Gala is Here
The 2023 OLV/JFK Gala is this weekend: Saturday, April 15th. Celebrate the completion of your taxes! Proceeds above the normal budgeted amount will go toward new playground equipment out back.
Registration Information
JFK now has about 78% of its current students pre-registered for next school year. Interestingly, in two of the four elementary schools in SCCS, rates are much higher, and they are already trying to make decisions about whether one section grade levels should become two and what to do about two sections that are filling to capacity. At JFK, it seems we’re still doing our slow and steady pace. It seems a lot harder to do that in a system’s approach, however. Enrollment decisions will be made based upon pre-registration information. Waiting lists and the number of sections needed for each grade level at each building will be based upon completed pre-registrations. Current families will not want to lose a spot at JFK because they waited too long.
Registration process for 2023-24:
- All preschool, kindergarten, returning, and new families will need to enter information through the pre-registration/application survey. A QR Code and link/url are available on the front page of our website. Submissions are time/date stamped. For those unable to complete the pre-registration/application survey online, physical copies will be available at school.
- Pay the registration fee for K-8, three year old preschool, or “non-qualifying” four/five year old preschool* OR the extra time fee for an “IA preschool” four year old preschool. The registration fee is regularly $125 per PK-12 student for a maximum of $375 per family. The early bird fee rate has been extended until May 1st. If paid prior to May 1st, the early bird amount is $100 per PK-12 student for a maximum of $300 per family. The extra time fee for four year old preschoolers is $250 per child. These fees can be paid online by following the link in the pre-registration/application survey. You can also go directly just to this payment link, without having to pre-register your child, which is especially handy if you already pre-registered but did not make the payment initially. Scroll down to the one time payment option to pay registration or extra time fees. Checks can also be made payable to JFK and sent to the school office.
- *A non-qualifying preschooler is a non-Iowa resident or student who turns 5 on or before Sept 15th. Tuition is charged for this student, and there is a registration fee. There is no extra time fee.
- Complete a more detailed online process that will take the place of the collection of paper Student Information Sheets in August. Due to delays in the computer app development, this process will likely not be available until at least April 20th.
- Online tuition contracts to establish the payment plan agreement will be made available to those who have completed the pre-registration process. The availability of the online tuition contracts is targeted for May. Being in good-standing with one’s tuition and fees may also impact the timing of receiving a tuition contract and finalizing enrollment. Those families who agreed to one or two tuition payments should be finished paying. Those who are on the ten month payment plan should finish in April. (The payment period began in July.) Please remember that, in addition to tuition, payments should be up to date for all fees, like aftercare, band, athletics, etc. and for lunches.
K-12 Tuition Rates for 2023-24
Tuition rates for K-12 have not yet been finalized for 2023-24 as we are still waiting for state guidance regarding Educational Savings Accounts. It appears that as the rules are being written there have been a couple of questions come up that they are determining if they can be addressed through the rules writing process or if the legislators must take action again. These questions are not substantive and may even benefit families more.
Tuition rate increases will likely not exceed historical trends: 5% for the grade schools and 3% for the high school. The 2022-23 tuition rate for a parish supported child was $4,170 and $6,170 for a non-parish supported child. Please note that the average cost per pupil for a child in a SCCS elementary school is over $8,000. The difference between cost per pupil and tuition is made up by parish subsidy and fund-raising/donations.
Scott County Catholic School tuition rates for preschool, with or without wraparound care, have been set. They are in the linked document: Preschool Tuition Rates JFK
Clarification on PS Tuition and Wraparound Care
Several weeks ago, I indicated that there would not be the separate weekly billing for ECLC (now called wraparound care in SCCS). There will, however, still be separate tuition and wraparound care charges. These can be seen on the Preschool Tuition Rates JFK document link above. This distinction can be important for those families using employer pre-tax benefits for childcare and/or those seeking tax deductions for child care.
Educational Savings Accounts
Once the state produces the ESA guidelines and application process, eligible families will want to move quickly. It will be to families’ advantages to have their taxes completed as line items will likely be referenced on the application.
Who is eligible for an ESA in 2023-24?
- All kindergartners
- Students who were not in a private school the year prior
- All students whose family income is below 300% of poverty
| Persons in family/household | Poverty guideline | 300% Poverty |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $14,580 | $43,740 |
| 2 | $19,720 | $59,160 |
| 3 | $24,860 | $74,580 |
| 4 | $30,000 | $90,000 |
| 5 | $35,140 | $105,420 |
| 6 | $40,280 | $120,840 |
| 7 | $45,420 | $136,260 |
| 8 | $50,560 | $151,680 |
| For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $5,140 for each additional person. | ||
Family Tuition Plan Financial Assistance
Current families who do not qualify for ESAs should apply for financial assistance through our Family Tuition Plan Application. When applying, please make sure you use the drop down menu to select the 2023-24 school year. There may be more financial assistance available for next year or more families may be able to receive assistance as ESAs will provide assistance for our families who are below 300% of poverty. (There are still income guidelines and other restrictions to stay within the legal parameters of the Student Tuition Organization rules that will apply.)
Current families who know they are not eligible for ESAs or who might be on the edge should apply for the Family Tuition Plan. Parents can even submit the FTP application before tuition rates have been set. Having the application in place will just speed things up once rates are set.
SCCS Davenport Elementary School Academic Calendar for 2023-24
The 2023-24 unified academic calendar for the Davenport Catholic elementary schools for 2023-24 is now available off the front page of our website and linked directly here: Academic Calendar for 2023-24. (It’s also below in the Principal’s Post, but it is a little small and hard to read in the Principal’s Post.) Lourdes, dealing with the Bettendorf school district and its transportation, and Assumption, which has different scheduling needs than the elementary schools, will have schedules slightly different than JFK, All Saints, and St. Paul’s.
Important Highlights of the 2023-24 academic calendar:
- The one hour early dismissals on Wednesdays have been discontinued.
- There are eight school days with two hour early dismissals scattered throughout the year.
- There are a few more full day in-services with no classes for students.
- There are four days without DCSD bus transportation: Sept 29, Nov 10, Feb 5, and Apr 8.
- There is no school for students or staff on Good Friday or Easter Monday.
- The Davenport SCCS have 176 days of school for students. The DCSD has 173. JFK will officially have 1,187:40 “instructional hours” next year. The DCSD will have 1,108.
Wednesday 4/5 Yr Old Preschool Class Times Changing for 2023-24
Without the early dismissals on Wednesday in 2023-24, the times for 4/5 year old preschool will be the same on Mondays – Fridays: 7:25-10:25 and 11:40-2:40.
Planning for New Playground at JFK
We have begun design conversations for a new playground at JFK, replacing the equipment behind the school. We are appreciative of the feedback provided by representatives from Home & School, student council, and JFK staff. The design process, ordering, securing of funds, etc. will take some time. It is not anticipated that any work will be done prior to 2024. All of our current equipment “out back” is more than 22 years old and shows its age.
Text Messages from JFK
If you are not registered to receive text messages from JFK, type “Y” or “Yes” to 67587. You will not receive text messages from JFK if you do not take action yourself.
Spring Weather
Text, email, and, to a lesser extent, phone calls are important to receive from JFK regarding weather influenced decisions regarding school and events. We used some or all of these means to communicate messages on two of the last five school days.
Students did an amazing job on Tuesday in their severe weather locations, where we were for almost an hour. When the first thunderstorm warnings for Scott County were issued, we began to carefully monitor weather radar. Everything on radar was far north of JFK, but the sky kept getting darker. As the morning went on, we had four people in the office doing almost nothing but monitoring radar on both cell phones and websites. Interestingly, cell phones apps from the same source as the apps’ websites did not always have the same radar images! Everything was still going well north of us. Then, I heard the weather radio say that the storm was approaching the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds. That’s not far north of us. It was right at about that time when we looked away from the radar screens and again across the parking lot. It was darker than night! Time to head to the lower level severe weather locations! We just about settled in when the hail started at JFK. I’d say it was about pea to quarter sized hail with several larger pieces as well. I don’t think anyone’s car escaped damage, but we haven’t discovered any significant damage to the school. Just down the block from us at Adams, Williams, and Assumption, I hear, there was no hail at all!
Middle School Position, with Math Emphasis, Open for 2023-24
JFK is seeking a middle school, primarily math, teacher for 2023-24. Mrs. Clark will be moving back to Utah where family resides. Interested applicants should send a letter of interest, resume, copy/link of one’s Iowa license, and list of references to chad.steimle@olvjfkmail.com. More information is on TeachIowa.gov
Thank You, Mrs. Baker
Julie Baker was recognized for her work at JFK during National School Librarian Week
Highlighted Events
See the calendars on our website for more complete information as the below are only some of the highlights.
- Apr 6: Holy Thursday school activities, 8:55. Special seating in the church
- Apr 7: Good Friday. No School/No ECLC.
- Apr 9: Easter
- Apr 10: Easter Monday. No School/No ECLC
- Apr 11: 7th to Finance Park
- Apr 14: Kickball tournament
- Apr 15: Gala
- Apr 16: Ignite Sunday
- Apr 18: 5/6 Grade Spring Show
- Apr 20: First Communion practice
- Apr 23: First Communion
- Apr 24-28: ISASP Testing
- Apr 24: Penny War for JDRF
Holy Thursday Activities
Our Holy Thursday activities were very successful. Back when we began planning, Jennifer Wemhoff and Kaye Meyers asked me what our goal should be. I replied that we wanted everyone to be so moved that they would not be able to do any work the rest of the day. With readings, reflection, video, music, artwork, and mirrors as part of our activities, I think we came pretty close! 
To the left is the artwork produced by Mr. Ryan and Mrs. Wolf using Post-Its with students’ names. I especially would like to thank Mrs. Wemhoff and Mrs. Meyers for their persistence and patience. In every planning meeting, I kept pushing, “We can do better. What if…? How can we….?” I felt like a proud father during the final activities — they really nailed it!
I must admit that I really did become unable to do any work by Thursday afternoon. I even had to leave at about 1:15. I’d like to say it was those Holy Thursday activities, but I think it also had something to do with that 24-30 hour stomach bug that had me curled up in a fetal position on the couch until about Saturday morning!
Chad
