Weekly Family Newsletter: 10/18/21

Posted October 18, 2021

 

   JFK Logo
 

Dear Commander Community,

Thank you so much to those of you who attended virtual conferences and our Fall Choir Conference. Connecting with teachers and attending extracurricular events builds our school to home connection, which is critical to the success of our students. 

If you were unable to attend conferences, please reach out to your student’s teachers by checking Schoology and connecting with them via phone or email addresses shown here. We are hoping to send out Progress Reports for Quarter 1 via email on Friday. 

Students are able to revise and resubmit their assignments up until two weeks prior to the end of the semester. Please encourage your child to submit all of their work so they can receive feedback and earn the best possible grade in each class. Congratulations to those students who attended school on Wednesday, as all of these students had opportunities to either get on track with their competency graduation requirement, get on track with coursework, or meet with the Future Center. 

Transportation Reminder and Update: DPS transportation provides RTD passes for transportation eligible students only, while the City of Denver’s On MY Way! program is providing passes through December and is open to all DPS students to apply. Please note that DPS Transportation does not manage the On MY Way! Passes. On MY Way! passes are accessible through the RTD app. Learn more about the program here. If you have any questions about On MY Way! passes, contact Mikhail Vafeades at mikhail.vafeades@denvergov.org.

Reminder from last week: Parents, we need your help teaching our students to create healthy habits when using technology. Encourage your student to unplug from their cell phones and their Chromebooks at night; and, store their devices in an area away from where they sleep. Additionally, refrain from calling and texting your child during the school day. Our teachers are working hard to engage our students in relevant and rigorous learning experiences; and, it causes a significant disruption when students are on their phones and express that they must talk to their parent/guardian. If there is an emergency and you need to contact your child right away, call our main office and we will get you connected asap.

There is no school for students on Monday 10/18 for Teacher Professional Learning. 
Have a Commander Kind of Week!

Tiffany Almon
Proud Principal
She, her, hers and why they matter
tiffany_almon@dpsk12.org
 
EMAIL ME MEET WITH YOUR COUNSELOR  DONATE VISIT OUR SITE PARENT PORTAL
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UPDATES

  • Take Command of Your Future Month: Take Command of Your Future Month officially kicked off on October 1st! John F. Kennedy High School is excited to partner with DPS for Career and College Success Month to celebrate the postsecondary achievements and goals of our students. Please join us throughout the month of October as we explore and highlight the career and college successes in our community.

    Check out the AMAZING events taking place throughout the month of October at this link! One of the events taking place this month is Free College Application Day. Free App day will take place at JFK on Wednesday and Thursday in students English classes. Please reach out to Emily Weiss for more information: eweiss@denverscholarship.org.

  • Horror Film Festival: Students have until Oct 29th to submit films! Please note there is a $5 Dollar Entry Fee Per Submission but everyone who submits will receive tickets to our Drive In Horror Festival on November 5th. There are also prizes for the winners of each category.

    You can access more information and submit your films here.

     

  • Instrumental Fall Concert: Concerts at JFK are back!  We would like to invite you to our first instrumental music concert of the school year next Thursday, October 21st, at 6:00 PM in the auditorium!  Admission is free and everyone is welcome!  Masks are required.  Please come support our incredibly talented musicians as the band program puts on their first Fall concert in over 10 years and we are so excited to be playing for you!

  • Trick or Treat Street: John F Kennedy is holding their annual Halloween Trick-or-Treat street event! This is an event that is held for the whole community and we would love for you to come. 

    Location: JFK High School Blacktops Address: 2855 S Lamar St, Denver, CO 80227

    Date: October 28, 2021 Time: 4:30 to 6:30 P.M.

    Fee: $3 per Trick-or-Treater

    This is an event where kids get to play lots of games to win candy! Wear your costumes and get ready to play some games. We hope to see you there!

  • Hocus Pocus Drive In Movie: Our Hocus Pocus Drive In Movie will take place after Trick or Treat Street on October 28th at 7 PM. 

  • JFK is Hiring: JFK has a position that is currently open. Please visit careers.dpsk12.org to read the full job description.

    • Paraprofessional – Job ID: 49613: The Secondary Special Education paraprofessional supports the educational, behavioral, social-emotional, physical and daily living needs of middle and high school level students with disabilities in integrated, resource, self-contained and community settings. 
GET INVOLVED
 
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
 
 
FUTURE CENTER UPDATES

Tuesday 10/19 – Thursday 10/21

  • Free College Application Days!! Watch this video of Governor Polis explaining free application day 
  • On Thursday 10/21 you might get called down to the JFK room to check in with the process.

To Do’s

  • Visit Future Center!
  • Sign up for an appointment to complete the FAFSA/CASFA
  • Review the “How to Apply to College List”
  • Look at your “FAFSA Planner”
  • Create FSA ID (watch this video to learn how

Please read the full Future Center Newsletter 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
  • 10/18 — No School 
  • 10/21— Fall Instrumental Concert
  • 10/28 — Trick or Treat Street
  • 10/28 — Hocus Pocus Drive In Movie
  • 10/29 — Submission Deadline for Horror Film Festival
  • 11/5 — Horror Film Festival Screening

    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