|
Dear Commander Community,
Huge thanks to all the students who submitted t-shirt designs for the Hispanic Heritage Month contest. The winner will be chosen this Friday and all students who submitted will be invited to participate in a special taco bar lunch. We continue to celebrate the innumerable contributions of our Latinx community throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, let’s learn together…check out this list of Ted Talks and this interview with Dolores Huerta, a civil rights movement Latina trailblazer, to learn about the importance of identity, challenging power, and immigration from the perspectives of Latinx leaders. Have a blast this week with all of the Homecoming events, please read this document for details.
Parents, Guardians, and students, please help us to uphold our P.R.I.D.E. values of Respect and Excellence by standing up against the “Delicious LIcks” Tic Tok videos that encourage you to destroy and steal school property. Destroying or stealing school property not only has an impact on our award winning Facilities Team who has to spend time replacing the destroyed property that could be spent cleaning the school, the vandalism also impacts our student body as a whole. Due to bathroom destruction, we are closing all south boys’ bathrooms until we can have a week with no vandalism; and, when soap dispensers are destroyed, students don’t have soap to wash their hands…gross, especially during a pandemic. Unisex, center boys’, and all girls’ bathrooms are open.
As we move into Homecoming Week 21-22, safety will be our top priority:) We will hold our Pep Rally and Dance outside…fortunately, the weather forecast is in our favor as of now and we should have beautiful 80 degree days. Mark your calendar for the Homecoming events shown below that are upcoming throughout the week of 9/20, including an in-person community conversation with our Superintendent, Dr. Marrero, on September 22 at 5 PM in our auditorium.
|
|
|
|
| Have a Commander Kind of Week! |
|
Tiffany Almon
Proud Principal
She, her, hers and why they matter
tiffany_almon@dpsk12.org
|
|
EMAIL ME REGISTER DONATE VISIT OUR SITE PARENT PORTAL
|
|
|
| 14px;”>Athletics:
| UPDATES |
-
Homecoming Week: The theme for Homecoming week is Hollywood movies. You can find the schedule for homecoming week here. Please note, there is no attendance restriction to attend the Homecoming Dance this year.
-
Healthy Kids Colorado Survey: This fall, JFK students will take the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey (HKCS). It is an important survey about student health and behavior. The survey is optional and anonymous. The survey results will help state health agencies, your school, and community groups. The results will also help plan programs and services for youth. This survey was created in-part by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Colorado Departments of Education (CDE), Human Services (CDHS), Public Safety (CDPS) and Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). These groups provide funding to the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus to conduct the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey in schools biennially. This project has been approved by your school district and the Colorado Multiple Institutional Review Board (COMIRB). Students will receive the survey during class time and are instructed to answer the questions or leave the survey blank. Students who are not completing the survey will do other schoolwork during the survey time. We encourage you to discuss the topic with your child and share your views on their choice to participate. For more information about the study and to view a copy of the survey, please visit our website at http://www.healthykidscolo.org or call the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey Director, Dr. Ashley Brooks-Russell, at 303-724-8437. For questions regarding IRB approval, please contact COMIRB at 303-724-1055.
-
Picture Day Retakes: Picture Day Retakes are taking place on September 28th. Picture order forms can be picked up in the main office. You can also order photos from mylifetouch.com.
-
Library Website: Did you know that our school library has a new website? Every month, our Library Technician will share a newsletter which contains important resources and opportunities that are available to our students. Check out this month’s newsletter here.
|
| GET INVOLVED |
- Listening and Learning Session: Do you want your voice heard by our superintendent? Please click here to take his feedback survey and then attend our 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!
- 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.
|
| |
| RESOURCES |
- 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
|
| |
|
|
|
| COUNSELING UPDATES |
- Programs to come: Dare to DREAM group, STARS mentoring, and Voz y Corazon art group
- Upcoming ICAP dates for Semester 1: Oct. 5, Oct. 19, Nov. 2, Nov 16, Dec. 7
- Counselors are partnering with Advisory teachers this year to support students through career exploration while staying on track to graduate!
- Counselors are meeting with students 1-on-1 to support with social-emotional, academic, and postsecondary needs.
- Counselors have a new protocol for students to see us! Check-out the flyer here!
- A slide deck will be shared with all Advisories to inform students of this updated protocol on September 22nd. View the presentation here!
|
|
|
| HEALTH AND SAFETY |
|
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.
|
| IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES |
- 9/20 — Homecoming Week
- 9/22 — Powder Puff Game & Homecoming Bonfire
- 9/22 — Listening and Learning Session with Dr. Alex Marrero
- 9/24 — Homecoming Parade
- 9/25 — Homecoming Dance
For more information on any of these events check jfk.dpsk12.org
|
| EVENT CALENDAR
|
|
HELPFUL LINKS
|
|
  
JOHN F. KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL
2855 S. LAMAR ST. DENVER, CO 80227
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
