Kennedy Sunday School Newsletter

Dear Kennedy Families and Community,

Reflecting on this past week, I am struck by the sheer talent and tenacity of our students. From national academic honors to athletic showdowns, the "Irish Spirit" has been on full display. It is a privilege to share these milestones with you.

First, please join me in a huge round of applause for Owen Jeung, who has been named a National Merit Scholarship Finalist! Owen is among only 15,000 students nationwide to achieve this distinction. We will hear about scholarship recipients in March, so keep your fingers (and toes) crossed for Owen. We’re all hoping the "Luck of the Irish" shines on him!

Our Academic Decathlon team also competed recently, and the results were spectacular. While we didn’t win the spirit award (though looking at the photos and our Instagram, I’m convinced we should have!), the academic performance was world-class. Kennedy took 1st Place in Division 2 and ranked 6th Place Overall out of 33 schools in Orange County. To put that in perspective: the schools that finished just ahead of us run Decathlon as a daily elective or have multiple paid coaches. Our students do this purely by choice, meeting with their adviser after school for six months. They were "soooo close" to moving up, and while they were a bit sad, they should be incredibly proud. We were the best-performing team in the district! We had several standout individual performances that deserve recognition. Aiden Kim achieved the 9th highest score out of over 460 students in the county, earning a cash prize, a bronze pin, and a beautiful medal. Congratulations to Nina Aguilar, Jennifer Le, Katie Nguyen, Gabby San Diego, Esther Tran, Nathan Tran, Hailey Ward, and Rayani Weedgama for their various medals across Literature, Music, Science, Art, Essay, and Speech.

On Saturday, our Girls’ Basketball team competed in the CIF Finals at Azusa Pacific University. In a decisive victory, Kennedy Girls' Basketball are CIF Champions in a 55-28 win over Laguna Hills. They came out of the gate, took the lead, and stayed on top the entire game! Regardless of the final score, it has been an incredible season of growth and teamwork. The journey isn't over yet; the Lady Irish have officially qualified for the State Championship!

This week is National School Social Worker Week. Our school social worker, Mrs. Servin, is the backbone of our campus, providing vital support for the mental and social-emotional health of our students. She ensures our kids feel safe, seen, and supported every day, helping them navigate the complexities of high school life with resilience.

On Monday, we are thrilled to welcome over 100 educators from across the region to our campus. They are visiting to learn about our exclusive KITE AI pathway and how we integrate Computer Science through deeper learning. Many of our KITE AI students will serve as student ambassadors and tour guides, showcasing the innovation happening in our classrooms.

Also on Monday, some of our boldest students will compete in the Kennedy Soapbox Challenge. This project-based competition allows students to deliver persuasive speeches on issues they care about deeply, from environmental justice to local policy, as they find their voices and engage with their community. The winner will go on to compete at the AUHSD Soapbox Finals on Tuesday, March 17th.

The celebration of community continues on Thursday evening. Our students who volunteered at the Kennedy Gives Back Servathon event will be honored at the La Palma City Council Meeting at City Hall at 6:00 PM. We are so blessed to have such a strong partnership with our La Palma community, and we are proud to see our students recognized for their service.

Our Show Choir students are also heading into the spotlight this Friday and Saturday for their first competition of the season at Burbank Blast. We know they’ll bring the vocal talent, choreography, and "pizzazz" that make Kennedy performances so special.

Wear your green and gold and come cheer on our athletes at this week’s home matches:

Mon, March 2

• Varsity Badminton vs. Gahr HS at 3:15pm

Tue, March 3

• Varsity Boys’ Tennis vs. Tustin HS at 3:15pm

• Varsity Boys’ Volleyball vs. Fullerton HS at 4:45pm

Thu, March 5

• Varsity Boys’ Tennis vs. Tustin HS at 3:15pm

Fri, March 6

• Varsity Baseball vs. Sonora HS 3:15pm

I am looking forward to an absolutely phenomenal week ahead. Thank you for being such an essential part of our success. Go Irish!

Warmly,

Poppy Hill-Bonales

Proud Principal, Kennedy High School

Home of the Fighting Irish