Monday, September 9th
New Teacher Meeting @ 3:00pm (Room D209)
Tuesday, September 10th
Evacuation Drill – 9am
Wednesday, September 11th
Patriot Day
CPT Meetings – RR Stopping In to Discuss Groupings
Thursday, September 12th
Happy Birthday Alexis Makaris 🙂
Reading Room – Starts Bringing Students/Begin Groups
Friday, September 13th
5 by Friday! Make 5 Positive Connections by the end of the week!
Reading Room – Bring Students/Begin Groups
“An apple for the teacher is really nothing new,
except when you remember, parents are teachers, too!”
Thank you for the hard work you have dedicated towards your presentations and classroom websites for Curriculum Night this Thursday. I look forward to visiting all of your classrooms as you highlight the wonderful programming and educational experiences Kennedy School provides, and I know the parents and families are eager to visit as well. Another reminder will be sent home with students this week, but please try to send home another reminder with your students on Thursday *My favorite: The sentence strip head-band reminder!Â
“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 2nd
NO SCHOOL – Labor Day
Tuesday, September 3rd
Kindergarten Color Days Begin !
SLT Meeting @ 2:45pm (Kindergarten Project Space)
New Teacher Meeting @ 3:00pm (in Room E212) – Curriculum Night Check-In
Wednesday, September 4th
Early Release – CPT Meetings
Thursday, September 5th
Kennedy Curriculum Night (6:00pm-7:30pm)
Friday, September 6th
Happy Birthday Emily Aylesworth 🙂
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 Parent/Teacher conferences!
YOU MADE IT!
The first full week of the 24-25 school year (for you) is behind you! Technically the first 2 days with students. Thank you for your patience, grace, understanding, flexibility and perseverance!
Thank you for spending time making connections with your students, and doing everything in your power to make sure they feel safe, loved, and excited to come back each day. Thank you for supporting your families, and easing their worries! Thank you for being kind to one another and helping each other! We are all in this together, and I’m hopeful we will always continue to support one another.
Donna, Kim and I believe in each and every one of you and know you are exactly where you are meant to be …. Please know you are VALUED and APPRECIATED! Each day you have the amazing opportunity to make a POSITIVE IMPACT on our Kennedy Kubbies! Thank you for always treating them with love, modeling flexibility, challenging them to be thinkers and problem-solvers, and nurturing their growth as students and little humans.
**If you haven’t already done so, please take the time to fill out this GETTING TO KNOW YOU survey! Thank you!
Here’s our week at a glance:
Monday, August 26th
First Day of Pre School! ALL HANDS ON DECK for their arrivals (8:25am and 12:10pm) and dismissals (10:50am and 2:35pm)
STEM/Media begins this week!
New Teacher Meeting (2:45pm in Room B102)
Happy Birthday Carmet Gonzalez 🙂
Tuesday, August 27th
Faculty Meeting (3rd Grade Presentation Space) @ 2:50pm
Wednesday, August 28th
CPT Meetings
Thursday, August 29th
Friday, August 30th
Kennedy Bus Evacuation Drills –> email coming from Sendelbach about this
09/02 – LABOR DAY (No School)
Congratulations on the completion of the 2023-2024 school year! Â
It’s hard to believe the year has come to an end. Please accept our thanks for all the wonderful experiences you provided the children this year.
Thank you for always making our Kubbies feel loved, safe, happy and for nurturing their growth. We are confident the children will never forget how you made them feel.
We look forward to our continued work together next year and we are confident that our collective staff will continue to keep our eyes on the children and support each other!
We are proud of what we have been able to accomplish this year and look forward to what we can continue to do for the children of Kennedy School….together!
Have a wonderful summer. Enjoy your time with those you love. You certainly deserve it! Here’s a great blog post from George Couros.
We challenge you to reflect on 4 questions as you head into summer break:
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! 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. To our retirees: we can’t wait to honor and celebrate your final days at Kennedy School, making them memorable as you head into your retirement 🙂
Here’s our last week at a glance:
Monday, June 3rd
Happy Birthday Lauren Caputo 🙂
Kindergarten Screenings / Kindergarten “Signing Day”
2nd Grade Picnic (11am-1pm)
Tuesday, June 4th
Happy Birthday Allie Parisi 🙂
2nd/3rd FIELD DAY
Discipline Committee Meeting @ 3:45pm (LMS Conference Room)
Wednesday, June 5th
3rd Grade Picnic
Class Building – CPT
Thursday, June 6th
Friday, June 7th
Last Day Breakfast in Lounge
Last Day of School (1/2 Day) – look for a separate email/invitation for the End-Of-Year District Celebration
Spirit Assembly (9am)
Waving the Buses Goodbye! Head to Car Lane to Wave Cars Goodbye!
Here’s our week at a glance:
Monday, May 27th
NO SCHOOL – MEMORIAL DAY
Tuesday, May 28th
PreK Picnics
“Rotation”/Fly Up Day (K-2)
3rd Grade “Fly Up Day” to Washington (8:45am-10:30am)
Wednesday, May 29th
5th Grade Buddies visit Kindergarten (8:45am-9:30am)
1st Grade Picnic (10:30am-1:30pm)
Thursday, May 30th
K/1 Field Day
Last Day for PreK & Kindergarten
Summer Birthday Breakfast in the Lounge
Friday, May 31st
Kindergarten Graduations
*Please avoid walking down the Kindergarten hallway today*
(06/01) Happy Birthday Kaylie Ilagan
8th Grade Graduation @ LMS
Here’s our week at a glance:
Monday, May 20th
Happy Birthday Kimi Klein 🙂
Kennedy Singers to LMS (for Spring Chorus Concert Practice) @ 8:45am
Yearbook/STEM Club (2:30pm-4:00pm)
Tuesday, May 21st
Buddy Event
Kennedy Singers to LMS (for Spring Chorus Concert Practice) @ 8:45am
PreK Visits Kindergarten (9:00am-9:30am and 12:30pm-1:00pm)
Marine Biologist Visit (8:30-10:00am)
3rd – 5th Spring Chorus Concert (6:30pm @ LMS)
Wednesday, May 22nd
1/2 SIP Day
Baby/Bridal Shower & Support Staff Luncheon (11:15am-12:30pm)
Mentor/Mentee End of Year Celebration (4:00pm-6:30pm)
Thursday, May 23rd
PreK Parent Workshop (for PreK Parents of Kids Transitioning to Kinder)
8:30am-9:15am and 12:15pm-1:00pm
1st Grade to LMS @ 9:00am (for Memorial Day Performance)
2nd Grade Young Author Celebration (12:45pm-1:45pm) in 3rd Grade Project Space
Friday, May 24th
1st Grade Memorial Day Performance @ LMS (9:30am)
Kindergarten Picnic @ Kennedy Park (9-11am)
(05/27) NO SCHOOL / Memorial Day
I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother’s Day Weekend. I saw this post from a blogger named “Farley” & wanted to share:Â
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 13th
Happy Birthday John Grobe!
Tuesday, May 14th
1st Grade Field Trip to Play (9:30am)
Wednesday, May 15th
PreK Field Trip to Brookfield Zoo (9:00am)
Board of Education Meeting 6:30pm
Thursday, May 16th
Retirement Party @ 4:30pm
Friday, May 17th
Kindergarten Field Trip to Brookfield Zoo (9:00am)
DARE Graduation @ Washington
(05/18) National Speech Language Pathologist Day
Monday 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 Donna, Kim and I enjoy working with you and how proud we are to be your colleagues. Thank you for all that you do here at Kennedy School. You are changing lives!
Here’s our week at a glance:
Monday, May 6th
SLC/SLBC to Washington to practice (8:45am)
Tuesday, May 7th
PreK Field Trip to Brookfield Zoo
Kindergarten Kenny Popcorn Party
Culture Committee Meeting (2:45pm-4:00pm)
SLT Meeting (2:50pm)
Wednesday, May 8th
School Nurse Day
Happy Birthday Jen Mauck 🙂
SLC/SLBC to Washington for the Family Music Therapy Showcase @ 9:00am
MTSS Meeting Second Grade
CPT Meetings
***Kennedy McTeacher Night*** 4-7pm @ Rosemont McDonald’s
Thursday, May 9th
Kennedy Singers (2:30pm-3:00pm)
Friday, May 10th
Happy Birthday Aicha Koukous 🙂
(05/12) Mother’s Day
Written by Paige Givens:
6 more weeks. I can do this. I can! There is so much left to get to. I’m going to have to make every minute count. No days “off”. I’m going to have to use every second to make sure those kids are ready for the next grade. I don’t want them going on with holes in their understanding. Wow….I’ve got so much to do in only 6 weeks, and some of that will be interrupted by meetings, PD, testing, and a mountain of end-of-year paperwork. Can I really do this, and do it right? I can do this. Okay… 6 more weeks…..
Down the hall, another teacher sits at her desk and gazes around her classroom. She thinks to herself… 6 more weeks. 25 years of being an educators, and now it all comes down to 6 more weeks. This room has held my career within its walls. It’s seen the tears, the frustration, the laughter, the wonder, and the joy. It’s been a stage for miracles. That one boy–wow–I thought he’d never start reading, and then, boom! One day, the light came on and he was reading everything he could get his hands on! And then, I taught his son years later, and Jenny’s boy, too. I wonder if those kids remember me? I wonder if they know how much I loved teaching them? How they helped me, REALLY helped me, through that year when my life was upside down? I’m tired. I’m ready for retirement, but goodness–I will miss this room. These kids. I will miss standing at my door and getting hugs and good morning smiles each day. I’ve done it for 25 years, and now I have just 6 more weeks…..
Next door, another teacher turns on her computer and sighs to herself….
6 more weeks. If I can just get through the next 6 weeks, I will be free of this place, at least for the summer. Free of the pressure. Free of the frustration of giving, giving, giving and seeing nothing gained. I wonder if that one is going to act like she did yesterday? Because there is no way I can fight through 6 more weeks of that all day long. I need some help. I’m so burnt-out. Let’s see….I’ve covered all of my standards, so I’m going to coast through these next weeks and make them go as fast as I can…ugh, 6 more weeks.
Across the hall, a teacher thinks to herself as she posts the day’s assignments….
6 more weeks. I’m going to miss these kiddos. All of them. Yes…all of them! I hope I’ve done what they need every day. I hope I’ve shown them how much I love them! I hope that this one ate dinner last night, or he’s going to be starving this morning. I’ll need to make sure he eats breakfast either way. I hope that this one got some shoes that didn’t have a hole on the top. Shoot! I should have gotten her some while we were on break….why didn’t I remember that? Well, I still have 6 weeks to help these kids. I can do a lot in 6 weeks….
And on the bus, a child solemly stares out the window and thinks….
6 more weeks. That’s all I get. Only 6 more weeks to call that teacher mine. I only get 6 more weeks to see her smiling at me, to tell her about my days at home, to smell her lotion. I only get 6 more weeks to get some good food for lunch and breakfast, for her to give me a snack. I’m glad she doesn’t get mad at me for not having a snack. I only get 6 more weeks to listen to her read stories. I like her voice. It’s never too loud or too mean. I only get to listen to her for 6 more weeks. I wish we could come to school every day, even on the weekends. Even in the summer. And I wish she could be my teacher all the time. But that’s not how it works. I get 6 more weeks. That’s not very long….
There are a lot of ways to look at 6 more weeks. How can we make it count?
Here’s our week at a glance:
Monday, April 29th
6th Grade Buddies Visit Kennedy 1st Grade (9:00am-10:00am)
Tuesday, April 30th
Kennedy SLC/SLBC to Washington (9:00am-10:00am)
7th Grade Buddies Visit Kennedy 2nd Grade (9:30am-10:30am)
Wednesday, May 1st
CPT Meetings
MTSS – 1st Grade
Thursday, May 2nd
8th Grade Buddies Visit Kennedy 3rd Grade (10:00am-11:00am)
Kennedy Singers (2:30pm-3:00pm)
Kindergarten Round Up (6:00pm-7:00pm)
Friday, May 3rd
School Lunch Hero Day!
5 by Friday! Make 5 Positive Connections by Friday!
(05/04) Happy Birthday Abby Domingo 🙂
Here’s our week at a glance:
Monday, April 22nd
Buddy Event
Reading Takes Us on WILD Adventures – Wear Animal Print!
Tuesday, April 23rd
Reading Makes Our Futures Bright – Wear Sunglasses!
2nd Grade Field Trip to Theater (9:45am-12:00pm)
SLT @ 2:50pm – Raffle Basket Making in Kinder Project Space
Wednesday, April 24th
Reading Makes us Glow! Wear BLACK or NEON!
Administrative Professionals’ Day!
Happy Birthday Lauren Wartner 🙂
MTSS – Kindergarten
ALL HANDS ON DECK for Literacy Night! 6:00pm-7:30pm
Thursday, April 25th
Reading Is Out of This World – Wear Something with GLITTER, STARS or SPACE!
Kennedy Singers – 2:30pm-3:00pm
Friday, April 26th
Cozy Up with a Good Book – Wear PAJAMAS!
5 by Friday! Continue making positive connections with families!
(04/28) Happy Birthday Lynn Anama! 🙂