Principal's Message
Dear Kennedy High School Families,
Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year! As your principal of John F. Kennedy High School, Home of the Fighting Irish, I am thrilled to extend a warm welcome to each and every one of you. It is an honor and a privilege to continue serving as your principal, and I am excited to embark on this journey together. Whether you are a returning family or new to our school community, I am eager to get to know each of you and witness the growth and accomplishments that lie ahead. At Kennedy High School, our vision is to engage, educate, and empower every student, fostering a learning environment where they can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
As we enter this new school year, I am confident that with our collective teamwork, passion, dedication, and commitment, we will make it a great one. We are a strong and united community, celebrating victories and learning from challenges. At Kennedy, we believe in the power of togetherness, as it strengthens us all. This past school year, many of our students received awards and accomplishments, both in academics and extracurricular activities. None of these achievements would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our exceptional students, teachers, staff, parents, family members, alumni, and community stakeholders. I have no doubt that we will build upon this momentum as we commemorate our historical 60th year anniversary.
Our dedicated staff is eagerly looking forward to welcoming our students to the 2023-2024 school year. At Kennedy High School, we remain committed to providing a high-quality curriculum and implementing research-based instructional strategies that highlight the 5Cs: Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Creativity, and Character/Compassion. Our goal is to ensure that every student receives a 21st-century education, one that engages, educates, and empowers them with the skills necessary for success in their future educational pursuits. Through our district's Career Preparedness Systems Framework (CPSF), we equip our students with three key components: 21st Century Skills, Technical Skills, and Voice and Purpose. Together, these components prepare our students to be ready for college, career, and life. In addition, our teachers are learning about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on our students. It is important to us that our students learn about the benefits of technology as well as become responsible and ethical users as well. 9th grade students will take the Career, Finance, Technology class with AI components embedded in it as well as learn about AI in subject areas as it relates to the curriculum.
In addition, the safety and well-being of our students are of utmost importance. We work closely with our School Resource Officer (SRO) Wilson and La Palma PD to maintain a safe learning environment. Additionally, we offer numerous opportunities for our students to connect with our school and feel a sense of belonging within the Fighting Irish Community. Kennedy High School provides a wide range of courses, clubs, and programs to ensure that students have options to explore their interests, learn, and better prepare themselves for the future. Our offerings include the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program, AI Pathway, CTE Pathways, a variety of competitive athletic programs, over 40 clubs, Choir, Theater, Band, ASB, Advanced Placement courses, JROTC, and much more.
While we place great value on the curriculum and instructional aspects at Kennedy High School, we also prioritize the mental health and overall well-being of our students. We have a team of five counselors and one full-time social worker available to provide support in academic, social-emotional, and mental health matters. We employ a response-to-intervention model to identify, intervene, and support all students, especially those who may be at risk. Furthermore, parental involvement and community support are vital to the success of our students. We deeply appreciate the support and involvement of all parents, alumni, and community members, and we are committed to delivering the highest level of customer service to all stakeholders. We encourage parents to remain engaged in their child's education by participating in groups such as our English Language Advisory Committee (ELAC), School Site Council, PTSA, and Boosters. I invite you to join our monthly Coffee with the Principal talks or any of our parent events to learn how you can better support your students and stay informed about the exciting activities taking place in our school and community. Please feel free to visit or contact our school with any questions or feedback you may have, as we strive to continue working together to ensure that our students not only learn with a purpose but also reach their UNLIMITED YOU!
I wholeheartedly wish you a fantastic year ahead. Welcome to Kennedy High School, where we embrace the spirit of #KHIGH4LIFE.
Sincerely,
Seema K. Sidhu, Ed.D.
Principal, John F. Kennedy High School
"For education... is the mainspring of our economic and social progress... it is the highest expression of achievement in our society, ennobling and enriching human life." --John F. Kennedy, Special message to Congress on education (Feb. 6, 1962)