Catholic Schools Week Begins January 28th
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
- 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 two weeks ago. Pre-payment is needed.
Thursday, February 2:
- Scott County Catholic Schools Grades 2-12 Mass at Assumption
- Take Pride in Your Uniform Dress Day (Everyone is in dress code. This applies to upper grade students as well even if they have PE today)
- 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
- Chips provided by Home & School
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. It is scheduled for debate on the house floor early this week, and the senate will likely do the same.
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. By 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. Below is the link to the flyer.
JFK Kindergarten and Preschool Flyer, 2023
Kindergarten Information Session and Round-Up
February 16th: 6:00-7:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. Parent and student event
Preschool Open House and Pre-Registration
February 13th: 5:30-7:00 pm. Enter door 3W under the canopy (the PS entrance). Parent and student event — drop in any time between 5:30-7:00
JFK offers several preschool options all of which can be combined with partial or full-time wraparound care:
3 year olds: MWF a.m., T/Th a.m., or M-F a.m.
4/5 year olds: M-F a.m., or M-F p.m.
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
There was a great turnout for the new Scribes Creative Writing Club for students in grades 5-8. Ms. Bridget Parr is overseeing this club. In person meetings to share work and to write are every other Thursday and noted on the website school calendar. There is also a method for students to participate online.
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.
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 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, 4:30-7:30 p.m.
- 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
- Jan 31: Skate Night
- Feb 2: 7/8 Science Fair Showcase, 6:00-6:45 p.m.
- Feb 6: 2nd Grade Sacrament Preparation Event. SCCS Parent University (Zoom event)
- Feb 8: Kids Heart Challenge Kick Off for K-5
- Feb 12: Ignite Sunday
- Feb 14: Red, White, & Pink Dress Day
- Feb 16: End of 3rd Mid-Qtr
Chad
