Weekly Family Newsletter: 4/11/22

• JFK Game Night: 
  Where at? JFK Cafeteria 
  When? Monday, April 11th 
  What Time? 2:45-4pm 
  Entry will be $2, if you bring your own games there will be no charge to enter!
• Spirit Week Schedule: Check out the Spirit Week themes shown here!
• After School Tutoring Postponed: Given the testing schedule we will be postponing after school tutoring until the week of 4/18/22. It will resume on 4/19 and take place after school every Tuesday and Thursday from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm in the JFK Library.
• Senior Parent Meeting: We hosted a senior parent meeting to go over important details pertaining to the last 6 weeks of the school year for the Class of 2022. If you were unable to attend the meeting, you can review the slides from the presentation here.

  We also handed out a Graduation Packet to the seniors which contained the following information:

  • Important Dates
  • Graduation Speech Information
  • Graduation Expectations
  • Graduation Information
    
    If you have any questions pertaining to graduation, please reach out to our graduation coordinator at ashley_frank@dpsk12.net. 
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• Food Pantry: Our Food Pantry has new hours. It will now be each Tuesday from 2:30 to 5 pm. Please note that you MUST have your student’s ID # in order to access the pantry as this resource is only be available to the families of JFK students. Food is available on a first come, first served basis. We ask that you please access the pantry through the staff parking lot doors.

• 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. 

• 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

 Counseling Updates:

• Shea Caballero will be on maternity leave from April 11th through the end of the school year. Her caseload will be divided amongst the other Counseling team members during that time.

  • Joe Naughton and Meghan Martiniere will take over Class of 2021/2022 students while she is gone to ensure that they are prepared for graduation.

    • Meghan Martiniere: A-Ch

    • Joe Naughton: Co-Go

  • Michael Kelly will take over Class of 2025-2023 A-Go students for the remainder of the school year in Room 203. 

• Seniors – Anchors Away Day (April 14th, 9am-11am)

  • Here is the registration link: https://forms.gle/gBNS9UGrixJXwWJi9

  • Four Workshops

    • Apprenticeship “Fair”: Partnering with College and Career Success at DPS we have secured at least 3 representatives from local unions to talk to students interested in obtaining an apprenticeship in a trade after graduation.

    • Resume workshop: For students heading straight into the workforce, and a chance to work with Ms. Aragon to finalize their resume, and possibly work on interview skills if time permits.

    • Financial aid and Scholarships: a final chance to do their FAFSA or CASFA and apply for scholarships.

    • College year 101: a presentation about the experience of your first year on a college campus, for those college-bound students.

• The counseling team will send out Summer School Registration information on April 25th for students who are off track.

Did you know Denver Health is offering mobile vaccine clinics around Denver?

Please call 303-602-6115 before attending any of the Mobile Heath Center vaccination clinics to check for cancellations. See the full schedule at https://den.health/MHC-Schedule. 

Remember, JFK’s own Denver Health clinic offers the vaccine as well! If someone needs an appointment or has general questions, please call our clinic at 720-423-4355 .

• 5/2 — Senior Signing Day

• 5/20 — Senior Checkout

• 5/21 — Senior Parade

• 5/23 — Senior Awards

• 5/25 — Class of 2022 Graduation

• 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