New/Updated Information
Early Dismissal on Friday, October 24
Friday is the end of the 1st Qtr. There is a 2 hour early dismissal (12:40). Aftercare and buses are available. (There is, however, no “transfer” bus from AHS in the afternoon as AHS does not get out early.) There are no 4/5 YO PS am or pm classes.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
PS-5th grade parents should look for one or more emails this week to sign up for scheduled parent/teacher conferences. Sixth-8th grade conferences are on a drop-in basis. Conference times are 5:00-7:30 p.m. on November 4th and 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 4:00-8:00 p.m. on November 6th.
New Scoreboard Installed
The new scoreboard was installed last week. We can’t wait to use it for games this week!
H & S Candy Bar Sale
Thank you for help with Home & School’s Candy Bar sale. Last year’s sale helped pay for the score board. This year’s proceeds will help replace the gym basketball backboards and possibly install additional basketball hoops.
Our top sellers included the following: Krew A (13 cases), Keaton F (9), Charlotte W (8), Hudson B (7), Nova W (6), Luci D (6), and Auden P (6).
Poinsettias will be delivered from Wallace’s Garden Center on the day of each Christmas program. Parents will select their preferred program for pickup directly on the order form—don’t skip that detail!
Ad Hoc Safety Meeting
The ad hoc committee had a productive meeting and tour of the building on Monday night. A draft plan with prioritized major areas is being prepared. Specific recommendations will be prioritized according to impact, cost, feasibility/ease, and visibility. Below is a draft of the executive summary:
“The 2025 Safety Committee’s review of survey data, staff insights, and committee walkthroughs revealed that while community awareness of safety is strong, procedural discipline and physical deterrence measures must advance in parallel to sustain confidence. The strongest consensus for improvement centered on securing the campus perimeter, strengthening safety during Mass transitions, improving traffic control, hardening entry points, and maintaining consistent adherence to established procedures.
These priorities must be implemented in a balanced way—respecting both the functional and spiritual character of the campus. Recommendations were developed with attention to safety, aesthetics, accessibility, stewardship of resources, and the shared use of facilities by both parish and school communities.”
One of the things discussed was traffic and the intersection by 42nd and Sturdevant. There is now also an online petition to help prompt the city to take different action regarding this area.
Fire Department Visit on Tuesday
The fire department is scheduled to meet with K-3rd graders on Tuesday morning. October is Fire Prevention Month.
Police on Campus Over the Last Month as Well
We have had police on campus multiple times over the last month as well:
- On multiple occasions, they have been parked in our lot to do “paperwork” or check their in-car computer. While we welcome their presence, we always get the question, “What’s going on? Why are the police here?”
- We called police on Friday morning to begin a wellness check on someone who was sitting by the OLV sign near Division Street during drop off time.
- We have worked with police regarding what I’d have to describe as a “peace of mind” issue with an older parishioner who kind of “creeps” people out. I should emphasize that this person has never exhibited any dangerous or threatening behavior toward students, staff, or anyone in the parish community. This person regularly attends the “daily” 7:00 a.m. Mass and weekend Masses, financially supports the parish, and occasionally performs small tasks around the church side of the campus. This person is, arguably, a better parishioner than many of us. However, this person does creep people out. Working with the Diocese of Davenport, the Davenport Police Department, this person’s family, and school officials, we have established an agreed upon set of “boundaries” and timelines regarding this person’s presence on campus. When the person had difficulty really understanding the terms, the police helped with the administration of a trespassing violation.
ESA and School Choice
It is likely that ESAs will be a “hot topic” during the next election cycle in Iowa. The Iowa Alliance for Choice in Education has prepared the following article that you may find helpful: 10 Objections to Education Savings Accounts (and How You Can Respond). Here’s the third objection and response:
3. “ESAs are just a handout for the wealthy.”
Response: The opposite is true. Wealthy families already have educational choices. ESAs level the playing field by giving middle- and lower-income families the financial means to access private schools, homeschooling resources, or other opportunities that were previously out of reach.
Still Relevant
SCCS Updated Mission Statement
The Mission and Governance Committee of Scott County Catholic Schools is looking at several aspects of the original strategic plan. Much of the original plan just dealt with creating SCCS. This next examination will look at things like mission success and experiences at the middle school level. In preparation, the committee is recommending a more succinct SCCS mission statement:
Our schools will be distinctively Catholic, partnering with our parishes to connect kids with Christ through a unified system that forms disciples and pursues excellence in a welcoming and supportive environment.
One Church. One system. One child at a time.
OLV Focus Group and Survey Results – Strengths of OLV Released
OLV’s strategic planning ad hoc committee is releasing the strengths of Our Lady of Victory as identified through focus groups and a survey: OLV is a parish that is welcoming, faith-filled, generous, and vibrant.
Welcoming, Caring Community
OLV’s most frequently mentioned strength is its family-like atmosphere. OLV is our spiritual home, where we are known to one another and feel supported.
Vibrant Ministries & Adult Faith Formation
OLV’s wide range of ministries and adult faith formation opportunities invite people into deeper discipleship. Music/choir enrich worship. CEW, That Man Is You (TMIY), SHE, Grief Share, Bible studies, etc. provide ongoing spiritual nourishment.
JFK Catholic School
JFK is a source of vitality, with strong leadership, dedicated staff, and engaged priests. Parents express pride in the school, noting that it keeps the parish young and draws families to OLV.
Generosity & Stewardship
OLV is a giving community with strong outreach and financial stability. Parishioners’ generosity sustains ministries and ensures parish needs are met.
Beautiful Campus & Facilities
OLV has a beautiful, well-kept campus. The grounds, cleanliness, and physical environment are a source of pride.
Dedicated Priests & Sacramental Life
OLV has approachable, caring priests. Liturgies, daily Mass, the variety of weekend Masses, adoration, and reconciliation are cited as core strengths.
The next communication form the committee will summarize how OLV can continue to grow and improve.
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.
Lunch Program Position
We now have an opening in our lunch program for a 4-5 hour per day position during the school year. The hours are approximately 9:00/10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Please contact Meredith Ash or me at JFK or Logan Ahnquist in the SCCS main offices for more information.
Afternoon/evening Custodian Position Still Open
We still have our afternoon/evening custodian position open. This full-time, year round position is responsible for cleaning the upper level of the building during the school year. The hours are approximately 12:00 p.m. -8:30 p.m. See the following link for more information: job description.
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:
- Oct 21: Supply store. K-3 Fire Dept Visit.
- Oct 24: End of 1st Qtr. 2 Hr Early Dismissal (12:40). No 4/5 YO PS am or pm classes.
- Oct 25: Trunk or Treat and H & S Fall Event
- Oct 28: Volleyball and Cross Country Pictures. 3rd Grade Can Character Dress Day. 8th Grade Pumpkin Drop
- Oct 30: Black/Orange Student Hunger Drive Dress Day. H & S mtg.
- Oct 31: Middle School Youth Night. Parade of Saints.
- Nov 1/2: OLV Bazaar
- Nov 2: “Fall Back” Time Change.
- Nov 4: Parent/Teacher Conferences
- Nov 6: Parent/Teacher Conferences
- Nov 6/7: No classes (8th graders in Algebra should check with AHS)
- Nov 7: Middle School Youth Night.
- Nov 11: No bus transportation. Red/White/Blue out of Uniform Day. Veterans’ Day Event.
Personal Sharing
The flies are out to get me! Throughout the summer, our sliding door is open enough that we get plenty of flies in the house. They tend to get “stuck” in the “vortex” created by two ceiling fans in our family room, and we typically spray them eventually. (My wife and I are convinced, however, that bug spray only works to multiply flies rather than eliminate them!) This Sunday, as the weather was cooler and the slider was closed all day, there were flies everywhere in the family room. We used fly swatters to get about 7-10 flies, but they still landed all over me. I could hardly watch football or write the Principal’s Post today!
Chad
