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Kennedy Sunday Newsletter
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Message from the Principal
Dear Fighting Irish Families,
I hope this letter finds you well. I'm writing to share some exciting upcoming events and important announcements.
This week, our Kennedy High School athletes will be competing in various sports. On Monday, September 16th, our Varsity Girls' Golf team will face Katella High School at Brea Creek Golf Course, while our Varsity Girls' Flag Football team will host Garden Grove High School. Additionally, our Varsity Girls' Volleyball team will be home against Fullerton High School.
On Tuesday, September 17th, our Varsity Boys' Water Polo team will travel to Savanna HS, and our Varsity Girls' Tennis team will host La Habra High School. The following day, Wednesday, September 18th, our Varsity Girls' Golf team will compete against Garden Grove High School at Navy Golf Course, and our Varsity Girls' Flag Football team will play at Costa Mesa High School.
On Thursday, September 19th, our Varsity Girls' Tennis team will host Segerstrom High School, while our Varsity Boys' Water Polo team will be home against Santa Ana High School. Our Varsity Girls' Volleyball team will travel to Calvary Chapel High School in Santa Ana.
Finally, on Friday, September 20th, our Varsity Cross Country team will participate in the Woodbridge High School Invitational at Great Park, and our Varsity Boys' Water Polo team will compete in the West Torrance Warrior Classic at Torrance Aquatics Center. In addition, our Fighting Irish Varsity Football team will travel to Irvine High School.
In other news, September 16th marks the beginning of High School Voter Education Weeks, which will continue through September 27th. As educators, we believe it's crucial to empower our students to become active participants in our democracy. The goal of these weeks is to bring civic awareness to young, future voters and inspire eligible students ages 16–17 to pre-register to vote so they will automatically be registered when they turn 18 years old.
Join us for our first joint Coffee with the Principal event on Thursday, September 19th, at Walker Junior High School starting at 9:00 PM. September is National Suicide Prevention Month and a special guest speaker will be discussing suicide prevention resources and raising awareness about this important issue. Even though this is a sensitive subject, I urge our Kennedy families to join us for this important Coffee with the Principal, where we can learn more about suicide prevention resources.
I'm thrilled to share that Kennedy High School will soon have a new Kennedy Family and Community Center. We are excited to welcome our families and community members into this space for future events, including Coffee with the Principal, Parent Education Workshops, and more.
I look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events and supporting our students as they continue to excel both academically, athletically, and artistically. (Save the Date for the Kennedy Fall Choir show “Puttin’ On the Ritz” September 27th and September 28th. It is NOT to be missed!)
Sincerely,
Poppy Hill-Bonales
Proud Principal, Kennedy High School
Home of the Fighting Irish
Attendance Policy
Please call or email the Attendance Office if you need to report an absence or sign out a student. Please refer to the numbers below with the first letter of your last name.
714-220-4131 (A-L)
714-220-4132 (M-Z)
If planning on signing out a student, please send an email to kenattendance@auhsd.us with sufficient time in advance to prepare. This will not only facilitate the process for parents and students much quicker, but also minimize classroom disruptions. Thank you.
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 or check to complete the process
Anaheim Collaborative Family Summit
Thank you for taking interest in attending the Anaheim Collaborative Family Summit. This is a great way to learn more about preparing for your student's future. This includes more information about colleges, universities and career paths. We only have a certain amount of spots, so spots will be served on a first come, first serve basis. Thank you for your understanding.
Parent Empowerment Program
We are excited to offer our new Parent Empowerment Program for the 2024-2025 School Year! This series will show parents how to set up their students for success. We are planning to honor those parents who attend all the workshops!
Our next module is on September 18th in our new Parent Center, Room 901, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. We will be focusing on technology (Aeries, Parentsquare, eKadence). Please bring your preferred device to access these platforms.
Coffee with the Principal
Fighting Irish Parents!
Please join us for the next Coffee with the Principal at Walker JHS! This will be the first of many where we collaborate with Walker to build a strong connection with our neighbors and potential future Fighting Irish! Hope to see you there!
Message from the Counselors
2024-2025 AP Testing Information has been sent to all student email accounts. If your student is planning on taking an AP exam this school year, please read the email carefully. The deadline to complete the order form is Friday, October 11th. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Zubiate or Ms. Campos in the Counseling Center.
UCI Conference for Students
We're thrilled to invite your students to an event that could expose them to multiple major and career paths- the Choosing a Major Conference! All grade levels are welcome!
Details of the Event:
Date: Saturday, September 28, 2024
Time: 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Location: UC Irvine (Transportation will be provided)
During this conference, they'll have the chance to explore two distinct schools within our university: the Paul Merage School of Business, Henry Samueli School of Engineering, and Undergraduate/Undeclared.
Here's what they can look forward to at the conference:
Interactive Workshops: Engage in hands-on activities that provide insight into the different fields of study.
Student Panels: Hear directly from current students pursuing majors in these schools. They'll share their experiences, challenges, and successes, giving you an authentic perspective.
Faculty Discussions: Connect with experienced professors who will guide you through the academic programs and answer your questions.
Networking Opportunities: Interact
with fellow high students who share your interests and aspirations.
This is an amazing opportunity to expose them to the college environment and the array of opportunities that UC Irvine has to offer. To secure your spot at the Choosing a Major Conference, please have them fill out our registration form at https://bit.ly/F24CMC
PTSA Announcements
Fighting Irish! Please consider joining the PTSA this year to help foster the connection between the school and the community. Even if you are busy, you can still participate! Take a look at our spirit wear and birthday announcements available to purchase. Our first meeting will be September 4th in MP1. Hope to see you there!
Accepting Imperfection…” is the 2024-25 Reflections Art Program theme. Since 1969, this amazing program has brought the arts to life for more than 10 million students and increased community awareness of the importance of the arts in education.
All students are invited to participate and submit original artwork in one of six areas. Please click on the corresponding link for the requirements:
- Dance Choreography Eng | Span
- Literature Eng | Span
- Photography Eng | Span
- Film Production Eng | Span
- Music Composition Eng | Span
- Visual Arts Eng | Span
Participation is easy, exciting, empowering, and three simple steps:
1. Download & fill out the form.
2. Read the Category Rules
3. Drop off the completed form by Friday, September 27th, at the FACES office
Chromebook Updates
Please make sure to bring Chromebooks charged and ready to use every day! Again, purchasing Chromebook Insurance is optional, but highly recommended. Please use the link to purchase it.
https://auhsd.graystep.com/Index.aspx#/1131278/product/78723
DEADLINE TO PURCHASE CHROMEBOOK INSURANCE --- MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9th
Volunteer Process
The district is rolling out with a new volunteer process this school year. You must register through Raptor and choose between Tier 1 and Tier 2.
Tier 2 clearance allows volunteers to participate in overnight trips with students, but requires a tuberculosis test and fingerprint. If you are interested in volunteering for any program on campus, you must sign up and attend an orientation held by the district. Please see the flyers below for more information (you can click on the flyer).
Contact Us
Main Office:
714-220-4101
Attendance Office:
714-220-4131 (A-L)
714-220-4132 (M-Z)
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