Weekly Family Newsletter: 8/23/21

• Schedule Change or Drop Requests: All schedule change requests must be submitted online, through the Google form here, and on the counseling section of the JFK website. All requests must be submitted no later than Sunday, August 29th, and will be responded to via email.

  Changes will only be made if there is an error in the schedule such as being enrolled in a class that they have already passed, missing a core subject required for graduation, having an empty class period, or not passing the prerequisite for a class. If a returning student did not submit a course request in Spring, no schedule changes will be granted. Requests to drop courses require approval by Ms. Warren; both the teacher and student guardian must also approve the drop. 

• Opportunities for Families to Get Involved: Commander Conversation virtual Town Hall on 8/24/21 from 5-6:30 virtually HERE. Attending the Commander Conversation nights give our families an opportunity to learn more about what is happening at Kennedy and to ask questions and give feedback.
  
  Attend Back to School Night to learn more about the student experience at Kennedy on 9/2/21 at 5 pm (virtual) details to come.

  Are you interested in joining the Collaborative School Committee to give input on school budget, personnel, school goals and the unified improvement plan, and increasing enrollment? Email me at tiffany_almon@dpsk12.org.
  
  Want to join our Parent Teacher Student Association, the Commander Connection? Email our Communications Specialist, Laurentz Gilmore at laurentz_gilmore@dpsk12.org.

  Want to be involved in making decisions in regard to our English Language Acquisition programming? Join our ELA – Parent Advisory Committee by emailing laurentz_gilmore@dpsk12.org. See HERE for more information regarding the ELA – Parent Advisory Committee. 

• Lunch is free for all students again this year!

• New to Kennedy Upper Classmen Orientation: If you are an upper-classmen who recently transferred to Kennedy, you are welcome to join us for an orientation on August 23rd from noon to 1 pm. During this orientation, you will get a school tour, we will go over our bell schedule, and we will answer any questions you may have about a day in the life of a Commander. 

  This will be an amazing opportunity to get to know our school and some of our staff prior to the first day back on August 24th. We are looking forward to providing you with a smooth transition to John F. Kennedy High School. 

• Supply List: You can find the 21-22 school year supply list here.

• Lockers: Lockers will be distributed during the week of 8/30 during lunch time. More details will be shared as we get closer!

• Back to School Night: Back to School Night will be virtual this year. We will be hosting this on September 2nd from 5 – 7 PM. More details to come with how to access this event online!

• Senior Sunrise:  Hi JFK Seniors! We hope you’ve had a great summer, and we’re excited to see you on Tuesday, August 24, 2021. We wanted to kick start the year with our exciting tradition of the Senior Sunrise. This is going to be held on Tuesday, August 24, 2021 at 5:45 am. We are going to meet at the JFK Football Field. So we are going to park in the student parking lot, and then walk around to the fields and meet there. Please arrive around 5:45 to 6:00 in order to make the sunrise in time. After the sun rise, we will release you, just make sure you’re back at school by 7:30!! If you have any questions, feel free to contact Ms.O or any of your senior student council peers. We hope to see you there!!
  
  As a reminder, you can find all senior updates throughout the year here.

• JFK is Hiring: JFK is hiring a School Community Liaison! We are looking for someone who loves our community,  is passionate about coordinating family engagement events, meeting with students who need additional support, and willing to connect families to resources. Our ideal candidate is someone who speaks Spanish as well! If this sounds like you or someone you know, please have them apply at careers.dpsk12.org with job ID 49023.

Athletics: If you are planning to play any Fall Sports, please register here.

• Games This Week: 
  • August 23rd
    • Softball: Varsity Game vs. Adams City  @  Adams City High School at 4:00 PM
  • August 24th
    • Volleyball: Girls C Team 1 Match vs. Pueblo Central  @  John F. Kennedy High School at 4:30 PM
    • Volleyball: Girls JV Match vs. Pueblo Central  @  John F. Kennedy High School at 5:30 PM
    • Volleyball: Girls Varsity Match vs. Pueblo Central  @  John F. Kennedy High School at 6:30 PM
  • August 25th
    • Softball: Varsity Game vs. Alameda International  @  Alameda High School at 4:00 PM
  • August 26thVolleyball: Girls C Team 1 Match
    vs. Kipp Denver Collegiate  @  KIPP Denver Collegiate High School at 5:00pm    
  • Volleyball: Girls JV Match vs. Kipp Denver Collegiate  @  KIPP Denver Collegiate High School at 6:00pm    
  • Volleyball: Girls Varsity Match
    vs. Kipp Denver Collegiate  @  KIPP Denver Collegiate High School at 7:00pm    
  • Football: JV Game vs. Adams City  @  Adams City High School at 7:00pm    

If students are masked and vaccinated while at school, students only need to quarantine if they start experiencing symptoms. Staff and students should monitor who they are in close contact with when masks are off, especially during lunch time. Eat outside whenever possible. See COVID-19 Exposure decision tree here for more information.

Please note, students are not required to get vaccinated to return in person. However, we highly encourage our students to get vaccinated. If we can continue to increase the number of people aged 12 and older who get the vaccine, we can get closer to herd immunity, and resume the fun activities that make life as a high school student so memorable. Check out this information regarding the COVID-19 vaccination and the sites located all-around Denver. 

Please read this information from our Superintendent, Dr. Marrero, for details about vaccinations, mask guidance, and safety measures.

• 8/23 — First day of school for Freshmen
• 8/23 — New to Kennedy Upper Classmen Orientation
• 8/24 — First Day of School for Upper Classmen
• 8/25 — Commander Conversations Meeting
• 9/2 — Back to School Night
  
  For more information on any of these events check jfk.dpsk12.org