JFK Parent News

JFK Families,

As we enter March, it is time to start thinking about the end of the 2023-2024 school year while preparing for the 2024-2025 year.

In April, our 3rd - 5th grade students will take the South Dakota Smarter Balanced State Assessment. These assessments measure student achievement of our state's standards in the areas of English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science (5th Grade).

Towards the end of April and the beginning of May, our Kindergarten - 5th grade students will take the MAP Assessment for the third time this year. MAP is a District Assessment we use at JFK to provide specific instruction to students based on areas of growth and/or enrichment. Our teachers review the assessment for each student to determine next instructional steps. From Fall to Winter of this school year, JFK ranked 1st and 2nd in the District according to student growth and we are excited to see the continued academic growth all students at JFK will make!

As we look towards the 2024-2025 school year, we will be working on class rosters later in the spring. It is imperative to balance classrooms in areas such as students' academic, social, emotional needs, etc. If you believe you have information about your child that would be necessary for our administration team to know, you may complete the Parent Input Form by printing it from the link below or by getting a paper copy in the JFK Office. Please understand, this is not a teacher request form, and this procedure is different from past years. Our job, as a school and administrative team, is to know our staff and match your child's needs with a teacher while creating appropriate class rosters. The completed Parent Input Form is due to the school office by April 5th, 2024. Parent/Guardian Input Form

Additionally, if you know that your child (KG-4th grade) will not return to JFK next year, please e-mail the JFK Office (SFSDJFKOffice@k12.sd.us) OR fill out the linked Moving form below. Please let us know your child's name and the school you will transfer to. You DO NOT need to know This information helps us as we plan classrooms for next year, and also expedites the records request process for your next school.

Thank you, parents/guardians, for your continued support and teamwork as we work collectively to help all students at JFK succeed.

Sincerely,

Mr. Wright, Principal

Starting Friday, March 1, through March 22nd, JFK is participating in the Everybody Reads initiative with the Siouxland Libraries. This year's theme is "Rain or Shine, Everybody Reads." Students and staff will have the opportunity to fill out raindrops to show the downpour created by our voracious readers!

The Sioux Falls School District will donate $500 to REACH Literacy to each 100,000 books read. Last year, JFK students and staff read 11, 237 books--we hope to surpass that total this year!

The 23-24 JFK Parent Handbook is filled with information about daily routines, general school rules and expectations, as well as the required annual policy notifications.

It is imperative that families who MAY qualify for free/reduced meal prices complete the application each year.

Parents/Guardians will incur meal costs in the 2023-24 school year, unless the Free/Reduced Application is approved based on income guidelines.

Beginning December 4th, the District will be enforcing school board policy. When an account has any amount of negative balance, breakfast will not be able to be charged. Once an account reaches a negative (-)$20 balance, the student will be offered a Smart Snack and a milk rather than a hot lunch and $1 will be charged each time to the student account. Once an account reaches a negative (-)$75 balance, no Smart Snack or meal can be served.

Any student who qualifies for Free/Reduced Meals because of limited family income IS and WILL CONTINUE to receive hot meals. The debt, in question, is accruing because those who earn more than the federally identified income – and/or have not filled out a Free/Reduced Meal Application - are not paying for meals eaten by their child(ren).

https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application

Please see the linked document above if you have a student who is receiving special education services through an IEP.

JFK School Hours are 7:40am-2:25pm

The JFK office is open from 7am-3:45pm Monday-Friday.

Email: joseph.wright@k12.sd.us
Website: https://www.jkes.sf.k12.sd.us/o/jkes
Location: 4501 South Holbrook Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
Phone: 605-362-2784
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jfkelementaryschool/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel