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

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, December 10th
MAP Testing Begins!
Kindergarten & 1st Grades to LMS for Musical @ 8:45am
Kindergarten Data Review with RR @ 2:35pm

Tuesday, December 11th
2nd & 3rd Grades to LMS for Musical @ 8:45am
Faculty Meeting @ 2:50pm

Wednesday, December 12th
Winter Benchmarking
PreK/PATS Tree Decorating Party (2-3pm in Cafeteria)
TAPS (PreK, K and 1st)

Thursday, December 13th
Winter Benchmarking
Spirit Assembly Committee Meeting @ 2:35pm

Friday, December 14th
Winter Benchmarking
D81 Employee Holiday Party!

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

Blog Posts Worth Reading
How to Build a Trauma-Sensitive Classroom Where All Learners Feel Safe

The Perfect Response to a Child’s Misbehavior via Bill Ferriter

Ways to Differentiate Instruction for ELLs via EdWeek

Reclaiming Handwriting via Pernille Ripp

Winter Break Blues – How to Help Kids Who Are Dreading the Holidays via We Are Teachers

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 curriculum while you can. But it’s also a time for gratitude, tradition, and reflection, which is why We Are Teachers created the Random Acts of Kindness Calendar (below) for the classroom! Download it, print it, and share it with your students!

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, December 3rd
Yearbook/Technology Club (2:30pm-4:00pm)
1st Grade Data Meeting w/RR (2:35pm)
*Cricut Club in 1st Grade Project Space at 3:05 for anyone interested in crafting!

Tuesday, December 4th
Happy Birthday Michelle Miro 🙂 
PreK Field Trip to Kohl Children’s Museum (9am-12:30pm)
Fundraising Committee Meeting @ 2:45pm (D116)

Wednesday, December 5th
Happy Birthday Becky Zora 🙂
DIP DIP HOORAY during lunch periods

Thursday, December 6th
1st Grade Field Trip to West Leyden HS (9:30am-12pm)
SLT Meeting @ 2:45pm (Conference Room)
WINTER WONDERLAND @ LMS (6:30pm-8:00pm)
**It’s not too late to sign up to volunteer! Sign up here

Friday, December 7th
Happy Birthday Dr. Boryszewski 🙂
5 by Friday! 🙂

(12/08) Happy Birthday Cindy DeRose 🙂

Click here for the PDF version

Blog Posts Worth Reading:
Exhausted Educator…I See You via Beth Houf

We are all one team.
We are all trying our hardest and bringing our best each and every day.
Our kids matter.
Our staff matter.
You matter.

I hope you enjoyed your time off, spending time with family, friends & those you love. Now we move to the next 4 week stretch, where it is full of learning, fun, and special events…and a holiday break to enjoy. We have lots to do with our kids from now until December 21st, 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 these next 4 weeks:

• 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 20 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?) or perhaps give them that NOTE OF ENCOURAGEMENT that their parents filled out for them at Curriculum Night this year! 🙂

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, November 26th
Santa’s Secret Shop  (Browse Day)
2nd Grade Data Review Meeting with RR @ 2:35pm
Cricut Club (1st Grade Project Space) @ 3:05pm

Tuesday, November 27th
Santa’s Secret Shop (Buy Day)
Faculty Meeting @ 2:45pm (Presentation Space)
SD81 Winter Band Concert @ 6:30pm

Wednesday, November 28th
Santa’s Secret Shop (Buy Day)
New Teacher Meeting (Breakfast Club) @ 7:40am in Room B107
2nd Grade Field Trip to Prairie Lakes Theater @ 9:30am
TECHNOLOGY Common Plan

Thursday, November 29th
Santa’s Secret Shop (Buy Day)
Dr. Seuss SIP Committee Meeting @ 2:45pm (Room B102)

Friday, November 30th
Santa’s Secret Shop (Buy Day)
Happy Birthday Barbara Zawadzka 🙂

(12/02) Happy Birthday Lizbeth Hohmeier

REMINDERS:
Have you RSVP’d for the Holiday Party? Please do so by Monday, December 3rd

WINTER WONDERLAND
The 3rd annual event will be on Thursday, December 6th from 6:30pm-8:30pm at Lincoln Middle School.

It will be free admission for our families & not only will they have an opportunity to eat a delicious pasta dinner (served by the Board of Education), there will be crafts and games for children, as well as pictures with Santa.

Please fill out the Google Form here if you’re able to help! Let’s make this an AWESOME event for our kids! We need volunteers to help make each “station” a success. Your help and time is greatly appreciated!

Parent-Teacher conferences offer teachers & parents the opportunity to see, celebrate and support each individual child. Just as we all appreciate praise for our efforts, parents appreciate praise for their efforts & their child’s progress. As you offer information about the students in your room, always remember that you are speaking about someone’s ‘whole world’ and remember to be mindful of how that information will be received by your audience. I’m confident you will exude professionalism and confidence this week as you inform parents about curriculum, assessment, grading/reporting, strengths & opportunities for growth. I know you will continue to develop a positive working relationship with your families and deepen that home-school partnership. Thanks for all that you do in preparation for this very busy week!  If Donna, Sara or I can offer you any support this week with conferences, please do not hesitate to ask.

Blog Posts About Conferences:
6 Tips To Get the Most Out of Parent Teacher Conferences

What I Really Want to Ask At All Those Parent-Teacher Conferences
(excerpt below) 

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, November 12th
American Education Week!
Parent Teacher Conference Week Begins!
NO SCHOOL for Students – Full Day of P/T Conferences
Happy Birthday Sarah Mixa 🙂

Tuesday, November 13th
Happy Birthday Stephanie Polakowski 🙂
*No Faculty Meeting (Conferences)
Winter Choral Concert (3rd – 5th grades) @ 6:30pm

Wednesday, November 14th
PreK/PATS Thanksgiving Feast (2-3pm)
*No CPT (Conferences)
Board of Education Meeting 7pm

Thursday, November 15th
Happy Birthday Sandy Montes de Oca 🙂
*Staff Thanksgiving Pot-Luck in Lounge*
NO SLT Meeting (Conferences)
Fundraising Committee @ 2:45pm (Room D116)
Winter Choral Concert (6th-8th grades) @ 6:30pm

Friday, November 16th
5 by Friday! Make those positive connections with families!

Looking for Conference Ideas? Check out this Pinterest board.

Blog Posts Worth Reading:
“It’s What You Learn After You Know It All That Counts Most” by George Couros

4 Skills and Traits Great Schools Teach That Will Always be Essential by George Couros

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, November 5th
3rd Grade Data Meeting with RR @ 2:35pm
CRICUT CLUB @ 3:05pm (1st Grade Project Space)

Tuesday, November 6th
Teacher Institute Day – No School for Students <—click for agenda

Wednesday, November 7th
Hearing/Vision Screenings (Room 135)
Technology Team Check-In (2:45pm)
Paraprofessional Meeting (2:45pm – 1st Grade Project Space)

Thursday, November 8th
Happy Birthday Maria Rodriguez 🙂
3rd Grade to LMS for Veterans Day Rehearsal (8:45am-10:30am)

Friday, November 9th
Veterans’ Day Performance (10:30am at LMS)

11/10 Happy Birthday Gloria Reyes 🙂
11/11 Happy Birthday Julie Fister & Becky Shoufer 🙂

The storybook pumpkins look AMAZING! The pumpkins are a perfect example of the wonderful, creative, imaginative work that can happen when great minds get together! You showed tremendous teamwork and I am so proud of your efforts and creativity. I’m hopeful you enjoyed your time with your DLT groups & reconnected through this activity. Everytime our students walk through the media center, they admire the Storybook Pumpkins and comment on how creative they are! NICE JOB!!! Remember — each student should cast their vote for their FAVORITE storybook pumpkin on Halloween! Google Form ballot will be emailed out today!

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, October 29th
Kindergarten Data Review Meeting
RTI Committee Meeting (3-4pm)

Tuesday, October 30th
October BUDDY Event
Crazy/Wacky Hair for Red Ribbon Week

Wednesday, October 31st
Halloween Parades & Parties <—click for info

Thursday, November 1st
Fall Birthday Celebrations (in Lounge)
LearningScapes Tour through Kennedy School
SLT Meeting @ 2:45pm (Conference Room)

Friday, November 2nd
End of Trimester 1
Pre School Screenings
Reading Room Plan Day

**Reminder for Tenured Teachers*
Tenure teacher professional growth meetings completed before the end of the week!
ALL tenured teachers must complete a Professional Growth Plan.

Blog Posts Worth Checking Out:
The “Secret Menu” for Google Slides, Docs, Drawings & More via “Ditch That Textbook”

Starting with Positive Assumptions via George Couros

What Happens When We Become 1% Better Every Day by AJ Juliani

A Strength-Based Approach to Teaching English Language Learners via Cult of Pedagogy

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, October 22nd
RED RIBBON WEEK BEGINS! 
1st Grade Data Meeting with RR (2:35pm)
FLU SHOTS offered to District Employees in the 1st Grade Project Space (3-4pm)

Tuesday, October 23rd
Wear RED to Kick Off Red Ribbon Week
Faculty Meeting @ 2:45pm  (Storybook Pumpkins KICKOFF with DLT small groups!)

Wednesday, October 24th
Wear ORANGE – National UNITY Day
Cub Scouts Presentation (8:30am-11:00am in Presentation Space)
TAPS (2nd & 3rd)
DLT Meeting (3-4:30pm in 3rd Grade Project Space)
BPAC Meeting (4-5:30pm in Gymnasium)

Thursday, October 25th
Wear BEARS gear!
Staley the Bear Assembly – BEAR DOWN on Bullies
9-10am – Kindergarten & 1st Grade classes
10:30am-11:30am – 2nd & 3rd Grade classes
Mentor/Mentee Meeting @ 3:45pm

Friday, October 26th
Kubbies Are Buddies – Wear Kubbies Spiritwear
Fall Picture Re-Takes (in 1st Grade Project Space)
Spirit Assembly 9:00am

**Reminder for Tenured Teachers*
Tenure teacher professional growth meetings completed before November 1st.
ALL tenured teachers must complete a Professional Growth Plan.

**Do you subscribe to Angela Watson’s “Truth for Teachers” podcast? It’s amazing!
Click the picture below to check out this episode: A Crash Course on Trauma-Informed Teaching. 

You’ll learn ways that trauma impacts students and what we can do to support kids without carrying the weight of that trauma ourselves. The podcast also provides specific dos and don’ts to make it easier to navigate this in your classroom.

Trauma-informed teaching is not a curriculum, set of prescribed strategies, or something you need to “add to your plate.” It’s more like a lens through which you choose to view your students which will help you build better relationships, prevent conflict, and teach them effectively.

Blog Posts Worth Reading:
How to Check Spelling and Grammar in Google Docs via Shake Up Learning

3 Simple Questions to Shape Professional Learning via George Couros

What Are the Best Ways to Use Leveled Texts? via Cult of Pedagogy

You Are the Average of the 10 People You Spent Time With via Inc.com

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, October 15th
Medical Exclusion Day 
Happy Birthday Rose Karas 🙂
Fire Prevention Visits from SPFD in Presentation Space   <—click for schedule
2nd Grade Data Review with Reading Room

Tuesday, October 16th
Put a Cap On Bullying – Wear a Hat to School
PreK Field Trip to Johansen Farms
Fire Prevention Visits
***FACULTY MEETING RESCHEDULE………Since last Tuesday was a bust, please plan on meeting in the presentation space for a 2:50pm start! We will be checking in with our DLT small groups for a brief activity! 
Spirit Committee Meeting @ 2:45pm

Wednesday, October 17th
Happy Birthday Mary Beth D’Andrea 🙂
Fire Prevention Visits
TAPS (PreK, K, 1st) during CPT
DLT Meeting (3-4:30pm – LMS, Room 108)
Board of Education Meeting @ 7:00pm
*Kennedy Renovation will be the example of excellence! Please come and support your 1st grade colleagues who will be presenting an iMovie of the renovated spaces and presenting tokens of appreciation from the students to the Board of Education members.

Thursday, October 18th
3rd Grade Field Trip to Goebbert’s Farm
Earthquake Drill @ 10:18am
Fire Prevention Visits
SLT Meeting @ 2:45pm

Friday, October 19th
Happy Birthday Eva Popowska 🙂
Kindergarten Field Trip to Didier Farms
5 Positive Connections by Friday !!!

See some ideas below for Fire Prevention Week @ Kennedy: