The Torch February 2014

Volume 4, Issue 7

Message from Principal Beaton

Contact Info:

John F. Kennedy High School

952-681-5000http://khs.bloomington.k12.mn.us/

Attention Kennedy Families - Winter Conferences Update

Due to very cold temperatures, Bloomington Public Schools were closed on January 23rd and therefore winter conferences were canceled. Since then, both Kennedy and Jefferson have been working with staff to find a solution where we can make that important connection between home and school. We believe we have formulated a solid plan to meet this purpose.

First, all families will receive a general email message from teachers that will outline what students are learning this trimester and what major assignment or projects are on the horizon. In this communication teachers will direct you to School view, the HUB or their teacher webpage where you can get further information. They will also provide their contact information so you may schedule a phone or face to face conference if you so desire.

Next, if your student is struggling academically this term, you will receive a specific email or phone call from your child’s teacher so that you may partner with us to help your child improve. Some families may also receive direct communication from teachers if your child is doing exceptionally well or has shown improvement.

You are welcome to contact your child’s teacher directly to arrange a phone or face to face conference or you may call the main office and we can help facilitate this communication.

Please contact Kennedy High School if you have further questions.

Thank you.

Andy Beaton

NO SCHOOL - Monday - February 17thPresidents’ Day

CAREER CENTER NEWS

Hibbing Community College Thurs., Feb. 6th at 11:15 am

U.S. Air Force Thurs., Feb. 6th during lunch-cafeteria

Hennepin Technical College Tues., Feb. 11 at 9:30 am

U.S. National Guard Tues., March 11th at 9:30 am

U.S. Air Force Thurs., April 24th at 9:30 am

U.S. Marines Tues., April 29th at 9:30 am

Check with the Career Center in the Counseling Office for further updates

Counseling Office NewsNeed help filling out the FAFSA?

Sign up in the counseling office to reserve an appointment NOW! The Bloomington Rotarians will assist you while you fill out the application.

Dates: Tuesday, February 4th from 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm Thursday, February 6th from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Education Foundation offers Jefferson and Kennedy Senior Scholarships

Applications for the above mentioned scholarships are now available for Jefferson and Kennedy seniors in their school counselors’ office or online at http://educationfounda-tionof bloomington.org. The foundation plans to award up to 20 Senior Scholarships for post-secondary education in May. Completed scholarship applications are due in counselors’ offices at 3:00pm, Friday, March 7, 2014

Parent Skills Bank

Kennedy High School is looking for parents and community members to represent their career or industry at our April 24, 2014 Career Fair titled: “Expand Your Horizons”. Join other professionals from throughout the Bloomington metropolitan area to talk personally with students about your field of work, help them deepen their awareness of career options, and better plan for life after high school. For more information or to vol-unteer, please contact Radious Guess, Family & Community Engagement Coordinator at rguess@bloomington.k12.mn.us or 952-681-5031.

Recent Winter School CancellationsThe four cancelled school days due to the extreme cold temperatures will not require an extension of the school year. The district’s student contact time is well within the state’s mandated range and therefore, the days will not need to be made up. The 2013-14 school year is expected to end on June 11, as scheduled. Student safety remains a top priority in our school. We appreciate your under-standing and support.

Homework HelpMondays & Tuesdays

2:30 pm - 3:30 pm Media Center

We have teachers and other tutors available to help on Mondays and Tues-days. Students may also use this time to do recovery for an unexcused ab-sence. There is an activity bus available.

CLASS OF 2014Graduation planning has begun!

Mark your calendars with these important dates:

Feb 5th - Advisory (9:29 am) Order Cap & GownFeb 12th - Advisory Panoramic PictureMay 21st - Advisory Pick-up Cap & GownJune 6th - Friday Seniors Last Day of ClassJune 10th - Tuesday Graduation Rehearsal 3pm

June 11th GRADUATION DAY 7:00PM

    Attention Seniors and Parents of the Class of 2014

The Class of 2014 – All Night party is scheduled for June 11, 2014. Registration is now open! Save money if you register by March 31! See graduation link on the Kennedy Website for Registration forms.

School On-Site Registration Dates: Friday, Feb 28 During the lunch periodsFriday, March 14 During the lunch periodsTuesday, March 18 During the lunch periodsFriday, March 21 During the lunch periods Friday, March 28 During the lunch periods

Donations: If you, your employer, or anyone you know is willing to donate prizes, money, gift certificates, or any other items, please contact us by using the information below.

If you are interested in helping plan the 2014 JFK All Night Senior Party we are still in need of parent volunteers and Junior parents! The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 10 at 6:30 PM in the

Kennedy Media Center. We hope to see you there! Please help us make the 2014 All Night Senior Party a successful one!

Please contact Adriana Grieser (2014 All Night Senior Party Committee Chair) at 612.594.1059 or agrieser@comcast.net if you have any questions.

Senior Photo Information:The images taken by Bushard Photography of Kennedy seniors at school are

now retouched and online for the students and their families to review and possibly purchase if you wish to. They are at the website:

bushard.smugmug.com they are in the “school” category and are at the bottom of the page in four galleries (called school galleries).

For those photographed in August in the cafeteria is the “Class of 2014 picked in August”.

Photographed on September 25th is the “Class of 2014 Part 1”.Photographed on September 26th is the “Class of 2014 Part 2”.

Photographed on October 30th is the “Class of 2014 Part 3”.

Once you have found your image and have clicked on it so it is big you will see a buy button to the right and if you wish to purchase prints

you can just follow the prompts after clicking the buy button. If you have any questions about any of this you can reach

Bushard Photography at 952-888-0637.

Upcoming EventsMark your calendar

Monday 10 Sr. All Night Grad. Party Meeting - 6:30 pm

Fri. - Fri. 14-21 Spirit Week

Monday 17 No School - Presidents’ Day

Wednesday l9 South Suburban Conference Jazz Festival

Saturday 22 Sadie Hawkins Dance - 8:00- 11:00 pm

Thursday 27 Kennedy Bands - “Masterworks Concert” - 7:00 pm

KENNEDYperforming artsOn Wednesday, February 19, during the school day the Kennedy Jazz Band will host the South Suburban Conference Jazz Festival. Jazz bands from the schools of the SSC will perform for each other and receive clinics from professional jazz musicians. The clinicians will also perform a concert at noon.

On Thursday, February 27, the Kennedy Bands will present their Masterworks Con-cert. Pieces that have proven to be important music in the repertoire will be played by the Jazz Ensemble, Concert Band, and Symphonic Winds. Tickets are $5 for adults, and $2 for students and seniors. The concert will take place at 7:00 pm in the Kennedy Auditorium.

Heads UP from Your Health Office!

Your Nurses at Kennedy

Nelissa Nester-John, RN, HSA Laurel Kuplic, RN, HSA 952-681-5008

Welcome to our new Nurse at Kennedy High School

Nelissa Nestor-John comes with hospital experience in Orthopedics from Fairview Southdale and Shriners Hospital. She will be a great addition to the health office working with our students. Nelissa is excited to be here at

Kennedy High School!

New immunization laws begin September 2014

The Minnesota Department of Health has revised its immunization laws. Begin-ning Sept. 1, 2014, the new rules apply to children in childcare, early childhood programs, and students in grades K through 12. The following are among the largest changes:

· Hepatitis A and B vaccination for children enrolling in childcare or early childhood programs based in school.

· All students - kindergarten through twelfth grade - must provide documen-tation of current vaccinations for all required immunizations, or file for conscientious objection or medical exemption.

· Replace the current seventh grade tetanus-diphtheria vaccine with another that includes Pertussis (whooping chough), known as Tdap.

· Middle and high school students must receive the meningococcal vaccina-tion beginning in seventh grade, and must have the vaccination if they are in seventh through twelfth grade.

Please check with your health care provider to make sure your child’s immuniza-tions will be up-to-date. You can also visit www.health.state.mn.us/immunize or call the Supervisor of Health Services Eileen Kern at 952-681-6518.

Sports This Month

Go Eagles

Activity Date Time Versus Location

Hockey: Girls Varsity 02/01/2014 7:00 pm Eastview Bloomington Ice Garden Basketball: Boys Varsity 02/03/2014 7:00 pm Prior Lake Kennedy High School Wrestling: Varsity 02/06/2014 5:00 pm Prior Lake, Shakopee Kennedy High School Swimming/Diving:Boys 02/06/2014 6:00 pm Burnsville Oak Grove Middle Alpine Skiing: Varsity 02/06/2014 3:30 pm Meet Buck Hill Ski Area Basketball: Girls Varsity 02/07/2014 7:00 pm Rosemount Kennedy High School Girls Hockey Sections 02/07/2014 7:00 pm Prior Lake Bloomington Ice Garden Hockey: Boys Varsity 02/08/2014 7:00 pm Achiever Academy Bloomington Ice Garden Hockey: Boys Varsity 02/11/2014 7:00 pm Burnsville Bloomington Ice Garden Basketball: Girls Varsity 02/11/2014 7:00 pm Lakeville South Kennedy High School Basketball: Girls Varsity 02/1/2014 7:00 pm Eastview Kennedy High School Basketball: Boys Varsity 02/15/2014 3:00 pm Richfield Kennedy High School Basketball: Boys Varsity 02/18/2014 6:00 pm Bloomington Jefferson Kennedy High School Basketball: Girls Varsity 02/18/2014 8:00 pm Bloomington Jefferson Kennedy High School Alpine Skiing: Varsity 02/19/2014 5:30 pm Meet Buck Hill Ski Area Swimming/Diving: Boys 02/20/2014 TBD Tourament Oak Grove Middle - Basketball: Boys Varsity 02/20/2014 7:00 pm Eagan Kennedy High School Basketball: Girls Varsity 02/25/2014 7:00 pm Burnsville Kennedy High School Wrestling 2/21-22/2014 TBD Individual Kennedy High School

Seven Kennedy students earned an Honorable Mention at this year’s

Scholastic Art Competition!

Please congratulate the following students:

www.flickr.com/photos/artteacherroom46/sets/72157639978720726/

Pagie Rustad Khai Tran Rozlyn Paradis Sara Aamot

Clara Gunderson Carly Warden Marilu Campos

and to those whose artwork also represented KHS:

Ania Drobinski Carli McWilliams Sarah Schultz Shelby Witherby Jackson Judge Sydney Heintzelman Sreiry “Terry” Heng Corey Fry Alyssa Johnson Khua Yang

Kelly J. YackelVisual Arts DepartmentKennedy High School

Onalaska Show Choir Competition

Congratulations to our East Side Swingers for the Grand Champion in Onalaska Choir Competition.

Rhythm in Gold were runner up in their division.