Kennedy Sunday School Newsletter
Dear Kennedy High School Families and Community,
What an extraordinary (and busy) week it has been for the Fighting Irish! Our students continue to demonstrate their immense talent, leadership, and resilience. It is my honor to recap the highlights of a week that truly showcased the spirit of Kennedy High School.
On Monday night, our district hosted the 25th annual Color & Light Exhibition at the Downtown Anaheim Community Center. I was absolutely wowed by the caliber of all our Kennedy students’ work, and it was a privilege to be in the audience to witness three of our own receive top honors. Congratulations to 9th-grade student Areej Fatima, who took First Place in Non-Digital Photography for her piece, "Eyes Drowning in Petals." We also celebrate 11th-grade students Liezel Lopez, who earned Second Place in Digital Photography Black & White for "Empty Halls, Full Reflections," and Jia Chang, who took Second Place in Digital Art for "Could It Be."
The momentum continued Tuesday evening at the AUHSD Ambassador Installation Banquet. Our incredible Student Representative to the Board of Trustees, Leah Garcia, helped MC the event where the district’s student ambassadors passed the torch to the next generation of leaders. It was a proud moment to watch our very own Kayton Lee pass his responsibilities to next year’s student ambassador, Kristen Goulding. We can’t wait to see everything the 2026–2027 ambassadors do to empower student voice across our district.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, our juniors and seniors participated in a powerful Every 15 Minutes event. During Tuesday’s second period, students witnessed a simulated car accident involving drinking and driving, followed by a simulated memorial service on Wednesday. This life-changing effort involved the coordination of many organizations, and we extend a special thank you to the La Palma Police Department, La Palma Fire, and the La Palma Foundation. We are especially grateful to the La Palma Foundation, whose extensive fundraising supports the immense cost of this program and ensures the continued safety and wellness of our students.
The realism of the program was made possible through the support of the California Highway Patrol, which provided a helicopter and personnel for both days, and the California Office of Traffic Safety, which authorized the flyover and street closures. La Palma Public Works ensured the area was secured for the program, while Mr. C’s Towing provided and staged the wreckage. The hauntingly realistic visuals were created by makeup artists from Knott’s Berry Farm, who prepared the accident victims and the Grim Reaper, as well as Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cypress, who did makeup for the "living dead." Forest Lawn also provided a mortuary van, hosted students for a tour and memorial services at their chapel and graveside, and featured Education Coordinator Kamie Hendricks, who delivered a moving eulogy on the second day.
The educational journey continued with medical support from Falck Ambulance, which transported students to La Palma Intercommunity Hospital, where doctors and nurses volunteered their time and space for filming. We also heard the powerful story of Lili Trujillo-Puckett from Street Racing Kills, who spoke to students about the impact of reckless driving. These logistical moving parts were tied together by AUHSD Transportation, which provided bussing for the event, and Aroma Italian Restaurant, which generously donated dinner for the participants. This program is a true testament to what our community can achieve when we work together to protect our youth.
On Friday, AUHSD celebrated our many incredible parent volunteers during a recognition ceremony. Kennedy is truly blessed with amazing parents, and it was an honor to see their dedication recognized. We capped off the week on Saturday at The Observatory, where our students enjoyed a spectacular Prom. From the "New Orleans-style" food and great music to seeing our Fighting Irish dressed up in their prom finery, it was a beautiful night for our school community.
This coming week promises to be just as busy. On Monday, students interested in the Anaheim Pledge can attend the Future Hornet Jumpstart Field Trip to Fullerton College. The excitement will peak on Friday, May 1st, with our Clash of the Classes Assembly. Our students have been preparing for weeks, and our staff members have even been "drafted" into challenges to help their assigned classes. We will finally name the ultimate Class Winner this Friday!
To round out the week, our incredible Show Choir will perform "Pop Show 2026: On the Road Again" in the KPAC at 7:00 PM on both Friday, May 1st, and Saturday, May 2nd. This show features travel-oriented music and honors our graduating seniors; please get your tickets early for this emotional and fun tradition.
Finally, please come out and support our scholar-athletes at our upcoming home games.
Tuesday, April 28: Varsity Badminton vs. Cerritos HS at 3:15 PM
Wednesday, April 29: Varsity Softball vs. Fullerton HS at 3:30 PM
Thursday, April 30: Varsity Softball vs. Garden Grove HS at 3:30 PM
Friday, May 1: Varsity Baseball vs. Segerstrom HS at 3:15 PM
Thank you for your continued support of Kennedy High School. It is a great day to be a member of the Fighting Irish!
Go Irish,
Poppy Hill-Bonales
Proud Principal, Kennedy High School
Home of the Fighting Irish ☘️
