John F. Kennedy High School Home

On Wednesday, November 7 Associated Student Body (ASB) Presidents and other student leaders from across the District met at Kennedy High School to share best practices, dialogue with District policymakers, present their thoughts and perspectives, and engage in leadership training. Student leaders were welcomed by our Principal Dr. Chavez. Local Northwest District Superintendent, Joseph Nacorda, and our District 3 Board Member and former middle school Principal, Scott Schmerelson, were also on hand to inspire our student leaders from across the District.

Link Crew and ARC are sponsoring the second annual Project Ñ Dance on Friday, November 16 from 7-11pm. This dance will have all types of Spanish music, tacos, and drinks. Pre-sale tickets are on sale now every day during lunch in the Quad. Tickets for the dance only are $4. Dinner and dance combo tickets, which includes 2 tacos, rice, and beans, are $8. Food will be $5 the day of the dance. Everyone is welcome.

On Friday, November 9, Kennedy honored its veterans for Veteran’s Day. Veterans’ names were proudly displayed in the Main Office. Kennedy veterans’ names were announced throughout the day. At lunch, Kennedy’s veterans were honored on the Mushroom in the Quad with a Starbucks gift card and flowers. Veterans included: Navy JROTC instructor and former Navy Captain Flowers; Navy JROTC instructor and former Marine Gunnery Sargent Baxter; School Nurse and former Navy Lieutenant, Stephen Wong; teacher and former Marine, Mr. Holguin; Assistant Principal and former Army Sergeant, Mr. Song, teacher and former Army Sergeant, Mr. Martinez, Adaptive Physical Education (APE) teacher and former Army National Guard Captain, Marc Halliday; Building and Grounds worker and former Army Sergeant, Joe Dunton; and former LAUSD student and current Army National Guardsman, Luis Martin del Campo.

On Wednesday, November 7, the senior Architectural Design class attended the LAX Career Fair. The students learned about career and internship opportunities in the aviation industry. The students were able to talk to representatives from four major airline companies, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), Cal Trans, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and several aircraft-focused college training programs.

The Spanish Club had a Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) cultural celebration in the quad on Friday, November 2. Día de Los Muertos is a traditional celebration to remember and honor our loved ones who passed away that is celebrated mostly in the central and southern parts of Mexico; and some Central American countries. As part of the cultural celebration, the Spanish Club set up an “ofrenda” (altar) with pictures and objects of those who have passed away.

Every month you will find Matthew Ligan cooking meals at Downtown LA's Midnight Mission. He also helps stack the food trays, washes dishes and serves up hot food for guests in need. "The first time I was working here I had to stand on a tiny little milk crate to reach the tops when serving," said Ligan. That's because Ligan was just 7 years old when he first started volunteering alongside his mother. Now, 10 years later, this senior at John F. Kennedy High School in Granada Hills arrives every third Saturday of each month.

On Friday, November 2, Ms. Calixto’s Alternate Curriculum students took a field trip to the San Fernando Mission Fire Station. The students were given a tour and a short lesson on fire engines, fire fighting gear, their protective outfits, the training at the Firefighters Academy, 500 Gallon fire trucks, and the 100 foot truck ladder. Many thanks to Captain Schroeder, and firefighters Tovar, Amaya, and Hook for the informative tour. The Cougar Café prepared goodies as a token of appreciation.

Congratulations to Coach Johnson and our Varsity Football team. They made the CIF-LA City Section Division II Playoffs and a chance to become the City Champs. They play Bell High School Friday, November 2 at 7pm at Bell. Go Varsity Football! Let’s show them our Cougar Pride!

On Sunday, October 28, 22 Kennedy students, 3 Kennedy Staff Members, and 1 friend of Students Run Los Angeles (SRLA) ran the Beachcomber 10K Run at Dockweiler State Beach in Marina del Rey, which was from 8am-12pm. The participants earned the first medal of the SRLA medal puzzle. These four medals that interconnect include: 10K, 15K, 18K, and 5K, which is after the Los Angeles Marathon.

Congratulations to Coach Vogel and our Girls Tennis team. They made the CIF-LA City Section Division II Playoffs for a chance to become City Champs. They play Santee High School Thursday, November 1 at 12:30pm at Santee. Go Girls Tennis! Show them your Cougar Pride, ladies!