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! If Donna, Stephanie or I can offer you any support this week with conferences, please do not hesitate to ask. We are available and willing to sit-in on any conferences this week. *Please take a few minutes to read the 3 blog posts below:

6 Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Parent/Teacher Conferences

What I Really Want to Ask at All Those Parent/Teacher Conferences

‘Twas the Night Before Conferences: A Parents’ Perspective on Parent/Teacher Conferences

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, November 14th
NO STUDENT ATTENDANCE: Full Day Parent/Teacher Conferences
*American Education Week Begins

Tuesday, November 15th
PATS Field Trip to Shedd Aquarium
Happy Birthday Sandy Montes de Oca 🙂

Wednesday, November 16th
PreK/PATS Thanksgiving Feast (2-3pm)
Board Meeting @ 7:00pm (LMS)

Thursday, November 17th
Staff Thanksgiving Feast in Lounge

Friday, November 18th
TWD @ RAM (3:30pm)

(11/19) Happy Birthday Justine Samuels 🙂
(11/20) Happy Birthday Rosa Worwa 🙂
(11/21) Happy Birthday Emily Kronlage 🙂 

Blogs Worth Reading:
Find the Fireflies – Help Students to Shine

Some Have No One Else

Let’s Be Thankful

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, November 7th
*All Students Should VOTE today! <–click for ballot (I VOTED stickers in your mailboxes)

Tuesday, November 8th
Teacher Institute Day: No Student Attendance (Agenda will be emailed to Kennedy Conference)

Wednesday, November 9th
Veterans Day Rehearsal (3rd grade) in Gym @ 8:15am

Thursday, November 10th
Veterans Day Rehearsal (3rd Grade) at LMS @ 8:30am
Happy Birthday Gloria Reyes 🙂

Friday, November 11th
Veterans Day Performance at LMS @ 9:00am
Happy Birthday Julie Fister & Becky Shoufer 🙂

(11/12) Happy Birthday Sarah Mixa 🙂

The storybook pumpkins look AMAZING! The pumpkins are a perfect example of the wonderful, creative, imaginative work that can happen when great minds get together for a common cause. You showed tremendous teamwork and I am so proud of your efforts and creativity. Everyone who sees them is amazed and in awe of everyone’s efforts and final products. NICE JOB!!! Remember — each student should cast their vote for their FAVORITE storybook pumpkin on Halloween!

QR Code for students to access the voting ballot ~

Here’s our week at glance:

Monday, October 31st
Halloween Parties & Parades
9:00am AM PreK
10:00am 2nd & 3rd Grades
12:30pm  Kindergarten & 1st Grades
1:15pm PM PreK

Tuesday, November 1st
Yearbook Committee Meeting @ 2:40pm
Dr. Seuss Committee Meeting @ 2:50pm (Room 110)
Mentor Meeting @ 3:45pm

Wednesday, November 2nd
Technology Common Plan

Thursday, November 3rd
PreK Field Trip to Museum of Science & Industry
SLT Meeting @ 3:00pm

Friday, November 4th
End of Trimester 1
Reading Room Plan Day
PreK Screening

(11/06) Happy Birthday Kaitlin Teater 🙂

**Reminder for Tenured Teachers*
Tenure teacher professional growth meetings completed before November 1st.
ALL tenured teachers must complete a Professional Growth Plan.

Blogs Worth Reading…

Election Day Activities for Elementary Students

How to Add a Sticky Note to Webpages

7 Halloween Lesson Activities for Elementary School Students

9 Things Teachers Should Know About Veterans Day

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, October 24th
Red Ribbon Week Begins! 
*From Head to Toe I Live Drug Free ~ Come to school with Crazy Hair & Socks
Technology Committee Meeting @ 2:35pm (Room 202)
RTI Committee Meeting @ 2:40pm (Room 108)
PERA Joint Committee Meeting @ 2:50pm (District Conference Room)

Tuesday, October 25th
*I Live a Bright Life by Staying Off Drugs ~ Wear Neon and/or Sunglasses
Faculty Meeting @ 2:50pm (Come with some Storybook Pumpkin Ideas!)
Curriculum Facilitator Meeting @ 3:30pm (District Conference Room)

Wednesday, October 26th
*I Live a Drug Free Life ~ Wear RED to show that you are Drug Free

Thursday, October 27th
*Live Drug Free and Follow Your Dreams ~ Wear your pajamas to school
Kennedy Picture Re-Take Day
*Think College Thursday (Below were the topics from last week & this week)

Friday, October 28th
*Our School Chooses to Be Drug Free ~ Wear your Kennedy Kubbie Spiritwear
October BUDDY Event
Fall Birthday Celebration in the Lounge (breakfast courtesy of PreK & Kinder teams)
Spirit Assembly @ 8:45am

Blogs Worth Checking Out:

Election 2016 Resources for Students

The Election Process: Helping Kids Understand

 Math Playground
Math Playground is a great website with hundreds of math games appropriate for K-8 students. You can search for games by grade level, by topic, or by question type. There are more than 100 instructional videos in Math Playground’s video library.

Pumpkin Spice PlayDough

First Grade Pumpkin Ideas

Multiplication Strategies for 3rd Grade

Setting Up a Classroom Photo Sharing Site

This week consider choosing one of these suggestions and try to practice it.

• Be more positive and accept what can’t be changed. David Holmes writes; “You need to do this in order to deter a pattern of complaining that is so easy to begin, the discipline of dealing with ‘what is,’ not what you wish things to be, is an important principle.”
• Lead in your classroom more side by side in a supportive, helping manner. It is easy to tell others what to do. It is a challenge to really understand why others are behaving a certain way. This week, get closer to others and see if it makes a difference in their performance.
• Fight isolation by not eating alone, invite others into you classroom, and look for opportunities outside of our school to connect and network with others. You don’t have to be alone, reach out.

There is an older traditional thought that says practice makes perfect. Let’s forget about being perfect and just begin practicing.

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, October 17th
Happy Birthday MaryBeth D’Andrea 🙂
1st Grade (Rooms 110, 100, 102, 108) Field Trip to Goebbert’s Pumpkin Farm
Fire Prevention Week <–click to see schedule
New Teacher Meeting @ 2:55pm

Tuesday, October 18th
1st Grade (Rooms 101, 109, 103) Field Trip to Goebbert’s Pumpkin Farm

Wednesday, October 19th
Happy Birthday Eva Popowska 🙂
WEAR ORANGE! Nationwide UNITY Day! Wear orange to show that you are united in supporting bullying prevention in our school!
PATS Field Trip to Heritage Farm
Adam from Forester’s Financial Visits (in lounge)
TAPS (2nd/3rd Grade)
ABC Parent Meeting @ 6pm
Board of Education Meeting @ 7pm (LMS)

Thursday, October 20th
Kindergarten Field Trip to Dider Farms
The Great Shakeout (Earthquake Drill) @ 10:20am *See email in Kennedy conference for more info!
SLT Meeting @ 3:00pm

Friday, October 21st
5 by Friday! Are you making 5 positive connections with parents by Friday?3

(10/22) ABC Fall Fest @ LMS 11am-3pm

Tech Tips:
Share A Bundle of Links with Sqworl

Kudoboard – Create a Digital Group Greetings 

Fall Resources for SMART Boards

Fire Prevention Activities (Click picture to take you to the idea)
           

I hope you had a wonderful 3-day weekend and enjoyed this beautiful October weather with your family & friends! Congrats to our Chicago Marathon runners, Kristen Stringer & Mandy Vanderwaal! Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, October 10th
No School: Columbus Day

Tuesday, October 11th
Life Safety Visit
NO FACULTY MEETING (CANCELLED)
Mentor Meeting @ 3:45pm

Wednesday, October 12th
WEAR YOUR FAVORITE SPORTS GEAR!

TAPS (PreK/K/1st Grades)

Thursday, October 13th
Hearing & Vision Screenings (in gym)
PreK Field Trip to Johansen Farm
Think College Thursday

BPAC Meeting @ 3:45pm (Kennedy gym)

Friday, October 14th
Hearing & Vision Screenings (in gym)
1st Fun Fact Friday!
BUB City: Social Event after school

(10/15) Happy Birthday Rose Karas 🙂

(From Venspired)

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:

*Congratulations to Justine Samuels, PreK Para, who got married this past weekend! 🙂

Monday, October 3rd
Parent Visitation Day (9-10am and 1-2pm)
Dental Screenings

Tuesday, October 4th
Dental Screenings
3rd Grade Field Trip to Goebbert’s

Wednesday, October 5th
Dental Screenings
Happy Birthday Barbara Brzozowska 🙂

Thursday, October 6th
THINK COLLEGE THURSDAYS officially begins! *Wear your college gear*

Foresters Financial Rep in Lounge during Lunch Periods
SLT Meeting @ 3:00pm

Friday, October 7th
PreK Screening (PreK students still in session)
Reading Room Plan Day
2nd Grade Field Trip to Goebbert’s
Happy Birhtday Nicole Novak 🙂

(10/09) Happy Birthday Mandy Vanderwaal 🙂
(10/10) NO SCHOOL: Columbus Day

Apple just announced Apple Teacher, a new program created to support and celebrate educators. The program provides a self-paced learning experience with tips, inspiration, news, and learning materials to help teachers unlock the magic of iPad, Mac, and built-in apps in the classroom. Earn badges and an official Apple Teacher logo so you can share your achievement with the world. Sign up today!

The first 5 Kennedy School teachers to become an “Apple Teacher” will receive a $25 iTunes gift card & a $50 credit to use towards ordering any “accessories” for your iPad. So far, Monica Sloma & Heather Longo have achieved the Apple Teacher recognition! Way to Go! Who’s next? 

Here’s our week at a glance:

**Do you have surplus property to add to the list? Please do so ASAP!

Monday, September 26th
Happy Birthday Jill Michalski 🙂
New Teacher Meeting @ 2:50pm (Room 132)

Tuesday, September 27th
1st Grade (Rooms 110, 100, 108 & 102) Field Trip to Safety Town
Faculty Meeting @ 2:50pm <–click for agenda

Wednesday, September 28th
1st Grade (Rooms 101, 109 ,103) Field Trip to Safety Town

Thursday, September 29th

Friday, September 30th
1st Spirit Assembly @ 9:00am
5 By Friday!

(10/01) Happy Birthday Sarah Sicher 🙂

Apple just announced Apple Teacher, a new program created to support and celebrate educators. The program provides a self-paced learning experience with tips, inspiration, news, and learning materials to help teachers unlock the magic of iPad, Mac, and built-in apps in the classroom. Earn badges and an official Apple Teacher logo so you can share your achievement with the world. Sign up today!

The first 5 Kennedy School teachers to become an “Apple Teacher” will receive a $25 iTunes gift card & a $50 credit to use towards ordering any “accessories” for your iPad.

Have you Heard of FLIPGRID?
Video Responses for Classroom Collaboration: Flipgrid.com allows teachers to create an online space (or grid) where students can answer questions and discuss information through recorded videos (Awesome for our 1:1 iPads!) Great for reading responses or literature circles!~ Once a teacher creates a FlipGrid, students can visit the grid to record their video in response to a teacher’s question! Recordings are limited to 90 seconds 

PBS YOU CHOOSE
Designed to help elementary school students understand some of the key points of the 2016 US Presidential Election. The site features short biographies of Trump & Clinton, create little campaign posters, and collect “Presidential Trading Cards”. A collection of short, animated videos is also included in PBS Kids You Choose. The videos feature familiar PBS Kids characters singing and/or talking about things like the importance of voting, the first Presidents & frequency of elections.

TECH TIP: HOW TO INSERT COLUMNS INTO GOOGLE DOCS
Last week, Google announced a change to the way in which search works in Google Drive. Buried at the bottom of the announcement was a note about column formatting in Google Docs. For years, the only way to create columns in Google Docs was to insert a table. FINALLY, you can insert columns into your Google Docs by opening the “format” do-down menu and selecting “columns” (see video below):

Draw & Tell App
Draw & Tell app allows students to easily create an animated screencast with voice, drawings, images & objects. This app makes it simple for emerging learners to create digital stories or presentations on any number of topics!

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, September 19th
Happy Birthday Roger 🙂
Cycle 1 Assessments This Week….
Evacuation Drill @ 9:00am
Technology Committee Meeting @ 2:35pm (Room 202)
RTI Committee Meeting @ 2:40pm

Tuesday, September 20th
Happy Birthday Michelle McMorrow 🙂

Wednesday, September 21st
Happy Birthday Bridget Elliott 🙂
1st SIP Committee Meeting (2:40pm-3:05pm) <—click to see where committees will be meeting. Have you signed up for one yet? ALL staff sign up for ONE committee!
ABC Parent Group Meeting @ 6:00pm
Board of Education Meeting @ 7:00pm
*New Early Childhood Wing being featured as Example of Excellence

Thursday, September 22nd
PreK/PATS Field Trip to Lincoln Park Zoo
SLT Meeting @ 3:00pm (Conference Room)

Friday, September 23rd
Happy Birthday Amanda Peterson 🙂
FALL Picture Day
RSVP to the 1st Staff Social Event @ Bub City on Friday, October 14th….

Have you filled out the “THINK COLLEGE THURSDAYS” Google Form yet? We need everyone’s responses so we can create our bulletin board!

(09/24) Happy Birthday Britney Lane 🙂
(09/25) Happy Birthday Marta Ocon 🙂

Here’s our week at a glance:

Monday, September 12th
1st Day of Reading Room
Morning Interventions in Full Swing….

Tuesday, September 13th
Faculty Meeting @ 2:50pm <–click for agenda

Wednesday, September 14th
Half Day of School  (AM PreK dismisses @ 10:30am, K-3 dismisses at 10:55am, NO PM PreK)
SIP Agenda <–click to view

Thursday, September 15th
Bus Evacuation Drill <—K-3 teachers, have you signed up for a slot yet?
Boy Scouts of America Sign-Up (6:30pm-8:15pm in main lobby)

Friday, September 16th
Fire Drill @ 9:00am
*Questions on where to exit the building, please ask an administrator
5 Positive Connections by Friday! 🙂
Spiritwear Orders Due!

Reminders:
-Please fill out the Google Form for our Think College Thursdays bulletin board
-All Staff should please sign up for a School Improvement Committee for this year (see Kennedy conference for an email sent with link to sign up). Our first ‘check-in’ will be this Wednesday at the end of our SIP day work.
-Certified Non-Tenured Staff: Please be sure to schedule your first observation with your administrator