Weekly Family Newsletter: 8/30/21

• JFK's Commander Conversations (Formally known as Town Hall): JFK's first Commander Conversation of the year took place on August 25th at 5 PM. If you missed it, you can review the information here. Going forward, these virtual conversations will take place every other Wednesday. The next one will take place on September 8th at 5 pm and can be accessed here.

• Listening and Learning Session: The goal of the Listening and Learning Tour with Superintendent Dr. Alex Marerro is to allow him the opportunity to connect with students, families and communities – especially those who have been unheard in the past. Dr. Marrero is joining the Commander Community to listen and learn from YOU during our Commander Conversation on September 22nd at 5PM on the JFK Blacktop. We hope you will join us for this amazing opportunity to have your voice heard by our Superintendent!

• BESS Opt Out Form: As part of our effort to support the Whole Child, our school will be implementing a universal social and emotional screening for students. Universal social and emotional screening is NOT an assessment or an evaluation. Instead, screenings are a useful tool to help identify students who may need extra social or emotional support. You also have the option to EXEMPT your child from participating. If you DO NOT want your child to participate in social and emotional screening, please indicate so by completing this form. If we do not receive an OPT-OUT form from you, we will assume you are choosing to have your child participate in social and emotional screening.

• Code to College: Code2College has a FREE program for YOUR student! This program offers software-engineering and web-development instruction, professional skills development through consistent mentorship, and the opportunity to qualify for paid, software-engineering internships. The deadline to apply for Fall classes is Monday, September 30th. You can find the application here in English and Spanish.

• Website Maintenance: Our website is undergoing a ton of maintenance right now in order to bring you a more user friendly experience! Please bare with us as we make these updates as there may be some 

We have a new ticketing system to purchase game tickets! See here.

• Our school nurse created a virtual health office containing links to lots of different information. Click on LINK for helpful resources.
• Here is a link to a list of various food assistance resources around Denver!
• Here is a link to information on Free Covid Tests.
• Here is the link to access DPS Coronavirus Resources. 
• Here is the Southwest Denver Free Activities Calendar

• 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 on our Blacktop. You may access pre recorded videos that highlight teacher's class overviews by clicking the banner on our website on September 2nd.
• 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. 

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.

• 9/2 — Back to School Night
• 9/22 — Listening and Learning Session with Dr. Alex Marrero
  
  For more information on any of these events check jfk.dpsk12.org

• Here is a helpful guide for students containing schedule resources, student information, and more!
• Click here to access Student Schoology Supports
• Click here to access Student Schoology Supports
• Here is a Schoology Parent Guide
• Parent Portal Login Presentation
• Parent Portal Login Video
• Schoology App Login Guide – English | Spanish
• Schoology Parent/Guardian FAQ – English | Spanish

JOHN F. KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL

2855 S. LAMAR ST. DENVER, CO 80227