Picture Day on Thursday
Pictures will be taken on Thursday September 20th, with the exception of MWF 3 year old preschoolers and absent students, who will have their pictures taken on Friday. Retakes will be on Friday October 12th. It is an out of uniform day, and our out of uniform dress day guidelines do apply (see below).
To order online please visit www.tssorders.com and enter your event number 27055787. Every child will be receiving a free 8 x 10 class composite; you do not need to add this to your order form unless you would like to purchase additional ones (Item 13).
Payment is expected on picture day. TSS accepts cash, checks payable to “TSS”, and all major credit & debit cards. If you would like to pay by credit card, please order online by clicking HERE or using the following link/url: http://www.tssphotography.com/orgs/179456. All completed orders will be dropped off at the school.
Out of Uniform Dress Day Guidelines
Even when there is an out of uniform dress day, certain guidelines are appropriate for the modesty expected in a Catholic school. These guidelines are not intended to limit the fun of theme days, but they are intended to provide a minimum standard.
Tops: Modest tops without holes, low necklines, spaghetti straps, or visible undergarment straps.
Pants/shorts/skirts: Lengths of shorts/skirts must meet the requirements of the above uniform policy. Loose fitting jeans and loose fitting pants may be worn. If wearing tightly fitted jeans/pants/leggings, one’s top (shirt, sweater, etc.) must be mid-thigh or longer.
Socks must be worn unless formal attire is worn.
Footwear must be worn.
If a student’s attire is not within these guidelines, the student will be asked to change his/her clothing. If the clothing cannot be changed, a dress code demerit will be issued, and the student will not be allowed to participate in the next out of uniform day.
Sad to See Tree Go – Thanks for the Ideas — More?
Thanks to those who have submitted ideas for what we might do behind the school when the final grading of our drainage project is done in the spring. If you still have ideas, please send them my way. Let’s think about how we might utilize the land with which we have been blessed.
Thanks for Supporting Home & School
I read a week ago that teachers nationwide are spending an average of $652 of their own money on classroom supplies, instructional materials, and professional development. At JFK, we would like to thank you for your support of Home & School. Through Home & School’s fundraisers like spirit wear sales, the directory, the magazine sale, the plant sale, Spaghetti Supper, movie nights, etc., H & S provides each teacher with a $300 bonus that he/she can use toward things in their classroom.
The first Home & School meeting is September 20th at 6:30 p.m. in the library. We have the skate night coming up on the 17th from 6 -8 p.m at the Eldridge skate park, and our first fund-raiser, the magazine sale, begins on the 20th. There’s also a JFK fundraising night at Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers on the 25th from 4 – 9 p.m.
Handbook Sign-Off
Please read the parent and student handbook, available HERE, and on our website: https://www.olvjfk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Parent-Handbook-2018-19.pdf. Then, print off the last page, sign it, and return it to the school office — one per family. Thank you for helping us to reduce our printing costs.
Social Media Article
I found the following ARTICLE regarding kids’ views of social media to be enlightening: https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/baig/2018/09/10/survey-reveals-what-your-kids-really-think-social-media/1226027002/
Accreditation by Department of Education; Licensure by Department of Human Services
Our four year old preschool through 8th grade educational and extracurricular programs (except for Catholic League athletics) are under the guidelines of the Iowa Department of Education from whom all of the Catholic schools in our diocese receive accreditation. Our three year old preschool, daycare and after school care programs are licensed through the Department of Human Services. (I, personally, think it’s ridiculous for two agencies to be involved when all of the operations are within a school, but, essentially, it has to do with the money. At the state level, education and childcare have separate funding streams.)
On Wednesday, we had our annual unannounced site visit for three year old preschool, daycare, and after school care. I would like to thank the staff members for implementing such quality programs which allow us to receive such positive comments from the DHS representative. I would also like to thank all of our parents who utilize these programs and provide us with all of the extra paperwork that is required. I understand how much of a hassle it can seem to provide separate documents for K-8 and for childcare/after school care. Believe me, when we use a room from 7:25 – 2:40 for K-8 education and then have to make sure the room meets a separate set of guidelines for 2:40 – 5:30 childcare even when the same ages of children are being served, it seems ridiculous. Without following the guidelines and enforcing what’s required from parents, however, we could lose our license and not be able to serve anyone.
Sign Up for This, That, and the Other Thing?
The beginning of the school year brings so much paperwork and now emails for parents. It’s hard for me to preview it all in the Principal’s Post, especially when some things are grade(s) specific. Lately, we have had the following registrations/permission slips: Girl Scouts, Boy/Cub Scouts, JFK’s Running Club (gr 2-4), Mock Trial (gr 6-8), CART (tutoring by invitation), and more. Thank you for being so diligent in checking for papers and emails. Students in grades K-2 usually manage to get the materials home in their backpacks. Students in grades 3-5 can sometimes act as a filter, making sure you see the items they want you to see. Students in grades 6-8 just leave everything at school!
Breakfast Program To Be Discontinued
Our new breakfast program will be discontinued at the end of the month. Under its present operations with service before regular drop off time beginning at 7:10, the program is only serving about four students per day and losing money. We started it as an aid to families whose children ride the bus. All of our morning bus riders were expected to arrive at JFK between 7:04 and 7:06 and could spend as much as an hour on the bus. We thought a breakfast program might be helpful for these early risers and early arrivers. Most of our bus riders, however, are not arriving until after 7:10, the same time as those getting car rides in the morning. It also seems as most students are spending 30 minutes or less on the bus. The most students we’ve had at school between 7:00 and 7:10 has been 17. Our break even point for breakfast is approximately 20 students purchasing breakfast. With the low numbers of actual breakfast eaters and the pool of possible breakfast eaters also being below the break even point, it is not fiscally sound to continue it in its present format. Our last day of serving breakfast will be Sept 28th.
If your child was a regular user of our breakfast program and you need childcare between 7:00 and 7:10, please contact Mrs. Temming, and we’ll see what we can do.
Children’s Liturgy of the Word Has Resumed
Children’s Liturgy of the Word has resumed at the 9:00 and 11:00 Sunday Masses. Targeting children under second grade (those who have not yet received First Communion), the Children’s Liturgy of the Word breaks the message down into children specific language. Children sit with their parents until right after the opening of Mass and then are invited to go to the altar servers’ sacristy on the “Mary side” of the church. The children rejoin their families before Communion.
Imagine the Amazing Contest Opens Sept 17
Use the following link/url to vote for JFK between September 17 – 30: unitypoint.org/imaginetheamazing.
All K-12, non-profit public and private state accredited schools within the 99 counties of Iowa and the primary counties served by UnityPoint Health in Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska and South Dakota are eligible. The site isn’t open yet so I can’t tell you what types of information is required of you in order to vote. You can vote multiple times, and anyone, regardless of school affiliation, can vote. The winning school receives $25,000 and the next ten schools get $1,000 each.
Chad
