Kennedy Sunday School Newsletter

Dear Kennedy Families and Community,

It has been an exhilarating time to be a member of the Fighting Irish family! Reflecting on the past week, I am struck by the immense talent and spirit our students continue to display.

Last Thursday, our Kennedy Singers blew us away during their Encore show. It was a spectacular evening that featured our groups' competition sets alongside breathtaking solo performances. Watching our vocalists pour their hearts into their craft is always a highlight.

The momentum continued Saturday morning at Steam-a-Palooza, hosted at Magnolia High School. Kennedy High School showed up in force with a record number of programs participating in this districtwide showcase. For those who couldn't make it, we were thrilled to "go live" on Instagram to share the innovation and excitement in real-time. Speaking of social media, we are incredibly close to hitting the 5,000 followers milestone! If you aren't already, please follow #kigh4life on Instagram to stay connected to the Kennedy experience.

This week is particularly significant for our Juniors and Seniors. While many are anticipating Prom this Saturday at The Observatory in Santa Ana (7:00 pm – 11:00 pm), we are also engaging in a deeply powerful program: Every 15 Minutes.

This two-day experience is a sobering lesson on the dangers of drinking and driving.

Tuesday, April 21: We will hold a simulated crash scene on Walker Street during Period 2.
Wednesday, April 22: Juniors and Seniors will attend a memorial service in the KPAC.

Our students and advisors, in coordination with the La Palma Police Department and the La Palma Foundation, have worked for months to prepare this event. The Every 15 Minutes program was developed in the early 1990s in response to a tragic statistic: at that time, someone in the United States died in an alcohol-related traffic collision every 15 minutes. While that frequency has fortunately decreased due to education and stricter laws, the mission of the program remains the same: to challenge students to think about drinking, personal safety, and the responsibility of making mature decisions.

This week is National Volunteer Recognition Week, and I want to express my deepest gratitude to those who make Kennedy thrive. We are incredibly blessed with active parent and community volunteers who support us day in and day out. Whether you are part of our PTSA, Parent Ambassadors, Band Parents, Choir Parents, or Booster clubs, your contribution of time and energy is what makes this school a community. We simply could not do it without you. Thank you for your tireless dedication to our students.

Finally, we are also celebrating National Library Week. This week highlights the essential role libraries and librarians play in strengthening communities.

Most of you probably don’t know that in my limited free time, I am a voracious reader. My favorite genre is historical fiction. I love how it blends imagined characters with accurate settings from the past. To this day, the library remains one of my favorite places to be. I want to send a special Shout Out to our own Library Media Technician, Ms. Buck, who works so hard to make the Kennedy library a welcoming and vibrant hub for our students.

Lastly, I'd like to remind the community of our bike and scooter policy. Students may not ride their bikes or scooters inside our campus. We ask that students walk their bikes/scooters at all times inside campus. Bikes/Scooters must also be locked on our bike racks. Thank you for your efforts in keeping our campus safe for everyone.

Thank you for your continued support of Kennedy High School. Let’s make it a safe, powerful, and Irish-proud week!

Warmly,

Poppy Hill-Bonales

Proud Principal, Kennedy High School

Home of the Fighting Irish ☘️

Didn't make it to Steamapalooza? Our very own The Shamrock newspaper covered all the different things going on during our district-wide showcase on Saturday. Check it out!

AUHSD is hosting it's 25th annual Color and Light Art Exhibition at the Downtown Anaheim Community Center on April 20th. Come out and check out the showcase of AUHSD's finest talent

With AP and IB testing coming around the corner we'd like to remind everyone to bring their devices charged to encounter no issues during the test

La Palma Foundation is the nonprofit that supports the majority of the Every 15 Minutes program. They are dedicated to improving the lives of the La Palma Community. Please consider attending their events when they fundraise in preparation for the next Every 15 Minutes. They love interacting with the community and being a part of all things La Palma.

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.