Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, September 9th
Reading Room Begins!

Tuesday, September 10th
PreK/PATS Family Field Trip to Brookfield Zoo
Faculty Meeting @ 2:50pm

Wednesday, September 11th
Oral Health/Hygiene Presentations
1/2 Day of School (AM PreK dismisses at 10:30am, K-3 dismisses at 10:55am)
Agenda for SIP <–being emailed out this week

Thursday, September 12th
Oral Health/Hygiene Presentations

Friday, September 13th
Fall Picture Day <—click for schedule

**Do you have extra shoeboxes at home? Please bring them in to Sara’s office if you do! We need them for an activity on our 1/2 day this Wednesday! 

“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 4-day week at a glance:

Monday, September 2nd
No School – Labor Day

Tuesday, September 3rd
Book Fair Preview Day

Wednesday, September 4th
Book Fair (Buy Day)

Thursday, September 5th
Book Fair (Buy Day)
Reading Room (Drop Off & Plan)
Curriculum Night (6:30pm-8:00pm)

Friday, September 6th
PreK Screenings
Cubs Scouts Visit (Presentation Space) <–homeroom teachers, schedule your class a time!
GO GOLD for Childhood Cancer Awareness
Reading Room (Drop Off & Plan)

Thank you for opening up your classrooms to our Kennedy Kubbies and setting the tone for a culture of caring. It’s wonderful to observe classrooms where teachers and students care about learning, about each other, and care about our community. Remember, the first weeks of school set the tone for the entire year. If our students leave school feeling excited about themselves as learners & about you as their teacher, then you’re doing something right! Always remember that our students will meet ANY expectation we set for them, as long as we are firm, fair and consistent with these expectations and build relationships with our students so that they will want to meet them. The best way to accomplish this positive relationship-building with our students is simply caring deeply about them as learners and as little people–and taking the time to get to know them, in addition to showing them just how much you care.

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, August 26th
Book Checkout Begins this week!
MAP Testing Continues
Benchmarking Continues this Week
Faculty Meeting @ 2:45pm

Tuesday, August 27th
Evacuation Drill to North Park @ 9:00am
Mentor Meeting @ 4:00pm (Kennedy Presentation Space)

Wednesday, August 28th

Thursday, August 29th
AXA to visit staff in the faculty lounge during lunch periods

Friday, August 30th
Code Red Drill (time unannounced)

(09/03) NO SCHOOL: LABOR DAY

What a great first week (technically 3 days) at Kennedy! Despite the few tears, the smiles and laughs outweighed the few. I appreciate everyone’s help and extra care during arrival. Thank you to ALL staff for going the extra mile to help get our year off to an amazing start. Let’s keep that up this week, as well! This week, we welcome our littlest Kubbies! All extra hands on deck around 8:25am in the PreK hallway near Door 22!!!

As we prepare for our first full week with the students, I hope you will take a few quiet moments to put aside lesson planning, forget about your to-do list and consider our purpose (as a school, and as individual educators). When we walk in on Monday morning, please remember that you are a difference maker! The small gestures you make to welcome students and show an interest in their lives will have an impact. This year, you will have opportunities to build confidence where it hasn’t existed, develop connections that have never been present, and generate hope with your students. Our classrooms are filled with little ones with a variety of needs, and it’s up to US to make sure they thrive! The only way for that to happen is to build a connection with each student. When we truly know them all as individuals, we can understand them as learners.

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, August 19th
1st Day of Pre School
Happy Birthday Lauren Oraham 🙂
MAP Testing Window Opens  **See schedule/add the dates and times when your classroom will test! 

Tuesday, August 20th
Faculty Meeting @ 2:45pm (Presentation Space) *agenda will be emailed out

Wednesday, August 21st
Common Plan Time
Board of Education Meeting @ 7pm

Thursday, August 22nd
Benchmarking Begins <—-click here for schedule

Friday, August 23rd
Kennedy Bus Evacuation Drills <—PreK-3rd teachers: Sign up for your time slot!

*Remember, we must also make an effort to build relationships with our families, too! Read this awesome blog post here about how to successful engage with our families!

Blended Learning Playlist …. be sure to check off the items as your completing them! 

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, May 27th
NO SCHOOL – Memorial Day

Tuesday, May 28th
1st Grade Picnic
Laptop Refresh Continues <–click for schedule
Happy Birthday Jaime Rutkowski 🙂
PreK Screenings (8:30am-12:00pm)
LAST Faculty Meeting @ 2:40pm

Wednesday, May 29th
3rd Grade Picnic

Thursday, May 30th
1/2 Day of School – LAST DAY!
LAST Day of School ~ All staff report to the bus lane at 10:50am for our annual tradition of “waving goodbye to our students” …. *Check out our photos/videos from previous years here.
Happy Birthday Tanya Disheva 🙂

FINAL THOUGHTS…….

“Just know that, even if nobody said “Thank You,” today, there’s a kid somewhere who loves you, who appreciates you, and who is wondering about something because of something you said in your classroom. Right now there might be a parent who thinks you are the best thing under the sun because you might be the very first person who has understood her child. There’s an administrator who is grateful to have you on staff at your school. At this very moment, there is a student close to graduating high school who found a photo from your classroom that she has saved all these years because you were her favorite. Tonight, a colleague of yours will go home with a smile because something you took the time to say today. One of your students that pretends not to care about his work will be working extra hard tonight, because he wants to show you he can do it.

You’re appreciated. You matter to more kids than I can count on my fingers and toes, and your message to the world will travel well into the future in the hearts of kids who will grow up with dreams and passions that all started right where you are. In your classroom.

Just in case you forget.”

It’s hard to believe we have reached the point in the year where we only have 7.5 days left! It has been a great year of teaching & learning, and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for your friendship and support.

In the middle of packing away materials, finishing report cards & last minute projects, there is one part of the year that is so bittersweet….the good-byes! Remember to take time to tell your students what they mean to you this week. Have lunch together in the project spaces/classrooms or outside. Ask each student to share their favorite memory. Share your favorite memories with your class. Send a Kennedy Kubbie positive postcard to every student and put it in the mail on the last day of school to wish them a great summer! ENJOY THESE LAST 7.5 DAYS! It’s the happiest & saddest time all in one. So, while you’re counting down the last few days and trying to cross off those final items from your never-ending to-do list, remember to enjoy your final time together & make your end of the year count! 

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(s) of school…..so let’s make sure they remember the best of what we have to offer. This last 7.5 days is going to FLY by so please commit to making them count. Let’s all feel great about what we’ve accomplished this year! 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.

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, May 20th
Benchmarking Continues
PreK Celebrations (8:15-8:45/9:00-9:30am, and 9:45-10:15/10:30-11:00am)
Kindergarten Graduation Practice @ LMS
RTI Committee Meeting @ 2:30pm
8th Grade Graduation (7pm)

Tuesday, May 21st
Kindergarten Graduation

Wednesday, May 22nd
Kindergarten Screenings
1st Grade (Sloma, Marzec, Logo) Field Trip to LegoLand
2nd Grade Field Trip to Brunswick
1st Grade & 3rd Grade Class Building*
Board of Education Meeting @ 7pm

Thursday, May 23rd
1st Grade (D’Andrea, Kronlage, Zaprev, Peterson) Field Trip to LegoLand
3rd Grade Fly-Up Day to Washington (9am-10am)
Reading Room Resumes (DROP OFF)
Kindergarten Screenings (8am-12:30pm)

Friday, May 24th
2nd Grade Picnic
PreK Screenings
Last Day of Reading Room (DROP OFF)
3rd Grade DINOSAUR FAIR (11:30am-12:15pm)
*Kinder Class Building

(05/25) Happy Birthday Monica Sloma 🙂

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:

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.

Here’s our week at a glance:

(05/11) Happy Birthday Alena Christopherson 🙂

Monday, May 13th
Benchmarking Week
Happy Birthday John Grobe 🙂
K-3 Fly Up Day (click here for schedule)
Yearbook/Technology Club (2:30pm-4:00pm)

Tuesday, May 14th
PreK Picnic (Kennedy Park)
Kindergarten Graduation Practice @ LMS
Technology Committee Meeting (3:05pm)
3rd Grade Family Sports Night (6:15pm-7:30pm)

Wednesday, May 15th
Author Aaron Reynolds Visits Kennedy (click here for schedule)
5th Grade Buddies visit Kindergarten (9am-10:15am)
Retirement Celebration @ 4:00pm

Thursday, May 16th
Kindergarten Picnic @ North Park
Awesome Attendance Party (8:15am-9:15am)
***MARK ICE CREAM FRIDAY KIDS TODAY (as ice cream is provided to all students tomorrow from the ice cream truck).

Friday, May 17th
Field Day @ North Park
DARE Graduation

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!

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, May 6th
MAP Testing Begins!
LUNCHEON in Faculty Lounge courtesy of Dr. B and the Board of Education
PreK Field Trip to Lincoln Park Zoo
SLT (2:45pm in Conference Room)

Tuesday, May 7th
Breakfast in Faculty Lounge courtesy of SPEA
Volunteer Breakfast (8:45am-9:45am)
Mentor/Mentee Celebration

Wednesday, May 8th
1/2 SIP Day
Happy Birthday Jen Mauck 🙂
Support Staff Luncheon (11-12pm)

Thursday, May 9th
1st Grade Rehearses at LMS (8:30am-10:00am)
3rd Grade CUBS Trip

Friday, May 10th
Reading Room Drop Off
1st Grade Memorial Day Performance (9am)
5 by Friday! Continue to make those positive connections with families!!!!

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, April 29th
Autism Acceptance Spirit Week
Pokemon Monday: Wear your favorite Pokemon character or create your own! 

Tuesday, April 30th
Sensory Friendly Tuesday: Dress in your comfy clothes, or wear sunglasses
Kindergarten Field Trip to Brookfield Zoo
Kennedy Art Show 6:30pm-7:30pm

Wednesday, May 1st
What’s Your Passion Wednesday? Wear something or bring something to school to share your passion
1st Grade visits buddies @ LMS, 9am
SLC/SLBC Social Outing to Washington (11:30am-1:00pm)
Rosemont School District Touring Kennedy (1pm)

Thursday, May 2nd
Neurodiversity Thursday: wear rainbow or tie-dye clothes to school

Friday, May 3rd
Show Your Support Friday: Wear Kennedy Blue to show your support of Autism Acceptance
Reading Room Drop Off
5 by Friday! 🙂

(05/04) Happy Birthday Abby Domingo 🙂
(05/05) Happy Birthday Jenny Maier 🙂

As the ABC Countdown begins this Wednesday which counts down the final 26 days of the 2018-2019 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 22nd
Earth Day
Yearbook/Technology Club (2:30pm-4:00pm)
1st Grade Plans with RR @ 2:45pm

Tuesday, April 23rd
1st Grade Field Trip to Kohl Children’s Museum
Kennedy Singers to LMS to Rehearse
Faculty Meeting @ 2:45pm
Spring Choral Concert for 3rd-5th Grades (6:30pm)

Wednesday, April 24th
Happy Administrative Assistants’ Day, Eva & Sue!
PreK Spring Sing (9-10am) in Gym
8th Grade Buddies Visit 3rd Grade (9am)
PreK Spring Sing (12-1pm) in Gym
TAPS (2nd/3rd) during CPT
RTI Committee (3-4pm in Upstairs PD Space)
Board of Education Meeting (7pm)

Thursday, April 25th
April/May Buddy Event
SLBC Family Showcase @ 1:30pm
Spring Choral Concert for 6th-8th Grades (6:30pm

Friday, April 26th
April/May Buddy Event
Last Progress Monitoring
Spirit Assembly @ 9am
Wear Blue for Autism Acceptance
5 by Friday! 🙂 Continue making those positive connections with families!