Catholic Schools Week
Details for Catholic Schools Week are below:
Saturday, January 28:
- Mass at 4:30. Let’s see a wave of JFK spirit wear and/or green and white!
- Open House and Book Fair
- JFK also receives a percentage of the sales from the book fair, which is used to purchase books for the library. We accept credit and debit cards as well as check and cash. You may also purchase a gift certificate for your child’s teacher to use to purchase a book for the classroom. Please stop in to see what we have this year!
- Pick up your pre-ordered taco kit from Moe’s Taco, 5:30-7:15
Monday, January 30:
- Dodgeball for Diapers fundraiser for grades 3-8
- Details and permission slip come from Mrs. Tilkens
- Minute to Win It Games for K-2
- Athletic and/or Favorite Team Dress Day/Out of Uniform
- Frozen treat from Home & School
Tuesday, January 31:
- Talent Show
- Grades 5, 1, 3, 4 in that order beginning at about 7:50.
- Grades K, 2, 8, 6, 7 in that order beginning at about 12:35
- Note that 2nd grade was moved to the afternoon, and the order in the afternoon was changed to accommodate 2nd grade and 8th grade doing grade level acts together.
- Every student will be involved in a class/grade level act, and individual acts will also occur. Information has been emailed separately regarding the talent show.
- Guests are welcome, but we cannot be more particular about the time of performers. It all depends upon how many acts there are, how long each act actually is, etc.
- Pajama Day
- Students may also bring a pillow to sit upon
Wednesday, February 1:
- All School Mass with Individual Blessings of Throats
- Spirit Wear Tops or green/white tops. Bottoms may be out of uniform.
- Bring an Adult Guest to Lunch Day
- 10:40-11:10 Kindergarten
- 11:10-11:40 Grades 3 and 4
- 11:40-12:10 Grades 1 and 2
- 12:10-12:40 Grades 5 and 6
- 12:40-1:10 Grades 7 and 8
- Students’ adult guests may sign their students out from school for the rest of the day, if desired
- Book fair open
- Details about signing up for an adult meal and paying it for were distributed last week. Pre-payment is needed.
Thursday, February 2:
- Scott County Catholic Schools Grades 2-12 Mass at Assumption
- Take Pride in Your Uniform Dress Day
- Bingo
Friday, February 3:
- 8th grade vs. Staff Volleyball Games with grades 3-7 cheering them on
- K-2 Special movie or other activity
- Wacky Tacky Out of Uniform Day
Sunday, February 5:
- Home & School sponsored event at SnowStar
Educational Savings Accounts
Governor Reynolds’ legislative priority to establish Educational Savings Accounts in Iowa is moving at a rapid pace. The Senate version of the bill has made it out of committee already and is eligible for debate on the full Iowa Senate floor. The house study bill will have a public hearing on Tuesday. Supporters may submit comments to the public hearing online at: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/committees/publicHearings?meetingID=35789&action=viewOnlineSignup.
This bill would allow parents to put $7,598 in an Educational Savings Account that could be used for educational needs, including tuition at a private school, like JFK and Assumption. The bill calls for ESAs to be phased in over three years, with those with the lowest income levels and students new to private schools (such as kindergartners and other transfer students) to be eligible first. In the third year, all families would be eligible.
The draft bill also allows the public schools to receive some funds for every student who receives an ESA and allows them to shift funds from one account to another to help increase teacher salaries.
To send a message of support to members of the Iowa House and Senate, use the following link: https://www.votervoice.net/ICC/Campaigns/99744/Respond.
Different Registration Process
With the exciting potential of ESAs and the unification of our schools into the regional Scott County Catholic School system, the registration process for next school year will look different. Information about registration, as we can best predict, will be determined and disseminated shortly, especially for preschool, ECLC, and kindergarten.
JFK Preschool Facebook Page
JFK will be launching a new Facebook page, JFK Preschool, devoted exclusively to 3-5 year old preschool: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063830626686. Look for more information from your child’s preschool teacher.
This initiative, and other great ideas, was provided by an ad hoc Early Childhood Planning Committee. We would like to thank the following who had been willing to participate on this committee: Ann Craig, Jennifer Boyd, Julainne Edwards, Molly McCarty, Ethan Connors, Melissa Zeimet, Melanie Blocker, Brenda Fox, Melissa VanDam Kari Lystiuk, Alicia Andresen, Jenny Vangenderen, Penny Trier, Tammy Nagle, and Niki Gartner.
Scribes Creative Writing Club
A Scribes Creative Writing Club is being started at JFK for students in grades 5-8. Ms. Bridget Parr will be overseeing this club. In person meetings to share work and to write will be every other Thursday after school. There is also a method for students to participate online. More information is available from Ms. Parr. The first meeting is this week.
Musical at JFK
Mrs. Potter, Mrs. Van Speybroeck, and Ms. Siefers are working to produce a middle school student musical this spring. The production will be held in late April at Assumption High School. Information about try-outs, practices, and parent commitments will be coming out shortly.
Student Council is sponsoring a pop tab collection homeroom contest that runs through February 3. The winning homeroom in K-4 and homeroom in 5-8 will have a pizza party or ice cream treat. The pop tabs will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities in Iowa City and converted into funds for them.
Things have gotten a little lax with our dress code, especially with skirt lengths for older girls. Expect a renewed effort to make sure we are abiding by our uniform policy.
When a couple of younger students could not go out for recess one day last week, one of our 8th graders sat down to join them in the office.
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
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.
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 20: Tie-Dyed, Neon, Bright Colored Out of Uniform Day
- Jan 21: Parish Appreciation Dinner
- Jan 25: 8th Grade Parent Meeting at Assumption’s Auditorium
- Jan 26: 4/5 Yr Old Scheduled PS Parent/Teacher Conferences. K-8 Drop-in Parent/Teacher Conferences
- Jan 27: 4/5 Yr Old Scheduled PS Parent/Teacher Conferences. No 4/5 Yr Old PS Classes
- Jan 28-Feb 4: Catholic Schools Week
Chad
