JFK GROWS Students of the Month
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, we recognize one student at each grade level, alternating each month between the two homerooms, whose teachers have observed exhibiting these traits particularly well at school during the past month:
- Kindergarten: Parker D
- Parker always has a positive attitude and is ready to learn new things. He always tries his best on his school work and is helpful to others in the classroom. He is respectful and kind to his classmates.
- 1st Grade: Malcolm G
- Malcolm is kind and helpful to his fellow classmates. He is willing to put others before himself.
- 2nd Grade: Beckett S
- Beckett, or Smiley, as Father Patrick calls him, is a shining light in our room. He keeps a positive attitude throughout each day and always has a smile for anyone.
- 3rd Grade: Victor O
- Victor is a kind student who looks out for others. When leading the line in the hallway Victor ensures that the class never gets too far ahead and can always see the teacher.
- 4th Grade: Bryce B
- Bryce is respectful of all at school and treats everyone in a kind manner. He works hard in class and always does his best.
- 5th Grade: Beau F.
- Beau has demonstrated respectful behaviors in several situations, showing maturity. He does a wonderful job writing in his planner daily and turning his homework in on time.
- 6th Grade: Grant S
- Grant is very attentive in class and works hard. He is kind to his peers and always willing to help out.
- 7th Grade: Maya H.
- Maya is naturally kind to all those around her and respectful to her teachers by following directions, always being prepared for class, and trying her best. She offers to help adults and peers. She is welcoming to all by greeting everyone with a smile and making sure no one is left out. She consistently makes safe choices and radiates God’s love.
- 8th Grade: Ashton S
- Ashton has a positive attitude, comes to class prepared, and is willing to work with any of his classmates.
I’m So Blessed!
Even with a shortage of staff, we’ll be able to cover a staff person’s medical leave through the use of our substitutes and some creative scheduling!
We were also offered, out of the blue, 1,000-1,500 special JFK commemorative coins that we’ll be able to give to students for several years to come, and an anonymous donation to help a couple of families with tuition.
Halfway through Quarter
The halfway point of the first quarter was about ten days ago. 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 about three weeks ago, and Ms. Siefers sent another message two weeks ago 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.
Kids Against Hunger
JFK has the opportunity to work with Kids Against Hunger to purchase and package meals to fight hunger throughout the world and even in our own community. Eighth graders in Mrs. Lundquist’s homeroom will be making presentations to younger students and packaging the meals. A donation of $2 or more per student would be appreciated. In recognition of our work with Kids Against Hunger, students may be out of uniform on October 20th. Out of uniform dress guidelines apply.
Calendar Highlights
Here are just a few items highlighted from the detailed online school calendar:
- Oct 3: Parent University
- Oct 7: 7/8 NET Retreat
- Oct 9: No school. ECLC is open
- Oct 10: H & S Mtg. Music boosters’ butterbraid sales begns
- Oct 13: 7/8 SCCS band students perform with AHS at football game
- Oct 19: JFK Night at Portillo’s
- Oct 20: Kids Against Hunger Out of Uniform day
- Oct 25: End of 1st quarter
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.
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.
Chad
