Kennedy Update April 2024
A community of belonging, support, and excellence
Hello, Kennedy Families!
Welcome back from what I hope was a refreshing spring break. As we begin April, I am so proud to share some of this year’s student excellence with you. It has been a year filled with amazing accomplishments and I am honored to be around our brilliant and talented students everyday.
I also want to make sure you are aware of some important testing dates on the horizon. As always, our core values of belonging, support, and excellence will guide us as we move toward the end of the year. I’m looking forward to seeing many of you when I’m out and about this spring.
Please reach out to me directly or any member of your student’s support team for support.
In partnership,
Molly Hollenbeck
Principal
952.681.5050
BELONGING
The Power of Attendance: Every school day until the end of the year counts! Regular attendance is crucial to your student’s sense of belonging in the classroom and their academic success. Staying connected with their peers and teachers allows them to actively participate in lessons, discussions, and activities. Please help your student prioritize attendance. It is the strongest predictor of school success.
Parent-Teacher Conferences & Unity in the Community (April 18th, 3-6 PM): Don't miss this special combined event! Join us for Parent-Teacher Conferences and celebrate the diversity of our school family at the same time.
Explore student-created exhibits showcasing different cultures. Food trucks will be available with items for purchase outside door 5. This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with teachers about your child's progress and experience the richness of our school community! Hosted by Student Voices of Unity.
SUPPORT
Testing Support: Important testing dates are approaching and more information will come from Assistant Principal, Katrina Mezera. She can be reached at kmezera@isd271.org or 952-681-5075.
ACT (all Juniors): The ACT will be administered in person for all Juniors on April 17th. 9th, 10th and 12th grade students will have a elearning day.
MAP/MCA: Testing for all 9th, 10th and 11th grade students will take place on May 1. We will run a special schedule on this day. 12th graders will have elearning until 10:15.
We encourage students to get a good night's sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and arrive at school on time, relaxed and prepared. Our teachers and staff are here to provide any additional support you may need – don't hesitate to reach out.
EXCELLENCE: BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Our students shine not only in academics, but also in their extracurricular activities and athletic pursuits. I am so proud of their dedication and hard work in representing Kennedy with pride. Here's a glimpse of some of their achievements this year:
Fall:
Girls Swim and Dive: Head Coach Todd Walsh
Kaylee Von Ruden (100m Backstroke) - state qualifier (placed 20th)
Girls Tennis: Head Coach Ryan Keith
Molly Miller - Semi-finals of 6AA Individual Tournament
Winter:
Wrestling: Head Coach Chuck Vavrosky
Vincent Shield-Gore, Tommaso Constantini (state qualifier)
Kelsey Cruz Rojas (state qualifier, placed 3rd)
Noelia Fierro (state qualifier,placed 6th)
Nordic Ski: Head Coach Jack Collis
Madeline Gray (state qualifier, placed 23rd)
Boys Swim and Dive: Sam Nicholson (state qualifier in Diving, placed 17th)
Debate: Head Coach Meredith Aby-Keirstead
Addison Wendt (state qualifier, placed 10th)
Science Olympiad: Coaches Laura Gislason and Annika Jensen
Team qualified for State and placed 15th
Adaptive Floor Hockey: Head Coach Dan Slinden
Team qualified for State
Rhythm in Gold: Director Nikki Jordan
Grand Champions - West Salem
Grand Champions - Eau Claire
1st Runner Up - Waconia
2nd Runner Up - Hastings
2nd Runner Up - Chicagoland
Speech: Head Coach Scott Seiling
Angelica Mey, qualified for State in humor
2024 Regional Scholastics Art Competition: Our students showcased their extraordinary talents and dedication, resulting in an impressive array of awards. We’re delighted to announce that Kennedy High School students have received:
Gold Key Awards: These prestigious honors recognize outstanding artistic achievement. Winning a Gold Key signifies exceptional creativity, skill, and vision. It's a testament to the hard work and ingenuity of our students. Our Gold Key recipients will have the opportunity to compete at the National level. This is an incredible achievement and a testament to the exceptional quality of their work. We will be cheering them on as they represent Kennedy High School on the national stage!
Silver Key Awards: These awards acknowledge exceptional artistic accomplishments that may not have received the top prize but still exhibit remarkable talent and promise. We celebrate the creativity and dedication demonstrated by our students in achieving this recognition.
Honorable Mentions: Even in a highly competitive environment, our students' artistic talents shone through, earning them recognition for their outstanding efforts. Honorable mentions highlight the creativity and potential of our artists and serve as a testament to their commitment to excellence.
Important Dates to Remember
April 17 - ACT for all 11th graders, elearning day for 9th, 10th, and 12th grade students
April 18 - Parent-Teacher conferences + Unity in the Community from 3-6 p.m.
May 1 - MCA/MAP - Testing schedule
May 10 - Prom at Mall of America, 8:30-11:30
May 22 - Last day for Seniors on track to graduate
May 27 - No school - Memorial Day
May 29 & May 30 - Trimester 3 Finals Days - school ends at 12:15
May 30 - Graduation at Minneapolis Convention Center - 7:00 p.m.
Kris Krenz
A-Gue
Paul Collier
Guf-N + Beacon
Katrina Mezera
O-Z
About us
Email: mhollenbeck@isd271.org
Website: https://www.bloomington.k12.mn.us/khs
Phone: 952-681-5000
Facebook: facebook.com/BloomingtonKennedy
Twitter: @JFKEagles