School begins tomorrow! It’s been a long time coming!
Frequently Asked Questions
A new Frequently Asked Questions document was created in relation to our complete Return to Learn Plan.
Revised School Calendar for 2020-21
A revised school calendar for 2020-21 is available. Now that we have the basics, this information will be entered on the calendars on our website. We will also start to enter other details on the calendars.
Parent Zoom Meetings
Homeroom teachers will conduct Zoom parent meetings beginning September 14th so you can find out more information about your child’s grade. Invites will be sent from homeroom teachers.
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- Mon, Sept 14: 6:00 K; 6:45 1st
- Tues, Sept 15: 6:00 2nd; 6:45 3rd
- Thurs, Sept 17: 6:00 4th; 6:45 5th
- Mon Sept 21: 6:00 6th; 6:45 7th
- Tues, Sept 24: 6:00 8th
Communications
Are You Registered to Receive Text Messages from JFK?
If you are not registered to receive text messages from JFK (primarily families new to JFK and/or preschool), type “Y” or “Yes” to 67587. You will not receive text messages from JFK if you do not take action yourself. There is no action required to receive email or phone messages.
Principal’s Posts are written each weekend and posted on our website, available off the front page. I also send a link via email and post it to the school’s Facebook account. It then gets sent home via hard copy via “backpack mail” with the “youngest or only child” in a family at the beginning of each week. I use the Principal’s Post to reach the whole school community and sometimes highlight happenings in particular grades. It does not replace the many communications you will receive from your children’s teachers.
We also utilize a JFK Facebook page, and there is a closed Facebook group, JFK Moms & Dads, where people can post to others in the group. JFK’s Facebook page can be accessed from the front page of our website. If you’d like to be a member of the JFK Moms & Dads group, please let Angie Hillebrand, in the school office know via a Facebook request or even via email. Social media is not the best venue for voicing a concern, and posts that appear to do so will be removed while we try to reach out to address the concern through a better means. Social media, including our Facebook pages, are great ways to share your photos and connect with other JFK families. Photos from an event are often posted to these pages by families before we can even get photos taken by staff posted. Make sure you “like” us on both Facebook pages!
New Dismissal Time
Don’t forget that we have a new dismissal time on M-F: 2:15 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/2020/08/JFK-Parent-and-Student-Policy-Handbook-2020-21.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.
New Staff Members
JFK welcomes four new staff members to the staff:
- Nathalie Flores is working in our lunch program. Mrs. Flores has children attending JFK.
- Eileen Yeates is also working in our lunch program, mostly supervising students eating lunches in classrooms. Mrs. Yeates has been a substitute teacher for us and has children at JFK and Assumption.
- Melissa VanDam is joining us in an instructional aide role. She has more than ten years experience as an aide and teacher.
- Hannah Keep will also be joining us in an instructional aide role. Mrs. Keep has used her Bachelor’s in Social Work to provide services to people in need.
An Update About Me and My Family
I am beginning my 20th year as principal at JFK. This one is certainly lining up to be one to remember. Since March 15th when Iowa Governor Reynolds announced that schools were closing, I don’t think I’ve had a full day off! I typically say that the best part about my summer schedule is that I get my evenings and weekends back. With the cancellation of many meetings and evening activities this spring and summer, I can say that that aspect of summer held true after 7:00 p.m.!
Prior to coming to JFK, I worked for ten years at Assumption High School where I taught religion for nine years and then worked in student services for one year. I grew up in South Milwaukee, WI, and attended Marquette University in Milwaukee for my bachelor’s degree in sociology and theology. I received a master’s degree in religion from the University of Chicago, and my master’s degree in education administration is from Western Illinois University. My superintendent’s certificate work was done through the University of Northern Iowa. I have additional coursework at the graduate and/or undergraduate level from St. Ambrose, the University of Iowa, and Drake University.
Lynn and I have just celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. Lynn works in student services at Assumption High School, where we met. She is a graduate of Assumption and St. Paul’s.
Our four children are rather scattered across the country. Our oldest, Colleen, is in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she works in financial services for dentists. She’s busy planning her wedding for next summer. She has degrees from Ashford University and the University of Dubuque. Tom is in Charleston, South Carolina. He is finishing up his journalism degree after having taken time off to work after receiving his Associates degree in Iowa. Kirsten is entering her second year teaching special education in a grade school in Des Moines. She spends hours with the love of her life, her new puppy (and her boyfriend also lives in Des Moines). Caitlin has just begun her first year of law school at the University of Kansas. It was nice having her home for most of the summer, although it was probably the most uneventful summer in years.
Affected by COVID-19?
The longer the pandemic goes on, the more “real” it seems to be as it impacts more people whom we know. I’ve had multiple relatives who have been tested, and some have been tested more than once. My oldest sister has been working from home since March, my oldest daughter will be working remotely until June, and my 80+ year old parents have practically not been out of the house for more than doctors’ visits since spring. At OLV/JFK, we’ve had people whom have had to quarantine, staff whom have had their childcare providers test positive, and staff whom have had their own children possibly exposed. It can seem like a lot sometimes, and we haven’t even been in school for six months!
Stay well! Wear your mask, practice social distancing, use good face/hand hygiene, and stay home when ill. We can beat this thing down.
Chad
