Welcome Back! I hope you enjoyed your time off, spending time with family, friends & those you love. It’s crazy to think we only have 15 days with our Kennedy Kubbies before Winter Break. In these 15 days, we have a lot of work to do & lots of wonderful learning experiences to provide our students. Things to keep in mind:

*This is the time to push all of our students & keep them excited and eager to learn!
* This is the time to show all of our students how much we care about them, as some may feel anxiety about not being at Kennedy for 2 weeks (and possibly acting out because of it).
*This is the time to let our Kubbies know how much we appreciate them!

Let’s make a commitment to look at these next 15 days as times to deliver the highest quality service to our students, parents & community! I’m proud of all that we’ve accomplished so far this year, but please keep the focus on learning in your classrooms!

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, December 2nd
Welcome Back!
***Please RSVP to the Holiday Party if you haven’t done so already!***
Dr. Seuss Committee Meeting @ 2:30pm
*Set Up MAP Testing Lab in Lounge after school* (No need to bring a laptop this time)

Tuesday, December 3rd
Winter MAP Testing Begins *click here for schedule*
Pleas add any students necessary to the MAP MAKEUPS GOOGLE DOC HERE
Buddy Committee Meeting @ 2:45pm (Room 109)

Wednesday, December 4th
Happy Birthday Michelle Miro 🙂
SLC/SLBC Outing to HIP Mall
PreK/PATS Tree Decorating Event (2:00pm-3:30pm)

Thursday, December 5th
Kennedy Singers Rehearsal @ LMS (10:15am-11:30am)
SLT Meeting @ 3:00pm
Winter Choral Concert (@ 6:30pm, LMS)

Friday, December 6th
Pre School Screening
Holiday Party 🙂

(12/07) Happy Birthday Dr. Boryszewski 🙂
(12/08) Happy Birthday Cindy DeRose 🙂

**In the hallway by the courtyard, there are supplies/materials that were used with children at Washington School through the Triton partnership. Please look at the materials and feel free to take anything that you can use in your classrooms, as whatever is left by the end of the week will be added to the Surplus Property auction list. 

How often do we pause & think why we are grateful? I challenge each of you to take some time each day to reflect on the things, events, or people you appreciate. Better yet….if it’s a person, let them know how thankful you are for their role in your life. THANK YOU are two simple words that have the power to transform our health, happiness, performance, and success. Grateful people are happier & more likely to maintain good friendships. Gratitude and appreciation are also essential for a healthy work environment. A simple thank you can make all the difference. Be sure to say thank you to those around you each and every day!

With parent-teacher week upon us, I wanted to share the following blog post:

‘Twas the Night Before Conferences: A Parent’s Perspective on Parent-Teacher Conferences

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 working relationship with your families and deepen that home-school partnership. Thanks for all that you do in preparation for this very busy week! 🙂

Here are some ideas from my “conferences” board on Pinterest. (if you’re looking for ideas)

and here’s our week at a glance

Monday, November 18th
American Education Week
Parent/Teacher Conference Week
*If your schedule changes, please be sure to submit an updated copy to the office. Also, Jane and I are able and willing to attend any conferences, if needed. 

Tuesday, November 19th
Parent Visit Day (9am-10am and 1pm-2pm)

Wednesday, November 20th
Kennedy Faculty & Staff Thanksgiving Feast (in lounge)
Board Meeting @ 7:00pm
Happy Birthday Rosa Worwa 🙂

Thursday, November 21st
Spirit Assembly (Integrity)
Happy Birthday Emily Kronlage 🙂

Friday, November 22nd
No Student Attendance: P/T Conferences

11/25-11/29 Thanksgiving Break

(11/25) Happy Birthday Jill Geritano 🙂

“Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire. 
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don’t know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times. 
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you’re tired and weary,
because it means you’ve made a difference.
It’s easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.”
                                   -Author Unknonwn 

From Venspired:

“In our excitement, they find motivation. In our kindness, they are reminded to be kind. In our questions left unanswered, they seek more questions. In our collaboration with colleagues, they see that working with others is not just a ‘school rule’ but a way of life. The lights may brighten the room, but it is our actions that bring energy to the learning space. Whether on a nature walk, a spot on the playground, at the school library, or in our classroom. It is in our hands to define the learning environment or destroy the inquiry. We are not meant to control each student with our thoughts, words, and actions. We are meant to create the type of environment where self-control develops, where learning reigns, an where our actions support that.”

Here’s our week at a glance:

(11/10) Happy Birthday Gloria Reyes 🙂

Monday, November 11th
2nd & 3rd Grade Veterans Day Performance @ LMS (9:00am)
Happy Birthday Julie Fister 🙂
Happy Birthday Becky Shoufer 🙂

Tuesday, November 12th
Faculty Meeting @ 2:30pm (very brief)

Wednesday, November 13th
PATS Field Trip to Schliler Park Library
SLC/SLBC Outing to Mariano’s
Happy Birthday Sarah Mixa 🙂 

Thursday, November 14th

Friday, November 15th
Reading Room Plan Day
5 by Friday!
Justin Muro from Lincoln Investments in lounge during lunch
PreK Field Trip to Shedd Aquarium
Happy Birthday Sandy Montes de Oca

(11/17) Happy Birthday Jennifer Kemling

Here’s a great article on the Phases of First Year Teachers, however, I went through these phases as an experienced teacher and still now as a principal. The difference is that I know to expect these different phases of the year, and that I will make it through each one. I don’t know about you, but I don’t even need to look at this image below to know that we’re at the “survival” point of the school year.

The key to the survival phase is to make sure that you are taking care of yourself, because you can’t take care of others if you don’t take care of yourself first. I appreciate the thoughtful time you are putting into preparing for report cards & Parent/Teacher Conferences and that you will have great conversations with your students’ parents to inform and involve them in their child’s learning. I realize this means you have many late nights ahead of you in the weeks ahead, so please make sure to make time for yourselves to relax or do whatever it is that you do to rejuvenate!

Some other great tips to avoid teacher burnout include:
-Ask for help
-Don’t sweat the small stuff
-Don’t play the teacher at home
-Take time for yourself
-Remember why you teach

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, November 4th
Vision & Hearing Exams
Buddy Committee Meeting @ 2:45pm (Room 109)
Parent Teacher Collaboration Committee Meeting @ 6:00pm (Art Studio)

Tuesday, November 5th
Celebrations Committee Meeting @ 2:30pm (Room 104)
Mentor Meeting @ 3:45pm (LMS)
Community Forum @ 6:00pm (LMS)

Wednesday, November 6th
Vision & Hearing Exams
PATS/PreK Thanksgiving Feast in cafeteria (2:00pm-3:30pm)
Report Card Common Plan Time

Thursday, November 7th
Vision & Hearing Exams
SLT Meeting @ 3:00pm

Friday, November 8th
Vision & Hearing Exams
Union Breakfast in teacher’s lounge
Parent/Teacher Conference Schedules due to the office!
Dress Rehearsal (2nd & 3rd grade only) for Veterans’ Day Performance (@ LMS)
AM PreK to Washington School for Buddies Activity @ 9:10am

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, October 28th
Cycle 2 Assessments this week
SLC/SLBC Outing to Bruzwick Zone Bowling

Tuesday, October 29th
PreK Field Trip to Sonny Acres

Wednesday, October 30th
SLC/SLBC Outing to Bacci Pizzeria
Common Core Common Plan
*Please remember to bring the office ladies a list of the names of parents you anticipate coming to your classrooms on Halloween. Please STAR/indicate which parents have visited our building & have checked in with the Raptor system so we can pre-print their visitor badges* 

Thursday, October 31st
Happy Halloween
10:30am: AM PreK Parade (inside the building & ending outdoors between Doors 3 & 9)
1:00pm: K-3 & PM PreK Parade (outdoors, weather permitting)
*If you are a Halloween Helper, please report to your spot during the K-3 parade at 1:00pm. Your help is greatly appreciated! 🙂 

Friday, November 1st
Teacher Institute Day
End of Trimester 1

Here’s a “Tons of Fun Classroom Halloween Activities” blog post from Kleinspiration.

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, October 21st
Red Ribbon Week
Taffy Apple Orders Due (Please bring money to the office)

Tuesday, October 22nd
Holiday Fund Committee Meeting @ 7:15am (Library)
Kindergarten Field Trip to Didier Farm
Faculty Meeting @ 2:30pm & 3:30pm <–click for agenda

Wednesday, October 23rd
WEAR RED! to show you are drug free
CCSS Common Plan
Turn carnival money in to the office by the end of the day!

Thursday, October 24th
HIP Ornaments Due (please put them in black bag w/Kennedy School Sign: Drop off in conference room at the end of the day)
Carnival 6:00pm-7:30pm

Friday, October 25th
Spirit Assembly (Teamwork)
1st Grade Field Trip to Goebbert’s

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. Children matter to us. Remember….what you do each and everyday at Kennedy School is in the best interest of the children we serve.

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, October 14th
NO SCHOOL: Columbus Day

Tuesday, October 15th
Happy Birthday Rose Karas 🙂
Medical Exclusion Day
PATS Field Trip to Cosley Zoo
Event Planning Committee Meeting @ 2:30pm (Room 115)

Wednesday, October 16th
Happy Birthday Rosa Worwa 🙂
SLC/SLBC Outing to Schiller Park Fire Department
CCSS Common Plan
Board Meeting @ 7:00pm

Thursday, October 17th
PreK Field Trip to Sonny Acres
Earthquake Drill @ 10:17am (Drop, Cover, Hold On) <–click for more info
SLT Meeting @ 3:00pm

Friday, October 18th
Parent/Teacher Collaboration Committee Meeting @ 7:30am (Room 112)

(10/19) Happy Birthday Eva Popowska 🙂

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, October 7th
Fire Prevention Week: SP Fire Department Visits <–click for schedule
Happy Birthday Nicole Novak 🙂 

Tuesday, October 8th
Fire Prevention Week: SP Fire Department Visits <–click for schedule
Multiage Field Trip to Goebbert’s
Faculty Meeting @ 2:30pm <—click for agenda
Mentor Meeting @ 3:45pm

Wednesday, October 9th
Common Core Common Plan

Thursday, October 10th
2nd Grade Field Trip to Gobbert’s
PEP Parent Meeting @ 6:00pm

Friday, October 11th
Pre School Screening
Reading Room Plan Day

(10/14) NO SCHOOL

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, September 30

Tuesday, October 1st
1st Grade Field Trip to Safety Town
3rd Grade Field Trip to Goebbert’s
Happy Birthday Sarah Sicher 🙂 

Wednesday, October 2nd
SLC/SLBC Outing to Super Low
TAPS Common Plan

Thursday, October 3rd
SLT Meeting @ 3:00pm

Friday, October 4th
Fall Picture Day <–click for schedule
Happy Birthday Stephanie Alessi 🙂
Happy Birthday Patricia Shastri 🙂

(10/05) Happy Birthday Barbara Brzozowska 🙂
(10/06) Happy Birthday Anna Gabriel 🙂 (Green Bus)

Article worth reading: To The Teachers Already Tired…

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, September 23rd
Happy Birthday Amanda Peterson 🙂

Tuesday, September 24th
Faculty Meeting @ 2:30pm
Happy Birthday Britney Taylor 🙂
Happy Birthday Lorena Esqueda 🙂 

Wednesday, September 25th
CCSS Common Plan: Assessment
Happy Birthday Marta Ocon 🙂 

Thursday, September 26th
PreK & PATS Field Trip to Brookfield Zoo
Happy Birthday Nicole Duffy 🙂 

Friday, September 27th
Spirit Assembly @ 9am (Friendship)

09/29 Happy Birthday Stefanie Widmaier 🙂