Month: September 2023

September 24, 2023

Posted on by csteimle

I’m So Blessed!

On Friday, I had my final three-month check up after my prostate surgery in November 2021.  With another clear PSA test, I am now moving to a six month check up schedule.  September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.  Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men, and 1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime.  I had no symptoms when I received my diagnosis.  If it hadn’t been for a PSA test for my regular physical, I would not have caught my illness at such at an early stage.  Don’t put off your physical!

Halfway through Quarter

The halfway point of the first quarter was Friday.  If you cannot access your child’s grades through PowerSchool, please reach out to Dianne Siefers at dianne.siefers@olvjfkmail.com.  A bulk email regarding how to set up the accounts correctly was sent from SCCS a couple of weeks ago, and Ms. Siefers sent another message last week to families who did not receive the first message.  For more detailed information about the grades themselves, please contact your child’s teacher(s).

NET Retreats for 7th/8th Graders & Housing Needed

NET team members will conduct retreats for 7th and 8th graders again this year.  The retreat is on Saturday, October 7th.  NET team members come from all across the country and are trained and based out of the Diocese of Minneapolis.  These 8-12 young adults combine social interactions, skits, music, prayer, and discussion to create a powerful religious experience for students.

Want to extend the experience even more for your student?  We are in need of host families for the NET team members on the evening of Friday, October 6, 2023. Hosts are requested to house a minimum of two up and up to seven team members of the same gender. The NET team members will have sleeping bags, mats, pillows, towels and toiletries and are fine with sleeping on the floor, couches or air mattresses. They do request shower access. Please consider opening your home to these exceptional young people providing this ministry. Contact Kaye Meyers, davolvcre@diodav.org, if you are able to provide a space.  Host families often gain much from the presence of these energetic, faith-filled young people!  You do not need a 7th or 8th grader to host NET team members either.

Parent University to Feature Internet and Social Media Safety

SCCS counselors are preparing for a Parent University session on internet and social media safety to be held October 3rd in the Carroll Lab at AHS from 6:00-7:30 p.m.  Nearly every issue at schools seems to be tied into cell phones and social media.  Schools can only do so much, and we often can only deal with the fall out.  Come to the parent university session and find out what parents can do. Former Davenport officer Hank Jacobsen will be the featured speaker.  He can share his perspectives as an officer and an SCCS parent.

ESA Work Still Needed by Some?

There are multiple steps to utilizing an ESA:

  1. Apply to the state through Odyssey and have one’s application be accepted.  The deadline for the application was June 30th.
  2. Go back into Odyssey to identify the school for which you want your ESA to be applied.  If parents don’t do this step, we have no idea that they have been accepted for an ESA.
    1. SCCS or the school will then “verify” that the student will be attending the school and assign tuition
  3. Go back into Odyssey to accept the tuition.  Without this step, money will not go to SCCS.

Steps 2 and 3 are just as critical as step 1.  The deadline for steps 2 and 3 is prior to September 30th.  If not completed by September 30th, the ESA is forfeited, and parents will have to pay the entire tuition bill themselves.

If you have questions, please contact Rose Strickland at the SCCS business office at AHS:  rose.strickland@sccsiowa.org or 563-326-5313.  No one at JFK has access to your account information in Blackbaud.

Calendar Highlights

Here are just a few items highlighted from the detailed online school calendar:

  • Sept 28:  Picture retake/makeups
  • Sept 29:  No buses (The DCSD is not in session).  JFK Pumpkin Patch Night at Pride of the Wapsi
  • Oct 9:  No school.  ECLC is open

Open Positions at JFK for 2023-24

JFK still has open positions for 2023-24:

Instructional aide/support position:  Follow the same work calendar as your children’s school calendar.  We are looking for a “jack of all trades” person to help in preschool, supervise recesses, provide instructional support, and care for students in aftercare and/or wrap-around care.  On some days, one might start as early as 7:10, and, on other days, one might work until 5:30.  The total is about 39 hours per week, and the rate is $12 per hour.  Summers are off, and most other breaks also follow the same schedule as your children!  If interested, please send me a cover letter, resume, and references, and/or stop by the school office for an application.

Instructional aide positions:  Help teachers and provide instructional support for students in K-8.  Multiple positions are available.  If interested, please send me a cover letter, resume, and references, and/or stop by the school office for an application.

Substitutes:  Substitutes are always needed for both long-term assignments (like maternity leaves) and short-term assignments (like when a teacher needs to stay home with his/her own sick child).  You do not need a teaching degree to work as a substitute.  A minimum of an associate’s degree may be enough to qualify.  The process to become a substitute teacher includes completion of a 15-20 hour workshop, multiple background checks, and applications with the Iowa Board of Education Examiners and JFK.  Workshops are being held almost every week throughout the state, and many of them are virtual so geography does not need to be a limiting factor.   If you are interested in being a substitute, please contact me and/or the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency at 563-359-1371.  We would also like to thank our current substitutes:  Kayla Mason, Jen Kira, Amy Jackson, and Dianne Longenecker.

Open Lunch Position(s) at AHS and All Saints

Part-time help is needed to help serve lunches at Assumption and/or All Saints.  Approximately 12-15 hours per week while the kids are at school.  The day starts after drop drop off and is finished before pick up.  All school holidays are observed.  No experience is necessary.  Please contact Nikki Gartner to discuss  further:  nikki.gartner@sccsiowa.org or 563-326-5313 ext 203

Handbook Sign-Off

Please read the parent and student handbook, available HERE, and on our website: https://www.olvjfk.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/JFK-K-8-Parent-Handbook-2023-24.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.  

 

 

Principal’s Post for September 17, 2023

Posted on by csteimle

I’m So Blessed!

Tuesday is National IT Professionals Day.  Just as in your home and work place, we could not function without great IT support.  Whether it be tending to students’ or staff members’ needs, we are so blessed to have Dianne Siefers at JFK!

Drop-Off and Pick-Up

The bulk of the morning traffic occurs about 7:14-7:27.  Please make sure you move slowly through the parking lot and be watchful at all times.  Saving a few seconds by going too fast or trying to multi-task will pale in comparison to hitting a child with one’s car.  The same applies in the afternoon.  Our first group of car riders are escorted by staff out of the building beginning at about 2:38.  They are followed by students dismissed at 2:42 and 2:43, and our car riders are out of the parking lot by about 2:50.  We are blessed with a large parking lot with drop-off/pick-up lanes at both the south and north ends of the lot and multiple entrances/exits.

The drop-off lane along the barriers in the morning is for those who are just pulling up and letting their kids out.  If you need to park and/or get out of the vehicle yourself, please park in the lot and not in the drop off lane.  Cars pulling around a parked vehicle in the drop off lane can be dangerous as there are two lanes of traffic moving in the same direction nearest the building.  Careful “zippering” near the northeast exit is also helpful.

NET Retreats for 7th/8th Graders & Housing Needed

NET team members will conduct retreats for 7th and 8th graders again this year.  The retreat is on Saturday, October 7th.  NET team members come from all across the country and are trained and based out of the Diocese of Minneapolis.  These 8-12 young adults combine social interactions, skits, music, prayer, and discussion to create a powerful religious experience for students.

Want to extend the experience even more for your student?  We are in need of host families for the NET team members on the evening of Friday, October 6, 2023. Hosts are requested to house a minimum of two up and up to seven team members of the same gender. The NET team members will have sleeping bags, mats, pillows, towels and toiletries and are fine with sleeping on the floor, couches or air mattresses. They do request shower access. Please consider opening your home to these exceptional young people providing this ministry. Contact Kaye Meyers, davolvcre@diodav.org, if you are able to provide a space.  Host families often gain much from the presence of these energetic, faith-filled young people!  You do not need a 7th or 8th grader to host NET team members either.

Middle School Youth Night

Adult volunteers are needed to help with middle school ministry this year.  Contact Abbey Heinrichs at davolvym@diodav.org, if you are interested.  She can also guide you toward the required Protecting God’s Children background checks and requirements for volunteers.  They are looking to have a middle school youth night on September 25th, from 6:00-7:30 in the JFK gym.

Parent University to Feature Internet and Social Media Safety

SCCS counselors are preparing for a Parent University session on internet and social media safety to be held October 3rd in the Carroll Lab at AHS from 6:00-7:30 p.m.  Nearly every issue at schools seems to be tied into cell phones and social media.  Schools can only do so much, and we often can only deal with the fall out.  Come to the parent university session and find out what parents can do. Former Davenport officer Hank Jacobsen will be the featured speaker.  He can share his perspectives as an officer and an SCCS parent.

ESA Work Still Needed by Some?

There are multiple steps to utilizing an ESA:

  1. Apply to the state through Odyssey and have one’s application be accepted.  The deadline for the application was June 30th.
  2. Go back into Odyssey to identify the school for which you want your ESA to be applied.  If parents don’t do this step, we have no idea that they have been accepted for an ESA.
    1. SCCS or the school will then “verify” that the student will be attending the school and assign tuition
  3. Go back into Odyssey to accept the tuition.  Without this step, money will not go to SCCS.

Steps 2 and 3 are just as critical as step 1.  The deadline for steps 2 and 3 is prior to September 30th.  If not completed by September 30th, the ESA is forfeited, and parents will have to pay the entire tuition bill themselves.

If you have questions, please contact Rose Strickland at the SCCS business office at AHS:  rose.strickland@sccsiowa.org or 563-326-5313.  No one at JFK has access to your account information in Blackbaud.

Calendars

Multiple calendars are available on our website, www.olvjfk.com.  On the school side of the website, a one page summary calendar is on the front page.  Detailed calendars can also be reached by clicking on the calendars heading.

Calendar Highlights

Here are just a few items highlighted from the detailed online school calendar:

  • Sept 20:  Picture day for M-F PS and MWF 3 YO PS
  • Sept 21:  Picture day for T/Th 3 YO PS and K-8.  Students may be out of uniform for picture day but should adhere to the “Out of Uniform Dress Guidelines” available under the dress code on our website
  • Sept 22:  2 hr early dismissal (12:40).  No afternoon PS classes
  • Sept 24:  OLV parish picnic
  • Sept 29:  No buses (The DCSD is not in session).  JFK Pumpkin Patch Night at Pride of the Wapsi
  • Oct 9:  No school.  ECLC is open

Altar Server Training

Altar Server Training will be Sept. 23 at 9:30 am -11 am in the church.  Children, 4th grade and up, who are interested in altar serving at Mass are invited to attend this training.

Open Positions at JFK for 2023-24

JFK still has open positions for 2023-24:

Instructional aide/support position:  Follow the same work calendar as your children’s school calendar.  We are looking for a “jack of all trades” person to help in preschool, supervise recesses, provide instructional support, and care for students in aftercare and/or wrap-around care.  On some days, one might start as early as 7:10, and, on other days, one might work until 5:30.  The total is about 39 hours per week, and the rate is $12 per hour.  Summers are off, and most other breaks also follow the same schedule as your children!  If interested, please send me a cover letter, resume, and references, and/or stop by the school office for an application.

Instructional aide positions:  Help teachers and provide instructional support for students in K-8.  Multiple positions are available.  If interested, please send me a cover letter, resume, and references, and/or stop by the school office for an application.

Substitutes:  Substitutes are always needed for both long-term assignments (like maternity leaves) and short-term assignments (like when a teacher needs to stay home with his/her own sick child).  You do not need a teaching degree to work as a substitute.  A minimum of an associate’s degree may be enough to qualify.  The process to become a substitute teacher includes completion of a 15-20 hour workshop, multiple background checks, and applications with the Iowa Board of Education Examiners and JFK.  Workshops are being held almost every week throughout the state, and many of them are virtual so geography does not need to be a limiting factor.   If you are interested in being a substitute, please contact me and/or the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency at 563-359-1371.  We would also like to thank our current substitutes:  Kayla Mason, Jen Kira, Amy Jackson, and Dianne Longenecker.

Open Lunch Position(s) at AHS and All Saints

Part-time help is needed to help serve lunches at Assumption and/or All Saints.  Approximately 12-15 hours per week while the kids are at school.  The day starts after drop drop off and is finished before pick up.  All school holidays are observed.  No experience is necessary.  Please contact Nikki Gartner to discuss  further:  nikki.gartner@sccsiowa.org or 563-326-5313 ext 203

Handbook Sign-Off

Please read the parent and student handbook, available HERE, and on our website: https://www.olvjfk.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/JFK-K-8-Parent-Handbook-2023-24.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.  

Free and Reduced Lunch Application

Those who are not “direct certified” and would like to apply for free or reduced priced lunches should use the following link:  F/R Application.  By participating in the National School Lunch Program, JFK receives a federal and state subsidy for EVERY lunch served.  The subsidy helps us keep down the prices of student lunches for all students.  The subsidy is the greatest for those who qualify for free lunches, smaller for those who qualify for reduced price lunches, and the smallest for all other students.  Applications can be submitted at any time, and eligibility must be determined annually.  When communicating about the lunch program, the following two nondiscrimination statements must also be posted.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html , and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call 866-632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

  1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
    1400 Independence Avenue, SW
    Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
  2. fax: 202-690-7442; or
  3. email: program.intake@usda.gov

Iowa Nondiscrimination Statement

It is the policy of this CNP provider not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or religion in its programs, activities, or employment practices as required by the Iowa Code section 216.6, 216.7, and 216.9. If you have questions or grievances related to compliance with this policy by this CNP Provider, please contact the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, Grimes State Office Building, 400 E 14th St, Des Moines, IA 50319-1004; phone number 515-281-4121 or 800-457-4416; website: https://icrc.iowa.gov/.

 

Principal’s Post for September 10, 2023

Posted on by csteimle

I’m So Blessed!

I work with an amazing staff with members who are always going above and beyond!  This week’s shout-out goes to our second grade teachers, Angie Maxwell and Kelly Poster.  With a new format to our meetings, these teachers were the first teachers to give the board highlights in person.  They did a great job and explained the new emphasis on curriculum standards and report cards in short, understandable terms.

Drop-Off and Pick-Up

The bulk of the morning traffic occurs about 7:14-7:27.  Please make sure you move slowly through the parking lot and be watchful at all times.  Saving a few seconds by going too fast or trying to multi-task will pale in comparison to hitting a child with one’s car.  The same applies in the afternoon.  Our first group of car riders are escorted by staff out of the building beginning at about 2:38.  They are followed by students dismissed at 2:42 and 2:43.  Prior to 2:50 on Friday, all of our car riders were out of the parking lot.  We are blessed with a large parking lot with drop-off/pick-up lanes at both the south and north ends of the lot and multiple entrances/exits.

The drop-off lane along the barriers in the morning is for those who are just pulling up and letting their kids out.  If you need to park and/or get out of the vehicle yourself, please park in the lot and not in the drop off lane.  Cars pulling around a parked vehicle in the drop off lane can be dangerous as there are two lanes of traffic moving in the same direction nearest the building.  Careful “zippering” near the northeast exit is also helpful.

NET Retreats for 7th/8th Graders & Housing Needed

NET team members will conduct retreats for 7th and 8th graders again this year.  The retreat is on Saturday, October 7th.  NET team members come from all across the country and are trained and based out of the Diocese of Minneapolis.  These 8-12 young adults combine social interactions, skits, music, prayer, and discussion to create a powerful religious experience for students.

Want to extend the experience even more for your student?  We are in need of host families for the NET team members on the evening of Friday, October 6, 2023. Hosts are requested to house a minimum of two up and up to seven team members of the same gender. The NET team members will have sleeping bags, mats, pillows, towels and toiletries and are fine with sleeping on the floor, couches or air mattresses. They do request shower access. Please consider opening your home to these exceptional young people providing this ministry. Contact Kaye Meyers, davolvcre@diodav.org, if you are able to provide a space.  Host families often gain much from the presence of these energetic, faith-filled young people!  You do not need a 7th or 8th grader to host NET team members either.

Middle School Youth Night

Adult volunteers are needed to help with middle school ministry this year.  Contact Abbey Heinrichs at davolvym@diodav.org, if you are interested.  She can also guide you toward the required Protecting God’s Children background checks and requirements for volunteers.  They are looking to have a middle school youth night on September 25th, from 6:00-7:30 in the JFK gym.

Purified Featuring Jason Evert

Get answers to life’s tough questions about love, dating, and relationships from internationally acclaimed speaker Jason Evert and leave with a healthy sense of self-worth and the ability, if needed, to start again.  OLV is hosting an evening session for parents and teens on Monday, September 11th from 6:30-8:30 p.m.  Tickets are available HERE.

Students in grades 7-12 in SCCS will hear Jason Evert speak at Assumption on September 12th.  We will be riding buses from JFK to AHS n the morning and returning in the same manner before lunch.  A detailed transportation plan for SCCS is still being determined.
Why should I go in the evening, if my teen will go during the day?  The two presentations are different.  After hearing Mr. Evert speak, teens will want to talk, and the opening is there for them to talk with you as parents about a sensitive topic.  Don’t let the opportunity escape!
When my kids were in middle school, they also heard Mr. Evert both during the school day and in the evening.  It was a great family experience.
Parent University to Feature Internet and Social Media Safety

SCCS counselors are preparing for a Parent University session on internet and social media safety to be held October 3rd in the Carroll Lab at AHS from 6:00-7:30 p.m.  Nearly every issue at schools seems to be tied into cell phones and social media.  Schools can only do so much, and we often can only deal with the fall out.  Come to the parent university session and find out what parents can do. Former Davenport officer Hank Jacobsen will be the featured speaker.  He can share his perspectives as an officer and an SCCS parent.

PS-8 Payment System for 2023-24

Parents need to complete several steps in the Blackbaud tuition management system, arrange for payments to be made, and, by now, begin making payments.  Remember that tuition is billed at the gross amount, and then deductions like parishioner discounts, multi-child discounts, “private pay” discounts, etc. are shown.  It is believed that the invoices are correct, and all of the discounts have been posted.  If you have questions, please contact Rose Strickland at the SCCS business office at AHS:  rose.strickland@sccsiowa.org or 563-326-5313.  No one at JFK has access to your account information in Blackbaud.

Calendars

Multiple calendars are available on our website, www.olvjfk.com.  On the school side of the website, a one page summary calendar is on the front page.  Detailed calendars can also be reached by clicking on the calendars heading.

Calendar Highlights

Here are just a few items highlighted from the detailed online school calendar:

  • Sept 11:  In-service, no classes.  ECLC is open.  Jason Evert event.  Music Boosters
  • Sept 12:  Jason Evert event for 7-12 graders of SCCS.  Home & School Mtg
  • Sept 14:  7th Gr. Confirmation prep
  • Sept 15:  Outdoor movie night
  • Sept 17:  Ignite Sunday
  • Sept 20/21:  Picture day
  • Sept 22:  2 hr early dismissal.  No afternoon PS classes

Altar Server Training

Altar Server Training will be Sept. 23 at 9:30 am -11 am in the church.  Children, 4th grade and up, who are interested in altar serving at Mass are invited to attend this training.

Open Positions at JFK for 2023-24

JFK still has open positions for 2023-24:

Instructional aide/support position:  Follow the same work calendar as your children’s school calendar.  We are looking for a “jack of all trades” person to help in preschool, supervise recesses, provide instructional support, and care for students in aftercare and/or wrap-around care.  On some days, one might start as early as 7:10, and, on other days, one might work until 5:30.  The total is about 39 hours per week, and the rate is $12 per hour.  Summers are off, and most other breaks also follow the same schedule as your children!  If interested, please send me a cover letter, resume, and references, and/or stop by the school office for an application.

Instructional aide positions:  Help teachers and provide instructional support for students in K-8.  Multiple positions are available.  If interested, please send me a cover letter, resume, and references, and/or stop by the school office for an application.

Substitutes:  Substitutes are always needed for both long-term assignments (like maternity leaves) and short-term assignments (like when a teacher needs to stay home with his/her own sick child).  You do not need a teaching degree to work as a substitute.  A minimum of an associate’s degree may be enough to qualify.  The process to become a substitute teacher includes completion of a 15-20 hour workshop, multiple background checks, and applications with the Iowa Board of Education Examiners and JFK.  Workshops are being held almost every week throughout the state, and many of them are virtual so geography does not need to be a limiting factor.   If you are interested in being a substitute, please contact me and/or the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency at 563-359-1371.  We would also like to thank our current substitutes:  Kayla Mason, Jen Kira, Amy Jackson, and Dianne Longenecker.

Open Lunch Position(s) at AHS and All Saints

Part-time help is needed to help serve lunches at Assumption and/or All Saints.  Approximately 12-15 hours per week while the kids are at school.  The day starts after drop drop off and is finished before pick up.  All school holidays are observed.  No experience is necessary.  Please contact Nikki Gartner to discuss  further:  nikki.gartner@sccsiowa.org or 563-326-5313 ext 203

Handbook Sign-Off

Please read the parent and student handbook, available HERE, and on our website: https://www.olvjfk.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/JFK-K-8-Parent-Handbook-2023-24.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.  

Free and Reduced Lunch Application

Those who are not “direct certified” and would like to apply for free or reduced priced lunches should use the following link:  F/R Application.  By participating in the National School Lunch Program, JFK receives a federal and state subsidy for EVERY lunch served.  The subsidy helps us keep down the prices of student lunches for all students.  The subsidy is the greatest for those who qualify for free lunches, smaller for those who qualify for reduced price lunches, and the smallest for all other students.  Applications can be submitted at any time, and eligibility must be determined annually.  When communicating about the lunch program, the following two nondiscrimination statements must also be posted.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html , and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call 866-632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

  1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
    1400 Independence Avenue, SW
    Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
  2. fax: 202-690-7442; or
  3. email: program.intake@usda.gov

Iowa Nondiscrimination Statement

It is the policy of this CNP provider not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or religion in its programs, activities, or employment practices as required by the Iowa Code section 216.6, 216.7, and 216.9. If you have questions or grievances related to compliance with this policy by this CNP Provider, please contact the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, Grimes State Office Building, 400 E 14th St, Des Moines, IA 50319-1004; phone number 515-281-4121 or 800-457-4416; website: https://icrc.iowa.gov/.

 

 

 

Chad

 

Principal’s Post for September 4, 2023

Posted on by csteimle

I’m So Blessed!

I work with an amazing staff with members who are always going above and beyond!  This week’s shout-out goes to our kitchen staff.  Meredith Ash is now doing all of the National School Lunch Program work for All Saints as well as her work at JFK and her help with the SCCS business office in its transition to a new online lunch program.  Nathalie Flores, Bety Herrera, and Miranda Labora have also all stepped up to handle an increased work load at JFK.

Keep the Drop-Off Line Moving in the Morning

The drop-off lane along the barriers in the morning is for those who are just pulling up and letting their kids out.  If you need to park and/or get out of the vehicle yourself, please park in the lot and not in the drop off lane.

Please also move slowly through the parking lot and be watchful at all times.  Saving a few seconds by going too fast or trying to multi-task will pale in comparison to hitting a child with one’s car.

Middle School Youth Night

Adult volunteers are needed to help with middle school ministry this year.  Contact Abbey Heinrichs at davolvym@diodav.org, if you are interested.  She can also guide you toward the required Protecting God’s Children background checks and requirements for volunteers.  They are looking to have a middle school youth night on September 25th, from 6:00-7:30 in the JFK gym.

Middle School Mock Trial

Last I heard, there were fewer than ten students interested in middle school mock trial this year.  Students interested should contact our staff liaison, Angie Logan, at angie.logan@olvjfkmail.com.

Purified Featuring Jason Evert

Get answers to life’s tough questions about love, dating, and relationships from internationally acclaimed speaker Jason Evert and leave with a healthy sense of self-worth and the ability, if needed, to start again.  OLV is hosting an evening session for parents and teens on Monday, September 11th from 6:30-8:30 p.m.  Tickets are available HERE.

Students in grades 7-12 in SCCS will hear Jason Evert speak at Assumption on September 12th.
Why should I go in the evening, if my teen will go during the day?  The two presentations are different.  After hearing Mr. Evert speak, teens will want to talk, and the opening is there for them to talk with you as parents about a sensitive topic.  Don’t let the opportunity escape!
When my kids were in middle school, they also heard Mr. Evert both during the school day and in the evening.  It was a great family experience.
Parent University to Feature Internet and Social Media Safety

SCCS counselors are preparing for a Parent University session on internet and social media safety to be held in early October.

Nearly every issue at schools seems to be tied into cell phones and social media.  Schools can only do so much, and we often can only deal with the fall out.  Come to the parent university session and find out what parents can do.

Tears at Drop Off

It seems that there are a number of students having a tough time at drop-off in the morning.  Nine times out of ten, the kids are fine once they get into their classrooms, but it’s tough when they are upset at the door!  Below are some hints from Mrs. Wolf that might help:

Make Sure They Know What to Expect – Prepare your child for what will happen so that there are no surprises. Read books about school. Visit the playground. Talk to them about what it will be like. Let them know that you won’t be staying with them and how the drop off process goes. Practice the routines.

Tell your child “I wouldn’t ask you to do anything that you can’t do and I wouldn’t put you in an unsafe place. School is safe and you will be well cared for. You can do hard things, and you will be ok” Giving into your child and letting them stay home reinforces their thought process that school is not safe and that they cannot “handle” being away from mom or dad, and it makes getting to school the next day even harder.

Read Children’s Books – The Kissing Hand is a classic book and can be wonderful for young kids going to school for the first time. The Invisible String is also wonderful. It’s a great way to teach the concept of being connected even when we are physically separated.

Sing a Goodbye Song or Have a Good Bye Saying – Another way to deal with separation anxiety is to have a special goodbye song or saying, after which the child knows they have to go. I like, “Goodbye for Now, Hello Again Later!” Or, try “The Kissing Hand” yourself –  kiss the palm of your child’s hand, and they will know your love is close by!  They can kiss yours too in case you start to miss them!

Plan “3 Special Steps” – On the show “Special Agent Oso,” James Bond-type friendly bear uses ‘three special steps’ to solve problems and do basic tasks, such as getting dressed or making a salad. The 3 special steps are something you can use and adapt it for just about any situation that causes anxiety. Talk about the situation before it happens, and then give small tasks to focus on while it is happening. Step one: Get in the car and drive to school. Step two: Walk in to class. Step three:  Say ‘hello’ to teacher and start your day!

Let Them Walk In – Act confident and be joyful for your child! If you are hesitant of letting go kids WILL pick up on that. Make sure they walk into school; when they are carried in, it might send the message that you are hesitant.

Don’t Go In the Classroom –  It helps if parents don’t walk into the classroom during the first few weeks of school. It helps delineate home from school. It also really helps with separation for both parents and children and makes the transition so much easier for the children. Yes, there are tears sometimes, but not nearly as often when parents walk into the classroom the first week or so of school. Likewise, it may be easier to have the child get on the bus.

Don’t Linger – Before departing from the door, give a quick kiss or hug, maybe a silly song or funny handshake to say goodbye, but don’t linger. And if your child is crying, know that 99% of the time kids are feeling better and actively engaged in the classroom within moments.

Give Praise – Rewards! Try a “No Cry Goodbye” Punch Card or Sticker Chart for your child and reward them!  Not only do things like ice cream or a special toy work for making it to the car or classroom without tears, but verbal rewards work too. Silly celebrations and top of your lungs ‘YOU DID IT’s’ can be effective.

Social Stories- Social Stories are a social learning tool that supports safe and meaningful exchange of information. These present appropriate behaviors in the form of concrete, visual cues that help students digest information and make connections. Students can help with the making of the social story by taking pictures to be used to go with the story. The story can be read at home, in the car, and/or at school.

Send a picture/item- For transitions, have a photo or small item that is special available.  It can be with the child and can go between home and school. Pictures could be laminated (multiple copies are helpful in case anything happens to the picture).

PS Through Age 12 Aftercare and Wraparound Care:

After school care and wrap around care are licensed by the Department of Human Services and provide supervised activities for students who have not yet turned thirteen.  The preschool wrap around rate is included in your tuition bill for either full-time (20 hours or more) or part-time care (less than 20 hours).  The rate for K through age 12 is $5 per hour per child, which is a decrease at JFK.  The registration fee is $25 per student.  A childcare registration form is required for each student.  The blank aftercare registration form is available at the school or on our website  Students cannot attend aftercare or wrap around care without the DHS program paper/pencil forms complete. 

New Technology Systems for 2023-24 and “Bulk” Communications

Scott County Catholic Schools are still in the midst of transitions to new technology systems, including the following:

  • PowerSchool, our main student information system
  • Kinvo, the communications system connected to PowerSchool
  • Blackbaud, the online tuition, bill paying, and accounting system
  • EduTrak, the lunch program

Throw in the online pre-registration system and Odyssey, for processing ESAs, and it’s quite the handful.  Getting all the systems to “talk” to one another and play nicely together is keeping many people quite busy.  Some of the new systems were because of the merger to SCCS, but others were from the state departments of education and revenue and the Diocese of Davenport.  Enduring so many changes this year, hopefully things will be a breeze by next year.

Please note that our communications systems are still not fully functional and “bulk” or mass messaging is challenging.

PS-8 Payment System for 2023-24

Parents need to complete several steps in the Blackbaud tuition management system, arrange for payments to be made, and, by now, begin making payments.  Remember that tuition is billed at the gross amount, and then deductions like parishioner discounts, multi-child discounts, “private pay” discounts, etc. are shown.  It is believed that the invoices are correct, and all of the discounts have been posted.  If you have questions, please contact Rose Strickland at the SCCS business office at AHS:  rose.strickland@sccsiowa.org or 563-326-5313.  No one at JFK has access to your account information in Blackbaud.

Finalizing Payments for 2022-23

Anyone still making payments on 2022-23 school bills, including delinquent tuition, fees, aftercare balances, lunch balances, fines, ECLC payments, etc., should send the payments to OLV/JFK.  You don’t want to mix your payments to OLV/JFK with SCCS.  Payments for 2023-24 will go through SCCS.

Calendars

Multiple calendars are available on our website, www.olvjfk.com.  On the school side of the website, a one page summary calendar is on the front page.  Detailed calendars can also be reached by clicking on the calendars heading.

Calendar Highlights

Here are just a few items highlighted from the detailed online school calendar:

  • Sept 4:  Labor Day.  No classes.  ECLC closed
  • Sept 7:  JFK Skate Night. 8th Gr. Confirmation prep
  • Sept 11:  In-service, no classes.  ECLC is open.  Jason Evert event.
  • Sept 14:  7th Gr. Confirmation prep
  • Sept 20/21:  Picture day
  • Sept 22:  2 hr early dismissal.  No afternoon PS classes

Altar Server Training

Altar Server Training will be Sept. 23 at 9:30 am -11 am in the church.  Children, 4th grade and up, who are interested in altar serving at Mass are invited to attend this training.

Open Positions at JFK for 2023-24

JFK still has open positions for 2023-24:

Instructional aide/support position:  We are looking for a “jack of all trades” person to help in preschool, supervise recesses, provide instructional support, and care for students in aftercare and/or wrap-around care.  On some days, one might start as early as 7:10, and, on other days, one might work until 5:30.  The total is about 39 hours per week, and the rate is $12 per hour.  Summers are off, and most other breaks also follow the same schedule as your children!  If interested, please send me a cover letter, resume, and references, and/or stop by the school office for an application.

Instructional aide positions:  Help teachers and provide instructional support for students in K-8.  Multiple positions are available.  If interested, please send me a cover letter, resume, and references, and/or stop by the school office for an application.

Substitutes:  Substitutes are always needed for both long-term assignments (like maternity leaves) and short-term assignments (like when a teacher needs to stay home with his/her own sick child).  You do not need a teaching degree to work as a substitute.  A minimum of an associate’s degree may be enough to qualify.  The process to become a substitute teacher includes completion of a 15-20 hour workshop, multiple background checks, and applications with the Iowa Board of Education Examiners and JFK.  Workshops are being held almost every week throughout the state, and many of them are virtual so geography does not need to be a limiting factor.   If you are interested in being a substitute, please contact me and/or the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency at 563-359-1371.  We would also like to thank our current substitutes:  Kayla Mason, Jen Kira, Amy Jackson, and Dianne Longenecker.

Handbook Sign-Off

Please read the parent and student handbook, available HERE, and on our website: https://www.olvjfk.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/JFK-K-8-Parent-Handbook-2023-24.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.

ALICE Training for Kids

As part of our regular safety procedures, most teachers have already briefly talked to students about ALICE, which is an acronym used to help people remember what to do in the event of a violent situation in a school.  (We also use the Run-Hide-Fight phrasing.)  The materials we’ve used/developed over the years and the approaches we take are targeted for specific grade strands as what one says and does with three year olds in preschool is entirely different than with 13 year olds.  Our work with ALICE complements our other conversations and drills, such as those for fire or tornado/inclement weather.       

JFK’s Facebook Pages

JFK has three Facebook pages:  the main one for the school, one just for pre-school, and 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.  Please remember, however, that not all parents are comfortable with photos of their children being on social media.  Make sure you “like” us on both Facebook pages!

Chad