Month: May 2018

Summer Communications:

This week’s Principal’s Post is the last weekly one until school begins again.  Make sure you check our Facebook page regularly during the summer.  There will also be some irregular Posts and/or emails this summer as there are still some important issues that need resolution, like bell/bus times.

Summer Programming at JFK:

Leaps & Bounds:  Does your child need some extra help over the summer?  Are you looking for a way to provide additional academic challenge for your student? Our Iowa certified staff will provide opportunities for your kindergarten through 5th grade child to grow by Leaps and Bounds.  Sign up for one, two or even all three sessions.  There are three week and two week sessions.  The program runs from 8:00 – 11:30 each day.  Two hours are for reading, one hour is for math, and 30 minutes is for recess and other fun.  The ratio is kept at 7 to 1 students per teacher or less.  Cost for the three week session is $270.  The two week session is $180.

Three week session:  June 11 – 29. (Closed)          Two week session:  July 9 – 20          Two week session:  July 30 – Aug 10

Vacation Bible School:  This program is coordinated for parish members by parish members.  Volunteers are always welcome to be a part of VBS.  Children who are entering kindergarten through 6th grade will enjoy a week of activities, crafts, skits, songs, and Bible stories.  VBS meets from 8:00 – 11:30 and runs July 23 – 27.  The cost is $25 per child.

Math Boot Camp: Math Boot Camp will help to kick start your student’s math skills before school begins in August. Students will work with an Iowa certified teacher to review main concepts learned in the previous grade.  Each day will be an intensive  Math Boot Camp is for students of all learning ability levels entering grades 6-8.  The camp is from August 6 – 10.  The cost is $40 per student.

Incoming 6th graders:  8:00-9:30 a.m.         Incoming 7th graders:  9:30-11:00 a.m.          Incoming 8th Graders:  11:00-12:30 p.m.

Jump Start Kindergarten: Preschool students have worked hard this year to learn many skills to be successful when they start Kindergarten in the fall.  Jump Start Kindergarten will provide a review of alphabet letters and sounds, basic math concepts, and literacy skills.  This week long review will also include story times and interactive white board activities.  What a great way for your child to practice instructional routines in a fun, enriching atmosphere!  Jump Start Kindergarten is August 6 – 10 from 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.  Cost is $50 or $55, depending upon eligibility for the early bird registration cost.

Summer Tutoring: Does your son or daughter need some extra one-on-one academic help during the summer?  Does he/she need to catch up on grade level skills?  How about a head start on the next school year?  Is your child interested in some coaching for a summer STEAM project?  JFK teachers are available this summer for tutoring students in a variety of areas.  Tutoring is one-on-one for grades K-8 by the hour ($22) or half-hour ($11).  Dates and times are flexible and can be arranged with the teacher.  Please contact Mrs. Motto for K-2 reading/language arts, Mrs. Lundquist for 3-5 reading/language arts/5th grade math, Ms. Burken for 6-8 reading/language arts, Mrs. Burke for reading/language arts, and/or Mrs. Schott for K-8 summer STEAM projects mentoring.

Instrumental Lessons: Would your son or daughter like to develop his/her instrumental skills over the summer?   Private lessons can be a great help (especially for younger grades) at retaining the current instrument knowledge.  It can also serve as early preparation for SEIBA auditions, marching band with Assumption, 6^th-grade band fests and more. There is no minimum or maximum number of lessons that you can sign up for; everything is based on availability.  Lessons can be arranged weekly or bi-weekly, a certain amount over the course of the summer, or sporadically.  Cost is $22 per hour or $11 per half hour.

Registration forms for any summer programming:  Click HERE or use the following link/url:  https://www.olvjfk.com/for-parents/policies-forms/ for registration forms.

Campus Safety Developments

We received $21,700 from the Scott County Regional Authority for security cameras around the outside of the school and in the main hallways and other large areas, like the parish center, gym, and cafeteria.  Fr. Jake has indicated that some cameras will probably also be installed around the church at the same time so we can piggy-back on pricing.

Bell and Bus Times for Next Year:  Delayed Now Until June 11

DCSD superintendent Art Tate indicated that the bell/bus times have now been moved to the June 11 meeting of the DCSD board.

Two meetings were held last week:  one with the faith-based school administrators and one with operations personnel of the DCSD.  At the first meeting, we looked at several models and discussed how difficult it is to go “out on our own” and do transportation ourselves at a rate we think families can afford.  On the other hand, no one wants bell times that don’t work well for families either.  We also learned that the schedule previously distributed and published by the DCSD had incorrect proposed times for Trinity Lutheran.  At the meeting with DCSD representatives, we talked about the possibility of some minor tweaks with the JFK/AHS route times that could make the proposed schedule more palatable for everyone.

After the meetings, we were informed that the bell/bus time issue will be moved to the June 11 DCSD board meeting.

Once the DCSD makes its decision, OLV/JFK’s board will also have to decide what to do.  If the DCSD changes the times, then our board will have to decide if we want to go along with the changes and have bus transportation or  go without bus transportation but have the bell times we most desire.

It would be nice to have the bell time issue decided.  We have other decisions to make that are influenced by bell times, including the following:

• WIN time for grades K-2 and what staff will be involved
• Whether or not there will be a need for before school care services
• What the rates should be for after school care
• The overall school budget
• A new master schedule, including the possibility of instituting a 6th-8th grade late morning recess

• Adding language about targeting others on social media, which then affects the school environment
• Adding additional language about cell phone use, particularly in regards to photos and video, and noting that the cell phone and other electronic devices policy also specifically covers smartwatches
• Emphasizing that there are only 3 approved vendors for uniform jumpers/skirts
• Applying the 2″ logo guideline to all apparel and limiting logos/words to one per item  (Shirts with logos/words on the front and back, front and sleeve, or front and shoulder, etc. would not be allowed, but socks could have a 2″ maximum size logo)
• Adding more specific consequences for issues with hair, particularly for unnatural coloring
• Defining tardies, 1/2 day absences, and full day absences
• Changing when athletic eligibility is checked

May 31:  3 and 4 year old pre-school.  Four year olds have their programs on the 31st (MZ/KK at 5:45, MJ/MB at 7:00), and 3 year olds have their family activity on June 1 at 8:00 a.m. in the parish center.

June 1:  K-8.  This differs from the DCSD which is having classes on June 4.  Dismissal is at 3:00 p.m.

June 1:  Last day of ECLC

Summer Programming at JFK:

Leaps & Bounds:  Does your child need some extra help over the summer?  Are you looking for a way to provide additional academic challenge for your student? Our Iowa certified staff will provide opportunities for your kindergarten through 5th grade child to grow by Leaps and Bounds.  Sign up for one, two or even all three sessions.  There are three week and two week sessions.  The program runs from 8:00 – 11:30 each day.  Two hours are for reading, one hour is for math, and 30 minutes is for recess and other fun.  The ratio is kept at 7 to 1 students per teacher or less.  Cost for the three week session is $270.  The two week session is $180.

Three week session:  June 11 – 29.          Two week session:  July 9 – 20          Two week session:  July 30 – Aug 10

Vacation Bible School:  This program is coordinated for parish members by parish members.  Volunteers are always welcome to be a part of VBS.  Children who are entering kindergarten through 6th grade will enjoy a week of activities, crafts, skits, songs, and Bible stories.  VBS meets from 8:00 – 11:30 and runs July 23 – 27.  The cost is $25 per child.

Math Boot Camp: Math Boot Camp will help to kick start your student’s math skills before school begins in August. Students will work with an Iowa certified teacher to review main concepts learned in the previous grade.  Each day will be an intensive  Math Boot Camp is for students of all learning ability levels entering grades 6-8.  The camp is from August 6 – 10.  The cost is $40 per student.

Incoming 6th graders:  8:00-9:30 a.m.         Incoming 7th graders:  9:30-11:00 a.m.          Incoming 8th Graders:  11:00-12:30 p.m.

Jump Start Kindergarten: Preschool students have worked hard this year to learn many skills to be successful when they start Kindergarten in the fall.  Jump Start Kindergarten will provide a review of alphabet letters and sounds, basic math concepts, and literacy skills.  This week long review will also include story times and interactive white board activities.  What a great way for your child to practice instructional routines in a fun, enriching atmosphere!  Jump Start Kindergarten is August 6 – 10 from 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.  Cost is $50, if registered before May 26th;  $55 afterward.

Summer Tutoring: Does your son or daughter need some extra one-on-one academic help during the summer?  Does he/she need to catch up on grade level skills?  How about a head start on the next school year?  Is your child interested in some coaching for a summer STEAM project?  JFK teachers are available this summer for tutoring students in a variety of areas.  Tutoring is one-on-one for grades K-8 by the hour ($22) or half-hour ($11).  Dates and times are flexible and can be arranged with the teacher.  Please contact Mrs. Motto for K-2 reading/language arts, Mrs. Lundquist for 3-5 reading/language arts/5th grade math, Ms. Burken for 6-8 reading/language arts, Mrs. Burke for reading/language arts, and/or Mrs. Schott for K-8 summer STEAM projects mentoring.

Instrumental Lessons: Would your son or daughter like to develop his/her instrumental skills over the summer?   Private lessons can be a great help (especially for younger grades) at retaining the current instrument knowledge.  It can also serve as early preparation for SEIBA auditions, marching band with Assumption, 6^th-grade band fests and more. There is no minimum or maximum number of lessons that you can sign up for; everything is based on availability.  Lessons can be arranged weekly or bi-weekly, a certain amount over the course of the summer, or sporadically.  Cost is $22 per hour or $11 per half hour.

Registration forms for any summer programming:  Click HERE or use the following link/url:  https://www.olvjfk.com/for-parents/policies-forms/ for registration forms.

Campus Safety Developments

While there were lots of nuanced differences at our three listening sessions, there are probably two main ideas emerging in regards to safety concerns relating to traffic in the parking lot during drop off and dismissal times and safety concerns relating to children being in the parking lot before/after school and recesses:

• Change drop off/pick up procedures/routes/barriers and also develop a hard surface play area south of the current play equipment.
• Change drop off/pick up procedures/routes/barriers and “flip” the parking lot so that student activity is on the south end of the lot and traffic and parking is on the north end of the lot.

In relation to the above two, we are detailing the pricing for three to four options, one with the hard surface play area south of the current play equipment and 2-3 for “flipping” how we use the parking lot.

Developing a new location for handicapped and short term visitor parking for the school was widely supported.  For dealing with congestion on 42nd Street when buses are on the street, the only option receiving any level of support was to see if the city would eliminate parking on the north side of the street during bus times.

Late last week, I found out we will be receiving funds from the Scott County Regional Authority for security cameras around the outside of the school and in the main hallways and other large areas, like the parish center, gym, and cafeteria.  Fr. Jake has indicated that some cameras will probably also be installed around the church at the same time so we can piggy-back on pricing.  On Tuesday, I’ll find out how much of our nearly $22,000 grant application has been awarded by the SCRA.

Bell and Bus Times for Next Year:  Waiting Again

DCSD superintendent Art Tate indicated that the bell/bus times would be on the May 29th agenda of the DCSD board meeting.  If you’d like to share your opinion with the board, please email the board at BoardComments@Davenportschools.org.  Only messages that include your name and address will be distributed.

Once the DCSD makes its decision, OLV/JFK’s board will also have to decide what to do.  If the DCSD changes the times, then our board will have to decide if we want to go along with the changes and have bus transportation or make changes to the times the DCSD passed and go without bus transportation.

We’d still like to make a counter-proposal to the DCSD if we can find an option acceptable to all of the faith-based schools that still saves the DCSD the $300,000 it is planning on saving by changing bell times and is not outrageously expensive for faith-based schools’ families.

Home & School

Smartphones Interfere with Cognitive Tasks Even When We’re Not Using Them

An article in THE Journal:  Transforming Education Through Technology by Dian Schaffhauser summarizes two studies that show that just having smartphones nearby, even if turned off and/or in a pocket or nearby backpack, impairs students’ cognitive abilities.  Perhaps even more alarming is that students in the study didn’t think the location of their smartphones had any impact when the results showed it clearly did!  The advice of the researchers is that separation from one’s smartphone helps students with cognitive tasks.  Here is the full url/link: https://thejournal.com/articles/2018/04/09/even-the-mere-presence-of-a-smartphone-makes-you-dumber.aspx

May 31:  3 and 4 year old pre-school.  Four year olds have their programs on the 31st, and 3 year olds have their family activity on June 1.

June 1:  K-8.  This differs from the DCSD which is having classes on June 4.

June 1:  Last day of ECLC

Mrs. Tilkens continues to be out of school to care for CJ and his treatment for Neuroblastoma.  If you would like to help the Tilkens, please consider donating through GoFundMe.  Click CJ Cancer Fight or use the following link/url:  https://www.gofundme.com/CJCancerFight .  A benefit is planned for July 1st at 2:00 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus.

Campus Safety Listening Sessions

While there were lots of nuanced differences at our three listening sessions, there are probably two main ideas emerging in regards to safety concerns relating to traffic in the parking lot during drop off and dismissal times and safety concerns relating to children being in the parking lot before/after school and recesses:

• Change drop off/pick up procedures/routes/barriers and also develop a hard surface play area south of the current play equipment.
• Change drop off/pick up procedures/routes/barriers and “flip” the parking lot so that student activity is on the south end of the lot and traffic and parking is on the north end of the lot.

Developing a new location for handicapped and short term visitor parking for the school was widely supported.  For dealing with congestion on 42nd Street when buses are on the street, the only option receiving any level of support was to see if the city would eliminate parking on the north side of the street during bus times.

Bell and Bus Times for Next Year:  Where Are We Now?

Feedback I’ve seen or heard from JFK parents regarding the alternative proposal the DCSD put forth for bell time changes seems to be about 55% against, 25% in favor of it, and 20% lukewarm.  Very few JFK people liked the first 8:35 start time option.  In fact, none of the other faith-based schools liked the first option either, which had us all starting 50-55 minutes later or about 8:35 or later.  The current proposal, which has all the faith-based schools starting 20 minutes earlier than  our current times, is being fairly well received at two of our elementary schools and lukewarm or poorly received at the other two, including JFK.  A unified counter proposal might be a little more difficult now.

Andy Craig, president of AHS, and I continue to examine our options.  Last week, there was discussion with Durham representatives, the Iowa Department of Education, and other private schools/districts who do their own transportation.  If we were to have another busing option, it would have to be one that had satisfactory times for all the faith-based schools, still saved the DCSD the $300,000 it is planning on saving by making the bell time changes, and not be outrageously expensive for faith-based schools’ families.

DCSD superintendent Art Tate indicated that the bell/bus times would be on the May 29th agenda.  If you’d like to share your opinion with the board, please email the board at BoardComments@Davenportschools.org.  Only messages that include your name and address will be distributed.

Summer Programming at JFK:

Leaps & Bounds:  Does your child need some extra help over the summer?  Are you looking for a way to provide additional academic challenge for your student? Our Iowa certified staff will provide opportunities for your kindergarten through 5th grade child to grow by Leaps and Bounds.  Sign up for one, two or even all three sessions.  There are three week and two week sessions.  The program runs from 8:00 – 11:30 each day.  Two hours are for reading, one hour is for math, and 30 minutes is for recess and other fun.  The ratio is kept at 7 to 1 students per teacher or less.  Cost for the three week session is $270.  The two week session is $180.

Three week session:  June 11 – 29.          Two week session:  July 9 – 20          Two week session:  July 30 – Aug 10

Vacation Bible School:  This program is coordinated for parish members by parish members.  Volunteers are always welcome to be a part of VBS.  Children who are entering kindergarten through 6th grade will enjoy a week of activities, crafts, skits, songs, and Bible stories.  VBS meets from 8:00 – 11:30 and runs July 23 – 27.  The cost is $25 per child.

Math Boot Camp: Math Boot Camp will help to kick start your student’s math skills before school begins in August. Students will work with an Iowa certified teacher to review main concepts learned in the previous grade.  Each day will be an intensive  Math Boot Camp is for students of all learning ability levels entering grades 6-8.  The camp is from August 6 – 10.  The cost is $40 per student.

Incoming 6th graders:  8:00-9:30 a.m.         Incoming 7th graders:  9:30-11:00 a.m.          Incoming 8th Graders:  11:00-12:30 p.m.

Jump Start Kindergarten: Preschool students have worked hard this year to learn many skills to be successful when they start Kindergarten in the fall.  Jump Start Kindergarten will provide a review of alphabet letters and sounds, basic math concepts, and literacy skills.  This week long review will also include story times and interactive white board activities.  What a great way for your child to practice instructional routines in a fun, enriching atmosphere!  Jump Start Kindergarten is August 6 – 10 from 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.  Cost is $50, if registered before May 26th;  $55 afterward.

Summer Tutoring: Does your son or daughter need some extra one-on-one academic help during the summer?  Does he/she need to catch up on grade level skills?  How about a head start on the next school year?  Is your child interested in some coaching for a summer STEAM project?  JFK teachers are available this summer for tutoring students in a variety of areas.  Tutoring is one-on-one for grades K-8 by the hour ($22) or half-hour ($11).  Dates and times are flexible and can be arranged with the teacher.  Please contact Mrs. Motto for K-2 reading/language arts, Mrs. Lundquist for 3-5 reading/language arts/5th grade math, Ms. Burken for 6-8 reading/language arts, Mrs. Burke for reading/language arts, and/or Mrs. Schott for K-8 summer STEAM projects mentoring.

Instrumental Lessons: Would your son or daughter like to develop his/her instrumental skills over the summer?   Private lessons can be a great help (especially for younger grades) at retaining the current instrument knowledge.  It can also serve as early preparation for SEIBA auditions, marching band with Assumption, 6^th-grade band fests and more. There is no minimum or maximum number of lessons that you can sign up for; everything is based on availability.  Lessons can be arranged weekly or bi-weekly, a certain amount over the course of the summer, or sporadically.  Cost is $22 per hour or $11 per half hour.

Registration forms for any summer programming:  Click HERE or use the following link/url:  https://www.olvjfk.com/for-parents/policies-forms/ for registration forms.

Smartphones Interfere with Cognitive Tasks Even When We’re Not Using Them

An article in THE Journal:  Transforming Education Through Technology by Dian Schaffhauser summarizes two studies that show that just having smartphones nearby, even if turned off and/or in a pocket or nearby backpack, impairs students’ cognitive abilities.  Perhaps even more alarming is that students in the study didn’t think the location of their smartphones had any impact when the results showed it clearly did!  The advice of the researchers is that separation from one’s smartphone helps students with cognitive tasks.  Here is the full url/link: https://thejournal.com/articles/2018/04/09/even-the-mere-presence-of-a-smartphone-makes-you-dumber.aspx

Home & School

Last Day of Classes

May 31:  3 and 4 year old pre-school.  Four year olds have their programs on the 31st, and 3 year olds have their family activity on June 1.

June 1:  K-8.  This differs from the DCSD which is having classes on June 4.

June 1:  Last day of ECLC

Mrs. Tilkens continues to be out of school to care for CJ and his treatment for Neuroblastoma.  If you would like to help the Tilkens, please consider donating through GoFundMe.  Click CJ Cancer Fight or use the following link/url:  https://www.gofundme.com/CJCancerFight

Campus Safety Listening Sessions

Thank you to those who participated in the campus safety listening sessions.  Over the three sessions, we had about 30 attendees with a mix of staff, past JFK students’ parents, and current JFK students’ parents.  Please contact the school office, if you were unable to attend but would like to share your feedback.

While there were lots of nuanced differences, there are probably two main ideas emerging in regards to safety concerns relating to traffic in the parking lot during drop off and dismissal times and safety concerns relating to children being in the parking lot before/after school and recesses:

• Change drop off/pick up procedures/routes/barriers and also develop a hard surface play area south of the current play equipment.
• Change drop off/pick up procedures/routes/barriers and “flip” the parking lot so that student activity is on the south end of the lot and traffic and parking is on the north end of the lot.

Developing a new location for handicapped and short term visitor parking for the school was widely supported.  For dealing with congestion on 42nd Street when buses are on the street, the only option receiving any level of support was to see if the city would eliminate parking on the north side of the street during bus times.

Bell and Bus Times for Next Year:  DCSD Alternative Proposal Made Public May 7

The Davenport Community School District (DCSD) will make public an alternative proposal to change bell times for all of its schools and the faith-based schools at its Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, May 7th at 5:30 p.m. at its Achievement Services Center on Brady Street.   I will share the proposal after it is made public.  I’m sure it will generate as much discussion as the previous proposal!  Wouldn’t it be nice to not have to rely upon busing from the DCSD at all?

What a Fun Evening

The Gala was a fun evening — good food, fellowship, music, dancing, Fr. Jake wearing a pinata,….  The Gala had it all.  There was even the anxiety in the final days of preparation with being sold out until seating was rearranged to accommodate even more people.  The last count I heard was 267 tickets sold.  Many thanks to general chair, Molly McCarty.  Over the next few weeks, we’ll list many of the others who worked behind the scenes and at the event.  They all deserve our gratitude, and their work serves as a model illustrating how everyone can contribute in some way.  There were even people who coordinated elements of the Gala but were not able to attend themselves.

Smartphones Interfere with Cognitive Tasks Even When We’re Not Using Them

An article in THE Journal:  Transforming Education Through Technology by Dian Schaffhauser summarizes two studies that show that just having smartphones nearby, even if turned off and/or in a pocket or nearby backpack, impairs students’ cognitive abilities.  Perhaps even more alarming is that students in the study didn’t think the location of their smartphones had any impact when the results showed it clearly did!  The advice of the researchers is that separation from one’s smartphone helps students with cognitive tasks.  Here is the full url/link: https://thejournal.com/articles/2018/04/09/even-the-mere-presence-of-a-smartphone-makes-you-dumber.aspx

Home & School

The tax reform bill brought some positive changes to helping families afford non-public school education.  Catching up to recent federal legislation, changes to Iowa’s 529 plans will allow those funds to be used for K-12 non-public school tuition as well as college costs.

The family eligibility for financial assistance provided through School Tuition Organizations was increased from 300 to 400 percent of the federal poverty level, which would take the threshold to about $98,000 for a family of four.  An additional $1 million was also allowed statewide.  Unfortunately, the additional funding probably won’t match the additional need identified with the expanded eligibility.  Now, we know what a legislative priority for us will be next session.

Last Day of Classes

May 31:  3 and 4 year old pre-school.  Four year olds have their programs on the 31st, and 3 year olds have their family activity on June 1.

June 1:  K-8.  This differs from the DCSD which is having classes on June 4.

June 1:  Last day of ECLC