Weekly Family Newsletter: 9/27/21

• Accuplacer: Counselors will be proctoring the Accuplacer with all seniors who have not shown college readiness on September 28, 29, 30. Accuplacer is a testing tool used by Denver Public Schools and colleges to determine if students are college ready.  Students who are considered college  ready (see score measures below) are able to take credit bearing courses in their program of study immediately upon entering college.  Students who are not considered college-ready must take remediation courses first. REMEDIATION COURSES IN COLLEGE ARE EXPENSIVE AND MAY COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.  This Accuplacer Diagnostic assessment can help you identify skills needed to become college ready or prove you are already college ready and check off one of three DPS requirements for graduation.  

• Senior Shirts: Senior Class of Shirts are now on sale and can be purchased with the school treasurer. Shirts are $15.

• 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 with code EVT86948Q.

• DPS Your Voice/Tu Voz Student, Family, and Team DPS Surveys: The DPS Your Voice/Tu Voz Student, Family, and Team DPS Surveys are a chance for students, families, and staff to share about their experiences in DPS. Responses to the survey inform decisions on how we can better serve our DPS community. 
   
  The first survey of the 2021-22 school year will be available on Monday, Sept. 27. Student surveys will be sent to their DPS email address and a link to the survey for families will be sent to the parent/guardian email on file as well as posted in the Parent Portal. Please submit your feedback to help our district!

• Collaborative School Committee (CSC): We held this month's CSC meeting on September 21st. If you would like to access the recorded meeting click here or click here to read the minutes.

• 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. 

• 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

• Counselors will be proctoring the Accuplacer with all seniors who have not shown college readiness on September 28, 29, 30. 
• Counselors are writing letters of recommendations for seniors who have applied to the Questbridge scholarship.
• Voz y Corazon art group began September 21st. We are looking for 3 more students who would like to participate! See Mrs. Caballero in Room 203 for more information.
• JFK is partnering with BVIS and Grant Ranch through STARS mentoring program! We are in need of 15-20 JFK students who would like to mentor 7th and 8th graders at our feeder middle schools. See Mrs. Caballero if you are interested!

Same as last week:

• 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!

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.

• 9/27 — Teacher Professional Development Day (No School)
• 9/28 —Picture Day Retakes
• 9/30 — JFK Alumni Meeting
• 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