Week 33: 04/22/19 – 04/26/19

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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.

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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.

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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 positiveconstant 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!Screen Shot 2017-09-17 at 3.36.13 PM

Week 32: 04/15/19 – 04/19/19

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Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, April 15th
Spring Book Fair – Browse Day (1st Grade Project Space)

Tuesday, April 16th
Spring Book Fair – Browse Day (1st Grade Project Space)
SCOTY Awards (4pm at West Leyden) – Congrats to Wiktoria Samojalik

Wednesday, April 17th
Spring Book Fair – Buy Day (1st Grade Project Space)
PATS Field Trip to Oak Park Conservatory
RTI Committee Meeting @ 2:50pm (Upstairs PD Space)
TAPS (PreK, K, 1st)

Thursday, April 18th
Spring Book Fair – Buy Day (1st Grade Project Space)
3rd Grade Field Trip to Field Museum
Kindergarten Young Authors (1:30pm-2:00pm)

Friday, April 19th
Happy Birthday Chris Gonzalez 🙂
5 by Friday!  Make 5 positive connections with families!
SLBC Swimming
PreK Field Trip to Stahl Family Theater
Mrs. Bricker’s Class Trip to Barnes & Noble @ 10:30am (Dr. Seuss Night Raffle Prize)
Wear Kubbie blue to promote Autism acceptance 

Spirit Committee Meeting @ 2:35pm

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(04/21) Happy Birthday Anna K (yellow bus driver)

Week 31: 04/08/19 – 04/12/19

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Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, April 8th
Happy Birthday Sharon Muntova 🙂
3rd Grade Data Review with RR @ 2:35pm

Tuesday, April 9th
K-3 Railroad Safety Program in the Presentation Space <–click for schedule to see when you signed up!
Kindergarten Graduation Pictures in the Gym
Faculty Meeting @ 2:50pm

Wednesday, April 10th
7th Grade Buddies visit Kennedy 2nd Graders (9am)
AXA Visits during lunches in the Faculty Lounge
Technology Common Plan (2-3pm)
District Discipline Committee Meeting @ 3:45pm (LMS Conference Room)
CPR Class @ LMS Room 108 (4pm-6:30pm)

Thursday, April 11th
Happy Birthday Samantha Alfirevic 🙂
Spring/Summer Birthday Treats in Lounge
Marine Biologist Visits 2nd Grade (in Presentation Space)
CPR Class @ LMS Room 108 (4pm-6:30pm)

Friday, April 12th
5 by Friday! 🙂 Make 5 positive connections with families!
Wear Kubbie blue to promote Autism acceptance 

Week 30: 04/01/19 – 04/05/19

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It is my hope that you all had a restful, relaxing Spring Break. As we enter the final 9 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 9 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 9 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.

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, April 1st
NO SCHOOL – Spring Break

Tuesday, April 2nd
Teacher Institute Day – Click here for agenda

Wednesday, April 3rd
Welcome Back, Students!

Thursday, April 4th

Friday, April 5th
SLBC Swimming
5 by Friday! Make 5 positive connections with families!

(04/07) Happy Birthday Beata Dering

Week 29: 03/18/19 – 03/22/19

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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!

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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 back for a Teacher Institute Day on Tuesday, April 2nd.

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, March 18th
IAR Testing Continues for 3rd Grade
Jeanne Conducting Hearing/Vision Screenings (8:45am-9:45am)
1st Grade Data Review with Reading Room @ 2:35pm

Tuesday, March 19th
K-3rd Railroad Safety Presentations (in Presentation Space) <–ARE YOU SIGNED UP?
PATS Field Trip to the Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center (9am-11:30am)

Wednesday, March 20th
Freckle PD in Presentation Space (2:30pm-3:00pm)
Board of Education Meeting @ 7pm

Thursday, March 21st
SLT @ 2:45pm in Conference Room
Kinder/1st Family Sports Night (6:15pm-7:30pm)

Friday, March 22nd
Spirit Assembly
SLBC Swimming at the YMCA

Have a great Spring Break!
(03/25) Happy Birthday Diane Serio 🙂

(04/02) Teacher Institute Day
(04/03) School Resumes for Students

Week 28: 03/11/19 – 03/15/19

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Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, March 11th
IAR Testing Begins for 3rd Grade
Yearbook/Technology Club (2:30pm-4:00pm)
Culture Committee Meeting @ 2:30pm
2nd Grade Data Review Meeting with RR @ 2:35pm

Tuesday, March 12th
Faculty Meeting @ 2:50pm
ABC Little Ceasar’s Pizza Kit Pickup (in cafeteria from 2:30pm-6:00pm)
Kindergarten Round Up @ 6:00pm

Wednesday, March 13th
1/2 Day of School
Baby/Bridal Shower @ 11am (Cafeteria)

Thursday, March 14th
March Buddy Event
Talent Show Dress Rehearsal (8:45am-11:30am at LMS)
Technology Committee Meeting @ 2:35pm
SEL Committee Meeting @ 2:45pm (Upstairs PD Space)
TALENT SHOW @ 6:30pm (LMS)

Friday, March 15th
March Buddy Event
Spring Pictures (in the gym)
5 by Friday! 🙂 Continue making positive connections with families!
Spirit Committee Meeting @ 2:35pm

(03/17) Music Boosters Pancake Breakfast @ LMS (9am-12pm)

Blog Posts Worth Reading:

3 Simple Ways to Help Shift the Thinking of Others via George Couros

5 Syndromes that Overcomplicate Your Teaching –Here’s the Cure via Angela Watson

Monitoring or Mentoring via Jennifer Casa Todd

7 Ways to Tell Someone is an Awesome Parent (and Will Raise Happy, Successful Children) via Inc.com

Week 27: 03/04/19 – 03/08/19

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Monday, March 4th
Hop on Pop Day – Wear Your Pajamas to School
3rd Grade Data Review Meeting with Reading Room
Dr. Seuss Committee Meeting @ 2:45pm (in faculty lounge) – anyone else who is available and wants to help make snacks, you’re welcome to join! 

Tuesday, March 5th
Fox in Socks Day – Wear silly socks to school!
Happy Birthday Debi Cesario 🙂
Kindergarten Field Trip to The Field Museum
Dr. Seuss Committee Meeting @ 2:45pm (in faculty lounge) – finishing touches for the big event!
Project Unify Basketball Game @ LMS, 4:00pm

Wednesday, March 6th
One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish – Wear Red & Blue to school
Dr. Seuss Night! 6:30-8:00pm  *Hope to see you all there*

Thursday, March 7th
Cat in the Hat Day – Wear your favorite hat to school
2nd Grade to LMS @ 8:45am to Rehearse for Performance
Talent Show After-School Rehearsal (2:30pm-4:00pm)
Mentor/Mentee Meeting 3:45pm-5:00pm

Friday, March 8th
Green Eggs & Ham Day – Wear Green to school
2nd Grade Dr. Seuss Musical Performance @ LMS, 10:00am
SLBC Swimming
LAPEL SHOW performs for 3rd Grade (in gym) at 1:15pm

Keep in mind we will have many visitors in our building on Wednesday for the big event! Please give your classroom spaces some extra TLC.  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!

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Week 26: 02/25/19 – 03/01/19

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Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, February 25th
Yearbook/Technology Club 2:30pm-4:00pm
Kindergarten Data Review with RR @ 2:30pm

Tuesday, February 26th
1/2 Day of School for Students
1/2 Day of Parent/Teacher Conferences <—click for schedule
Please keep the master schedule updated as changes are made! 

Wednesday, February 27th
RTI Committee Meeting @ 3:00pm

Thursday, February 28th
Happy Birthday Alicia Peccatiello 🙂
Charity Committee Meeting @ 2:35pm
Dr. Seuss Committee Meeting @ 2:45pm
AFTER SCHOOL TALENT SHOW REHEARSAL 2:30pm-4:00pm
2nd Grade Family Sports Night 6:15pm-7:30pm

Friday, March 1st
PreK Screening
Happy Birthday Tami Ericksen 🙂
Pennies for Patients Kickoff (Presentation Space) <—click for schedule

(03/02) Happy Birthday Bonnie Bricker 🙂
(03/03) Happy Birthday Natalie Barcas 🙂

Week 25: 02/18/19 – 02/22/19

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Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, February 18th
Presidents’ Day – NO SCHOOL

Tuesday, February 19th
1st-3rd Grade to LMS for Washington Musical (8:45am buses will start loading with 3rd grade)
RTI Committee Meeting @ 3:45pm (Upstairs PD Space)(

Wednesday, February 20th
Board Meeting @ 7pm

Thursday, February 21st
SLT Meeting @ 2:45pm (Conference Room)

Friday, February 22nd
Spirit Assembly @ 9am

(02/24) Happy Birthday Shannon Keating

Week 24: 02/11/19 – 02/15/19

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Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, February 11th
1st Grade Data Meeting w/RR
RTI Committee Meeting @ 3:00pm (Upstairs PD Space)

Tuesday, February 12th
PreK Family Trip to Shedd Aquarium
Talent Show Auditions (throughout the day in the Presentation Space)
Faculty Meeting @ 2:45pm

Wednesday, February 13th
6th Grade Buddies Visit 1st Grade (9am)
2nd & 3rd Grade TAPS during CPT

Thursday, February 14th
Happy Birthday Kaitlin Hillner 🙂
Spirit Committee Meeting @ 2:35pm

Friday, February 15th
Happy Birthday Agnes Niewinski 🙂
1st Grade Field Trip to Shedd Aquarium
PreK Parent Workshops
Trimester 2 Ends
Please be sure your Parent/Teacher Conference Schedule is finalized in google spreadsheet!

(02/17) Happy Birthday Jackie Hood & Mike Deany 🙂

Blog Posts Worth Reading:
The Importance of Not Stepping In – via George Couros

Six Strategies for Tackling Perfectionism – via John Spencer