Category: Principal’s Post

Highlighted Events — Last Week Until Christmas Break

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

• Dec 13:  Civic Oration introduced to grades 5-8.  Lego League participants can be out of uniform with their Lego League t-shirts.
• Dec 14:
  • King’s Harvest Collection (For $1 or more donation, students may wear pajamas today.
  • JFK Band concert in the AHS auditorium
    • See note from Mr. Connors regarding staggered times.
• Dec 15:  3 yr old PS parent/child small group activities
• Dec 16:
  • Band Out of Uniform
  • K-2 Christmas concert in gym.  K-2 Out of Uniform
    • See note from Mrs. VanSpeybroeck regarding staggered times.
• Dec 17:
  • Last day of school before Christmas break begins.
  • Red/Green/White/Christmas attire.
  • Special dismissal at 12:40.  Bus transportation available.
  • No pm PS classes.
• Jan 3:  Classes resume after Christmas break

Ignite Sundays

See below for the list of IGNITE Sundays.  There is no cost or registration required to participate. Come to as many of the opportunities listed below as you are able on IGNITE Sundays.  Families are encouraged to participate together.  There are small group activities and family activities at each session.

Typical schedule for IGNITE Sundays:

• 4:30-5:30pm Mass
• 5:35-6:05pm Meal in the Parish Center
• 6:10-7:15pm Group Gatherings

Ignite Sundays:

• Feb 13:  Anawim (Hebrew word meaning “poor one”)  Poverty and the dignity of work
• March 6:  “I thirst” Lent
• March 20:  “I hunger” Eucharist
• April 10:  Family: The foundation of society
• April 24: What does God want me to do?

COVID Guidance for 2021-22

Click on the JFK COVID FAQ, 2021-22 to have your questions answered.  Please note that the information is, however, subject to change.

COVID Data and Comments

Below is a link to a .pdf file that shows several graphs for Scott County and JFK.  Below are also some comments related to the pandemic.

COVID Data, Dec 10, 2021

• COVID shots are now available for the 5-11 year old age group.  They now join those aged 12 and up who can receive the COVID vaccination.  Booster shots are also available for those 18 and over.
• We received a number of new graphs this week from the Scott County Health Department.  The first was  “Positive Tests Last 7 days by Age Group.”  It shows that COVID cases during the last week were fairly even distributed among all age groups, including children.  The age groups with the lowest percentages of the COVID cases were those 60 and over, which was attributed to higher vaccination rates in these age groups.
• The second new set of graphs, “Epidemic status during Delta surge,” show that we are at the highest levels of COVID this year and highest rates since the Delta variant started to take over in July.
• The third graph shows cases and rates since COVID began being tracked in March 2020.  It shows that we are currently at the highest levels in Scott County since November 2020.  Our current level, however, is about 1/3 of the November 2020 high.
• Hospitals are getting nervous again.  About 86% of all inpatient hospital beds are being used, and 18% are for COVID patients.  Again, these types of numbers weren’t seen since about November/December 2020.
  • The big statistic being pushed from Genesis last week was that 15 of the 16 patients in ICU due to COVID were unvaccinated.  Everyone is recommended to get their shots.
• Here is a link to the Scott County Health Department.  On its website is a link to a conversation among area pediatricians: Area Pediatricians Discuss COVID Vaccination
• The JFK figure that has startled me was reported last weekend:  from the beginning of this school year through December 3rd, about 10% of our PS-8th grade students have had COVID.
  • Through all of last school year, about 4% of the student population had COVID.
• We are averaging about 3-4 student absences per day due to positive COVID cases.  Please note that those are not new cases per day; each student who tests positive is typically absent for a number of school days.
• Two new graphs for JFK data were added this week.  They look at the percent of student absences due to illnesses that are because of positive COVID cases.  Through the school year, about 25% of all absences due to illnesses are because of positive COVID tests.  The last two weeks have been above 40%, but the two weeks prior to that, the absences due to COVID were 0% as there were not any students absent due to COVID.
• Be safe over the holidays!

Chad

Highlighted Events — Busy 2 Weeks Until Christmas Break

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

• Dec 6:  St. Nick’s Treats from Assumption.  2nd Grade Out of Uniform
• Dec 8:  Feast of the Immaculate Conception
• Dec 9:  3/4 Christmas concert.  3/4 Out of Uniform
  • See note from Mrs. VanSpeybroeck regarding staggered times.
• Dec 10: 4/5 yr old PS parent/child small group activities.  JFK 3rd-8th grade Reconciliation during the day.
• Dec 14:  Band concert
  • See note from Mr. Connors regarding staggered times.
• Dec 15:  3 yr old PS parent/child small group activities
• Dec 16:  K-2 Christmas concert.  K-2 Out of Uniform
  • See note from Mrs. VanSpeybroeck regarding staggered times.
• Dec 17:  Last day of school before Christmas break begins.  Red/Green/White/Christmas attire.  Special dismissal at 12:40.  No pm PS classes.
• Jan 3:  Classes resume after Christmas break

Staff Adjustments

We are in the process of making the following staff adjustments:

1. 1. Brenda Werner has finished the major projects assigned to her for temporary work in the school office.  She will now focus on projects in the parish office.
   2. Julie Baker will be moving out of her aide role in morning preschool and concentrating more on the library, additional office-type tasks, and support for Ms. Siefers in tech support.
   3. Hannah Keep, an instructional aide, is moving to Cedar Rapids later this week.  We appreciate her service over the last year and a half.
   4. Melissa VanDam will move into an aide role in morning preschool and will be less involved in our after school care program.
   5. Jessica Rebolloso will begin at JFK on January 3^rd.  She will, for the most part, assume the duties that Ms. Keep was doing in preschool, the cafeteria, recess duties, and afternoon ECLC.  Mrs. Rebolloso has previous experience working in an elementary school.
   6. Kelley Wohlers started last week.  She has a variety of duties with recesses, lunch supervision, floating aide time in classrooms, and aftercare/ECLC.  She is studying to become an elementary school teacher and worked in a childcare center west of Davenport.
   7. Shayonte Lagrone is starting at JFK on December 6^th.  She will be working in preschool as an interventionist aide.  Ms. Lagrone has a BA from Western Illinois University and is taking coursework to become an elementary school guidance counselor.  Some of the extra preschool aide time is being funded by additional restricted PS funds from the state.

DHS Site Visit for “JFK Childcare at JFK Catholic School”

We finally had our unannounced licensing site visit from the Department of Human Services for our Early Childhood Learning Center, 3 year old preschool, and after school care program.  Due to the diligence of Mrs. Temming and all of our childcare staff members, there were no areas of non-compliance and no areas recommended for improvement.  We’d also like to thank all the parents who stay on top of their children’s immunizations and health screenings/physicals for childcare programs.  The DHS “inspector” randomly reviews about 5%-10% of our student childcare files.  While it seems odd to have certain requirements for your children when in K-8 classes during the day and other requirements when in after school care, that’s just how the licensing works with two different state agencies involved.

Handicapped Parking

Please observe the handicapped parking near the divider and at the north end of our parking lot, especially near preschool pickup times during the day and after school.

Ignite Sundays

See below for the list of IGNITE Sundays.  There is no cost or registration required to participate. Come to as many of the opportunities listed below as you are able on IGNITE Sundays.  Families are encouraged to participate together.  There are small group activities and family activities at each session.

Typical schedule for IGNITE Sundays:

• 4:30-5:30pm Mass
• 5:35-6:05pm Meal in the Parish Center
• 6:10-7:15pm Group Gatherings

Ignite Sundays:

• Dec 12:  Finding your place in the Advent story
• Feb 13:  Anawim (Hebrew word meaning “poor one”)  Poverty and the dignity of work
• March 6:  “I thirst” Lent
• March 20:  “I hunger” Eucharist
• April 10:  Family: The foundation of society
• April 24: What does God want me to do?

COVID Guidance for 2021-22

Click on the JFK COVID FAQ, 2021-22 to have your questions answered.  Please note that the information is, however, subject to change.

COVID Data and Comments

Below is a link to a .pdf file that shows several graphs for Scott County and JFK.  Below are also some comments related to the pandemic.

COVID Data, Dec 3, 2021

• COVID shots are now available for the 5-11 year old age group.  They now join those aged 12 and up who can receive the COVID vaccination.  Booster shots are also available for those 18 and over.
• Here is a link to the Scott County Health Department.  On its website is a link to a conversation among area pediatricians: Area Pediatricians Discuss COVID Vaccination
• COVID numbers continue to rise in Scott County.  Case counts, positivity rates, and the percentage of hospital beds occupied by COVID patients are all trending upward.  Some think we’re on a similar progression as we were last year only about a month behind.  Our current numbers are about where we were in Scott County in last year’s late October and early November.  Cases peaked last year right around Thanksgiving.  We’ll see if they peak around Christmas this year.
• Last Sunday, I mentioned that our COVID cases hadn’t yet risen at JFK.  This week, they increased six to ten-fold.  By Friday, we had 13 PS-8th grade students absent due to positive COVID tests.  This number represents about 3.2% of our student population.
  • For a perspective, through all of last year, we had 17 PS-8th grade students who were absent due to positive COVID tests.  That was about 4.2%  of our student population last year.
  • Through December 3rd of this year, we have had 40 PS-8th grade students absent due to positive COVID tests.  That represents about 9.9% of our PS-8 student population.
• In most of the situations with positive COVID cases this week, the students were not at school during the infectious periods.  Few letters were, therefore, sent to parents.
• As with our previous high number of COVID cases back in October, some of our larger families have multiple cases within their households.
• We are also aware of a number of COVID cases in families among children who are not yet five years old or even in preschool.  Little kids do get COVID.
• COVID and other illnesses have also been taking a toll on our staff and/or their own children.  On Friday, we had 16% of our staff members absent.
• I think I wore my mask almost all day by the time the week was over.  I even realized several times that I was still wearing it when alone in my office!

Chad

Last Week for Survey

We have begun working with Marzano Resources on the national High Reliability Schools framework.  There are five levels in which schools or districts can be involved.  The first level examines a safe, supportive, and collaborative culture.  To help us explore Level I at JFK, we are conducting a survey of JFK’s older students, parents, and staff.  Please respond to the survey between November 14 and December 4.  High Reliability Schools Survey

5 Levels of the High Reliability Framework

Highlighted Events — Busy 3 Weeks Until Christmas Break

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

• Nov 28:  First Sunday of Advent
• Nov 30:  End of 2nd mid-qtr.  Skate Night.
• Dec 2:  First Reconciliation
• Dec 6:  St. Nick’s Treats from Assumption
• Dec 8:  Feast of the Immaculate Conception
• Dec 9:  3/4 Christmas concert
• Dec 10: 4/5 yr old PS parent/child events.  JFK 3rd-8th grade Reconciliation during the day.
• Dec 14:  Band concert
• Dec 15:  3 yr old PS parent/child event
• Dec 16:  K-2 Christmas concert
• Dec 17:  Last day of school before Christmas break begins.  Red/Green/White/Christmas attire.  Special dismissal at 12:40.  No pm PS classes.
• Jan 3:  Classes resume after Christmas break

Ignite Sundays

See below for the list of IGNITE Sundays.  There is no cost or registration required to participate. Come to as many of the opportunities listed below as you are able on IGNITE Sundays.  Families are encouraged to participate together.  There are small group activities and family activities at each session.

Typical schedule for IGNITE Sundays:

• 4:30-5:30pm Mass
• 5:35-6:05pm Meal in the Parish Center
• 6:10-7:15pm Group Gatherings

Ignite Sundays:

• Dec 12:  Finding your place in the Advent story
• Feb 13:  Anawim (Hebrew word meaning “poor one”)  Poverty and the dignity of work
• March 6:  “I thirst” Lent
• March 20:  “I hunger” Eucharist
• April 10:  Family: The foundation of society
• April 24: What does God want me to do?

COVID Guidance for 2021-22

Click on the JFK COVID FAQ, 2021-22 to have your questions answered.  Please note that the information is, however, subject to change.

COVID Data and Comments

Below is a link to a .pdf file that shows several graphs for Scott County and JFK.  Below are also some comments related to the pandemic.

COVID Data, Nov 26, 2021

• COVID shots are now available for the 5-11 year old age group.  They now join those aged 12 and up who can receive the COVID vaccination.  Booster shots are also available for those 18 and over.
• Here is a link to the Scott County Health Department.  On its website is a link to a conversation among area pediatricians: Area Pediatricians Discuss COVID Vaccination
• COVID numbers continue to rise in Scott County, and concerns are being raised about the after effect of Thanksgiving and then the impact of Christmas.  Case counts, positivity rates, and the percentage of hospital beds occupied by COVID patients are all trending upward.  The latest COVID variant is also starting to catch people’s attention.  While COVID numbers are rising in Scott County, we still haven’t seen that at JFK yet.
• As we began to do some planning for Catholic Schools Week at the end of January, the conversation quickly broadened to the following questions:  When will we loosen or reduce other mitigation strategies?  What will the criteria be, for example, when we no longer have classrooms set up with at least four feet of social distancing?  When will we not have every other stool seating in the cafeteria?  When will we resume all school Masses once per week rather than “half school” Masses twice per week?  There’s a good deal of thought that once we make it past the holidays and, with vaccination now available for those ages five and up and boosters also available for those 18 and over, we can begin to think about other mitigation strategies.

Returning to the Building?

I am hoping to return to the building regularly after Thanksgiving after being out of the building for non-COVID related reasons.  I’m not sure how it will go, but I’ll give it a try!

Chad

Short Week

There are no classes at JFK beginning this week on Wednesday, except for those 8th graders taking Algebra at Assumption.  ECLC will be open on Wednesday but will also be closed on Thursday and Friday.

Survey

We have begun working with Marzano Resources on the national High Reliability Schools framework.  There are five levels in which schools or districts can be involved.  The first level examines a safe, supportive, and collaborative culture.  To help us explore Level I at JFK, we are conducting a survey of JFK’s older students, parents, and staff.  Please respond to the survey between November 14 and December 4.  High Reliability Schools Survey

5 Levels of the High Reliability Framework

Highlighted Events

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

• Nov 23:  Thanksgiving Food Color Day:  Students should dress in the color of their favorite Thanksgiving food.  Students may be out of uniform on this day if they participate in the special theme but need to follow the out of uniform guidelines. No costumes are allowed as it is also an all school Mass day.
• Nov 24:  Thanksgiving break.  ECLC open.
• Nov 25-26:  Thanksgiving break.  ECLC closed.
• Nov 30:  End of 2nd mid-qtr.  Skate Night.
• Dec 2:  First Reconciliation
• Dec 9:  3/4 Christmas concert
• Dec 10: 4/5 yr old PS parent/child events.  JFK 3rd-8th grade Reconciliation during the day.
• Dec 14:  Band concert
• Dec 15:  3 yr old PS parent/child event
• Dec 16:  K-2 Christmas concert
• Dec 17:  Last day of school before Christmas break begins.  Red/Green/White/Christmas attire.  Special dismissal at 12:40.  No pm PS classes.
• Jan 3:  Classes resume after Christmas break

Ignite Sundays

See below for the list of IGNITE Sundays.  There is no cost or registration required to participate. Come to as many of the opportunities listed below as you are able on IGNITE Sundays.  Families are encouraged to participate together.  There are small group activities and family activities at each session.

Typical schedule for IGNITE Sundays:

• 4:30-5:30pm Mass
• 5:35-6:05pm Meal in the Parish Center
• 6:10-7:15pm Group Gatherings

Ignite Sundays:

• Dec 12:  Finding your place in the Advent story
• Feb 13:  Anawim (Hebrew word meaning “poor one”)  Poverty and the dignity of work
• March 6:  “I thirst” Lent
• March 20:  “I hunger” Eucharist
• April 10:  Family: The foundation of society
• April 24: What does God want me to do?

COVID Guidance for 2021-22

Click on the JFK COVID FAQ, 2021-22 to have your questions answered.  Please note that the information is, however, subject to change.

COVID Data and Comments

Below is a link to a .pdf file that shows several graphs for Scott County and JFK.  Below are also some comments related to the pandemic.

COVID Data, Nov 19, 2021

• COVID shots are now available for the 5-11 year old age group.  They now join those aged 12 and up who can receive the COVID vaccination.
• Here is a link to the Scott County Health Department.  On its website is a link to a conversation among area pediatricians: Area Pediatricians Discuss COVID Vaccination
• While COVID numbers are rising in Scott County, we still haven’t seen that at JFK yet.
• Expect the absence rates to be rather high for this short week.  Many families start to travel early for Thanksgiving.

I’m Going Remote?

I am hoping to return to the building regularly after Thanksgiving after being out of the building for non-COVID related reasons.  Education, including administration, is not the same when done remotely!

Chad

Survey

We have begun working with Marzano Resources on the national High Reliability Schools framework.  There are five levels in which schools or districts can be involved.  The first level examines a safe, supportive, and collaborative culture.  To help us explore Level I at JFK, we are conducting a survey of JFK’s older students, parents, and staff.  Please respond to the survey between November 14 and December 4.  High Reliability Schools Survey

5 Levels of the High Reliability Framework

Highlighted Events

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

• Nov 19:  Butter braid bread delivery.  Nothing Bundt Cake “pop up” sale.
• Nov 24:  Thanksgiving break.  ECLC open.
• Nov 25-26:  Thanksgiving break.  ECLC closed.
• Nov 30:  End of 2nd mid-qtr.
• Dec 2:  First Reconciliation
• Dec 17:  Last day of school before Christmas break begins
• Jan 3:  Classes resume after Christmas break

Ignite Sundays

See below for the list of IGNITE Sundays.  There is no cost or registration required to participate. Come to as many of the opportunities listed below as you are able on IGNITE Sundays.  Families are encouraged to participate together.  There are small group activities and family activities at each session.

Typical schedule for IGNITE Sundays:

• 4:30-5:30pm Mass
• 5:35-6:05pm Meal in the Parish Center
• 6:10-7:15pm Group Gatherings

Ignite Sundays:

• Nov 21:  What’s my motivation to go to Mass?
• Dec 12:  Finding your place in the Advent story
• Feb 13:  Anawim (Hebrew word meaning “poor one”)  Poverty and the dignity of work
• March 6:  “I thirst” Lent
• March 20:  “I hunger” Eucharist
• April 10:  Family: The foundation of society
• April 24: What does God want me to do?

Budgeted Cost Per Pupil

The budgeted cost per K-8 pupil in the 2021-22 school year for  JFK is $6,409.  The difference between cost per pupil and tuition ($3,970 for OLV parishioners for the first child) is made up by the parish, fundraising, and other sources.  OLV is budgeted to contribute nearly $2,000 per pupil to the education of students at JFK this year.

Labor of Love

Teachers and support staff at JFK perform a labor of love.  While non-public school teachers in Iowa averaged 1.5 more years of experience than Iowa’s public school teachers in 2019-20, the last year data was available, JFK teachers made on average about $15,000 less than their public school counterparts ($43,450 vs. $58,110).  The average support staff member pay rate at JFK is currently $14.11 per hour, but this is skewed by a few who make significantly more than even the median of $13.42 per hour.  Support staff members include custodians, office personnel, library/media associate, technology coordinator, lunch program employees, and instructional and supervisory aides.

COVID Guidance for 2021-22

Click on the JFK COVID FAQ, 2021-22 to have your questions answered.  Please note that the information is, however, subject to change.

COVID Data and Comments

Below is a link to a .pdf file that shows several graphs for Scott County and JFK.  Below are also some comments related to the pandemic.

COVID Data, Nov 12, 2021

• The charts for JFK do not yet include November 12th data or the averages, thus, for week 12 of the school year.
• COVID shots are now available for the 5-11 year old age group.  They now join those aged 12 and up who can receive the COVID vaccination.
• Here is a link to the Scott County Health Department.  On its website is a link to a conversation among area pediatricians: Area Pediatricians Discuss COVID Vaccination
• Some of the administrators at this week’s health department meeting were concerned that things are starting to increase to about where they were last year before the surge that went from before Thanksgiving until after Christmas.  We haven’t seen that yet in JFK’s COVID data.

I’m Going Remote?

I continue to be out of the building for non-COVID related reasons for several days.  Thank you to everyone who has wished me well, including the students in Mrs. Motto’s kindergarten class who made cards for me.

Chad

Parade of Saints

JFK’s 18 “saints” and two 8th grade readers:

Highlighted Events

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

• Nov 11:  No buses.  (JFK has school, but the DCSD does not.)
• Nov 19:  Butter braid bread delivery.  Nothing Bundt Cake “pop up” sale.
• Nov 24:  Thanksgiving break.  ECLC open.
• Nov 25-26:  Thanksgiving break.  ECLC closed.
• Nov 30:  End of 2nd mid-qtr.
• Dec 2:  First Reconciliation
• Dec 17:  Last day of school before Christmas break begins
• Jan 3:  Classes resume after Christmas break

Ignite Sundays

See below for the list of IGNITE Sundays.  There is no cost or registration required to participate. Come to as many of the opportunities listed below as you are able on IGNITE Sundays.  Families are encouraged to participate together.  There are small group activities and family activities at each session.

Typical schedule for IGNITE Sundays:

• 4:30-5:30pm Mass
• 5:35-6:05pm Meal in the Parish Center
• 6:10-7:15pm Group Gatherings

Ignite Sundays:

• Nov 21:  What’s my motivation to go to Mass?
• Dec 12:  Finding your place in the Advent story
• Feb 13:  Anawim (Hebrew word meaning “poor one”)  Poverty and the dignity of work
• March 6:  “I thirst” Lent
• March 20:  “I hunger” Eucharist
• April 10:  Family: The foundation of society
• April 24: What does God want me to do?

Welcome Kayla Mason

JFK welcomes Kayla Mason to the staff as a “permanent substitute.”  She works everyday for JFK in whatever position she is needed.  JFK is averaging about 2-4 staff members, which includes both teachers and support staff, absent per day.

Budgeted Cost Per Pupil

The budgeted cost per K-8 pupil in the 2021-22 school year for  JFK is $6,409.  The difference between cost per pupil and tuition ($3,970 for OLV parishioners for the first child) is made up by the parish, fundraising, and other sources.  OLV is budgeted to contribute nearly $2,000 per pupil to the education of students at JFK this year.

Labor of Love

Teachers and support staff at JFK perform a labor of love.  While non-public school teachers in Iowa averaged 1.5 more years of experience than Iowa’s public school teachers in 2019-20, the last year data was available, JFK teachers made on average about $15,000 less than their public school counterparts ($43,450 vs. $58,110).  The average support staff member pay rate at JFK is currently $14.11 per hour, but this is skewed by a few who make significantly more than even the median of $13.42 per hour.  Support staff members include custodians, office personnel, library/media associate, technology coordinator, lunch program employees, and instructional and supervisory aides.

COVID Guidance for 2021-22

Click on the JFK COVID FAQ, 2021-22 to have your questions answered.  Please note that the information is, however, subject to change.

COVID Data and Comments

Below is a link to a .pdf file that shows several graphs for Scott County and JFK.  Below are also some comments related to the pandemic.

COVID Data, Nov 5, 2021

• COVID shots are now available for the 5-11 year old age group.  They now join those aged 12 and up who can receive the COVID vaccination.

I’m Going Remote?

I will be out of the building for non-COVID related reasons for several days beginning this week.  Staff members have been kidding me that I’m going remote.  They even prepared a crate of books and materials that I might “need.”

Chad

Highlighted Events

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

• Nov 1:  All school Mass with “parade of saints”
• Nov 1, 2, or 3:  Homeroom Fancy Dress Day.  For at least three cans or other non-perishable food items, students can participate in their homeroom’s fancy dress day on November 1, 2, or 3. (Actual date determined by homeroom and homeroom teacher.)
• Nov 2:  Evening parent/teacher conferences.  (See also Nov 4.)  PS-5 conferences are scheduled.  6-8 conferences are all drop in.
• Nov 3:  JFK’s participation in the Student Hunger Drive ends
• Nov 4:  Parent/teacher conferences.  No classes.  ECLC open.
• Nov 5:  No classes. ECLC open
• Nov 11:  No buses.  (JFK has school, but the DCSD does not.)
• Nov 19:  Butter braid bread delivery.  Nothing Bundt Cake “pop up” sale.
• Nov 24:  Thanksgiving break.  ECLC open.
• Nov 25-26:  Thanksgiving break.  ECLC closed.

Morning Drop Off

Students should not be dropped off prior to 7:10 a.m.  Most staff members are not required themselves to be at school prior to 7:10, and the supervision we have available should be reserved for those students who may have to arrive on a school bus prior to 7:10.

Hourly Paid School Positions

JFK has multiple aide positions available for the remainder of the school year.  These positions have flexible duties working with 3-14 year olds in classrooms, at recesses, and during lunches.  Helping with food preparation and cleaning may be included.  “Full time” and part time positions may be available.  Candidates must be available between 7:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.  Aftercare is free for employees working.  Tuition, childcare, and other fee reductions are included, and the rate of pay is typically between $11 and $13 per hour.  Letter, resume, references can be sent to me at chad.steimle@olvjfkmail.com or an application can be completed at school.

Ignite Sundays

See below for the list of IGNITE Sundays.  There is no cost or registration required to participate. Come to as many of the opportunities listed below as you are able on IGNITE Sundays.  Families are encouraged to participate together.  There are small group activities and family activities at each session.

Typical schedule for IGNITE Sundays:

• 4:30-5:30pm Mass
• 5:35-6:05pm Meal in the Parish Center
• 6:10-7:15pm Group Gatherings

Ignite Sundays:

• Nov 7:  Jesus came for all of us
• Nov 21:  What’s my motivation to go to Mass?
• Dec 12:  Finding your place in the Advent story
• Feb 13:  Anawim (Hebrew word meaning “poor one”)  Poverty and the dignity of work
• March 6:  “I thirst” Lent
• March 20:  “I hunger” Eucharist
• April 10:  Family: The foundation of society
• April 24: What does God want me to do?

JFK Demographic Information

Many state and diocesan reports are due in October.  Below is some demographic information regarding JFK as of 10/1/2021, the official student enrollment count date in Iowa.

^*By 10/30/2021, this percentage had fallen to 12.9%.  In part, because all lunches are free, families stopped completing the income based applications.  The 30 day grace period into the following school year also ended for many families between Oct 1 and Oct 15.  Without new applications, the lunch status for many families returned to “full paying,” even though they are continuing to get free lunches.  Free/reduced lunch counts impact other funding such as Title I funds for reading interventionist support and reduced costs for internet access (e-rate funding).

COVID Guidance for 2021-22

Click on the JFK COVID FAQ, 2021-22 to have your questions answered.  Please note that the information is, however, subject to change.

COVID Data and Comments

Below is a link to a .pdf file that shows several graphs for Scott County and JFK.  Below are also some comments related to the pandemic.

COVID Data, Oct 22, 2021

• Student absences were rather low this week, and most of them were for things other than illnesses or quarantining.
• This was actually the first week this school year that had a couple of days at JFK with no COVID related absences, which includes students who have tested positive, students who have COVID symptoms and are awaiting test results, and students who are quarantining as close contacts.
• Much of the week’s meeting with the health department focused on immunization for children ages 5-11.
  • The reviewing committee at the federal level voted 17 to 0 with one abstention that the totality of scientific evidence available indicated that the benefit to immunizing children outweighed the risks.
  • To date, about 4% of COVID cases in the U.S. have been in the 5-11 year old age range.  Additional data looking at who has developed antibodies (which would indicate who has already had COVID) suggests that cases in 5-11 year olds are under reported by a factor of about six whereas cases among older cohorts are under reported only by a factor of about two.  The difference in identifying is likely due to the difference in asymptomatic infection.  When using this information to make other mathematical inferences, one can arrive at a figure of about 1 in 10 reported and not reported cases of COVID in the U.S. may be in the 5-11 age group.
  • It’s probably time to think about what you want to do regarding your children in this age range.
• I received my booster this weekend as educational staff are considered to work in a high risk setting and are eligible for boosters.  I scheduled an appointment at Walgreens online, and it took about 20 minutes at the store.  About five minutes was needed for waiting to receive the shot and the shot itself, and the remaining time was the 15 minutes after the shot to make sure there is no significant reaction.  Unfortunately, I used that 15 minutes to shop!  My free COVID shot ended up costing me $42 in other things I purchased while at Walgreens!

Chad

Highlighted Events

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

• Oct 11:  Butter Braid Bread sales begin
  • Apple, Cherry, Blueberry with Cream Cheese, Cinnamon, Raspberry, Strawberry with Cream Cheese, Caramel Rolls with Caramel Glaze.  All come with a frosting packet.  These are sold individually for $15/package.  Also returning this year is the Four Cheese & Herb Bread for $16/package.  The bread is frozen and must be allowed to rise 8-12 hours before baking.  To order, contact a band/choir student or the school office.  (Nearly every 5th-8th grader seems to be in band or choir.)  The bread will be delivered on November 19th, in time for Thanksgiving.
• Oct 18:  JFK’s participation in the Student Hunger Drive begins
• Oct 25:  Full day in-service.  No classes.  ECLC open.  Red Ribbon Week begins.
• Oct 29:  Black/orange dress out of uniform day
• Nov 1:  All school Mass with “parade of saints”
• Nov 1, 2, or 3:  Homeroom Fancy Dress Day.  For at least three cans or other non-perishable food items, students can participate in their homeroom’s fancy dress day on November 1, 2, or 3. (Actual date determined by homeroom and homeroom teacher.)
• Nov 2:  Evening parent/teacher conferences.  (See also Nov 4.)  PS-5 conferences are scheduled.  If you have not selected your own time through the SignUp Genius link, a time will be assigned to you.  6-8 conferences are all drop in.
• Nov 3:  JFK’s participation in the Student Hunger Drive ends
• Nov 4:  Parent/teacher conferences.  No classes.  ECLC open.
• Nov 5:  No classes. ECLC open
• Nov 11:  No buses.  (JFK has school, but the DCSD does not.)

Morning Drop Off

Students should not be dropped off prior to 7:10 a.m.  Most staff members are not required themselves to be at school prior to 7:10, and the supervision we have available should be reserved for those students who may have to arrive on a school bus prior to 7:10.

Hourly Paid School Positions

JFK has multiple aide positions available for the remainder of the school year.  These positions have flexible duties working with 3-14 year olds in classrooms, at recesses, and during lunches.  Helping with food preparation and cleaning may be included.  “Full time” and part time positions may be available.  Candidates must be available between 7:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.  Aftercare is free for employees working.  Tuition, childcare, and other fee reductions are included, and the rate of pay is typically between $11 and $13 per hour.  Letter, resume, references can be sent to me at chad.steimle@olvjfkmail.com or an application can be completed at school.

Ignite Sundays

See below for the list of IGNITE Sundays.  There is no cost or registration required to participate. Come to as many of the opportunities listed below as you are able on IGNITE Sundays.

Families are encouraged to participate together.  There are small group activities and family activities at each session.

Typical schedule for IGNITE Sundays:

• 4:30-5:30pm Mass
• 5:35-6:05pm Meal in the Parish Center
• 6:10-7:15pm Group Gatherings

Ignite Sundays:

• Oct 24:  What is hope and why do you need it?
• Nov 7:  Jesus came for all of us
• Nov 21:  What’s my motivation to go to Mass?
• Dec 12:  Finding your place in the Advent story
• Feb 13:  Anawim (Hebrew word meaning “poor one”)  Poverty and the dignity of work
• March 6:  “I thirst” Lent
• March 20:  “I hunger” Eucharist
• April 10:  Family: The foundation of society
• April 24: What does God want me to do?

COVID Guidance for 2021-22

Click on the JFK COVID FAQ, 2021-22 to have your questions answered.  Please note that the information is, however, subject to change.  We did make two changes this week:

• We pointed out that we do have special “singing masks” for students who would like them for 7th/8th grade choir and special face masks that can be worn while playing band instruments.  As with other face coverings, these face masks are optional.

COVID Data and Comments

Below is a link to a .pdf file that shows several graphs for Scott County and JFK.  Below are also some comments related to the pandemic.

COVID Data, Oct 22, 2021

• The week of October 11th seemed tough on us for COVID related absences.  This past week, however, there were no new COVID cases.  All of the COVID related absences this past week, which include students who have tested positive, students who have COVID symptoms and are awaiting test results, and students who are quarantining as close contacts, were leftovers from the prior week’s COVID cases.
• Our absence rate was still rather high this past week, ranging from 6.4% to 10.1%.  Over 40% of our absences, however, are due to reasons other than illnesses that are in categories reportable to the health department, COVID, or quarantining.  Ideally, absences would be less than 5%.

Chad

Firefighters Visit K-2

Students in grades K-2 had a visit from the fire department on Friday.

Highlighted Events

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

• Oct 11:  Butter Braid Bread sales begin
  • Apple, Cherry, Blueberry with Cream Cheese, Cinnamon, Raspberry, Strawberry with Cream Cheese, Caramel Rolls with Caramel Glaze.  All come with a frosting packet.  These are sold individually for $15/package.  Also returning this year is the Four Cheese & Herb Bread for $16/package.  The bread is frozen and must be allowed to rise 8-12 hours before baking.  To order, contact a band/choir student or the school office.  (Nearly every 5th-8th grader seems to be in band or choir.)  The bread will be delivered on November 19th, in time for Thanksgiving.
• Oct 18:  JFK’s participation in the Student Hunger Drive begins
• Oct 22:  End of 1st Qtr.  Special dismissal at 12:40.  No afternoon preschool classes
• Oct 23:  Trunk or Treat, 5:30-7:00.  H & S’ outdoor movie night, 7:15  (food available for purchase from 6-7)
• Oct 25:  Full day in-service.  No classes.  ECLC open.
• Oct 29:  Black/orange dress out of uniform day
• Nov 1:  All school Mass with “parade of saints”
• Nov 2:  Evening parent/teacher conferences.  Look for an email the week of October 18th to schedule PS-5 conferences.  6-8 conferences are all drop in.
• Nov 4:  Parent/teacher conferences.  No classes.  ECLC open.
• Nov 5:  No classes. ECLC open

Morning Drop Off

Students should not be dropped off prior to 7:10 a.m.  Most staff members are not required themselves to be at school prior to 7:10, and the supervision we have available should be reserved for those students who may have to arrive on a school bus prior to 7:10.

Genesis Flu Free Quad Cities

The free flu shots for K-8 students will be administered on Monday for those who completed the online registration process.  These shots are only for K-8 students, and any preschoolers who were registered will not receive shots at school.

Did you get your flu shot yet?  I’ve been getting seasonal flu shots for over 20 years now.  Walgreens was a little crowded on Friday evening so I went on Saturday morning and received my shot for this year.  In and out in under 15 minutes!

Hourly Paid School Positions

JFK has multiple aide positions available for the remainder of the school year.  These positions have flexible duties working with 3-14 year olds in classrooms, at recesses, and during lunches.  Helping with food preparation and cleaning may be included.  “Full time” and part time positions may be available.  Candidates must be available between 7:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.  Aftercare is free for employees working.  Tuition, childcare, and other fee reductions are included, and the rate of pay is typically between $11 and $13 per hour.  Letter, resume, references can be sent to me at chad.steimle@olvjfkmail.com or an application can be completed at school.

Projects for October 25

We have at least two special projects planned for October 25th, when there are no classes:

1. Window are conditioning units will be removed, and glass panes will inserted into the openings.
2. Final work for transitioning to the new wireless network should be completed.

Ignite Sundays

See below for the list of IGNITE Sundays.  There is no cost or registration required to participate. Come to as many of the opportunities listed below as you are able on IGNITE Sundays.

Families are encouraged to participate together.  There are small group activities and family activities at each session.

Typical schedule for IGNITE Sundays:

• 4:30-5:30pm Mass
• 5:35-6:05pm Meal in the Parish Center
• 6:10-7:15pm Group Gatherings

Ignite Sundays:

• Oct 24:  What is hope and why do you need it?
• Nov 7:  Jesus came for all of us
• Nov 21:  What’s my motivation to go to Mass?
• Dec 12:  Finding your place in the Advent story
• Feb 13:  Anawim (Hebrew word meaning “poor one”)  Poverty and the dignity of work
• March 6:  “I thirst” Lent
• March 20:  “I hunger” Eucharist
• April 10:  Family: The foundation of society
• April 24: What does God want me to do?

COVID Guidance for 2021-22

Click on the JFK COVID FAQ, 2021-22 to have your questions answered.  Please note that the information is, however, subject to change.  We did make several changes this week, including the following:

• Teachers, not students, distribute snacks/treats, which is what should be happening already, but we wanted to more explicitly state it as we approach Halloween.
• We pulled information from our general parent/student handbook into the COVID FAQ where it talks about when a student should stay home from school.
• We corrected an error about bell/instrument covers.  We do not have bell/instrument covers in band.  A replicated study has indicated that any particles blown into an instrument essentially stay within the instrument.
• Beginning Monday, we will more broadly notify families of students  when there is a positive COVID case to include everyone within the same homeroom.  We have been notifying close contacts identified through seating charts, video of lunchroom seating, work pods, etc.  We are missing the students who are hugging one another on the playground, trying to walk arm in arm down the hallway, and may be just in each others’ faces when not seated at their desks and not being reminded by an adult to maintain some distance.  We, therefore, will send the letter to everyone within the same homeroom.  There will be some other limited contact tracing as outlined in our COVID FAQ.

COVID Data and Comments

Below is a link to a .pdf file that shows several graphs for Scott County and JFK.  Below are also some comments related to the pandemic.

COVID Data, Oct 15, 2021

• COVID rates in Scott County seem to be declining since recent highs in mid-September.
• COVID related absences at JFK, however, peaked on Friday.  These absences include students who have tested positive, students who have COVID symptoms and are awaiting test results, and students who are quarantining as close contacts.  A few “larger” families can have a significant impact on the data!
• Families have been experiencing frustration with testing results for the last 1-2 weeks.  In many cases, families are getting both rapid and lab analyzed PCR tests at the same time.  The rapid COVID tests are coming back negative, but PCR test results received several days later are coming back positive.  This frustration is affecting both symptomatic and asymptomatic cases.
• Student absences on Friday were particularly high, 12%.  That  figure, however, also included a peak high of students (almost 6%) who were out of school for reasons other than illnesses, COVID, or quarantining or for unknown reasons.

Chad

Highlighted Events

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

• Oct 11:  Butter Braid Bread sales begin
  • Apple, Cherry, Blueberry with Cream Cheese, Cinnamon, Raspberry, Strawberry with Cream Cheese, Caramel Rolls with Caramel Glaze.  All come with a frosting packet.  These are sold individually for $15/package.  Also returning this year is the Four Cheese & Herb Bread for $16/package.  The bread is frozen and must be allowed to rise 8-12 hours before baking.  To order, contact a band/choir student or the school office.  (Nearly every 5th-8th grader seems to be in band or choir.)  The bread will be delivered on November 19th, in time for Thanksgiving.
• Oct 15:  Fire Dept visits K-2
• Oct 18:  Flu shots available at JFK
• Oct 22:  End of 1st Qtr.  Special dismissal at 12:40.  No afternoon preschool classes
• Oct 25:  Full day in-service.  No classes.  ECLC open.
• Oct 29:  Black/orange dress day
• Nov 1:  All school Mass with “parade of saints”
• Nov 2:  Evening parent/teacher conferences
• Nov 4:  Parent/teacher conferences.  No classes.  ECLC open.
• Nov 5:  No classes. ECLC open

Genesis Flu Free Quad Cities

As in the past, JFK will be a school site for the Genesis Flu Free Quad Cities Program.  Free flu shots will be available to students in grades K-8.  The consent “form” is only available online and must be completed at least two days prior to the clinic, which is at JFK on October 18th during the school day.  The consent forms will be printed by Genesis staff.  Students who have permission to receive the shots will be taken to the parish center, where the shots will be administered.  Students are then taken back to class.  It’s a smooth process!  The link to the consent form can be found below:

Flu Shot Consent Form

Ignite Sundays

See below for the list of IGNITE Sundays.  There is no cost or registration required to participate. Come to as many of the opportunities listed below as you are able on IGNITE Sundays.

All are welcome, invite a friend or two or three…. Families are encouraged to participate together.  There are small group activities and family activities at each session.  Those not participating in the family component will remain in their small groups to finish the evening.

Typical schedule for IGNITE Sundays:

• 4:30-5:30pm Mass
• 5:35-6:05pm Meal in the Parish Center
• 6:10-7:15pm Group Gatherings

Ignite Sundays:

• Oct 24:  What is hope and why do you need it?
• Nov 7:  Jesus came for all of us
• Nov 21:  What’s my motivation to go to Mass?
• Dec 12:  Finding your place in the Advent story
• Feb 13:  Anawim (Hebrew word meaning “poor one”)  Poverty and the dignity of work
• March 6:  “I thirst” Lent
• March 20:  “I hunger” Eucharist
• April 10:  Family: The foundation of society
• April 24: What does God want me to do?

COVID Guidance for 2021-22

Click on the JFK COVID FAQ, 2021-22 to have your questions answered.  Please note that the information is, however, subject to change.

COVID Data and Comments

Below is a link to a .pdf file that shows several graphs for Scott County and JFK.  Below are also some comments related to the pandemic.

COVID Data, Oct 1, 2021

• It feels as if JFK’s numbers are deceiving or at least a mixed bag.  Our 7 day moving average student attendance rate has been about 94%-96% for about three weeks.  In normal years, we’d probably have an attendance rate of about 95%-97% so it’s not really that much different.  Our total student COVID number for this school year (19), however, has now surpassed all of last year (17).  What really seems to be different between this year and last year are the quarantining numbers.  Without required quarantining of close contacts, the number of absences due to close contacts seems much lower.  (I’d have to run the data to verify this perception.)  On the other hand, we don’t yet have evidence of outbreaks among students in a homeroom when someone does test positive.  We have had at least one case in about 67% of all our homerooms.
• One of the bigger challenges we seem to have been facing for about a week now is how to cover all of our staff absences.  The seven day moving average staff absence rate is about 8% or about four teachers and support staff members per day.  Most of the staff absences are not due to staff illnesses; they are due to the illnesses of their own children, illnesses of their childcare providers, appointments (medical and other) that need to occur during business hours, etc.

Chad