New/Updated Information

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Break is November 26th-28th. There are no classes on those days. ECLC is open on Wednesday the 26th. Dismissal is at the regular time on the 25th. Algebra students need to follow Assumption’s schedule.

Nothing Bundt Cake Sale

Back by popular demand and in time for Thanksgiving, Nothing Bundt Cakes will be onsite at JFK on Monday! Sales will be from 2:30pm-5:00pm. The location of sale will be weather permitting–either inside the Parish Center or outside in the south parking lot. Now, how do I keep from eating them until Thanksgiving?

OLV Strategic Planning Feedback Closes this Week

Feedback to OLV’s areas for growth and improvement draft document closes this week. Please use the following link to view the draft and provide feedback: details, draft recommendations, and means to provide feedback.

Major Areas for Growth:

Communication & Connection
Welcoming & Hospitality
Volunteerism, Leadership & Accountability
Youth & Family Engagement
Parish-School Relationship
Faith Formation & Evangelization
Outreach & Service to the Community
Campus, Facilities, and Safety
Pastoral, Staff & Operations Support

Here is the link to OLV’s strengths.

SCRA Grant Application

Our Scott County Regional Authority (Bettendorf casino) grant application for $50,800 for a wearable communication system for all staff members was fully funded. This $65,000+ system is also supported by OLV and SCCS.

Honor Choir

The following students auditioned and have been accepted into the SEICDA Honor Choir, taking place at Assumption High School on Thursday, January 8th. In addition, these students have also been invited to perform the National Anthem on Friday, January 16th at Vibrant Arena for the Storm Game/JFK Hockey Night!

5th–6th Grade Honor Choir: Daniel A, Cayden B, Abby C, Basheer D, Kai D, Mylah D, Reese I, Taylor K, Elaina K, Piper L-C, Dallas M, Harrison M, Abby M, Taylor P, Zariyah R, Luke S, Mary T, Natalie V, Annie W

7th-9th Grade Honor Choir: Claire A, Braxton B, Maggie C, Jolee C, Abel H, Madison H, Audrey J, Xavier L, Sierra M, Arizona N, Alyse R, Liam S

St. Ambrose Honor Band

Congratulations to the following students who were selected for an honor band at St. Ambrose earlier this fall: Claire A, Addison B, Ambrielle E-L, and Sierra M.

Scout Service Project

Our Cub Scout pack is seeking donations of never used holiday cards and blank greeting cards for a service project where they write cards to our warriors. The scouts are going through the following organization: https://militaryholidaycardchallenge.com/how-to-send/

Why Math Practice Really Matters

There’s a great analogy from Jordan Ellenberg, author of How Not to Be Wrong. He explains that math practice works the same way weight-lifting does for athletes. Soccer players don’t lift weights because weights show up on the field—they lift because it strengthens them for the game.

Math is similar.

Even when a problem looks repetitive or doesn’t feel “real world,” it’s actually exercising the brain. Those small, steady challenges build mental muscles: focus, reasoning, persistence, and the ability to break down complicated problems.

Students may not use every specific math skill every day, but the strength gained from practicing them shows up everywhere else in life—reading, science, decision-making, and even how they approach challenges.

Math practice isn’t about memorizing steps or even about the math itself—it’s about preparing students with the mental strength and flexibility they’ll rely on for the rest of their lives.

Citation:
Ellenberg, Jordan. How Not to Be Wrong: The Power of Mathematical Thinking. Penguin Books, 2014.

Safety

For safety reasons, students should not be dropped off or picked up on 42nd Street. We also received a request from an apartment resident asking that cars not be parked in front of the apartment access, preventing residents from coming or going.

Still Relevant

Children’s Liturgy of the Words is Coming Back to OLV

See the following photo/flyer.

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.

Instructions

Bandit Retiring from School Work

Back in September, I mentioned that Bandit, our facility dog, was experiencing health issues affecting his ability to be at school and his ongoing training and certification. His anxiety level also seems to have increased, and the additional training we’ve been trying to do is not helping his ability to work at school. Bandit is going to have to retire from school work. If you are interested in adopting Bandit as a household pet, please let Mrs. Wolf know. We are thankful for what Bandit was able to offer at JFK and wish him well in retirement.

POP-UP Conversations for Parents

Need some help talking to your children about any of the following real-life topics?

My Kid is Struggling with Anxiety
My Kid Is Always on Their Phone
My Kid is Unmotivated & Unfocused
My Kid is Struggling with Friendships
My Kid is Confused and Anxious about Our Polarized Culture
My Kid Feels Pressure to Be Perfect
My Kid Doesn’t Want to Go to Church Anymore

Try utilizing POP-UP Conversations for Parents (Downloadable Videos & Leader Guides). Each topic includes a 10–13 minute video “onramp” from a trusted voice to spark discussion, and an easy-to-use Leader’s Guide. These one – hour sessions are designed to help parents/caregivers recognize God’s presence and calling as they care for their kids, and can be used in a variety of in person or online formats.

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:

Nov 24: H & S Nothing Bundt Cake Sale. College Care Package Assembly
Nov 25: Mad Science Show
Nov 26: ECLC Open
Nov 26-28: No Classes-Thanksgiving Break
Dec 1: No Buses
Dec 2: Mid-Qtr. 3rd Grade Gingerbread Houses.
Dec 3: Grades 3-8 Reconciliation. First Reconciliation Retreat.
Dec 4: Civic Oration First Rnd. 1st/2nd Grade Field Trip. First Reconciliation. H & S Mtg. Youth & Family Engagement Mtg.
Dec 5: Middle School Youth Night.
Dec 7: St. Nick’s Pancake Breakfast
Dec 8: Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. Dine & Donate at Texas Roadhouse.
Dec 9: Civic Oration 2nd Rnd. 3/4 Christmas Show.
Dec 10: 3/4 Out of Uniform.
Dec 11: Band and 5-8 Choral Performance
Dec 12: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. 4/5 YO PS Holiday Workshop. Middle School Youth Night
Dec 16: Civic Oration Final Rnd. Advent Communal Penance Service at Sacred Heart. K-2 Christmas Program
Dec 17: 7th Grade Shopping. 3 YO PS Holiday Event.
Dec 18: K-2 Out of Uniform. Advent Communal Penance Service at Lourdes.
Dec 19: Red/White/Green/Christmas Attire. No PM PS. 2 Hr Early Dismissal. Middle School Youth Night
Dec 21-Jan 2: Christmas Break for Students. ECLC Closed.

Personal Sharing

These next two days are going to be tough for me. I am looking forward to all my family gathering here for Thanksgiving this year. The first ones start arriving on Tuesday, and I’m ready to fast-forward to then!

Chad