Survey Results
Thank you for your responses to our survey last week. We’ve had 169 responses to date. About 6% of those are from families who have started the year needing remote learning or have had to do remote learning for a short period of time. Ninety percent shared something when asked what is going well for your student(s) this fall, and responses tended to all be similar to the following:
- Everything! They love school!
- Just being back in school!
- They are happy to be back at school!
- Being back in classes with teachers
- Being able to interact with other students
- Being able to have face-to-face instruction
- Having some normalcy in our lives
- Learning and academics
When asked what could help improve things for your student(s) this year, nearly 60% said “nothing,” “everything’s going well,” or did not offer any suggestions. The suggestions that were offered were hard to categorize, as there were very few patterns. Several families also qualified their suggestions with statements like “…but we understand the situation we’re in.” Suggestions that could be categorized with more than one respondent were the following, but they only represent a total of 35 responses:
- Continued social emotional support/lessons
- More student interaction
- Being able to play/socialize with friends
- More movement
- More communication
- If COVID were gone, and we could just get back to normal
- Keeping school open
- Ventilation (but also cold)
- Better computer connections
- Lunch
- Just keep up vigilance
- Sports
Most respondents (90%) are satisfied or very satisfied with our current COVID-19 safety measures/precautions. A common sentiment is captured in the following comment: “I think the school is handling the rules and restrictions very well. I don’t think kids notice too much, and they understand why things have to be a certain way.”
As winter approaches, about 18% said there are additional COVID-19 safety measures/precautions that they think we should take. Only three suggestions were mentioned by more than one family, however: requiring masks more often, taking temperatures, and handwashing more often.
Fall Celebrations on October 30th
We will have our annual black/orange dress day on Friday, October 30th. Students may be out of uniform if they are wearing black and/or orange, but they do still need to follow the out of uniform guidelines in our handbook.
Look for communication from your child’s teacher regarding details for other ways of celebrating. One of the big things we are trying to avoid is kids passing out things to other kids, and teachers have options that they can share with you.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-teacher conferences will be November 2nd from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. and November 5th from 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 4:00 -8:00 p.m. There are no classes on November 5th and 6th. ECLC is open those days.
We will use SignUp Genius to schedule PS-5th grade conferences. The scheduling intervals will be 20 minutes, but conferences will not be longer than 15 minutes, allowing time for cleaning in between guests. For in person conferences, face coverings are required, and participants will be seated 6-12 feet apart. Those waiting will be required to stay on a black “dot” in our hallways or other marking on the floor in other locations. If you want to do the conference via Zoom, you will need to indicate it in SignUp Genius so the teacher knows to send you an invitation with a link. Look for the SignUp Genius link in the near future.
Sixth-8th grade and specials conferences will be “drop in” but scattered throughout the building so those waiting are apart from one another. Within each conferencing area/room, we will use multiple tables/seats for parents so we can have one set of seats drying from disinfectant while another spot is being used. Face coverings are required, and participants will be seated 6-12 feet apart. If parents want a Zoom conference instead of a face-to-face meeting, these will have to be scheduled separately, and teachers will post these “taken” times outside of their doors and/or communicate it through other means. Due to the higher number of students that upper grade teachers have, conferences will be less than 15 minutes. At this time, we are planning on using the following locations for upper grade and specials conferences:
- Mrs. Kubalsky (6th-8th): Room 206 (her room)
- Mrs. Nicoletto (6th and 6th-8th Spanish): Room 207 (her room)
- Mrs. Thomas (6th): Room 203 (her room)
- Mr. Connors and Mrs. VanSpeybroeck: Room 215 (music room)
- Mr. Ryan: Room 212 (art room)
- Mrs. Tilkens: Cafeteria
- Ms. Burken (7th): Cafeteria
- Mrs. Whelchel (7th/8th): Gym
- Mrs. Lundquist (8th): Gym
Online JFK Spirit Store
Click HERE for the online JFK spirit store developed by Home & School
COVID Related
The bad news:
- COVID-19 numbers hit two daily record highs in Scott County within the last four days. There were 89 cases on Thursday and 92 then on Saturday. I think it was about 2-3 Principal’s Posts ago when I said the average number of cases was in the mid-30s. Looking at the most recent graph, I think the Scott County 14 day moving average is now over 50 cases per day.
- The 14 day positivity rate calculation used by the Department of Education for Scott County was at 6.6% when school started. That is, just under 7% of the COVID tests taken came back negative. It is now at 9.6%, even up from 8.7% on 10/13.
- According to the CDC’s document regarding the risk of COVID-19 transmission in schools (see the link below), the risk of transmission in Scott County schools as of 10/13/2020 is in the highest and higher levels of risk according to the number of new cases per 100,000 population (335 per 100,000), positivity rate (8.7%), and percent change in number of new cases per 100,000 (13%). Our percentage of hospital beds used is still at the lowest risk level (65%), but the percent of hospital beds being used for COVID patients (12%) has risen to the moderate risk level. Doug Cropper, President and CEO of Genesis Health System, in fact, indicated on Thursday that they are getting nervous about the rising numbers and the potential to overwhelm the hospital system, which would lead to curtailing elective and other, even needed, services.
CDC indicators, thresholds of COVID transmission in schools
The good news:
- While COVID-19 seems to be all around us, it is not in high numbers in our Catholic schools – yet.
- JFK’s cumulative positivity rate since the beginning of the school year is 2.8%, and our 14 day moving average positivity rate is 0.0%
Most situations involving COVID are not the “super spreader” events you hear about in the news. Rather, they are small gatherings of family and close friends or work-related situations. We cannot let our guard down. I would encourage everyone to proceed as if COVID-19 were everywhere. Wear your mask, practice social distancing, use good face/hand hygiene, and stay home when ill.
Flu Shots
Free flu shots will be offered to students through the Genesis Flu-Free QC program on Thursday. The consent form must be completed online by Tuesday: https://www.genesishealth.com/giving/projects–events/flu-free-quad-cities/student-flu-vaccine-consent–release-form/
First Reconciliation
There will be a sign up for First Reconciliation sent home later this week for two options: December 3 at 6:00 p.m. or December 5 at 10:30 a.m.
Trunk or Treat
Trunk or Treat is being held in the OLV/JFK parking lot after the 4:30 Mass on October 24th. Unlike years past, there is no food being served in the building. Everything will be outdoors. Please observe social distancing, the wearing of face coverings (costume masks likely are not good enough), etc.
Handbook Sign-Off
Please read the parent and student handbook, available HERE, and on our website: https://www.olvjfk.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/JFK-Parent-and-Student-Policy-Handbook-2020-21.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.
Annual Diocesan Appeal
Families of John F. Kennedy Catholic School are encouraged to consider a pledge to the Annual Diocesan Appeal. Funds support the work of the diocese, including the training of deacons and new priests, support for our parishes and Catholic schools, charitable works, and the administrative work required to support Catholics within our diocese. Contributions can be a one-time donation or spread out throughout the year. No amount is too small.
Stay safe!
Chad
