Prom 2010

Posted on 13. Jun, 2010 by joannagreer in News Around School

Students arrive for this year's prom

Scott Low

Posted on 10. Jun, 2010 by joannagreer in News Around School

Snowmageddon comes to end

Posted on 15. Feb, 2010 by joannagreer in News Around School

Parking lot day before students return

After a full week out of school and double-digit snow totals, Kennedy students and staff are due to return Tuesday, February 16, beginning with a two-hour delay.  Sporting events that need rescheduling will be posted  as soon as released by Montgomery County.  There will be no block scheduling this week.

Mt. Cavalier

What did he say?

Posted on 03. Feb, 2010 by joannagreer in News Around School

Mr Anderson answers questions

By Michael Changwe, Staff Writer

February 2

As students gathered in their homeroom classes early last Tuesday morning awaiting their course schedules for the new semester, many were greeted with an unexpected message during the daily morning announcements.

“At this time I would like to announce that I will be leaving John F. Kennedy High School to embark on a new opportunity that was presented to me. As you can imagine, it is every principal’s dream to open up their own school and I felt that I could not pass up  an opportunity to open a new grade 6-12 charter school in Chicago, Illinois.” Mr. Anderson dropped this on the staff and students over the PA.

Silence fell upon the rooms as every student’s ears eagerly anticipated hearing the rest of his message.

“Whoa. That was so unexpected,” said senior Michael Castillo. “When did this happen?”

Indeed, the announcement took many students by surprise as the abruptness and impact took Kennedy by storm. Throughout the hallways, cafeteria, and classrooms there was a buzz about the recent news. As expected, gossip and rumors spread.

“Is he coming back for our graduation? Who is his replacement going to be?” These questions were raised during a discussion at a lunch table occupied primarily by seniors. “I just hope things don’t change too much in the future.”  Mr. Anderson is the only principal the seniors have ever known.

Mr. Anderson answered many of the rumors during an interview with Kennedy’s student journalists.

Students question Mr. Anderson

“Well, I was originally presented with this opportunity in February (2009) to take over at a high school in Chicago. A few months after declining the original offer, they came back to me to sweeten the deal, so to say. This time they came to me offering the chance to open a charter school on the south side of the city. Coincidentally, it just so happened that my wife was offered a position in  the area around the same time that she was very interested in taking.” At that time Mr. Anderson never even been to Chicago.

Mr. Anderson talked about his Kennedy experience over the last four years and when asked what he felt was his greatest accomplishment during his tenure he said,  “I can’t pinpoint one specific accomplishment, but many different ones. Whether it was meeting the AYP every year, or dramatically improving the school SAT scores,  I count those little victories as my greatest accomplishments,” he said.  (Since this interview Kennedy High School  has risen from #119 to #59 in the Washington Post Challenge Index.)

Unfortunately, due to the need for staffing and other administrative planning, Mr. Anderson will be leaving Kennedy on February 26 for the urban, mid-western city just shy of 3 million people.

When asked about who his replacement will be, he smiled. “I can’t tell you. We’re not going to know for a little while.  I have nominated someone (in the building) who I think will do an excellent job as a replacement,” he said, “but for now, all I can say is you will have to wait and see.”

Mr. Anderson’s advice to students after four years at Kennedy is to “Keep it real, be honest with people and people will be honest with you. Be straightforward, to the point, and honest.”

But will he attend graduation?  Seniors will have to wait and see.

Mr. Anderson leaving Kennedy

Posted on 20. Jan, 2010 by joannagreer in News Around School

Mr. Thomas Anderson departs for Chicago next month

January 20

Thomas Anderson, principal of John F. Kennedy High School for the last four years, told the school staff this afternoon that he will be leaving to open a new grade 6-12 charter school on the southside of Chicago next month. He needs to leave then instead of finishing up the year because of the new school’s staffing and other planning.

There is no word at this time on what the school system will do to replace Mr. Anderson.

No word on Haitian relatives

Posted on 13. Jan, 2010 by joannagreer in News Around School

By Nimat Traore

“Kennedy families are on hold,” according to Sheila Pierre-Louis.

“When I got home from work yesterday my cousin told me and  I started crying because I have so much family in Haiti that I have yet to meet,” said senior Sheila Pierre-Louis.  “It is almost impossible that they all survived,” she said.   Her family lives in Port-au-Prince, the site of earthquake’s 7. 0 epicenter, and in a nearby town.

Haitian President Rene Preval said that the “toll was unimaginable” and many places have collapsed including hospitals, schools, government buildings, homes, and even the Haitian Parliament Building.  “When I saw the presidential palace on the internet today, I was horrified,” said Pierre-Louis.  “My mom and dad have bought so many calling cards, but it is pointless because the lines are just dead.”

Senior Emmanuel Boursiquot is another Kennedy student who has family members in Haiti.  He said his family is scared of the outcome the earthquake will have on not only his family but also on the country.  While he has never been to Haiti, he was supposed to go this coming summer.  “I don’t think I’m ever going to now,” he says.  Due to the earthquake the country is “destroyed, unsafe, and chaotic.”  He feels it is very unlikely that many people will be traveling there.

Pierre-Louis was also supposed to go to Haiti this summer after graduation.  Her family still has a home place there but it is all up in the air as her family awaits word on the condition of the relatives who are residing there.

Getting in contact with those in Haiti is “very hard,” says Boursiquot.  This is one of the things that aid groups are trying to fix so that out-of- country Haitians may contact family on the island.  “I just ask for people to keep, not only my family, but all Haitians in their prayers,” said Pierre-Louis.  She hopes that many will donate money to help the people of Haiti.

Ms. Green’s son visits from Iraq

Posted on 13. Jan, 2010 by joannagreer in News Around School

Private Cargill with nieces before return to duty in Iraq

By Evan Smith
December 4, 2009

Private First Class Andrew Cargill, son of Assistant Principal Ruth Green, spent some of his time off from duty in Iraq speaking to students in JFK’s NJROTC classes.

“I miss my friends and family,” said Cargill. “I’ve been working non-stop since I got here.” Private Cargill graduated from Sherwood High School in 2003. He worked for a while after he graduated, then trained to be a Harley-Davidson mechanic. He wanted something different so he enlisted in the U.S. Army. “There are many job opportunities in the army, ” he said, “anything from engineering to medics.”

In Iraq Private Cargill stays at Fob Normandy with two other roommates. The room hardly appears large enough for one person to live let alone three. He manages to fit his laptop, some speakers, and pictures of his friends and family around his bunk and that’s about it. “I have my laptop in case we ever get a little free time,” he said. It is clear that free time is rare when you are a soldier in Iraq. You may find yourself patrolling a base or path all day, or you might end up having to train outside a base; either way it isn’t very often that you get to sit around and mess with your laptop. There isn’t even a consistent internet source in their homeaway from home at Fob Normandy. Even when it may be up, it can be extremely slow. “It’s comparable to dial-up speeds, ” said Cargill.

He has been thankful that he hasn’t had to shoot at any human beings though he couldn’t help but admitting it is fun to shoot when you are practicing at a range. “The war has definitely toned down from a few years ago, he said. Private Cargill has yet to witness any violence or aggression from Iraqi citizens towards him, and for this he is thankful. “Afghanistan is where all the real fighting is going on right now,” he said.

Because all U.S. troops were removed from inner cities, Private Cargill regrets that he has not seen any of the sights from major cities in Iraq, such as Bagdad, in person. Sanitation is differentthan here as the Iraqi people tend to burn their garbage over and over again which makes for some interesting smells. Every once in a while you may even see a donkey or two walking around. This is because farmers often let them go find their own food during the day.

Private Cargill estimated that he typically carries around 60 pounds of equipment daily depending on the various duties.

He spent two weeks with his family and friends and took time out to visit the NJROTC classes at Kennedy. He is back on duty in Iraq at this date.

Bears for a Cause

Posted on 13. Jan, 2010 by joannagreer in News Around School

Childrens' Inn patient meets her new bear

Bears for a Cause is a project that was started at Kennedy in 2008.  It is manned by a small group of Leadership Training Institute seniors raising money through bake sales, fundraisers, and donations to buy Build-a-Bears for terminally ill kids residing at the Children’s Inn at NIH. The Children’s Inn is a “place like home” built for kids and their families to stay while they are receiving treatment at NIH. From September to December, the students raised about $650 and used it to buy 25 bears and 25 outfits. On December 17 approximately 15 children attended and 10 other bears were made for the patients who were too sick to come. The Childrens’ Inn directors said it was the happiest they had ever seen some of the kids, and that made the whole process of the project completely worth it.