Early Dismissal on Friday for End of the Quarter
There is an early dismissal at 12:40 p.m. this coming Friday, January 14th. Bus transportation and after school care are available. There is no afternoon preschool. ECLC hours are normal. Friday is the end of the second quarter.
No School on Monday, January 17th
In observance of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., there are no PS-8 classes on Monday, January 17th. ECLC is open normal hours.
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. Typically, we will follow the Davenport Community School District due to bus transportation. However, as announced last week, JFK and the Catholic schools will be open even if the DCSD needs to close because of a bus driver shortage. We will NOT have messages for JFK on local TV stations, as they have proven to be too unreliable over the years.
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 due to weather, 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.
Lost and Found
Our lost and found bins are overflowing. If your child is missing something, have them check the lost and found bins in the cafeteria. We even have winter coats in there already!
Bundle Up
We are always amazed by how many students do not have hats, gloves, or coats, or put them on even when it’s cold outside. We do continue to go outside for recesses, as long as the wind chill is at least 10 degrees or more. On Friday, half the school even went to the church for Mass in the morning, and homerooms were in the church for Adoration later in the day.
Ignite Sundays
See below for the list of IGNITE Sundays. There is no cost or registration required to participate. Come to as many of the opportunities listed below as you are able on IGNITE Sundays. Families are encouraged to participate together. There are small group activities and family activities at each session.
Typical schedule for IGNITE Sundays:
- 4:30-5:30pm Mass
- 5:35-6:05pm Meal in the Parish Center
- 6:10-7:15pm Group Gatherings
Ignite Sundays:
- Feb 13: Anawim (Hebrew word meaning “poor one”) Poverty and the dignity of work
- March 6: “I thirst” Lent
- March 20: “I hunger” Eucharist
- April 10: Family: The foundation of society
- April 24: What does God want me to do?
COVID Guidance for 2021-22
Click on the JFK COVID FAQ, 2021-22 to have your questions answered. Please note that the information is, however, subject to change. The most recent changes were made on January 2 and 5, 2022:
- The changes shorten the time periods for isolation for those testing positive for COVID and for quarantining for those who are close contacts to a person who has COVID. Since the January 5th changes, the CDC released the updated K-12 guidance, but it did not lead to the need for significant changes to JFK’s guidance.
- Due to the shortened absences for isolation and quarantining, “Zooming” into classrooms has been discontinued. This change also brings JFK into alignment with neighboring public and private schools and removes an additional level of work for staff members. COVID related absences will be treated the same as all other absences with make-up work being the norm. Please note, however, that most upper grade teachers have assignments and work on Google Classroom anyway.
- Additional clarity was added as the CDC and others responded to questions about the previously issued guidance.
COVID Data and Comments
Below is a link to a .pdf file that shows several graphs for Scott County and JFK. Below are also some comments related to the pandemic.
- Scott County’s COVID numbers rose dramatically last week. It is not expected to improve for several more weeks and could still get worse. Making plans now for events occurring in late January and early February is being impacted. The Catholic Schools Week Mass with five schools gathered at Assumption has been postponed, for example, as have OLV’s CEW retreats and parishioner appreciation dinner. Planning CSW events for the JFK community for January 30 – February 4 seems to be more tentative than ever. More information will be issued within the next two weeks. (Don’t forget about the talent show for your child(ren). We can’t wait to see their acts!)
- Boosters are now available for those 12 years of age and older. Because the primary shots weren’t authorized for 5-11 year olds until much more recently, 5-11 year olds are not eligible for boosters yet.
- If one looks carefully at the guidance, particularly for close contacts, being without a booster is similar to being unvaccinated. Booster shots can be that important.
- On some of this week’s graphs for JFK’s data, I had to change the scales as the numbers were otherwise “off the charts.” That’s never a good sign!
- The percent of students absent at JFK this past week rose dramatically. However, we also had families who are still traveling for the holidays, and the late start and even just the cold on Friday increased the number of students absent for reasons other than illness dramatically.
- That said, our absences due to illnesses and quarantining is nearly double what it had been before Christmas break. We are still in the thick of things with COVID, and multiple mitigation strategies should be employed, such as the following:
- Vaccinations, including boosters
- Consistent and correct mask use when needed
- Physical distancing
- Ventilation
- Testing
- Staying home when sick
- Handwashing and respiratory etiquette
- Contact tracing, in combination with isolation and quarantine
- Cleaning and disinfection
Chad
