JFK GROWS Students of the Month for April
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: Clayton C.
- Clayton is an eager learner and always ready to get started with the next thing in the classroom. He listens and pays attention to things happening in the classroom and is always there to help out when needed. Clayton is respectful, helpful, and kind to his classmates.
- 1st Grade: Rey H.
- Rey comes to school every day with a smile on her face and ready to work. She goes out of her way to make sure students feel included at recess and in the classroom.
- 2nd Grade: Sofia B.
- Sofia is a shining light in our classroom. She always has a smile on her face and gives her best for everything that she does. She is kind, caring, and compassionate. Sofia is a wonderful part of our classroom family.
- 3rd Grade: Connor S.
- Connor is a kind and compassionate student who ensures that others around him are included and able to participate.
- 4th Grade: Peyton P.
- Peyton is a great example of the JFK difference. She is accepting of all, caring, willing to help, and responsible. Peyton never gives up and always does her best.
- 5th Grade: Mason F.
- Mason can always be counted on to pay attention in class and follow the JFK Difference. He is friendly and kind to others, and he treats his teachers with respect.
- 6th Grade: Connor S.
- Connor is a hard worker and is kind to all. He helps out when needed and never shies away from sharing.
- 7th Grade: Dylan C.
- Dylan is a willing participant in class discussions and is not afraid to ask questions if he doesn’t understand something or wants to know more. He is a joy to have in class.
- 8th Grade: Leia P.
- Leia is always putting in her best effort in her school subjects. She is kind and nice to everyone and is always willing to help other students who may not understand the concepts. She is a joy to have in class.
I’m So Blessed!
We are blessed to have substitute teachers. They don’t get nearly enough credit for stepping into classes at a moment’s notice. Please join me in thanking our current substitutes: Tom Day, Amy Jackson, Jen Kira, Diana Longenecker, and Kayla Mason. We are also blessed that other staff members can also fill in when there’s a pinch: Kayelyn Blake, Laura Burke, Casey Smith, Jen Wemhoff, and Emma Wolf. Even our aides move around at a moment’s notice, and we are blessed with them: Alicia Andresen, Julie Baker, Cris Bowden, Bea Creech, Miranda Labora, Kari Lystiuk, Gaby Moya, Casey Smith, and Melissa VanDam. Our lunch staff covers amazingly well for one another, and several of them also work as aides: Meredith Ash, Nathalie Flores, Bety Herrera, and Miranda Labora. Our office staff and custodians adjust their schedules and work extra long hours to help each other out: Angie Hillebrand and Shay Lagrone in the office and Dave Kisner and Scott Sweeney in maintenance/custodial areas. I don’t know where we’d be without Dianne Siefers helping us with technology and just about anything that draws electricity. We are also blessed with Jodi Smith who provides ESL services at All Saints and JFK and Carole Behr and Bridget Parr who work for FACTS Educational Services funded by the last of the COVID relief funds and provide interventionist services. Finally, we would not be functioning well as a Catholic school without our connections to OLV staff: Fr. Patrick, Fr. Andrew, Abbey Heinrichs, Jammie Jameson, Julie Kilburg, Andy Kuennen, Ann Lotspeich, Kaye Meyers, Mark Mirr, Rita Nagle, and Lisa Willows. (Did I mention yet that it’s teacher appreciation week? While blessed with great teachers, there are so many more people involved to make a great school! We are blessed to have them all!)
Registration Fees
Registration fees have been received for about 77% of next year’s K-8 students. The 4 YO preschool extra time fee or registration fee for “non-qualifying” students has been received for about 68% of students. We have registration fees for 100% of the students registered for 3 YO preschool! The link to pay the fees is available on the front page of our website. The link also allows new families 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.
The registration fee, except for those Iowa residents applying for four year old preschool, is now $125 per child. The extra time fee for Iowa residents registering for 4 YO preschool is $250.
Educational Savings Accounts Applications Being Accepted
The application process for the Educational Savings Account program opened on April 16th and will close at 11:59 p.m. on June 30th. Families must apply each year through the state’s vendor, Odyssey, even if you received an ESA this year or if you are not required to verify your income.
Eligible families in 2024-25 are the following:
- Anyone who received an ESA this year (but you must apply again for next year)
- If you received an ESA this year based upon income, you will not have to verify your income again, BUT you will need to apply
- All kindergartners and first graders. We did some work in Odyssey this weekend, and, while the system’s organization is not yet sortable, I could tell that not all families of kindergartners or first graders have applied.
- New transfer students
- Families whose income is at or below 400% of poverty, which is about $124,800 for a family of four
The Students First ESA Application is available in English and Spanish. Apply Now
Returning applicants: Parents/guardians with an existing Odyssey portal account will log in to the existing account to begin the application for the 2024-25 school year.
Applying for the first time: Parents/guardians who do not have an Odyssey portal account will first be directed to sign up with an email and password. Parents/guardians will receive a message from Odyssey asking them to confirm their email address. After the email is confirmed, the parent/guardian can sign in to the Odyssey portal to begin their application.
In 2025-26, all families, regardless of income will be eligible for ESAs.
JFK Open Positions for 2024-25
At the present time, there are several open positions at JFK for the 2024-25 school year. This list could become longer and/or different as we internally move people around as well. If you are interested in a position at JFK, please contact me.
- K-5 teaching position. An Iowa teaching license with a K-6 elementary endorsement or willingness to pursue/obtain them is required. We haven’t decided what grade level we are looking for yet.
- Aide positions. SCCS has approved 1st grade aides for all elementary buildings for next school year. Interested candidates will also have to be able to work one or more evenings per week on a rotational basis until 5:30 in after school care for 3-5 year olds or 5-12 year olds. Recess duties during the day are also included.
- Lunch program. Our lunch program will need someone to help probably about 3-5 hours per day. Lunch program employees have also often worked to help supervise recesses, to assist teachers in preschool classrooms, and/or to supervise after school care programs.
Volunteers
While volunteers are always welcome, those who work with children/students must participate in the diocesan safe environment program, which includes online training and background checks. These requirements apply to those who are not the leaders but are “helpers” as well. Coaches, including those for Parks & Rec’s teams using our building/property, scout participants, and many other volunteers must participate in the safe environment program. Adults going on field trips with students may also be subject to these requirements. For more information, please contact the school office.
No Parking on Drive by the Ball Field
There is to be no parking on both sides of the drive by the fall field. Both sides should be open for entering and exiting traffic.
No School on Monday, May 6
There are no classes on Monday, May 6th due to the in-service involving the elementary teachers of Scott County Catholic Schools. Kindergarten through 5th grade teachers will be working on science of reading training with LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling), and other teachers will be working on standards-based instruction/standards-referenced assessment.
Altar Server Training
Saturday, June 1, 9:30-11:30am in the church.
Children and other parishioners, 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.
Leaps & Bounds Registration Still Open
Registration for both sessions of Leaps & Bounds is still open. L & B focuses on reading and math for students currently in K-5th grade. Space is limited for each session, and a minimum number of students is also needed in order for each session to be viable. 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 I: June 17-21 & June 24-28 (8:00-11:30)
Session II: July 15-19 & July 22-26 (8:00-11:30)
Jumpstart Kindergarten
Registration for Jumpstart Kindergarten will open soon. This program for incoming kindergartners is July 29 – Aug 1 from 8:00-10:30 a.m.
Yes, It Is That Time of the Year
For some reason, the time between Easter and the end of the school year always seems the busiest and most rushed. The margin of error for the unexpected becomes smaller and smaller. My wife and I were experiencing this phenomenon just the other day. We had had a long, slow leak in the half bath at our house that was only discovered when I noticed a bulge in the floor. Since spring break (or even before then) we have been trying to coordinate a series of contractors to disconnect the plumbing, remove the vanity, tear out and replace the subfloor and take care of any structural issues, install new flooring, and reconnect the plumbing. Each step, of course, requires someone to be home, the dogs to be kept away from workers, etc. We finally got step one started on Friday when I could Zoom from home for a meeting. Unfortunately, I also woke up to a horrible sound coming from the fan of the furnace. I felt so lucky though that someone was able to come Friday morning for the fan, but that has also turned into a multi-day project! Who knows when our house will be back together?!
In one of my education feeds today was an interesting article by Avni Patel Thompson in the Harvard Business Review (April 24, 2024) about how parents plan for the week: Working Parents, Plan for the Week with This Simple Exercise. It made a lot of sense and might help you get through the busy end of the school year.
Calendar Highlights
Here are just a few items highlighted from the detailed online school calendar:
- May 6-10: Teacher Appreciation Week
- May 6: No classes. Music Boosters.
- May 9: 5I Golfing. 7/8 Choir Performance
- May 10: 5W Golfing. 8th to Outing Club for Manners Unit
- May 13: 3rd Grade Field Trip. Middle School Youth Night
- May 14: H & S Mtg
- May 16: Band Concert (afternoon at JFK, evening at AHS)
- May 17: AHS seniors visit
- May 18: 8th Grade Social Knight
- May 20: Band to Adventureland
- May 23: 3 YO PS Conferences. JFK Skate Night
- May 24: 2nd Grade Picnic. 4th Grade Bowling
- May 26: AHS Baccalaureate Mass and Graduation
- May 27: Memorial Day. No Classes. ECLC Closed
- May 28: 8th Grade Field Trip
- May 29: Last Day of PS Classes. 3 YO PS Family Event. 4 YO PS Evening Family Events
- May 30: Field Day. Last Day of K-8 Classes. Early Dismissal at 12:40
- May 31: Last Day of ECLC. 8th Grade Graduation. JFK Night at the River Bandits
