Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, April 23rd
*Welcome Brian Key: He will be shadowing Jackie Hood this week & taking over for Jackie when she goes on maternity leave
Reading Room Plans with 2nd Grade @ 2:35pm

Tuesday, April 24th
3rd Grade Field Trip to FIELD MUSEUM
Faculty Meeting @ 2:50pm
BPAC Meeting @ 4:00pm

Wednesday, April 25th
Administrative Assistants’ Day
PreK/PATS Spring Sing (9-10am and 1-2pm)
TAPS (PreK, K, 1st)
DLA Learning Symposium 3:30pm-5:30pm

Thursday, April 26th
Kennedy Singers to LMS for Rehearsal (8:30-10:00am)
Spring Choral Concert @ 6:30pm

Friday, April 27th
Spirit Assembly
GO BLUE FOR AUTISM!

As the ABC Countdown begins this Friday which counts down the final 26 days of the 2017-2018 school year, remember to look to the end of the year as setting the stage for next year. A strong finish helps build for a successful year to come. To ensure a strong finish and a positive launch to the next school year, keep the following in mind:

*Have high expectations for all. The end of the school year is not only about celebrations. It’s about learning. Focus on what is important and find the balance between keeping learning at the forefront of your classroom and enjoying those “end of the year” celebrations.

*Be well planned. Act with intention and purpose each day. Students thrive on routine and consistency. Just because the weather is getting warmer and field trips are blooming, the last thing you want to do is lose focus. It’s important to ensure that the learning process continues to bloom and that students are engaged!

*Keep a positive and hopeful attitude. This time of the year can be emotional and exhausting for all. Remember to find the good stuff. It’s there if you take time to look for it.

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, April 16th
Reading Room Plans with 3rd Grade @ 2:35pm

Tuesday, April 17th
District Discipline Committee Meeting @ 3:45pm

Wednesday, April 18th
1/2 SIP Day
5th Grade Buddies Visit Kennedy Kindergarten
Baby/Bridal Shower  (11am-12pm)
Board Meeting @ 7pm

Thursday, April 19th
Happy Birthday Chris Gonzalez 🙂
SLT- ELA @ 2:35pm (Upstairs PD Space)
PATS Trip to Navy Pier (3:45pm-8:30pm)

Friday, April 20th
SLBC Swimming
5 Positive Connections by Friday!
Go Blue for Autism!

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, April 9th
Reading Room Plan with Kindergarten @ 2:35pm

Tuesday, April 10th
Faculty Meeting @ 2:50pm

Wednesday, April 11th
TAPS (2nd & 3rd Grade)
West 40’s SCOTY (School Citizen of the Year) Awards @ 4:00pm (Congrats to Candice Smith, our award winner)

Thursday, April 12th
3rd Grade to CUBS GAME @ Wrigley Field (11:30am-6pm)

Friday, April 13th
Spring/Summer Birthday Treats in Lounge for Breakfast
Kindergarten Field Trip to Morton Arboretum
5 Positive Connections by Friday!
GO BLUE FOR AUTISM!

Blog Posts Worth Reading:
Regret Prevention by Aaron Hogan

Relevance is the Fuel of Learning by Eric Sheninger

It is my hope that you all had a restful, relaxing Spring Break. As we enter the final 8 weeks of school, I realize this can be a challenging time for us, as both students & staff get Spring Fever. We have been working hard for 7 months and we’re getting closer to the end of the school year. Now is when we must do our best work. The cliche of “it’s not how you start, but how you finish” is so true! We must finish strong and carry out our momentum until the end of the school year. Keep in mind, the more you stray from your classroom routine/schedule, the more antsy your students will get. If you keep focused, they will follow your lead.

As we approach the final 8 weeks of the school year, it is easy for many teachers to get into that familiar habit of wishing that the year would end. I want to encourage you not to fall into that rut and make the last 8 weeks enjoyable and productive for your students.

Each and every day our students need us. Remember that you may be the only constant presence in some of our students’ lives. Make a choice each day for your presence to be a positive, constant factor. It is a great opportunity that we have to come to school and have an impact on students’ lives from day to day. We all became educators because we care about kids. When the students feel that their teachers care about them, when they feel safe in our classes, optimal learning will take place.

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, April 2nd
Welcome Back! School Resumes!

Tuesday, April 3rd

Wednesday, April 4th
8th Grade Buddies visit Kennedy 3rd Grade Buddies (10-11am)

Thursday, April 5th
SLT – Math @ 2:45pm (Upstairs PD Space)

Friday, April 6th
1st Grade Field Trip to Kohl Children’s Museum (10am)
SLBC Swimming

(04/07) Happy Birthday Beata Dering 🙂
(04/08) Happy Birthday Sharon Muntova & Mirta Cruz 🙂

Blog Posts Worth Reading:

Anchor Charts 101: Why and How To Use Them by WE Are Teachers

Leaders Are Readers by TalentCulture

7 Ways for Teachers to Beat the Sunday Blues by Angela Watson

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 as we welcome the students back on Monday, April 2nd.

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, March 19th
Kindergarten Field Trip to Field Museum
Yearbook Club (2:30pm-3:45pm in Project Space)
Reading Room Plan with 1st Grade

Tuesday, March 20th
Teacher Institute Day – No School for Students

Wednesday, March 21st
Board Meeting @ 7pm

Thursday, March 22nd
SLT (ELA) – cancelled

Friday, March 23rd
March Spirit Assembly
SLBC Swimming

March 24th – April 1st SPRING BREAK

(03/25) Happy Birthday Diane Serio 🙂
(03/28) Happy Birthday Lauren Pennington :

(04/02) School Resumes

Blog Posts Worth Reading
3 Conversation Shifts in Education by George Couros

Is This Really Important? by Jeff Zoul

Teachers Are the Driving Force of Change by Eric Sheninger

Teaching Area and Perimeter by Ashleigh’s Education Journey

Four Truths to Becoming a Trauma-Informed Educator by Allyson Apsey

Thank you to everyone who helped contribute to the success of Dr. Seuss Night 2018! It was a wonderful evening filled with smiles and and incredible love of reading! Enjoy the photos on the sidebar of the blog, or click this link (All photos can be downloaded).

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, March 12th
Spring Scholastic Book Fair (Browse Day) – Room 107
PARCC Continues for 3rd grade (PARCC schedule continues this week)
Yearbook Club (Project Space 2:30pm-4:00pm)
Reading Room Plan with 2nd Grade

Tuesday, March 13th
Spring Scholastic Book Fair (Browse Day) – Room 107
Duct Tape the Principals to the Wall during Lunches! 
Faculty Meeting @ 2:30pm (Presentation Space)

Wednesday, March 14th
Spring Scholastic Book Fair (Buy Day) – Room 107
Spirit Assembly Committee Meeting @ 2:50pm

Thursday, March 15th
Spring Scholastic Book Fair (Buy Day) – Room 107
Talent Show Dress Rehearsal (8:45am – 10:00am @ LMS)
Talent Show @ 6:30pm (LMS Little Theater)

Friday, March 16th
Spring Picture Day
5 by Friday! 🙂 Continue making positive connections with families!

(03/18) Music Boosters Pancake Breakfast @ LMS (9am-12pm)

Blog Posts Worth Reading:
No Place for Social-Emotional Learning in Schools? Are You Sure? by Peter DeWitt

Priorities by Pernille Ripp

Google Slides: Watch Students Collaborate with Grid View by Alice Keeler

3 Thoughts for Improving Attendance in Schools by George Couros

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, March 5th
Hop on Pop Day: Hop out of bed & wear your Pajamas to School!
Pennies for Patients Continues this week! 
Happy Birthday Debi Cesario 🙂
3rd Grade PARCC Meeting (2:30pm) in Project Space
Reading Room Plan with 3rd Grade (after PARCC meeting)

Tuesday, March 6th
Fox in Socks Day: Wear Silly Socks to School
Pennies for Patients: Collecting Coins during arrival! 
PARCC Testing Begins (will be emailed)
Technology Team Meeting
Dr. Seuss Committee Meeting @ 2:45pm (Faculty Lounge)
Mentor Meeting @ 3:45pm (Kennedy School)

Wednesday, March 7th
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish Day: Wear red/blue to school!
6th Grade Buddies Visit 1st Grade
Mrs. Oraham’s Class goes to Barnes & Noble (MyOn Winter Break Challenge Winners)
Dr. Seuss Night! 6:30-8:00pm  *Hope to see you all there*

Thursday, March 8th
Cat in the Hat Day: Wear your favorite hat to school!
2nd Grade to LMS for Performance Rehearsal (8:45am-10:00am)
Talent Show Rehearsal After School (2:30pm-4:00pm)
SLT – Math (2:35pm in Upstairs PD Space)

Friday, March 9th
Green Eggs & Ham Day: Wear Green to School!
2nd Grade Music Performance @ LMS (9am)
SLBC Swimming

(03/11) Daylight Savings

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. Please also have your students organize/clean their Kubbies in the hallway. 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 26th
1st Grade Field Trip to Shedd Aquarium
Reading Room Plan with Kindergarten Team
Yearbook Committee in Project Space (2:30pm-3:45pm)
Project Unify Game @ 3:45pm (LMS)

Tuesday, February 27th
PATS Field Trip to Museum of Science & Industry
Faculty Meeting CANCELLED

Wednesday, February 28th
Happy Birthday Alicia Peccatiello 🙂
1/2 Day of School (for Parent/Teacher Conferences)

Thursday, March 1st
Happy Birthday Tami Ericksen 🙂
Talent Show Rehearsal (2:30pm-4:00pm) in gymnasium

Friday, March 2nd
Happy Birthday Bonnie Bricker 🙂
PreK Screening
Non-Tenured Summative Meetings (Scheduled by your administrator)

(03/03) Happy Birthday Natalie Barcas 🙂
(03/04) Happy Birthday Stephanie Orsa  🙂

Blog Posts Worth Reading:
Pushing Learners to Think with Performance Tasks by Eric Sheninger

Did you know you can markup an image with the built-in IOS11 Photos app?
It’s kind of hidden…Tap a photo’s EDIT button, then the MORE icon (…), then Markup.
Works great for screenshots, too!
7 Tough Lessons People Often Learn Too Late in Life (Business Insider)

A Plea to Families of Children in School by Bethany Hill

Check out the calendar below from Angela Watson:

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, February 19th
NO SCHOOL – Presidents’ Day

Tuesday, February 20th
PF Changs Field Trip (Domingo, Miro, Planek) 10am-12:30pm
Faculty Meeting @ 2:50pm (Upstairs Presentation Space)

Wednesday, February 21st
1st-3rd Grades to LMS for Washington Musical @ 9:45am
Board of Education Meeting @ 7pm

Thursday, February 22nd
PF Change Field Trip (Keating, Rowland) 10am-12:30pm
SLT – ELA @ 2:35pm (Upstairs PD Space)
Washington Musical @ 6:30pm

Friday, February 23rd
Spirit Assembly @ 9am
PF Changs (Graham, Ward) 10am-12:30pm

(02/24) Happy Birthday Shannon Keating 🙂

It’s that time of the year.
Where winter break is definitely in the past.
Where we’re starting to feel a bit of the testing pressure.
We’re stressed about upcoming conferences & report cards.
When Spring Break is close…..but not quite close enough.
Take time today to remember that we alone have the power to choose our good attitude.

Be the kind of person who doesn’t allow other people or circumstances to dictate how we feel or treat those around us. Instead, be the consistent one for those around you.
Be thankful for the impact that we have on not only our students, but also on our peers.

Choose to be happy. Choose to be positive. Choose to smile. That doesn’t mean you are unaware of circumstances, or stress, or drama, or struggles….it just means you choose to RISE above it, and be happy anyway. To let your mood be dictated by your blessings and not your afflictions.

We constantly preach to our Kubbies the importance of being kind and how one small act can make someone’s day — This week is  “Random Acts of Kindness Week (Feb 11-17)” so I challenge you to the SD81 edition of the Kindness Challenge — can you complete these simple, kind acts that will make our students’ and colleagues’ days just a bit brighter? Let’s make February 12th-16th Kennedy School’s #RAKWEEK

What’s the SD81 Kindness Challenge you ask? 
*Complete a challenge – mark it off on your challenge sheet (a copy will be in everyone’s mailbox).

*Each challenge completed earns you a TICKET in the raffle

*Earn an extra ticket for each challenge that you complete & INSTAGRAM with the challenge hashtag

*Turn in your challenge sheets by the end of the day this Friday 2/16

WINNER of the raffle……earns a HALF DAY OFF! 

You’ll also notice the KINDNESS tree that Stephanie Winberg created in our front hallway!

There are construction paper HEARTS in the office ….feel free to pick some up and ask your students to brainstorm ways they can show KINDNESS to others. Let’s fill the wall this week!

*Click here for educator resources on RAKweek

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, February 12th
Reading Room Plan with 1st Grade (@ 2:35pm)

Tuesday, February 13th
Faculty Meeting @ 2:45pm – this will be a quick one!

Wednesday, February 14th
Happy Birthday Kaitlin Hillner 🙂
Happy Valentine’s Day <3
TAPS (PreK, K and 1st)

Thursday, February 15th
Happy Birthday Agnes Niewinski 🙂
Talent Show Auditions *During the day (Presentation Space Upstairs)
Kindergarten Information Night 6:00pm

Friday, February 16th
Trimester 2 Ends
*5 By Friday
Please be sure your Parent/Teacher Conference Schedule is finalized in google spreadsheet!

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