Month: May 2026

Principal’s Post for May 3, 2026

Posted on by csteimle

🆕New/Updated Information

Crusader Theater

JFK middle school Crusader Theater students will present Freaky Tiki on May 8th (6:30) and May 9th (2:00) in the parish center. Follow the chaotic staff of the 2.5-star Wobbly Palms Resort in Hawaii. They must impress a mystery guest to avoid closing, but chaos ensues when a “cursed” tiki causes an escaped lobster, lost engagement ring, and lost voice! If that’s not enough of a reason to come to the show, come to see our new portable stage! Tickets are $10.00, purchased at the door. The average runtime is 75 minutes.

ESA Applications Rise to 66%

The number of ESA applications for JFK for the 2026-27 school year increased to 66% of those registered, up from 53% last week. Applications must be completed every year, even if you are already receiving an ESA. 

State ESA Website

JFK GROWS Students of the Month for April

Each morning, students and teachers at JFK recite the JFK Difference:  JFK GROWS.  We put God first, use Respectful behaviors, find Opportunities to serve, are Welcoming to all, and make Safe choices.  Each month, except December, this year, we are recognizing one student from each homeroom whose teachers have observed them exhibiting these traits particularly well at school during the past month:

KE – Maryn H: Maryn is a great example of a student who works hard and always tries her best.
KI – Palmer P: Palmer’s positivity and joy is felt the minute she walks in the door. She’s everyone’s biggest cheerleader and leads by example.
KN – Tinley T: Tinley strives to be a good listener and to follow the rules for the classroom.  She has a positive attitude about learning and enjoys helping others.
1B – Myra H: Myra is a super smart student who is always excelling academically. If there’s ever a hard time among friends, she finds a way to fix the problem and leaves it at school. She is mature, smart, and responsible.
1Y – Briar H: Briar knows when to be serious and when to be silly.  She is kind, considerate, and respectful.  She loves to be creative, and it shows in many things that she does.
2M – Jamie B: Jamie has really emerged as a student leader this year. He has been putting forth his best effort in and out of class and has been making great progress. He always has a friendly smile and is willing to help a classmate out.
2P – Kinzlee G: Kinzlee is kind and giving. She steps in and takes care of her friends whenever they need her. She truly lives “I’ve got your back” everyday.
3E – Oscar S: Oscar is a polite and considerate student who naturally includes others during play and collaborative work. He treats classmates and adults with respect and consistently gives his best effort in all that he does.
3V – Alex D: Alex works hard academically to be successful in all of his assignments in third grade. Beyond his academic hard work, he has a keen eye for noticing what needs to be done, often stepping in to help the teacher or a classmate before being asked. This combination makes him a well deserved Student of the Month.
4F – Walker R:  Walker was new to JFK this year.  He is a good model for the JFK Difference.  He is respectful, accepting, kind, hard working, and always treats others with respect.  Walker has a great smile that makes everyone around him smile too.  He has been a great addition to our classroom community!
4L – Alexis G: Everyone should have an Alexis G. She’s smart, kind, and helpful as can be! We are proud she’s a part of the 4L family.
5C – Lucas K: Lucas consistently follows our JFK difference and comes to school everyday ready to learn. He follows expectations and is an amazing friend to those around him. Lucas is always willing to help and go above and beyond what needs to be done.
5E – Taylor K: Taylor is always trying her absolute hardest in every single thing we do in class. She strives to always turn in work that is of the best quality. She is the sweetest soul and always has a smile on her face. She happily helps with tasks and is a friend to all. Her positive attitude is contagious, and she encourages others to be a great listener. She is such a bright light in our classroom!
6N – Gracie P: Gracie is kind, polite and always willing to help out, especially with taking care of messes after class. She always strives to do her best in class.  Gracie really displays the JFK Difference.
6T – Taylor P: Taylor is a hard-working and responsible student who gives her best effort. She demonstrates kindness by helping both her classmates and teachers.
7P – Olivia R: Olivia joined our class halfway through the school year, but you would never know it. She adapted gracefully, and it’s as if she’s been here the entire time! She is polite to adults, kind to her classmates, goes above and beyond in her school work and is not afraid to laugh and be silly, showing her true, authentic self. She may be new, but the JFK Difference is something she seems to have naturally practiced all along!
7R – Arianna R: Arianna consistently demonstrates a strong work ethic and a positive attitude in the classroom. She comes prepared, stays focused, and puts thoughtful effort into everything she does. Her willingness to participate and help others makes her a great role model for her peers.
8C – Anthony S: Anthony tries his best on assignments, and, if he is unsure, he tries to ask for clarification to make sure he is doing everything correctly.
8L – Laney G: Laney puts forth great effort on assignments, works well with her peers, and volunteers often.

Drop Off on 42nd Street

There seems to be quite a few cars stopping on 42nd Street in front of school to drop off kids in the morning. This is not a drop off area for cars.

Reading and Math Screenings Begin This Week

We will begin the third and final screening of K-8 students in reading and math this week. Having charged devices each day will be important for students.

New Teachers and New Position

Anna Marie Thompson has been hired for a classroom position in grades 1-5 for the 2026-27 school year. She is moving here from Michigan and has several years of teaching experience.

Katie Thimsen will be in a new position next school year. She will provide English as a Second Language (ESL) services at JFK and St. Paul’s and co-teach computer science lessons at JFK.

Spread the word — We are still looking for one teacher at JFK for 2026-27. Adjustments of teaching assignments will take place so we are currently looking for someone to fill a position in grades 1-5 or work as a reading interventionist. To apply for  a teaching position at JFK, please submit your resume and transcripts to Logan Ahnquist at logan.ahnquist@sccsiowa.org. You can find more information and the online application that needs to be completed at the following website https://davenportdiocese.schoolspring.com/

OLV Finance Council Requests

I typically go before the OLV Finance Council each month on behalf of JFK. Last week, I received approval to spend up to $144,000 on summer projects with $40,300 in reserve and a likely significant donation from the OLV Foundation to be announced in mid-May.

I regularly, however, also hear of four requests from the Finance Council:

  • Greater attendance/participation of JFK families at Masses at OLV: Catholic schools were somewhat established under the model of “people who attend Mass need Catholic schools.” Too often there seems to be a shift to something like “people who attend Catholic schools may attend Mass as well.”
  • Greater support of JFK: Are JFK families volunteering? Are they participating in the community of the school?
  • More active support for ESAs: “School families” are receiving a huge benefit from ESAs. Are they contacting their state legislators to thank them and tell them how important ESAs are? Are they supporting Iowa ACE?
  • More financial support of OLV: ESAs are allowing families to save thousands of dollars that they would otherwise be spending on tuition. One might have expected that with all families eligible for ESAs this year the total of OLV’s ordinary income from all parishioners would be up by more than only $600 from July – February compared to last year. Are families increasing their planned, proportionate giving to the Church?

📌Still Relevant

I-Ready Math Requirements

I-Ready use can help your child’s math skills. 

I-Ready Math is an online program we use to better understand each student’s math strengths and learning needs. It begins with a short diagnostic/screener that helps identify what skills a student has mastered and where additional support or challenge is needed. Based on those results, i-Ready provides personalized math lessons that adjust to each child’s level, allowing students to work at an appropriate pace while building confidence and understanding. At school, students use i-Ready Math for at least 30 minutes per week as part of their regularly scheduled instructional time. That should be enough time to at least do one i-Ready lesson per week. Students not finishing the lesson at school will have it assigned as homework. In addition, students who scored below benchmark in math at both the fall and winter screenings will be required to work with i-Ready outside of school hours, reinforcing the school/home partnership. Upper grades are having the greatest challenges in completing their minutes, and we would really like to prevent large numbers of students having to stay after school. Students may always voluntarily do i-Ready lessons at home as well.

Leaps & Bounds Summer 2026

Leaps & Bounds focuses on reading and math for students currently in K-5th grade. About two hours is used for reading, one hour for math, and 30 minutes for recess/snack.  Space is limited, and a minimum number of students is also needed in order for it to be viable. Currently, ESA funds are not able to be used for  it. This summer’s two week session is July 13-17 and 20-24. Registration materials can be found online.

Altar Server Training

Altar Server Training will be held Saturday, May 30th from 9:30am-11am in the church. Children who will be entering the 4th grade and up, who are interested in altar serving at Mass, are invited to attend this training. One parent/adult needs to attend with the student.

Checking Students’ Grades and Missing Work

Below is a link to the instructions for parents to check students’ “in progress” standards grades. It also includes directions for checking missing assignments and Algebra grades for students taking the class at Assumption. The directions cover how to use both the PowerSchool portal on a computer and the PowerSchool app.

Important notes:

  • There are some things that just cannot be done on the app. You will have to use a computer for them.
  • There is a message that says “Grades disabled by school.” IGNORE this message. It references a certain type of grade and not the standards-referenced grades we are using.

Instructions 

📚Learning Habits Matter

Math Fact Fluency

Strong math problem-solvers aren’t thinking about basic facts—they already know them.

In mathematics, some skills eventually need to become automatic. Addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts are good examples. When students can recall these quickly, they have more mental energy available for solving more complex problems.

Imagine trying to solve a multi-step problem while still counting on your fingers for basic facts. The work becomes slower, and it becomes harder to focus on the actual thinking the problem requires.

What fluency looks like across grade levels:

PK–2
• Counting practice
• Simple addition and subtraction

Grades 3–5
• Multiplication and division facts
• Quick, accurate recall

Grades 6–8
• Efficient recall while solving multi-step problems
• Focus on reasoning, not basic computation

Helpful home habits include:
• Five minutes of math fact practice a few evenings each week
• Mental math questions in the car

Small, consistent practice is far more effective than occasional long sessions.

When basic facts become automatic, students are better able to focus on what matters most—thinking and problem solving.

🗓️ Highlighted Events

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 toward the upper right corner of the website. Anything underlined on the calendar can be clicked on, and more details will open for you. Below are a few highlighted events:

  • May 3: First Communion
  • May 4: Reading/Math Screening begin. 5E Golfing
  • May 5: 5C Golfing.
  • May 6: Staff Luncheon
  • May 7/8: Crusader Theater School Performances
  • May 7: Youth & Family Engagement
  • May 8/9: Crusader Theater Perfomances
  • May 12: JFK Band Concert at AHS
  • May 13: 8th Gr Band Field Trip
  • May 15: JFK Night at the Steamwheelers
  • May 16/17: Youth & Family Engagement Event
  • May 19: 5/6 and 7/8 Choir Concert in the church. 8th to Outing Club. Jersey Mike’s Dine & Donate
  • May 21: 3 YO PS Confs. 4th Bowling
  • May 22: Band to Adventureland
  • May 23: Pinewood Derby
  • May 29: Last Day of K-8

💭Personal Sharing

Friday apparently was Principal’s Day. Staff members wore “Chadtoos” of my image. Nicely played!

Even Bonbon got in on the Chadtoos:

I think we should use Chadtoos as a loyalty test:

  • Level 0: No tattoo of me at all
  • Level 1: Small tattoo of me that is covered
  • Level 2: Small visible tattoo of me on an arm or a large-size image that is covered
  • Level 3: Visible tattoo of me on their face or a large-size image on an exposed part of their arm
  • Level 4: Visible tattoo of me worn out in public (What did they really think of you at Menards, Jillian Maxwell?)
  • Level 5: Tattoo of me on their forehead (Thank you, Amy McGovern)
  • Level 10: Still wearing it on Monday!

Staff members were also wearing our RED t-shirts on Friday: Remember Everyone Deployed.

More photos can be found on JFK’s Facebook page and JFK Moms & Dads closed group.

Chad