Facilities and Grounds Input Sessions
OLV will be hosting three input sessions in late May for people to talk about the facilities and grounds of the campus. Due to your generosity, most of the projects of the Cultivating Our Future campaign are complete. It is, thus, time to assess and discern the next steps for the parish. This process is important for us as OLV’s participation in the diocesan capital campaign, Upon This Rock, will begin within the next year or so. Twenty percent of all funds raised at each parish for this campaign are returned back to parishes for projects of their own.
Each of OLV;s input sessions will follow a similar format. There will be a presentation on the state of our
parish facilities and finances, and then parishioners will be asked to talk about their thoughts with people at their tables, with someone being the note-taker. Finally, the evening will end with some larger group discussion and questions. If you are unable to attend one of these sessions, the presentation from the sessions will be made available through the parish website, and people are welcome to submit any thoughts, questions, or concerns to Fr. Jake or any members of the parish staff. By the end of summer, it is Fr. Jake’s hope that the Parish Council, Finance Council, and other members of parish leadership will be able to identity priorities for the facilities and grounds.
Dates/times for the three sessions are below. They will all be in the parish center.
Sunday, May 22nd, 3:00PM
Thursday, May 26th, 1:00PM
Thursday, May 26th, 7:00PM
JFK Welcomes Jessica Freemyer in Band
JFK is pleased to welcome Jessica Freemyer as our band instructor for the 2022-23 school year. Mrs. Freemyer has seven years of experience in band and music at Rivermont Collegiate and in the Catholic schools across the river. A graduate of St. Ambrose, Mrs. Freemyer also did some practicum hours at St. Paul’s and Assumption. She and her husband have two children as well that will be joining the JFK community next year.
Parking Lot Reminders — Even on the South Side
Please remember to proceed carefully in the parking lot at drop-off and pick-up times. There are many kids and families walking and moving throughout the parking lot, and excessive speed and distracted driving lead to danger for all. The situation seems particularly troubling in the morning lately. The extra seconds saved by speeding through the parking lot will not even compare to someone being hit by a car! Several of the most recent issues have been on the south side of the parking lot by the ECLC drop off and rectory. Even though there is less traffic on the south side of the parking lot, there are still plenty of children and cars.
Registration for 2022-23 is Still Underway
The return of the tuition contract and the registration fee is the formal enrollment process for 2022-23. Please contact the school office or Fr. Jake right away if you did not receive your contract. If you need a new one, please contact emily.sanderson@olvjfkmail.com.
Home & School General Meeting and Many Thanks
Home & School will have a general meeting on May 17th at 6:00 p.m. in the parish center. There’s a great committee now, and more are always welcome. Officers will also be selected. (And, no, if you attend you will not automatically become an officer!)
Staff members really appreciated the many treats provided by Home & School for Teacher Appreciation Week! The little sayings, rhymes, etc. were clever as well.
Water Fountains Fully Operational Again
Water fountains have been restored to working order. Free, recyclable water bottles will no longer be available for students. Students are, as always, encouraged to bring their own water bottles to school. We have three water bottle filling stations located in the school that are used quite regularly.
Pre-school and Daycare Registration
Registration for all sections of 3 year old preschool, 4/5 year old preschool, and ECLC is underway for all families. There are a few morning and afternoon spots still left.
See the K, pre-school, daycare roundup flyer, 2022
Upcoming Events
The school calendar on our website is filling up with so many activities, it makes one’s head spin! Below are just a few of the highlighted events:
- May 9-13: Guest personal trainer in PE classes for 3rd-8th graders
- May 9-20: FAST Reading and Math Screenings
- May 10: Free entry to skate night at the Eldridge skate park (skate rental still required)
- May 14: Crusader Theater
- May 15: Crusader Theater stage tear down
- May 17/19: 5th grade golfing
- May 18: School Mass celebrated by Bishop Zinkula
- May 19: Band Concert
- May 21: OLV/JFK Gala
- May 22: Facilities & Grounds Input Session #1
- May 23: Day of Awesomeness
- May 24: 8th grade Manners Unit Lunch at Outing Club
- May 26: Facilities & Grounds Input Session #2 and #3
- May 27: Day of Awesomeness Rain Date. Bands to Adventureland. 3 Yr PS Conferences
- May 30: Memorial Day. No classes. ECLC closed
- May 31: 8th grade field trip
- June 2: Field Day. 3 yr old PS program. 4/5 yr old PS program
- June 3: Last day of school. 12:40 dismissal. No PS classes. ECLC open. 8th grade graduation. JFK Night at the River Bandits
Keep Your Eye on the Calendar and for Communications from Teachers
May keeps getting more and more crowded with activities. Keep your eye on the detailed school calendar on our website and be aware of individual teacher’s/grade’s communications that will highlight their specific events. If your calendar looks anything like mine in May, it’s tough to keep track of and juggle everything! I even have all three of my daughters coming into town Gala weekend for other family events!
Shift in Spring Play
The Encyclopedia Brown middle school play has been replaced with Don’t Pet My Rock. With so much going on in late spring, we’ve had to change to something that’s a bit more manageable. This short play will have one performance, a 3:00 Saturday, May 13th performance in the parish center. There is no admission fee.
Academic Work Continues
Even though there are many special activities in May, academic work continues. Mid-quarter progress reports will go home this week. There’s way too much academic work left for students, including 8th graders, to shut down for summer. The time period between Easter or spring break (whichever comes last given the year) is the longest uninterrupted stretch of the school year!
Leaps & Bounds
JFK’s free summer Leaps & Bounds program still has some spots available in the first session: June 13-24. Waiting lists are available for the latter two sessions: July 18-29 and August 1-12. Registration is first-come, first-served. To register, please contact Mrs. Temming at kitty.temming@olvjfkmail.com.
Board of Education
The OLV/JFK Board of Education is seeking candidates interested in helping to make financial and policy decisions affecting the operations of JFK, Faith Formation, and Youth Ministry at Our Lady of Victory. Board members work with other committees to address the long-range needs of the parish educational and faith formation programs. Board meetings occur on the first Tuesday of each month and are typically from about 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. If interested in serving as a board member, please contact me or board officers Ann Craig, Lucas Roth, and Tom Poston.
Chad
