January 14, 2024

January 15 - NO SCHOOL - MLKJr. Day

January 20- Saturday Academy

Welcome back to school Irish families. Please make sure you are coming to school on time and ready to start the new school semester off on the right foot.

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

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