Kennedy teacher and coach Sheryl Raithel was recently honored as the winner of the 2010 Breaking Barriers Award. This honor was awarded as part of the National Girls and Women in Sports Day at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul. Ms. Raithel has made significant contributions to girls’/women’s sports programs, is a positive role model for Kennedy students and athletes, and has consistently focused her considerable energies on the needs and opportunities for girls and women. Before coming to Kennedy, Ms. Raithel taught and coached at Pace High School in Pace, Florida and at Hamline University in St. Paul. She has coached a wide variety of sports and has led many school activities including: soccer, lacrosse, alpine skiing, basketball, softball, tennis, golf, volleyball and activities such as prom, homecoming, student government and Spirit Week. The entire Kennedy staff and student body is proud of Ms. Raithel and this well-deserved honor.

Peter Docter, a 1983 JFK grad, and his movie "Up" are now in the running for an Oscar, (or two or three or four). Docter's movie has been nominated in four categories: Best Picture, Best Animated Feature, Best Original Score, and Best Original Screenplay. Only weeks earlier "Up" won the

Critics' Choice Award for Best Animated Feature. Here is

Docter's acceptance speech.  Read more about Peter Docter here. "Up" also won the People's Choice Award for Best Family Film and won a Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Film. Click here to view an interview with Peter Docter about that Golden Globe Award.

Cara Donohue and Ben Strobel are the AAA Award nominees from JFK this year. This nomination to the MSHSL honors their Academics, Arts, and Athletics participation. Cara has been active in show choir, cross country, soccer, swimming, and lacrosse, and was a recent KARE 11 Athlete of the Week. Ben's involvements include band, orchestra, show choir band, jazz band, marching band, pit orchestra for the musical, and swimming.

Tuesday, Feb. 16 -- Registration information meeting during Team/Tutorial time in auditorium.

Friday, Feb. 19 -- Due date to apply for testing accomodations for special needs students.
Friday, Feb. 26 -- All Registrations for AP Tests due.

Tuesday, March 23 --  Required Pre-Registration meeting for all students taking AP Tests during Team Time/Tutorial in the auditorium.

Questions? Contact Sara Dahl-Wyland (952-681-6919; sdahl@bloomington.k12.mn.us) or Marilyn Hellweg (952-681-6966; mhellweg@bloomington.k12.mn.us)

AP Test Dates -- May 3-14. Find the College Board testing schedule here.

Nominations are being accepted for the 20th Annual Bloomington Public Schools' Senior Acheivement Awards, which recognizes outstanding Kennedy and Jefferson high school seniors. Students who excel or make contributions to the school and community in one of the four categories - Arts, Volunteerism, Leadership, and Curricular Excellence - may be nominated. Nominations may be submitted by school staff, parents, employers, faith leaders, and other community members and organizations. Nominations must be received at the nominee's respective high school no later than 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 19, 2010. Nomination forms are available at each school, for by downloading this editable form.

It's still well over a year away, but plans are solidifying for the JFK High School's move away from the current four-period day, to a six-period day. This change will take place at the start of the 2011-2012 school year. To learn more details about this proposed change, download this Powerpoint, or download this Quicktime movie.

News

Registration for next year's classes open until Friday, Feb. 12

Online registration for next year's classes is still open until Feb 12. Students can use their SchoolView accounts to register on their own, either from home or at school. Online registrations are not officially complete until student registration sheets are turned in to the counseling office. Click here for a detailed informational sheet for online registration.

Choir competition season enjoys early success

The Show Choir competition season has begun and the Kennedy Show Choir is enjoying early successes. This began at the Waukee (IA) Invitational where Rhythm In Gold (RIG) earned a 3rd runner-up overall and the East Side Swingers (ESS) placed 2nd in their division. Director Josiah Telschow praised the students for their great performances amidst very tough competition. The last weekend in January the choirs traveled to Altoona, WI for another competitive event. RIG earned 1st runner-up honors overall, and also won Best Crew and Best Costume awards. The ESS placed 2nd in their Class A division and also won a Best Crew award.

Girls' swim team earns Academic Silver:

The Kennedy girls' swimming team has been awarded the Silver Level in Academic Excellence from the MSHSL Coaches' Association. The Kennedy girls pride themselves not only on athletic excellence but on academic excellence as well.

Science Olympiad:

The Kennedy Science Olympiad team made a good showing at the 2010 Lake Conference competition. Meghan Smith and Brianna Dubose took 1st in the Dynamic Planet event, and Landon Muerhoff and Minh Hoang took 2nd in Anatomy & Physiology. Will Bryant and Mitchell Miller placed 4th in Fossils. Muerhoff, Dubose, and Smith took 7th in Experimental Design.

Chaudhary selected for House of Representatives Page Program

Bakhtawar Chaudhary, grade 11, has been selected to participate in the High School Page Program with the Minnesota House of Representatives.This proram will run through the week of February 15-19. This program provides students with hands-on access to the state government in action. It includes individual meetings with legislators, first-hand experience with the legislative process, and meetings with legislative officers, lobbyists and the media.

Fairview Pond Center Clinic available for students & families

Did you know that the Fairview Pond Center Clinic, located within the Pond Family Center near JFK, has medical services for families within the Bloomington Public School system? The Clinic offers family medical services including: counseling, immunization shots, wellness exams, acute-illness treatment, and injuries. The Clinic opened in late October, and is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Call 952-681-6276 to make an appointment or for more information.

Events

Yearbook Sales:

Click here for access to Yearbook Order Form and Senior Ad Form. Contact Ms. Hoblit for info or to submit Senior Pictures.

Jefferson HS to present "The Crucible":

The Jefferson Theatre Company will be presenting "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller February 18 and 19 at 7:30 p.m. and again February 21 at 3 p.m. Click here to view a poster with more information.

Prom Committee:  See Ms. Juul for more info.

2010 Grad Party information:

Click here for a party invitation and here for release forms

2010 Senior Class All-Night Party:

Please join in the fun of planning the 2010 Senior Class All-Night Party on Graduation night! Meetings are scheduled for 7 p.m. in the JFK Library on Thursday, Feb. 4 and 18, March 4 and 18, and every Thursday in April and May. Contact Julie Frankhouser @ 952-888-1017 for more information or email: julie.frankhouser@comcast.net.

Deadlines

Logo Contest for Diversity Day

The JFK Diversity Committee is sponsoring a Logo Contest for the annual Diversity and Peace Day. Deadline for submissions is Feb. 19. The winning logo will be used on the Diversity Day Peace Run T-shirts and will be displayed on the Bloomington Civic Plaza. The winner will receive a $100 savings bond courtesy of Richfield Bloomington Credit Union, a free meal from Chipotle, and recognition from the city council and school board. Submissions should be turned in to Megan Willrett in the counseling office by Feb. 19.