🆕New/Updated Information
JFK GROWS Students of the Month for October
Each morning, students and teachers at JFK recite the JFK Difference: JFK GROWS. We put God first, use Respectful behaviors, find Opportunities to serve, are Welcoming to all, and make Safe choices. Each month, except December, we are recognizing one student from each homeroom whose teachers have observed them exhibiting these traits particularly well at school during the past month:
KI – Walker H: Walker is kind, caring, and always willing to lend a helping hand to others. He encourages his classmates, demonstrates compassion, and consistently strives to do his very best. Walker’s positive attitude and willingness to help others make him a wonderful role model for our school community.
KN – Kingsley S: Kingsley has a kind and helpful heart. She is great at reaching out to others to include them in her play. She loves to learn new things and to share her thoughts and ideas in class.
1E – Harper H: Harper is always willing to help others. Her kind heart, helpful nature, and positive attitude make her a wonderful role model in our classroom.
1T – Auden: Auden is a very respectful boy who follows directions, helps others when needed and always participates in class. He has a contagious smile and is a great friend.
1Y – Cely T: Cely is great at looking at the bright side of a situation. She is a fun friend and puts forth her best effort in her school work.
2B – Tamia M: Tamia always uses respectful behaviors towards her peers and teachers. She is very kind, and always finds opportunities to serve when others are in need. Tamia has such a big heart and always has a smile on her face, even when things get challenging.
2P – Benham P: Benham is a hard worker, who is very kind and giving to his classmates. He has been making great choices and giving 150%.
3M – Finnley B: Finnley is the best assistant a person could ask for! She is always paying attention to her duties in class and helps me with mine. She is constantly answering our doorbell, taking care of the mail, or noticing if there is something else that needs to be done. She is a good friend to all of us and we are blessed to have her in our room.
3TV – Theodore B: Theodore is a very kind and dedicated student who consistently makes positive choices both in the classroom and on the playground. He treats everyone with respect and shows great care for his friends and classmates. Theodore’s thoughtful actions, positive behavior, and dedication to doing his best make him a wonderful example for others.
4B – Lillie R: Lillie is always trying her best on her work and asks for help when she needs it. She understands what helps her and she’s proactive with making sure she has the correct “set-up” to succeed. Lillie is kind to her peers and a great part of our class.
4L – Carson I: Carson makes a difference in our classroom every day. His courteous and respectful demeanor creates a positive learning environment and makes him a valuable asset to our class.
5C – Alani B: Alani is new to JFK this year and has fit in seamlessly to our school community. She works hard, always has a smile for those around her, and is willing to jump in to help when needed.
5W – Norah H: Norah is welcoming to everyone, all the time. Always offering a smile, a drawing from the heart, or a helping hand, Norah is a friend to all.
6N – Annie W: Annie is kind and respectful to students and staff alike. She works hard and always puts forth her best self.
6T – Taylor K: Taylor is hard working and strives to do her best. She is respectful and follows classroom expectations and is always willing to help her classmates and teachers.
7P – Addie A: Addie is new to JFK, starting a few weeks after school had started. She immediately fell right into place. Addie is naturally very kind and thoughtful and has fantastic answers in class. She asks questions when she doesn’t understand something and always does her absolute best in her work. She exemplified the JFK Difference before she even knew what it was!
7R – Mary T: Mary consistently demonstrates a strong work ethic and a positive attitude in the classroom. She comes prepared, stays focused, and puts thoughtful effort into everything she does. Her willingness to participate and help others makes her a great role model for her peers.
8L – Hadley M: Hadley brings a positive attitude to the classroom each day. She is kind and respectful to those around her and willingly lends a helping hand to classmates and teachers. Her thoughtfulness helps make our school a better place.
8LT – Gabbie U: Gabbie makes a positive difference through her friendly attitude and willingness to help others. She is someone classmates and teachers can count on, and her kindness and helpfulness contribute to a welcoming classroom environment.
Parents for Educational Choice
Iowa ACE and HACER have formed a network across Iowa to empower parents and strength the school choice movement:
Help Us Empower Parents and Strengthen the School Choice Movement! English
Spanish Help Us Empower Parents and Strengthen the School Choice Movement!
More members are being sought, especially from among the families of nearly 42,000 Iowa K-12 children in accredited non-public schools. In SCCS, there are 2,165 K-12 students, and only 21 members of Parents for Educational Choice. At JFK, there are over 450 K-8 students, and only one member. If we want educatonal choice with ESAs, we might have to be willing to let our voices be known.
Click HERE to sign up!
Catholic Education Beyond the Classroom
Last week, I shared that while JFK’s enrollment has grown significantly, Sunday Mass attendance at Our Lady of Victory has remained relatively unchanged. That raises an important question for our Catholic families: If we value Catholic education for our children, how important is practicing our Catholic faith as a family?
At JFK, students learn about the Eucharist, participate in school Masses, pray together, and study the teachings of Jesus. But Catholic education isn’t intended to be something that happens only Monday through Friday. The Church teaches that the Eucharist is the source and summit of our Christian life. Sunday Mass provides families an opportunity to worship together, receive Christ in the Eucharist, and participate in the larger faith community.
As parents and educators, we teach children not only through what we say, but also through what we do. When children see that faith is important enough to make time for each Sunday, they learn something that no religion textbook or classroom lesson can teach.
Opus Honor Choir Soloist Alternates
A couple of weeks ago I shared that Annie W and Luke S were selected to participate in the 2026 Opus Honor Choir Festival in Ames, Iowa. This week we found out that BOTH students have been selected as soloist alternates! There were about 3,000 students who auditioned. Congratulations!
High Relability Schools Parent Survey
As part of our ongoing efforts to improve teaching and learning at JFK, we are asking parents to complete a brief survey related to Marzano’s High Reliability Schools (HRS) Level 3: Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum.
Level 3 focuses on ensuring that all students have access to a consistent, high-quality curriculum with clear expectations for what students should know and be able to do at each grade level.
While much of this work happens behind the scenes, your perspective as a parent is important. The survey asks about your experiences and perceptions of your child’s education at JFK. Your responses will help us identify strengths and areas for improvement as we work toward HRS Level 3 certification. Level 3 certification is the next step for JFK after receiving certification at Level 1 (Safe, Supportive and Collaborative Culture) and Level 2 (Effective Teaching in Every Classroom).
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey using the link below. Thank you for helping us make JFK an even better place for students to learn and grow!
Early Childhood Programming Survey Coming Soon
Many families will receive an electronic survey in the coming weeks to help us examine our early childhood programming options. When the Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program (SWVPP) for four year olds was in its infancy, JFK expanded to accommodate 80 4/5 year olds: 40 in two morning classes and 40 in two afternoon classes. We were turning students away from about the 2009-10 school year to the 2017-18 school year. Since then, however, our numbers have fallen to a total of about 50 4/5 year old students. BUT, we are still turning away families as “everyone” wants morning preschool, and we are capped at 40 students. We are looking at options that can provide families what they need and be educationally sound.
Veterans Day Celebration
Our Veterans Day celebration for students is at 1:30 on Wednesday, November 11th in the gym/cafeteria. Guests are welcome but please note that space and seats will limited.
No Buses on Wed, Nov 11
There is no bus transportation on Wed, November 11th. The DCSD is not in session.
📌Still Relevant
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.
Music Program Poinsettia Fundraiser 
The music program’s poinsettia fundraiser has begun. Order sheets were sent home last week. Families may either return the paper order form or scan the QR code to complete the online form. All order forms and payments are due to Cris in the office by Thursday, November 12th.
Altar Servers Needed
Sign your student up to altar serve at a weekend Mass.
I-Ready Math Requirements
I-Ready use can help your child’s math skills.
I-Ready provides personalized math lessons online based on each student’s needs. Students use I-Ready for at least 30 minutes per week at school, enough to complete at least one lesson. Unfinished lessons will be assigned as homework.
Students who are not proficient in math based upon screeners or ISASPs will also be required to use I-Ready outside of school hours, reinforcing the school/home partnership. All students may complete additional lessons at home.
Checking Students’ Grades and Missing Work
Use the instructions below to check in-progress standards grades, missing assignments, and Assumption Algebra grades in PowerSchool. Directions are included for both the computer portal and app.
Please note:
- Some features are only available on a computer.
- Ignore the “Grades disabled by school” message. It does not apply to our standards-referenced grades.
📚Learning Habits Matter
That’s Not How I Learned Math!
Ever look at your child’s math homework and wonder why they’re making something so complicated?
Many of us learned math by following a particular set of steps to arrive at the correct answer. Today’s students may be asked to draw models, break numbers apart, or solve the same problem in more than one way.
Why? Because learning different strategies helps students understand how numbers work and why traditional methods work, too. For example, breaking numbers apart when multiplying helps students understand what’s actually happening when they use the standard multiplication algorithm. The methods aren’t competing with one another; they’re building on the same mathematical ideas.
How can parents help?
PK–2
- Encourage children to use objects, drawings, or their fingers to show how they’re thinking.
- Ask, “Can you show me how you figured that out?”
Grades 3–5
- If your child uses an unfamiliar method, ask them to explain it before showing them yours.
- Explore how different strategies connect to the traditional methods you learned.
Grades 6–8
- Encourage students to explain why a procedure works, not just how to follow its steps.
- Discuss which strategies are most efficient for different types of problems.
Traditional methods still have an important place in mathematics. The goal isn’t to make math more complicated. It’s to help students understand why the methods work, not just remember the steps.
🗓️ Highlighted Events
Multiple calendars are available at www.jfkcatholic.org/. A one-page summary calendar is on the school homepage, with detailed calendars available under Calendars at the top of the website. Click any underlined event for more information. Below are a few highlighted events:
- Nov 9: Bubbas 33 Dine & Donate
- Nov 10: 1st Reconciliation Retreat
- Nov 11: No Buses. Red, White, Blue Out of Uniform. Veterans’ Day Event
- Nov 12: Made for More Mission. 8th to Career Fair
- Nov 13: Out of Uniform Fundraiser
- Nov 16: 8th to AHS
- Nov 17: Home & School. Student Council Supply Store
- Nov 18: AHS Fall Info Knight
- Nov 20: Ronald McDonald House Out of Uniform fundraiser. H & S Ladies Trivia Night
- Nov 22: Christmas Craft Workshop
- Nov 23: 5-8 Festival of Trees
- Nov 25-27: Thanksgiving Break. ECLC Open on the 25th.
- Nov 30: No buses
- Dec 19 – Jan 4: Christmas Break
- Jan 5: Classes resume
💭Personal Sharing
My mom passed away this morning after spending the last two weeks in the hospital and hospice. I am so grateful that I got to see my parents when we were in the Atlanta area for Colleen’s wedding a few weeks ago. Even more significant to me was that she got to meet my first grandchild. There was something about that moment that felt like life coming full circle. She had the opportunity to know about another generation of each of her children’s families. Please keep my mom and our family in your prayers.
Chad