John F. Kennedy High School Home

This year there were 3 Kennedy families identified as in need of assistance for the Holidays. The Spanish Club, Cougar Café, and several faculty and staff members banded together and donated money and materials to fulfill each family's wish list. Some student club members even asked family and friends to donate. The families were surprised on Thursday, December 13 and given the items on their wish list and money for a Christmas dinner. The Kennedy families were VERY appreciative of this act of kindness and gave hand-written thank you cards. Way to go Cougars! Way to show that Kennedy giving spirit!

On Friday, December 7, 12 of Ms. Calixto’s Alternate Curriculum students culminated from New Horizons’ Green Light to Mobility program including: Ashley Arellanes, Andrea Ayala, Jeaneth Jones, Grace Lucero, Natalie, Martinez, Charlie Merced, Ricardo Moreno Salas, Reese Mulder, Briana Ponciano, Jasmine Rodriguez, Hennessy Sotelo, and Casey Vichairatanawong. This program is funded by the LA County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (METRO). It empowers special needs students to safely access their communities by teaching them safety rules/practices when in the community to encourage independence, confidence, and mobility within the METRO transit system in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys. Special thanks to the Program Coordinator Auxiliadora Romero and Trainer David Rodriguez for all the hard work and patience with our students.

On Saturday, December 8, our Kennedy Counts team participated in the Challenge Los Angeles Competition. They won 1st Place for their work spreading awareness and engaging the community surrounding the 2020 Census. This is the First time Kennedy has won the Challenge Los Angeles Competition. The following students represented Kennedy in the competition: Chris Bogart, Bernadet Davood, Brooklyn Burgess, Elianna Medina, Gerson Morales, Amy Avena, Alexa Williams, Pedro Rodriguez. Challenge LA tasks students to develop solutions to complex problems facing their communities. Kennedy students chose to tackle the County-wide effort to inform, educate, and engage the LA County residents about the 2020 Census under the guidance of their advisor, Ms. Richard. This is the first time the entire Census will be conducted online. LA County is the hardest to survey in the nation due to homelessness, immigrant families, and lack of access to technology. That is unfavorable for LA residents because it means less representation at the national level, less federal funding, and less access to social services as these are all determined by population. For more information about the Census and upcoming events please go to: tinyurl.com/KennedyCounts

On Wednesday, December 5, 9 female Kennedy students attended the Power 100 Women in Entertainment Breakfast sponsored by the Hollywood Reporter. Three of the 9 students were 2018 mentees and the other 6 are 2019 mentees. Each student was assigned a mentor, given a laptop, and received (or will receive) a $10,000 scholarship upon completion of the mentorship with a female executive in the entertainment industry. They start out in the middle of their junior year and finish up in December of their senior year. Last year’s participants include: Emily Chun, Mia Medina, and Arianna Vargas. Emily was this year’s Lori Greiner Scholarship recipient and received an additional $250,000 full-ride scholarship to Loyola of Marymount University (LMU). The 2019 cohort include: Kate Berumen, Priscilla De la Rosa, Katherine Haro, Natalie Lopez, Bianca Zamora, and Andrea Zaragoza. Congratulations ladies! Way to represent Kennedy! You and are well on your way to a bright future.

On Sunday, December 9, the Navy JROTC cadets participated in the Chatsworth Holiday Parade. They marched on Devonshire Street from Topanga Canyon to Lurline Avenue. They were the only JROTC to participate in this festive occasion. They scored of 82 out of a possible 100 points under the leadership of Cadet Commander Matthew Eusebio. Great job JROTC! Way to represent Kennedy High School and show that cougar pride!

On Sunday, December 9, 20 Kennedy students and 6 adults from Students Run Los Angeles (SRLA) completed the Holiday Half Marathon (13.1 miles) at the Pomona Fairplex. Weather was good and everyone had a great time. Every runner received a Holiday Half Marathon T-shirt and a Holiday Half Marathon medal. Way to go SRLA Cougars! You are half way there….

On Sunday, December 2, our Navy JROTC also participated in the Granada Hills Holiday Parade. They won 1st Place in Marching Drill Unit. This is the First time NJROTC Cadets won overall Marching Unit under the leadership of our Cadet Master Chief Petty Officer Isaiah Briones. Congratulations JROTC! Way to show that cougar pride!

Sunday, December 2 was the 35 annual Granada Hills Holiday Parade. The theme was, “Holidays of the Future”. Kennedy ASB President Sandra Zambrano rode with other ASB Presidents from Granada Hills High Schools to represent our leaders of the future. Sandra met the Celebrity Grand Marshall Actress, Lee Meriwether: former Miss America, Catwoman, Lily Munster, and Granada Hills resident. She also met Stephen Yeager: former Dodger catcher, Co-MVP of the 1981 World Series, and Granada Hills resident.

On Saturday, December 1, Kennedy Band and Color Guard won 1st Place in Division 1A LAUSD Band and Drill Team Championships at East LA College, which was sponsored by Beyond the Bell. This is the FOURTH time in a row Band and Color Guard have won a city championship under the leadership of our Band Director, Mr. Ibarra. Congratulations Band and Color Guard team! You bring great recognition to our school.

The New Journal of Student Research Abstracts is an annual publication of student research in our local community. The journal is intended to serve as a vehicle to honor young investigators and their teachers by showcasing their work, motivating them to continue their involvement in research science; a source book for both students and teachers who are looking for ideas for research projects; and a volume to disseminate student research discoveries. This year, the work of 43 Kennedy students from Ms. Richard's AP Biology classes had their work published in The New Journal of Student Research Abstracts. Their work can be found on pages 37-44.