Kennedy Sunday School Newsletter

Dear Kennedy High School Community and Families,

It is hard to believe that we have only about 30 days left of the 2025-26 school year! As we head into the home stretch, I want to take a moment to reflect on a truly monumental week for our campus and celebrate the incredible spirit of our "Fighting Irish."

Last week, on Tuesday, April 7th, Thursday, April 9th, and Friday, April 10th, our Class of 2026 Seniors took center stage for their Capstone Showcase Presentations. These presentations were a powerful testament to our students' growth in the 5Cs, their college and career readiness, and their deep involvement in extracurricular life. The energy on campus was electric. We were joined by an esteemed group of panelists, including Teachers, Kennedy Staff, Parents, Community Leaders, District Staff, AUHSD Board of Trustees, and Student Presenters who all provided insightful feedback and reflection.

I had the privilege of speaking with many students and visitors throughout the week, and the feedback was heartwarming. One student admitted he was incredibly nervous the night before, but walked out with a huge smile, saying he felt like he "killed it." Another student proudly shared that he didn't read from his slides once, inspired by a teacher’s encouragement to simply "share your story," he spoke from the heart. Watching our Seniors immediately huddle to read their Panelist Feedback Cards upon leaving their rooms was a highlight for me. It was clear how much this experience meant to them. Our visiting panelists were deeply impressed by the genuine reflection and the maturity of our students.

Thank you to the many parents who joined us to support their students and the rest of the Senior class. We especially want to extend our sincere appreciation to those who followed our check-in process and attended our brief orientation.

The celebrations continued Saturday night at the annual Scholarship Foundation of John F. Kennedy High School dinner. I was incredibly proud to watch 17 Kennedy Seniors honored as the 2026 scholarship recipients, receiving awards ranging from $500 to $3,000. This year alone, the Foundation awarded a total of $23,000 to our students!

The evening marked a historic milestone: over the past 30 years, the Foundation has awarded a staggering $300,000 to graduating seniors. In recognition of this legacy, the Board of Directors was honored for their three decades of service with special presentations from the City of La Palma and the Office of California State Legislator Sharon Quirk-Silva. The night was made even more magical by our very own Cameryn Stallings, who wowed the audience with a breathtaking rendition of Whitney Houston’s "The Greatest Love of All."

Please join me in congratulating these outstanding scholars: Joshua Cho, Grace Cho, Faith Choi, Mchael Clavio, Ngan Dang, Leah Garcia, Karriana Inot, Zoe Jurado, Grant Kaay, Aiden Kim, Kayton Lee, Giselle Lopez, Mayah Mejia, Cameryn Stallings, Shreena Suva, Alishba Tareque, and Nathan Tran. Your hard work and dedication to excellence have truly paid off!

Kennedy High School will be front and center this Saturday at Magnolia High School from 9:00am to 1:00pm for AUHSD’s annual STEAM-a-Palooza! This is a district-wide celebration of dance, music, poetry, and innovation. The vibrancy of our campus will be on full display as our various programs bring their unique talents to the community.

You can start your journey by visiting the Kennedy Institute of Technology and Engineering (KITE) to meet our young innovators in their cutting-edge labs, or stop by the Physical Science booths to witness captivating demonstrations of natural phenomena. For those interested in healthcare, our Medical Assistant Pathway students will be performing live clinical demonstrations of CPR and infection control. If you’re looking for a global experience, immerse yourself in our World Languages department, where you can take a cultural tour of France or enjoy Korean games, crafts, and snacks—all while being treated to a spectacular Korean Fan Dance and Tae Kwon Do performance. The excitement continues with the high-stakes "DeathBot" Robotics Competition and the Empowered Market Day, where you can support our student entrepreneurs by shopping their products. Throughout the day, keep an eye out for the Shamrock News staff, who will be on the move providing real-time coverage of all the action! Finally, don’t forget to swing by the Kennedy booth to say “Hi” to me and Mr. David Hernandez!!!

Come out and cheer on our athletes at these upcoming home events:

Tuesday, April 14th

Varsity Badminton vs. Westminster HS @ 3:15pm
Varsity Baseball vs. Calvary Chapel HS @ 3:15pm
Varsity Boys' Tennis vs. Godinez HS @ 3:15pm

Thursday, April 16th

Varsity Boys' Tennis vs. Godinez HS @ 3:15pm
Varsity Boys' Golf vs. Tustin at Lakewood Golf Course @ 3:00pm

Friday, April 17th

Varsity Swim vs. Western & Paramount @ 3:15pm

Thank you for your continued partnership and for making Kennedy High School such a vibrant place to learn and grow.

Go Irish!

Sincerely,

Poppy Hill-Bonales

Proud Principal, Kennedy HS

Home of the Fighting Irish

AUHSD's annual Steamapalooza event is coming on April 18th at Magnola High School. Anaheim Union High School District invites all parents and families to attend Steamapalooza, our annual celebration of our student-led innovations and projects. This event is designed to give parents a direct look at the skills students a developing across the district.

We are showcasing our KITE Program, The Shamrock Newspaper, CTE Pathways, Hallyu Club, Medical Assistant Pathway, French Language Showcase, and the Kennedy High School booth. Check out what we're doing and say hi to us!

Bank of America and Boys and Girls club are partnering up to give financial literacy classes to teens in a three session workshop learning all the basics about finances. Click on the flyer to sign up!

This is where you can find special announcements and events from our counselors!

This includes scholarship support, classes, webinars, and so much more! Please click on the flyers and attachments below and take advantage of this resource!

This month, College Bound is offering lots of resources for students. Take a look at their offerings below!

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Your Journey Awaits Flyer 2026.pdf

2026 Summer Allied Health flyer.pdf

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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 birthday and graduation announcements available to purchase. We are also hosting a Paint Night! Please click on the flyer to purchase your ticket.