🆕New/Updated Information
75% – ESA Applications
The percent of registered students for whom ESA applications for JFK for the 2026-27 school year have been completed increased to 75% from 66% last week. Applications must be completed every year, even if you are already receiving an ESA.
Although your car may seem big and feel like a bus some days, it’s probably not really a bus. There are quite a few cars stopping on 42nd Street in front of school to drop off kids in the morning. This is not a drop off area for cars.
Reading and Math Screenings Finish This Week
We should finish the third and final screening of K-8 students in reading and math this week. Having charged devices each day will be important for students.
Spread the Word – Job Openings at JFK
Spread the word — We are still looking for one teacher at JFK for 2026-27. Adjustments of teaching assignments will take place so we are currently looking for someone to fill a position in grades 1-5 or work as a reading interventionist. To apply for a teaching position at JFK, please submit your resume and transcripts to Logan Ahnquist at logan.ahnquist@sccsiowa.org. You can find more information and the online application that needs to be completed at the following website https://davenportdiocese.schoolspring.com/
We also will have two openings in our lunch program. The hours are about 10:00-2:00 or 2:30. Please contact me or Meredith Ash (meredith.ash@olvjfkmail.com).
Similar Financial Concerns Heard Elsewhere – Buildings in Need of Work
In last week’s Principal’s Post, I mentioned that four requests I typically hear at OLV’s Finance Council meetings. One is more support for OLV, especially as ESAs are allowing families to save thousands of dollars they would otherwise be spending on tuition. During the week, I was at a broader meeting for SCCS and heard similar sentiments from community members regarding future needs of our Catholic school buildings, “Past generations paid tuition and contributed to capital campaigns to build/expand/care for our buildings. It may be time to ask this generation.” St. Joan of Arc has a $40+ million new school to pay for. St. Paul’s is doing a capital campaign for a building addition so all K-8 classrooms can be in the main school buidling, and the convent can just be used for early childhood. All Saints needs several million dollars worth of repairs and upgrades, including nearly $2 million alone in just HVAC.
Last week, I mentioned that JFK is currently authorized for about $144,000 worth of work on the school this summer. JFK’s current capital improvement project list, however, includes over $1.4 million in needs. That just includes the work for which we have estimated the costs. It doesn’t include things like $6+ million for a gym/stage combination that is built strong enough to serve as a storm shelter, separate music and band rooms, consolidated small workspaces for interventionists and small group projects and meetings, etc. It doesn’t even include upgrades/renovations to the newest parts of the building, which, in my mind, are still the “new additions.” The “new additions,” however, are 15 years old now; they have HVAC systems, flooring, fixtures, etc. that are nearing the end of their life expectancies!
Leaps & Bounds Summer 2026 – Financial Assistance Available
We received a donation for this summer’s Leaps & Bounds. Don’t let the $200 cost keep your students away. Just let us know you need some financial help. L & B focuses on reading and math for students currently in K-5th grade. About two hours is used for reading, one hour for math, and 30 minutes for recess/snack. Space is limited so register now. This summer’s two week session is July 13-17 and 20-24. Registration materials can be found online.
📌Still Relevant
I-Ready Math Requirements
I-Ready use can help your child’s math skills.
I-Ready Math is an online program we use to better understand each student’s math strengths and learning needs. It begins with a short diagnostic/screener that helps identify what skills a student has mastered and where additional support or challenge is needed. Based on those results, i-Ready provides personalized math lessons that adjust to each child’s level, allowing students to work at an appropriate pace while building confidence and understanding. At school, students use i-Ready Math for at least 30 minutes per week as part of their regularly scheduled instructional time. That should be enough time to at least do one i-Ready lesson per week. Students not finishing the lesson at school will have it assigned as homework. In addition, students who scored below benchmark in math at both the fall and winter screenings will be required to work with i-Ready outside of school hours, reinforcing the school/home partnership. Upper grades are having the greatest challenges in completing their minutes, and we would really like to prevent large numbers of students having to stay after school. Students may always voluntarily do i-Ready lessons at home as well.
Altar Server Training
Altar Server Training will be held Saturday, May 30th from 9:30am-11am in the church. Children who will be entering the 4th grade and up, who are interested in altar serving at Mass, are invited to attend this training. One parent/adult needs to attend with the student.
Checking Students’ Grades and Missing Work
Below is a link to the instructions for parents to check students’ “in progress” standards grades. It also includes directions for checking missing assignments and Algebra grades for students taking the class at Assumption. The directions cover how to use both the PowerSchool portal on a computer and the PowerSchool app.
Important notes:
- There are some things that just cannot be done on the app. You will have to use a computer for them.
- There is a message that says “Grades disabled by school.” IGNORE this message. It references a certain type of grade and not the standards-referenced grades we are using.
📚Learning Habits Matter
Talking About Books
Some of the most important reading moments happen after the book is closed, and the conversation begins.
When students discuss books, they are doing more than retelling a story. They are organizing thoughts, making connections, explaining ideas, and thinking more deeply about what they read.
Those conversations look different at different ages:
PK–2
• What happened in the story?
• Who was your favorite character?
• What was your favorite part?
Grades 3–5
• Why do you think the character made that choice?
• What surprised you in the story?
• What problem was the character trying to solve?
Grades 6–8
• What message do you think the author is trying to communicate?
• Did anything in the book surprise you or challenge your thinking?
• Would you recommend the book to others? Would I (the parent) like it? Why or why not?
Reading research consistently shows that discussion improves comprehension because it encourages students to slow down, reflect, and process meaning more deeply.
The good news is that these conversations do not need to be long or formal. A few thoughtful questions at the dinner table, in the car, or after reading together can make a meaningful difference.
🗓️ Highlighted Events
Multiple calendars are available on our website, www.olvjfk.com. On the school side of the website, a one-page summary calendar is on the front page. Detailed calendars can also be reached by clicking on the calendars heading toward the upper right corner of the website. Anything underlined on the calendar can be clicked on, and more details will open for you. Below are a few highlighted events:
- May 12: JFK Band Concert at AHS
- May 13: 8th Gr Band Field Trip
- May 15: JFK Night at the Steamwheelers
- May 16/17: Youth & Family Engagement Event
- May 19: 5/6 and 7/8 Choir Concert in the church. 8th to Outing Club. Jersey Mike’s Dine & Donate
- May 21: 3 YO PS Confs. 4th Bowling
- May 22: Band to Adventureland
- May 23: Pinewood Derby
- May 25: Memorial Day. No School. ECLC Closed
- May 26: 8th Field Trip
- May 27: Last Day of 3 YO PS.
- May 28: Last Day of 4/5 YO PS. 3 YO PS Family Event. 4/5 YO PS Evening Programs
- May 29: Last Day of K-8. Field Day. 12:40 Dismissal
💭Personal Sharing
No one met the level 10 loyalty test last week – no one was still wearing a tattoo of me after the weekend!
Speaking of weekends. It was a great one. The weather was perfect for the middle school track meet – although I think I got too much sun! Then, I enjoyed another performance of JFK’s Crusader Theater’s Freaky Tiki. Our daughter, Kirsten, came in from Des Moines, and Kirsten, Tom and his friend, and my wife and I enjoyed dinner at Applebee’s. The only thing missing Saturday was an Indiana Fever win!
On Sunday, I got up early to do a little school work. Then, it was Mass and a trip to Menards with Lynn. Lynn went shopping with the kids, and it’s been a quiet evening. It’s also a “two-fer” day: Mother’s Day and Lynn’s birthday. I don’t know if she doesn’t like the two-fer because it feels like you get short-changed a special day, or if she actually likes it because there’s an excuse to not have to draw too much attention to how old we’re getting!
Chad
