Weekly Family Newsletter: 2/28/22

Posted February 28, 2022

 

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Para leer este mensaje en español, haga clic aquí.

Dear Commander Community,

With all of the curve balls thrown at us this year, I am hoping that the Accelerated Learning Asynchronous Remote day coming up on Wednesday provides our students with the time you need to catch up on work and dig deeper into your course content. See below for student expectations on Asynchronous Remote Learning Day.

Please read the latest health and safety guidance sent out in the DPS Weekly newsletter. This  slide deck was presented during your advisory class last week, please review if you have not already. We are encouraging students and staff who choose to follow the recommendation to wear masks to wear a KN95 or N95 instead of a cloth mask, since the KN95 and N95 masks are the only mask type that can provide two-way protection. If you need KN95 masks, please let a member of the admin team know.

SHOUT OUTS:

  • Honor Platoon placed 1st and 4th in the Color Guard Competition out of 13 Teams and Regulation without Arms placed 3rd out of 11 Teams at the Dane Balcon Drill Meet. The Color Guard Team from JFK that placed 1st was composed of Cadets Josie Miller, Jazmin Espinoza, Vanessa Covarrubias and Xemena Robledo. The Honor Platoon team placing third in Unarmed Regulation was commanded by Mikayla Miller.

  • Students earned 44 courses worth of credits CLEP testing this past week. Shout out to the students who worked so hard on the CLEP test.

  • Shout out to the Girls’ Basketball team for making it to the playoffs this year!

March 2nd will be an Asynchronous Remote Learning day to provide students with a focused opportunity to ensure they are on track with their coursework and ICAP by the end of Quarter 3. Student expectations during their time working remotely are to:

  • Complete all coursework prior to the Quarter 3 deadline — 3/10/22

  • Complete any outstanding ICAP lessons

  • Meet with the Future Center (optional)

  • Email teachers with any questions or for support

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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TAKE COMMAND OF YOUR SCHOOL YEAR
  • Schedule for Next Week: The schedule for the week is as follows:

    Monday (2/28): Green Day
    Tuesday (3/1): Blue Day 
    Wednesday (3/2):
     Asynchronous Day
    Thursday (3/3): Green Day
    Friday (3/4): Blue Day 

  • Senior Events: More details to come!
    • Senior Cap and Gown Pictures will be taken on March 8th between 9:30a – 1:30p in the JFK Auditorium. Please select a picture appointment time and view packages that will be available using the link below. Students will use loaner cap and gowns for their photos.

      There is a $15 sitting fee that will need to be paid when scheduling your time. The $15 can be applied to your picture purchase as a coupon code. Picture proof link and coupon code will be sent by email and available to view Friday 3/11 at 6pm.

      Sitting Fee is nonrefundable.

      Click here for Event Description and Packages Available

    • Senior Checkout will take place on May 20th
    • Senior Parade will take place on May 21st
    • Senior Awards will place on May 23rd
  • ELA PAC Meeting: We want to invite you to our second ELA PAC meeting of the year on March 3rd at 5:30 PM online. The information to join us is:

    meet.google.com/sxw-boro-ehn

    (US) +1 319-449-0076‬
    PIN: ‪257 455 289‬#

    ELA PAC meetings are for the parents of our English learners. We will be having Movimiento Poder attend as guest speakers to discuss their history and what they do. We hope to see you there!

  • Commander Conversation Town Hall Meeting: We want to invite you to attend our virtual town hall this week. We will be meeting on Wednesday, March 2nd at 5:00 PM. 

    Joining Info:

    meet.google.com/eph-ixyy-dvs

    Join by phone

    ‪(US) +1 650-817-8449‬ PIN: ‪990 578 846‬#

  • Commander Connection Meeting: We are hosting another Commander Connection Meeting on March 9th. This month's meeting will be held virtually and you can find the joining information below:

    Video call link: meet.google.com/gmk-ahpd-pze

    Join by phone

    ‪(US) +1 530-350-6489‬
    PIN: ‪920 709 128‬#

    Our mission is to support the growth and success of Kennedy by building a strong network of parents and guardians. Join us if you: 

    • Want to help JFK raise funds for student activities through concession sales
    • Want to recognize JFK Teachers successes
    • Want to help recruit more families into our network

      We hope to see some new faces there!
  • Healthy Start Times Survey: Please share your feedback through the Healthy Start Times Options survey, which is open now through March 9. Learn more about the three options at HealthyStartTimes.dpsk12.org, and watch this short video.

  • Apply to the District Accountability Committee by March 11: Do you have a passion or desire to help improve DPS by serving on an Advisory Board? Apply to the District Accountability Committee (DAC) by March 11. The DAC is open to DPS parents, staff and community members. The DAC application is available in the Consent Decree languages — access the one-pager in your language for the link to apply.

    The mission of the DAC is to serve as an advisory committee to the Denver Board of Education on matters such as budget priorities, SIP, charter school applications and other matters outlined in state statute or identified by the Board and superintendent.

  •  

TAKE COMMAND OF YOUR INVOLVEMENT
  • Parent Involvement:
    • 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
  • 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. 
  • 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
 
 
TAKE COMMAND OF YOUR FUTURE

 Counseling Updates:

  • Seniors who still need to demonstrate competency will take the WorkKeys exam on either Thursday, March 3rd or Friday, March 4th. This is the last assessment opportunity to demonstrate competency. 

    • Counselors also hosted an information session for these seniors on 2/24 during Advisory. 

    • Counselors sent an email to these seniors and to their parents/guardians with details regardings WorkKeys and the Transition Capstone as ways to meet competency by graduation.

  • Wednesday, March 1st is ICAP Day in Advisory. Attendance is vital to stay on track with this graduation requirement.

    • Shout-Out to the top 5 Advisors with the highest ICAP completion rate!

      • Askew 100%

      • Artemas  93%

      • King 92%

      • Placido 92%

      • Murray 92%

 
TAKE COMMAND OF YOUR HEALTH & SAFETY

On Feb. 9, the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment announced that the public health order requiring masks in schools will expire at the end of the day on Friday, Feb. 25. 

Masks are still required in all indoor school settings through that date. 

The decision by DDPHE means that, beginning Monday, Feb. 28, masks will no longer be required, but will be strongly recommended for all students, staff, and visitors across DPS. 

Our health partners made this decision based on high rates of immunity and lower rates of severe disease.

We know that we are still in unprecedented times and that this announcement may cause many different emotions to arise amongst our families. We are tremendously grateful to each and every one of you for coming together during the pandemic to follow the guidelines set forth by our health agencies. Please know, JFK is still committed to doing our best to adapt to these changes, while helping to ensure the healthiest conditions in our schools and worksites. Here are some examples of how we are still maintaining the health and safety of our students and staff across the district:

  • DPS is in full compliance, across all schools and worksites, with the city’s vaccine mandate.
  • DPS has and will continue to closely with our state and local health partners, including DDPHE and Denver Health. Our COVID-19 plan and procedures continue to be guided by their medical and public health expertise.
  • JFK continues to share information about vaccination and covid-19 testing opportunities in the community.

If you or your family members have not yet been vaccinated or boosted, please consider doing so as soon as possible, as it remains the best way to protect our children, families and neighbors. Thank you, again, for your partnership and understanding throughout all of the changes and challenges of this pandemic.

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES
  • 3/2 — Kennedy Accelerated Learning Day

  • 3/2 — Commander Conversation Town Hall

  • 3/9 — Commander Connection PTSA Meeting

  • 3/3 — ELA PAC Meeting

  • 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