Category: Principal’s Post

Bus Agreement Reached

Bus service with Durham will continue as normal.  The drivers and company reached an agreement.

Home & School

 Congrats to class contest winners! 1st place – Mrs Maxwell 2nd place-Mrs Putnam 3rd place TIED- Mrs Poster and Mrs Vogel! Now it’s time to celebrate with the DAY OF AWESOMENESS on Thursday!  Weather is looking amazing!  This will be a out of uniform day as well! We still need just a couple more volunteers who can sign up here: https://m.signupgenius.com/?fbclid=IwAR0woyTvACKOCrNDbf427QuMiZ6g_KPq1EjEegJm7hzOFWHhdXnNSE3hDJY#!/showSignUp/10c0e45aeaa2ea1f4c61-dayofawesomeness Thank you again everyone!!

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.  Beginning this month, we’d like to recognize one student at each grade level whose teachers have observed exhibiting these traits particularly well at school during the past month:

• Kindergarten:  Emily D (also nominated:  Tucker K)
  • Emily is a fine example of our JFK GROWS program here at JFK. Emily is respectful during Mass by listening and praying quietly. She is welcoming to all during play and includes anyone who would want to join in with her. Emily makes safe choices and makes sure that her friends are safe as well. Emily is a hard worker and truly enjoys school at JFK!
• 1st grade:  Ryker T (also nominated:  Lawson H)
  • Ryker treats his classmates and teachers with respect and is such a trooper about having to have his arm in a sling for 6 weeks due to a broken collarbone.
• 2nd grade:  Stella P (also nominated:  Annsley W)
  • Stella is a shining light in 2P. She is kind, loving, and has her team’s back. She gives 150% in everything she does.
• 3rd grade:  Stevens F (also nominated: Piper R)
  • Stevens is respectful of his peers and teachers, has a great attitude towards learning, and follows classroom and school rules. He makes our classroom a better place.
• 4th grade:  Payton S (also nominated: Mia V)
  • Payton is kind, respectful, and hardworking. She is a positive role model for her peers.
• 5th grade:  Natalie R (also nominated:  Gauge F)
  • Natalie is very respectful to both teachers and students. She is focused and works hard in all subjects. Natalie also offers to help classmates when she is able.
• 6th grade:  Kaitlyn E (also nominated:  Maya H and Alayna A)
  • Kaitlyn is a helpful student who not only helps her classmates, but her teachers as well. She is also very respectful and follows classroom rules and procedures.
• 7th grade:  Hailey E (also nominated:  Max N)
  • Hailey is always eager to learn and her participation is fantastic. She has a natural kindness that does not go unnoticed by her peers and teachers. She always seems to be smiling and makes whatever is happening seem fun and exciting. Hailey is a gem, and JFK is blessed to haver her!
• 8th grade:  Veronica U (also nominated:  Makenzie S and Preston F)
  • Veronica goes out of her way to help classmates, whether it is giving a quick drink, a silly joke, or explaining a problem in class. Her infectious smile brightens up the room. She participates well with her peers and tries to put a positive spin on any situation.

NET Retreats for 7th/8th Graders & Housing Needed — Corrected Date

The need for housing for NET team members had an incorrect date.  They will need housing the night of October 18th.  Host families are requested to house a minimum of two team members of the same gender. These college-aged young people 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.  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.  If you are interested, please contact Kaye Meyers at davolvcre@diodav.org or 563-391-8384.

NET team members will conduct retreats for 7th and 8th graders.  The 8th grade retreat is Tuesday, October 18 from 4:30 – 8:30 PM.  On Wednesday, October 19, from 3:00 – 7:00 PM, we will have the 7th grade retreat.  NET team members come from all across the country and are trained and based out of the diocese of Minneapolis.

Future Lady Knights Basketball

FUTURE LADY KNIGHTS basketball registration is beginning.  There is a registration night on Sunday, October 9, 2022, at Noon-1:00pm, and an evening on Wednesday, October12, 2022, at 6:30pm – 7:30pm at Assumption High’s big gym.  FLK is for girls in 3^rd – 8^th grades who are interested in attending Assumption High and who want to be part of our developmental and competitive basketball feeder program.  Registration, consent and other forms and fee information can be emailed to you or are available the night of registration.

If you have questions  call Debbie Giganti (359-3085) OR  Joe Creen (343 0781) OR  email at creenlaw@gmail.com

Other Upcoming Events

• Oct 3:  Picture retakes
• Oct 7:  Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary (OLV’s feast day)
• Oct 8:  AHS Endzone Extravaganza, 2022
• Oct 21:  End of 1st qtr.  Special dismissal at 12:45.  No afternoon PS classes
• Oct 24:  In-service, no classes.  ECLC open

Chad

Mid-Quarters to be Emailed This Week

The first mid-quarter ended on Wednesday.  Mid-quarter report cards will be emailed this week after teachers have had a few work days to complete them.

As we continue with the transition to a new student information system, PowerSchool, please note that we are still using our old student information system, JMC.  JMC will be used for our lunch program the entire year and for grades/report cards for quite some time yet.  Parent access information for JMC was emailed two weeks ago.

Sacramental Preparation for 2nd Graders

There is a 2nd grade sacrament preparation gathering on September 26th in the parish center from 6:00 – 7:15 p.m.  “Come to the Table.”

Student Council Officers

Student Council officers for 2022-23 were announced on Friday:  Natalie S. (Treasurer), Hailey E. (Secretary), Andun N. (Vice President), and Preston F. (President).

NET Retreats for 7th/8th Graders & Housing Needed — Corrected Date

The need for housing for NET team members had an incorrect date.  They will need housing the night of October 18th.  Host families are requested to house a minimum of two team members of the same gender. These college-aged young people 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.  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.  If you are interested, please contact Kaye Meyers at davolvcre@diodav.org or 563-391-8384.

NET team members will conduct retreats for 7th and 8th graders.  The 8th grade retreat is Tuesday, October 18 from 4:30 – 8:30 PM.  On Wednesday, October 19, from 3:00 – 7:00 PM, we will have the 7th grade retreat.  NET team members come from all across the country and are trained and based out of the diocese of Minneapolis.

Student Information Sheets for 22-23 Still Missing from Some Families

Communication from the school can only work when the contact information is accurate.  Each year, families are asked to verify the information on student information forms, and new families complete new ones for us in August.  A month into the school year, we are still missing 22-23 verified information from about 2-6 families per homeroom.  Please share that information with us ASAP, if you have not already done so.  A link to a fillable form follows: Student-information-sheet-K-8-2022-23

Handbook Sign-Off

Please read the parent and student handbook, available HERE, and on our website:  https://www.olvjfk.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Parent-Handbook-2022-23-pdf-version.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.

Natural Negotiators?

You have never seen a natural negotiator try their talents so persistently until you’ve seen a kindergartner trying to convince her teacher that she needs to eat several of her week’s worth of snacks on Monday!

Home & School

• Step It Up:  There is still a little time left to meet our goals.  We have just reached over $21,000 with a goal to reach $35,000.  Please log back into your personal donation page and be sure that your child has reached their goal.   If you would like to make a donation yourself, there is still time. Just click on this link: https://ps.pop4kids.org/jfkschool52806  Donations are also accepted via cash, check or Venmo and are due by WEDNESDAY 9/28/2022. When turning in cash or check, please put it into an envelope for the front office and mark it ‘Step It Up – (Student name)’. Checks should be made out to JFK Home and School. Venmo can be sent to @JFK-Homeandschoolassociation and under the comments enter ‘Step It Up – (Student name)’.  We hope you’ll consider a donation. This program is the largest H & S fundraiser that benefits all students and staff.  The winner of the $250 Amazon gift card was Jolee C.
• Sept 30:  H & S sponsored Fall Festival at Pride of the Wapsi (Registration deadline:  Sept 28)
• Sept 30:  AHS Pack the Stadium.  7/8 bands to AHS.
• Oct 6:  Day of Awesomeness in relation to H & S’s Step It Up campaign

Other Upcoming Events

• Oct 7:  Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary
• Oct 8:  AHS Endzone Extravaganza, 2022

Chad

Mass with Bishop Zinkula

Last week’s all school Mass celebrated by Bishop Zinkula was also attended by the diocesan superintendent of schools, Lynn Devaney.  Having attended school Masses throughout the Diocese of Davenport, she had nothing but praise for our students’ singing, participation, and reverence as well.  It’s nice to hear good things from “outsiders.”  “Come to the Table” at OLV/JFK!

60th Anniversary Celebration

As I’m working on this Post, I’m taking a break from the 60th anniversary celebration of Our Lady of Victory.  OLV was established in 1962 when Bishop Hayes told the parishioners of Holy Family that everyone who lived north of Duck Creek would now be members of Our Lady of Victory.  As there were no buildings yet for OLV, Masses were actually held in the Assumption High School auditorium.  JFK was built in 1964, and Masses moved to the gym and cafeteria, where the original crucifix hangs today.  In 1968, the groundbreaking took place for the church.

As Fr. Jake said in his homily, those first OLV parishioners took a leap of faith.  They did not know what the future would look like for the next 60 years.  We, too, are called to take our own leap of faith and journey down the road for the next 60 years, building the paths as we need them.

“Come to the Table” to be part of the present and future of Our Lady of Victory and the Catholic Church.

Transition to a New Student Information System Makes Progress

Student information systems communicate back and forth with the Iowa Department of Education.  On Wednesday afternoon, the number of data errors for JFK was about 22,600.  By Thursday afternoon, the number of errors dropped to about 1,500 as many more automated transitions/conversions of data finally took place.

We are, indeed, making progress with the new student information system, PowerSchool, that the diocese has licensed for all of the schools in the diocese.  Even the few schools which were already using PowerSchool have had to change to the diocese’s licensed version.  The process has not been easy for any school.  We are thankful for Lynne Devaney, superintendent of schools in our diocese, Brian Brock, in IT at the Mississippi Bend AEA, and, of course, Dianne Siefers, Technology Coordinator at JFK.

As we continue with the transition to PowerSchool, please note that we are still using our old student information system, JMC.  JMC will be used for our lunch program the entire year and for grades/report cards for quite some time yet.  Parent access information for JMC was emailed last week.

The first mid-quarter ends on Wednesday.  Then, teachers have about 2-3 work days to finalize the grades and ratings.  Mid-quarter progress reports will be emailed after September 26th.

Student Information Sheets for 22-23 Still Missing from Some Families

Communication from the school can only work when the contact information is accurate.  Each year, families are asked to verify the information on student information forms, and new families complete new ones for us in August.  A month into the school year, we are still missing 22-23 verified information from about 2-6 families per homeroom.  Please share that information with us ASAP, if you have not already done so.  A link to a fillable form follows: Student-information-sheet-K-8-2022-23

Handbook Sign-Off

Please read the parent and student handbook, available HERE, and on our website:  https://www.olvjfk.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Parent-Handbook-2022-23-pdf-version.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.

Home & School’s Step It Up Campaign

• Step It Up:  We have done a great job so far, but we’re still looking for 75% of our families/students in grades K-8 to participate, and we’re only at 42% as of Friday.  This program is the largest H & S fundraiser that benefits all students and staff.  Another of our local Catholic schools has raised so much through this fundraiser that they have discontinued their Gala!  All parents have to do is register online and send 10 communications.
  • Homeroom competition:
    • There’s a little homeroom competition going on for the rate of participation.  Mrs. Maxwell’s homeroom leads with 78% participation, followed by Mrs. Putnam’s homeroom at 71%, and then Mrs. Poster’s at 65%.  Fifth-8th grade participation is a little low with the highest level of participation in these grades being Mrs. Weiser’s class with 41%, and the lowest homeroom’s participation at 9%.  This year, 5th-8th graders will benefit greatly from Home & School’s support as boys’ and girls’ Catholic League sports teams will all utilize new uniforms.  (These are school owned uniforms and will likely last 7-10 years.)
  • Student winners of the drawings for the refrigerators stuffed with cash last week were the following:  Bryce B (3rd grade), Luci D (1st grade), Hailey E (7th grade), and Landon P (2nd grade).
  • The drawing for the $250 Amazon gift card is Monday!
  • Continue to submit the emails/texts online!
• Sept 21:  Skate Night at the Eldridge Community Center Roller Skating Rink, 4:30-6:30

Home & School is like a parent/teacher association.  All parents/guardians of students enrolled at JFK are part of Home & School.

Teaching Safety: Empowering God’s Children Safe Environment Training
Each year, the Diocese of Davenport, in response to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, requires that students in Catholic schools and faith formation programs in grades K-12 receive education in the prevention of child sexual abuse. The prevention of child sexual abuse requires more than adult vigilance and education. It also requires us to give children the age-appropriate background and tools to help them stay safe.  To this end, the Diocese is using the Teaching Safety: Empowering God’s Children program, sponsored by the VIRTUS program we are currently using to educate adults and volunteers.  For more information, click Teaching Safety – Empowering God’s Children, Parent Letter, 2022-23

Other Upcoming Events

• Sept 21:  End of first mid-qtr.  Student Council officer candidates’ speeches in the gym
• Sept 22/23:  Picture Day
• Sept 26:  2nd Grade Sacraments Preparation
• Sept 30:  H & S sponsored Fall Festival at Pride of the Wapsi (Registration deadline:  Sept 28)

Chad

Funeral Mass for Myrna Brehmer — Secretary of JFK for Its First 35 Years

This past week I attended the funeral Mass for Myrna Brehmer.  Mrs. Brehmer was the school secretary for its first 35 years of existence and retired in about 2008.  When I started at JFK, I was new to the role of principal and new to JFK.  Mrs. Brehmer, with her more than 25 years of experience at JFK already, helped me learn the ways of what really needed to be done.  I will always treasure the wisdom that she shared with me and her wonderful manner in dealing with all of the students.  May she Rest in Peace.

Fr. Andrew celebrated the funeral Mass beautifully.  I had a couple of student council officers from last year with me to represent the student body.  As we walked back to the school, I commented to them, “Now that’s how you do a funeral homily.”  It had just the right mixture of memories, sorrow, laughter, reflection, and message for our own lives.  Mass keeps us grounded to remember what’s important in life.  “Come to the Table!”

Bishop Zinkula Celebrates Mass with Us Sept 14th

Bishop Zinkula will be the celebrant at our September 14th all school Mass.  We welcome him to the Eucharistic table at OLV!

60th Anniversary Celebration – Parish Picnic

The OLV Parish Picnic is Sunday, September 18th following a special 1:00 pm Mass to celebrate our 60th Anniversary. (There will be not 11:00 a.m. Mass.)  We will be serving pulled pork sandwiches and sides catered by Smokin’ Butt BBQ. As in the past, there will be a hot dog option for the meal, lemonade and waters available as well as beer (both craft and domestic) and wine for adults.  Live music will be provided by Identity Crisis.  Bounce houses, a petting zoo and other kids activities will be available.  The celebration will conclude with a fireworks show at dusk, which is anticipated to be around 7:30 p.m.  All outdoor activities will be held on the grounds east of the school.  There is no charge for the picnic.  Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and an appetite!

COVID Guidance for 2022-23

COVID mitigation strategies at JFK this fall emphasize the following:

• Vaccination:  All people ages 6 months and older are eligible for COVID vaccination.  Like the flu shot, COVID vaccination won’t necessarily prevent one from catching COVID, but it will greatly lessen the likelihood of serious complications.
  • Please check with your child’s pediatrician about other vaccinations required for school or childcare attendance.  State law requires school officials to exclude students who do not have the proper immunizations.  Because the Catholic Church is not opposed to vaccinations, there should be no religious exemptions for Catholics.  The initial audit for K-8 students indicated that no K-8 students would have to be excluded!  Thanks for your help!
  • Flu shots will again be offered free to K-8 students later this fall thanks to the Genesis Flu Free Quad Cities program.
• Ventilation:  We have both building-wide ventilation systems and portable systems operating at JFK.
• Handwashing (and hand sanitizer) and respiratory etiquette.  We purchase hand sanitizer by the case!
• Staying home when sick:
  • Temperature 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
    • Students must be fever free for 24 hrs without the use of fever reducing medication before returning to school
  • Sore throat
  • New uncontrolled cough that causes difficulty breathing and/or prohibits the student from doing his/her work (for students with chronic allergic/asthmatic cough, a change in their cough from baseline)
  • Diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal pain
    • Students must go 12 hrs without vomiting or diarrhea
    • A common definition of diarrhea is 3 or more loose/watery stools in a day
  • New onset of severe headache, especially with a fever
  • Any other symptom(s) which interferes with your student’s ability to learn, including a non-allergy causing runny nose
  • Those who test positive for COVID are excluded from school for 5 days from the date the positive specimen was taken or 5 days from the day symptoms began.  The day of the test or the day symptoms began is day 0.  After the five days, one may return to school if wearing a mask for another five days.  Those who will not be wearing a mask need to stay away from school for a total of 10 days.  If one tests positive but has no symptoms and later develops symptoms within the 10 days, the timeline starts over with the day symptoms began as day 0.
    • Those who are exposed to someone who has COVID do not need to quarantine.  It is recommended that one wears a face mask for 10 days (with day 0 being the last exposure to someone with COVID).  Note:  Schools in Iowa cannot require face coverings.  One should also take extra precautions around others and watch for symptoms.
    • It is also recommended that one test at least 5 full days after one’s last exposure.  If the test is negative, one should continue with the exposure precautions through day 10.  If the test is positive, one should follow the procedures for testing positive.
• Cleaning and disinfection:  It seems odd to say that we are continuing with extra cleaning and disinfection; entering our third school year with COVID, it seems more the norm now than extra.

Physical distancing and/or plastic barriers between students will not be in place this year.  Face masks, however, are still an option for everyone.  Contact tracing and/or letters sent home will not take place, except where required in DHS childcare programs just as notifications might be for other diseases.

Transition to a New Student Information System Continues to Cause Disruptions

The Diocese of Davenport has licensed a student information system (SIS), PowerSchool, for all schools in the diocese.  It is taking the diocese much longer to transition all of the schools to the new system.  I have mentioned that discussions are still evolving around grading, progress reports, report cards, and student/parent viewable on-demand access to grades.

We are hoping to have student/parent viewable on-demand access to grades or an emailed progress report available for at least 6th-8th graders even before the end of the mid-quarter on September 21st.

Handbook Sign-Off

Please read the parent and student handbook, available HERE, and on our website:  https://www.olvjfk.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Parent-Handbook-2022-23-pdf-version.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.

Home & School Happenings

• Sept 12:  Kick off to Step It Up!  This program is the largest H & S fundraiser that benefits all students and staff.  Another of our local Catholic schools has raised so much through this fundraiser that they have discontinued their Gala!  Our goal is for 75% student participation this year.  All parents have to do is register online and send 10 communications.
• Sept 21:  Skate Night at the Eldridge Community Center Roller Skating Rink, 4:30-6:30

Home & School is like a parent/teacher association.  All parents/guardians of students enrolled at JFK are part of Home & School.

Teaching Safety: Empowering God’s Children Safe Environment Training
Each year, the Diocese of Davenport, in response to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, requires that students in Catholic schools and faith formation programs in grades K-12 receive education in the prevention of child sexual abuse. The prevention of child sexual abuse requires more than adult vigilance and education. It also requires us to give children the age-appropriate background and tools to help them stay safe.  To this end, the Diocese is using the Teaching Safety: Empowering God’s Children program, sponsored by the VIRTUS program we are currently using to educate adults and volunteers.  For more information, click Teaching Safety – Empowering God’s Children, Parent Letter, 2022-23

That Man Is You:  Becoming a Man After God’s Own Heart

A new men’s program is beginning at OLV: That Man is You (TMIY).  TMIY is an interactive men’s program that claims to combine the latest findings of modern science with the teachings of the Catholic Church that will transform men, their families, and greater society.  TMIY is on Saturday mornings in the parish center from 6:00 – 7:30 a.m.  It begins on Saturday September 17th.

Other Upcoming Events

• Sept 12:  Cub/Boy Scout recruiting at lunch time
• Sept 21:  End of first mid-qtr.  Student Council officer candidates’ speeches after Mass in the church
• Sept 22/23:  Picture Day
• Sept 26:  2nd Grade Sacraments Preparation
• Sept 30:  H & S sponsored Fall Festival at Pride of the Wapsi (Registration deadline:  Sept 28)

Chad

School Masses

School Masses are open to parents, especially those whose children have “Mass parts.”  Late arrivals do need to be let in by a staff member as the church doors are locked once students are in the building.

It’s always a good start to the day when Fr. Jake says, “Have a good day everyone,” and 350 students and staff respond “You too, Father.”

Fr. Rauenbuehler would also like to invite students who attend Algebra I at Assumption to the 7:10 chapel Mass at Assumption on Tuesday mornings.

Bishop Zinkula Celebrates Mass with Us Sept 14th

Bishop Zinkula will be the celebrant at our September 14th all school Mass.  We welcome him to the Eucharistic table at OLV!

Weekend Masses

With the excitement of a new school year and new schedules, it may also be time to renew and/or adjust your weekend Mass attendance schedule.  OLV has four weekend Masses:  4:30 on Saturdays and 7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., and 11:00 a.m. on Sundays.  Each Mass has a slightly different “feel” as well, if that aspect is more important than time of day.  All of them have the Eucharist.  Come to the Table!

Ignite Sundays

Need a way to ignite your Sundays?  IGNITE Sundays return on September 11th!  These events, which occur about once per month, include a special 4:30 Sunday evening Mass, meal in the parish center, and then group gatherings for all ages until 7:15 p.m.  You can come to one or more of the Ignite Sundays, and one or more of the three parts of each event.  There is no cost or registration required.  September 11th’s discussion focuses on dealing with discouragement.

Text Message Communications

Occasionally, we “blast” a text message to families.  A good example of a mass text message would be a last minute school closing due to weather.  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.

Headphones for 5th-8th Graders

The supply list for 5th-8th grade students includes a (cheap!) pair of headphones or a set of earbuds to keep at school.  These will be used with testing programs and with educational programs as well.  Students without these materials will have difficulty participating.  It is particularly important that students have their headphones/earbuds at school starting Tuesday, September 6th.

Substitutes

JFK is in need of substitutes 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.  Recognizing the need for substitute teachers, JFK’s board has authorized a $450 bonus at the pay period following the fifth day of substituting at JFK to the first five people to take advantage of this offer. The bonus will essentially cover the workshop fee, license application fee, background check fee, and pay an amount for the workshop time.  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:  Amy Farrey, Kayla Mason, Jen Kira, and Mary Sunderbruch.

COVID Guidance for 2022-23

COVID is still around.  Through the first nine days of school, we have had eight student cases in six grades reported.  Reported infection rates this summer in Scott County were anywhere from 1.2 to more than ten times worse than last summer, but, right now, rates are lower than they were at the beginning of last school year.

COVID mitigation strategies at JFK this fall emphasize the following:

• Vaccination:  All people ages 6 months and older are eligible for COVID vaccination.  Like the flu shot, COVID vaccination won’t necessarily prevent one from catching COVID, but it will greatly lessen the likelihood of serious complications.
  • Please check with your child’s pediatrician about other vaccinations required for school or childcare attendance.  State law requires school officials to exclude students who do not have the proper immunizations.  Because the Catholic Church is not opposed to vaccinations, there should be no religious exemptions for Catholics.  The initial audit last week indicated that no K-8 students would have to be excluded!  Thanks for your help!
  • Flu shots will again be offered free to K-8 students later this fall thanks to the Genesis Flu Free Quad Cities program.
• Ventilation:  We have both building-wide ventilation systems and portable systems operating at JFK.
• Handwashing (and hand sanitizer) and respiratory etiquette.  We purchase hand sanitizer by the case!
• Staying home when sick:
  • Temperature 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
    • Students must be fever free for 24 hrs without the use of fever reducing medication before returning to school
  • Sore throat
  • New uncontrolled cough that causes difficulty breathing and/or prohibits the student from doing his/her work (for students with chronic allergic/asthmatic cough, a change in their cough from baseline)
  • Diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal pain
    • Students must go 12 hrs without vomiting or diarrhea
    • A common definition of diarrhea is 3 or more loose/watery stools in a day
  • New onset of severe headache, especially with a fever
  • Any other symptom(s) which interferes with your student’s ability to learn, including a non-allergy causing runny nose
  • Those who test positive for COVID are excluded from school for 5 days from the date the positive specimen was taken or 5 days from the day symptoms began.  The day of the test or the day symptoms began is day 0.  After the five days, one may return to school if wearing a mask for another five days.  Those who will not be wearing a mask need to stay away from school for a total of 10 days.  If one tests positive but has no symptoms and later develops symptoms within the 10 days, the timeline starts over with the day symptoms began as day 0.
    • Those who are exposed to someone who has COVID do not need to quarantine.  It is recommended that one wears a face mask for 10 days (with day 0 being the last exposure to someone with COVID).  Note:  Schools in Iowa cannot require face coverings.  One should also take extra precautions around others and watch for symptoms.
    • It is also recommended that one test at least 5 full days after one’s last exposure.  If the test is negative, one should continue with the exposure precautions through day 10.  If the test is positive, one should follow the procedures for testing positive.
• Cleaning and disinfection:  It seems odd to say that we are continuing with extra cleaning and disinfection; entering our third school year with COVID, it seems more the norm now than extra.

Physical distancing and/or plastic barriers between students will not be in place this year.  Face masks, however, are still an option for everyone.  Contact tracing and/or letters sent home will not take place, except where required in DHS childcare programs just as notifications might be for other diseases.

Transition to a New Student Information System

The Diocese of Davenport has licensed a student information system (SIS), PowerSchool, for all schools in the diocese.  It is taking the diocese much longer to transition all of the schools to the new system, and one cannot imagine all of the things that are now tied into an SIS.  Discussions are still evolving around grading, progress reports, report cards, and student/parent viewable on-demand access to grades.  There are no easy solutions!  Currently, we are running our old student information system JMC alongside PowerSchool for many functions.

Handbook Sign-Off

Please read the parent and student handbook, available HERE, and on our website:  https://www.olvjfk.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Parent-Handbook-2022-23-pdf-version.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.

60th Anniversary Celebration – Parish Picnic

The OLV Parish Picnic is Sunday, September 18th following a special 1:00 pm Mass to celebrate our 60th Anniversary. We will be serving pulled pork sandwiches and sides catered by Smokin’ Butt BBQ. As in the past, there will be a hot dog option for the meal, lemonade and waters available as well as beer (both craft and domestic) and wine for adults.  Live music will be provided by Identity Crisis.  Bounce houses, a petting zoo and other kids activities will be available.  The celebration will conclude with a fireworks show at dusk, which is anticipated to be around 7:30 p.m.  All outdoor activities will be held on the grounds east of the school.  There is no charge for the picnic.  Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and an appetite!

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

A National Evangelization Team (NET) from MN will again conduct retreats for 7th and 8th graders.  The 8th grade retreat is Tuesday, October 18 from 4:30 – 8:30 PM.  On Wednesday, October 19, from 3:00 – 7:00 PM, we will have the 7th grade retreat.  These retreats will be held at Our Lady of Victory, and YOUR HOSPITALITY IS NEEDED.  Host families are needed for NET team members on the evening of October 19th.  Hosts are requested to house a
minimum of two team members of the same gender. These college-aged young people 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.  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.  If you are interested, please contact Kaye Meyers at davolvcre@diodav.org or 563-391-8384.

Home & School Happenings

• Sept 9/10:  Happy Joe’s (W 50th St), 4-9 p.m.  15% of all food and beverage sales donated back to JFK.  Dine-in or carry-out options
• Sept 12:  Kick off to Step It Up!  This program is the largest H & S fundraiser that benefits all students and staff.  Another of our local Catholic schools has raised so much through this fundraiser that they have discontinued their Gala!  Our goal is for 75% student participation this year.  All parents have to do is register online and send 10 communications.
• Sept 21:  Skate Night at the Eldridge Community Center Roller Skating Rink, 4:30-6:30

Home & School is like a parent/teacher association.  All parents/guardians of students enrolled at JFK are part of Home & School.  More active members include the following:

Other Upcoming Events

• Sept 21:  End of first mid-qtr
• Sept 22/23:  Picture Day
• Sept 26:  2nd Grade Sacraments Preparation

Chad

Our First Mass of the School Year

Wednesday was our first school Mass of the school year.  As I participated in this Mass, I couldn’t help but have an overwhelming feeling of satisfaction and pride, “This is why we do Catholic schools!  We come to the table of the Lord together.”  This week, students will start having the Mass parts.

Fr. Rauenbuehler would also like to invite students who attend Algebra I at Assumption to the 7:10 chapel Mass at Assumption on Tuesday mornings.

Weekend Masses

With the excitement of a new school year and new schedules, it may also be time to renew and/or adjust your weekend Mass attendance schedule.  OLV has four weekend Masses:  4:30 on Saturdays and 7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., and 11:00 a.m. on Sundays.  Each Mass has a slightly different “feel” as well, if that aspect is more important than time of day.  All of them have the Eucharist.  Come to the Table!

Ignite Sundays

Need a way to ignite your Sundays?  IGNITE Sundays return on September 11th!  These events, which occur about once per month, include a special 4:30 Sunday evening Mass, meal in the parish center, and then group gatherings for all ages until 7:15 p.m.  You can come to one or more of the Ignite Sundays.  There is no cost or registration required.  September 11ths discussion focuses on dealing with discouragement.

Communications

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.  I use the Principal’s Post to reach the whole school community and sometimes highlight happenings in particular grades.  You will also receive numerous email communications from teachers.  Email is probably the number one form of communication in schools.

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!

Occasionally, we will also “blast” a text message to families.  A good example of a mass text message would be a last minute school closing due to weather.  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.

Headphones for 5th-8th Graders

The supply list for 5th-8th grade students includes a (cheap!) pair of headphones or a set of earbuds to keep at school.  These will be used with testing programs and with educational programs as well.  Students without these materials will have difficulty participating.  It is particularly important that students have their headphones/earbuds at school starting Tuesday, September 6th.

Parking Lot Drop-Off/Pick-Up

Please observe the parking lot traffic patterns for our parking lot.  They work rather smoothly.  However, a few reminders are below:

• Proceed SLOWLY and cautiously through every location.  Little kids are hard to see by cars.  What one makes up in time by speeding through the lot will matter little if someone is hit by a car!
• Be attentive to your driving.  Talking on a cell phone, even handsfree, can be a distraction when one’s attention is needed most to watch for kids and pedestrians.
• Only use handicapped parking spots if qualified.  Handicapped parking spots are reserved for those who need them throughout the entire day, including morning drop off, mid-day pre-school pick up and drop off, and pick up at the end of the day.
• Accompany younger students to/from the barriers, if you park in the lot and are not using the drive-through lanes.  Parents who are standing and waiting for their little ones should stand on the school side of the barriers.  All children should be supervised.

A photo of the parking lot patterns can be found using the following link: Parking lot traffic patterns

• Red arrows are the drop off/pick up zones.  Note that the main one is at the north, but there is also one that can be used at the south.
• Blue arrows are the one-way pick-up lanes.  
• Orange arrows are one-way lanes.
• Green arrows indicate where traffic goes in both directions.
• Note that in some areas there are two lanes going in the same direction:  one lane is just driving through (orange arrows) and the other lane is the pick up lane leading to the drop off/pick up zone (blue and red arrows).

Lots of Buses

It seems like it always takes a little time for the bus company to smooth things out at the beginning of the school year.  Please be patient with the bus company as well.  Employees of JFK can work as liaisons, but we have no control over busing.  This year, there are nine buses picking up students in the morning, and ten buses dropping off kids at home.  Routes this year are shared with Assumption, All Saints, and Trinity Lutheran students.

Parent Meetings

Homeroom teachers will continue to conduct informational parent meetings this week so you can find out more information about your child’s grade.  These meetings are different than the “meet and greet” nature of the Unpack Your Backpack/Meet Your Teacher event.  The parent meetings are in-person.  Meetings for grades K-5 will be held in one of the two teachers’ classrooms.  Meetings for grades 6-8 will be in the cafeteria.

• • Mon Aug 29:  6:00 2nd; 6:45 3rd
  • Tues, Aug 30: 6:00 4th; 6:45 5th
  • Thurs, Sept 1:  6:00 6th

Instrumental Music Staff and Substitutes

We are finalizing our instrumental music program staffing:

• Vanessa Leavitt will be joining our instrumental music program and providing lessons on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.  Mrs. Leavitt has previous band teaching experience in local private schools.  Mrs. Freemyer will be doing lessons on Mondays, and Mr. Connors will do large group band instruction.  Fifth grade instrument testing should begin this week!

Substitutes Needed:  JFK is in need of substitutes 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.  Recognizing the need for substitute teachers, JFK’s board has authorized a $450 bonus at the pay period following the fifth day of substituting at JFK to the first five people to take advantage of this offer. The bonus will essentially cover the workshop fee, license application fee, background check fee, and pay an amount for the workshop time.  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:  Amy Farrey, Kayla Mason, Jen Kira, and Mary Sunderbruch.

Safety

Just as staff members go over many other procedures with students at the beginning of the school year, they will have discussions and review practices for fires, tornados/inclement weather, and dangerous individuals, including active attackers/shooters.  Whether we discuss Run-Hide-Fight or ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate), how the topics and practices related to dangerous individuals are approached can vary greatly throughout the building as we have three year olds through 14 year olds at JFK.

COVID Guidance for 2022-23

COVID is still around.  Reported infection rates this summer have been anywhere from 1.2 to more than ten times worse than last summer.  Rates right now are about the same as  they were at the beginning of last school year.

COVID mitigation strategies at JFK this fall emphasize the following:

• Vaccination:  All people ages 6 months and older are eligible for COVID vaccination.  Like the flu shot, COVID vaccination won’t necessarily prevent one from catching COVID, but it will greatly lessen the likelihood of serious complications.
  • Please check with your child’s pediatrician about other vaccinations required for school or childcare attendance.  State law requires school officials to exclude students who do not have the proper immunizations.  Because the Catholic Church is not opposed to vaccinations, there should be no religious exemptions for Catholics.
  • Flu shots will again be offered free to K-8 students later this fall thanks to the Genesis Flu Free Quad Cities program.
• Ventilation:  We have both building-wide ventilation systems and portable systems operating at JFK.
• Handwashing (and hand sanitizer) and respiratory etiquette.  We purchase hand sanitizer by the case!
• Staying home when sick:
  • Temperature 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
    • Students must be fever free for 24 hrs without the use of fever reducing medication before returning to school
  • Sore throat
  • New uncontrolled cough that causes difficulty breathing and/or prohibits the student from doing his/her work (for students with chronic allergic/asthmatic cough, a change in their cough from baseline)
  • Diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal pain
    • Students must go 12 hrs without vomiting or diarrhea
    • A common definition of diarrhea is 3 or more loose/watery stools in a day
  • New onset of severe headache, especially with a fever
  • Any other symptom(s) which interferes with your student’s ability to learn, including a non-allergy causing runny nose
  • Those who test positive for COVID are excluded from school for 5 days from the date the positive specimen was taken or 5 days from the day symptoms began.  The day of the test or the day symptoms began is day 0.  After the five days, one may return to school if wearing a mask for another five days.  Those who will not be wearing a mask need to stay away from school for a total of 10 days.  If one tests positive but has no symptoms and later develops symptoms within the 10 days, the timeline starts over with the day symptoms began as day 0.
    • Those who are exposed to someone who has COVID do not need to quarantine.  It is recommended that one wears a face mask for 10 days (with day 0 being the last exposure to someone with COVID).  Note:  Schools in Iowa cannot require face coverings.  One should also take extra precautions around others and watch for symptoms.
    • It is also recommended that one test at least 5 full days after one’s last exposure.  If the test is negative, one should continue with the exposure precautions through day 10.  If the test is positive, one should follow the procedures for testing positive.
• Cleaning and disinfection:  It seems odd to say that we are continuing with extra cleaning and disinfection; entering our third school year with COVID, it seems more the norm now than extra.

Physical distancing and/or plastic barriers between students will not be in place this year.  Face masks, however, are still an option for everyone.  Contact tracing and/or letters sent home will not take place, except where required in DHS childcare programs just as notifications might be for other diseases.

Transition to a New Student Information System

The Diocese of Davenport has licensed a student information system (SIS), PowerSchool, for all schools in the diocese.  It is taking the diocese much longer to transition all of the schools to the new system, and one cannot imagine all of the things that are now tied into an SIS.  Most of our discussions last week were tied to grading, progress reports, report cards, and student/parent viewable on-demand access to grades.  There are no easy solutions!

Handbook Sign-Off

Please read the parent and student handbook, available HERE, and on our website:  https://www.olvjfk.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Parent-Handbook-2022-23-pdf-version.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.

Thanks for the Financial Support

We would like to thank you for your financial support of JFK, especially with the change with tuition payments beginning in July rather than August.  As we now move into September, if you have not made a July or August payment yet, you are 30-60 days behind already.  If you are in this situation, please contact us regarding a payment plan that may be different than the one for which a contractual agreement was made.

Labor Day — No School & ECLC Closed

There is no school on Labor Day, September 5th.  ECLC is also closed for the holiday.

60th Anniversary Celebration – Parish Picnic

The OLV Parish Picnic is Sunday, September 18th following a special 1:00 pm Mass to celebrate our 60th Anniversary. We will be serving pulled pork sandwiches and sides catered by Smokin’ Butt BBQ. As in the past, there will be a hot dog option for the meal, lemonade and waters available as well as beer (both craft and domestic) and wine for adults.  Live music will be provided by Identity Crisis.  Bounce houses, a petting zoo and other kids activities will be available.  The celebration will conclude with a fireworks show at dusk, which is anticipated to be around 7:30 p.m.  All outdoor activities will be held on the grounds east of the school.  There is no charge for the picnic.  Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and an appetite!

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

A National Evangelization Team (NET) from MN will again conduct retreats for 7th and 8th graders.  The 8th grade retreat is Tuesday, October 18 from 4:30 – 8:30 PM.  On Wednesday, October 19, from 3:00 – 7:00 PM, we will have the 7th grade retreat.  These retreats will be held at Our Lady of Victory, and YOUR HOSPITALITY IS NEEDED.  Host families are needed for NET team members on the evening of October 19th.  Hosts are requested to house a
minimum of two team members of the same gender. These college-aged young people 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.  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.  If you are interested, please contact Kaye Meyers at davolvcre@diodav.org or 563-391-8384.

Free/Reduced Price Lunch Applications

ALL student school lunches at JFK are partially subsidized by the federal government due to JFK’s participation in the National School Lunch Program.  Some families may also qualify for free or reduced price lunches, provided they complete an application or are “direct certified” through participation in another government assistance program.  Hard copy applications were sent to all families.  If you do not think you will qualify, you do not need to complete an application.  Applications can also be found in the lunch program section of our website or by following the link:   Free/reduced lunch application.

The newsletter for JFK’s lunch program can be found at the following link:  Lunch Program Newsletter, September 2022

When promoting the NSLP, JFK is also required to share the following non-discrimination statements:

Chad

Welcome to 2022-23

Welcome to the 2022-23 school year!  With the excitement of a new school year and new schedules, it may also be time to renew and/or adjust your weekend Mass attendance schedule.  OLV has four weekend Masses:  4:30 on Saturdays and 7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., and 11:00 a.m. on Sundays.  Each Mass has a slightly different “feel” as well, if that aspect is more important than time of day.  All of them have the Eucharist.  Come to the Table!

First Principal’s Post for 2021-22

This Principal’s Post is officially the first of the new school year.  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.  I use the Principal’s Post to reach the whole school community and sometimes highlight happenings in particular grades.  You will also receive numerous email communications from teachers.  Email is probably the number one form of communication in schools.

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!

Occasionally, we will also “blast” a text message to families.  A good example of a mass text message would be a last minute school closing due to weather.  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.

Parking Lot Drop-Off/Pick-Up

Please observe the parking lot traffic patterns for our parking lot.  They work rather smoothly.  However, a few reminders are below:

• Proceed SLOWLY and cautiously through every location.  Little kids are hard to see by cars.  What one makes up in time by speeding through the lot will matter little if someone is hit by a car!
• Be attentive to your driving.  Talking on a cell phone, even handsfree, can be a distraction when one’s attention is needed most to watch for kids and pedestrians.
• Only use handicapped parking spots if qualified.  Handicapped parking spots are reserved for those who need them throughout the entire day, including morning drop off, mid-day pre-school pick up and drop off, and pick up at the end of the day.
• Accompany younger students to/from the barriers, if you park in the lot and are not using the drive-through lanes.  Parents who are standing and waiting for their little ones should stand on the school side of the barriers.  All children should be supervised.

A photo of the parking lot patterns can be found using the following link: Parking lot traffic patterns

• Red arrows are the drop off/pick up zones.  Note that the main one is at the north, but there is also one that can be used at the south.
• Blue arrows are the one-way pick-up lanes.  
• Orange arrows are one-way lanes.
• Green arrows indicate where traffic goes in both directions.
• Note that in some areas there are two lanes going in the same direction:  one lane is just driving through (orange arrows) and the other lane is the pick up lane leading to the drop off/pick up zone (blue and red arrows).

Bus Issues

It seems like it always takes a little time for the bus company to smooth things out at the beginning of the school year.  Please be patient with the bus company as well.  Employees of JFK can work as liaisons, but we have no control over busing. 

Parent Meetings

Homeroom teachers will conduct informational parent meetings beginning this week so you can find out more information about your child’s grade.  These meetings are different than the “meet and greet” nature of the Unpack Your Backpack/Meet Your Teacher event.  The parent meetings are in-person.  Meetings for grades K-5 will be held in one of the two teachers’ classrooms.  Meetings for grades 6-8 will be in the cafeteria.

• • Wed, Aug 24:  6:00 K; 6:45 1st
  • Thurs, Aug 25:  6:00 7th; 6:45 8th
  • Mon Aug 29:  6:00 2nd; 6:45 3rd
  • Tues, Aug 30: 6:00 4th; 6:45 5th
  • Thurs, Sept 1:  6:00 6th

New Staff Members/Assignments

Most new members were introduced earlier this year, but we want to welcome them again.  We also have some staff members switching positions:

• Kayelyn Blake will be providing reading and math intervention services this year.  Federal Emergency Assistance for Non-Public Schools (EANS) funds are paying for her salary this year.  These federal COVID relief funds are allowing us to expand our interventionist services.
• Jasmine Bowman, who did her student teaching in 2nd grade at JFK last spring, will be teaching third grade this year.
• Jessica Freemyer will be doing some instrumental lessons at JFK.  She had been going to be our full-time band teacher, but the opportunity to teach in Bettendorf at Lourdes, where she lives and her children go to school, arose this summer.  Mr. Connors will be doing large group band instruction, and we are coordinating schedules with another person to offer lessons until a full-time band instructor can be found.
• Beatriz Herrera will be working in our lunch program and in after school care.  Mrs. Herrera has two children joining the JFK community as well this year.
• Bridget Parr will also be providing reading and math intervention services this year made possible by EANS funding.
• Shannon Runyan will be teaching 6th-8th grade science.  Mrs. Runyan has over 20 years of teaching experience.
• Substitutes Needed:  JFK is in need of substitutes 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.  Recognizing the need for substitute teachers, JFK’s board has authorized a $450 bonus at the pay period following the fifth day of substituting at JFK to the first five people to take advantage of this offer. The bonus will essentially cover the workshop fee, license application fee, background check fee, and pay an amount for the workshop time.  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:  Amy Farrey, Kayla Mason, Jen Kira, and Mary Sunderbruch.

Safety

Just as staff members go over many other procedures with students at the beginning of the school year, they will have discussions and review practices for fires, tornados/inclement weather, and dangerous individuals, including active attackers/shooters.  Whether we discuss Run-Hide-Fight or ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate), how the topics and practices related to dangerous individuals are approached can vary greatly throughout the building as we have three year olds through 14 year olds at JFK.

Since this spring’s incident at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, TX, we have updated our staff training at JFK and engaged in discussions about vulnerabilities and responses last week.  We will also be having another safety audit by the Iowa Office of Homeland Security.  All ideas are discussed as we try to assess with what levels of risk we want to live.  Yes, kids would be safer if there were never recesses, but that’s not the way we want to or should have to live.

One of the changes you will notice is that visitors to the school will have to be “buzzed in” at the farthest exterior doors in the front.  We have been allowing people to enter into the foyer because all other doors around the foyer are locked; once in the foyer, there’s no where someone can go.  However, we have decided that people won’t even be able to enter into the foyer area without being “buzzed in.”  All the doors of the school, therefore, are locked throughout the day.  (The church doors are also locked once students have entered for school Masses.)

COVID Guidance for 2022-23

COVID is still around.  Reported infection rates this summer have been anywhere from 1.2 to more than ten times worse than last summer.  We have even had staff miss work already this school due to COVID.  Luckily, the severity of the disease doesn’t seem to be as great, and hospitals are currently able to handle the number of patients they are seeing.

COVID mitigation strategies at JFK this fall emphasize the following:

• Vaccination:  All people ages 6 months and older are eligible for COVID vaccination.  Like the flu shot, COVID vaccination won’t necessarily prevent one from catching COVID, but it will greatly lessen the likelihood of serious complications.
  • Please check with your child’s pediatrician about other vaccinations required for school or childcare attendance.  State law requires school officials to exclude students who do not have the proper immunizations.  Because the Catholic Church is not opposed to vaccinations, there should be no religious exemptions for Catholics.
  • Flu shots will again be offered free to K-8 students later this fall thanks to the Genesis Flu Free Quad Cities program.
• Ventilation:  We have both building-wide ventilation systems and portable systems operating at JFK.
• Handwashing (and hand sanitizer) and respiratory etiquette.  We purchase hand sanitizer by the case!
• Staying home when sick:
  • Temperature 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
    • Students must be fever free for 24 hrs without the use of fever reducing medication before returning to school
  • Sore throat
  • New uncontrolled cough that causes difficulty breathing and/or prohibits the student from doing his/her work (for students with chronic allergic/asthmatic cough, a change in their cough from baseline)
  • Diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal pain
    • Students must go 12 hrs without vomiting or diarrhea
    • A common definition of diarrhea is 3 or more loose/watery stools in a day
  • New onset of severe headache, especially with a fever
  • Any other symptom(s) which interferes with your student’s ability to learn, including a non-allergy causing runny nose
  • Those who test positive for COVID are excluded from school for 5 days from the date the positive specimen was taken or 5 days from the day symptoms began.  The day of the test or the day symptoms began is day 0.  After the five days, one may return to school if wearing a mask for another five days.  Those who will not be wearing a mask need to stay away from school for a total of 10 days.
• Cleaning and disinfection:  It seems odd to say that we are continuing with extra cleaning and disinfection; entering our third school year with COVID, it seems more the norm now than extra.

Physical distancing and/or plastic barriers between students will not be in place this year.  Face masks, however, are still an option for everyone.  Contact tracing and/or letters sent home will not take place, except where required in DHS childcare programs just as notifications might be for other diseases.

Transition to a New Student Information System

The Diocese of Davenport has licensed a student information system (SIS), PowerSchool, for all schools in the diocese.  It is taking the diocese much longer to transition all of the schools to the new system, and one cannot imagine all of the things that are now tied into an SIS.  Our email communications may be duplicated or have difficulty reaching everyone during this transition.  We are currently running multiple systems to try to make sure we don’t miss anyone!

Handbook Sign-Off

Please read the parent and student handbook, available HERE, and on our website:  https://www.olvjfk.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Parent-Handbook-2022-23-pdf-version.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.

Thanks for the Financial Support

We would like to thank you for your financial support of JFK, especially with the change with tuition payments beginning in July rather than August.  As we move toward becoming a regional Scott County School system, JFK was the only school that had tuition payments beginning in August and concluding in May or June, depending upon a 10 or 12 month payment plan.  All of the other schools had tuition payment plans beginning in July and concluding in April-June, depending upon the payment plan.  These payment plans coincide with schools’ and parishes’ fiscal years, which begin1 July 1 and conclude June 30.  Rather than the other schools changing plans to match JFK, JFK had to change its plan.

If you have not made a July or August payment yet, you may be 30-60 days behind already.  If you are in this situation, please contact us regarding a payment plan that may be different than the one for which a contractual agreement was made.

Upcoming Events

Both a summary and detailed school calendars for JFK are available on our website.  Highlighted events are below:

• Aug 22:  ECLC Begins
• Aug 23:  PS-8 Classes Begin
• Aug 24:  K-8 1 hr early Wednesday dismissals begin (1:40).  4/5 yr old PS special Wednesday times begin.
• Aug 26:  JFK/AHS Spirit Day.  Students may wear any JFK or AHS spirit wear along with uniform pants/skirts/bottoms.  Home & School Movie Night
• Sept 5:  Labor Day.  No school/ECLC closed
• Sept 18:  OLV 60th Anniversary Celebration

An Update About Me and My Family

The big event for my family this summer was the wedding of my youngest daughter, Caitlin.  While the wedding date, August 13th, wasn’t the most convenient for me, and I’m still struggling with another “little girl” of mine marrying, the ceremony at OLV was beautiful.  After a honeymoon in Hawaii, Caitlin and her husband returned to Kansas City.  My children, thus, continue to be spread out across the country.  Colleen and her husband live in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area and purchased their “first” home earlier this year.  Our son, Tom, is in Charleston, South Carolina and continues to work in the entertainment industry.  Kirsten resides in Des Moines and is entering her fourth year of teaching special education in a grade school.

I am beginning my 22nd year as principal at JFK.  Prior to coming to JFK, I worked for ten years at Assumption High School where I taught religion for nine years and then worked in student services for one year.  I grew up in a working class suburb just south of Milwaukee, WI.  My undergraduate degree is from Marquette University in Milwaukee, and I have graduate degrees from the University of Chicago and Western Illinois University.  I also hold a superintendent’s certificate from the University of Northern Iowa.  Lynn and I have just celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary.  Lynn works in student services at Assumption High School, where we met.  She is a life-long resident of Davenport and graduate of Assumption and St. Paul’s.  She also holds three college degrees.  When Caitlin finishes law school, we will have thirteen college degrees spread out among the six of us in our family.  Education was been a big part of our lives!

Chad

Back to School Registration

This Sunday and Monday is our back to school registration process.  Mailings were sent home, and the letters with active links are available on the front page of our website.  Many other forms are available under the section of our website under the route “For Parents” and then “Policies & Forms.”  If you can’t make it to the back to school registration times, please drop off the materials (8-3, M-F) or mail them to us ASAP.  We would hate to start the school year with incorrect contact information for families, for example!

If you have not returned your tuition contract yet for the 2022-23 school year, please do so as soon as possible.  It is difficult to make plans when our projected enrollment figure is still so fluid.  Difficulty in projecting enrollment has also become more difficult over the last several years.  At the beginning of May in 2019, we had 84% of all possible tuition contracts returned.  In 2020, that figure was 79%.  In 2021 and 2022, that figure was around 67%.  It might be easy to explain if enrollment was declining, but our enrollment actually increased in 2021-22.  People were just slow in returning tuition contracts.  It’s difficult to know how many staff members to commit to in April and May, when we issue teacher contracts for the next school year, when a third of our families haven’t illustrated their commitment yet either.

Due to official enrollment still changing, class lists will not be available at our back to school registration.  Families will be notified later, most likely via email as we did last year.

Pardon our Parking Lot Mess

Concrete work is underway near the dumpsters in the parking lot.  The drive along the ballfield is currently unavailable.  We are also doing work near the northwest doors.  These doors are also unavailable for use.  Resealing and re-striping the parking lot is continuing.  The concrete barriers have been temporarily moved so this work can be completed.

Positions Available at JFK

Lunch Workers/After School Care Supervision:  Two positions available, 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.  during the school year.  Work in kitchen and cafeteria approximately 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. daily.  Help prepare and serve meals, clean kitchen and cafeteria, and provide student supervision.  Employees then work in our after school care program several afternoons per week from 2:30-5:30.  $11-$13 per hour.  Tuition, childcare, and other fee reductions are available, if one’s children are enrolled at JFK.  Free after school childcare for employees with children at JFK.

Send letter, resume, references or complete application at

John F. Kennedy Catholic School

1627 W. 42^nd

Davenport, IA 52806

(563) 391-3030

chad.steimle@olvjfkmail.com

Welcome to Shannon Runyan

Shannon Runyan has joined the JFK staff for middle school science, in particular.  Mrs. Runyan comes to JFK by way of nearly 20 years of science teaching in CA and brief stops in Quad Cities’ public and private schools.

Homeroom Location Changes

Although some of the classrooms used by our upper grade teachers has historically been more likely to change over the summer than those used by teachers in lower grades, this year we’ll have a switch in kindergarten and 2nd grade.  In order to meet students’ needs, Mrs. Putnam’s kindergarten class and Mrs. Poster’s second grade class will switch locations this fall.  Mrs. Putnam’s room will be upstairs near the office, and Mrs. Poster’s class will be downstairs in the middle of the building.

Safety

I don’t know how it is in other industries, but every K-12 school administrator at least knows what is meant by the terms Columbine, Sandy Hook, and Parkland.  I’m not sure if it will be Uvalde or Robb that will stick with this spring’s incident, but I’m sure one of them will.  After each situation, it seems, there is another round of safety audits, and everyone tries to see what can be learned and applied.  Since Sandy Hook in 2012, we have undertaken at least two comprehensive security/safety audits.  The first yielded recommendations for keeping kids safe within the building.  All interior door locks were replaced, and card access to the building was initiated, for example.  The second major audit yielded a focus on exterior elements, and we changed recess locations and added cameras, gates, concrete barriers, and bollards, for example.  Since 2012, JFK has spent over $200,000 on safety/security measures.

This spring and summer we are conducting further safety reviews.  We are working with local resources, and Governor Reynolds has announced that there will be auditors available from the state as well as grants of up to $50,000 available for all schools, including non-public schools.  If you have any safety concerns or ideas, please share them with me.  All ideas are discussed as we try to assess with what levels of risk we want to live.

I can share with you two changes that will likely be permanent:

• Students will continue to enter the building immediately when they arrive between 7:10 and 7:25 each morning.  The change from having the students wait outside on a letter painted on the sidewalk until the bell rang began due to COVID concerns in 2020-21, but I can’t see us having 400 students gather predictably in an exposed but confined location every morning with only a limited number of staff members supervising.
• Visitors to the school will have to be “buzzed in” at the farthest exterior doors in the front.  We have been allowing people to enter into the foyer because all other doors around it are locked; once in the foyer, there’s no where someone can go.  It is likely, however, that people won’t even be able to enter into this area without being “buzzed in.”

Thanks for the Financial Support

We would like to thank you for your financial support of JFK.  Many families came through with finishing their tuition payments for the 2021-22 school year, and there are still a few who are diligently making their scheduled payments on the 12 month plan, which concludes in July.

We would also like to thank everyone who has started the 2022-23 tuition payments that begin this year in July.  As we move toward becoming a regional Scott County School system, JFK was the only school that had tuition payments beginning in August and concluding in May or June, depending upon a 10 or 12 month payment plan.  All of the other schools had tuition payment plans beginning in July and concluding in April-June, depending upon the payment plan.  These payment plans coincide with schools’ and parishes’ fiscal years, which begin1 July 1 and conclude June 30.  Rather than the other schools changing plans to match JFK, JFK had to change its plan.

While we are grateful for our timely financial supporters, there is also another reality taking place:  families are slower in paying now than they have ever been.  Five or six years ago, we would end the fiscal year on June 30th with perhaps 0.75% or about $10,000 in tuition still yet to be paid.  For the 2020-21 school year, we are still owed about $90,000, and, for the 2021-22 school year, we will likely be owed about $125,000 once we finish the end-of-the-year accounting.  That’ll be more than $200,000 in two years or nearly 7.5% .  That pace is not sustainable.  We are making changes in our practices to try to send out more regular statements on accounts as we’ve had a good number of people just say “Oh my goodness!  We didn’t realize we owed X” and are writing us checks now.  We will have to be more aggressive in pushing for timely tuition payments, consider using a collection agency to pursue at least some amounts from past due tuition, and be more firm on denying enrollment for those who are not paying their bills to us.  While we are a ministry of the Church, we also business expenses, particularly staff salaries.  We cannot expect teachers and support staff to just work without being paid!

Regionalization and Diocesan Initiatives

Movement toward a unified Scott County Catholic Schools (SCCS) system continues.   The complete transition should be completed by July 1, 2023.  Below are some of the highlights to date:

• The SCCS corporation was formed with roles for the bishop, a board of trustees (pastors), and a board of directors.  All of the legal necessities have been and/or are in the process of being completed.
• A Catholic school subsidy model was developed and approved for all the parishes in Scott County, and a transition plan was determined as some parishes would see large increases, and some would see decreases.  (For example, St. John Vianney’s subsidy would increase significantly, and OLV’s would decrease.)  Parish subsidy is the second largest source of funding for schools after tuition.  OLV currently has a budgeted subsidy for JFK and AHS of over $750,000 or nearly $2,000 per child.
• The ownership of assets and lease agreements have been agreed upon.  OLV, for example, will retain ownership of all property and buildings on this campus and lease the school to SCCS.
• Transition staffing for SCCS is underway with a president (Andy Craig), interim finance director (Carey Jones), and interim human resources director (Nikki Gartner).   Many, many financial and HR policies/practices are being adjusted at all sites.

If regionalization is not a big enough challenge, there are also other major diocesan initiatives at play:

• Parishes and schools are transitioning to a diocesan health insurance plan.  Overall, with a larger pool of employees, rates will go down.  For JFK, the health insurance cost rose substantially, however, as the new plan requires employers to pay 75% of an employee’s plan, and we were only paying 60%.
• A new payroll/human resources system went into effect July 1st.  We’re hoping we have everything transitioned for OLV/JFK’s 70+ employees for s smooth payroll on the 31st!
• The Diocese of Davenport has licensed a student information system (SIS), PowerSchool, for all schools in the diocese.  This transition is also time consuming, and we may end up operating our “old” SIS, JMC, simultaneously with PowerSchool until things are up to speed.

Upcoming Events

Below are a few events highlighted from our website calendar:

• Aug 16:  PS Individual Family Meetings
• Aug 18:  Unpack Your Backpack/Meet Your Teacher. PS Individual Family Meetings
• Aug 22:  ECLC Begins
• Aug 23:  PS-8 Classes Begin

We look forward to seeing families this Sunday and Monday.

Chad

Gala Thanks

Thanks to the many volunteers who work so hard to pull off the Gala each year.  With a few bills yet to handle, I believe we are estimating new profit to be about $22,000 this spring.  Proceeds from the Gala support JFK teachers, technology, and special faith formation programming like NET retreats for 7th and 8th graders.

Time to Settle Up Before Summer Begins

Don’t forget to finish paying your tuition and other JFK bills before everyone drifts away from school for the summer.  We have done a good job holding expenses in line with our budget, even amidst spiraling inflation.  Unfortunately, many families’ tuition and other payments owed to OLV/JFK have not been timely made.  With more students than we budgeted this year, we should be excited to have a surplus this June and be able to make some summer purchases and/or take on some projects that have been on hold for awhile.  Instead, due to slow payments of tuition and other fees owed JFK, we’re wondering if we’ll be able to make all of our financial obligations, particularly our full payroll in the upcoming months.  Families who signed a tuition contract for one annual payment, two payments, or the ten month payment plan should be finished with tuition payments.  Please make sure all of  your payments to JFK are current.

Tuition Contracts for 2022-23 Overdue

We are still trying to accurately project next year’s enrollment.  The return of the tuition contract and the registration fee is the formal enrollment process for 2022-23.  These would now be considered overdue, and we cannot guarantee a spot for your child unless we have the tuition contract and payment as soon as possible.  We would hate to reduce a grade level from two sections to one only to find later on that there could have been enough students to support two sections.  If school were to start today, nearly half of the grades would be on the bubble between one section and two.

Pre-school and Daycare Registration

Registration for all sections of 3 year old preschool, 4/5 year old preschool, and ECLC is underway for all families.  There are a few morning and afternoon spots still left.

See the  K, pre-school, daycare roundup flyer, 2022

Upcoming Events

Below are a few events highlighted from our website calendar:

• May 31:  8th grade field trip.  3rd grade picnic on campus.  Steamwheelers visit at lunch.
• June 2:  Field Day.  3 yr old PS program.  4/5 yr old PS program
• June 3:  Last day of school.  12:40 dismissal.  No PS classes.  ECLC open.  8th grade graduation.  JFK Night at the River Bandits.  Transfer of school furniture from storage to gym
• June 6:  Concrete work near dumpster and northwest school entrance begins
• June 11:  60th Anniversary Bingo
• June 13-24:  Leaps & Bounds Session I
• July 11:  Asphalt work on parking lot begins
• July 11-15:  Vacation Bible School
• July 18-29:  Leaps & Bounds Session II
• July 24/25:  Back to School Registration
• Aug 1-11:  Leaps & Bounds Session III
• Aug 16:  PS Individual Family Meetings
• Aug 18:  Unpack Backpack/Meet Teacher. PS Individual Family Meetings
• Aug 22:  ECLC Begins
• Aug 23:  PS-8 Classes Begin

Altar Server Training

All boys and girls of the parish, entering 4th grade and up, who are interested in altar serving at Mass, or need a refresher course, are invited to attend the Altar Server Training in the church on Saturday, June 4, from 9:30 am-11:00 am.  One parent needs to attend to complete the necessary paperwork.

8th Graders Taking Algebra at AHS

Students from JFK who will be 8th graders next year and taking Algebra at Assumption should complete the online registration with AHS AND notify the JFK school office by Wednesday.  Completion of both steps of the process helps AHS and JFK determine staffing needs.

Speaking of Algebra, this year’s 8th graders who are attending AHS for Algebra have their last class at AHS on Thursday.  The following applies to these students for the rest of the school year:

• Fri, May 27:  Algebra students do not need to be at JFK until 8:35 unless they are on the band field trip.  If students arrive before 8:35, they will be directed to a supervised area.
• Tues, May 31:  8th grade field trip
• Wed, June 1:  Algebra students do not need to be at JFK until 9:10. If students arrive before 8:35, they will be directed to a supervised area.
• Thurs, June 2:  Students should be here by 7:25 for field day
• Fri, June 3:  Students should be here by 7:25

Open Teaching Positions

We are still searching for a middle school science teacher for 2022-23, although we are opening the search more broadly to include middle school ELA or social studies or a 6th grade teacher.  If you know of anyone qualified/interested in a 6th grade and/or middle school position, please let me know.  I’ve sent personalized messages to about 80 people since the end of March.  The teacher shortage in Iowa and across the nation is becoming more and more apparent.

Last Regular Principal’s Post of the Year

This Principal’s Post is the last regular one of the school year.  Stay tuned for summer updates on our website and Facebook account.

Chad

Band Concert Was Phenomenal

I was absolutely amazed at how well the students performed in last week’s band concert.  Fifth graders were actually playing real band music and that far exceeded that Camptown Races in their starter lesson books.  Sixth graders, who practically missed a whole year of 5th grade band due to COVID, were even further along and must have gained two years in one!  The 7/8 graders, who lost more than a year of band due to COVID and the actual closing of school in March 2020, rivaled many a high school band.  Often taking notes on my concert programs, I had one word summarizing it all written this spring:  wow!

Gala Thanks

Thanks to the many volunteers who work so hard to pull off the Gala each year.  Those of us in the office get to hear about and see original artwork, unique class projects, creative baskets, and other live and silent auction items as they arrive.  We also hear of the trials and tribulations handled by Angie Hillebrand and her crew.  What will the weather be?  When do you “call it” and move indoors?  What do you do when a food truck pulls out?  How can our campus accommodate a funeral and funeral luncheon on the same day as the Gala?  There’s also a lot of non-glamorous work done before and after the Gala by people like Dianne Siefers.  Do we have the right safeguards in place to handle debit/credit card payments, do we have the information needed for tax letters for donors and purchasers, etc.  It takes a whole community to put on this event.

Unfortunately, I was not in attendance this year.  Our daughters arrived Friday night from North Carolina, Des Moines, Kansas, and Atlanta.  Other family members were in town and staying at our house for our youngest daughter’s bridal shower on Saturday afternoon and surprise 30th birthday party for my oldest daughter.  There was a frenzy of activity on Saturday!  Then, the sadness started to creep in on Sunday as they left one by one, leaving only one, who is leaving on Monday.

Facilities and Grounds Input Sessions

OLV will be hosting three input sessions this week for people to talk about the facilities and grounds of the campus.  Due to your generosity, most of the projects of the Cultivating Our Future campaign are complete.  It is, thus, time to assess and discern the next steps for the parish.  This process is important for us as OLV’s participation in the diocesan capital campaign, Upon This Rock, will begin within the next year or so.  Twenty percent of all funds raised at each parish for this campaign are returned back to parishes for projects of their own.

Each of OLV’s input sessions will follow a similar format.  There will be a presentation on the state of our
parish facilities and finances, and then parishioners will be asked to talk about their thoughts with people at their tables, with someone being the note-taker.  Finally, the session will end with some larger group discussion and questions. If you are unable to attend one of these sessions, the presentation from the sessions will be made available through the parish website, and people are welcome to submit any thoughts, questions, or concerns to Fr. Jake or any members of the parish staff.  By the end of summer, it is Fr. Jake’s hope that the Parish Council, Finance Council, and other members of parish leadership will be able to identity priorities for the facilities and grounds.

In the February 27th Principal’s Post, I highlighted some of the higher priority needs for the school, which are listed again below, but the input sessions are not intended for staff feedback.  The intent is to know what parish and school families desire.  Let your voice be heard.

Some of the higher priority items for the school include the following, in no particular order:

• Parking lot sealing and striping and concrete work scheduled/contracted already for summer 2022
• Handicapped parking and access
• Window replacements and window screens
• Playground equipment and surfacing
• Exterior gym wall repair
• Flooring replacement cycle
• Warped doors and frames
• Unused radiator removal and wall repairs
• Southwest stair repairs
• Self-closing fire doors
• Ceiling tiles added on lower level and replaced in nearly all other areas of 1963 and 1987 parts of the building
• Additional mechanical ventilation for 2011 additions
• Storage for extra classroom furniture, etc. as needs change due to enrollment and as students physically grow over the 9-12 years they might be at JFK

The last time we did these types of full-scale input sessions regarding facilities, we eventually did the gathering space addition to the church and classroom, ECLC, and front additions to the school.  We had even talked about a new parish hall, rectory, church hall/banquet room attached to the gathering space, church office, youth ministry space, and new school gym.  Everything can be discussed!

Dates/times for the two remaining sessions this week are below.  They will all be in the parish center.

Thursday, May 26th, 1:00PM
Thursday, May 26th, 7:00PM

5th Graders Golfing

The weather was perfect for 5th graders to go to Red Hawk and have some golf lessons last week.  The golfing activity is supported by JFK’s Home & School Association.

OLV/JFK Has Bills to Pay Too

Don’t forget to finish paying your tuition and other JFK bills.  We have done a good job holding expenses in line with our budget, even amidst spiraling inflation.  Unfortunately, tuition and other payments owed to OLV/JFK have not been timely made.  We currently have, for example, about 55 families who are behind in tuition payments and still owe us about $4,100 per family before the end of June.  These outstanding bills do not include other incidentals such as aftercare, ECLC, band, lunch, lost book, etc. fees that many families still owe.  Although not nearly as large as tuition payments due to OLV/JFK, these smaller fees do add up.  On Monday, the parish’s finance council will hold its regular monthly meeting, and poor cash flow will surely be a topic.  The board of education has also delayed its June board meeting in the hopes of having a clearer financial picture in order to make better decisions regarding staff salary payments this summer and final staffing projections for next year.  Families who signed a tuition contract for one annual payment, two payments, or the ten month payment plan should be about finished with tuition payments.  Please make sure your payments to JFK are current.

Tuition Contracts for 2022-23 Overdue

We are still trying to accurately project next year’s enrollment.  The return of the tuition contract and the registration fee is the formal enrollment process for 2022-23.  These would now be considered overdue, and we cannot guarantee a spot for your child unless we have the tuition contract and payment as soon as possible.  We would hate to reduce a grade level from two sections to one only to find later on that there could have been enough students to support two sections.

Pre-school and Daycare Registration

Registration for all sections of 3 year old preschool, 4/5 year old preschool, and ECLC is underway for all families.  There are a few morning and afternoon spots still left.

See the  K, pre-school, daycare roundup flyer, 2022

Upcoming Events

Below are a few events highlighted from our website calendar:

• May 23:  Day of Awesomeness and Out of Uniform
• May 24:  8th grade Manners Unit Lunch at Outing Club
• May 25:  Crusader Theater Field Trip
• May 26:  Facilities & Grounds Input Session #2 and #3
• May 27:  Day of Awesomeness Rain Date.  Bands to Adventureland.  3 Yr PS Conferences.  4th Grade Bowling
• May 29:  AHS Graduation
• May 30:  Memorial Day.  No classes. ECLC closed
• May 31:  8th grade field trip.  3rd grade picnic on campus.  Steamwheelers visit at lunch.
• June 2:  Field Day.  3 yr old PS program.  4/5 yr old PS program
• June 3:  Last day of school.  12:40 dismissal.  No PS classes.  ECLC open.  8th grade graduation.  JFK Night at the River Bandits.  Transfer of school furniture from storage to gym
• June 6:  Concrete work near dumpster and northwest school entrance begins
• June 11:  60th Anniversary Bingo
• June 13-24:  Leaps & Bounds Session I
• July 11:  Asphalt work on parking lot begins
• July 11-15:  Vacation Bible School
• July 18-29:  Leaps & Bounds Session II
• July 24/25:  Back to School Registration
• Aug 1-11:  Leaps & Bounds Session III
• Aug 16:  PS Individual Family Meetings Begin (tentative)
• Aug 18:  Unpack Backpack/Meet Teacher (tentative)
• Aug 22:  ECLC Begins
• Aug 23:  PS-8 Classes Begin

Keep Your Eye on the Calendar and for Communications from Teachers

May keeps getting more and more crowded with activities.  Keep your eye on the detailed school calendar on our website and be aware of individual teacher’s/grade’s communications that will highlight their specific events.  If your calendar looks anything like mine in May, it’s tough to keep track of and juggle everything!  I even have all three of my daughters coming into town Gala weekend for other family events!

Altar Server Training

All boys and girls of the parish, entering 4th grade and up, who are interested in altar serving at Mass, or need a refresher course, are invited to attend the Altar Server Training in the church on Saturday, June 4, from 9:30 am-11:00 am.  One parent needs to attend to complete the necessary paperwork.

Board of Education

The OLV/JFK Board of Education is seeking candidates interested in helping to make financial and policy decisions affecting the operations of JFK, Faith Formation, and Youth Ministry at Our Lady of Victory.  Board members work with other committees to address the long-range needs of the parish educational and faith formation programs.  Board meetings occur on the first Tuesday of each month and are typically from about 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.  If interested in serving as a board member, please contact me or board officers Ann Craig, Lucas Roth, and Tom Poston.

8th Graders Taking Algebra at AHS

Students from JFK who will be 8th graders next year and taking Algebra at Assumption should complete the online registration with AHS AND notify the JFK school office by Wednesday.  Completion of both steps of the process helps AHS and JFK determine staffing needs.

Speaking of Algebra, this year’s 8th graders who are attending AHS for Algebra have their last class at AHS on Thursday.  The following applies to these students for the rest of the school year:

• Fri, May 27:  Algebra students do not need to be at JFK until 8:35 unless they are on the band field trip.  If students arrive before 8:35, they will be directed to a supervised area.
• Tues, May 31:  8th grade field trip
• Wed, June 1:  Algebra students do not need to be at JFK until 9:10
• Thurs, June 2:  Students should be here by 7:25 for field day
• Fri, June 3:  Students should be here by 7:25

Changes in Teaching Positions

The 2022-23 school year will bring some changes to the positions of a few staff members.  Kayelyn Blake and Bridget Parr will move into interventionist positions funded through federal Emergency Assistance for Non-Public Schools (EANS) covid relief funds.  These funds should be available for at least two school years.  Jasmine Bowman, who graduated from St. Ambrose this weekend and did her student teaching in 2nd grade with Mrs. Maxwell this spring, will join the JFK staff in a classroom roll.  We are still searching for a middle school science teacher, although we are opening the search more broadly to include middle school ELA or social studies or a 6th grade teacher.  If you know of anyone qualified/interested in a 6th grade and/or middle school position, please let me know.  I’ve sent personalized messages to about 75 people since the end of March.  The teacher shortage in Iowa and across the nation is becoming more and more apparent.

Chad