivational Monday
Red Ribbon Spirit Week: Wear Funky Socks!
2nd Grade Data Meeting @ 2:45pm (Room E221)
New Teacher Meeting @ 2:50pm (Room C101)

Tuesday, October 25th
Red Ribbon Spirit Week: Wear Your Favorite Jersey!

Wednesday, October 26th
Red Ribbon Spirit Week: Crazy Hair Day!
CPT Meetings
BPAC Meeting @ Washington School (3:30pm – 5:00pm

Thursday, October 27th
Red Ribbon Spirit Week: Wear Your Favorite Pajamas!
OCTOBER Buddy Event (3rd Grade Project Space)
Kennedy Singers (2:30pm – 3:00pm)

Friday, October 28th
Red Ribbon Spirit Week: Wear Kennedy Gear or Blue!
Spirit Assembly (9:00am – 10:00am)
Trunk or Treat! Hope to see you there! Please let Melissa know if you can help sell concessions!

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, October 17th
Medical Exclusion Day
Motivational Monday
1st Grade Team & Reading Room Data Review Meeting @ 2:45pm (Room E221)

Tuesday, October 18th
FIRE MARSHALL VISIT: Please prepare your spaces for this visit (refer to Melissa’s email)
New Teacher/Mentor Meeting @ 4:00pm (Kennedy)

Wednesday, October 19th
Happy Birthday Eva Popowska 🙂
CPT Meetings
Board Meeting @ 7:00pm

Thursday, October 20th
THE GREAT SHAKEOUT (Earthquake Drill @ 10:17am) <–Mel will send email
SLT Meeting @ 2:50pm (Room B101)

Friday, October 21st
Happy Birthday Andy Hohmeier 🙂
Building Tour (1:00pm): Please prepare your spaces/environments for this visit
5 by Friday! Send 5 Positive Postcards out !

(10/22) Happy Birthday Jimmy Cahill 🙂

I hope you had a wonderful 3-day weekend and enjoyed this beautiful October weather with your family & friends!

**Reminder: Please let me know if you’re able/interested in helping with the after-school tutoring program ASAP, as the number of students we are able to offer this tutoring opportunity to depends on the number of staff who are interested 🙂 If you have any questions about this, please let me know!

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, October 10th
NO SCHOOL

Tuesday, October 11th
NO faculty meeting.

Wednesday, October 12th
CPT Meetings

Thursday, October 13th
Pre School Field Trip to Johansen Farms
Kennedy Singers (2:30pm – 3:00pm)
TWD @ Moretti’s (3:15pm)

Friday, October 14th
5 by Friday! Continue making positive connections with families! 🙂
Physicals/Immunization Records due (Medical Exclusion Day is October 15th) – Jeanne will email you the names of any students who will be excluded from school on Monday, October 17th who are not in compliance.

Interesting in hosting a trunk? Please let Jenny Thorn know by Friday!
Interested in helping out with the event (selling concessions?) Please let Melissa know by Friday!

(10/15) Happy Birthday Rose Karas & Kirby Meza
(10/16) Happy Birthday Rosa Worwa

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, October 3rd
Motivational Monday
New Teacher Meeting @ 2:50pm (Room C105)
Joe Vance (from Equitable Advisors) will be in Teacher’s Lounge during lunch periods today. *See Kennedy Calendar invite for his flyer.
Happy Birthday, Bri Phillips 🙂
Happy Birthday, Mary Navas 🙂 *and congratulations on your wedding this past weekend!

Tuesday, October 4th

Wednesday, October 5th
TAPS during CPT

Thursday, October 6th
Kennedy Singers (2:30pm-3:00pm)

Friday, October 7th
5 by Friday! Make 5 positive connections by Friday!
First SPIRIT ASSEMBLY! 9:00am

(10/09) Happy Birthday, Mandy Vanderwaal & Stephanie Moreno 🙂
(10/10) NO SCHOOL

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. Children matter to us. Remember….what you do each and everyday at Kennedy School is in the best interest of the children we serve.

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, September 26th
Motivational Monday!
New Teacher Meeting @ 2:50pm (B106)

Tuesday, September 27th
1st SIP Committee Meeting @ 2:50pm <–click for your committee’s location

Wednesday, September 28th
Happy Birthday Gina Cacioppo 🙂

Thursday, September 29th
SLT @ 2:50pm (B101)

Friday, September 30th
5 by Friday! Continue making those positive connections with families!
Fall Picture Day <–schedule linked (in gym)

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, September 19th
Dentist Visit (9:00am-2:15pm) in PATS Space
New Teacher Meeting @ 2:50pm (Room D201)

Tuesday, September 20th
Happy Birthday Michelle McMorrow 🙂
Faculty Meeting @ 2:50pm (Upstairs Presentation Space)

Wednesday, September 21st
Half-Day of School (AM PreK Dismisses at 10:35, K-3 dismisses at 10:55, No PM PreK)
SIP Day Meetings (Agenda will be emailed out)
Building Tour @ 9:00am
Board Meeting @ 7:00pm (Lincoln Little Theater)

Thursday, September 22nd
Dentist Visit (9:00am-2:15pm) in PATS Space
TWD @ 3:05pm

Friday, September 23rd
Happy Birthday Amanda Quinlan 🙂
5 by Friday! Make 5 positive, intentional connections with families!

(09/25) Happy Birthday Marta Ocon 🙂

Looking Ahead:
Motivational Mondays starts 9/26 (wear a t-shirt with a positive/motivational message on it every Monday)

Fall Picture Day: Friday, September 30th (Info coming soon via email)

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, September 12th
Happy Birthday Alexis Makaris 🙂
Reading Room Starts!
Book Checkout in Library Starts!
RTI Committee Meeting (Tech Space) @ 2:30pm
New Teacher Meeting (Room C103) @ 2:50pm

Tuesday, September 13th
Kennedy Evacuation Drill @ 9:15am
New Teacher/Mentor Meeting @ 4:00pm (Upstairs Presentation Space)

Wednesday, September 14th
CPT Meetings

Thursday, September 15th
SLT Meeting @ 2:50pm

Friday, September 16th
Happy Birthday Jody Horan (Orange Bus Driver)
Kennedy Code Red Drill
5 Positive Connections by Friday ….

Resource to Check Out…..
Mind Yeti <—Nancy Weir shared this awesome resource

Why Choose Mind Yeti?

Thousands of parents, teachers, and counselors use Mind Yeti to help kids calm down, focus their attention, and get ready for whatever’s next.

Mind Yeti is a library of research-based guided mindfulness sessions that help kids and their adults calm their minds, focus their attention, and connect to the world around them.

Here are videos on YouTube to check out!

Looking Ahead…..
September 19th-20th: Dentist Visits
September 21st: 1/2 Day of School (School Improvement Day)