JFK Parent News
Edition 5, Issue 6
Greetings, JFK Families!
We are moving right along in third quarter of the school year. We celebrate the fact we have been able to stay in school face-to-face since August! That is an accomplishment! It could not have been done without the cooperation and support of you with maintaining the daily COVID precautions for school – masks, socially distance and sanitizing/washing hands frequently. We need to continue these precautions until the end of the year.
There will be no school on Monday and Tuesday, February 15-16 for President’s Day break. We will resume school again on February 17th.
Classrooms will have Valentine’s Day parties February 12th. Special snacks and activities are being planned by each teacher. No valentines will be brought to school and exchanged by students.
Please remind your student daily to bring their mask. Supplies of masks are dwindling.
We have lots of new families at JFK. Please do not drop students off at school before 7:30. There is no supervision and to maintain social distancing, we cannot have large numbers of students waiting in the front entrance. Supervision begins at 7:30 and doors open then. We do not want anyone waiting outside in the cold.
Parent/teacher conferences were a success. That is a valued time by staff to be able to share with you successes of your child.
Have a wonderful month! Spring is around the corner!
Patty Vincent
Principal
February Dates to Remember
Valentine Class Parties
No treats or Valentines from home, thanks!
Presidents' Day Break
Kindergarten/Jr KG Registration OPEN
Inclement Weather Information
School Related Cancellations and Postponements
It is important to be prepared for the winter storms and extreme cold that every South Dakota winter brings. Please read the following information so you are aware of the procedures for school related cancellations and postponements.
District leaders rely on experts from the National Weather Service and city/county officials when we make decisions on school cancellations, late starts or early dismissals.
Cancelling School/Late Start
When a severe storm hits the area, or is forecast, we start contacting local officials as early as 3:00 a.m. We communicate with our Operational Services Department, the Weather Bureau, the City Street Department, Sioux Falls Transit, and our transportation contractors. It is our goal to decide whether or not to cancel school by 5 a.m. to allow time for parking lots and sidewalks to be cleared, food services to prepare meals and the bus company to begin operations. In the event that school needs to be cancelled or delayed, families will be alerted via a ParentLink phone call. These calls will generally be sent between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. to accommodate families whose children are picked up by buses at 6:45 a.m. Announcements are also made on the District’s website, Sioux Falls School District social media sites (Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SiouxFallsSchoolDistrict/ and Twitter: twitter.com/SFSchools ) the SFSD app, and over the local radio and television stations.
Because the public schools have a limited rural area, it is often possible for Sioux Falls to have school when nearby towns may not.
Early Dismissal
Storms occasionally move in during the day, making it necessary to assess whether or not to dismiss school early. We choose early dismissal only under the most extreme circumstances. In most cases, it is safer for students to remain at school due to the need for transportation and proper supervision. In the rare instances when schools are dismissed early, families will receive a ParentLink phone call and the information will appear on the District’s website at www.sf.k12.sd.us, and our Sioux Falls School District social media sites (Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SiouxFallsSchoolDistrict/ and Twitter: twitter.com/SFSchools ). Announcements are also made over the local radio and television stations.
Notifications refer to dismissal “one hour early” or “two hours early” because of the number of different building schedules. In addition to noting the early dismissal, announcements about evening activities are normally included.
It is very important that every family has a plan for early dismissal. Be sure your student knows where to go in case no one is at home. Parents/Guardians are urged to talk with their student about his/her safety during winter weather emergencies.
Be Safe This Winter
The school system offers these suggestions concerning cold weather and
emergency situations:
1. Listen for a ParentLink phone call regarding school closings, late starts, or early dismissals. Check the District’s website at www.sf.k12.sd.us for updated information. Follow us on our Sioux Falls School District social media sites (Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SiouxFallsSchoolDistrict/ and Twitter: twitter.com/SFSchools ) for updated information. Announcements will also be made on local radio and television stations. (Please avoid calling schools or the Instructional Planning Center. Phone lines are needed for emergency communications.)
2. Make sure students are properly dressed for predicted weather conditions so they are prepared for walking or waiting for a bus in the cold or for being delayed on a bus in a weather-related situation.
3. Students should not arrive at school until the scheduled time for outdoor staff supervision or the breakfast program begins.
4. Develop a plan and inform your student about where your student will go if school is dismissed early.
5. School officials will use their best judgment about school closings, late starts, or early dismissals, but please remember that a parent has the right to keep children home or to pick them up from school early if they feel weather conditions require this action.
Steps to Take While Waiting for COVID Test Results
How to Get a Library Card
Contact Us!
If your child will be absent or late, please make sure to call the office prior to 8am. We also have an attendance voicemail that you can call any time to report an absence for your child.
If you need assistance in person, please make sure to ring the doorbell on the far left wall of the foyer so that we may assist you through the intercom. If you are dropping off items for your child, please bring them to the table in the foyer, bag them, and put your child's name and room number on the item for delivery. We check the table periodically throughout the morning.
Email: patty.vincent@k12.sd.us
Website: http://www.sf.k12.sd.us/john-f-kennedy/home
Location: 4501 South Holbrook Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
Phone: 6053622784
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jfkelementaryschool