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?