Principal’s Post for April 6, 2025

Posted on by csteimle

JFK GROWS Students of the Month for March

Each morning, students and teachers at JFK recite the JFK Difference:  JFK GROWS.  We put God first, use Respectful behaviors, find Opportunities to serve, are Welcoming to all, and make Safe choices.  Each month, except December, we recognize one student at each grade level, alternating each month between the two homerooms, whose teachers have observed exhibiting these traits particularly well at school during the past month:

    • Kindergarten:  Sloane T.
      •  Sloane  is kind to her classmates and always looks for ways to help someone.  She does what is asked of her and tries her best in her daily work.
    • 1st Grade: Lucy T.
      • Lucy takes pride in doing her best in whatever the task may be.  She is a loyal friend and sets a great example for her classmates.
    • 2nd Grade: Harper L.
      • Harper is always looking out for others. She is the first person there when someone is in need of anything. Her kindness and gentleness touches us all in 2P.
    • 3rd Grade: Ryker T.
      • Ryker is a responsible and helpful third grader. He consistently stays on task, demonstrates excellent focus and notices when things need to be done. His willingness to lend a helping hand makes our classroom a better place.
    • 4th Grade: Yaretzi L.
      • Yaretzi makes a difference in our classroom every day.  Her courteous and respectful demeanor creates a positive learning environment and makes her a valuable asset to our class.
    • 5th Grade: Myles H.
      • Myles treats all of his classmates with kindness. He is understanding, friendly, and welcoming to all. He is happy help and always follows directions. He is reliable, hard-working, creative, kind-hearted, and well-mannered.
    • 6th Grade: Christian L.
      • Christian is very respectful and follows classroom rules and procedures.  He is always willing to help out his classmates and teachers.
    • 7th Grade: Marcelo A.
      • Marcelo has a very inquisitive mind and is always asking questions that go beyond what we are talking about in class. He also loves to show off his dance moves in class.
    • 8th Grade: Dylan C.
      • Dylan works well with peers, stays on track with assignments, asks questions, and accepts suggestions.

Third Quarter Report Cards

Third quarter report cards were sent by mail on Friday.

ESA Applications to Begin Soon
Applications for 2025-26 ESAs open April 16th. All families are eligible and MUST APPLY EVERY YEAR. More information from SCCS will be emailed soon and included in future Principal’s Posts.

School Calendar for 2025-26

The academic school calendar for the Davenport elementary schools in SCCS has been passed and is available on the front page of our website.

ISASPs Coming Soon

The Iowa Statewide Assessments of Student Progress will be administered later this month: April 15, April 16 (8th gr Alg students only), April 21, April 22, and April 24. Testing begins right away in the morning and is typically finished by 10:00 a.m. Please try your hardest to have your students present during testing times. Students who are tardy on these days will not be able to enter classrooms during the testing periods.

Eighth graders who attend Algebra at Assumption will not have Algebra on April 22nd. Students should report to JFK by 7:25.

Registration Fee for 2025-26 Due

If you have not finished the registration process by paying the registration fee, please do so as soon as possible. Directions for paying the registration fee are on the front page of our website, www.olvjfk.com.

Positions Open Now

JFK has several positions open now:

Long-term and short-term substitutes: We are often short about one substitute teacher per day. Persons with teaching licenses, substitute licenses, and/or a substitute authorization are encouraged to apply.

Instructional aide: JFK is seeking at least one additional instructional aide for the 2025-26 school year.

For more information, please contact me at chad.steimle@olvjfkmail.com.

Welcoming to the 2025-26 JFK Staff
JFK is pleased to welcome Angela Beard to the 2025-26 JFK teaching staff. Mrs. Beard has her K-6 license with endorsements in early childhood, special education, and reading. She should be finished with her MA in December. She has recent experience in special education and preschool, including at Lourdes and St. John Vianney. Mrs. Beard will likely teach the third section of kindergarten.
Working out Some Details for 3 Sections
At the beginning of March, we had to decide what to do with over 70 students who were registered online for kindergarten at JFK. Do we turn away more than 20 students, some of whom may have included OLV parishioners, students who were already attending preschool at JFK, or siblings of older students already enrolled at JFK? Do we add a 3rd section of kindergarten? Could we sustain three sections of one grade as the students became older? After brainstorming with staff, several community members, and the leadership in SCCS, we determined that “yes, we could do a 3rd section,” and we began to accept kindergarten students’ enrollment. As we moved through spring break, we have really begun to work through some of the details.
One of the things we have done is to rearrange the library and segmented it more into sections. The original part of the library, which was originally built as a classroom in 1963, is now the little kids’ area with a new rug and from where Mrs. Baker can lead “library time.” In the 1987 addition to that room, which is same size as several 1987 classrooms, there’s now the older kids’ and non-fiction area, which also contains the tables. We’ll be able to use the 1987 part as a 5th grade classroom for most of the day, using the tables instead of desks, and students will be able to keep their materials in bins on extra space we have on bookshelves. Library time for other students will be scheduled when the 5th graders are not in the room such as during lunch/recess, art, gym, music, and band.
Some remodeling in the library is already underway, and the fresh look is rather appealing as it’s been almost 19 years since the last work was done in the library. Last summer, we replaced the carpet and did some electrical work. Over spring break, we moved bookshelves to define spaces. We have repurposed bookshelves originally meant to hold magazines so they better hold books, and we have replaced individual study carrels, which long since stopped being used once computers went to Chromebooks and iPads, with cabinets and countertops. A new motorized retractable screen and wireless projector have also been ordered. A large whiteboard will also be added during the summer. The refresh of our library is very nice.
We have not yet decided which classroom will become a kindergarten room for next year, but we will make that decision before the school year is complete.
One of the reasons why we could consider having a 3rd section of kindergarten and moving them through the grade levels in three sections is because we currently don’t anticipate needing both three sections of kindergarten in the following year (2026-27) and three sections of first grade. Our current registration for four year old preschool for next year is about 36, the lowest figure in probably 10-15 years. (We have space and staff for 80.) Even if all of the preschoolers become JFK kindergartners in 2026-27, and we bring in students that aren’t attending our preschool, we still will probably only need two sections of kindergartners. If we find ourselves wondering whether or not we can do three sections of kindergarten in 2027-28, then the enrollment trend might be something that we need to look at in all of Scott County Catholic Schools!
Earbuds/Headphones for School
Fifth-8th graders are asked through the annual supply list to provide wired earbuds/headphones (not Bluetooth) for school. We haven’t seen very many at school, and we are getting to the time of year when they become more critical for testing. Don’t spend much money on them; cheaper is probably better.

Leaps & Bounds Registration

JFK is pleased to offer Leaps & Bounds during the summer. L & B focuses on reading and math for students currently in K-5th grade. Students spend about two hours on reading activities, one hour on math activities and then 30 minutes on snack and recess. Space is limited for each session, and a minimum number of students is also needed in order for each session to be viable. Currently, ESA funds are not able to be used for the $200 L & B fee. To register, please complete the registration forms and return to the school office with the registration fee. L & B Registration Forms

Session I: June 16-20 & June 23-27 (8:00-11:30)

Session II: July 28-Aug 1 & Aug 4-8 (8:00-11:30)

Altar Server Training
Altar Server Training will be held Saturday, June 7th 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 should attend with the student. If you have any questions, please call the Parish Office at: 563-391-4245.

Standards/Evidence-Based Assessment and Reporting

A letter regarding the next step in the diocesan and SCCS elementary schools’ transition to more standard/evidence-based assessment and reporting was emailed around the beginning of November. It is also available below:

SBAR Letter

Here, again, is the link to the UPDATED instructions for parents to check their 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.

Instructions 

8th Grade Graduation at JFK

JFK’s graduation Mass is actually on Thursday, May 29th. The downloadable academic calendar for SCCS elementary schools lists the 30th as graduation. OLV/JFK is making an exception so I can be at graduation on that Thursday and my daughter’s wedding rehearsal on Friday.

No School/No ECLC Coming Up

April 14 is an in-service day. There are no classes. ECLC is closed.

April 18 is Good Friday. SCCS schools are closed. ECLC is closed.

April 25 is a two hour early dismissal (12:40). There are no 4/5 year old am or pm preschool classes.

Highlighted Events

The following events are highlighted. For all of our events and more information, please see the calendars on our website and communications from individual teachers:

  • Apr 8: Communal Penance Service at Sacred Heart. 3rd Gr Field Trip
  • Apr 9: Home & School Mtg
  • Apr 10: Communal Penance Service at Lourdes.
  • Apr 11: Youth & Family Engagement Soup Supper after Stations of the Cross
  • Apr 12: Easter Egg Hunt
  • Apr 14: No Classes. ECLC Closed. Dine & Donate at Jersey Mike’s
  • Apr 15: ISASP
  • Apr 16: ISASP for 8th graders
  • Apr 17: Holy Thursday School Activities
  • Apr 18: Good Friday. No Classes. ECLC Closed
  • Apr 20: Easter
  • Apr 21: ISASP
  • Apr 22: ISASP (No Alg at AHS). Dance/Cheer Clinic
  • Apr 24: ISASP
  • Apr 25: 2 Hr Early Dismissal (12:40). No 4/5 Yr Old PS classes. ECLC and Aftercare Open. Kickball Tournament/Cheer Squad
  • Apr 26: First Communion Retreat
  • May 4: First Communion

Chad