I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother’s Day Weekend. I saw this post from a blogger named “Farley” & wanted to share:
I have come to realize 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
Everyone’s path through life leads them on a different journey as some may be on a mountain… others might be in a valley but both travelers need LOVE!!!
Happy Mother’s Day to everyone you may not hold the roadmap to your life but remember to count your blessings along the way, follow your heart, and always look for a sliver lining. Monday, May 9th Cycle 6 Assessments
2nd Grade/101/109 Trip to Brookfield Zoo
Kindergarten Picnic
Tuesday, May 10th 3rd Grade Trip to Brookfield Zoo
2nd Grade Pinic
*Last* Faculty Meeting of the Year @ 2:50pm
Wednesday, May 11th 1/2 Day of School
Multiage & 1st Grade Rehearsal @ LMS for Memorial Day Performance @ 9:00am
Retirement Party @ Biagio’s (4:00pm)
Thursday, May 12th Last Day of Reading Room
Memorial Day Performance @ 9:00am (LMS)
3rd Grade Picnic
2nd Grade Young Author Day @ 11:00am
Friday, May 13th Field Day
Kindergarten Graduation Rehearsal @ LMS Happy Birthday Leah Ernst 🙂
Tomorrow marks the start of Teacher Appreciation Week! The entire week is about celebrating ALL OF YOU who influence the lives of our students. I certainly appreciate all the little things you do, but what I appreciate the most is the safe, nurturing learning environments you create for our children. I’m reminded daily of how hard you work to make a difference in your students’ lives and the lives of each other.
Thank you for your unwavering commitment to the children at Kennedy School. I continue to be both inspired and empowered by your dedication and passion! The children are blessed to have the experiences you provide. I hope you enjoy your special week and as we enter into the “home stretch”, please keep your eye on the children and know you have made an incredible impact on their lives.
I hope you know how much I enjoy working with you and how proud I am to be your colleague. Thank you for all that you do here at Kennedy School. You are changing lives!
Monday, May 2nd PreK/PATS Field Trip to Brookfield Zoo
Wednesday, May 4th Teacher Appreciation Luncheon in Lounge (courtesy of Dr. Boryszewski & Board of Education)
Multiage Bowling Field Trip (9:30am) Happy Birthday Abby Domingo 🙂
Thursday, May 5th Pre School Picnics @ North Park
Kindergarten Young Author Day (9:00am)
1st Grade/103/107 Field Trip to Brookfield Zoo
SLT Meeting @ 3:00pm
Mentor Program Celebration
Friday, May 6th Pre School Screening Day
Last Day of Morning Interventions
Summer Birthdays Breakfast in Lounge
3rd Grade CUBS GAME Trip
Young Authors Day (110 & 108) @ 1:00pm
Young Authors Day (100 & 102) @ 1:50pm
(05/08) Happy Birthday Jen Mauck 🙂
One More Thought…. 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.
-Calling a parent with positive news about their child
-Sending a hand-written note to someone in the mail
-Making a home visit or watching a child’s extra curricular activity outside of school to support them in their educational journey
People appreciate — they remember — it’s valued — and hopefully they will reciprocate when you take the time to show you care!
People remember…..When you take the time to acknowledge how you feel
….when you take the time to express your gratitude about someone else or something.
Check out the video below….please always choose to make time.
Monday, April 25th Spring AIMSweb Benchmarking Begins
School Spirit Committee Meeting @ 2:30pm (Room 132)
Tuesday, April 26th Volunteer Breakfast (8:45am-9:45am) <–coverage schedule will be emailed
PATS Field Trip to the Trail Side Museum
Faculty Meeting @ 2:50pm
Tuesday, April 19th 3rd Grade Field Trip to the Field Museum Happy Birthday Chris Gonzalez 🙂
Wednesday, April 20th PATS/PreK Spring Feast (2-3pm) in Cafeteria
Groundbreaking Ceremony @ 6:00pm (all are welcome!*)
Board of Education Meeting @ 7:00pm (hosted @ Kennedy this month * all are welcome! )
Thursday, April 21st 1st Grade Field Trip to Kohl Children’s Museum
SLT Meeting @ 3:00pm Happy Birthday Anna K (Yellow Bus Driver) 🙂
Friday, April 22nd PreK Field Trip to Field Museum Earth Day
GO BLUE FOR AUTISM!
As the ABC Countdown begins this Thursday which counts down the final 26 days of the 2015-2016 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.
I challenge each of you to look at the number of days remaining this school year as the number of days you have to MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Instead of saying you have ____ days left of school until summer break, think of it as:
____ days together to make lasting memories
____days left to share this adventure
____days left for us to grow together
Each and every day our students need us. Remember that you may be the only constant presence in some of your students’ lives. Make a choice each day for your presence to be a positive, constant factor. It’s a great opportunity that we have to come to school and have an impact on students’ lives from day to day.
Here’s our week at a glance:
Monday, April 11th
Tuesday, April 12th Spring MAP Testing Begins
Faculty Meeting @ 2:50pm
Wednesday, April 13th 1/2 Day of School
*Puzzle pieces due!
2nd/Multiage (101/109) to LMS for Buddies Activity
Thursday, April 14th ABC Countdown Begins! “A” Author Day
SD81 Spring Band Concert @ 6:30pm
Friday, April 15th Spring Picture Day
Swimming GO BLUE for Autism Awareness Month
Check out the video below Bridget found and wanted to share:
It is my hope that you all had a restful, relaxing Spring Break. As we enter the final 7 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 7 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 7 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.
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 4th.
Here’s our week at a glance:
Monday, March 21st Cycle 5 Assessments
Multiage Field Trip to Shedd Aquarium
Spirit Committee Meeting @ 2:30pm (Room 132)
Wednesday, March 23rd 1st – 3rd Trip to LMS to see the Lincoln Musical (@ 8:45am)
Rooms 101/109 Young Author’s Day (12:30pm-1:00pm)
Technology Common Plan (Breakout Sessions)
Thursday, March 24th Rooms 103/107 Young Author’s Day (1:40pm-2:15pm)
PATS Field Trip to Navy Pier/Chicago Children’s Museum (3:45pm-7:45pm)
Friday, March 25th Spring Birthday Breakfast in Lounge
Spirit Assembly
SLBC Swimming Happy Birthday Diane Serio 🙂
March 26th – April 3rd: SPRING BREAK! (03/29) Happy Birthday Eric Humbles 🙂 (03/30) Happy Birthday David Donegan 🙂 School Resumes April 4th
Origo One
A new YouTube channel offering one minute math lessons for teachers and students. The first few videos in the series seem to be aimed at elementary school teachers. The videos offer a nice and concise representation of some elementary school math teaching strategies.
Monday, March 14th Book Fair (Preview Day)
2nd Grade Field Trip to Shedd Aquarium
PARCC Testing Continues for 3rd Grade (all week)
Tuesday, March 15th TEACHER INSTITUTE DAY: No School for Students
SCOTY Awards 4:00pm
Wednesday, March 16th Book Fair (Buy Day)
Curriculum/Assessment Common Plan Time
Board of Education Meeting @ 7:00pm (LMS) LAST DAY TO TURN IN PENNIES FOR PATIENTS DONATIONS!
Thursday, March 17th Book Fair (Buy Day) Happy St. Patrick’s Day
Talent Show Dress Rehearsal (@ 9:00am) *Will be streamed live via Google Hangouts On Air — LINK will be emailed to the Kennedy Conference for any classrooms that want to “tune in” on their SMART Panels at any point during the rehearsal.
SLT Meeting @ 3:00pm
Talent Show (@ 5:30pm) ~ Doors open at 5:00pm ~ Book Fair open before & after talent show
Friday, March 18th Reading Room Plan Day
Buddy Event for March
5 Positive Connections by Friday! 🙂
Spring Spiritwear Sale ENDS!
“Each of us lives on in the memories we create, in the systems and practices we set in place (or don’t), and in the lives we touch. We guarantee that what people will say about you [when you’re gone] will not be about what you achieved for yourself but what you achieved for others. Not how big a campfire you built but how well you kept others warm, how well you illuminated the night to make them feel safe, and how beautiful you left the campsite for those who would come after you to build the next fire.”
Spread the Word to End the Word is an ongoing effort by Special Olympics to inspire respect and acceptance through raising the consciousness of society about the R-word and how hurtful words and disrespect can be toward people with disabilities.
The campaign, created by youth, is intended to engage schools, organizations and communities to rally and pledge their support & to promote inclusion and acceptance!
When one student has an attitude of acceptance & inclusion toward people (especially fellow students) that is a wonderful thing. When that one student becomes many….when an entire school has a climate of acceptance and inclusion…it becomes a powerful community! Ultimately, when a school climate conveys and fosters understanding, inclusion and respect for all, the students internalize those lessons for their lives both within and beyond school.
Our goal is to educate the Kennedy students, staff and community that we should love everyone for who they are and accept all differences. Please be sure to check out the email Amanda sent regarding Kennedy’s approach this year to teach our Kubbies about diversity, acceptance & perseverance. On Wednesday, we will “Spread the Love” by having students sign a pledge, promising to use kind words. Our theme this year is “Welcome to RESPECT CITY: Population Everyone”. On Thursday, we are asking all classroom teachers to read a book (the school has purchased a copy for every classroom teacher), and have your students participate in an activity where they will paint their own, unique “fish” rock. We are also asking that our whole school community wear GREEN this Thursday.
Here’s our week at a glance:
Monday, March 7th *Pennies for Patients Continues Project Unify Week <—click to view letter that will be sent home with students
National Board Information Meeting @ 2:30pm (Room 110)
PARCC Meeting @ 2:45pm
Tuesday, March 8th Kindergarten Field Trip to Field Museum (8:30am)
Faculty Meeting @ 2:50pm
RTI Committee – Immediately Following Faculty Meeting
Mentor Meeting @ 3:45pm (Room 313 @ LMS)
Wednesday, March 9th Curriculum/Team CPT
Technology Committee Meeting @ 2:45pm
Thursday, March 10th Wear Green to show we respect and celebrate the differences in everyone! Read “Only One You” by Linda Kranz & have each student paint a rock: PreK Field Trip to Kohl Children’s Museum (8:45am)
Talent Show Rehearsal (2:30pm-4:00pm)
Friday, March 11th SLBC Swimming
Book Fair Preview Day Happy Birthday Erin Moza 🙂
Monday, February 29th Construction Update Meeting (2:30pm in cafe for K-3 & 2:50pm in Room 135 for PreK) Oh, the Places You’ll Go Day – A different teacher will read in your class
Tuesday, March 1st Pennies for Patients Begins<–flyer will go home with students with their collection boxes
PARCC Meeting with 3rd Grade @ 2:30pm (Room 202) Happy Birthday Tami Ericksen 🙂 Green Eggs & Ham Day – Wear Green to School!
Wednesday, March 2nd Dr. Seuss Night! 6:00pm-7:30pm **Hope to see you all there** Happy Birthday Bonnie Bricker 🙂 Wacky Wednesday – Show off your wacky hair!
Thursday, March 3rd Talent Show Practice After School (2:30p-4:00pm)
SLT Meeting @ 3:00pm Happy Birthday Natalie Barcas 🙂 Cat in the Hat Day – Wear your favorite hat to school
Friday, March 4th Summative Evaluation Meetings for Non-Tenured Teachers (Scheduled by administrators) Fox in Socks Day – Wear willy socks to school
(03/05) Happy Birthday Debi Cesario 🙂
Looking for Dr. Seuss Activities? Click the hat below:
Keep in mind we will have many visitors in our building on Wednesday for the big event! It would be wonderful if our hallways were adorned with activities that honor Dr. Seuss and Read Across America week. 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!
Monday, May 9th
