Weekly Family Newsletter: 1/10/22

• Future Commander Info Session: Do you know someone who is interested in attending Kennedy next year? Please invite them to our Future Commander Info Session taking place virtually on Monday, January 10th at 5:30 PM. 

  Our leadership team will be discussing next year's course options, schedule, and what it looks like to experience a day in the life of a Commander. Please come prepared with any specific questions you may have about our school!

  Here is the joining info:

  Link: meet.google.com/dpk-haok-dhc
  Join by phone: ‪(US) +1 530-812-0592‬ PIN: ‪678 681 080‬#

• CSC Meeting: Our most recent CSC meeting was held on 1/4/22. If interested, you can refer to the minutes and slide deck from Tuesday's meeting.
• IMPORTANT RESOURCES TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE AFTER SCHOOL HOURS: The JFK Mental Health & Culture Teams wanted to share important resources for families to utilize in need after school hours.

  How Can You Help Your Teen?

  • LEARN the warning signs/risk factors (what you are doing right now!) 
  • TALK to your teen about depression and suicide 
  • LISTEN to your teen’s concerns 
  • TEACH your teen to stand up for others who are being bullied either by telling a trusted adult or by reporting it anonymously to Safe2Tell 
  • SUPPORT JFK STAFF in school suicide prevention programming (If Necessary) 
  • FIND HELP for your teen, either through JFK staff or outside mental health providers
  • IF EMERGENCY: Call 911 OR Take teen to closest emergency hospital 
  • Make a Safe2Tell Report through their hotline 1-877-542-7233, their website (https://safe2tell.org/), or via app @Safe2TellCO. 
  • Contact Colorado Crisis Services – 24/7 Hotline & Clinics 1-844-493-TALK (8255) or text TALK to 38255 24 hour suicide prevention phone hotlines 
  • Contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline (English and Spanish) 1-800-273-8255 
  • When possible, follow up with JFK’s Mental Health Team. They may complete a Suicide Risk Review (SRR) or Self-Injury Protocol (SII) (Denver Public Schools suicide/self-injury assessments) when school resumes. 

• 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

Futures Football Program: Commander Football is excited for the upcoming season. We are looking for 7th and 8th grade students who are interested in playing for the Kennedy Commanders Futures Team next Fall. Please spread the word if you know anyone who might be interested! Broncos Futures Football was designed to promote the sport of football in Denver Public Schools. The program was developed with the Denver Broncos in 2008. The first official season began in the spring of 2009. We dedicate our resources to the betterment of our students / athletes and encourage all of you to help us build for the FUTURE.

What you need to participate:

• Must an incoming 7th or 8th grade student.

• You must be academically eligible.

• You must have all of the following forms completed and signed by parent (all of these links can be found at tinyurl.com/jfkfuturesprogram): 

  • You must fill out this form

  • Complete the information form

  • Middle School Physical Form English

  • Middle School Physical Form Spanish

  • School Based Healthcare Centers

  • Futures Code of Conduct

  • Futures Football Equipment Agreement

Please contact Coach Horta, Coach Sisneros, or Coach LaGuardia using their contact information listed below:

Coach Horta: victor_horta@dpsk12.net

Coach Sisneros: j_gonzales-sisneros@dpsk12.net

    Cell: 303-669-1792

Coach LaGuardia: michael_laguardia@dpsk12.net

      Phone: 720-423-4426

Health and Safety Protocols:

• Wear a mask over your nose and mouth

  1. Masks will be required for all students, visitors, and staff while in all DPS schools and buildings, regardless of vaccination status. This mask requirement includes times when staff are meeting without students, regardless of vaccination status. 

  2. Masks will not be required outside, since the risk of COVID transmission is significantly lower outdoors. 

  3. Monitor who you eat lunch with and eat lunch outdoors when possible.

• Monitor your symptoms, stay home, and get a COVID test if you are feeling sick

• If a student is in close contact with someone who has contracted the COVID-19 Virus, Nurse Shirley (shirley_sorensen@dpsk12.org) will contact the student and their family.  See COVID-19 Exposure decision tree here for more information.

• Staff and students are exempt from quarantine if you are: 

  • Fully vaccinated without symptoms. It needs to be 2 weeks since the last recommended vaccine dose. 

  • Previously positive in the past 90 days and are without symptoms.

  • Both parties were wearing a mask properly over the mouth and nose at the time of exposure and without symptoms and maintained 3 foot distance between individuals for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24 hour period.

• Denver Health School-Based Clinic is proud to offer the Pfizer COVID vaccine right here on campus.  This vaccine is available to students, families of students, and DPS staff (including 3rd dose if immunocompromised).  To get a vaccine or for more information, make an appointment at 720-423-4355 or walk-in to the clinic.  Protecting our community is our priority.

• 01/10/22 — Future Commanders Parent Info Session

• 1/26/22 — Commander Conversation

• For more information on any of these events check jfk.dpsk12.org

• 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