🆕New/Updated Information
ESA Next Steps – Sept 30th Deadline
Families need to verity the tuition amount SCCS entered in your student(s) ESA Odyssey account. The deadline is September 30th so the school can be paid tuition from the State of Iowa. If families do not verify the tuition, tjeu will not be eligible for any funds for all of 2026-27, and they will be responsible for the entire tuition amount themselves. Take action now.
Youth and Family Engagement (YFE)
The mission of YFE is to reimagine the forming of our faith by engaging families where they are, igniting excitement for Church within our children, strengthen connections with Church & school, ensure a welcoming Church and help families find their place at OLV. Below are a few reminders:
Flat Jesus Adventures: Share your photos via email ([email protected]) or post them to YFE’s Facebook page by September 7th. Those who share will receive a prize.
Children’s Liturgy of the Word: Returns Sunday, September 6th at the 9:00 am Mass.
Want to Become Catholic, Receive the Rest of Your Sacraments, Learn More About Your Faith?
If you answered yes to any part of the above question, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) may be right for you. OCIA is a friendly, low stress setting that helps you learn and experience the Catholic faith. OCIA is led by a dedicated group of trained volunteers who teach and pass on the knowledge, traditions and meaning of the Catholic faith. There are no tests to take and no pressure, but you will be surprised at how satisfying it can be to learn about God in such a supportive group setting. Children are welcome to accompany their parents.
OCIA sessions are held on Sunday mornings in the Gathering Space Meeting Room (GSMR) at the church. Sessions start on September 13th after the 9:00 am Mass.
If you cannot do the group sessions for some reason, reach out anyway. We don’t want scheduling issues to prevent a richer participation in the Catholic faith.
For questions or more information, contact
Deacon John at 563-343-2968,
Chris at 563-505-3126/[email protected]
or the PARISH OFFICE at (563) 391-4245.
Junior Achievement Volunteers
JFK has Junior Achievement in almost every grade level but only because there are enough volunteers to provide students with the experience. See the flyer below regarding being a JA volunteer. Here is the link to volunteer.
JFK Yard Sign or Driveway Logo
JFK Home and School wants to bring the school logo to your driveway or a sign to your yard! Cost per logo/sign is $25 for these fundraisers. See the attached/linked flyer: 2026 Logo & Yard Sign Fundraiser.pdf
Purchased yard signs can be picked up in the school office, once payment has been received, and your order is ready for pickup. HSA will contact you to schedule your driveway painting, once payment has been received. Driveway logo touch ups are also available this year for $10.
Save the Date: “Made for More: Visions of the Promised Land”
OLV is hosting the multimedia event, “Made for More: Visions of the Promised Land,” featuring national author/speaker Christopher West and musician Mike Mangione on Thursday, November 12, 2026 from 7:00-9:30 pm in the church. Cost is $30 per person.
This program explores life, love, and human destiny through the lens of Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. It weaves together live music, spoken word, sacred art, and video clips into a reflective multimedia experience. CLICK HERE for a video clip.
Ashlee Jones Joins the OLV Staff
Fr. Patrick and OLV are pleased to welcome Ashlee Jones as the K-8 Faith Formation Coordinator at OLV. Mrs. Jones has a degree in education and children at JFK and Assumption. She will be in charge of Faith Formation classes for those not at JFK and for guiding students through First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation. We look forward to working with her. She works out of the school’s front office each morning.
Drop-Off and Pick-Up Procedures
We continue to evaluate our new drop-off and pick-up procedures, and we appreciate the feedback families provided last week. The changes from last year have already produced some important safety improvements. Moving the buses to Sturdevant at pick up time has allowed two-way traffic in front of the school and improved sight lines there. Eliminating the south-side drive-through near the PS/ECLC canopy has also reduced conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians in that area. The barriers along ECLC and the single exit lane near the front of the school onto 42nd Street have further improved safety in higher risk areas.
We are also watching for unintended consequences by observing traffic both in person and through video review. On two days, and under certain conditions, traffic backed up onto Division, particularly for drivers turning left onto 42nd Street, for example. We are examining whether it is too difficult to reach the south lot, whether that lot has become too congested, whether we still have too many pedestrian crossing points in the north lot, and whether adjustments to the afternoon pickup areas would improve both safety and traffic flow.
It is still too early to draw firm conclusions. Road construction on Kimberly, the beginning-of-year adjustment period, the newness of the procedures, and pleasant weather that encourages more families to park and walk are all affecting what we see. Safety and convenience are not always perfectly compatible, and we may never develop a completely effortless system for a campus that, within 15-20 minutes, moves nearly 500 chlldren ages 3-14 to aftercare, eleven buses, nearby homes, and family vehicles. We will continue observing the procedures and considering adjustments, with safety remaining the first priority.
A few additional 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.
- 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 and stay in cars.
- Students, even with their parents, should not be crossing 42nd Street. With buses, parked cars, and moving traffic, it is just too dangerous!
One of the most consistent themes brought up in discussions about parking lot safety is that no matter what we do and what procedures and patterns we put into place, it depends upon parents. Please join together to make the parking lot safe.
Dress Code
As we settle in to a regular routine, more attention will be paid to the dress code. Make sure the shorts/skirts/jumpers have all been adjusted to the correct lengths. I’ve never seen an “off the rack” skirt that’s too short. Girls will also want to check earrings: “No more than 2 post earrings in each ear. No hoop earrings. No earrings that dangle.” Boys’ biggest dress code issue is forgetting to wear belts. Belts are required for all pants/shorts with belt loops.
Cell Phones and Smart Watches
Students’ cell phones should be turned off and unavailable in a student’s bookbag in their locker from 7:00 a.m. until they leave the building. Texting your child about a change in their afternoon transportation method may not work very well as they may not receive it soon enough. Those changes should be communicated through the office.
Smart watches and/or other devices that we use to know where our children are these days will be kept in students’ backpacks in their lockers while kids are at school. Students can put them on/take them out when they are dismissed from school. Staff members are not knowledgable about every device on the market and will not be making determinations of what is a communication device and what is just some other form of tracker or “just a fitness tracker,” for example.
Mock Trial Coach Needed
Students in grades 6-8 can participate in Mock Trial, if we have a coach. Our long-time coach, Districtt Associate Judge Mike Motto, has kids already in high school. Please let us know if you would like more information about coaching or helping to coach.
Mock trial is designed to introduce students to our legal system by providing a challenging, academic competition. The program offers students an opportunity for personal growth and achievement, emphasizing the importance of research, presentation and teamwork.
This year’s case will be a civil case. Our regional competition in Monday, November 9th at SAU. The state level competition is November 30-December 2 in Altoona and Des Moines.
Why Are the Police at JFK?
On Friday, we had our local “beat” officer parked at JFK at drop-off time. He occasionally just spends time on our campus, making his presence known and interacting with staff and families. We appreciate his presence. We also have several parents who are in law enforcement and may be on campus. Just because we have uniformed officers or a squad car at JFK does not mean there is an issue.
Protect Kids from Real Threats so They Can Continue to Just be Afraid of Imaginary Ones
I particularly like the videos coming out of Sandy Hook Promise. Here’s one we used with staff this year: Monsters Under the Bed. Columbine, Sandy Hook, Parkland, and Uvalde all have particularly touching meaning for me as an educator. Sandy Hook Promise videos are rather poignant.
Last year’s ad hoc safety committee felt it important to remind families about gun safety as this is no different than other safety reminders we give children like wearing a helmet, buckling one’s seat, etc. If there are firearms in your home, please make sure they are stored securely: unloaded, locked, and inaccessible to children, with ammunition stored separately. Secure storage significantly reduces the risk of shootings involving children.
Gun safety also matters when our children are away from home. Before your child spends time at a friend’s or relative’s house, it is entirely appropriate to ask, “Are there any guns in the home, and if so, are they securely stored?” It may feel like an awkward question, but we routinely ask other questions to keep our children safe—who will be supervising, whether there is a pool, or how they will be transported. This is no different. Whether or not we personally own firearms, we can all agree on the goal: children should never have access to an unsecured, unsupervised gun.
📌Still Relevant
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.
Weekly Principal’s Posts
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 accounts in the late afternoon or early evening on Sundays. I use the Principal’s Post to reach the whole school community. You will also receive numerous email communications from teachers. Email is the number one form of communication in schools.
We also utilize our main JFK Facebook page, a JFK preschool Facebook page, and 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. Please remember, however, that not all parents are comfortable with photos of their children being on social media.
PS Through Age 12 Aftercare and Wraparound Care
After school care and wrap around care are licensed by the Department of Health & Human Services and provide supervised activities for students who have not yet turned thirteen. The preschool wrap around rate is included in your tuition bill for either full-time (20 hours or more) or part-time care (less than 20 hours). There is an hourly rate for K through age 12, and the registration fee can be paid through Blackbaud. A childcare registration form is required for each student. Below are the links to the forms needed:
Wrap Around Childcare Registration For Preschool Age Students 2026-27
After Care Registration for K-8 School Age Students 2026-27
Students cannot attend aftercare or wrap around care without the DHHS program paper/pencil forms complete.
Water Bottles Must Be Able to be Sealed/Closed
Students are encouraged to have appropriate water bottles throughout the day. Due to how often students move about the building and classrooms, as well as other issues that can arise, students’ water bottles must be able to be sealed/closed. Large mugs with straws sticking out are not water bottles and should be left home. We have four bottle filling stations throughout the building.
Approved Snack List
Snacks must be from the approved snack list. The updated list also shares some of the criteria used to determine the snack list.
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.
National School Lunch Program
JFK participates in the NSLP. Below are two links for more information and to apply for free/reduced lunches:
Free and Reduced Lunch Parent Letter 2026-27
Free and Reduced Lunch Application 2026-27
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement: In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online or from any USDA office by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA.
The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by: 1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or 2. fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or 3. email: [email protected]. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Iowa Nondiscrimination Statement
It is the policy of this CNP provider not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or religion in its programs, activities, or employment practices as required by the Iowa Code section 216.6, 216.7, and 216.9. If you have questions or grievances related to compliance with this policy by this CNP Provider, please contact the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, Grimes State Office building, 400 E. 14th St. Des Moines, IA 50319-1004; phone number 515-281-4121, 800-457-4416; website https://icrc.iowa.gov.
I-Ready Math Requirements
I-Ready use can help your child’s math skills.
I-Ready Math is an online program we use to better understand each student’s math strengths and learning needs. It begins with a short diagnostic/screener that helps identify what skills a student has mastered and where additional support or challenge is needed. Based on those results, i-Ready provides personalized math lessons that adjust to each child’s level, allowing students to work at an appropriate pace while building confidence and understanding. At school, students use i-Ready Math for at least 30 minutes per week as part of their regularly scheduled instructional time. That should be enough time to at least do one i-Ready lesson per week. Students not finishing the lesson at school will have it assigned as homework. In addition, students who are not proficient in math based upon screeners or ISASPs will be required to work with i-Ready outside of school hours, reinforcing the school/home partnership. Students may always voluntarily do i-Ready lessons at home as well.
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.
📚Learning Habits Matter
Reading Stamina
You wouldn’t train for a marathon by running once a week. Reading stamina works the same way.
Reading stamina is the ability to stay focused and engaged with a text for an extended period of time. Like physical endurance, it develops gradually with regular practice.
PK–2
• Read together at a regular time each day
• Gradually stretch reading time as attention grows
Grades 3–5
• Set aside 20–30 minutes without screens or other distractions
• Encourage finishing a chapter or natural stopping point before quitting
Grades 6–8
• Put the phone away during reading—not just face down nearby
• Practice sticking with longer or more challenging reading even when it takes effort
Reading more isn’t just about finishing more books. Regular reading builds the concentration and endurance students need as reading becomes more demanding.
🗓️ Highlighted Events
Multiple calendars are available on our website, www.jfkcatholic.org/. 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:
- Aug 31: Reading and math screenings begin. Cross Country Meet.
- Sept 3 & 10: Papa Murphy’s Dine and Donate event
- Sept 3: Youth & Family Engagement Mtg (7-8, Parish Center carpeted side – PCC)
- Sept 7: Labor Day. No Classes. ECLC Closed.
- Sept 14: No bus service
- Sept 15: Home & School Mtg. Picture Day
- Sept 16: Picture day for T/Th 3 YO and make-up day
- Sept 17: Constitution Day. Papa Murphy Dine & Donate
- Sept 18: Candy Bar Sale Begins. H & S Outdoor Movie Night
- Sept 21: Host VB games. Music Boosters
- Sept 24: Papa Murphy Dine & Donate
- Sept 25: Out of uniform fundraiser. 2 hr early dismissal. No pm PS classes
💭Personal Sharing
With WHBF, WQAD, KWQC, the Quad City Times, and the Catholic Messenger all at JFK last week for a Little League World Series game, not to mention all of the phone contacts, Angie Hillebrand and Sara Tilkens added press secretary to their job descriptions. This truly was a once in a lifetime experience for these students!
I am personally also glad that we have staff members at JFK who can represent the school so well. I have been hit hard with a back-to-school cold. I think I’ve been asleep by 7 pm the last few nights. Mrs. T and Ms. Angie showed their capabilties last week. This weekend it was Caitlin Putnam who did an extra shift in the dunk tank at the parish picnic, and my surprise trip to the dunk tank had to be cancelled as I recovered from being ill.
Chad