I’m So Blessed!
I get to usher in Christmas with multiple Christmas shows at school. This weeks starts us off with the 3/4 grade show on Tuesday, and the band concert on Thursday. Next week has the K-2 Christmas performance. It’s just not Christmas without 5th graders playing “Good King Wenceslas,” a program about the real meaning of Christmas, or K-2 singing in the church.
School Religious Services
We’ll be in the church three times this week. We’ll celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe with Mass and a little special blessing after Mass on Tuesday. Wednesday is our regular school Mass day. Friday is reconciliation for 2nd-8th graders. There’s no point in being in a Catholic school if we don’t make our faith a priority.
Civic Oration Competition Final Round This Week
The final round of the speech contest portion of civic oration is this week. Good luck to the following students who will be competing in the “parish center round:”
7th/8th Grade Division: Caitlyn C (7), Derek C (7), Miranda G (8), Alison J (8), Sophia N (7), and Natalie S (8)
5th/6th Grade Division: Addelyn A (5), William C (6), Maggie C (5), Mia V (5), Paloma S (6), and Payton S (5)
We would also like to recognize the following students who made it to the second round of the speech contest:
5th: Payton I and Elyas R
6th: Isabelle F, Laney G, Iris N, and Aden P
7th: Lucas C, Anthony C, and Evy S
8th: Ellie D, Hailey E, and Sydney S
JA Career Fair vs. SCCS/SAU Career Fair
Emma Wolf and I visited the Junior Achievement career fair for middle schoolers across the river last week. The Bend Expo Center is a great site, and it is large enough that Deere could have an excavator and the police could have a tactical vehicle indoors. There were probably 60-75 organizations represented. What it lacked, however, was interaction with students about careers. Students were ushered through five “zones” every 20 minutes. With a total time of 80 minutes on site, students, in groups of about ten or more, would have had less than two minutes at each station. I still prefer the Scott County Catholic Schools and St. Ambrose University 8th Grade Career Fair.
At our career fair, small groups of 8th graders interact with presenters throughout the whole day. Students can really learn something about a career or field of study. We also have our students talk with college students, and the day concludes with Mass. Outside of athletics, it is the largest cooperative venture of SCCS and SAU. Our career fair is March 1st. If you would like to be a presenter or know someone we should contact, please reach out to Mrs. Wolf, emma.wolf@olvjfkmail.com.
Playground Project
With the receipt of a Scott County Regional Authority grant of $54,5000 toward a new playground, OLV’s finance and parish councils approved the nearly $200.000 playground project. The project includes the removal of all the playground equipment behind the school and replaces it with interconnected play structures, stand alone climbing structures, gravity-line/rail riding systems, and outdoor music equipment. Part of the play area would have rubberized protective surfacing, and the rest would be surfaced with playground-certified engineered wood fiber (mulch). Finally, a path would be made from the back doors of the school to the play area. If everything goes well, the new playground would be ready for the fall of 2024. Below is a drawing of the play area:
Talent Show
It’s time to start thinking about the Catholic Schools Week talent show. Individual and small group acts are encouraged. I still remember my son doing a magic act and playing the guitar, and my daughters singing. We still have the girls’ duet on video! Look for more details coming out before Christmas break.
Position at JFK
JFK is looking to fill a full-time, school year only childcare, preschool, and recess supervisory position. Please forward your resume to Chad Steimle at chad.steimle@olvjfkmail.com.
Busy December!
December always seems busy, but this year it seems even more compact. Thanks for all your support and for trying to keep it all sorted out on your calendars!
Academics Come First
Regardless of how busy we are, academics still need to come first in schools. Please make sure you and your students are staying on top of the school work. If you need help checking your students’ grades in PowerSchool or don’t have your account set up yet, please email dianne.siefers@olvjfkmail.com.
Mississippi Valley Student Tuition Organization Donations Welcome
Tax advantages still exist for donations to Student Tuition Organizations, and, even with ESAs helping even more students next year, other families may still need financial assistance. If you would like to make a donation to the MVSTO, please reach out to the SCCS business office located at Assumption High School.
Calendar Highlights
Here are just a few items highlighted from the detailed online school calendar:
- Dec 11: Civic Oration speeches final round
- Dec 12: 3/4 Christmas show. Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe School Mass.
- Dec 14: Band Concert. 3/4 Out of Uniform
- Dec 15: 4/5 YO PS family event. JFK Reconciliation
- Dec 18: 3rd grade Gingerbread Houses. Out of Uniform fund-raiser
- Dec 19: 3 YO PS family event. K-2 Christmas program. K-2 & Band Out of Uniform
- Dec 20: K-2 Christmas program for the student body. Red, White, Green Christmas attire dress day. Early dismissal at 12:40.
- Dec 21: Christmas break begins
- Dec 25/26: ECLC Closed
- Dec 27/28: ECLC Open
- Dec 29: ECLC Closed
- Jan 1: ECLC Closed
- Jan 2: No classes – in-service. ECLC Open
- Jan 3: Classes resume
