Category: Principal’s Post

Sad to See Tree Go – What Will Replace It?

To make way for the drainage project behind the school, a large tree had to be removed.  What might we do instead when the final grading is done in the spring?  A rosary garden?  Butterfly garden?  Outdoor Stations of the Cross?  Let’s think about how we might utilize the land with which we have been blessed.  Send me your ideas!

Thanks for Supporting Home & School

I just read that teachers nationwide are spending an average of $652 of their own money on classroom supplies, instructional materials, and professional development.  At JFK, we would like to thank you for your support of Home & School.  Through Home & School’s fundraisers like spirit wear sales, the directory, the magazine sale, the plant sale, Spaghetti Supper, movie nights, etc., H & S provides each teacher with a $300 bonus that he/she can use toward things in their classroom.

The first Home & School meeting is September 20th at 6:30 p.m. in the library.  We have the skate night coming up on the 17th from 6 -8 p.m at the Eldridge skate park, and our first fund-raiser, the magazine sale, begins on the 20th.  There’s also a JFK fundraising night at Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers on the 25th from 4 – 9 p.m.  I tried Freddy’s the other night and thought the burger was really good.  Unfortunately, I took my custard home to eat it during the Thursday night football game and fell asleep with it in the freezer.  Frozen custard just doesn’t taste the same as fresh!

The board made a couple of changes to the dress code on Tuesday.  Two identical logos on each sock will be allowed as long as they meet the size requirement.  The board also changed the policy so that the style and and vendor of girls’ plaid skirts and jumpers do not matter.  The skirts and jumpers just have to be JFK’s blue-colored plaid.  The new wording is on the separate dress code policy on our website under “Policies and Forms.”  It is also contained in the complete handbook also on our website.

Handbook Sign-Off

Speaking of the handbook, please read the parent and student handbook, available HERE, and on our website:  https://www.olvjfk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Parent-Handbook-2018-19.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.

Parish Picnic and Outdoor Mass

September 15th — Outdoor Mass at 4:30

Picnic following:  bounce houses, Iowa/UNI game available, huge pork tenderloins

Price:  $1 and a dish to share.   Please bring a serving utensil and mark all dishes and utensils with your name for return.

Last name ending in: A – H bring Salads
I – P bring Desserts
Q – Z bring Vegetables

6th-8th Grade Mixer with Catholic Schools

There is a “mixer” on Friday, September 14th for Catholic school students in 6th-8th grades at QC Family Entertainment Center (4401 44th Ave, Moline).  The mixer is from 6 – 9 p.m. and costs $20.  The $20 includes two games of Glow Bowl,  one game of Laser Tag, shoe rental, two slices of pizza and pop.  Transportation will not be provided, and an adult must sign the participants in and out with a school staff member/designee.  Parents are also welcome to stay, and additional chaperones are also always appreciated.

Children’s Liturgy of the Word Has Resumed

Children’s Liturgy of the Word has resumed at the 9:00 and 11:00 Sunday Masses.  Targeting children under second grade (those who have not yet received First Communion), the Children’s Liturgy of the Word breaks the message down into children specific language.  Children sit with their parents until right after the opening of Mass and then are invited to go to the altar servers’ sacristy on the “Mary side” of the church.  The children rejoin their families before Communion.

Busy Weekend Coming Up

We have a busy weekend coming up at OLV.  At 4:30 on Saturday, there is an outdoor Mass.  The parish picnic will begin after Mass.  On Sunday at the 9:00 Mass, JFK students will have “Mass parts,” and staff and catechists will receive their commissioning to spread the Word.

Chad

Campus Safety

Work on campus safety projects should conclude within the next week or two.  All but one camera has been installed, and final wiring is being completed.  Security cameras can help staff monitor the entire campus, serve as a deterrent, provide an early warning to potential suspicious or dangerous situations, be used by first responders should an event be in progress, and help with after the fact investigations.  We received a Scott County Regional Authority grant for this project.  We will soon have approximately 22 cameras covering the outside of the school, the main church entry, and several large common areas/hallways within the school.

Lovewell Fencing should be back this week to finish installing the gates and the fence that goes down the divider.  Yellow sleeves will be placed over the bollards by the concrete barriers as well.  Lovewell also finished the concrete work for two new basketball hoops, but “some assembly required” may slow us down for the rest of the work there.

Phase III of the parking lot safety plan, when funded, will create a new visitor and handicapped parking area off of 42nd Street level with the office entrances.  With all the work we have happening on campus already, however, there is no timeline for phase III.

Sad to See Tree Go – What Will Replace It?

To make way for the drainage project behind the school, a large tree had to be removed.  What might we do instead when the final grading is done in the spring?  A rosary garden?  Butterfly garden?  Outdoor Stations of the Cross?  Let’s think about how we might utilize the land with which we have been blessed.  Send me your ideas!

Thanks for Supporting Home & School

I just read that teachers nationwide are spending an average of $652 of their own money on classroom supplies, instructional materials, and professional development.  At JFK, we would like to thank you for your support of Home & School.  Through Home & School’s fundraisers like spirit wear sales, the directory, the magazine sale, the plant sale, Spaghetti Supper, movie nights, etc., H & S provides each teacher with a $300 bonus that he/she can use toward things in their classroom.

Approved Vendors for Skirts; Logos on Socks to be Discussed Again

We have noticed a few plaid skirts with buckles slip into the building.  Neither one of the approved vendors, Religious Supply and Denis Uniform, sells our plaid skirts with buckles.  Here’s a little history on the skirts.  Years ago, the only place one could get the skirts was through Religious Supply.   Then, we added Land’s End to offer families another option, and the uniform policy was changed to read “or approved vendor.”  (I believe all of the other Catholic schools still only have Religious Supply as the vendor for their skirts.)  A few years later, we added Denis Uniform, in particular, to allow families a good online option.  Over the past year or so, national chain stores started selling plaid skirts, and differences began to be seen here at school:  fit of skirts, types of pleats, base colors of the plaid, exterior buttons or buckles, etc.  (We have enough of a challenge identifying a new approved vendor skirt and an approved vendor skirt that has been handed down from child to child and family to family for years — I don’t know if we every bought a new skirt for any of my three daughters!)  Staff members were left wondering what to do.  When the policy committee met this past spring, the attempt was to put the “genie back in the bottle” and state clearly who the approved vendors were.  No sooner had we stated the three vendors in the policy itself than we discovered that Land’s End no longer sells our plaid, and we had to change the language again to just include Religious Supply and Denis Uniform.  Now, Denis Uniform doesn’t feature our plaid on its website; you have to ask for it.

When the board meets on Tuesday night, I will also ask it to review the issue of skirts and logos on socks at the request of several parents.  We thought we were doing great by adding that socks could have logos.  Now, the question is why can’t socks have two logos on them?  I love dress code!  It always consumes more than it should — can’t you just tell by the amount of space it’s taken up in this Principal’s Post?  (OK, I really do like having a dress code.  The problem is always in the details!)

Handbook Sign-Off

Please read the parent and student handbook, available HERE, and on our website:  https://www.olvjfk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Parent-Handbook-2018-19.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.

Parish Picnic and Outdoor Mass

September 15th — Outdoor Mass at 4:30

Picnic following:  bounce houses, Iowa/UNI game available, huge pork tenderloins

Price:  $1 and a dish to share.   Please bring a serving utensil and mark all dishes and utensils with your name for return.

Last name ending in: A – H bring Salads
I – P bring Desserts
Q – Z bring Vegetables

Spirit Day Snuck Up on Me

I almost forgot about last week’s spirit dress day myself.  I wasn’t even thinking about it for a Thursday.  However, it was the first home football game for our Assumption Knights.  Thank goodness I look at the school calendar regularly!

The Wave on Saturday

No sooner had I spoke about my kids being scattered than Kirsten’s boyfriend came for the weekend, and Tom is taking some vacation time to spend here and probably in North Carolina with Colleen.  I really need to finish the master bedroom remodeling project that I began last Christmas and get the other bedrooms set up for company!

I couldn’t work too hard on Saturday though as I had to catch some important TV.  First, it was services for Senator John McCain.  While there were some political jabs, I couldn’t help but shed a tear as I listened to Meghan McCain talk not about the public life of John McCain but about his private life as a father to her.  It makes me wonder what my kids will say of me.

Then, as I mowed the lawn, I had to hurry so I would finish in time for the Iowa game.  In an add sort of way, though, it wasn’t the game itself that I really wanted to see.  I had to be done in time for the end of the first quarter so I could see the “Iowa Wave” when all the fans, players and coaches of both teams, referees, and everyone in the stadium turn to wave to those watching from the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.  Football is just a game; some things are just more important.

Chad

Two Days Under Our Belt — Resiliency Abounds

I’d like to publicly thank our staff members, parents, and students for their resiliency as we’ve begun the school year with so many improvement projects still underway.  Every step forward, it seems, has also been made with a half step backwards as another issue emerges.  When working on the drainage project out back, for example, workers hit one of the tubes for the geothermal heating and air conditioning system for the media center and a classroom.  Yet unexplained, however, there doesn’t appear to have been enough liquid in the tube to operate well in the long term, which may be related to why the geothermal pumps are giving us fits.

Even prior to this issue with the geothermal line, however, we were prepared to spend nearly $7,000 on various heating related issues.  These expenses serve as a reminder that replacing the boiler last summer was only phase one of a complete three phase HVAC plan that will resolve nearly all of the heating pipes issues within the building AND provide efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.  We are practically “shovel ready” for this project, and we are thankful for the Gala supporters and OLV Foundation who have contributed toward the funding needed for our HVAC project.

We would also like to thank everyone for your flexibility while the Sturdevant drive is unavailable due to the drainage project.  As you experienced on Friday morning during the rain at drop off times, having many drives available makes everything run so much smoother.  That’s one reason why our campus safety recommendations included having all of the drives open for drop off and pick up times and for funerals.  The drainage project should be completed within about a week.

Actual Bus Times Greatly Improved

We hope to see the actual bus times continue to improve.  On Friday, our last arriving bus in the morning was only about five minutes late while one bus (a different one than Friday) was nearly 20 minutes late to JFK on Thursday.  There are still some issues in the afternoon, and, although improvements were made, the improvements were not nearly as great.  However, we think we’ve identified a transfer issue with Assumption that is delaying a bus from arriving at JFK on time and holding up several other buses from leaving.  On Friday, our latest departing bus left 14 minutes AFTER the first student was supposed to have been dropped off at home!

Morning Drop Off and Breakfast:

As in the past, regular supervision on the blacktop will begin 15 minutes before school begins:  7:10 a.m.  If the weather is inclement, students will be let into the building and wait in designated areas until classes begin.

Students who ride the bus will be allowed to enter the building and wait in the cafeteria until 7:10, when they will join their other arriving classmates either on the blacktop or in other supervised locations.  Our buses were supposed to arrive on campus between 7:04 – 7:06, but we haven’t seen them this early yet.

New this year is a light breakfast program.  Students arriving between 7:00 and 7:10 may purchase a light breakfast of a fruit, milk, and cereal, bagel, muffin, or the like in the cafeteria.  Cost of breakfast is $1.50 and will be deducted from the funds in a student’s lunch account.  Although the time for purchasing breakfast is only ten minutes, students can remain in the cafeteria and finish eating until classes begin.  This new breakfast program is intended to be a service for those early morning bus riders who may be dropped off before 7:10 and those who may have used our previously paid for before school care program.  Other students may also take advantage of the program by arriving before 7:10.  There may be some adjustments to the breakfast program as we see how it progresses.  We have four eaters on Friday, and no eaters on Thursday.

Campus Safety

Work on campus safety projects continues.   Cameras are being installed, and the wiring may be finished this week.  I anticipate the system being operational within two weeks.  Security cameras can help staff monitor the entire campus, serve as a deterrent, provide an early warning to potential suspicious or dangerous situations, be used by first responders should an event be in progress, and help with after the fact investigations.  We received a Scott County Regional Authority grant for this project.  We will soon have approximately 22 cameras covering the outside of the school, the main church entry, and several large common areas/hallways within the school.

We are waiting for Lovewell Fencing to install the additional gates, bollards, and basketball hoops to complete the work on the parking lot.  Phase III, when funded, will create a new visitor and handicapped parking area off of 42nd Street level with the office entrances.

Sad to See Tree Go – What Will Replace It?

To make way for the drainage project behind the school, a large tree had to be removed.  What might we do instead when the final grading is done in the spring?  A rosary garden?  Butterfly garden?  Let’s think about how we might utilize the land with which we have been blessed.  Send me your ideas!

Not Too Many Dress Code Issues

I didn’t notice too many dress code issues during our first two days.  About the only thing I noticed that needs a larger community reminder is that while the board approved logos for socks, it limited logos on all attire to one per item.  Each sock can only have one logo.

Handbook Sign-Off

Please read the parent and student handbook, available HERE, and on our website:  https://www.olvjfk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Parent-Handbook-2018-19.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.

Parish Picnic and Outdoor Mass

September 15th — Outdoor Mass at 4:30

Picnic following:  bounce houses, Iowa/UNI game available, huge pork tenderloins

Price:  $1 and a dish to share.   Please bring a serving utensil and mark all dishes and utensils with your name for return.

Last name ending in: A – H bring Salads
I – P bring Desserts
Q – Z bring Vegetables

Principal’s Post Availability

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.  It then gets sent home via hard copy via “backpack mail” with the “youngest or only child” in a family at the beginning of each week.  I use the Principal’s Post to reach the whole school community and sometimes highlight happenings in particular grades.  It does not replace the many communications you will receive from your children’s teachers.

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 as well.  Make sure you “like” us there!  Highlighted Events and Headlines on our website also tend to be updated each weekend.

An Update About Me and My Family

I am beginning my 18th year as principal at JFK.  Each year brings new challenges and has its own excitement.  Prior to coming to JFK, I worked for ten years at Assumption High School where I taught religion and worked in student services for one year.  I grew up in South Milwaukee, WI, and attended Marquette University for my bachelor’s degree in sociology and theology.  I received a master’s degree in religion from the University of Chicago, and my master’s degree in education administration is from Western Illinois University.  My superintendent’s certificate work was done through the University of Northern Iowa.

Lynn and I have been married for 23 years.  She holds two degrees from St. Ambrose and one from Drake University.  Together, we are cash poor but education rich!  Lynn has worked in a variety of roles at Assumption High School, where we met.  She is also a graduate of Assumption and St. Paul’s.

Our four children continue to scatter.  Our oldest, Colleen, moved to North Carolina this past year, and she works at the Y.  She has degrees from Ashford University and the University of Dubuque.  Tom moved to Cedar Rapids during the winter.  He manages three mattress stores in Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls, and Waterloo.  He has an associates degree from Des Moines Area Community College.  Kirsten is in her last semester at St. Ambrose and doing her student teaching at Lourdes this fall.  She is planning on graduating in December and looking for a teaching position in the Des Moines area.  Caitlin is in her second year at the University of Kansas.  I can’t say it’s her “sophomore” year really as she already had 34 college credits when she graduated from Assumption, and she’s in a program that combines both undergraduate and graduate level work so she can finish with a law degree in six years rather than the normal seven.

The end of summer hit Lynn and me the other weekend at Mass.  Lynn and I were there without any of our children and without upcoming plans for any of them to be around for any more special summer activities.  It was kind of depressing.  We better start planning some fall activities, or at least start working on Thanksgiving plans!

Chad

Whirlwind of Activity

There has been a whirlwind of activity at JFK over the summer and, rather than slowing down as the start day approaches, I think we’re getting even busier!

Bell Times:

People are still contacting us to confirm it — JFK will have new bell times this year:  7:25 a.m. – 2:40 p.m.  Wednesdays’ early dismissals are at 1:40.  There will be bus transportation.

While we were creating a new bell time schedule, we were able to adjust our schedule enough to give late morning break to 6th-8th graders.  This recess break will make up for the loss of a 6th – 8th grade lunch time recess that was necessary when we decided to follow the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics recommendation that there be 60 minutes of math instruction each day in grades kindergarten through 12th grade.  By adjusting morning homeroom times and tweaking some transition time around the 6th-8th grade lunches, we should be able to add a late morning recess break while retaining the 60 minutes of math each day and not negatively impacting other instructional time.

All school Masses will begin at 7:40 a.m.  Holy day all school Masses will still be at 8:15 a.m.  Our first all school Mass is Friday.

See below for the new bell times.

K-8

• MTThF:     7:25 – 2:40
• W:             7:25 – 1:40

3 yr old PS:

• 7:25 – 9:55

4/5 yr old morning PS:

• MTThF:     7:25 – 10:25
• W:              7:25 – 9:55

4/5 yr old afternoon PS:

• MTThF:     11:40 – 2:40
• W:              11:10 – 1:40

After school care:  2:40 (or the end of the school day) – 5:30

ECLC:  7:00 – 5:30

Morning Drop Off and Breakfast:

As in the past, regular supervision on the blacktop will begin 15 minutes before school begins:  7:10 a.m.  If the weather is inclement, students will be let into the building and wait in designated areas until classes begin.

Students who ride the bus will be allowed to enter the building and wait in the cafeteria until 7:10, when they will join their other arriving classmates either on the blacktop or in other supervised locations.

New this year is a light breakfast program.  Students arriving between 7:00 and 7:10 may purchase a light breakfast of a fruit, milk, and cereal, bagel, muffin, or the like in the cafeteria.  Cost of breakfast is $1.50 and will be deducted from the funds in a student’s lunch account.  Although the time for purchasing breakfast is only ten minutes, students can remain in the cafeteria and finish eating until classes begin.  This new breakfast program is intended to be a service for those early morning bus riders who may be dropped off before 7:10 and those who may have used our previously paid for before school care program.  Other students may also take advantage of the program by arriving before 7:10.  There may be some adjustments to the breakfast program as we see how it progresses.

Reduced Rate for After School Care Program:

With after school care beginning 20 minutes earlier, the board decided to change the rates it had just passed in the winter to try and make our program more affordable for families.  Rather than $1.65 for a quarter hour for the first child in a family, and $1.35 for the second child, etc., the rate has been changed to $1.50 for a quarter hour per student.  After school care operates from the end of the school day until 5:30.

Campus Safety

Work on campus safety projects continues as we move into the school year.

When JFK was built in 1963 and opened its doors in 1964, campus safety was not as close to the forefront of people’s minds as it is today.  Back then, the school offices were behind a brick wall that prevented anyone from seeing the entry doors, which were unlocked as well!  Beginning in 2001, explicit steps were taken to improve campus security.  By 2011, new offices were built at the front of the building, and, after tragedy in Sandy Hook in December 2012, another $80,000 or more was spent to increase building security and protocols.  The focus in these earlier stages tended to be on how to keep students safe within the building and keep a potentially unwanted person out of the school.  In the fall of 2017, we began another major safety review.  Meeting with our alderman, city staff, and multiple police officers to discuss the neighborhood and safety protocols, it was determined that there did NOT seem to be a higher probability of danger to our students now than at any other time, and our safety protocols are still strong.  We also conducted a survey of staff and parents to determine what people’s concerns were today.  While the survey was intended to elicit today’s concerns, there were some who responded that they did not have any concerns:

• “I am currently not worried about the safety of my children while they are at JFK.”
• “I do feel that JFK does a great job at keeping the school safe as well as keeping us well informed. Obviously it’s a little harder to keep the same amount of security when the kids are on the playground, but their outdoor time is important, and I feel JFK has a vigilant staff. There are just some things that are out of our control, but I feel my child is safe.”
• “We are very pleased with the safe guards are that already in place, such as the doorbell for ECLC/Preschool, traffic directing cones, sign-in/out process, etc.”
• “I really do not have any specific concerns regarding safety since the building entrances have been locked and free access to the school from multiple points of entry have been eliminated.”
• “The plan for dropping off and picking up is very good if the drivers would pay attention.”

The most common theme in the survey for today’s concerns was related to keeping students safe when outside the building but on campus property.  Three key recommendations were made by a safety committee:

• Separate students from the parking lot. Students should be away from the apartment buildings and from moving cars and parking areas, particularly during recess times.
• Use something other than cones for making the “safety” area at drop off/pick up times. Cones will not protect students from a car.
• Add security cameras to both the external and internal school campus, with external cameras being the first priority. Security cameras can help staff monitor the entire campus.  They can serve as a deterrent, provide an early warning to potential suspicious or dangerous situations, be used by first responders should an event be in progress, and help with after the fact investigations.  We received a Scott County Regional Authority grant for this project, and this work finally began last week.  We will soon have approximately 22 cameras covering the outside of the school, the main church entry, and several large common areas/hallways within the school.

When looking at the parking lot, multiple options were discussed, three parish/school listening sessions were conducted, and multiple detailed plans were reviewed and critiqued by the board of education, finance council, and parish council.  The final plan was also submitted to the diocese.

Factors considered included the following, and trying to strike a balance of many interests was challenging:

• Recess location and student safety
• Student safety at drop-off/pick-up times
• Protection of students and the building itself from cars
• Traffic flow
• Where students should line up and enter the building
• Green space
• Size of a hard surface play area and how often students have to use it for recesses
• Cost
• Permanent loss (or gain) of parking spaces
• Loss of parking spaces on week days
• Student access to building entrances should there be an emergency for which they need to enter the building quickly
• Aesthetics
• Visitor and handicapped parking for the school
• Access to parking lot entrances
• Access to the parish center entrance
• Flexibility of parking in the lot for funerals
• Snow removal

The final parking lot plan has three phases, and phases I and II have begun.  Phase I provides a permanent, safe barrier on the northeast side of the parking lot behind which students can stand at drop off and pick up times.  (See the red lines on the picture below).  Shortly, there will be yellow bollards installed at each end (yellow dots below) that will allow pedestrians through but be placed too close for vehicles to pass.  Until the bollards are installed, we will be using traffic cones.  Traffic cones will also be placed where they have been in the past (green dots) as we still do not want traffic moving north/south along where student are standing.  School day traffic patterns on the north side of the divider will not change.  The northwest entrance off of 42nd Street is still “enter” only, and the northeast is still exit only.

Phase II moves recesses on the blacktop (when the grass is too wet or covered in snow to be out back) to the south end of the parking lot and utilizes fences, gates, and portable barriers to keep students safe while also allowing for the flexibility needed for funerals and parish center usage.  After morning drop off, the south part of the parking lot will be made inaccessible by closing gates at the Sturdevant Street entrance and near the cooling tower by the rectory drive  (See yellow lines below.)  Access to/from the rectory will still be possible from Division.  In addition to these gates, cables will be drawn across the north/south pass through by the divider, and, thus, seal the south parking lot from vehicular traffic during school hours on most days.  Prior to the end of the school day, the two gates and cable will be opened, allowing for access to both sides of the parking lot again.  To clear the south side of the parking lot from cars during the day, staff will be parking on the north side of the lot.  Handicapped spots and visitor spots remain close to the school.  When there are funerals on school days, we will be using a combination of large portable barriers and special cones to create a safe play area on the south side of the lot while still allowing for the gates to be open.

Other elements of Phase II include putting a series of fences between the trees along the divider (east/west yellow lines below) to keep kids and balls from going from the play area into a parking and traffic area and a fence near the dumpster to keep balls from going too far off the parking lot to the south.  Finally, two new basketball hoops will be installed by the ECLC/PS play area (red dots below), and the old one in the divider will likely be removed.

Phase III, which has not yet been funded, would create a new visitor and handicapped parking area off of 42nd Street level with the office entrances.

While it will likely take us a little bit of time to adjust to the changes, these changes are indicative of the seriousness that OLV and JFK community members take student safety.

Below is a photo showing these campus enhancements:

Other Construction

Parking lot safety is not the only work being done this summer.  This week a new drainage system is being installed along the east/west wing and parish center.  (See photo below.)  The older system, which only collected water from two downspouts, has failed.  The new system will be able to handle the water off the roof from all five downspouts as well as surface level run off from the playground and field.  The red below represents what will be underground, and the green dots represent surface level collectors.  This work begins on August 20th and should be done by the 25th.  During this time, the Sturdevant Street entrance will likely be closed.  Once the outside work is done, repairs and renovations will be made to the parish center kitchen, table room, and restrooms.

• Added as examples of Level II misbehaviors:  Targeting others on social media or electronic devices, which then affects the school environment; taking a photograph or video/audio recording without permission; unauthorized use of a cell phone
• Specifically stated that smart watches are in the same category as “cell phones and other electronic devices” and prohibited from use between 7:00 a.m. and until students leave the building.  Because staff members are not able to tell which Smart Watches and FitBits are connected to data plans or phones in one’s locker, all such devices will be prohibited.
• Emphasized that there are only two approved vendors for uniform jumpers/skirts:  Religious Supply on Jersey Ridge and Denis Uniform Supply (online)
• Applied the 2″ logo guideline to nearly all apparel and limited logos/words to one per item  (Shirts with logos/words on the front and back, front and sleeve, or front and shoulder, etc. are not allowed under the policy, but socks can now have a 2″ maximum size logo)
• Changed the belt requirement to grades 4-8 only
• Defined more specific consequences for issues with hair, particularly for unnatural coloring.  It’s time to get students’ hair back to what is acceptable according to our dress code. 
• Changed when athletic eligibility is checked
• Added language regarding student records and video

Busy Summer:

It has been quite the busy summer, and I don’t think I’ve been away from campus for more than a day!  Read below for more information regarding bell times (just a repeat of the June email), morning drop off and breakfast, reduced rates for after school care services, campus safety plans, recess for 6th-8th grade students, new science and Spanish materials, donated school furniture, strategic planning for Scott County Catholic schools, and more.  There’s been so much going on that I haven’t had time to write about it!

Bell Times:

JFK will have new bell times this year:  7:25 a.m. – 2:40 p.m.  Wednesdays’ early dismissals are at 1:40.  There will be bus transportation.  See below for a complete list of the new times.

After the Davenport Community School District changed its bell times and bus transportation schedule, JFK’s board of education looked at several models for providing bus transportation for the faith-based schools without the direct involvement of the DCSD, and, each time, it seemed that the cost was more than what we think our families can bear, especially when compared to “free” bus transportation but at slightly different times.  It was even more challenging when those slightly different times were actually times that a couple of the faith-based schools really like, and they would not receive those times if we ran our own buses.

Thinking from a long-range perspective, I do not believe the bus transportation issue is finished.  Bus transportation, especially how the DCSD provides better transportation than is required by law and provides each faith-based school with bus transportation from one end of the district to the other end, is costly.  The DCSD will likely continue to examine transportation costs in the future.  Several of the DCSD board members want to have follow up next year, for example, so they can know if this decision to change bell times and disrupt everyone’s routine was worth the anticipated savings.

Here, again, are JFK’s bell times:

K-8

• MTThF:     7:25 – 2:40
• W:             7:25 – 1:40

3 yr old PS:

• 7:25 – 9:55

4/5 yr old morning PS:

• MTThF:     7:25 – 10:25
• W:              7:25 – 9:55

4/5 yr old afternoon PS:

• MTThF:     11:40 – 2:40
• W:              11:10 – 1:40

After school care:  2:40 (or the end of the school day) – 5:30

ECLC:  7:00 – 5:30

Morning Drop Off and Breakfast:

As in the past, regular supervision on the blacktop will begin 15 minutes before school begins:  7:10 a.m.  If the weather is inclement, students will be let into the building and wait in designated areas until classes begin.

Students who ride the bus will be allowed to enter the building and wait in the cafeteria until 7:10, when they will join their other arriving classmates either on the blacktop or in other supervised locations.

New this year is a light breakfast program.  Students arriving between 7:00 and 7:10 will be served a light breakfast of a fruit, milk, and cereal, bagel, muffin, or the like in the cafeteria.  Cost of breakfast is $1.50 and will be deducted from the funds in a student’s lunch account.  Although the time for purchasing breakfast is only ten minutes, students can remain in the cafeteria and finish eating until classes begin.  This new breakfast program is intended to be a service for those early morning bus riders who may be dropped off before 7:10 and those who may have used our previously paid for before school care program.  Other students may also take advantage of the program by arriving before 7:10.  There may be some adjustments to the breakfast program as we see how it progresses.

Reduced Rate for After School Care Program:

With after school care beginning 20 minutes earlier, the board decided to change the rates it had just passed in the winter to try and make our program more affordable for families.  Rather than $1.65 for a quarter hour for the first child in a family, and $1.35 for the second child, etc., the rate has been changed to $1.50 for a quarter hour per student.  After school care operates from the end of the school day until 5:30.

Campus Safety Parking Lot Recommendations

Expect changes to our campus this fall in response to our work to enhance campus safety.

When JFK was built in 1963 and opened its doors in 1964, campus safety was not as close to the forefront of people’s minds as it is today.  Beginning in 2001, explicit steps were taken to improve campus security.  By 2011, new offices were built at the front of the building, and, after tragedy in Sandy Hook in December 2012, another $80,000 or more was spent to increase building security and protocols.  The focus in these earlier stages tended to be on how to keep students safe within the building and keep a potentially unwanted person out of the school.  In the fall of 2017, we began another major safety review.  Meeting with our alderman, city staff, and multiple police officers to discuss the neighborhood and safety protocols, it was determined that there did NOT seem to be a higher probability of danger to our students now than at any other time, and our safety protocols are still strong.  We also conducted a survey of staff and parents to determine what people’s concerns were today.  While the survey was intended to elicit today’s concerns, there were some who responded that they did not have any concerns:

• “I am currently not worried about the safety of my children while they are at JFK.”
• “I do feel that JFK does a great job at keeping the school safe as well as keeping us well informed. Obviously it’s a little harder to keep the same amount of security when the kids are on the playground, but their outdoor time is important, and I feel JFK has a vigilant staff. There are just some things that are out of our control, but I feel my child is safe.”
• “We are very pleased with the safe guards are that already in place, such as the doorbell for ECLC/Preschool, traffic directing cones, sign-in/out process, etc.”
• “I really do not have any specific concerns regarding safety since the building entrances have been locked and free access to the school from multiple points of entry have been eliminated.”
• “The plan for dropping off and picking up is very good if the drivers would pay attention.”

The most common theme in the survey for today’s concerns was related to keeping students safe when outside the building but on campus property.  Three key recommendations were made by a safety committee:

• Separate students from the parking lot. Students should be away from the apartment buildings and from moving cars and parking areas, particularly during recess times.
• Use something other than cones for making the “safety” area at drop off/pick up times. Cones will not protect students from a car.
• Add security cameras to both the external and internal school campus, with external cameras being the first priority. Security cameras can help staff monitor the entire campus.  They can serve as a deterrent, provide an early warning to potential suspicious or dangerous situations, be used by first responders should an event be in progress, and help with after the fact investigations.  We received a Scott County Regional Authority grant for this project, and this work will begin in August.  Some additional cameras will be installed to monitor key church and rectory entrances.

When looking at the parking lot, multiple options were discussed, three parish/school listening sessions were conducted, and multiple detailed plans were reviewed and critiqued by the board of education, finance council, and parish council.  The final plan was also submitted to the diocese.

Factors considered included the following, and trying to strike a balance of many interests was challenging:

• Recess location and student safety
• Student safety at drop-off/pick-up times
• Protection of students and the building itself from cars
• Traffic flow
• Where students should line up and enter the building
• Green space
• Size of a hard surface play area and how often students have to use it for recesses
• Cost
• Permanent loss (or gain) of parking spaces
• Loss of parking spaces on week days
• Student access to building entrances should there be an emergency for which they need to enter the building quickly
• Aesthetics
• Visitor and handicapped parking for the school
• Access to parking lot entrances
• Access to the parish center entrance
• Flexibility of parking in the lot for funerals
• Snow removal

The final parking lot plan has three phases, and phases I and II are proceeding this summer.  Phase I provides a permanent, safe barrier on the northeast side of the parking lot behind which students can stand at drop off and pick up times.  Phase II moves recesses on the blacktop (when the grass is too wet or covered in snow to be out back) to the south end of the parking lot and utilizes fences, gates, and portable barriers to keep students safe while also allowing for the flexibility needed for funerals and parish center usage.  Phase III, which has not yet been funded, would create a new visitor and handicapped parking area off of 42nd Street level with the office entrances.

Below is a photo showing these campus enhancements:

• Added as examples of Level II misbehaviors:  Targeting others on social media or electronic devices, which then affects the school environment; taking a photograph or video/audio recording without permission; unauthorized use of a cell phone
• Specifically stated that smart watches are in the same category as “cell phones and other electronic devices” and prohibited from use between 7:00 a.m. and until students leave the building
• Emphasized that there are only two approved vendors for uniform jumpers/skirts:  Religious Supply on Jersey Ridge and Denis Uniform Supply (online)
• Applied the 2″ logo guideline to nearly all apparel and limited logos/words to one per item  (Shirts with logos/words on the front and back, front and sleeve, or front and shoulder, etc. are not allowed under the policy, but socks can now have a 2″ maximum size logo)
• Changed the belt requirement to grades 4-8 only
• Defined more specific consequences for issues with hair, particularly for unnatural coloring.  Do not color your child’s hair now.  It may not come out by the time school starts
• Defined tardies, 1/2 day absences, and full day absences
• Changed when athletic eligibility is checked
• Added language regarding student records and video

Summer Communications:

This week’s Principal’s Post is the last weekly one until school begins again.  Make sure you check our Facebook page regularly during the summer.  There will also be some irregular Posts and/or emails this summer as there are still some important issues that need resolution, like bell/bus times.

Summer Programming at JFK:

Leaps & Bounds:  Does your child need some extra help over the summer?  Are you looking for a way to provide additional academic challenge for your student? Our Iowa certified staff will provide opportunities for your kindergarten through 5th grade child to grow by Leaps and Bounds.  Sign up for one, two or even all three sessions.  There are three week and two week sessions.  The program runs from 8:00 – 11:30 each day.  Two hours are for reading, one hour is for math, and 30 minutes is for recess and other fun.  The ratio is kept at 7 to 1 students per teacher or less.  Cost for the three week session is $270.  The two week session is $180.

Three week session:  June 11 – 29. (Closed)          Two week session:  July 9 – 20          Two week session:  July 30 – Aug 10

Vacation Bible School:  This program is coordinated for parish members by parish members.  Volunteers are always welcome to be a part of VBS.  Children who are entering kindergarten through 6th grade will enjoy a week of activities, crafts, skits, songs, and Bible stories.  VBS meets from 8:00 – 11:30 and runs July 23 – 27.  The cost is $25 per child.

Math Boot Camp: Math Boot Camp will help to kick start your student’s math skills before school begins in August. Students will work with an Iowa certified teacher to review main concepts learned in the previous grade.  Each day will be an intensive  Math Boot Camp is for students of all learning ability levels entering grades 6-8.  The camp is from August 6 – 10.  The cost is $40 per student.

Incoming 6th graders:  8:00-9:30 a.m.         Incoming 7th graders:  9:30-11:00 a.m.          Incoming 8th Graders:  11:00-12:30 p.m.

Jump Start Kindergarten: Preschool students have worked hard this year to learn many skills to be successful when they start Kindergarten in the fall.  Jump Start Kindergarten will provide a review of alphabet letters and sounds, basic math concepts, and literacy skills.  This week long review will also include story times and interactive white board activities.  What a great way for your child to practice instructional routines in a fun, enriching atmosphere!  Jump Start Kindergarten is August 6 – 10 from 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.  Cost is $50 or $55, depending upon eligibility for the early bird registration cost.

Summer Tutoring: Does your son or daughter need some extra one-on-one academic help during the summer?  Does he/she need to catch up on grade level skills?  How about a head start on the next school year?  Is your child interested in some coaching for a summer STEAM project?  JFK teachers are available this summer for tutoring students in a variety of areas.  Tutoring is one-on-one for grades K-8 by the hour ($22) or half-hour ($11).  Dates and times are flexible and can be arranged with the teacher.  Please contact Mrs. Motto for K-2 reading/language arts, Mrs. Lundquist for 3-5 reading/language arts/5th grade math, Ms. Burken for 6-8 reading/language arts, Mrs. Burke for reading/language arts, and/or Mrs. Schott for K-8 summer STEAM projects mentoring.

Instrumental Lessons: Would your son or daughter like to develop his/her instrumental skills over the summer?   Private lessons can be a great help (especially for younger grades) at retaining the current instrument knowledge.  It can also serve as early preparation for SEIBA auditions, marching band with Assumption, 6^th-grade band fests and more. There is no minimum or maximum number of lessons that you can sign up for; everything is based on availability.  Lessons can be arranged weekly or bi-weekly, a certain amount over the course of the summer, or sporadically.  Cost is $22 per hour or $11 per half hour.

Registration forms for any summer programming:  Click HERE or use the following link/url:  https://www.olvjfk.com/for-parents/policies-forms/ for registration forms.

Campus Safety Developments

We received $21,700 from the Scott County Regional Authority for security cameras around the outside of the school and in the main hallways and other large areas, like the parish center, gym, and cafeteria.  Fr. Jake has indicated that some cameras will probably also be installed around the church at the same time so we can piggy-back on pricing.

Bell and Bus Times for Next Year:  Delayed Now Until June 11

DCSD superintendent Art Tate indicated that the bell/bus times have now been moved to the June 11 meeting of the DCSD board.

Two meetings were held last week:  one with the faith-based school administrators and one with operations personnel of the DCSD.  At the first meeting, we looked at several models and discussed how difficult it is to go “out on our own” and do transportation ourselves at a rate we think families can afford.  On the other hand, no one wants bell times that don’t work well for families either.  We also learned that the schedule previously distributed and published by the DCSD had incorrect proposed times for Trinity Lutheran.  At the meeting with DCSD representatives, we talked about the possibility of some minor tweaks with the JFK/AHS route times that could make the proposed schedule more palatable for everyone.

After the meetings, we were informed that the bell/bus time issue will be moved to the June 11 DCSD board meeting.

Once the DCSD makes its decision, OLV/JFK’s board will also have to decide what to do.  If the DCSD changes the times, then our board will have to decide if we want to go along with the changes and have bus transportation or  go without bus transportation but have the bell times we most desire.

It would be nice to have the bell time issue decided.  We have other decisions to make that are influenced by bell times, including the following:

• WIN time for grades K-2 and what staff will be involved
• Whether or not there will be a need for before school care services
• What the rates should be for after school care
• The overall school budget
• A new master schedule, including the possibility of instituting a 6th-8th grade late morning recess

• Adding language about targeting others on social media, which then affects the school environment
• Adding additional language about cell phone use, particularly in regards to photos and video, and noting that the cell phone and other electronic devices policy also specifically covers smartwatches
• Emphasizing that there are only 3 approved vendors for uniform jumpers/skirts
• Applying the 2″ logo guideline to all apparel and limiting logos/words to one per item  (Shirts with logos/words on the front and back, front and sleeve, or front and shoulder, etc. would not be allowed, but socks could have a 2″ maximum size logo)
• Adding more specific consequences for issues with hair, particularly for unnatural coloring
• Defining tardies, 1/2 day absences, and full day absences
• Changing when athletic eligibility is checked

May 31:  3 and 4 year old pre-school.  Four year olds have their programs on the 31st (MZ/KK at 5:45, MJ/MB at 7:00), and 3 year olds have their family activity on June 1 at 8:00 a.m. in the parish center.

June 1:  K-8.  This differs from the DCSD which is having classes on June 4.  Dismissal is at 3:00 p.m.

June 1:  Last day of ECLC

Summer Programming at JFK:

Leaps & Bounds:  Does your child need some extra help over the summer?  Are you looking for a way to provide additional academic challenge for your student? Our Iowa certified staff will provide opportunities for your kindergarten through 5th grade child to grow by Leaps and Bounds.  Sign up for one, two or even all three sessions.  There are three week and two week sessions.  The program runs from 8:00 – 11:30 each day.  Two hours are for reading, one hour is for math, and 30 minutes is for recess and other fun.  The ratio is kept at 7 to 1 students per teacher or less.  Cost for the three week session is $270.  The two week session is $180.

Three week session:  June 11 – 29.          Two week session:  July 9 – 20          Two week session:  July 30 – Aug 10

Vacation Bible School:  This program is coordinated for parish members by parish members.  Volunteers are always welcome to be a part of VBS.  Children who are entering kindergarten through 6th grade will enjoy a week of activities, crafts, skits, songs, and Bible stories.  VBS meets from 8:00 – 11:30 and runs July 23 – 27.  The cost is $25 per child.

Math Boot Camp: Math Boot Camp will help to kick start your student’s math skills before school begins in August. Students will work with an Iowa certified teacher to review main concepts learned in the previous grade.  Each day will be an intensive  Math Boot Camp is for students of all learning ability levels entering grades 6-8.  The camp is from August 6 – 10.  The cost is $40 per student.

Incoming 6th graders:  8:00-9:30 a.m.         Incoming 7th graders:  9:30-11:00 a.m.          Incoming 8th Graders:  11:00-12:30 p.m.

Jump Start Kindergarten: Preschool students have worked hard this year to learn many skills to be successful when they start Kindergarten in the fall.  Jump Start Kindergarten will provide a review of alphabet letters and sounds, basic math concepts, and literacy skills.  This week long review will also include story times and interactive white board activities.  What a great way for your child to practice instructional routines in a fun, enriching atmosphere!  Jump Start Kindergarten is August 6 – 10 from 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.  Cost is $50, if registered before May 26th;  $55 afterward.

Summer Tutoring: Does your son or daughter need some extra one-on-one academic help during the summer?  Does he/she need to catch up on grade level skills?  How about a head start on the next school year?  Is your child interested in some coaching for a summer STEAM project?  JFK teachers are available this summer for tutoring students in a variety of areas.  Tutoring is one-on-one for grades K-8 by the hour ($22) or half-hour ($11).  Dates and times are flexible and can be arranged with the teacher.  Please contact Mrs. Motto for K-2 reading/language arts, Mrs. Lundquist for 3-5 reading/language arts/5th grade math, Ms. Burken for 6-8 reading/language arts, Mrs. Burke for reading/language arts, and/or Mrs. Schott for K-8 summer STEAM projects mentoring.

Instrumental Lessons: Would your son or daughter like to develop his/her instrumental skills over the summer?   Private lessons can be a great help (especially for younger grades) at retaining the current instrument knowledge.  It can also serve as early preparation for SEIBA auditions, marching band with Assumption, 6^th-grade band fests and more. There is no minimum or maximum number of lessons that you can sign up for; everything is based on availability.  Lessons can be arranged weekly or bi-weekly, a certain amount over the course of the summer, or sporadically.  Cost is $22 per hour or $11 per half hour.

Registration forms for any summer programming:  Click HERE or use the following link/url:  https://www.olvjfk.com/for-parents/policies-forms/ for registration forms.

Campus Safety Developments

While there were lots of nuanced differences at our three listening sessions, there are probably two main ideas emerging in regards to safety concerns relating to traffic in the parking lot during drop off and dismissal times and safety concerns relating to children being in the parking lot before/after school and recesses:

• Change drop off/pick up procedures/routes/barriers and also develop a hard surface play area south of the current play equipment.
• Change drop off/pick up procedures/routes/barriers and “flip” the parking lot so that student activity is on the south end of the lot and traffic and parking is on the north end of the lot.

In relation to the above two, we are detailing the pricing for three to four options, one with the hard surface play area south of the current play equipment and 2-3 for “flipping” how we use the parking lot.

Developing a new location for handicapped and short term visitor parking for the school was widely supported.  For dealing with congestion on 42nd Street when buses are on the street, the only option receiving any level of support was to see if the city would eliminate parking on the north side of the street during bus times.

Late last week, I found out we will be receiving funds from the Scott County Regional Authority for security cameras around the outside of the school and in the main hallways and other large areas, like the parish center, gym, and cafeteria.  Fr. Jake has indicated that some cameras will probably also be installed around the church at the same time so we can piggy-back on pricing.  On Tuesday, I’ll find out how much of our nearly $22,000 grant application has been awarded by the SCRA.

Bell and Bus Times for Next Year:  Waiting Again

DCSD superintendent Art Tate indicated that the bell/bus times would be on the May 29th agenda of the DCSD board meeting.  If you’d like to share your opinion with the board, please email the board at BoardComments@Davenportschools.org.  Only messages that include your name and address will be distributed.

Once the DCSD makes its decision, OLV/JFK’s board will also have to decide what to do.  If the DCSD changes the times, then our board will have to decide if we want to go along with the changes and have bus transportation or make changes to the times the DCSD passed and go without bus transportation.

We’d still like to make a counter-proposal to the DCSD if we can find an option acceptable to all of the faith-based schools that still saves the DCSD the $300,000 it is planning on saving by changing bell times and is not outrageously expensive for faith-based schools’ families.

Home & School

Smartphones Interfere with Cognitive Tasks Even When We’re Not Using Them

An article in THE Journal:  Transforming Education Through Technology by Dian Schaffhauser summarizes two studies that show that just having smartphones nearby, even if turned off and/or in a pocket or nearby backpack, impairs students’ cognitive abilities.  Perhaps even more alarming is that students in the study didn’t think the location of their smartphones had any impact when the results showed it clearly did!  The advice of the researchers is that separation from one’s smartphone helps students with cognitive tasks.  Here is the full url/link: https://thejournal.com/articles/2018/04/09/even-the-mere-presence-of-a-smartphone-makes-you-dumber.aspx

May 31:  3 and 4 year old pre-school.  Four year olds have their programs on the 31st, and 3 year olds have their family activity on June 1.

June 1:  K-8.  This differs from the DCSD which is having classes on June 4.

June 1:  Last day of ECLC

Mrs. Tilkens continues to be out of school to care for CJ and his treatment for Neuroblastoma.  If you would like to help the Tilkens, please consider donating through GoFundMe.  Click CJ Cancer Fight or use the following link/url:  https://www.gofundme.com/CJCancerFight .  A benefit is planned for July 1st at 2:00 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus.

Campus Safety Listening Sessions

While there were lots of nuanced differences at our three listening sessions, there are probably two main ideas emerging in regards to safety concerns relating to traffic in the parking lot during drop off and dismissal times and safety concerns relating to children being in the parking lot before/after school and recesses:

• Change drop off/pick up procedures/routes/barriers and also develop a hard surface play area south of the current play equipment.
• Change drop off/pick up procedures/routes/barriers and “flip” the parking lot so that student activity is on the south end of the lot and traffic and parking is on the north end of the lot.

Developing a new location for handicapped and short term visitor parking for the school was widely supported.  For dealing with congestion on 42nd Street when buses are on the street, the only option receiving any level of support was to see if the city would eliminate parking on the north side of the street during bus times.

Bell and Bus Times for Next Year:  Where Are We Now?

Feedback I’ve seen or heard from JFK parents regarding the alternative proposal the DCSD put forth for bell time changes seems to be about 55% against, 25% in favor of it, and 20% lukewarm.  Very few JFK people liked the first 8:35 start time option.  In fact, none of the other faith-based schools liked the first option either, which had us all starting 50-55 minutes later or about 8:35 or later.  The current proposal, which has all the faith-based schools starting 20 minutes earlier than  our current times, is being fairly well received at two of our elementary schools and lukewarm or poorly received at the other two, including JFK.  A unified counter proposal might be a little more difficult now.

Andy Craig, president of AHS, and I continue to examine our options.  Last week, there was discussion with Durham representatives, the Iowa Department of Education, and other private schools/districts who do their own transportation.  If we were to have another busing option, it would have to be one that had satisfactory times for all the faith-based schools, still saved the DCSD the $300,000 it is planning on saving by making the bell time changes, and not be outrageously expensive for faith-based schools’ families.

DCSD superintendent Art Tate indicated that the bell/bus times would be on the May 29th agenda.  If you’d like to share your opinion with the board, please email the board at BoardComments@Davenportschools.org.  Only messages that include your name and address will be distributed.

Summer Programming at JFK:

Leaps & Bounds:  Does your child need some extra help over the summer?  Are you looking for a way to provide additional academic challenge for your student? Our Iowa certified staff will provide opportunities for your kindergarten through 5th grade child to grow by Leaps and Bounds.  Sign up for one, two or even all three sessions.  There are three week and two week sessions.  The program runs from 8:00 – 11:30 each day.  Two hours are for reading, one hour is for math, and 30 minutes is for recess and other fun.  The ratio is kept at 7 to 1 students per teacher or less.  Cost for the three week session is $270.  The two week session is $180.

Three week session:  June 11 – 29.          Two week session:  July 9 – 20          Two week session:  July 30 – Aug 10

Vacation Bible School:  This program is coordinated for parish members by parish members.  Volunteers are always welcome to be a part of VBS.  Children who are entering kindergarten through 6th grade will enjoy a week of activities, crafts, skits, songs, and Bible stories.  VBS meets from 8:00 – 11:30 and runs July 23 – 27.  The cost is $25 per child.

Math Boot Camp: Math Boot Camp will help to kick start your student’s math skills before school begins in August. Students will work with an Iowa certified teacher to review main concepts learned in the previous grade.  Each day will be an intensive  Math Boot Camp is for students of all learning ability levels entering grades 6-8.  The camp is from August 6 – 10.  The cost is $40 per student.

Incoming 6th graders:  8:00-9:30 a.m.         Incoming 7th graders:  9:30-11:00 a.m.          Incoming 8th Graders:  11:00-12:30 p.m.

Jump Start Kindergarten: Preschool students have worked hard this year to learn many skills to be successful when they start Kindergarten in the fall.  Jump Start Kindergarten will provide a review of alphabet letters and sounds, basic math concepts, and literacy skills.  This week long review will also include story times and interactive white board activities.  What a great way for your child to practice instructional routines in a fun, enriching atmosphere!  Jump Start Kindergarten is August 6 – 10 from 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.  Cost is $50, if registered before May 26th;  $55 afterward.

Summer Tutoring: Does your son or daughter need some extra one-on-one academic help during the summer?  Does he/she need to catch up on grade level skills?  How about a head start on the next school year?  Is your child interested in some coaching for a summer STEAM project?  JFK teachers are available this summer for tutoring students in a variety of areas.  Tutoring is one-on-one for grades K-8 by the hour ($22) or half-hour ($11).  Dates and times are flexible and can be arranged with the teacher.  Please contact Mrs. Motto for K-2 reading/language arts, Mrs. Lundquist for 3-5 reading/language arts/5th grade math, Ms. Burken for 6-8 reading/language arts, Mrs. Burke for reading/language arts, and/or Mrs. Schott for K-8 summer STEAM projects mentoring.

Instrumental Lessons: Would your son or daughter like to develop his/her instrumental skills over the summer?   Private lessons can be a great help (especially for younger grades) at retaining the current instrument knowledge.  It can also serve as early preparation for SEIBA auditions, marching band with Assumption, 6^th-grade band fests and more. There is no minimum or maximum number of lessons that you can sign up for; everything is based on availability.  Lessons can be arranged weekly or bi-weekly, a certain amount over the course of the summer, or sporadically.  Cost is $22 per hour or $11 per half hour.

Registration forms for any summer programming:  Click HERE or use the following link/url:  https://www.olvjfk.com/for-parents/policies-forms/ for registration forms.

Smartphones Interfere with Cognitive Tasks Even When We’re Not Using Them

An article in THE Journal:  Transforming Education Through Technology by Dian Schaffhauser summarizes two studies that show that just having smartphones nearby, even if turned off and/or in a pocket or nearby backpack, impairs students’ cognitive abilities.  Perhaps even more alarming is that students in the study didn’t think the location of their smartphones had any impact when the results showed it clearly did!  The advice of the researchers is that separation from one’s smartphone helps students with cognitive tasks.  Here is the full url/link: https://thejournal.com/articles/2018/04/09/even-the-mere-presence-of-a-smartphone-makes-you-dumber.aspx

Home & School

Last Day of Classes

May 31:  3 and 4 year old pre-school.  Four year olds have their programs on the 31st, and 3 year olds have their family activity on June 1.

June 1:  K-8.  This differs from the DCSD which is having classes on June 4.

June 1:  Last day of ECLC

Mrs. Tilkens continues to be out of school to care for CJ and his treatment for Neuroblastoma.  If you would like to help the Tilkens, please consider donating through GoFundMe.  Click CJ Cancer Fight or use the following link/url:  https://www.gofundme.com/CJCancerFight

Campus Safety Listening Sessions

Thank you to those who participated in the campus safety listening sessions.  Over the three sessions, we had about 30 attendees with a mix of staff, past JFK students’ parents, and current JFK students’ parents.  Please contact the school office, if you were unable to attend but would like to share your feedback.

While there were lots of nuanced differences, there are probably two main ideas emerging in regards to safety concerns relating to traffic in the parking lot during drop off and dismissal times and safety concerns relating to children being in the parking lot before/after school and recesses:

• Change drop off/pick up procedures/routes/barriers and also develop a hard surface play area south of the current play equipment.
• Change drop off/pick up procedures/routes/barriers and “flip” the parking lot so that student activity is on the south end of the lot and traffic and parking is on the north end of the lot.

Developing a new location for handicapped and short term visitor parking for the school was widely supported.  For dealing with congestion on 42nd Street when buses are on the street, the only option receiving any level of support was to see if the city would eliminate parking on the north side of the street during bus times.

Bell and Bus Times for Next Year:  DCSD Alternative Proposal Made Public May 7

The Davenport Community School District (DCSD) will make public an alternative proposal to change bell times for all of its schools and the faith-based schools at its Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, May 7th at 5:30 p.m. at its Achievement Services Center on Brady Street.   I will share the proposal after it is made public.  I’m sure it will generate as much discussion as the previous proposal!  Wouldn’t it be nice to not have to rely upon busing from the DCSD at all?

What a Fun Evening

The Gala was a fun evening — good food, fellowship, music, dancing, Fr. Jake wearing a pinata,….  The Gala had it all.  There was even the anxiety in the final days of preparation with being sold out until seating was rearranged to accommodate even more people.  The last count I heard was 267 tickets sold.  Many thanks to general chair, Molly McCarty.  Over the next few weeks, we’ll list many of the others who worked behind the scenes and at the event.  They all deserve our gratitude, and their work serves as a model illustrating how everyone can contribute in some way.  There were even people who coordinated elements of the Gala but were not able to attend themselves.

Smartphones Interfere with Cognitive Tasks Even When We’re Not Using Them

An article in THE Journal:  Transforming Education Through Technology by Dian Schaffhauser summarizes two studies that show that just having smartphones nearby, even if turned off and/or in a pocket or nearby backpack, impairs students’ cognitive abilities.  Perhaps even more alarming is that students in the study didn’t think the location of their smartphones had any impact when the results showed it clearly did!  The advice of the researchers is that separation from one’s smartphone helps students with cognitive tasks.  Here is the full url/link: https://thejournal.com/articles/2018/04/09/even-the-mere-presence-of-a-smartphone-makes-you-dumber.aspx

Home & School

The tax reform bill brought some positive changes to helping families afford non-public school education.  Catching up to recent federal legislation, changes to Iowa’s 529 plans will allow those funds to be used for K-12 non-public school tuition as well as college costs.

The family eligibility for financial assistance provided through School Tuition Organizations was increased from 300 to 400 percent of the federal poverty level, which would take the threshold to about $98,000 for a family of four.  An additional $1 million was also allowed statewide.  Unfortunately, the additional funding probably won’t match the additional need identified with the expanded eligibility.  Now, we know what a legislative priority for us will be next session.

Last Day of Classes

May 31:  3 and 4 year old pre-school.  Four year olds have their programs on the 31st, and 3 year olds have their family activity on June 1.

June 1:  K-8.  This differs from the DCSD which is having classes on June 4.

June 1:  Last day of ECLC

Discounted Registration Fees End on April 30th

Discounted registration fees for next school year end on April 30th.  Return your tuition contract and registration fee now to reserve your spot for next year.

Who wouldn’t want to be at JFK where Confirmation and First Communion are part of who we are?

Or where students donate their lemonade stand money to help Mrs. Tilkens and her family’s care for little CJ?

Mrs. Tilkens continues to be out of school to care for CJ and his treatment for Neuroblastoma.  If you would like to help the Tilkens, please consider donating through GoFundMe.  Click CJ Cancer Fight or use the following link/url:  https://www.gofundme.com/CJCancerFight

Campus Safety Listening Sessions

Intended audience:  Parishioners, JFK parents, and staff who have an interest in how our parking lot, field, and campus are used or developed.

After a campus safety review this fall, the most common concerns were related to keeping students safe when outside the building but on campus property, including the parking lot.  How we respond has the potential to impact how we use the entire campus on all days of the week.

Two listening sessions of about 1 ½ hours remain:

Monday, April 30th:  6:30 p.m. (PC)

Thursday, May 3rd:  6:30 p.m. (PC)

Please contact the parish or school office, if you are unable to attend but would like to share your feedback.  Someone from the steering group will respond to your request.

• Areas of Focus for the Listening Session:

1. 1. Parking Lot Safety:
      1. Safety concerns relating to traffic in the parking lot during drop off and dismissal times:
         • Drivers are too inattentive, and some, particularly those who are not “regulars” to the campus, are confused by the cones and may even drive through them.
         • Parents who have “picked up” their kids but are still standing and conversing in the parking lot often have their children playing around them, and the children are not as careful about staying within the coned area.
         • Cones would not stop a driver intent on doing harm or one who has an accident (confusing brake/accelerator, etc.)
      2. Safety concerns related to children being in the parking lot before/after school and recesses:
         • When the grass is wet, recesses are in the parking lot.
         • Drop off and pick up is in the northern part of the parking lot.
         • Cars enter at the northwest 42nd Street entrance and may drive past the church to get to preschool drop off or go toward the school to park in visitor spots, including times when children are at recess.
         • Cars are sometimes parked in the north part of the lot, and then children come outside to play for recess on the blacktop, and the car is right in the way.
         • The parking lot is directly across from apartment buildings.
         • Neighbors cut across the parking lot during the school day or during after school programming.
   2. Short-term visitor and handicapped parking is a long way from the main school doors.
   3. When buses are on 42nd Street, and with the regular parking on the north side of 42nd, the street only can accommodate traffic in one direction at a time.

There have been some great ideas shared so far.  We want to hear from everyone and use the information to make final recommendations.

Additional information, some that would relate to the above, can be found in the March 14th Principal’s Post, available by clicking HERE.

Bell and Bus Times for Next Year — Waiting Right Now

The Davenport Community School District (DCSD) has postponed the bell time issue until the DCSD Board’s May 14th meeting to allow the consultant more time to investigate other options.  He said he’d need until the first week of May.  If you’d like the DCSD’s board members to hear the personal stories about how the changes to bell times will affect families, please email the board:  BoardComments@Davenportschools.org.  Communications that contain your name and address will be distributed to all board members; anonymous messages are not distributed.

Scott County Catholic Schools Strategic Planning

The group that interviewed the consultants will be making its recommendation to pastors, board presidents, administrators, and representatives from the AHS Foundation (which operates the financial assistance program for Scott County Catholic schools and has agreed to pay for strategic planning) on May 15th.  With the end of the school year fast approaching, I anticipate parent surveys, conversations, and focus groups taking place in the late summer or early fall.

Gala on Saturday!

Don’t miss out on this year’s Gala!  The Gala is Saturday!  It’s time to purchase your tickets to attend or raffle tickets for $1,000 off of tuition or both!  If you can’t do either, please consider a donation toward underwriting.  Having all the expenses of the Gala covered by donations means all the proceeds the night of the event can go toward our educational needs!

The Gala is the largest fundraiser of OLV and JFK and supports all of our educational needs.  This year we’re trying to do a “super Gala” with funds raised above our normal net of $25,000 – $30,000 to go toward establishing the seed money for an air conditioning project.  The Gala is May 5th beginning at 5 p.m. at the Elks’ Lodge on Central Park Avenue near Emeis Golf Course.  The Gala includes amazing food, fun and fellowship with live and silent auctions.  The Funktastic 5 will also be performing at this year’s Gala.  Tickets are $40.  For the flyer, please click HERE.

To view a few of the items for the auction, check out our JFK Facebook page.

Preschool and Childcare Registration for 2018-19

3, 4, and 5 year old preschool and/or childcare registration  continues but waiting lists for some classes have been formed.  Please contact the school office before the spots you want are no longer available.

Home & School

Last Day of Classes

May 31:  3 and 4 year old pre-school.  Four year olds have their programs on the 31st, and 3 year olds have their family activity on June 1.

June 1:  K-8.  This differs from the DCSD which is having classes on June 4.

June 1:  Last day of ECLC