JFK GROWS Students of the Month
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. Below are the students being recognized at each grade level who have exhibited these traits particularly well this past month:
- Kindergarten: Theo A.
- Theo always has a positive attitude. He walks into the building every morning with a smile on his face. He can always make his teachers and friends smile. He works hard and gives 100%.
- 1st Grade: Abby W.
- Abby is kind in her words and actions to her fellow classmates. She says hello to her teachers every morning. She is a great helper in the room.
- 2nd Grade: Charli L.
- Charli is a great example to other students. She perseveres through difficult tasks and always gives her best in class. She is kind to other students and looks for ways she can help out.
- 3rd Grade: Lillian N.
- Lilly is an extremely kind and hard working student. She completes high quality work and puts maximum effort into everything she does. Lilly is helpful around the classroom whether it be toward her peers or helping teachers. Lilly exemplifies many qualities of what the JFK difference stands for.
- 4th Grade: Arianna R.
- Arianna is always respectful to both adults and her peers. She is always welcoming with a big smile. Arianna is a great example of someone who works hard and participates in class. She is a fine example to her peers and is always willing to help out.
- 5th Grade: William C.
- Will welcomes people into the classroom and uses his manners throughout each and every day. He takes pride in his work whether it be for school, art, athletics, or music.
- 6th Grade: Mariska R.
- Mariska is always willing to help out her teachers and classmates. She is willing to stay after class to help clean up and willing to help her classmates whenever they need help.
- 7th Grade: Ellie D.
- Ellie is a little ball of sunshine, even if she doesn’t realize it. She is always willing to go above and beyond to be helpful to not only teachers but other students as well. Ellie does not like to see someone left out and will try and make sure each person is included. She has a great sense of humor and uses it often to diffuse tension within the classroom. Ellie is a great asset her homeroom.
- 8th Grade: Isabella M.
- Bella comes into the room with a positive attitude and is always willing to help the teacher and her peers. She goes above and beyond on her coursework and will email her instructors if unsure of assignments or grades.
Civic Oration Final Round
Before Christmas break, we had our final round of civic oration. Please join me in congratulating the following winners:
5/6 grade division: Evy S (1st), Caitlyn C (2nd), Greyson C (3rd)
7/8 grade division: Quinn C (1st), Marissa B (2nd), Natalie S (3rd)
We would also like to thank our guest judges: Andy Burman, Larry Flathman, Monica Flathman, Dave Hinchman, Denny Prior, and Ethan Connors.
Civic oration is the academic activity par excellence for grades 5-8. This gifted and talented activity is completed by every 5th-8th grader. It starts as a research paper and concludes with successive rounds of a speech competition. This year’s topic was great inventions. While not every student advances to subsequent rounds in the competition phase of civic oration, every student does participate in this talented and gifted activity. It truly is an academic activity that illustrates that there is a difference in education at JFK.
Flag Essay Winner
Each fall the 5th graders write an essay about what the U.S. Flag means to them. The essay is then entered into a contest. This year’s winner was Laney G.
New Band Instructor
JFK welcomes Claire Schaecher to its staff. Ms. Schaecher is a spring graduate of Augustana. She taught in the Milwaukee schools this fall and was a long-time private voice student of Mrs. VanSpeybroeck. Ms. Schaecher will take over our instrumental instruction within the next few weeks.
Scott County Catholic Schools and St. Ambrose University 8th Grade Career Fair
School counselors for the Scott County Catholic Schools are asking for your help as we begin preparing for our annual 8th grade career fair which will be Friday, March 3rd, 2023 at the St Ambrose Rogalski Center. Presenters are needed for a variety of careers! Presenters are asked for a time commitment of 8:15am-1:30pm. We ask you to prepare a booth with information about your career (job duties, professional expectations, hours, required education/training, likes & dislikes, etc). The students always enjoy hands-on activities as well! Students rotate in groups and complete a career questionnaire about each booth they visit. A thank you lunch will be provided for presenters and an invite to join us for the celebration Mass at 1:30 at Christ the King Chapel on campus is extended to presenters. If you are interested in helping please contact Mrs. Wolf at emma.wolf@olvjfkmail.com
Substitutes Still Needed
JFK is in need of substitutes. Prior to the pandemic, we had ten people available to substitute for JFK. We currently have three substitutes on our list. Since the beginning of the school year, we are averaging about 3.2 staff members absent per day and 4.1 in the last four weeks. Luckily, we don’t always need a substitute to cover a position, but there are times when shifting duties seems like an every day occurrence.
We are in need of substitutes for both long-term assignments (like maternity leaves) and short-term assignments (like when a teacher needs to stay home with his/her own sick child or has an appointment). You do not need a teaching degree to work as a substitute. A minimum of an associate’s degree or 60 college degree hours from a college/university are enough to qualify. The process to become a substitute teacher includes completion of a 15-20 hour workshop, multiple background checks, and applications with the Iowa Board of Education Examiners and JFK. Most workshops, such as the ones below, are now virtual:
- Jan. 10-13, 6:00p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
- Feb. 6-9, 6:00p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
- Mar. 7-10, 6:00p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
There is even a self-paced option for the workshop. Iowa’s Keystone Area Education Agency has good information: Substitute Authorization
Recognizing the need for substitute teachers, JFK’s board has authorized a $450 bonus at the pay period following the fifth day of substituting at JFK to the first five people to take advantage of this offer. The bonus will essentially cover the workshop fee, license application fee, background check fee, and pay an amount for the workshop time. Subs earn just over $100 per day at JFK. For more information about substituting, please contact me.
8th Graders Attending Algebra at AHS and Attendance on Jan 2 and 3
With Assumption not having school on January 2 or 3, JFK 8th graders who have Algebra at AHS need to be at JFK in time for their second period class, which starts at 8:35 a.m. If they need to be at school earlier, there will be supervision for them.
Helping Our Neighbors
Over the break, there was a fire in one of the apartment buildings across from JFK. Tragically, one person perished, and one was in critical condition. As many as fourteen households have been displaced until repairs can be made to the building. As school comes back into session, we will be working with the staff of OLV and others in the community to see what sort of help our neighbors need.
Inclement Weather Announcements for JFK
If there should be a weather related late start, early dismissal, or school closure, this information will be sent out via automated email, text, and phone call. The automated message goes to all primary contacts and is shared as soon as we can. We also put the information on our website and main Facebook page. We do not use the local TV stations due to past experiences with errors. Typically, we will follow the Davenport Community School District, due to bus transportation.
If school is cancelled, we will just let it be a snow/inclement weather day; students will not have to go online for instruction.
On two-hour early dismissals, we do operate our after school childcare programs, but we ask that everyone try to pick up as soon as possible so all can travel safely.
When weather related closings or early dismissals occur, they typically impact all events on JFK’s campus. Afternoon and evening practices and events are cancelled.
If you are not registered to receive text messages from JFK (primarily families new to JFK and/or preschool), type “Y” or “Yes” to 67587. You will not receive text messages from JFK if you do not take action yourself. There is no action required to receive email or phone messages.
JFK Christmas Traditions
It’s just not Christmas without 5th grade band students playing Good King Wenceslas, K-2 students singing Christmas songs in the church, or a Christmas musical program by students. Thankfully, we had all three this year!
Highlighted Events
Things keep getting added to the calendar. Check online for more complete information as the below are only some of the highlights.
- Jan 2: Classes resume. (I know it seems odd, and I even have to keep checking it myself!)
- Jan 3: Lego League Out of Uniform
- Jan 11: Portillo’s Restaurant Night
- Jan 13: End of 2nd Qtr. Special Early Dismissal at 12:40. No afternoon PS classes
- Jan 15: Boy Scouts Pancake Breakfast
- Jan 16: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. No Classes. ECLC Open.
- Jan 21: Parish Appreciation Dinner
- Jan 25: 8th Grade Parent Meeting at Assumption’s Auditorium
- Jan 28-Feb 4: Catholic Schools Week (Details to be released within the next couple of weeks — Information regarding the talent show was sent home before Christmas)
Chad
