New/Updated Information
No Buses on Monday
There are no buses on Monday. The DCSD does not have classes.
Parents in 4 YO PS may have received a phone call from the DCSD saying there is no school on Monday. That does not apply to JFK and SCCS. Due to the partnership with the DCSD for the Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program for 4 year olds, our 4 YOs are also considered DCSD students. The DCSD’s automated communication systems will push out public school district communications to you,
Safety Survey Update
Thank you for participating in our survey. We had 192 responses with parents making up about 2/3 of the respondents, students comprising 25%, and staff comprising about 8% of the total responses.
- 59% of parents had no safety concerns
- 94% of students had no safety concerns
- 53% of staff had no safety concerns
We are in the process of analyzing the information provided, determining response costs, prioritizing, etc. An update regarding school Masses was emailed to families during the week. Please note that “vulnerabilities” and suggestions will not be made broadly publicly available, as per safety protocols. While this is a best practice, we also noted that some of the safety concerns from the survey, for example, that the church is locked during school Masses, are just due to people not knowing what’s already being done.
Student Council Officer Elections
Elections for student council officers are coming up in a couple of weeks. It’s always tough to “put oneself out there” for elections. Good luck to the following students:
Still Relevant
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.
Afternoon/Evening Custodian Position
Our afternoon/evening custodian position is coming open. This full-time, year round position is responsible for the upper level of the building during the school year. The hours are approximately 12:00 p.m. -8:30 p.m. For more information, please contact me.
Feedback Opportunities
OLV Strategic Planning: The survey closes at the end of the week. If you were not able to attend an in-person focus group session, we still want your input. Our Lady of Victory is undertaking a strategic plan to ensure our Parish remains the most vibrant and welcoming faith community in the Diocese. The first, and most important step, is to hear your thoughts and opinions on how we can best continue to “live and share the preaching, teaching, and healing of Christ.” Please share your responses to the three open-ended questions in the survey.
Digital Suggestion Box: JFK has a permanent digital suggestion box on our website under the Contact Us tab. Please utilize this link for offering suggestions. The suggestion box is periodically reviewed. If your idea is of a more timely nature, please email me directly: chad.steimle@olvjfkmail.com.
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.
Junior Achievement Volunteers Needed
As a new school year begins, JA is calling on local volunteers to help equip young people with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate the future of work. JA programs focus on financial capability, career readiness, and business ownership — real-world concepts that enhance classroom learning. Volunteers from the community help deliver these lessons using ready-to-go materials and simple step-by-step guides, making it easy to lead even with no teaching experience.
ALICE/Run-Hide-Fight Training for Kids
As part of our regular safety procedures, teachers talk to students about ALICE, which is an acronym used to help people remember what to do in the event of a violent situation in a school. We also use the Run-Hide-Fight phrasing. The materials we’ve used/developed over the years and the approaches we take are targeted for specific grade strands as what one says and does with three-year-olds in preschool is entirely different than with 13-year-olds in 8th grade. Our work with ALICE complements our other conversations and drills, such as those for fire or tornado/inclement weather.
Approved Snack List
Snacks must be from the approved snack list. The list also shares some of the criteria used to determine the snack list.
Substitutes at JFK and SCCS
Substitutes are always needed for both long-term assignments (like maternity leaves) and short-term assignments (like when a teacher needs to stay home with his/her own sick child). Although a teaching degree is the most ideal qualification, you do not need one to work as a substitute. A bachelor’s/associate’s/60 hrs of college course work meets the educational qualifications. The process to become a substitute teacher includes completion of a 15-20 hour workshop, multiple background checks, and applications with the Iowa Board of Education Examiners and JFK/SCCS. The easiest way to progress toward the teaching authorization license is to take the self-paced online course.
Text Message Communications
If you would like to receive text messages from JFK, type “Y” or “Yes” to 67587. While we don’t use “bulk” text messages often, you don’t want to miss them for a snow day, for example. Families must opt in to receive text messages.
Host Families Needed
OLV/JFK is in need of three host families for the NET team ministry members who are coming to Our Lady of Victory for our Confirmation retreat that is being held on Sunday, November 2nd. These young adults will be in town all weekend, and this amazing opportunity for hospitality has proven to be a rewarding and fun one for past host families. Typically, these young adult missionaries share several meals with the families they are staying with and enjoy down time with them. The young adults are often taking a “gap year.” Their witness and joyfulness of being in the Catholic faith is contagious to people of all ages! They usually do not need help with transportation while they are in town. Please contact Jammie for more information or to start the process of becoming a missionary host family! (Davolvdre@diodav.org)
Parking Lot Traffic Patterns
It’s not too early to review the parking lot traffic patterns. A few reminders are below:
- Proceed SLOWLY and cautiously through every location. Little kids are hard to see by cars. What one makes up in time by speeding through the lot will matter little if someone is hit by a car!
- Be attentive to your driving. Talking on a cell phone, even handsfree, can be a distraction when one’s attention is needed most to watch for kids and pedestrians.
- Only use handicapped parking spots if qualified. Handicapped parking spots are reserved for those who need them throughout the entire day, including morning drop off, mid-day pre-school pick up and drop off, and pick up at the end of the day. We reserve one of our handicapped spots, in particular, for wheelchair access for a student.
- Accompany younger students to/from the barriers, if you park in the lot and are not using the drive-through lanes. Parents who are standing and waiting for their little ones should stand on the school side of the barriers. All children should be supervised. Pets should not be among the children.
- Students, even with their parents, should not be crossing 42nd Street. With buses, parked cars, and moving traffic, it is just too dangerous!
A photo of the parking lot patterns can be found using the following link: Parking lot traffic patterns
- Red arrows are the drop off/pick up zones. Note that the main one is at the north, but there is also one that can be used at the south.
- Blue arrows are the one-way pick-up lanes.
- Orange arrows are one-way lanes.
- Green arrows indicate where traffic goes in both directions.
- Note that in some areas there are two lanes going in the same direction: one lane is just driving through (orange arrows) and the other lane is the pick up lane leading to the drop off/pick up zone (blue and red arrows).
Calendars
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.
Highlighted Events
Please see the website calendar(s) for more complete information. Below are a few highlighted events:
- Sept 15: No bus transportation
- Sept 18: Dine & Donate at Portillos. Volleyball host. Music Boosters. Candy Bar Sale Kick Off
- Sept 20: Middle School Cross Country Meet
- Sept 23: Picture Day for 3 YO T/Th PS, 3 YO M-F PS, K – 8th grade (Students can dress up for pictures. However, at a minimum, students still need to meet the Out of Uniform Guidelines.)
- Sept 24: Mid-quarter. Picture Day for 3 YO MWF
- Sept 25: H & S mtg.
- Sept 26: Student Council Officer Elections. 2 Hr Early Dismissal (12:40). No PM PS Classes. Out of Uniform Fundraiser. Pumpkin Patch Pride of the Wapsi.
- Sept 27: Parish picnic after the 4:30 Mass
- Oct 1: Official Count Day
- Oct 3: Candy Bar Sale Ends. QCSO Ensemble
Personal Sharing
No matter how many times I see the “Iowa Wave” on TV at the end of the first quarter of a Hawkeye football game, I’m still moved every time! Some things are more important than sports/entertainment, and it’s nice to see that acknowledged by 70,000+ people during every game.
I’m not sure how I should be feeling about the news coverage of the latest school shootings. (Yes, there’s been more since the one at a Catholic school/church in MN.) On the one hand, I’m angry that they are not getting the attention they need; it’s almost as if no one cares. On the other hand, I wonder if the lack of attention will help deter future events if sensationalism and notoriety are parts of the perpetrators’ goals.
Chad
