Spring Break always arrives at the perfect time of the year! As we head into the final five days of school prior to break, I’m hopeful that students & staff will take full advantage of their time away from Kennedy. For some, it will give them time to recover from feeling under the weather, and for others it is time to spend with family & friends. Regardless of how you plan on spending the break, I hope you soak up every single second and come back re-energized for the home stretch!

Have a wonderful and relaxing Spring Break! Safe travels for those of you who are flying or taking a road trip. We look forward to seeing everyone back for a Teacher Institute Day on Tuesday, April 2nd.

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, March 18th
IAR Testing Continues for 3rd Grade
Jeanne Conducting Hearing/Vision Screenings (8:45am-9:45am)
1st Grade Data Review with Reading Room @ 2:35pm

Tuesday, March 19th
K-3rd Railroad Safety Presentations (in Presentation Space) <–ARE YOU SIGNED UP?
PATS Field Trip to the Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center (9am-11:30am)

Wednesday, March 20th
Freckle PD in Presentation Space (2:30pm-3:00pm)
Board of Education Meeting @ 7pm

Thursday, March 21st
SLT @ 2:45pm in Conference Room
Kinder/1st Family Sports Night (6:15pm-7:30pm)

Friday, March 22nd
Spirit Assembly
SLBC Swimming at the YMCA

Have a great Spring Break!
(03/25) Happy Birthday Diane Serio 🙂

(04/02) Teacher Institute Day
(04/03) School Resumes for Students

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, March 11th
IAR Testing Begins for 3rd Grade
Yearbook/Technology Club (2:30pm-4:00pm)
Culture Committee Meeting @ 2:30pm
2nd Grade Data Review Meeting with RR @ 2:35pm

Tuesday, March 12th
Faculty Meeting @ 2:50pm
ABC Little Ceasar’s Pizza Kit Pickup (in cafeteria from 2:30pm-6:00pm)
Kindergarten Round Up @ 6:00pm

Wednesday, March 13th
1/2 Day of School
Baby/Bridal Shower @ 11am (Cafeteria)

Thursday, March 14th
March Buddy Event
Talent Show Dress Rehearsal (8:45am-11:30am at LMS)
Technology Committee Meeting @ 2:35pm
SEL Committee Meeting @ 2:45pm (Upstairs PD Space)
TALENT SHOW @ 6:30pm (LMS)

Friday, March 15th
March Buddy Event
Spring Pictures (in the gym)
5 by Friday! 🙂 Continue making positive connections with families!
Spirit Committee Meeting @ 2:35pm

(03/17) Music Boosters Pancake Breakfast @ LMS (9am-12pm)

Blog Posts Worth Reading:

3 Simple Ways to Help Shift the Thinking of Others via George Couros

5 Syndromes that Overcomplicate Your Teaching –Here’s the Cure via Angela Watson

Monitoring or Mentoring via Jennifer Casa Todd

7 Ways to Tell Someone is an Awesome Parent (and Will Raise Happy, Successful Children) via Inc.com

Monday, March 4th
Hop on Pop Day – Wear Your Pajamas to School
3rd Grade Data Review Meeting with Reading Room
Dr. Seuss Committee Meeting @ 2:45pm (in faculty lounge) – anyone else who is available and wants to help make snacks, you’re welcome to join! 

Tuesday, March 5th
Fox in Socks Day – Wear silly socks to school!
Happy Birthday Debi Cesario 🙂
Kindergarten Field Trip to The Field Museum
Dr. Seuss Committee Meeting @ 2:45pm (in faculty lounge) – finishing touches for the big event!
Project Unify Basketball Game @ LMS, 4:00pm

Wednesday, March 6th
One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish – Wear Red & Blue to school
Dr. Seuss Night! 6:30-8:00pm  *Hope to see you all there*

Thursday, March 7th
Cat in the Hat Day – Wear your favorite hat to school
2nd Grade to LMS @ 8:45am to Rehearse for Performance
Talent Show After-School Rehearsal (2:30pm-4:00pm)
Mentor/Mentee Meeting 3:45pm-5:00pm

Friday, March 8th
Green Eggs & Ham Day – Wear Green to school
2nd Grade Dr. Seuss Musical Performance @ LMS, 10:00am
SLBC Swimming
LAPEL SHOW performs for 3rd Grade (in gym) at 1:15pm

Keep in mind we will have many visitors in our building on Wednesday for the big event! Please give your classroom spaces some extra TLC.  This is our opportunity to shine! Let’s continue to make Dr. Seuss Night a memorable event for our students, families and
the community of Schiller Park!

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, February 25th
Yearbook/Technology Club 2:30pm-4:00pm
Kindergarten Data Review with RR @ 2:30pm

Tuesday, February 26th
1/2 Day of School for Students
1/2 Day of Parent/Teacher Conferences <—click for schedule
Please keep the master schedule updated as changes are made! 

Wednesday, February 27th
RTI Committee Meeting @ 3:00pm

Thursday, February 28th
Happy Birthday Alicia Peccatiello 🙂
Charity Committee Meeting @ 2:35pm
Dr. Seuss Committee Meeting @ 2:45pm
AFTER SCHOOL TALENT SHOW REHEARSAL 2:30pm-4:00pm
2nd Grade Family Sports Night 6:15pm-7:30pm

Friday, March 1st
PreK Screening
Happy Birthday Tami Ericksen 🙂
Pennies for Patients Kickoff (Presentation Space) <—click for schedule

(03/02) Happy Birthday Bonnie Bricker 🙂
(03/03) Happy Birthday Natalie Barcas 🙂

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, February 18th
Presidents’ Day – NO SCHOOL

Tuesday, February 19th
1st-3rd Grade to LMS for Washington Musical (8:45am buses will start loading with 3rd grade)
RTI Committee Meeting @ 3:45pm (Upstairs PD Space)(

Wednesday, February 20th
Board Meeting @ 7pm

Thursday, February 21st
SLT Meeting @ 2:45pm (Conference Room)

Friday, February 22nd
Spirit Assembly @ 9am

(02/24) Happy Birthday Shannon Keating

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, February 11th
1st Grade Data Meeting w/RR
RTI Committee Meeting @ 3:00pm (Upstairs PD Space)

Tuesday, February 12th
PreK Family Trip to Shedd Aquarium
Talent Show Auditions (throughout the day in the Presentation Space)
Faculty Meeting @ 2:45pm

Wednesday, February 13th
6th Grade Buddies Visit 1st Grade (9am)
2nd & 3rd Grade TAPS during CPT

Thursday, February 14th
Happy Birthday Kaitlin Hillner 🙂
Spirit Committee Meeting @ 2:35pm

Friday, February 15th
Happy Birthday Agnes Niewinski 🙂
1st Grade Field Trip to Shedd Aquarium
PreK Parent Workshops
Trimester 2 Ends
Please be sure your Parent/Teacher Conference Schedule is finalized in google spreadsheet!

(02/17) Happy Birthday Jackie Hood & Mike Deany 🙂

Blog Posts Worth Reading:
The Importance of Not Stepping In – via George Couros

Six Strategies for Tackling Perfectionism – via John Spencer

From blogger Krissy Venosdale (this blog post is perfect…especially after engaging in thought-provoking dialogues with each of you about Winter MAP scores). 

“Take a typical lesson, on a typical day, in a typical classroom. We are constantly reaching out to the learners who have fallen behind. Tutoring. Interventions. Extra time. Small group. Individualized Instruction. Scaffolding. All of these things are so important, and we’d all agree, essential for the success of students who need the extra support.

But doesn’t every kid need support? What about the kids who already know it? Maybe they learned it on their own, got it really quickly, or read about it once before. They think differently. Should they wait to learn? What will be done differently for those kids?

We tend to say things like, “They’ll be fine.” But fine really isn’t good enough. What if we offered more for all kids. Not just on one lesson, or one day, but whenever they need it. Bringing everyone up to a level that, for them, is enough for a good healthy stretch. Reaching, struggling, extending.

Because in that stretch? There is learning….The kind every kid deserves.”

Thank you all for your dedication and passion towards doing whatever it takes to reach every single child. Thank you for always making child-centered decisions and being relentless when it comes to ensuring all of our children grow and progress in all areas of their development. Thank you for nurturing and supporting each Kubbie on their path!

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, February 4th
ACCESS Testing Continues
KIDS HEART CHALLENGE during PE this week
Happy Birthday Anne Weinthaler 🙂
Room 133 Field Trip to Barnes & Noble
Charity Committee Meeting @ 2:15pm (E217)
RTI Committee Meeting @ 3:00pm (Upstairs PD Space)

Tuesday, February 5th
Reading Room Opens
2nd Grade (Miro, Christopherson & Domingo) to PF Chang’s
Dr. Seuss Committee Meeting @ 2:45pm
3rd Grade FAMILY SPORTS NIGHT 6:15pm-7:30pm

Wednesday, February 6th
Happy Birthday Heather Longo 🙂
2nd Grade (Keating & Rowland) to PF Changs
TAPS during CPT – PreK, K & 1st Grades

Thursday, February 7th
2nd Grade (Oraham & Ward) to PF Changs
Happy Birthday Alanna Mixter 🙂
Happy Birthday Izabela Rybinski 🙂

Friday, February 8th
Kindergarten Field Trip to Disney On Ice
SLBC Swimming at the YMCA
5 by Friday!

Blog Posts Worth Reading:
4 Tips for Becoming More Observant in a World Full of Noise via George Couros

Welcoming Students With a Smile via Edutopia <—research just confirming that what we already do at Kennedy reaps POSITIVE benefits for both students & teachers!

Teaming Up to Support English Language Learners via Edutopia

Let’s Give Our Teaching Language a Makeover via Jennifer Gonzalez of Cult of Pedagogy

These Candy Heart Science Experiments Will Blow Your Mind via WeAreTeachers

32 Children’s Books to Celebrate Valentine’s Day via WeAreTeachers

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, January 28th
ACCESS Testing Continues (RR Remains Closed)
RTI Committee Meeting @ 3:00pm (Upstairs PD Space)

Tuesday, January 29th
Paraprofessional Meeting @ 2:50pm (Conference Room)
*3rd Grade Family Sports Night = RESCHEDULED to February 5th!

Wednesday, January 30th
1/2 Day of School (Agenda will be emailed)
100th Day of School!

Thursday, January 31st

Friday, February 1st
5 by Friday! 🙂

Blog Posts Worth Reading
Four Ways to Support Colleagues Who are Supporting Students in Crisis  – via Allyson Apsey

How to Keep Overbearing, Micromanaging Parents from Stressing You Out as a Teacher – via Angela Watson

Marie Kondo in the Classroom: How Teachers Are Tidying Up via EdWeek

12 Google Calendar Tricks You’re Probably Not Using via PCMag.com

Google Slides & PearDeck via Alice Keeler

Today we celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr…..let’s honor Dr. King’s memory as we begin our work week. The following Dr. King quote can help us reflect on the work we are doing at Kennedy School.

“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character, that is the goal of education.”

Do we hold high expectations for all of our learners?
Is critical thinking reinforced for all of our learners?
Is character education a focus in our classrooms everyday?
Are we serving others in our school community?

As you begin your week, keep the above quote in mind as you reflect on your practice.
Let’s have a great 4-day week!

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, January 21st
NO SCHOOL: MLK Day

Tuesday, January 22nd
Happy Birthday Michelle Morgan 🙂
ACCESS Testing Begins (RR & Bilingual Closed all week)
PATS Field Trip to DuPage Children’s Museum
Faculty Meeting CANCELLED

Wednesday, January 23rd
Common Plan
SLT Meeting (Rescheduled from last week) @ 2:50pm

Thursday, January 24th
Happy Birthday Ofelia Golden 🙂
Charity Committee Meeting @ 7:35am
Technology Committee Meeting @ 2:35pm (1st Grade Project Space)

Friday, January 25th
Spirit Assembly!
SLBC Swimming @ YMCA
5 by Friday!

(01/26) Happy Birthday Brian Key! 🙂

Blog Posts Worth Checking Out:
30 Day Challenge for a Happier Teacher You – via Pernille Ripp

Just One Teacher Can Completely Alter the Trajectory of a Child – via Baruti Kafele

4 Skills and Traits Great Schools Teach That Will Always Be Essential – via George Couros

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, January 14th
Yearbook Club @ 2:35pm
2nd Grade Data Review with RR

Tuesday, January 15th
Happy Birthday Ami Freeman 🙂
2nd Grade Field Trip to Adler Planetarium (8:45am-1:00pm)
Spirit Committee Meeting @ 2:35pm
Dr. Seuss Committee Meeting @ 2:45pm (B102)

Wednesday, January 16th
Board Meeting @ 7pm

Thursday, January 17th
Happy Birthday Cheri Grimaldi 🙂
SLT Meeting @ 2:45pm (Conference Room)
Mentor/Mentee Meeting @ 3:45pm

Friday, January 18th
5 by Friday! Make 5 Positive Connections or send 5 Positive Postcards by Friday!

Blog Posts Worth Reading:

Restorative Practices: Set Expectations and Hold Students Accountable via George Couros