Principal’s Post for May 11, 2025

ESA Applications Now Open – 77% Have Applied

Applications for 2025-26 ESAs opened April 16th. About 77% of our students have a completed application in Odyssey for next school year. All families are eligible for ESAs in 2025-26 and MUST APPLY EVERY YEAR. Again, ALL FAMILIES ARE ELIGIBLE, BUT YOU MUST APPLY EVERY YEAR. After you designate JFK as the school, we will start to “accept” or “approve” students.

Highlighted parts from a previous email to SCCS families:

The upcoming ESA application period is from April 16, 2025, to June 30, 2025. To apply, click the following link https://iowa.withodyssey.com/en/odyssey_auth/sign_up. If you already have an Odyssey account, click “sign in” below the login box.
If you do not have access to a computer or otherwise find yourself unable to complete the ESA application independently, you may email martha.korneisel@sccsiowa.org or rose.strickland@sccsiowa.org or call Martha at 563.326.5313 ext. 223 or Rose at 563.326.5313 ext. 269.

Family Tuition Plan: If your tuition is above the ESA amount you may be able to qualify for additional tuition assistance through the Family Tuition Plan. This state subsidized program is limited to Iowa families with total income of less than 400% of poverty.
The application for the FTP is available at: www.assumptionhigh.org/familytuitionplan.

IL residents needing financial assistance should still apply through the FTP process. There are funds available from sources other than the state subsidized STO program.

Legislative Action Alert on Federal Level

The United States Catholic Conference of Bishops has asked us to forward a legislative action alert to families. The federal legislation being considered would expand parental choice for education using federal dollars. At the risk of oversimplifying the legislation, it would create the opportunity for people across the country to form “STO” organizations. It will likely expand Iowa choice in education as well. Federal legislators can be contacted now to express support for the bill at the following address: https://votervoice.net/USCCB/Campaigns/125894/Respond

SCCS Tuition Letter for 2025-26 – Rates Lower Than Expected

The K-8 tuition for 2025-26 will be less than originally anticipated. Highlighted information is below:

Grade School Tuition
Parish Subsidized Student: $ 6,075. Total parent cost after ESA = $150 registration fee.
Non-Parish Subsidized Student: $8,505. Total parent cost after ESA = $ 522 tuition and $150 registration fee. (Families facing economic barriers may apply to the Family Tuition Plan for assistance with tuition.)

Registration Fee for 2025-26 Due

If you have not finished the registration process by paying the registration fee, please do so as soon as possible. Directions for paying the registration fee are on the front page of our website, www.olvjfk.com.

Positions Open for 2025-26

Interventionist: JFK has been authorized to hire an additional full-time interventionist for 2025-26. The person in this position will work with small groups or even one-on-one with students, primarily in reading and math. An Iowa teaching licenses is needed.

Long-term and short-term substitutes: We are often short about one substitute teacher per day. Persons with teaching licenses, substitute licenses, and/or a substitute authorization are encouraged to apply.

Instructional aide: JFK is seeking at least one additional instructional aide for the 2025-26 school year.

For more information, please contact me at chad.steimle@olvjfkmail.com.

Preschool Space Still Available

JFK still has preschool spots available for 2025-26, including coveted 4 year old morning spots. A few wrap-around spots are also still available for a full day option. Three year old preschool spots are also available.

Leaps & Bounds – One Session

JFK will only be offering one session of Leaps & Bounds this summer. There were not enough students registered for the June session. L & B focuses on reading and math for students currently in K-5th grade. Students spend about two hours on reading activities, one hour on math activities and then 30 minutes on snack and recess. Space is limited, but there are still some spots available for the July/August session. Currently, ESA funds are not able to be used for the $200 L & B fee. To register, please complete the registration forms and return to the school office with the registration fee. L & B Registration Forms

Session II: July 28-Aug 1 & Aug 4-8 (8:00-11:30)

Altar Server Training

Altar Server Training will be held Saturday, June 7th 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 should attend with the student. If you have any questions, please call the Parish Office at: 563-391-4245.

Standards/Evidence-Based Assessment and Reporting

A letter regarding the diocesan and SCCS elementary schools’ transition to more standard/evidence-based assessment and reporting was emailed around the beginning of November. It is also available below:

SBAR Letter

Here, again, is the link to the instructions for parents to check their 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.

Instructions

8th Grade Graduation at JFK

JFK’s graduation Mass is actually on Thursday, May 29th. The downloadable academic calendar for SCCS elementary schools lists the 30th as graduation. OLV/JFK is making an exception so I can be at graduation on that Thursday and my daughter’s wedding rehearsal on Friday.

JFK Facebook Pages

JFK has three Facebook pages:

John F. Kennedy Catholic School (public)
JFK Preschool (public)
JFK Moms & Dads (closed group. If you would like to be a part of this group, please message Angie Hillebrand.)

Photos and video are posted to these pages.

Concert this Week

Due to the unexpected move of the state qualifying track meet to Assumption on Thursday, we might be making some adjustments to the location and/or time of the evening 5th-8th grades band and choir concert. An email will be sent with details, as needed.

Junie B. Jones Was So Much Fun!

What an amazing show! I saw it three times! Congratulations to Mrs. Potter and Ms. Siefers for putting together such a great show.

Cast: Audrey J, Caitlyn C, Claire A, Jolee C, Sierra M, Isaac R, Braxton B, Anthony S, Faithlyn F, Alyse R, Lilly S, Kinley V, Liam S, Wesley W, Abel H

Set Design, props, lighting, backstage crew, program and t-shirt art: Addison B, Charlotte F, Madison H, Iris N, Ava N, Natalie R, Shayna S, Ellie S, Cami C, Caitlyn C

Connection to Pope Leo XIV?

Pope Leo XIV received his Master’s of Divinity from the Catholic Theological Union (CTU) in the Hyde Park area of Chicago. CTU is in a consortium of theology schools in the Chicago area and includes the University of Chicago. I received my M.Div. from the University of Chicago, probably about 10-15 years after the pope was in the area. I may have sat in the same classroom, gone to the same grocery store and bookstore, and walked down the same streets as a pope! I could also see the White Sox stadium from the window of my 10th story apartment, and Pope Leo is supposedly a White Sox fan. Clearly, there’s a connection, and, if there’s not, I’m claiming it any way!

Highlighted Events

The following events are highlighted. For all of our events and more information, please see the calendars on our website and communications from individual teachers:

May 12: Stage tear down
May 14: Steam Wheelers visit. AHS seniors grade school walk
May 15: 5-8 Music and Band Concert (afternoon and evening at JFK)
May 17: 8th Gr Social Knight at AHS
May 19: 8th Gr Field Trip
May 22: 3 YO PS Conferences. 8th Gr Field Trip
May 23: Band to Adventureland. 2nd Gr Field Trip. 4th Gr Field Trip
May 26: Memorial Day. No Classes. ECLC Closed
May 28: Last Day of PS Classes. 4/5 YO PS Family Events
May 29: 3 YO PS Family Event. JFK 8th Gr Graduation Mass
May 30: Field Day. Last Day of K-8. 2 Hr Early Dismissal (12:40). Last Day of ECLC

Chad