New/Updated Information

Early Dismissal on Friday

Dismissal is two hours early (12:40) on Friday. There are no afternoon preschool classes. ECLC and aftercare are available. Bus transportation is available.

Summer Reading Program

Led by the support of Julie Baker in our library, JFK won the Davenport Library Summer Reading Challenge! Way to keep reading!

Speaking of books, please help your child make sure their water bottle lid is secured and closed in their backpacks. We’re seeing a fair number of water damaged books come back to school.

Cross Country

We were excited to have SCCS students participate in their first cross country meet. The following students competed:

• Carter L, Zayden B, Myles M, Beau F, Caleb P, Liam S, Elyas R
• Peyton P, Makynlee F, Lillian N, Mylah D, Harper A, Adie P, Lilly S, Payton S, Morgan F, Arizona N, Maggie C, Audrey J, Nevaeh M, Paloma S, Reagan O, Brianna C, Gabby U, and Ava N

Harper, Adie, Peyton, and Makynlee were even top 10 finishers in 7/8 and 5/6 divisions. It was a great outing for our first time!

Head Custodian/Maintenance Position Opening

Our head custodian/maintenance position is also opening. We wish Scott Sweeney well as he leaves to a new position with several health care buildings in Davenport. The hours are approximately 6:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Here is the link to the job description that encompasses both positions. (See the afternoon/evening position below)

Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)

Within the next ten days or so, families will receive two mailings: one regarding literacy ability and one regarding math. The state has been working diligently with new legislation this spring/summer and in writing new guidance to bring the two MTSS processes similar for reading and math. SCCS teachers and interventionists have been working to make the processes at each school similar as well.

For reading, students can be at one of three tiers:

• Tier I: On Target, proficient and no additional services needed; Universal Instruction should be enough.
• Tier II: At Risk, proficient but needing additional instruction; Supplemental Instruction utilized in one or more small groups within the class (or through WIN time in K-2) in addition to the Universal Instruction that everyone receives.
• Tier III: Persistently at Risk, not reading proficiently; Intensive Interventions with the student being pulled out of class to work with interventionist teachers and strategies sent home for parents to do with their students at home. These pull-outs are in addition to Supplemental Instruction and Universal Instruction.

For math, there are also three tiers:

• Tier I: On Target, proficient and no additional services needed; Universal Instruction, including 30-45 minutes of I-Ready computer based individualized instruction at school per week, should be enough.
• Tier II: At Risk; Small Group Interventions, including some small group instruction at school and within the classroom. The Small Group Interventions are in addition to Universal Instruction that everyone receives.
• Tier III: Persistently at Risk, not proficient in math. Students in this tier receive Universal Instruction and Small Group Interventions. In addition, these students are required to do another 30-45 minutes of I-Ready work per week outside of school. This work required outside of school emphasizes the partnership of home and school. A few students who are performing even poorer than most in tier III will be pulled for math work with an interventionist.

Still Relevant

Feedback Opportunity

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.

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 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

My son and I hit golf balls at Iron Tee on Saturday. I forgot I’m in between the time period of cataract surgery for my left eye and my right eye. I could only track the ball on about 1 of every 10 shots and usually just the bad ones!

Chad