John F. Kennedy High School Home

Welcome class of 2023! Tuesday, August 13 was Freshman Orientation at 8am in the Big Gym. Incoming ninth graders received their classes; took a tour of the campus; had a light snack; learned about graduation requirements; learned how to get involved in activities/sports; and purchased PE clothes. Go Cougars Cubs!

On the 50th anniversary of the launch of Apollo 11, the NASA mission that first landed humans on the moon, the JFK Library Foundation and Raytheon announced the recipients of the Raytheon JFK Space Labs. The program, developed in cooperation with the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory, honors the inspirational heritage of President Kennedy, celebrates the innovative technology that made America's Apollo program possible and rekindles the power of space exploration to inspire and engage students. Kennedy was selected as one on the 5 schools to receive a JFK Space Lab at the start of the 2019–2020 school year. Kennedy was eligible because of its name and was selected as one of the five for demonstrating commitment to STEM education and their efforts to honor President Kennedy's legacy and spirit. Each JFK Space Lab presented by Raytheon includes technology and materials for advanced experiments in Earth science, biology and computer science that will immerse and inspire students, helping them achieve a deeper understanding of scientific principles on earth and in space.

CIF LA City Section beat Chicago 6 to 2 at the University of Illinois, Chicago on Thursday, July 11. This makes Los Angeles 4-0 and the GEICO City Series Champs! Pictured in the back row of all 3 pictures is Kennedy All-Star pitcher, Vincent Esparza. While in Chicago, Vincent stopped by the Chicago White Sox stadium to see the etched name of Jon Garland, famous Major League Baseball pitcher and former Kennedy alumnus. In Tuesday’s playoff game against New York (10-0), Vincent threw five shutout innings, striking out three. These All-Star championship games provide incredible scouting opportunities for the talented LAUSD athletes. Way to go Vincent! Show that Cougar Pride!

After school was out, 14 members of Kennedy’s SkillsUSA chapter represented the State of California at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, Kentucky during the week of June 23-29. SkillsUSA advisors Aaron Kahlenberg and Sarah Dixon chaperoned the student competitors along with 7 observers and 2 parents. Five of those students competed in 3 contests. Our Outstanding Chapter team - Emily Chun, Analisa Duarte, and Anthony Bautista - placed 7th against the best chapters in the Nation. Digital Design Career Pathway student Celine Sanchez-Rosas placed 5th out of 41 competitors in the Advertising Design competition. Holmes Magnet student, Leo Kahlenberg, entered through our chapter and won a Silver medal in Job Skill Demonstration - Open, where he explained the importance of aerial drone technology usage in the architecture and engineering industries. What a great way to end an incredible school year and give our SkillsUSA chapter renewed energy for next year!

Are you falling behind in your classes? Do you need to make up credits to graduate on time with your class? Want to convert that “D” into a higher grade for college? Come to Kennedy’s Summer School. This 5-weeks program is from June 19-July 24. There will be NO class July 4, 5 in honor of Independence Day. Classes are 2 ½ hours long. Period 1 is 8:30-11am; Period 2 is 11:30a-2pm. Lunch is from 11-11:30a and is free for ALL students. We are offering: Algebra 1, Geometry A/B, Algebra 2A/B, English 9A/B, English 10A/B, World History A/B, US History A/B, ICS A/B, Biology A/B, Chemistry A/B, PE, and Health. Space is limited and is available on a first-come first-served basis. Students receive 5 credits for each class (Algebra 1 is 10 credits). You must commit to the entire 5 weeks of class. More than 3 absences will result in no credit due to the concentrated nature of the instructional time frame. See your counselor to sign up and for more details.

Emily Chun — Age: 17 — High school: John F. Kennedy High School — GPA: 4.342 — High School Activities or Groups: President- SkillsUSA and California Scholarship Federation. Chairperson-School Site Council. Gold Medalist for two years representing California- Outstanding Chapter. Full ride scholarship to Loyola Marymount University from Lori Greiner- $250,000. — After Graduation/College Plans: Loyola Marymount University. Major- Applied Information Management Systems. I plan to jump start my career with internships and become an active member in my community utilizing my leadership skills. — Career Goal: Chief Information Officer — Parents: Steve and Agnes Chun

On Wednesday, May 22, Kennedy senior Andrew Maximo was selected as Student of the Month and Jacinto Garcia was selected as Teacher of the Month by CBS2/KCAL9/LA Rams/LAUSD. Andrew played soccer, plays keyboard, holds down a part-time job, volunteers in the community, and this semester is maintaining a 3.7 GPA on top of overcoming numerous personal obstacles; and always has a smile on his face. Mr. Garcia started out as a substitute teacher and now teaches Spanish full-time at Kennedy. He serves as the Track & Field Coach, Cross Country Coach, Assistant Athletic Director, Senior Class Sponsor, Leadership Teacher, and PTSA Treasurer. He never says no to Kennedy. Mr. Garcia, Andrew, CBS2 This Morning Anchor DeMarco Morgan, LA Rams Community Affairs Jonathan Franklin, CBS 2/KCAL 9 President and General Manager Steve Mauldin, LAUSD Board Member Scott Schmerelson, LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner, and Local District Northwest Superintendent Joseph Nacorda were greeted with a Cheer tunnel; entertained by Kennedy’s own drumline; and cheered on by a Kennedy student audience. Mr. Garcia and Andrew were each given a certificate from CBS2/KCAL9/LA Rams/LAUSD, Board of Education Resolution certificates, #1 Rams jersey, and VIP tickets to the Rams opening game. Go cougars!

JFK players proudly present our spring musical, Back Thru-Broadway. This musical time trip will transport you through Broadway’s best eras. We will sing and dance to decades of delightful tunes and bring you right back to Broadway’s most contemporary hits. Join us as we travel Back Thru-Broadway. Upcoming show times are: Thursday, May 30 @6pm; Friday, May 31 @6pm; and Saturday, June 1 @7pm.

Lights out cougars! Unplug from technology and get a full night’s rest. With finals approaching, getting the right amount of sleep is vital for your success. Minimize your stress by putting your books down at a reasonable time, and turning off your technology an hour before you go to bed. Our mental health is something that we cannot neglect. We must make time for ourselves in our busy lives, to disconnect, and relax. Take part in recognizing May as Mental Health Awareness Month by filling out the survey linked down below to help everyone improve their mental health at John F. Kennedy High School!

Last Saturday, May 18, students from Kennedy’s Guitar Class performed at the Roxy Theater in Hollywood on Sunset Boulevard. The lights and sound were engineered by professionals and the students sounded amazing! The event was well attended by parents, family, friends, and the community. Don’t forget to watch them live here at Kennedy High School in the Little Theater during the Guitar Showcase tomorrow Thursday, May 23 from 6-7pm. Everyone is invited!