All parents are invited! Join the discussion.

There will be NO high school instruction on Tuesday, March 26th,  due to the Abitur 5.PK.

Wednesday, March 27th will be a regular school day, however some classes in the morning might be cancelled or substituted to facilitate the remaining exams.

Dear All JFKS Parents, Students, Teachers, and Principals,

As many of you know, our all-campus Garden Day, April 6th  beginning at 10 a.m., is quickly approaching.

We need as many hands as possible so bring your children and entire family along!

Please bring your favorite gardening tools and gloves from home. Sausages will be on the grill and drinks provided. Cake donations are happily accepted!

Let´s get together and do something as a community for the JFK School.  We can’t wait to see you there!

Your Parent Council Board

Final thoughts for the 2019 Ski Trip:

If they took full advantage of this year’s ski trip, your children benefitted in multitudinous ways over the last two weeks. Everyone excelled on the slopes but so many polished their skills of courtesy, for example at the dinner table where they quickly moved from a mentality of “French Fries? Gimme!!” to “Can I serve you a plate of goulash?” or “Please, let me take that empty soup dish for you!” Don’t believe us? Ask your child!

They experienced meeting deadlines in various ways, especially for the teacher-led room inspections. Many children took the brave leap of performing “on stage” in class activities for their classmates’ amusement, while others worked behind the scenes to support teachers and classmates alike. For example, this teacher benefitted greatly from an injured top-tier skier who served as “caboose” in our quickly advancing intermediate group, allowing me to give more attention to individual students. Many students even surprised us by showing their appreciation for the various efforts of the teachers, whether serious or silly, sagacious or solace-giving.

Too much space is needed for the different contributions of all the teachers, but two truly warrant mention. Not only is Herr Hoedt our most experienced and effective teacher of the beginning skiers (many “beginners” were enjoying the black slopes by trip’s end!), but he also spent numerous hours taking your children to doctor’s offices or the hospital, often arriving late for dinner after hours of sitting in waiting rooms, keeping your children company.

Both Mr. Lang and Mr. Weiss took a moment at our final dinner to reveal just how much Herr Mueller does for the two weeks we are in Austria (and the months of planning beforehand), offering direction to students and his teacher team alike. Perhaps Mr. Weiss said it best when he described Herr Mueller as the quintessential model for what is great about the Kennedy School and its mission of bringing the two cultures together in mutual understanding. It is not always easy and certainly there are challenges along the way, but the spontaneous and thundering standing ovation offered by the students confirmed their appreciation for him and the outstanding job he did again this year. We are all lucky to be a part of this experience! Thank you for sharing your children with us!

-C. Felt

The estimated arrival time of our 8th graders and the JFKS staff is 17:30.

Friendly reminder: Please do not block the ramp entrance or exit when parking and allow for the buses to safely drive up the ramp by staying on the sidewalk! Thank you!

Introduction
The ski trip is inching its way to the finish. We have only three days left of skiing and one long day of travel to Berlin. From the perspective of the JFKS teacher team, the trip is so far another successful investment in building community among this class of 8th grade JFKS students.

I thought, however, it might be rather interesting to hear about the trip from the students’ perspectives. Thus, I asked students to share an interesting memory about life on the ski trip. Here are some of the stories they shared. They provide a picture of what is on the mind of our students.

Jason Lang
One of the JFKS Teachers and Ski Instructors

Student Stories
“Frau Schihan has amazing glasses. Each of the lenses is a different shape. Also, each side is a different color.” – (Alyssa R.)
“I was so tired when we went to the city on our ski-free day that I ran into a wall.” – (Aerin H.)
“I think it is cool how it is so organized and how every morning the “Bergwelt” greets us in the morning.” – (Magdalena B.)
“My room has learned to play Poker.” – (Lara S.)
“My ski teacher fell off the ski run.” – (Carl N.)
“I have been trying to convince one student of the reality of climate change.” – (Santiago R.)
“I don’t even how it happened. I just flipped over and I tried lifting my leg and my ski was not on it.” – (Maddie R.)
“In the 30 minutes Herr Hoedt and I were sitting in the kids waiting room at the doctor’s office, Herr Hoedt managed to break off the hand and head of the skeleton model. The top of the head fell and landed on the ground, which then knocked the brain out.” – (Shilpa L.)
“Teddy made me throw-up because of a water-drinking competition.” – (Beatrix H.)
“We were sliding through the forest with Mr. Weiss on the ‘shortcut’ during the hiking trip.” – (Chloe P.)
“Mr. Greeves likes to take our Pombär.” – (Julian K.)
“Our room almost burnt down due to a deodorant bomb.” – (Sam W.)
“I overhead someone say, ‘Be careful that the cows don’t spit on you.’” – (Vincent L.)
“Someone ate the daisy flower that I gave them.” – (Ryan R.)
“I went over a bump and then I went shoulder first into a hill.” – (Nicholas K.)
“Meine Gruppe wird Schneewitchen (Herr Nagel) und die sieben Zwerge gennant.“ – (Luzie B.)
“Due to an Austrian Dwarf onslaught on our bus on the way home from the ski hill near the railroad tracks, I almost died because I didn’t put my helmet on backwards. I forgot to be “safe and sexy”. – (Milo K.)
“Mr. Lang sounds like Count Dracula from Sesame Street when he is counting for push-ups.” –(Dustin P.)
“The weather Friday was icky and gross and disgusting and wet and uncomfortable.” – (Ada L.)
“We have been eating a lot of ramen.” Mr. Lang asked, ‘Why?’ “Because it is really good.” –(Livia H.)
“Fridie M. looks like Rudolf the Rednose Reindeer” – (Philina C.)
“I almost skied over a mouse today.” – (Ayodeji O.)
“I smell a lot of deodorant that my roommates spray because of the sewage aroma in the room.” – (Cade B., Ben W., Deacon M., Jacob C., Johannes G.)
“I was peacefully skiing down the slope, doing nothing wrong, when suddenly, I felt like an elephant ran into me. I tumbled through the air and landed very roughly on the icy snow. Then Herr Willner climbed a long way back up the hill to rescue me, and he seemed to almost have a heart attack when he arrived.” – (Kira G.)
“I like story-time in the evening.” – (Cade B.)
“Kristian keeps skiing past me and calling me a loser.” – (Micah H.)
Sarah’ Question: “Why are there plates under the bed? Answer: We just laughed. Our birthday surprise was ruined. – (Rhea T.)
“Another group visiting, locked us out of our room.” –(Annalena H.)
“Everyone needs their own space.” – (Priya K.)
“I was hiking and I tripped on a twig. Then I did a front roll down the hill and twisted my knee. Then I went to the doctors, Herr Mueller told me that it was just a bruise and gave me “magic healing cream.” – (Kira G.)
“I went to the doctor’s office because I had a cramp. They gave me a magnesium pill and it was pretty big. And they said “auflosen”. I just put the pill in my mouth and then drank water. Then I was sick.” – (Amir A.)
“Everybody needs to calm down.” – (Rileigh M.)
“Rona looks like she has a palm tree on her head.” – (Coco L.)
“There is a lot of drama.”– (Rona B.)
“Legend says that the J. L. Foundation supports the whole ski trip.” – (Noah D.)
“Ned [alias] feels rejected by me because I declined his love for me.” – (Jules P. [Alias]) … Another student commenting on the situation: “I think Ned is rejecting Jules.” – (Sam K.)
“Madame Pfaff screamed during the room inspection because our room had a rancid sink. It was demolished by six hyper and snotty boys.” – (Justus F.)
“On the first day, C. always released gas.” – (Frederik K.)
“Mr. Felt made fun of a British accent while announcing the winner for a lip-sync battle competition. – (Maya P.)
“I fell and then it was bad.” – (Oona D.)
“After the Room Cleaning Inspection took place, it took 30 seconds again for our room to be trashed again.” – (Nico H.)

While the gray, wet windy weather may have subdued spirits on the bus (providing a relatively quiet ride down for thankful teachers!), the excitement of new rooms, fun roommates and the stunning alpine scenery provided reason for plenty of joy and anticipation.

We were especially proud of the patience of our students in several ways on our “opening day.” It is not fun to stand in the long line at the ski rental place, finding that “perfect fit” of a snowboot and the right size skis. Nevertheless, the process was the smoothest in many years. We were surprised when Herr Mueller reported at dinner that the rental place had praised our students for their cooperation and good behavior – what a tribute!

The next challenge: blinding and quick-falling snow that prevented one of our cars from making it up the slope, and forcing the local busses to put chains on their tires before continuing their ascent. Herr Hoedt was in the middle of it all, slipping and sliding in a heroic trek up the hill, knowing that the lunch bags in his car must be delivered.

Once again the students had to be patient, not only during our two assessment runs but also with the constant snowfall and cold. But new groups were formed during lunch and most everybody enjoyed several afternoon runs. A few card games and table tennis matches provided further entertainment in the recreation room before Wiener Schnitzel and hausgemachter Apfel Strudel provided sustenance for a new day. 8f provided the first evening program.

We woke to fresh snow in the valley on Tuesday! The first full day of skiing provided the reward for the challenges of previous days as well as a chance to truly witness some of the talent of this 8th grade class. Many students of varying levels got a taste of fresh powder, and the fresh powder got a taste of one of our girls’ skis! (To be returned to the rental shop when discovered sometime in July!) Many teachers remarked how students with outstanding skills have gone out of their way to help and support fellow students with growing skills, this writer included!

After lasagna this evening, a raucous lip sync contest hosted by 8b ensued with various choreographical wonders, laughs and hearty applause. After long debate, the judges gave the edge to 8c who performed a rousing rendition of “Country Roads.” Must be the mountains.

We all look forward to a sound sleep tonight! C. Felt

Note to parents of ES Students: We welcome older elementary students to attend, but parents should be aware that there is some violence in the show.

The JFKS Flea Market is back on the Calendar!!
Save the date:

Sunday, May 26, 2019 from 10:00 to 15:00

We are very excited to keep this tradition going. We will need volunteers to help with organizing as well as help on the day of. If you are available to help please send an email to .

More details coming soon.