December 30, 2023

December 25-January 5: Winter Break

January 8: First day of Semester 2

During the December 25th-January 5th winter break from school, we are grateful to everyone who has attended school regularly for the entire semester! We appreciate everyone’s efforts to avoid taking extra time off during the winter break. As long as your child is healthy, please encourage showing up to class when school is in session on Monday, January 8th.

A regular attendance routine is important for your child’s well-being, learning and long-term success. Daily routines are essential for overall student success, including reducing stress and creating a sense of security for students and adults.

Every day of school is an important opportunity for students to learn as well as connect with their peers and teachers. Please take steps to keep your child healthy and send them to school unless they are sick. Here is a resource with information: https://www.attendanceworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Attendance_Works_Tips_for_Staying_Healthy_103123.pdf.)

We would like to thank:

● Our students and their families who do their best to show up daily even when it isn’t easy.

● Our teachers who go above and beyond to make school a welcoming and safe place for all students to learn.

● Our administrators who help us work together to ensure we create a physically and emotionally safe and engaging learning environment.

● Our support staff and parents/guardians and family members who provide the extra hands and attention our children need.

May these days off be restful and healing.

● If your family or your child needs support, please reach out to our FACES, Ms. Neufarth for help at neufarth_m@auhsd.us or call the school at 714-220-4104.

● We look forward to seeing you again when school resumes on Monday, January 8th!!!

Sincerely,

Dr. Sidhu, Principal & Kennedy HS Administration Team (Ms. Bryant, Mrs. Campos, Mr. Howe)

Family and Community Engagement Specialist Interim (FACES), Ms. Neufarth

We would like to update you regarding the Civic and Service Learning requirement toward

graduation. Effective immediately, the District has lifted the specific hours required to complete the

service hours graduation criteria. Students are NO longer required to log 30 hours of community

service to meet the graduation requirement. Rather, the district would like to honor the meaningful

civic and service learning experiences that students are doing in the classroom. The requirement

moving forward expects students to reflect on their civic and service learning experiences through the

Capstone Program and/or other approved written, oral, or visual methods.

For students, who have chosen to accumulate service learning hours outside of the school day, they

will be recognized at graduation with a medallion. The district will recognize students at the

graduation ceremony based on the following criteria:

Bronze Medallion: 30 hours for the Class of 2024 (Starting with the Class of 2025 and after will be 40

hours)

Silver Medallion: 75+ hours

Gold Medallion: 100+ hours

For students who are pursuing this OPTIONAL graduation recognition, service learning hours will still

need to be logged into Thrively. Students can earn service learning hours by participating in activities

such as:

● Volunteering at a soup kitchen, homeless shelter, or senior center

● Tutoring others

● Cleaning up a local park or beach

● Advocating for a social cause

For students who are NOT pursuing the optional graduation recognition, you do NOT need to submit

anything via Thrively. Participating and reflecting upon your civic and service learning experience

through the Capstone Program will satisfy your graduation requirement.

If you have any questions regarding the updated graduation requirement, please contact the

counseling department at your site.

If not used for instruction purposes, cell phone devices and their accessories can take away valuable time from instruction, affect students’ mental health and safety, can be disruptive and not conducive to learning, and can create disciplinary problems. Cell phones and accessories are to be put away and/or placed in the cell phone pocket organizer in all classes during instructional time.

CELL PHONE & ELECTRONIC DEVICE POLICY

Students who bring cell phones, tablets, and/or accessories to school, do so at their own risk. Cell phones and accessories are among the most stolen, lost, and broken items belonging to students. We discourage students from bringing unnecessary electronic devices to school. Kennedy High School assumes no responsibility for the safety or security of these items. Kennedy personnel will NOT investigate the theft of these items. The Anaheim Union High School District will NOT reimburse for any lost, stolen, or damaged electronic devices even if they are confiscated.

Electronic Device Use

Students may use their electronic devices and accessories before school, at lunch, and after school. In the classroom, cell phones, tablets, and accessories may be used for academic purposes with the explicit permission of a Kennedy teacher. Once the bell rings all electronic devices must be turned off and out of sight during academic time. This involves all students placing their cell phones in the cell phone pocket organizers that will be hanging in each class. Students should not take cell phones to the restroom, office, or out of the classroom during instructional time.

Receiving permission one time does not give future permission. Students must be given direct permission each class period everyday.

Consequences

If the student has any cell phone or electronic device out or turned on during the restricted time, the following rules apply:

• The cell phone/electronic device will be confiscated from the student.

• Confiscated cell phones, tablets, and/or accessories will be placed in an envelope with the student’s name and stored in the Main Office until the parent/guardian takes possession.

• Repeat offenders will face disciplinary consequences.

Students are expected to follow our dress code every day. This includes not wearing pajama pants. Students wearing pajama pants will be asked to change into PE loaner shorts, or have a parent bring them a change of clothes. Thank you.

Please refer to the Policies and Procedure

As a reminder to the Class of 2024, all seniors must apply for financial aid, this is a graduation requirement per the state of California. The 2024-2025 financial aid application that seniors need to complete will not be available until December, the date is still to be determined.

**The Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an online federal form found here https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.

"Shop, Submit, and Support! Turn Your Receipts into Dollars for Kennedy High School. Join School Cents - Now until April 2024!"

Thank you for your support!

Kennedy PTSA is excited to announce that Kennedy is participating in the School Cents program this year starting September 1st thru April. Anytime anyone in the community shops at Cerritos Mall, Lakewood Mall and Stonewood Mall and either SCANS their receipts, EMAILS it to us at PTSA (jfkirishptsa@gmail.com) or drops the physical receipt at the attendance office, we will get credit and may be eligible to get money towards our school at the end of the school year. First Place gets $10K

HOPE School, Dale JHS, and Orangeview JHS are collaborating to host free, monthly food distributions. Please see schedule and note locations and times, as they vary.

Sycamore Junior High Free groceries. Please bring your own bags and a cart.

Free English classes for Adults Tuesday - Thursday 6pm-9:20pm

Parents/Guardians and families, please make sure your child brings their Chromebooks or personal computing devices to school everyday, fully charged and ready to be used. It is very important to do this as you may be using these devices for various courses at our school. Please remind your child every night to charge their devices and pack it in their backpacks for the morning. We very much appreciate your help in this and to help them build these positive habits as they go about this new school year.

Youth Ride Free passes for the 2023-24 school year are available in the attendance office.

*Click on the link here to access a permission slip and print the form and fill it out to submit. A bus pass can then be issued to your student. If printing is not accessible at home, please request a printed copy from the Family and Community Engagement Specialist

You have a lot to juggle, and getting to school shouldn't be one of your worries. That's why Metrolink is here to make your life easier with FREE rides for students. The Student Adventure Pass makes it easier to connect to opportunities and experiences throughout SoCal, by train. Oh yeah, and it's free.

STAY MOBILE WITH YOUR STUDENT ADVENTURE PASS

Getting your mobile Student Adventure Pass is as easy as 1-2-3!

1. Download the Metrolink mobile app.
2. Register an account using your school email.
3. Verify your account via the confirmation email (check your spam folder) and you'll receive your Student Adventure Pass directly to your mobile to your mobile app wallet.

Grab your phone and valid student ID and you're good to go!
Where are you headed? Take the train to school, work, or adventures. With the Student Adventure Pass your ride is on us. Get on board.

If your student is in need of a hotspot to access the internet at home, please reach out to Ms.Neufarth Neufarth_m@auhsd.us

Main Office:

714-220-4101

Attendance Office:

714-220-4131

714-220-4132

kenattendance@auhsd.us

Counseling Office:

714-220-3006

FACES:

714-220-4104

Health Office:

714-220-4115

Records Office:

714-220-4121

Registration Office:

714-220-4126

Please subscribe to Kennedy’s YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/khighyoutube