Here’s our week at a glance:
Monday, September 24th
Happy Birthday Britney Lane 🙂
Tuesday, September 25th
Happy Birthday Marta Ocon 🙂Â
2nd Grade Field Trip to Goebbert’s
Faculty Meeting @ 2:50pm (Presentation Space)
Wednesday, September 26th
Happy Birthday Jill Michalski 🙂
Thursday, September 27th
Friday, September 28th
Happy Birthday Gina Cacioppo 🙂
September Spirit Assembly (9-10am)
Blog Posts Worth Reading:
Print Custom Sticky Notes with Google Slides
Here’s our week at a glance:
Monday, September 17th
Dentist Visits (Room 135)
Tuesday, September 18th
Dentist Visits (Room 135)
1st SIP Committee Check-In (2:50pm-3:05pm) <—click to see where committees will be meeting. Have you signed up for one yet? ALL staff sign up for ONE committee!
Wednesday, September 19th
Dentist Visits (Room 135)
Happy Birthday Roger Pape 🙂
*Whole School CPT with SPPD: Start in Presentation Space 2:00pm
ABC Parent Group Meeting @ 6pm
Board of Education Meeting @ 7pm
Thursday, September 20th
Happy Birthday Michelle McMorrow 🙂
SLT (2:45pm in Conference Room)
Mentor/Mentee Meeting (3:45pm)*
Friday, September 21st
5 by Friday! Make 5 Positive Connections!
(09/23) Happy Birthday Amanda Quinlan 🙂Â
Here’s our week at a glance:
Monday, September 10th
Reading Room Begins!
AXA Visit during lunch periods in Teacher’s Lounge
RTI Committee Meeting @ 3pm (Upstairs PD Space)
Tuesday, September 11th
Faculty Meeting @ 2:50pm
Technology Committee Meeting @ 3:0pmpm
Wednesday, September 12th
1/2 Day (AM PreK dismisses at 10:30am, K-3 dismisses at 10:55am)
*SIP Agenda <–click here
Thursday, September 13th
PreK Family Field Trip to Brookfield Zoo
Friday, September 14th
Fall Picture Day! <–click for schedule!
5 Positive Connections by Friday!
Blog Posts Worth Checking Out:
How to Create Your Own “Apps” with Google SlidesÂ
Educating the Whole Child: Improving School Climate to Support Student Success
“What makes a good school has very little to do with how rich or poor the students are, or the type of curriculum that’s taught. It has very little to do with the special programs, expansive playing fields, snappy uniforms, or whether the school is wired to the Internet. What makes a good school, whether it’s public or private, religious or nonreligious, charter or non-charter, is a feeling. A feeling shared by the entire staff that their particular school is special. The feeling that their school really belongs to them.” (Manna, 1999).
At Kennedy School, each member of our team has a distinctive character that cares deeply about each and every one of our Kennedy Kubbies. Your unique attributes and talents contribute to the feeling people get when they enter this building. As a result, our children will remember you long after they leave Kennedy.
“Schools are not buildings, curriculums, and machines. Schools are relationships and interactions among people.”
I hope everyone enjoyed a relaxing and enjoyable weekend with friends and family. Here’s our week at a glance:
Monday, September 3rd
NO SCHOOL – LABOR DAY
Tuesday, September 4th
Scholastic Fall Bookfair – 1st Grade Project Space (all week, through Thursday evening)
Evacuation Drill  – 9am
Flex Groups Starting This Week!
MAP Testing Continues
Wednesday, September 5th
Thursday, September 6th
Reading Room Begins (Drop Off)
SLT Meeting @ 2:45pm – Conference Room
Kennedy Curriculum Night 6:30pm-8:00pm
(check out our collective Pinterest board for ideas!)
*New Idea: Ask parents to write a note of encouragement directly to their child that you can give them when they are having a challenging day!
Friday, September 7th
Reading Room (Drop Off)
GO GOLD for Childhood Cancer Awareness
5 by Friday – Make  5 Positive Connections by each Friday! Remember, positive postcards can be found in the main office!Â
The start of the school year is the best time to begin building positive relationships with our families, too! I encourage you to meet our goal of 5 positive contacts by Friday over the next few weeks (phone calls, post cards, notes home, etc). Let’s remember….. our goal is to ensure that 100% of our parents experience communication/contact with their child’s teacher prior to the November conferences (Below are the results from the November 2017 parent/teacher conferences).
Let’s have a great week!
As Donna, Sara and I visited each classroom in our school this past week, we observed each of you setting the tone for a culture of caring in your classrooms; classrooms where teachers and students care about learning, about each other, and care about our Kennedy community. The first weeks of school set the tone for the entire year. If our students leave school feeling excited about themselves as learners & about you as their teacher, then we’re doing something right!  Always remember that our kids will meet any expectations we set for them, as long as we are firm, fair, and consistent with these expectations and build relationships with our students so that they will want to meet them. The primary way to accomplish this positive relationship-building with our students is simply caring deeply about them as learners and young people and taking the time to get to know them, as well as showing them just how much you care.
Here’s our week at a glance:
Monday, August 27th
Book Checkout Begins this week!
MAP Testing Continues <— schedule here
Aimsweb Testing Continues <—schedule here
K-3 Faculty Meeting (presentation space) at 2:40pm
PreK Faculty Meeting (E104) at 3:00pm
New Teacher Meeting (D203) at 3:00pm
RTI Committee Meeting (Project Space Upstairs) at 3:00pm
Tuesday, August 28th
Evacuation Drill @ 9:00am to North Park
Faculty Meeting (to review mandatory Health Trainings) @ 2:50pm in Presentation Space
Wednesday, August 29th
Thursday, August 30th
1st Fire Drill
Mentor Meeting @ 3:45pm
Friday, August 31st
Code Red Drill (Time Unannounced to Staff)
Did you complete the “Getting to Know You Survey?”
FLIPGRID: Take 2
*********All staff: Please take a moment to record a video of yourself, as we collectively introduce ourselves to the KENNEDY FAMILIES/COMMUNITY.Â
Click this link & record your video by 12pm on Friday so I can include the flipgrid in this week’s Kennedy School E-News!
(Password is: Kennedy81)
(09/04) NO SCHOOL: LABOR DAY
Blog Posts Worth Reading:
4 Ways to Create a Learner-Centered Classroom by Katie Martin
10 Tips for New Teachers by George Couros
10 Questions Every School Should Ask to Build a Healthy Culture
10 Easy Way to Create an Awesome #SchoolCulture This Year by George Couros
What a great first week (technically 3 days) at Kennedy! As expected, there were a few tears, but the smiles and laughs outweighed the few. I appreciate everyone’s help and extra care during arrival. Thank you to ALL staff for going the extra mile to help get our year off to an amazing start. Let’s keep that up this week, as well!
As we prepare for our first full week with the students, I hope you will take a few quiet moments to put aside lesson planning, forget about administrative tasks and consider our purpose, or “our why” as we called it on opening day (as a school, and as individual educators). When we walk in on Monday morning, please remember that you are a difference maker! The small gestures you make to welcome students and show an interest in their lives will have an impact. This year, you will have opportunities to build confidence where it hasn’t existed, develop connections that have never been present, and generate hope with your students. Our classrooms are filled with individuals with a variety of needs, and it’s up to US to make sure they thrive! The only way for that to happen is to build a connection with each student. When we truly know them all as individuals, we can understand them as learners.
WE WANT TO GET TO KNOW YOU BETTER! Please take a few minutes and complete the Google Form here!
Here’s our week at a glance:
(08/19) Happy Birthday Lauren Oraham 🙂
Monday, August 20th
1st Day of PreSchool
MAP Testing Window Opens <—be sure to schedule your classroom’s testing times
Let’s get our “flex time” routines started soon!
Tuesday, August 21st
Happy Birthday Lisa Bilotta 🙂
Turn in the yellow ABC Pool Party envelopes to office by noon.
Karli T will pick them up & issue wristbands to those who paid. A second envelope will be placed in your mailboxes for any remaining orders. Teachers will help distribute wristbands on Friday for students to talk home.
Wednesday, August 22nd
Thursday, August 23rd
Friday, August 24th
Kennedy Bus Evacuation Drills – (Schedule to Sign Up for a time slot will be emailed this week).
5 by Friday! As a school, let’s all commit to making 5 positive connections by Friday of every week! Use the Kennedy postcards that were in your swag bag. All out? No problem! Positive Postcards can be found in the main office!
*Remember, we must also make an effort to build relationships with our families, too! Read this awesome blog post here about how to successful engage with our families!
(08/25) ABC Pool Party 7-9pm
It’s hard to believe we have reached the point in the year where we only have 5 days left! It has been a great year of teaching & learning, and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for your friendship and support.
In the middle of packing away materials, finishing report cards & last minute projects, there is one part of the year that is so bittersweet….the good-byes! Remember to take time to tell your students what they mean to you this week. Have lunch in the classroom or outside. Ask each student to share their favorite memory. Share your favorite memories with your class. Send a Kennedy Kubbie positive postcard to every student and put it in the mail on the last day of school to wish them a great summer! ENJOY THESE LAST FIVE DAYS! It’s the happiest & saddest time all in one. So, while you’re counting down the last 5 days and trying to cross off those final items from your never-ending to-do list, remember to enjoy your final time together & make your end of the year count! 
Keep in mind, the end of the year is not always happy for some of our students, whose only security and love comes from US. Thank you in advance for loving the students and reassuring them that we love them and can’t wait to see them again soon!
For those of you moving on to new adventures, remember that you’re only as good as your last exit…….and for those of us returning, know that students remember the educators that we are the last week of school…..so let’s make sure they remember the best of what we have to offer. This last week is going to FLY by so please commit to making them count. Let’s all feel great about what we’ve accomplished this year! Finish strong and wrap up the year with a beautiful bow…Have a wonderful week and remember to be great for our Kubbies and each other.
Here’s our last week at a glance for the 2017-2018 school year:
Monday, May 21st
Kindergarten “fly up” day to 1st Grade 8:00am-8:30am <–click for schedule
2nd Grade Field Trip to Brunswick Zone (9:30am-12:30pm)
3rd Grade DINOSAUR FAIRÂ <—click for schedule
Tuesday, May 22nd
Pre School Celebrations!
Kindergarten Graduation Rehearsals @ LMS
2nd Grade Picnic @ North ParkÂ
1st-3rd Grade “fly up” day 1:30pm-2:00pm <–click for schedule
8th Grade Graduation @ 7:00pm (Stephens Center)
Wednesday, May 23rd
Kindergarten Graduations @ LMS
9:30am – Rooms 129, 131, 133
11:30am – Rooms 127, 128, 130, 132
Class Building During CPT
Thursday, May 24th
Kindergarten Screenings
1st Grade Picnic @ North Park
Summative Meetings (Your administrator will email you to schedule your appointment – bring your laptop)
Friday, May 25th
Happy Birthday Monica Sloma 🙂Â
Kindergarten Screenings
Summative Meetings
PreK Class Building @ 9:30am
LAST Day of School ~ All staff report to the bus lane at 2:25pm for our annual tradition of “waving goodbye to our students” …. *Check out our photos/videos from previous years here.
FINAL THOUGHTS…….
“Just know that, even if nobody said “Thank You,” today, there’s a kid somewhere who loves you, who appreciates you, and who is wondering about something because of something you said in your classroom. Right now there might be a parent who thinks you are the best thing under the sun because you might be the very first person who has understood her child. There’s an administrator who is grateful to have you on staff at your school. At this very moment, there is a student close to graduating high school who found a photo from your classroom that she has saved all these years because you were her favorite. Tonight, a colleague of yours will go home with a smile because something you took the time to say today. One of your students that pretends not to care about his work will be working extra hard tonight, because he wants to show you he can do it.
You’re appreciated. You matter to more kids than I can count on my fingers and toes, and your message to the world will travel well into the future in the hearts of kids who will grow up with dreams and passions that all started right where you are. In your classroom.
Just in case you forget.”
I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother’s Day Weekend. I saw this post from a blogger named “Farley” & wanted to share:
Mother’s Day is a celebration of
living moms
angel moms
birth moms
adoptive moms
moms with fur kids
step moms
grieving moms
those trying to become moms
and those that care for kids like a mom.
Here’s our week at a glance:
(05/13) Happy Birthday John Grobe 🙂
Monday, May 14th
Spring Benchmarking Begins
PreK Picnics @ Kennedy Park
Yearbook Club (2:30pm-4:00pm)
Tuesday, May 15th
Kindergarten Picnic @ North Park (9am-1pm)
Wednesday, May 16th
Awesome Attendance Celebration (Project Space) @ 8:15am
1st Grade Field Trip to Stahl Theater (10am)
Board of Education Meeting @ 7pm
Thursday, May 17th
May Buddy Event!
Kindergarten Dress Rehearsal @ LMS
SLT (Combined)
Friday, May 18th
K-3 FIELD DAY
3rd Grade Visits Washington School (Fly Up)
DARE Graduation @ 2:00pm (LMS)
Last TWD of the Year!
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! 🙂 This entire week is about celebrating ALL OF YOU!
I appreciate all that you do to prepare meaningful learning opportunities for your students each day, but what I appreciate the most is the safe, welcoming, nurturing learning environments that you have established for our Kubbies who LOVE coming to school each day.
I hope you know how much I enjoy working with each of you & how proud I am to be your colleague. Thank you for all you do here at Kennedy School. You are appreciated today & everyday.
Here’s our week at a glance:
Monday, May 7th
Teacher Appreciation Week! <—be sure to check out all the deals!
PreK/PATS Field Trip to Brookfield Zoo
Reading Room Plans with Kindergarten @ 2:35pm
*Last Week of Reading Room
Tuesday, May 8th
Happy Birthday Jen Mauck 🙂
Kindergarten Field Trip to Brookfield Zoo
Faculty Meeting @ 2:50pm (Presentation Space)
Mentor Celebration @ 3:45pm
Wednesday, May 9th
1/2 Day of School  (Agenda will be emailed)
Support Staff Luncheon
2nd Grade to LMS for Buddies (8:50am-9:40am)
Technology Committee Check-In @ 2:45pm
D81 Retirement Celebration @ 4:00pm
Thursday, May 10th
1st Grade to LMS for Dress Rehearsal (9am-10am)
Friday, May 11th
9:00am – 1st Grade Memorial Day Performance @ LMS
Last Day of Reading Interventions/Reading Room/Bilingual
Blog Posts Worth Reading:
End Your School Year with What Matters Most via Aaron Hogan
Tic Tack Toe in the Blended Classroom by Eric Sheninger
Saying “yes” To Yourself by George Couros
Here’s our week at a glance:
Monday, April 30th
Reading Room Plan with 1st Grade @ 2:35pm
Tuesday, May 1st
Volunteer Breakfast (8:45am-9:45am in cafeteria)
Kindergarten Young Author Day @ 1:30pm
Wednesday, May 2nd
1st Grade Visits LMS for Buddies (9-10am)
Kennedy Art Show 6:30pm-7:30pm
Thursday, May 3rd
Happy Birthday Michelle Sosa 🙂
1st Grade Field Trip to Schiller Park Library
4th Grade Visits PreK Buddies
SLTÂ (Math) Meeting @ 2:35pm
Friday, May 4th
5 by Friday! 🙂
Happy Birthday Abby Domingo 🙂
(05/05) Happy Birthday Jenny Maier 🙂
Blog Posts Worth Reading:
26 Habits Highly Successful People Have (and the Rest of us Probably Don’t) via Inc.com
Why We Need to See Each Other Teach via Cult of Pedagogy
8 Ways to Lead – A Mindset Shift for Teachers via Medium
