Monday, February 1st
Send Home Supply Bags to Group A students (2nd/3rd)
Tuesday, February 2nd
Wednesday, February 3rd
All staff work remotely
CPT Meetings
Thursday, February 4th
100th Day of School!
Happy Birthday Anne Weinthaler 🙂
Friday, February 5th
Happy Birthday Jenna Bartello 🙂
(02/06) Happy Birthday Heather (Longo) Absolon 🙂
(02/07) Happy iBirthday Izabella Rybinski 🙂
Here’s our week at a glance:
Monday, January 25th
Tuesday, January 26th
Happy Birthday Brian Key
Wednesday, January 27th
1/2 Day of School
*Everyone works remotely*
Supply Pick-Up (11-12pm)
Thursday, January 28th
Friday, January 29th
Think of how much your students miss you when they haven’t seen you over a long 3-day weekend? Or after a week-long break?
For some of our Kubbies, they haven’t step foot in our beautiful school, or seen their beloved teachers in over 300 days! Let’s do everything we can to make tomorrow, and every day we we have, as a chance to welcome our Kubbies, show them how loved and missed they are, and express our excitement to have them back in the building for face-to-face learning!
Let’s do this! Let’s remember our WHY and make hybrid learning successful for everyone!
We can do this!
Know that Donna and I are here to support you! We are a text, phone call or email away. Thanks in advance to EVERYONE for helping make hybrid successful and smooth! We truly appreciate your willingness to lend a helping hand!!!!
Here’s our week at a glance:
Monday, January 18th
Happy Birthday Cheri Grimaldi 🙂
NO SCHOOL – MLK Jr.
Tuesday, January 19th
Hybrid (In-Person) Learning Begins
Aimsweb Benchmarking (During RR times)
Wednesday, January 20th
CPT Meetings
ALL Staff Work Remotely
Thursday, January 21st
Friday, January 22nd
Happy Birthday Michelle Morgan
I saw the above post from Jen Jones on social media and would like to share her caption below, as it resonates after last week’s events in our country and I could not have said it any better:
“If you’re a teacher that hasn’t talked about the recent events in our country with your students, if you have carried on your lesson plans or class as business as usual, talked about oral things, done normal things, and have searched or are still searching for ‘the right thing to say’ consider these simple words that @mish1231 said to her students:
I’M FEELING A LITTLE SAD. I’M NOT SLEEPING VERY WELL. I’M WORRIED ABOUT THE THINGS I’VE SEEN IN THE NEWS LATELY.
Then stop and wait for nods, and watch the flood gates open.
When we as teachers just open that space for them to talk and tell us how they’re feeling, we validate for ourselves and our students that our mixed-up and confusing feelings matter. And sends the message, something we always want our students to know, because we always want our students to know that our class is a safe place to talk about things we hear, read and see happening around us.
It’s a crazy time, it’s a crazy time to be a teacher, there are so many things that we never thought we would ever have to teach about that we’re having to teach about. We are learning along with our students how to address that and do the right thing for them.
On my page, I try to bring to you what you need, when you need it, and in hard times like these, bringing you picture books and honest words that help us with these conversations, resources and strategies I’ve shared on my story to help guide us all, to see the light over dark, the good over evil, the joy over pain and to realize that teachers and students are experiencing worry, anxiety, sadness, and during a global pandemic, that it’s okay to feel those feelings and that it’s okay to talk about it.
Children are so extremely smart, sensitive, trusting, and more capable than they often get credit for. They can do great things, have complex feelings, and make significant contributions to the families and communities in which they belong. By creating, and allowing and giving them safe places and opening in our days with them to talk, share, learn, grow and begin this greatness together is one of the most important ways that we as teachers can have the greatest positive influence on our students because we are ALL influencers — especially to the 20 something little ones learning from us everyday. While children are the future….the real change agents for a better world, teachers, play a huge role in shaping how far they go.
I am incredibly proud of all teachers right now….you are doing amazing things, teaching virtually and six feet apart and relentlessly cultivating classroom community, having hard conversations, dealing with tough topics, and your students are so incredibly blessed to be in your class!”
**Please know that our SLT will be meeting this week and compiling resources that may be helpful so our schoolhouse can have a bank of common resources we can use during SELs.
Here’s our week at a glance:
Monday, January 11th
WELCOME BACK!
Staff Back in Building – Hybrid Schedule
Tuesday, January 12th
Faculty Meeting @ 2:45pm
Wednesday, January 13th
*All Staff Work Remotely*
CPT Meetings
Thursday, January 14th
SLT Meeting @ 2:45pm
Friday, January 15th
Happy Birthday Ami Freeman 🙂
(01/17) Hapy Birthday Cheri Grimaldi 🙂
01/18 – NO SCHOOL (MLK Jr. Day)
01/19 – K-8 Students Return for Hybrid
Happy New Year and Welcome Back! I hope you enjoyed a restful, relaxing break–time to disconnect from work thoughts, time to enjoy family and friends and to just enjoy time to relax. I’m hopeful this time disconnecting has been just what you needed!
I know our students will be SO EXCITED to “see” you all on Wednesday morning on Zoom!
Here’s our 3-day week at a glance:
Monday, January 4th
Winter Break
Tuesday, January 5th
Winter Break
Wednesday, January 6th
E-Learning Resumes
Happy Birthday Mayra Tellez
Thursday, January 7th
Friday, January 8th
Check out this 2021 Kindness Calendar below (click the image for the file):
2 more days left before Winter Break! You can do it! You’ve taught virtually, in-person, and virtually again — you deserve this break more than most people know! We survived a semester of pandemic teaching. It was not easy. It was exhausting, trying, and frustrating; but we continued to do what we do best — showing up for our Kubbies and giving our best for our students and families. THANK YOU. I hope you know how much we appreciate you. You deserve all the love and appreciation in the world! Now try to look at this graphic below and NOT sing-along…..I dare you!
Here’s our week at a glance:
Monday, December 21st
*Festive Days continue! WINTER WONDERLAND (Dress in all white or like a snowman)
Tuesday, December 22nd
COZY UP & READ: Wear your pajamas and enjoy a fun-filled day before Winter Break!
*When you end your Zoom call on Tuesday, hold your head up high! You’re walking away from a semester like no other. You recreated learning opportunities & engaged in a type of teaching that didn’t exist to us 6 months ago! We are SO proud of you! Have a wonderful, safe, Winter Break making new memories with those you love! Here’s to 2021!
Here’s our week at a glance:
Monday, December 14th
Tuesday, December 15th
Wednesday, December 16th
Happy Birthday Sue O’Connell 🙂
CPT Meetings
Board of Education Meeting @ 7pm
Thursday, December 17th
Friday, December 18th
Happy Birthday Kim Sendelbach 🙂
Ideas/Blog Posts Worth Checking Out:
Finding Balance in Today’s Classroom via Eric Sheninger
12 Learning Strategies and their EdTech Tools via Tech Notes
5 Ways You Can Use Flipgrid’s New Mic Only Feature
19 Honest Holiday Cards for Teacher via WE ARE TEACHERS
Tips Tricks and Tech Tidbits – Part 8 via Tech Notes
Thank you for all you continue to do to connect with your students via Zoom. Despite its challenges and the things that are out of our control, we continue to be amazed by the engaging learning experiences you are planning and implementing! Thank you for welcoming us into your “Zoom classrooms” — we always enjoy seeing you and our Kennedy Kubbies. These next couple of weeks can be a motivating time of the year. Be sure to take time to weave in fun, exciting learning opportunities for your students!
Although we are tired and looking forward to a much-needed break ourselves, thank you for keeping an eye on your students who may be acting out, or tuning-out more than usual. We give them structure and routine. We give them a break. We give them encouragement. Donna and I are a text away and are happy to join a breakout room to help support any Kubbies who may need some extra love or encouragement. For some, this may not be their favorite time of the year. Please let Donna & I know if there are things we can do to support any learning activities in the coming week(s), and as always, please invite us (and Dr. B) to join in the fun!
But I can assure you…… YOU are a constant in their life, and what you do everyday MATTERS. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication…..especially this year. We are THANKFUL for each one of you and look forward to being together again as a school community in the new year.
Here’s our week at a glance:
Monday, December 7th
Happy Birthday Dr. B! 🙂
Tuesday, December 8th
Happy Birthday Cindy DeRose 🙂
Wednesday, December 9th
CPT
Thursday, December 10th
Friday, December 11th
5 by Friday! Continue making those positive connections with families!
D81 Disney Sing-Along Deadline
(Happy Wedding Weekend, Heather Longo)
Welcome Back!
I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving Break, spending time with family, friends & those you love — it may have looked different this year, but nonetheless I hope you were able to express gratitude. Now we move to the month of December, full of learning, fun, and special events…and a holiday break to enjoy in just 3 short weeks (and 2 days)! We have lots to do with our kids from now until December 22nd, and look forward to their growth when they return in January.
Be proud of what we’ve accomplished with our students so far this year — what an exceptional year it has been! You all continue to amaze us with your perseverance and innovation as you embrace changes and demonstrate flexibility and resilience and do EVERYTHING YOU CAN to make learning engaging and meaningful – despite taking place via Zoom. As we return from a restful Thanksgiving Break, I’d encourage you to focus on some self-care:
Here’s our week at a glance:
Monday, November 30th
E-Learning Resumes – Welcome Back Kubbies!
Happy Birthday Barbara Zawadzka 🙂
Tuesday, December 1st
Wednesday, December 2nd
Happy Birthday Lizbeth Hohmeier
Happy Birthday Lynette Aguirre
CPT Meetings
Thursday, December 3rd
Friday, December 4th
Happy Birthday Michelle Miro
5 by Friday! Have you made 5 positive connections with your families this week?
(12/05) Happy Birthday Becky Zora
Blog Posts Worth Reading:
Overcoming Engagement Hurdles with Remote Learners via Eric Sheninger
Connecting Students in a Disconnected World via Cult of Pedagogy
7 Morning Routines for Teachers via WeAreTeachers
It’s that time of the year…..Fall Parent/Teacher Conference Week
Goal: Strengthen the home-school relationship!
You and the parents are both there to help create the best possible outcomes for the student 🙂
While the format is different this year, our goal is still the same! We all want to understand each student’s unique needs, skills and personality to help that child learn and grow the best we can.
It’s important that parents know that we see and notice small things in their children (even virtually) — every positive is worth noticing and celebrating! Sharing positives with parents makes a huge impact on building strong relationships.
**Allow some extra time for tech issues!
This is the first time parents are doing conferences online, too!
Give a little wiggle room to deal with technical difficulties, especially for parents who don’t regularly use Zoom themselves.
***Don’t waste too much time trying to resolve technical issues. If you need to fall back on a regular PHONE CONFERENCE this time around, that’s okay!
Try to gather information that will be helpful to you:
What concerns or issues do you think your child is experiencing with school?
What successes have you noticed your child has experienced this year?
What do you see as your child’s strengths and weaknesses?
Do you have any specificity questions or topics you’d like to discuss?
In what areas do you need support at home from me?
Virtual Conferences will be different — but the goal is to give parents important information about the whole student, gather feedback from parents & create solutions together!
Feel free to invite an admin (just like in-person conferences) to be present for a potentially difficult virtual conference. Donna and I are here to support you!
*Do share AND ask about students’ social and emotional wellbeing
*Remind parents and caregivers of school expectations (how to be a great remote learner)
*Inquire how it’s going from their perspective
*Highlight student work by screen sharing on Zoom !
*Offer suggestions, but don’t forget to be equally understanding, patient and encouraging. We may not know all of the struggles that families have been going through (job loss, illness, working from home while trying to help their kids with school, etc). Now more than ever, teachers & families are working as a team.
*Just like you would follow up after a conference (regarding something that was discussed, or a suggestion), follow up with an email, a text or a phone call to the parent — revisiting something specific you discussed in the conference. It shows your commitment to that child’s growth and development!
Let’s make sure we make the most of Conference Week to learn and share to best help our Kubbies!
Here’s our week at a glance:
Monday, November 9th
Tuesday, November 10th
Wednesday, November 11th
Happy Birthday Julie Fister 🙂
Thursday, November 12th
Friday, November 13th
Happy Birthday Stephanie Polakowski 🙂
NO SCHOOL – Full Day Parent/Teacher Conferences
(11/15) Happy Birthday Sandy Montes De Oca 🙂