page background

Kennedy Sunday Newsletter

Kennedy Sunday Newsletter

Message from the Principal

Dear Kennedy High School Families and Community Members,


I am writing to share some exciting news and upcoming events that highlight the incredible achievements and vibrant spirit of our school community.


I am absolutely thrilled to announce the outstanding performance of our AP Chemistry team at the American Chemical Society Chemistry Olympiad! In years when we offer AP Chemistry, the top eight students are selected to represent KHS at this prestigious competition. This year, our team ranked among the top 11 out of 41 schools in Orange County—a remarkable achievement! This accomplishment is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and the exceptional instruction they received. Please join me in congratulating the following students: Nathan Tran, Aaron Vo, Mary Abigail Ragay, Seungwon Jeung, Joseph Han, Aika Sales, Grant Kaay, and Irene Kim. We are incredibly proud of each of you!


Looking ahead, we are excited to celebrate Irish Week, starting on Monday, March 17th, with a spirited assembly. Irish Week is a celebration of Kennedy High School and our diverse cultures. We have a fantastic lineup of events and dress-up days planned, including:


  • Monday, March 17th: Green Out (Go Big!)

  • Tuesday, March 18th: Wear your cultural attire.

  • Wednesday, March 19th: Wear the colors of your flag.

  • Thursday, March 20th: Wear Neon/Bright Colors.

  • Friday, March 21st: Silly Sock Green Out.


On Thursday, March 20th, we are also excited to host a special edition of "Coffee with the Principal" focusing on the long-standing traditions of Kennedy High School. For example, did you know that I have a rocking chair in my office that is a replica of the one that John F. Kennedy used in the White House? The chair was gifted to Kennedy High School from the Kennedy family! This and other fascinating Kennedy traditions will be shared during this unique event, which coincides with Irish Week.


We are committed to supporting all our students, including those observing Lent. To that end, we want to remind our families that meatless options are available for breakfast and lunch every day. This provides students with diverse and nutritious choices, ensuring their dietary needs and observances are respected throughout the school day, and especially during this important period of Lent.


Please come out and support our student athletes this week at the following home athletic events:


  • Monday, March 17:

    • Varsity Softball vs Aliso Niguel HS, 3:15 PM

    • Varsity Swimming vs Loara HS, 3:15 PM

  • Tuesday, March 18:

    • Varsity Badminton vs Whitney, 3:15pm

    • Varsity Swimming vs Oxford Academy and Paramount HS, 3:30 PM

  • Thursday, March 20:

    • Varsity Boys' Tennis vs Laguna Hills HS, 3:15 PM

    • Varsity Track & Field vs Santa Ana HS, 3:15 PM

    • Varsity Boys' Golf vs Ocean View @ Lakewood Golf Course, 4:00 PM

    • Varsity Boys' Volleyball vs Santa Ana Valley HS, 4:45 PM

  • Friday, March 21:

    • Varsity Badminton vs Cerritos HS, 3:15 PM

    • Varsity Baseball vs Costa Mesa HS, 3:15 PM

    • Varsity Softball vs Santiago HS of Corona, 3:30 PM


Finally, I want to wish everyone in our Kennedy High School family a restful and relaxing (or exciting and energized, whichever you prefer) Spring Break. We look forward to welcoming our students back on Monday, March 31st, ready to continue an incredible remainder of the school year.


Sincerely,

Poppy Hill-Bonales

Proud Principal, Kennedy High School

Home of the Fighting Irish

Irish Week

Irish! We strongly encourage you to participate in our Irish Spirit Week. Here are the themes below

Coffee with the Principal

Parents! We are having a Special Edition Irish Week themed Coffee with the Principal on Thursday, March 20th at 9:30 a.m in our FACE Center (Room 901). We are looking forward to sharing our longstanding Kennedy traditions to all of you.


You can always join us virtually here!

Announcement from FACES

Hello, Fighting Irish Community! I want to make sure everyone, whether it be a student or parent, is properly recognized for their involvement here on campus. With so many clubs, organizations, and sports, it can be difficult to capture every single thing that happens. If we somehow missed an event or special award that someone received, please let me know!


You can email me at hernandez_dav@auhsd.us with a brief description and photos if possible. I cannot guarantee that every single thing will be posted, however I think this will help us reach larger audiences and potentially engage more Irish! Thank you all for your support.

We are collecting donations of professional attire for our seniors participating in the My Kennedy Story Capstone project. We want to make sure our seniors look good and feel good while presenting!


Please reach out to our FACES, David Hernandez, to coordinate a drop off. Thank you all for your support!

Boys Volleyball Fundraiser

Come out and support our Boys Volleyball team at Chipotle on Tuesday! Make sure to show them the flyer or use code GRAJ7JZ

2024-2025 LCAP Schedule

Our next LCAP meeting will be this Thursday, March 20th at 6:00 p.m. at the AUHSD District Office. If you did not attend the last meeting, that's okay! Moving forward, meetings will be held with specific focus groups related to each LCAP goal. Please speak with your FACES, David Hernandez, for more information!


LCAP refers to the Local Control and Accountability Plan or AUHSD's plan to ensure student success. Taking the survey and attending the LCAP meetings helps not only Kennedy, but the district to create a plan to support ALL students; especially those who need extra support. Students, staff, and parents all take this survey, which provides us valuable insight on what we can improve on.

LCAP Survey

Have you taken the 2024-2025 LCAP Survey? The district sent out an email with instructions on how to take and complete the survey.


Everyone has a unique link to take the survey. Please do not share your link as it is an exclusive link ​just for ​you. ​We would love to hear your opinion and understand how we can go from good to great!

Student Closet and Pantry

Irish!! Please come to our Family and Community Engagement Center (Room 901) if you are in need of clothes or food. No questions asked and no appointment needed!

CAASPP Testing Reminder

11th graders! We are entering CAASPP testing season. Please bring your Chromebooks fully charged during these tests. This will ensure no interruptions while taking your test. Thank you so much!

Student Parking Permit

Parking permits are to be displayed at all times when parked in the Kennedy Student parking lot. For reference, here is last year's permit. Please see Mrs. Alvarez in the Student window if you are in need of a parking pass. You can find the application and fees HERE.



Once you complete the form, please bring a photo copy of Drivers License, Auto Insurance, and the current Vehicle Registration with $20 cash.

Know Your Rights

With these challenging times, community support is needed more than ever. AUHSD will be having Know Your Rights Forums across the district to educate and prepare families. Please check the dates or scan the QR Code below for more information.


Please join us for another Virtual Informational Session on Tuesday, March 4th on Zoom. There will be Spanish and Korean interpretation provided. These sessions are a great way to stay informed.

Message from the Counselors

Dual Enrollment

Interested in taking Dual Enrollment? Take a look at some of the benefits and the course offerings available! Please email our Dual Enrollment Counselor, Ms. An, an_l@auhsd.us if you have any questions.

PTSA Announcements

Want to get more involved in the school and your student's education? Consider joining PTSA and our team of wonderful parents aiming to involve parents across campus! Please click our membership flyer to join or for more information


Have an adult on campus you'd like to recognize for their efforts, kindness, and dedication to service? Nominations for the Honorary Service Award (HSA) are now open! Please scan the QR code or visit https://bit.ly/kptsahsa2025 to submit your nomination! Nominations are due by Sunday, March 16th!


Join us on Wed, April 16th in MP1 for a Soundbath hosted by OCAPICA. We are very excited to bring this opportunity of self-care to the community. Please RSVP below

Message from T.U.P.E

TOPIC: Dangers of Vaping: What Parents Need to Know in 2025

DATE: Tuesday---3/25/25

TIME: 3:00PM PT / 6:00PM ET



REGISTER HERE (recording will be available after taking place for all registered participants)


This year, vaping, tobacco and nicotine use among youth and young adults are still major concerns. Every day, more and more discreet vapes enter the market. They are meant to sneak past adults by camouflaging as common household objects, video games, toys, and school supplies.

Behind the enticing flavors and flashy colors of e-cigarettes are harmful chemicals and nicotine addiction.


Now is the time to remain vigilant and learn the essentials to help kids avoid or quit vaping!

Our virtual presentation Dangers of Vaping: What Parents Need to Know will be held on Tuesday, March 25 at 6:00pm Eastern Time. At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:


  • Understand and recognize tobacco industry tactics targeting youth
  • Explain the dangers of nicotine e-cigarettes/vapes, non-nicotine vapes, and other new tobacco products
  • Know the steps to protect youth and how to advise others to get involved
  • Know how to take action in your own communities


Make sure to register for our event on March 25 using the button below. This event is FREE and open to all, including parents, people who work with youth, and others. The recording will be available to all registrants after the webinar.

AUHSD Volunteer Registration

Attendance Policy

Please call the Attendance Office if you need to report an absence or send an email to sign out a student. Please refer to the email and phone numbers below with the first letter of your last name.


714-220-4131 (A-L)

714-220-4132 (M-Z)

kenattendance@auhsd.us


If planning on signing out a student, please send an email to kenattendance@auhsd.us with sufficient time in advance to prepare. If a sibling or extended family member is picking the student up, make sure to specify that in the email. This will not only facilitate the process for parents and students much quicker, but also minimize classroom disruptions. Thank you.

Community Resources

Contact Us

Main Office:

714-220-4101


Attendance Office:

714-220-4131 (A-L)

714-220-4132 (M-Z)

kenattendance@auhsd.us


Counseling Office:

714-220-3006


FACES:

714-220-4104


Health Office:

714-220-4115


Records Office:

714-220-4121


Registration Office:

714-220-4126

Please subscribe to Kennedy’s YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/khighyoutube

David Hernandez
David is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters