I’m So Blessed!
I live less than ten minutes from a library. While I go the the library about every 3-6 weeks, I always try to go to the library before a longer school break; I don’t want to run out of reading material and find the library also closed! Having access to large numbers of books is beneficial for children. I can remember riding my bike to the library every week during the summer and stuffing my backpack so full of books that it would barely close. Sometimes I even had to put books in my bike bag! Going to the library was/is, of course, in addition to having a robust home library. Growing up, there were books and/or bookshelves in nearly every room of our house. The same is true of my house now, and parting with a good book is almost like losing a good friend! The number of books in one’s “home library” is also correlated to later success in life and can even equate to the impact of additional education.
How often do you read? When was the last time you went to the library? How many books do you have in your “home library?”
Text Message Communications Back with SchoolMessenger
The Diocese of Davenport is in the process of moving text messaging back to SchoolMessenger, a service that we had for years prior to this fall. Texting from SchoolMessenger is much easier and more efficient than what we used through this past winter for school closings, for example. Unfortunately, SchoolMessenger requires families to “opt in” to receive text messages. All families who want to receive text messages will need to “opt in.” Last week a flyer was sent that directed families to type “Y” or “Yes” to 67587.
On Wednesday, SchoolMessenger will send families who have not already opted in a text message directing people to type “Y” if they want to receive further text messages. Again, you will not receive text messages after Wednesday unless you respond to that one message or take the initiative yourself to type “Y” or “Yes” to 67587.
While we don’t do mass “text blasts” often, you don’t want to miss a message from JFK! Take action now.
JFK GROWS Students of the Month for March
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. Each month, we recognize one student at each grade level, alternating each month between the two homerooms, whose teachers have observed exhibiting these traits particularly well at school during the past month:
- Kindergarten: Ruby P.
- Ruby is an exceptional student, friend, and role model. She starts and ends each day with a smile on her face and is willing to help anyone in need.
- 1st Grade: Cade L.
- Cade is a kind friend. He makes good choices throughout the school day and tries his best in everything he does.
- 2nd Grade: Gunner G.
- Gunner is filled with joy. He loves to sing ,especially about Jesus. He is a great friend and great worker. His peaceful spirit is a gift to his class.
- 3rd Grade: Annie W.
- Annie is a wonderful, positive student who is ready to learn and respectful towards others. She is a great friend and helps make the classroom a great place!
- 4th Grade: Mila H.
- Mila is a hardworking student, a kind classmate, and a friend to everyone she meets. She always does what is asked of her without hesitation or complaint and is very respectful.
- 5th Grade: Addelyn A.
- Addelyn is very patient and friendly. She takes school seriously and is a very responsible student. She treats her peers with respect and kindness. She is an amazing role model.
- 6th Grade: Natalie R.
- Natalie is always willing to help her teachers as well as her classmates. She is a hard worker and is respectful to others.
- 7th Grade: Caitlyn C.
- Caitlyn is a student who works very hard in everything she does. She will help out anyone who needs it and always has a smile on her face. She is a blessing to her class.
- 8th Grade: Emily S.
- Emily is always willing to help her teachers and is very kind and compassionate to younger students.
Chronic Absenteeism
Mrs. Wemhoff is in the process of sending letters home to families who have a child who was “chronically absent” in the third quarter. Chronic absenteeism is typically defined as missing at least 10 percent of school days, or 18 days in a year, for any reason, excused or unexcused. For a quarter of school, chronic absenteeism would be about five days. While no one is saying that there may not be good reasons for students to be absent such as illnesses, trips, funerals, athletic events, etc., we do want families to make sure that their decisions are thoughtful. Chronic absenteeism can affect students’ ability to read, and the ripple effect of reading difficulties can be felt for many, many years. Chronically absent students also have difficulty engaging with learning in general and with connections to peers and other caring adults.
School Calendar for 2024-25
The academic calendar for the Davenport SCCS elementary schools for 2024-25 has been linked on the front page of our website. It is also available here: SCCS – Davenport Elementary School 2024-2025 Academic Calendar
For this April, there is no plan in Davenport SCCS to make up any snow days. The public schools are now going to school on April 1st. With more school days and a longer day, SCCS schools have no need to do make-up days. We will continue to have off on April 1st, which is Easter Monday.
April 8th is now an in-service day for JFK and all the SCCS elementary schools in order to accommodate a joint training session. The DCSD was already going to have an in-service day on this date.
Registration Letters Have Now All Been Emailed
Registration acceptance or waiting list letters have now been emailed to all families who have children who will be in 3 YO PS through 8th grade at JFK next school year. This letter is another point of confirmation that your registration was received. Communication will now begin for those who have not paid the registration and/or 4 YO PS extra time fees. The link to pay the fees is available on the front page of our website.
Online registration and application for PS-12th grades is open. The links and some directions are available on the front page of our website, www.olvjfk.com.
The registration fee, except for those Iowa residents applying for four year old preschool, is now $125 per child. The registration fee should be paid at the time of registration/application. The link has been changed for new families so it includes the options for paying the extra time fee for 4 YO preschools and the wraparound registration/deposit fee. The K-8 registration fee button can also be used to pay for 3 YO preschool registration and 4 YO Non-qualifying preschool registration.
If a child, INCLUDING A PRESCHOOLER, is currently in JFK or any Scott County Catholic School, he/she is NOT a new student. You must do the Login to PowerSchool as a parent. If, after you login, you do not see one of your currently attending preschooler-11th grade students, please contact the school. You will need a new code to add the missing child. If you do not remember/have your PowerSchool login, please contact the school as well. If you are changing schools, please contact us so the new school can be added as an option.
If you see a message next to your child’s name in PowerSchool that says “Not Submitted,” you must finish the registration process by submitting the application. A “Not Submitted” application is in “no man’s land;” we can’t see it at all, and we don’t even know you’ve tried to apply!
If you are having difficulty with registration, please let us know.
ESAs: The target date for ESA applications to become available for the 2024-25 school year is April 16th. Even if you received an ESA in 2023-24, you have to apply again.
- Families must apply each year! The application is through Odyssey, the state’s vendor.
- Eligible families in 2024-25 are the following:
- All kindergartners and first graders
- New transfer students
- Students who already received an ESA this year due to transferring to JFK for 2023-24
- Families whose income is less than 400% of poverty, which is just over $120,000 for a family of four
- (In 2025-26, all families, regardless of income will be eligible for ESAs)
ESAs and State Assessments
Families receiving ESAs may have received a message from the Iowa Department of Education reminding them that their students must participate in the same federal and state required assessments as those attending public schools. This participation requirement actually is in place by JFK’s policies already. JFK students will be taking the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) in late April.
K-8 Tuition Rates for SCCS Schools
Below are the tuition rates for K-8 in Scott County Catholic Schools for 2024-25. For those paying tuition themselves (“private pay”), the rate is about a 5% increase, which has been about the historical average for many years.
| Grade School Tuition | ||||||
| Parish Subsidized Private Pay | Parish Subsidized ESA | |||||
| Student #1 | $4,600 | Total per student | $5,425 | |||
| Student #2 | $3,910 | |||||
| Student #3 | $3,000 | |||||
| Student #4+ | $2,300 | |||||
| Non-Parish Subsidized Private Pay | Non-Parish Subsidized ESA | |||||
| Student #1 | $6,810 | Total per student | $7,635 | |||
| Student #2 | $3,910 | |||||
| Student #3 | $3,000 | |||||
| Student #4+ | $2,300 | |||||
Preschool and Wraparound Programs and Rates
There are many possible combinations for 3 year old and 4/5 year old preschool, most of which can also be combined with part-time or full-time wraparound childcare. Three year old classes are offered MWF, M-F, or T/Th. These classes run from 7:25-9:55 a.m. Students must be 3 years old on or before Sept 15th. Four year old classes are offered M-F from 7:25-10:25 a.m. or M-F 11:40 a.m. – 2:40 p.m. Students must be 4 years old on or before Sept 15th. Five year olds may also enroll in the four year old class, if there is space available. See the below for rates for preschool and wraparound care options. This document has been updated to show the application fee/deposit for wraparound care:
Preschool Tuition Rates_FINAL 2_7_2024
Third Quarter Has Ended
Report cards will likely be emailed during the middle of this week.
Measles Immunizations?
There are relatively few students who have immunization exemptions at JFK. If your child or you does not have a measles immunization, usually obtained through a once per lifetime MMR shot, you may want to talk to a health professional. Measles, which was once thought to be “eradicated,” has had several cases move from the coasts toward the middle of the country. If there were to be a measles case, it’s not just the person with the illness who needs to be out of school; typically, all others who are not immunized also need to be out of school for as many as 21 days.
Calendar Highlights
Here are just a few items highlighted from the detailed online school calendar:
- Apr 1: Easter Monday. No Classes. ECLC Closed
- Apr 4: Jump for JFK Event at The Fun Station
- Apr 8: In-service. No Classes. ECLC Open. Middle School Youth Night
- Apr 11: Jersey Mike’s Night. Confirmation Practice
- Apr 12: Confirmation
