New/Updated Information

ISASPs

ISASPs aren’t really just about the score — they’re about checking whether our system of instruction is working, identifying who needs more support, and making sound educational decisions.

ISASPs help us check the instruction that every student recieves. They give us an external signal about how well our everyday classroom instruction is working for all students in the aggregate. If patterns show up — strengths or gaps — we can adjust our teaching for everyone.

ISASPs help us identify students who need targeted support. They, along with screeners, are used to determine which students may need more intensive support.

ISASPs may be used for readiness decisions. They, along with screeners and teacher recommendations, for example, are used to determine readiness for Algebra at Assumption High School while an 8th grader.

In the end, ISASPs helps us make better decisions—for our instruction, for our support, and for each student’s next step.

ISASP tests begin tomorrow for students in grades 3-8. If your child has an appointment for this week, and it can be moved, please do so. We’d really like everyone to complete the testing with their class. Eighth graders who go to AHS for Algebra will report to JFK instead on April 21st and 23rd so they have fewer “make-ups” and special scheduling. We also want to emphasize that students should be on time during ISASP week. Once we start testing in the morning, students are not allowed to interupt their class. School starts at 7:25 a.m.

Students need to bring their Chromebook/laptop to school every day the week of April 20th through April 24th. Devices should be charged nightly. Appropriate rest and a good breakfast are important as well. Once we enter “testing mode” soon after classes begin, we don’t take a break for at least 1 1/2 hours each morning.

ESA Application Site Now Open

The ESA application site is now open! Applications for the 2026-27 school year are now being accepted. You must apply every year, even if you are already receiving an ESA.

State ESA Website

New President for SCCS

Excerpts from the press release:

Scott County Catholic Schools is honored to announce the appointment of Michael Fisher as President. Mr. Fisher brings a record of leadership, strategic vision, and mission-centered stewardship to Scott County Catholic Schools. Mr. Fisher currently resides in Tucson, AZ, with his wife, Ellen, and their three children. Mr. Fisher stated, “I’m excited to join Scott County Catholic Schools as president of the system. As a practicing Roman Catholic, I firmly believe that the most remarkable aspect of our mission is the ability to guide every facet of a student’s development—academic, spiritual, and personal—within a holistic, faith-filled environment.”

Mr. Fisher holds a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Creighton University with an emphasis in Catholic Leadership, a Master of Arts in Kinesiology from San Diego State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Mr. Fisher’s professional journey includes serving as Director of Admission & Enrollment Management at Salpointe Catholic High School in Tucson, AZ, Director of Athletics & Teacher at Justin-Siena Catholic High School in Napa, CA, and Assistant Director of Athletics at JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, CA.

As President, Mr. Fisher will oversee the strategic direction of Scott County Catholic Schools, working closely with faculty, families, and the community to foster academic excellence and a faith-filled environment.

Possible Summer Projects at JFK

It’s already time to get summer projected set up. Here’s some of the possibilities we’re working on for JFK this year:

Replacing lockers and cork bars in the hallways
Adding more sound diffusing/absorption to the band/music room
Replacing flooring in some of the smaller work spaces, like interventionists’ offices
Work on our fields
Bathroom handicapped accessiblity
Fencing along the parish center roof
Installation of new outdoor basketball poles, backboards, etc. and the installation of new backboards in the gym
Sidewalks, bollards, and concrete planters and barriers to support security and new parking lot traffic patterns

Still Relevant

Teaching Job Open at JFK for 2026-27

There is one teaching position now open at JFK for 2026-27. Adjustments of teaching assignments will take place so we are currently looking for someone to fill a position in grades 1-5 or work as a reading interventionist. To apply for a teaching position at JFK, please submit your resume and transcripts to Logan Ahnquist at logan.ahnquist@sccsiowa.org. You can find more information and the online application that needs to be completed at the following website https://davenportdiocese.schoolspring.com/

I-Ready Math Requirements

I-Ready use can help your child’s math skills.

I-Ready Math is an online program we use to better understand each student’s math strengths and learning needs. It begins with a short diagnostic/screener that helps identify what skills a student has mastered and where additional support or challenge is needed. Based on those results, i-Ready provides personalized math lessons that adjust to each child’s level, allowing students to work at an appropriate pace while building confidence and understanding. At school, students use i-Ready Math for at least 30 minutes per week as part of their regularly scheduled instructional time. That should be enough time to at least do one i-Ready lesson per week. Students not finishing the lesson at school will have it assigned as homework. In addition, students who scored below benchmark in math at both the fall and winter screenings will be required to work with i-Ready outside of school hours, reinforcing the school/home partnership. Upper grades are having the greatest challenges in completing their minutes, and we would really like to prevent large numbers of students having to stay after school. Students may always voluntarily do i-Ready lessons at home as well.

Leaps & Bounds Summer 2026

Leaps & Bounds focuses on reading and math for students currently in K-5th grade. About two hours is used for reading, one hour for math, and 30 minutes for recess/snack. Space is limited, and a minimum number of students is also needed in order for it to be viable. Currently, ESA funds are not able to be used for it. This summer’s two week session is July 13-17 and 20-24. Registration materials can be found online.

Altar Server Training – Mass Attendance

Altar Server Training will be held Saturday, May 30th from 9:30am-11am in the church. Children who will be entering the 4th grade and up, who are interested in altar serving at Mass, are invited to attend this training. One parent/adult needs to attend with the student.

Checking Students’ Grades and Missing Work

Below is a link to the instructions for parents to check students’ “in progress” standards grades. It also includes directions for checking missing assignments and Algebra grades for students taking the class at Assumption. The directions cover how to use both the PowerSchool portal on a computer and the PowerSchool app.

Important notes:

There are some things that just cannot be done on the app. You will have to use a computer for them.
There is a message that says “Grades disabled by school.” IGNORE this message. It references a certain type of grade and not the standards-referenced grades we are using.

Instructions

📚Learning Habits Matter

Estimation

One of the most practical math skills we use every day is estimation.

Estimation is an important math skill because it helps students determine whether answers make sense. For example, if a student calculates that groceries cost $320 when only a few items are in the cart, estimation quickly signals that something went wrong.

Estimation can be practiced through simple questions such as:
• “About how much do you think that will cost?”
• “Is that number close to what you expected?”
• “Is the answer bigger or smaller than you predicted?”

I use estimation all the time.
We have, for example, an ongoing capital improvement project list at JFK. Many of the items have esimates on them sometimes just to determine if they might be something we can manage moving ahead with to get actual quotes. I also estimate how long things might take long before I ever see a schedule. I’m not always right—sometimes I’m close, sometimes I’m way off—but it gives me a place to start. Without that estimate, it’s easy to get stuck waiting for the exact answer. With it, I can keep asking questions, adjusting, and moving forward.

Students who regularly estimate develop stronger mathematical reasoning and are better able to catch errors in their own work.

Estimation keeps you from getting stuck—and in both math and life, that matters.

Highlighted Events

Multiple calendars are available on our website, www.olvjfk.com. On the school side of the website, a one-page summary calendar is on the front page. Detailed calendars can also be reached by clicking on the calendars heading toward the upper right corner of the website. Anything underlined on the calendar can be clicked on, and more details will open for you. Below are a few highlighted events:

Apr 20 : ISASPs begin. Personal trainer for PE grades 3-8
Apr 23: Papa Murphy’s Dine & Donate
Apr 24: Kickball Tournament/Dance
Apr 25: First Communion Retreat/Rehearsal
Apr 28: Last Student Council Supply Store
Apr 30: H & S. Papa Murphy’s Dine & Donate. Purple/Orange Fundraiser
May 3: First Communion
May 4: Reading/Math Screening begin.
May 6: Staff Luncheon
May 7/8: Crusader Theater School Performances
May 8/9: Crusader Theater Perfomances
May 29: Last Day of K-8

Personal Sharing

As I was bringing the gifts down the aisle with Mrs. Lundquist at the Confirmation Mass on Saturday, I had a brief flashback to walking my daughters down the aisle at their weddings.

Same thought both times: slow down… don’t walk too fast.

Below are those who received the Sacrament of Confirmation at OLV on Sunday:

Chad