Month: September 2019

School Pictures

September 30th:  K-8, 4/5 yr old PS, MWF 3 yr old PS

October 1st:  Make-ups and T/Th 3 yr old PS

October 8th:  Retakes and make-ups

New Report Cards and Mid-Term Progress Reports

Beginning this fall, our report cards and mid-term progress reports will have a new look to them.  The new reports will allow more feedback to be given.  The first mid-term ended Wednesday, and progress reports will be sent home shortly.  We’re discovering how much more work these report cards require!

“Magazine” Sale

Home & School’s “magazine” sale continues.  This fund-raiser is the largest one by our Home & School.  Home & School helps provide for the needs of all students.  It is a major contributor toward the annual upkeep of the gym floor and the re-mulching of the two playgrounds.  It provides each teacher with $300 toward the needs in their classrooms.  (Did you know that teachers spend, on average nationally, about $500 of their own money each year on classroom supplies?  I wonder if this is common in other professions.)  Please support JFK’s Home & School Association.

Locals Love Us – Do You?

Vote for JFK on LocalsLoveUs.com.  Preschool, childcare, and K-8 Private school categories.

OLV parish bulletin:  Click HERE or use the following link/url:  https://www.olvjfk.com/olv/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/09/September-29-2019.pdf

Demographic Information

October 1st is the due date for some demographic reporting about the school.  JFK continues its trend toward more diversity in ethnicity, race, financial means of families (indicated by free/reduced lunch participation), and disabilities of students.  It also continues the same five year downward trend in K-8 enrollment that the other Catholic elementary schools in Davenport are facing.  (Lourdes seems to be at about the same enrollment it was five years ago.)

Enrollment by Percent Catholic

Budgeted Cost per K-8 Student

Just Being Near

On Thursday, my oldest daughter and her boyfriend made it to Davenport from North Carolina, and my youngest surprised us by arriving earlier from Kansas than we had thought she would.  We went out to dinner, and the girls went to the AHS football game while the boys watched football on TV.  When everyone was back together after the AHS game, I felt as if I didn’t want the evening to end.

On Friday, my other daughter timed it just right to make it to Davenport from Des Moines without driving through rain storms.  We ate a good meal together at home, had a MarioCart tournament, and watched more football.  When I stepped away for a bit, I almost had a tear in my eye as it was just such a pleasant time being together.  The only piece that was missing was that Tom, our son, ended up having to work and couldn’t make it from South Carolina.

On Saturday, we kept splitting into smaller groups to run to the store or do this, that, and that other thing, but there always seemed to be at least two people together.  We caught pieces of the games of people’s alma maters or of the favorite teams of those on TV:  Iowa, Kansas, Iowa State, Notre Dame, South Carolina, Ohio State (Big 10), and Cubs.  An extended family dinner capped the evening off.

By Sunday, things were sadly coming to an end.  Colleen and Justin left by 5:30 a.m.  On the way home from the 9:00 a.m. Mass, the conversation drifted to return travel plans and the weather.  Kirsten probably left before 11:30 a.m., and Caitlin, with a new travel route that would allow her to avoid the storms forecast to move across the I-80 corridor all afternoon and evening, left right at noon.  By 1:00, Lynn and I were lamenting how quiet the house seemed.  It’s not really that we always have to be doing something together with family members; it’s just being near enough to be able to do something that would be nice.

Chad

Locals Love Us – Do You?

Vote for JFK on LocalsLoveUs.com.  Preschool, childcare, and K-8 Private school categories.

Civic Oration Begins This Week

Can you believe we’re already going to start working on 5th-8th grade civic oration?  One of the reasons we switched to the fall was to enable students to be using the skills learned in civic oration through the rest of the school year.  This year’s topic deals with what freedom means.

New Report Cards and Mid-Term Progress Reports

Beginning this fall, our report cards and mid-term progress reports will have a new look to them.  The new reports will allow more feedback to be given.  The first mid-term ends Wednesday, and progress reports will be sent home the following Monday or Tuesday.

“Magazine” Sale

Home & School’s “magazine” sale continues.  This fund-raiser is the largest one by our Home & School.  Home & School helps provide for the needs of all students.  It is a major contributor toward the annual upkeep of the gym floor and the re-mulching of the two playgrounds.  It provides each teacher with $300 toward the needs in their classrooms.  (Did you know that teachers spend, on average nationally, about $500 of their own money each year on classroom supplies?  I wonder if this is common in other professions.)  Please support JFK’s Home & School Association.

Communications

Are You Registered to Receive Text Messages from JFK?

If you are not registered to receive text messages from JFK (primarily families new to JFK and/or preschool), type “Y” or “Yes” to 67587.  You will not receive text messages from JFK if you do not take action yourself.  There is no action required to receive email or phone messages.

Handbook Sign-Off

Please read the parent and student handbook, available HERE, and on our website: https://www.olvjfk.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/JFK-Parent-and-Student-Handbook-2019-20.pdf.  Then, print off the last page, sign it, and return it to the school office — one per family.  Thank you for helping us to reduce our printing costs.

Open Position

We have an instructional aide position available to assist students and teachers in elementary classes and supervisory duties.  To apply, please send a letter of interest, resume, and references or stop in the school office for an application.

OLV parish bulletin:  Click HERE or use the following link/url:  https://www.olvjfk.com/olv/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/09/1032800042C-091519.pdf

School Pictures:

September 30th:  K-8, 4/5 yr old PS, MWF 3 yr old PS

October 1st:  Make-ups and T/Th 3 yr old PS

How Busy Are You?

It almost seems as if one”measure of success” is how busy our lives are, especially as they relate to our children:  this athletic practice, that extracurricular related to school, the other “club” sport or rehearsal.  (Whether or not this busyness is really a “measure of success” might be a topic for another Post.)  When Lynn and I were in the thick of it with four children, we were glad to just make it through the day, week, and season.  In retrospect, maybe it wasn’t so bad.  Loading everyone into the van for a weekend road trip and squeezing six people into a hotel room forced family time, which was also often without screen time.  Huddling together under the blanket in the wind and cold was often the equivalent of “date night.”  Giving the kids the money so they could make a “concession stand run” was a way for them to learn how to handle money and cooperate with each other.  Collective memories were created in our busyness.  As the kids grew older and became more independent with their activities, sometimes even driving themselves to/from practices and events, our lives probably became less hectic.  But our lives also had less family time too.  Yes, you, too can make it through the busyness, and don’t forget to remember to cherish the moments and memories too.

Chad

Catechetical Sunday — Thank You to Those with “Mass Parts”

Thank you to Elise B., Rylie D., Cleary C., Ryan B., Lauren L, Jadyn W., Maggie A., Quinn C., Dominic N., and Heath W. for volunteering to have leadership roles in this Mass.  As the Mass attendance rate of school families seems to reflect that of the general Catholic and OLV community (32% at OLV during the last official attendance weekends last November), it is even sometimes difficult to find students who can volunteer for “Mass parts.”  Thank you also to our altar servers.

Parish Picnic

The OLV parish picnic is Saturday, September 21st after the 4:30 p.m. Mass. Golf carts will be available to take people from the parking lot to the school grounds and handicap seating will be available.  Bring your lawn chairs and your appetite as we will be serving BBQ catered by Smokin’ Butt BBQ, iced tea, lemonade, coffee and water.  Beer and wine coolers will be available for purchase. Music and fun for all!  Tickets are $1 each and free for children 5 and under.  (Children still need tickets so we can get an accurate attendance count.)  Tickets will be sold each weekend until September 14 in the Gathering Space. Tickets may also be purchased at the parish and school offices.  In addition to your ticket you are asked to bring a dish to share.  Please bring a serving utensil and mark all dishes and utensils with your name for return:
Last name ending in:
A – H bring Desserts     I – P bring Vegetables     Q – Z bring Salads

Plenty of volunteers are also needed.  Click HERE or use the following link/url to sign up to help:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0d4ca5a62da4fc1-parish1

Locals Love Us – Do You?

Vote for JFK on LocalsLoveUs.com.  Preschool, childcare, and K-8 Private school categories.

Communications

Are You Registered to Receive Text Messages from JFK?

If you are not registered to receive text messages from JFK (primarily families new to JFK and/or preschool), type “Y” or “Yes” to 67587.  You will not receive text messages from JFK if you do not take action yourself.  There is no action required to receive email or phone messages.

Handbook Sign-Off

Please read the parent and student handbook, available HERE, and on our website: https://www.olvjfk.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/JFK-Parent-and-Student-Handbook-2019-20.pdf.  Then, print off the last page, sign it, and return it to the school office — one per family.  Thank you for helping us to reduce our printing costs.

Reminder:  Smart watches are in the same category as “cell phones and other electronic devices” and prohibited from use between 7:00 a.m. and until students leave the building.  Because staff members are not able to tell which Smart Watches and FitBits are connected to data plans or phones in one’s locker, all such devices will be prohibited.

Open Position

We have an instructional aide position available to assist students and teachers in elementary classes and supervisory duties.  To apply, please send a letter of interest, resume, and references or stop in the school office for an application.

Welcome Emma Wolf

JFK is pleased to welcome Mrs. Emma Wolf to the staff as our new student support specialist, a position that will have many duties similar to a school counselor.  Mrs. Wolf is a recent St. Ambrose University graduate with a master’s degree in social work.  She has experience working with youth in several settings.  Mrs. Wolf will be transitioning into the position while Mrs. Weiser transitions out of the position and back into the classroom full time.  We expect to welcome another Wolf in January as Mrs. Wolf is due with their first child toward the beginning of the month.

Portable A/C Experiment

Our portable air conditioning experiment in a classroom yielded little benefit.  Without someone full-time in one of our small interior offices, we utilized one of our portable air conditioning units down the hall in an experiment in Mrs. Kubalsky’s science room.  Compared to Mrs. Whelchel’s and Mrs. Kuehn’s neighboring classrooms, we were only able to lower the temperature by about two degrees when running the portable air conditioning unit at least 9-10 hours per day and dismantling the ventilation at night so the building could be secured.

On another day last week, we experimented with operating our industrial dehumidifier in the science room.  While we didn’t have measurement tools, the room felt no different than the neighboring classrooms.

So where are we with our major HVAC project?  Last week, we also met with Derek Wilson of Ryan & Associates and Russ Meier of Mechanical Sales and parent of a current JFK student and graduates.  They will be working together to update our A/C and ventilation plan.  Now that we are setting aside funds toward this project, it is time to refresh the details.

Back in 2016, we explored a complete HVAC project for the school and looked at ten different options, including one that would “just” add window air conditioning units.  A variable refrigerant flow system with a boiler was recommended.  Heating was the first phase and was completed during the summer of 2017.  We are now looking to see how the air conditioning and ventilation phase can be completed or even have phases itself that can be completed a little bit at a time.

“Magazine” Sale

Home & School’s “magazine” sale begins on Tuesday.  This fund-raiser is the largest one by our Home & School.  Home & School helps provide for the needs of all students.  It is a major contributor toward the annual upkeep of the gym floor and the re-mulching of the two playgrounds.  It provides each teacher with $300 toward the needs in their classrooms.  (Did you know that teachers spend, on average nationally, about $500 of their own money each year on classroom supplies?)  Please support JFK’s Home & School Association.

Provide input to Home & School by attending this Thursday’s meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the parish center.  All JFK families are automatically members of Home & School.

Future Lady Knights Basketball

Registration for Future Lady Knights Basketball is underway, and a special registration night is Wednesday from 6:30 – 7:45 at Assumption.  FLK is fo girls in 3rd to 8th grade who are interested in attending AHS and who want to be part of the developmental and competitive basketball feeder program.  Registration forms and fee information can be obtained by email if you contact OLV parishioner Joe Creen at Creenlaw@gmail.com.  If you have questions, please call Debbie Giganti at 563-359-3085 or Joe Creen at 563-343-0781.

OLV parish bulletin:  Click HERE or use the following link/url:  https://www.olvjfk.com/olv/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/09/1032800042C-091519.pdf

Makeshift Solution?

On Saturday, Lynn and I used some old pieces of railroad ties and 6 x 6 pieces of lumber we had around the yard to make a patch for the worst part of our failing retaining wall.  We’ll see how well it works and how long it lasts as we save money for a more permanent solution.  I think my kids would recognize and appreciate our ingenuity.  Through every science or other school project, we were always trying to think of what could be done with what we had on hand without spending a lot of money.  Growing up, I remember being a fan of the TV show, “MacGeyver.”  I was always amazed at what could be done with a stick of gum, a piece of lint, and the lens from one’s eyeglasses.

Chad

Catechetical Sunday — 9:00 a.m. Mass on Sept 15

Catechetical Sunday, and the first all school weekend Mass, is September 15th at the 9:00 a.m. Mass.  Please make arrangements to attend this Mass and show your children your commitment as parents and their first catechists to their faith formation through OLV and JFK.

Did you see the article in the parish bulletin regarding worshipping and resting on Sundays?   Click HERE or use the following link/url:  https://www.olvjfk.com/olv/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/09/1032800041C-090819.pdf

Parish Picnic

The OLV parish picnic is Saturday, September 21st after the 4:30 p.m. Mass. Golf carts will be available to take people from the parking lot to the school grounds and handicap seating will be available.  Bring your lawn chairs and your appetite as we will be serving BBQ catered by Smokin’ Butt BBQ, iced tea, lemonade, coffee and water.  Beer and wine coolers will be available for purchase. Music and fun for all!  Tickets are $1 each and free for children 5 and under.  (Children still need tickets so we can get an accurate attendance count.)  Tickets will be sold each weekend until September 14 in the Gathering Space. Tickets may also be purchased at the parish and school offices.  In addition to your ticket you are asked to bring a dish to share.  Please bring a serving utensil and mark all dishes and utensils with your name for return:
Last name ending in:
A – H bring Desserts     I – P bring Vegetables     Q – Z bring Salads

Plenty of volunteers are also needed.  Click HERE or use the following link/url to sign up to help:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0d4ca5a62da4fc1-parish1

Locals Love Us – Do You?

Vote for JFK on LocalsLoveUs.com.  Preschool, childcare, and K-8 Private school categories.

Communications

Are You Registered to Receive Text Messages from JFK?

If you are not registered to receive text messages from JFK (primarily families new to JFK and/or preschool), type “Y” or “Yes” to 67587.  You will not receive text messages from JFK if you do not take action yourself.  There is no action required to receive email or phone messages.

Principal’s Posts are written each weekend and posted on our website, available off the front page.  I also send a link via email and post it to the school’s Facebook account.  It then gets sent home via hard copy via “backpack mail” with the “youngest or only child” in a family at the beginning of each week.  I use the Principal’s Post to reach the whole school community and sometimes highlight happenings in particular grades.  It does not replace the many communications you will receive from your children’s teachers.

We also utilize a JFK Facebook page, and there is a closed Facebook group, JFK Moms & Dads, where people can post to others in the group.  JFK’s Facebook page can be accessed from the front page of our website.  If you’d like to be a member of the JFK Moms & Dads group, please let Angie Hillebrand, in the school office know via a Facebook request or even via email.   Social media is not the best venue for voicing a concern, and posts that appear to do so will be removed while we try to reach out to address the concern through a better means.  Social media, including our Facebook pages, are great ways to share your photos and connect with other JFK families.  Photos from an event are often posted to these pages by families before we can even get photos taken by staff posted.  Make sure you “like” us on both Facebook pages!

Take advantage of the calendars on our website.  We have eight: School, Parish, Lunch Menu, Lunch Duty, Faith Formation, Youth Ministry, Gym & Athletic Fields, and Room Reservations.

Altar Server Trainings

All boys and girls of the parish in 4th grade and up who are interested in being an altar server are invited to attend training in the church on Saturday, September 14th from 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.  At least one parent is needed to complete the necessary paperwork. If you have any questions, please contact the Parish office at 563-391-4245.

Handbook Sign-Off

Please read the parent and student handbook, available HERE, and on our website: https://www.olvjfk.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/JFK-Parent-and-Student-Handbook-2019-20.pdf.  Then, print off the last page, sign it, and return it to the school office — one per family.  Thank you for helping us to reduce our printing costs.

Reminder:  Smart watches are in the same category as “cell phones and other electronic devices” and prohibited from use between 7:00 a.m. and until students leave the building.  Because staff members are not able to tell which Smart Watches and FitBits are connected to data plans or phones in one’s locker, all such devices will be prohibited.

Shiny Floors

Aren’t the floors beautiful? The shine on the school floors is incredible. Please thank our evening custodian, Jeff Edens, for the pride he takes in taking care of the school floors.

Open Positions

We have a 6-8 hours per week Title I funded interventionist position available to provide math support for elementary-age students.  This position requires a K-6 IA license.

We also have additional instructional aide hours to assist students and teachers in elementary classes and supervisory duties.  The aide hours can be combined with the teaching position.

At last week’s board meeting, the board created a new position:  student support specialist.  In next week’s Principal’s Post, I’ll introduce our new student support specialist.  She will have many duties similar to a school counselor.

Familiar Dilemma?

Lynn and I are struggling with a project at our house.  We have a 30+ year old retaining wall on three sides of our garage that is failing.  I’ve replaced two sides over the years, but even these are starting to show signs of deterioration.  We probably need a complete demolition and replacement.  We’re running into a dilemma that many of you probably also face:  we work too many hours to be doing the work effectively ourselves but don’t make enough money to be able to hire someone else to do the work!

Chad

Communications

Are You Registered to Receive Text Messages from JFK?

If you are not registered to receive text messages from JFK (primarily families new to JFK and/or preschool), type “Y” or “Yes” to 67587.  You will not receive text messages from JFK if you do not take action yourself.  There is no action required to receive email or phone messages.

Principal’s Posts are written each weekend and posted on our website, available off the front page.  I also send a link via email and post it to the school’s Facebook account.  It then gets sent home via hard copy via “backpack mail” with the “youngest or only child” in a family at the beginning of each week.  I use the Principal’s Post to reach the whole school community and sometimes highlight happenings in particular grades.  It does not replace the many communications you will receive from your children’s teachers.

We also utilize a JFK Facebook page, and there is a closed Facebook group, JFK Moms & Dads, where people can post to others in the group.  JFK’s Facebook page can be accessed from the front page of our website.  If you’d like to be a member of the JFK Moms & Dads group, please let Angie Hillebrand, in the school office know via a Facebook request or even via email.   Social media is not the best venue for voicing a concern, and posts that appear to do so will be removed while we try to reach out to address the concern through a better means.  Social media, including our Facebook pages, are great ways to share your photos and connect with other JFK families.  Photos from an event are often posted to these pages by families before we can even get photos taken by staff posted.  Make sure you “like” us on both Facebook pages!

Highlighted Events and Headlines on the front page of our website also tend to be updated each weekend.

Take advantage of the calendars on our website.  We have eight: School, Parish, Lunch Menu, Lunch Duty, Faith Formation, Youth Ministry, Gym & Athletic Fields, and Room Reservations.

Enjoy the NCEA Parent News “Play Like a Champion” flyer.  It seems appropriate as we gear up for fall sports.

Art Room Renovation:

Did you see the art room yet this year?  Below are some before/after photos:

Altar Server Trainings

All boys and girls of the parish in 4th grade and up who are interested in being an altar server are invited to attend training in the church on Saturday, September 14th from 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.  At least one parent is needed to complete the necessary paperwork. If you have any questions, please contact the Parish office at 563-391-4245.

Confirmation Parent Meetings for 7th and 8th Graders

OLV’s Confirmation preparation is considered a two year process.  The 7th grade parent meeting is at 6:00 p.m. on September 5th in the parish center.  The 8th grade meeting follows at 7:00 p.m.

Parish Picnic

The OLV parish picnic is Saturday, September 21st after the 4:30 p.m. Mass. Golf carts will be available to take people from the parking lot to the school grounds and handicap seating will be available.  Bring your lawn chairs and your appetite as we will be serving BBQ catered by Smokin’ Butt BBQ, iced tea, lemonade, coffee and water.  Beer and wine coolers will be available for purchase. Music and fun for all!  Tickets are $1 each and free for children 5 and under.  (Children still need tickets so we can get an accurate attendance count.)  Tickets will be sold each weekend until September 14 in the Gathering Space. Tickets may also be purchased at the parish and school offices.  In addition to your ticket you are asked to bring a dish to share.  Please bring a serving utensil and mark all dishes and utensils with your name for return:
Last name ending in:
A – H bring Desserts     I – P bring Vegetables     Q – Z bring Salads

Plenty of volunteers are also needed.  Click HERE or use the following link/url to sign up to help:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0d4ca5a62da4fc1-parish1

Handbook Sign-Off

Please read the parent and student handbook, available HERE, and on our website: https://www.olvjfk.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/JFK-Parent-and-Student-Handbook-2019-20.pdf.  Then, print off the last page, sign it, and return it to the school office — one per family.  Thank you for helping us to reduce our printing costs.

Reminder:  Smart watches are in the same category as “cell phones and other electronic devices” and prohibited from use between 7:00 a.m. and until students leave the building.  Because staff members are not able to tell which Smart Watches and FitBits are connected to data plans or phones in one’s locker, all such devices will be prohibited.

OLV parish bulletin:  Click HERE or use the following link/url:  https://www.olvjfk.com/olv/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/08/1032800040C-090119.pdf

Open Positions

Due to the part time teaching position created by the open counseling position, we also have a part time teaching position available.  This position is for 5th grade and/or as a reading interventionist.

We also have a 6-8 hours per week Title I funded interventionist position available to provide math support for elementary-age students.  The teaching positions require K-6 IA licenses.  Finally, JFK’s board of education authorized additional instructional aide hours to assist students and teachers in elementary classes and supervisory duties.  All of the positions can be filled independently or combined.

Labor Day Weekend

I hope you enjoyed the long weekend.  After gearing up for the start of a new school year, I am always relieved to have a little extra time to relax.

Lynn and I were able to visit my oldest sister, Dawn, and her daughter’s family in Argyle, WI on Sunday.  Dawn’s four children are all exactly ten years older than my four.  She had three boys and one girl, while we had three girls and one boy.  The “singletons” are even in the same order in our families: the second child.  Dawn has lived in northern Alabama for over 30 years.  Her daughter, Bonnie, is a large animal veterinarian who specializes with dairy cows.  With the focus on dairy cows, there were really three main states in which to have a career:  Wisconsin, California, and New York.  She chose to work in southwestern WI.  While she didn’t know anyone in that area herself when she started, it didn’t take long for the farmers to realize that she was related to my mother who spent her earliest childhood years on various family members’ farms in that area.  Bonnie and her husband now also operate an organic dairy farm themselves, and their two little boys, ages 3 1/2 and 1 1/2, show no fear!

Chad