Commander Communicator: 4/24/22

Posted April 24, 2022

Weekly Commander Communicator graphic

Dear Commander Community,

Please check out updates from the Collaborative School Committee meeting here to learn how we will continuously improve our school through community engagement and focusing on creating and sustaining joyous, relevant, and rigorous learning experiences for our students throughout the 22-23 school year. Additionally, during our Commander Conversation Town Hall meeting we discussed next steps for our Baseball Field, see here for details on next steps for the improvement of our field.

Updates and Reminders

SAT and P/SAT 9/10 Testing make ups

SAT — makeups will be held on 4/26 — Out of 213 students assigned to the test, there are 26 make ups. 

PSAT 10 — makeups will be held on 4/27 — Out of 190 students assigned to the test, there are 54 students needing make ups.  

PSAT 9 — makeups will be held on 4/28 — Out of 231 students assigned to the test, there are 49 students needing make ups.  

If you missed testing during the week of 4/11/22, please check your email on Monday to determine where and what time you need to report for the makeup testing. 

Updates from the Future Center:

Junior students are asked to complete the Junior Survey so the Future Center can best serve you next year as Seniors! Parents, please remind your student to complete this survey link as soon as possible to best prepare for Senior year! 

Seniors! You might be eligible for the DSF scholarship, this is a promise scholarship meaning if you meet the requirements and apply YOU WILL GET THE MONEY! The deadline is May 1st! Please complete the application and see if you’re eligible at this link. Students can stop by room 305 or reach out to the Future Center if you have any questions!

Summer learning opportunities for students, please check them out here. 

Bell times for next year found here

SHOUT OUTS:

  • Prom was a huge success, our upperclassmen had a fabulous time at the Enchanted Garden theme Prom at Church Ranch Event Center. Teachers and Parents, please contact Ms O if you are interested in being on the planning committee for Prom 2023! Check out pictures from prom here

  • On Thursday 4/21, JFK's Student Board of Education class competed at the annual Challenge 5280 Summit at the Civic Center downtown. This year, students focused their policy around creating sustainable structures in advisory class. Their full policy proposal can be found here. 

  • This weekend, Ms O took ten students to Washington DC on an EF Tours trip. They are exploring Smithsonian Museums, the National Mall, visiting the halls of Congress, witnessing the changing of the guard at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and more! 

  • Please congratulate our FBLA State Leadership Conference attendees and competitors (from left to right) Miguel Esquivel-Tiscareno, Aaron Banuelos-Garcia, Michelle Hoong, Hunter Coble, Patrick Macumber, Michael Tran and Miracle Morris. At the conference our chapter was awarded the Membership Achievement (matching or increasing membership from the previous year) and the Connect Ten Award (increasing membership by 10 members or more over the previous year.)  Students took part in the competitions, workshops, a hypnotist show, swimming, the exercise room and more!  In addition, Aaron took first place in the State for his Political Science test.  That gives him the opportunity to attend the FBLA National Leadership Conference in Chicago this summer.  

Please read the updates and reminders below to prepare for the week ahead. 

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
  • Early Bird Registration: Early Bird Registration for the 22-23 School will open May 2nd and run through May 20th. All returning students must register for the following school year! 

    You can complete the registration steps in your Parent Portal account. If you do not have a Parent Portal account, please follow these instructions in English and Spanish in order to create one. Parent Portal is a useful tool that can be used throughout the year to keep up on your student’s grades and attendance. 

    Although we are only offering registration through the Parent Portal this year, we will be offering an in person event to help guide families through the online process. Please join us on Saturday, May 7th between 9 am and 1 pm if you need help completing your online registration! It would help speed up the process if you create a parent portal account prior to the event.

    Any parent that completes their registration (whether online in their home or online at the school) in the month of May will be entered into a drawing for a Google Home and a $50 Walmart gift card. There will be 3 winners total!

    *Please note that students will not receive their schedules until the beginning of the 22-23 school year.*

    If you have questions please contact Blanca Lobo at 720-423-4320 or email blanca_lobo1@dpsk12.net.  

  • Future Commander Welcome Event: Do you know anyone who is attending Kennedy next year? Please invite them to our Future Commander Welcome Event on May 12th from 5-6:30 pm. 

    Activities: School Tours, Meet Coaches, Family Dinner, Student Performances, & Registration for the 22-23 School Year

    Date: Thursday, May 12th

    Time: 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM

    Location: JFK Blacktop, 2855 S. Lamar St Denver, CO 80227 *Park in student parking lot off of Brown Pl*

  • Summer Concurrent Enrollment Courses: The Higher Education Initiatives and Regional Summer School teams are excited to announce the courses for concurrent enrollment summer school are available. Concurrent enrollment courses help students gain access to free college credits, saving time and money on their path toward career and college. Content areas include: English, math, sociology, ethnic studies, literature, women's studies, chicano/a studies, and history.  Click here for more information.
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:

  • Registration for the DPS Regional Summer School program is now open! All details of the program are outlined in the form. The deadline to register is May 30th, 2022. https://tinyurl.com/JFKRSS2022

  • Are you interested in earning FREE COLLEGE CREDIT?? DPS is offering students the opportunity to take 1 Concurrent Enrollment college course this summer! If you are interested, please see the flyer at the link below, speak to your parent/guardian for permission, and email your School Counselor by FRIDAY, MAY 13 with your top 2 courses of interest. If either course of interest has a pre-requisite of college readiness in English and/or Math, please email your School Counselor by FRIDAY, 4/22 so that we can add you to next week's Accuplacer test administration. This test gives you the opportunity to meet those pre-requisites.

  • Shea Caballero is on maternity leave from April 11th through the end of the school year. Her caseload has been divided amongst the other Counseling team members during that time.
    • Joe Naughton and Meghan Martiniere have taken 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 has taken over Class of 2025-2023 A-Go students for the remainder of the school year in Room 203.

  • Ibonne Pineda's counseling grant position was projected to end in June 2022. She will be transitioning to a new role within DPS and her last day at JFK will be Friday, April 29th. Students on her caseload will continue to receive support through the mental health and counseling staff. Ms. Pineda wishes you all a successful end to this school year and is so glad to have been a part of the Commander family for three years!

  • Here is the link to the Summer CE Flyer: https://tinyurl.com/DPSSummerCE

    Here are the School Counselor email addresses:

    1. Michael Kelly (Last names A-Go): michael_kelly2@dpsk12.net

    2. Joe Naughton (Last names Gr-N): joe_naughton@dpsk12.net

    3. Meghan Martiniere (Last names O-Z): meghan_martiniere@dpsk12.net 

     

 
TAKE COMMAND OF YOUR HEALTH & SAFETY

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 .

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES
  • 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

   EVENT CALENDAR

 

HELPFUL LINKS

JOHN F. KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL

2855 S. LAMAR ST. DENVER, CO 80227