A Kennedy Catholic Lancer Publication
COMMUNI-K September 2017
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LEARNING, FAITH, LEADERSHIP
When I was in eighth grade, I encountered my first youth group experience led by Fr. Dick Gallagher. Fr. Gallagher was all of 28 (we thought that was super old) and newly ordained. He was St. Bernadette’s first ever youth minister. He was funny, athletic, enthusiastic, humble, and serious about his faith. He exemplified these attributes, not by what he said theologically, but by how he extended an invitation to grow in holiness. We hiked, delivered meals to the homeless and even had Mass outside. Mass outside was unheard of in the day. However, one particular field trip changed my life. We went together to decorate the halls at Fircrest School for the developmentally disabled. Fr. Gallagher led us up the stairs and into the first of two barracks. With joy, he jumped in and engaged with the young adults as a
Mike Prato - President
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[Pier Giorgio] represents the modern Catholic. He is one of us!
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model for us. I, however, took one look around at the sights and sounds and literally ran the other way. Father, seeing this, followed me outside and said to me, “Mike, this is one way for you to see the face of Jesus, even in the forgotten.” This changed me forever. It was because of this invitation that I found a career working in education teaching the most challenging students leading me to build a “heritage to defend” at Kennedy Catholic. The Lancer Family never just gets along – we help those around us in need – no matter what that need may be! Blessed Pier Giorgio has officially been named our Patron at Kennedy Catholic by Archbishop Sartain. A recent Vatican post regarding his canonization to sainthood was tweeted out by a young woman representing Young Catholics for Social Change. “He represents the modern Catholic. He is one of us!” Like Fr. Gallagher, Blessed Pier Giorgio was funny, energetic, athletic, humble, and serious about his faith. His invitation to pursue holiness was unconventional, ordinary, and impactful. He made it cool to be holy. Like Kennedy Catholic, we have a heritage to defend in our desire for the truth, especially in the way we live out our faith.
A prayerful hike to Maple Pass in the North Cascades with my wife Laura and Pier Giorgio!
Look for more opportunities to encounter Blessed Pier Giorgio in the months ahead. In the meantime, let his example of ordinary faith prompt us to never just get along.
Kennedy Catholic High School
140S 140th Street, Burien WA 98168
www.kennedyhs.org
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IN THIS EDITION: President’s Message Principal’s Message Nancy Bradish - Principal
In The News
Welcome back to school! We are off to a great start. It is
Fr. Evoy Scholarship Banquet
such a joy to have our classrooms filled with staff and students
New Teachers and Staff
eager and ready to begin the new year.
Trip to Australia
Our new students were welcomed into our Lancer family during
Trip to Spain
Orientation on Thursday, August 24. By the end of the day, after
In the Library
participating in many activities with Link Crew, the new students became members of our community!
Revamped Computer Lab
On Monday, August 28, we began a new tradition for our
Building Improvements Alumni Profile: Conor Brogan ‘14
Senior Class. We brought them together for a Senior KickOff and Brunch served by our teachers. The seniors came to build community, build faith and to share a meal. The morning
Kennedy Catholic Reunions
included games, a prayer service and a class picture. It was
Alums Offer Advice
awesome to see students break out of their comfort zone and
Lancer Turkey Bowl
really participate in community building and prayer service. This
David R. Orozco Golf Tournament
will set them on a path for a fantastic senior year.
Filipino American Scholarship
Upon beginning the school year, the students were able to
Homecoming
enter the building and see many newly furnished classrooms.
Welcome Class of 2021 New International Students Fine Arts News Sports News Alaska Airlines Eagle Award Lancer for Life
The new furniture designs will facilitate student centered instruction and opportunities for discussion. The counseling center also received a face lift and has become a community gathering place before and after school, as well as a quiet place for study. We are looking forward to the new school year and all the exciting opportunities it brings. As we begin the new school year together, we reflect upon the words of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati: “The faith given to me in baptism suggests to me with a sure voice: by yourself you will do nothing, but if you have God as the centre of your every action, then yes, you will reach the goal.” (letter to L. Bonini, January 15, 1925)
Kennedy Catholic High School
140S 140th Street, Burien WA 98168
www.kennedyhs.org
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In the News: News and Press Releases. Find all of the latest news on our website!
Please Join Us: Father Evoy Scholarship Dinner You are cordially invited to the 22nd Annual Fr. Evoy Scholarship Banquet. When: Sunday, September 17 at 4:30pm Where: Our Lady of Mt. Virgin Parish Hall (2800 S. Massachusetts St.) Cost: $100 per person (dinner and drinks included) Fr. Gerard Evoy, S.J. was a devoted priest, gifted educator and administrator. Because of his love for quality education and the youth of greater Seattle, a scholarship fund has been established in his name at Kennedy Catholic High School. Proceeds from the fund support deserving young men and women attending the school. Since the inception of the Fr. Evoy Scholarship, over 40 students have received tuition assistance to attend Kennedy Catholic. The event is hosted at Our Lady of Mt. Virgin Parish and includes a banquet and program. This event is coordinated by Joe Faccone and the Fr. Evoy Scholarship Banquet committee. If you would like more information, or wish to attend the banquet, please contact Joe Faccone via email or at 206.246.0500. We look forward to seeing you there!
Meet Our New Teachers and Staff We are excited to introduce our community to some new faces at Kennedy Catholic. Please join us in welcoming them to the Lancer family! For more information, read their individual profiles. Tammy Shearer, Counselor
Sarah Newman, Science Teacher
Savannah Staley, English Teacher
Taylor Walker, Science Teacher
Sofia Lopez, Community Service Coordinator
Luke Janicki, English Teacher
Erik Burnett, Social Studies Teacher
Becky Dahlin, Creative Manager Steele Fredrickson, Education Technology Coordinator
Kennedy Catholic High School
140S 140th Street, Burien WA 98168
www.kennedyhs.org
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Students Tour Australia and New Zealand 10 Kennedy Catholic travelers and three chaperones had the trip of a lifetime as they spent 16 days in July traveling through Australia and New Zealand. They learned about Maori and Aboriginal cultures while also exploring many of the natural wonders present in New Zealand and Australia. From the tour of the geothermal Maori village in Rotorua to the once-in-a-lifetime experience of snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, students experienced different cultures, exotic wildlife, and natural beauty. Students also got the chance to immerse themselves into the literary world of a Hobbit when they visited Hobbiton, the beautiful film set created for portions of Tolkien’s Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogy. The highlight of the trip for many of the travelers was the chance to stay with an Australian host student from Emmaus College. Emmaus College is a Catholic high school in Melbourne. The students spent five days attending school, exploring Melbourne, and getting a chance to develop life-long friendships, which led travelers to an appreciation for the importance of a sense of faith, family, and home. Beyond that, Kennedy Catholic students had the opportunity to experience a different culture from the perspective of a student their own age.
Señora Cabiles and Mrs. Jandusay Take Students to Spain! From June 16 - June 27, Señora Cabiles and Mrs. Jandusay led 13 Kennedy Catholic students through Barcelona and Madrid. Students attended a week of Spanish immersion classes and spent their free time exploring España. The most memorable experiences in Barcelona included visiting Antonio Gaudi’s Park Güell and La Sagrada Familia, strolling Las Ramblas, touring Camp Nou - the home of world famous Barça, attending a flamenco show and preparing our own tortilla española, paella and gazpacho. The last three days of the trip were spent in Madrid seeing the Royal Palace, rowing boats in Buen Retiro Park and visiting the ancient city of Toledo. Great friendships and memories were made by all. According to Senior Max G., “I was blessed to be able to go on this trip and I brought home many cherished memories”. Seniors Andrew C., Evan C., and Lindsay E. all agreed the trip was the highlight of their summer.
Kennedy Catholic High School
140S 140th Street, Burien WA 98168
www.kennedyhs.org
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Revamped Computer Lab This year, room A217 has been reorganized and has changed from the Film room to the Digital Arts Lab. We added computers and bought new MIDI keyboards for making music as well as drawing tablets for each computer. All this new hardware will be used in the new Digital Arts Class offered for
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the first time this year. Students should be on the
In the Library Over 3000 books, DVDs, and materials were circulated last school year.
lookout for announcements regarding new clubs using the Digital Arts Lab starting this Fall!
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The complete renovation of the Kennedy Catholic Library proved transformative in its inaugural year. The attractive, bright and accessible space was a welcome addition to the school community and the perfect environment to inspire 21st century thinking. What are our Lancers reading and how are they using this amazing space? With a full year of circulation and program statistics behind us, we are excited by the spike in library use and access. Over 3000 books, DVDs, and materials were circulated last school year. This is close to 1000 items over the previous year. The most popular genres include fantasy/sci-fi, biographies, mysteries and graphic
Building Improvements Over the summer, several projects and facility upgrades were completed. Foremost was the purchase of new classroom furniture for 26 classrooms. Several classrooms in the first floor were also painted to complement the new furniture. The counseling center, campus life office, girls locker room and band room got a well-deserved facelift with new paint and carpet. We upgraded our signage to include ADA access, replaced our hot water tanks and thermostats, upgraded our network cables and installed external and internal security cameras.
novels. Individual laptop computers were checked out 793 times by students. The two computer labs housed in the library were used for 860 class periods. If you have not had an opportunity to visit the new John F. Kennedy Museum and Archive Room in the new library, please make a point to do so this year! JFK campaign buttons, photos, magazines and news articles are displayed and available for research and personal use. Alumni, parents and Kennedy Catholic friends are always welcome in our library! Contact us anytime at library@kennedyhs.org. Kennedy Catholic High School
140S 140th Street, Burien WA 98168
www.kennedyhs.org
ALUMNI NEWS JO
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Alumni Profile: Conor Brogan ‘14 Studying at Kennedy Catholic is where Conor Brogan ‘14 first learned to be a leader. He remembers always being encouraged and supported, while being pushed to do his very best. The Lancer family is full of supportive faculty, staff and classmates, but Mr. Vinson stands out among them. As Conor’s teacher both sophomore and senior years, he built confidence in his students, encouraging them to voice their opinions, but always have facts to support their arguments. As Conor noted, Mr. Vinson genuinely cares about his students, and he acted as a mentor to Conor through the entire college application process. In the Fall of 2014, Conor started school at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he will graduate with a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Entrepreneurship. Here, his leadership and mentoring skills have become an integral part of who he is. His school work has been focused on learning through doing, as have his summer jobs, like being a Wildland Firefighter. Conor discovered how to connect his skills and motivations into a future career with the Marines. He was accepted into Officer Candidate School for this past summer, and recently returned home. Officer Candidate School (OCS) was an intensive ten-week course, with demanding physical and mental training exercises. Here, Conor’s leadership skills were put to the test, leading small teams through training courses. With his hard work and dedication, Conor graduated from OCS and this winter, after he finishes his last quarter at Cal Poly, he will be on his way to basic training in Quantico, VA. From there, he will move on to his final step of flight school to train as an airman for the Marines. Recognizing that everything he does reflects on his family, Conor strives to always do his best. He’s looking forward to living around the country throughout his training, and living the core values of the Marine Corps: Honor, Courage, and Commitment.
Kennedy Catholic Reunions Over the summer, we welcomed back the Classes of 1977 and 1987 for their reunions. While some things have changed, others are exactly as they used to be. A tour of the school included the updated library, the new classroom furniture, and the updated classroom spaces. Alumni connected with each other, and reminisced about their days as students. Thank you so much to those who attended! The Classes of 1997 and 2007 will be celebrating their reunions this fall. The Class of 1997 Reunion will be on September 23 at the Cedarbrook Lodge. You can contact Ryan Black (rajeto@hotmail.com) for more details. The Class of 2007 Reunion will be on Friday, October 13 at Optimism Brewing on Capitol Hill. You can buy your tickets today here
Kennedy Catholic High School
140S 140th Street, Burien WA 98168
www.kennedyhs.org
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Alums Offer Advice at Senior Brunch What a way to start the school year! Seniors gathered at Kennedy Catholic on Monday, August 28 to kick-off the school year with team building and leadership activities. They participated in a lip sync battle, heard from alumni speakers, and created an art project focusing on goals for the year. Our alumni are an essential part of the Lancer family, and we were thrilled to welcome back Allen Gregorios ‘11, Debrah Kidane ‘14, Natalie Mutter ‘15, Caelin McDonald ‘15 and Anthony Sampson ‘16. They offered advice to our Seniors, often noting the speed with which the year would fly by, and the lifechanging experience that was attending SEARCH. They spoke with confidence, and Caelin assured her fellow Lancers that they don’t have to have their whole lives planned right away. Natalie talked about how this will be a year of lasts – last football game, last school dance with their friends, last time taking a certain class – but to be present for each one of those experiences. Make memories and make your own path. Anthony offered his own wisdom to finish strong, but also slow down and enjoy the year with their Lancer family. It’s a time to take risks and try something you have a passion for, encouraged Allen. Debrah noted how easy it was to get swept up in everything going on, but to be sure to stay on top of assignments. As the year will come to a close with prom, there were warnings about getting too caught up in prom drama, and lessons learned about ordering your dress online. When all is said and done for the year, this year’s Senior class will still all be part of the Lancer family no matter where they end up in the world.
Lancer Turkey Bowl Come prepared with your team of 7 to 10 for a flag football tournament featuring alumni from all class years, plus hot drinks and snacks for friends and family cheering you on. Games will be 7-on-7. We want to see your Kennedy Catholic team gear! Prizes will be given to the team with the most team spirit and class year with the most attendees. Proceeds benefit the Kennedy Catholic Young Alumni Society. Questions? Contact Rebecca Nuffer 206.957.9636 Early Turkey Registration: $50 per team After Nov. 11: $75 per team Members of Kennedy Catholic’s Young Alumni Society can register anytime for $50 per team Kennedy Catholic High School
140S 140th Street, Burien WA 98168
www.kennedyhs.org
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Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday to our September alumni! We wish you a wonderful year ahead! Click here for the full list. To make sure your name makes it in this section, head over to our Alumni Page and fill out the form under, “Help Us Update Our Records.”
Derek R. Orozco Golf Tournament The DRO Foundation, in partnership with Kennedy Catholic, hosted friends, family and community members to honor Derek Orozco with the second annual memorial golf tournament in July at Auburn Municipal Golf Course. Proceeds from the tournament support the Derek R. Orozco scholarship fund at Kennedy Catholic High School. It was a great day for catching up with good friends and helping us reach our goal. The weather was perfect for a round of fun competitive golf followed by a silent auction and dinner after the tournament. Thank you for coming out to have fun and support a great cause! Watch future editions of the Communi-k for more details about next year’s tournament.
Filipino American Educators of Washington Scholarship Winners Congratulations to Kennedy Catholic 2017 senior students, Nicole Pasia and Helena Ducusin! Both are award recipients of the annual Filipino American Educators of Washington (FAEW) Scholarship Program for graduating seniors in high school. Nicole and Helena, along with three other awardees from different high schools, were chosen from their essays and applications. The awardees were chosen who most exemplify the dedication to learning, leadership in the community, and pride in their Filipino culture which the FAEW Scholarship Program encourages among our Filipino American youth. Nicole and Helena rose to the top from among applicants from all over Washington State from both public and private high schools. Although all applicants for this award are Filipino Americans, all applicants come from diverse backgrounds and they have experienced life as an American youth in different ways. What was noticeably the same in all applicants was their resiliency, determination, and focus to succeed despite challenges and roadblocks. All also hope to make life better not only for themselves but for their families and their communities. Kennedy Catholic High School
140S 140th Street, Burien WA 98168
www.kennedyhs.org
HOMECOMING JO
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Mark your Calendars Mark your calendars and don’t miss these exciting festivities!
Homecoming Mass
Homecoming Football Game
Monday, October 9
Saturday, October 14
Please join our faculty, staff, parents and students for
Kick-off 1:00pm
a special Homecoming Mass.
Highline Stadium
Goodwin Gymnasium - 10:30am. Mass will be followed by a reception in the Kennedy Catholic Dillman Center for all guests. Immediately after the game, please join us for our annual 5th Quarter Celebration hosted by the Kennedy Catholic Booster Club. Bring your family and friends back to the Kennedy Catholic cafeteria for hot dogs, beer, pretzels, and
after the homecoming game
beer, hot dogs, Pretzels
OCT
4-6
pm
fellowship!
14
fifth K E N N E D Y C AT H O L IC
q ua r t e r purchase tickets at the door
$5/person
$20/family
S p o n so r e d by t h e K e n n e dy Cat h o l i c Bo ost e r c lu b
Kennedy Catholic High School
140S 140th Street, Burien WA 98168
www.kennedyhs.org
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Welcome Class of 2021 We welcomed an amazing group of freshmen and new students during orientation week at Kennedy Catholic. It has been such a joy seeing all these fresh faces in the halls. New students were greeted on their first day by a friendly gauntlet of cheering Link Crew leaders, faculty and staff. In four years’ time that same gauntlet will usher out the seniors at their last school assembly. During orientation, new students and Link Crew leaders participated in a series of fun ice breakers and activities to get to know each other and the school. These sessions were designed to welcome, acclimate and transition new students into a high school environment, helping everyone get off to a successful start. Link Crew goes well beyond the first week activities. These leaders mentor students throughout the school year meeting with them monthly during Community Period to check in and reconnect. Their Lancer Spirit is truly contagious! Please join us and offer a warm welcome to all of our new students and their families to the Kennedy Catholic community.
New International Students In August we welcomed 31 new international students to the Kennedy Catholic family. After a week of international orientation, these ‘newbies’ joined all the other new Kennedy Catholic students in their orientation. In this photo, these international students spent the morning learning about Kennedy Catholic’s ISLE project and volunteering at Northwest Harvest. Throughout our program’s 30 year history, we have hosted hundreds of students from 34 countries. If you see these students in the halls or at Kennedy Catholic activities, make sure to introduce yourself or, better yet, join us on one of our monthly fieldtrips. For more information, contact Fil Tribble in the International Office at INT@kennedyhs.org.
Kennedy Catholic High School
140S 140th Street, Burien WA 98168
www.kennedyhs.org
FINE ARTS NEWS JO
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Elementary Band Program In July, Kennedy Catholic hosted our annual Summer Band Camp. 74 young musicians joined together for an incredible week. And now, a new school year begins. Recruiting, instrument rental meetings and unlocking the magic of music will take center stage in the next few months. Exciting times!
Summer Band Highlights and Start of the Year This summer our award-winning band program was busy yet again! First off, our summer band (voluntary group of 75 students - incoming 9th grade students - 12th grade) came together in the months of June and July. They rehearsed twice a week and performed in many of the local SeaFair parades. In the last week of July we had almost ALL of the incoming/current band students join us to prepare for the Seafair Torchlight Parade. Overall the “summer band” was a huge success - we were featured in the Seattle Times, received a few 1st place trophies, and were even featured on TV for the Torchlight Parade. Congratulations to all the students that joined us!
Artists at the State Fair Support our talented artists at the Washington State Fair! Students submitted artwork from last year’s classes and several are featured in the Exhbition Hall at the Washington State Fair in Puyallup. Students have the potential to win awards for their artwork at the fair and we wish them the best of luck!
Kennedy Catholic High School
140S 140th Street, Burien WA 98168
www.kennedyhs.org
SPORTS NEWS JO
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Lancer Football at Husky Stadium Thank you to everyone who came out to the season opener for our Lancer football team. Coach Sheldon Cross got his second season as head coach off to a great start, guiding the team to a 30-20 victory over Seattle Prep as part of the WIAA Emerald City Kickoff Classic held at Husky Stadium.
Renovated Weightroom Provides World-Class Experience Our facilities team was busy this summer, and no where is it quite as evident as in the weight room, where the space underwent a drastic renovation that will benefit current and future Lancers alike. Following a complete cleaning and painting as well as work to improve ventilation and lighting, the room was outfitted with modern, state-of-the-art systems that will improve functionality, allow for more diverse use and provide our students with some of the safest equipment in the industry. “This project will immediately benefit our students and athletic programs,� said Sam Reed, Athletic Director. Not only will the weight room equipment pay immediate dividends in terms of health and fitness, both projects will only deepen the already strong sense of pride our student-athletes have when it comes to participating in Lancer athletics.
Lancer Cross Country Puts in the Miles Kennedy Catholic Cross Country was in high gear all summer. Our athletes worked out together at various locations each week preparing for the fall season. Soaking in the Cedar River after a long morning run was a favorite. They also enjoyed runs along the beautiful shores of Lake Washington as well as Alki Beach. The summer culminated with a camping trip to Ocean Shores where they ran on the beach, swam in the waves, and played in the sand. It will be exciting to watch these athletes compete this fall.
Kennedy Catholic High School
140S 140th Street, Burien WA 98168
www.kennedyhs.org
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Varsity Boys Water Polo Debuts at Kennedy Catholic On August 21 we ushered in the newest varsity sport at Kennedy Catholic, as 14 boys jumped into the water to represent the Lancers in water polo. Coached by new Head Coach Ken Alfonso, the boys will compete in the East Division of the Washington State Water Polo Association, facing off against fellow NPSL teams, Kentwood, Kentridge, Auburn, Auburn Riverside, Auburn MountainView and Enumclaw. Alfonso also serves as the head water polo and swim coach for the Olympic View Swim Club in Normandy Park, having been there since 2011. He brings with him more than thirteen years of water polo head coaching experience at the youth, high school and USA Olympic Development levels in both California and Washington. A former high school English teacher and graduate of California Polytechnic State University, Alfonso now works in the financial services industry and lives in the Burien area with his wife and children.
New Gym at Kennedy Catholic On August 24, faculty, staff and Link Crew members packed the Goodwin Gymnasium to welcome our new Lancers and celebrate the start of the school year. Over the summer the gym underwent a huge transformation marked by new paint and a newly finished hardwood floor. The artwork includes the Lancer mascot logo painted at half court. This renovated space will be used not only by our student-athletes and fitness program but also to host many community events throughout the year. Thank you to Greater Seattle Floors and LC Jergens Painting Co. for their support with this project and for helping us transform the space.
Kennedy Catholic High School
140S 140th Street, Burien WA 98168
www.kennedyhs.org
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New Executive Director of W.S.C.C. Joe and Jenn Sprague are long-time, devoted members of the Lancer community. Their son Tony graduated in 2015 and is currently attending the University of Washington. Daughter Emily graduated in 2017 and was the class salutatorian. She will be attending Villanova University to study nursing. After nearly two decades at Alaska Airlines, Joe accepted the position as Executive Director of the Washington State Catholic Conference. Please keep Joe and his family in your prayers as he undergoes this transition and begins this valuable work in support of the Catholic Church. The article was written by Joe and featured in the August edition of Alaska Beyond magazine. If you’ve flown Alaska lately, you may have seen it on your flight.
Eagle Award for Walter “Trey” Hunt Walter “Trey” Hunt was give the the Eagle Award on September 10. The Eagle Award is the highest honor a Boy Scout can receive and it carries with it a special significance within the organization, but also in higher education, business, and community organizations. Less than 4% of all young people who enter Scouting earn the Eagle Award. Trey fulfilled all requirements in areas of leadership, service, and outdoor skills with his restoration project at Walkers Preserve Park in Normandy Park. Trey and his team of volunteers removed invasive laurel trees and holly, restored 50 yards of trail, poured concrete, and installed a new park bench. Congratulations, Trey!
Lancer for Life The Lancer for Life magazine is an annual publication sent to the entire Kennedy Catholic community with the purpose of celebrating our school, honoring our alumni, inviting our community to events, and sharing the strategic direction of the school. Click here to read our recent issue.
Kennedy Catholic High School
140S 140th Street, Burien WA 98168
www.kennedyhs.org