JFK's New Frontier

Staff Meets New Principal

joannagreer — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 03:00:20 +0000

Dr. Eric Minus speaks to JFK staff

June 14 — Kennedy staffers met their new principal, Dr. Eric Minus, this afternoon in the Media Center. Dr. Minus comes to Kennedy from Key Middle School where his leadership earned one of The Washington Post’s Distinguished Educational Leadership Awards in April.

His remarks to the staff included his passion for educational leadership, high standards for all students and of his excitement at this new opportunity at Kennedy. He will be officially on site July 1 but will be back and forth between schools until then.

Dr. Minus replaces Thomas Anderson who left Kennedy in March to open a southside Chicago school. Ruth Green has served as Acting Principal in the interim. Ms. Green will be moving to Newport Mill Middle School in July as assistant principal there.

Graduation 2010

joannagreer — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 23:01:03 +0000

With band director Norman Stultz conducting his original musical tribute “Overture to a Shining Moment” for John F. Kennedy High School’s Class of 2010 and former principal Thomas Anderson and family and friends in the audience, 356 seniors walked the stage into their future. It all happened on Monday, June 7 at D.A.R. Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Carol S. Parham, Associate Dean for Diversity and Student Experience at the University of Maryland, College Park, delivered the commencement speech.

Prom 2010

joannagreer — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 21:56:26 +0000

Students arrive for this year's prom

Scott Low

joannagreer — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 11:23:37 +0000

JFK Live 2010 Opinions

joannagreer — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 02:14:01 +0000

By Shri Tanna

Kennedy’s annual talent show, JFK Live, took place in the auditorium on March 18. In a year full of musical numbers and dances, the show was a big success, selling out, and drawing kids from all over the area to come see Kennedy’s talent. “It was awesome,” Junior Jeries Hijazin says. While the show was a big success and sold many tickets, not everyone was as pleased as Hijazin.

Junior Justin Kidwell, a musician himself, says “I was expecting a better prepared show; however, the audio system wasn’t properly set up.” Kidwell heard that the performers had minimal practice with the microphones before the show. The technical problems of the sound system affected many groups, including the one in which this reporter performed. Junior Obi Igbo, who played drums for the same group said “If the singers sang any closer to the microphones, it would have been down their throats.” Igbo felt that the microphones just were not working at all. The sound system seemed to improve as the show progressed but it remained a problem the whole night.

Not all the groups were hurt badly by the audio system. Dancer Rhitu Risal, who partnered with Johnathan Ocampo, was excited by the way the crowd responded to their performance. “I left my mark at Kennedy,” said senior Risal.

Briana Funes was in a dance routine as well as a musical act, and she said “I was scared, but fear comes from the sense of having no control, so I took control and did my thing.”

Junior Rosa Tellez also performed, and she was very happy with how it went. “The talent was good this year and it will be good next year, too,” said Tellez.

Many of the people in this year’s show will be around next year to perform. But isn’t it unfair to the performers to not even be heard after all their practice? Isn’t it unfair to the audience paying to see a show where they don’t get the best product possible? Should the SGA work on getting a better sound system for next year’s show? The answer to all of these questions in this reporter’s opinion is yes, but what do you think?

Chinese New Year

joannagreer — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 01:57:55 +0000

Prince will do

joannagreer — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 01:08:40 +0000

Reporting on Off-Campus Party Paints Negative Light on JFK

author — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:57:21 +0000

By Shri Tanna

On Thursday, March 11, over 100 students were caught at an underage drinking party during school hours. Neighbors alerted authorities about the party and a suspicious teacher at Kennedy alerted the schools’ administration. After processing by Montgomery County police, the students who were not charged and were not picked up by parents were brought back to school on a bus.

Students from Kennedy, Wheaton, Einstein, and Northwood high schools attended the party. Seventeen alcohol and two drug citations were given out by the police. Witnesses say there were up to 24 police cars at the party’s address.

Although four schools were involved, only Kennedy’s building and marquee were shown on WRC-TV’s news report for a total of four different views. Some students at Kennedy are also upset by the tone of the television report.

“As an African American, I am offended by the news reporter’s comments in the video,” said Bruce Campbell, a senior who did not attend the party.

The reporter said that the kids “scattered like roaches.” Students are still sensitive to the characterization of Kennedy by the press after the Facebook fight last fall.

Students who attended have a right to privacy as they are minors but it is known they will be serving detentions during the week and on the weekends for the infractions. Those who were charged with alcohol or drugs will be handled through the court system.

Snowmageddon comes to end

joannagreer — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 01:12:54 +0000

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?

joannagreer — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:06:59 +0000

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.