KENNEDY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
BACK-TO-SCHOOL GUIDE
2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR
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WELCOME BACK, LANCERS! Now that the calendar has turned to August, we are in countdown mode for the opening of the 2022-2023 school year. We are excited to welcome you to campus for the start of another year. We have compiled important information to best prepare you and your student for the first few weeks of school. Please review the items below as you prepare for the start of school.
ACADEMICS INCOMPLETE SCHEDULES If you have an incomplete schedule (fewer than seven classes), please reach out to Dr. Kuzmanich kuzmanichk@kennedyhs.org (via email only) with the following information: •
Full name, as listed on your schedule
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Graduation year
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Class(es) you believe are missing from your schedule
CL ASS CHANGES Schedule changes will be made on a space available basis for the following reasons: •
To meet graduation requirements
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To complete summer school
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To fix academic placement issues
If you believe your request fits one or more of the reasons listed above, please reach out to Dr. Kuzmanich kuzmanichk@kennedyhs.org (via email only) with the following information: •
Full Name, as listed on your schedule
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Graduation year
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Reason for the schedule change request
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Alternate course(s) requested
CREDIT DEFICIENCIES Students who are credit deficient need to meet with their counselor and the Vice Principal of Academics to review summer credit retrieval and/or make plans for additional credit retrieval to take place during the school year. Counselors will reach out to students and families to set up appointments in the opening weeks of the school year. DEADLINE FOR SCHEDULE CHANGES Schedule changes will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis. We appreciate your patience during this busy time. The last day to request schedule changes will be Monday, August 22, 2022. Back-To-School Guide | 2
TEXTBOOKS The 2022-2023 book list is available online at www.kennedyhs.org/academics/book-lists. If a course is not listed, there is no required textbook to purchase. SUMMER READING Students should review their assigned English class for the 2022-2023 school year and ensure they have completed the assigned summer reading prior to the first day of school. Summer reading information is available online at www.kennedyhs.org/academics/book-lists. ACCOMMODATION PL ANS For returning students with accommodation plans, please check the date of your current evaluation. Evaluations must be current within the last three years (August 2019 or newer) in order to receive accommodations. Any new or revised evaluations should be submitted via email to your school counselor prior to August 24. For students new to Kennedy Catholic High School, please submit your current evaluation to the Academic Office by emailing Dr. Kuzmanich kuzmanichk@kennedyhs.org before August 23. All students who would like to be considered for national testing accommodations, such as the PSAT, SAT, ACT, or AP Exams, should file the required paperwork directly through the College Board and/or ACT organizations as soon as possible.
ATHLETICS Kennedy Catholic offers 25 varsity sports. We are a member of the North Puget Sound League at the 4A level, and our student-athletes exemplify the qualities of passion, service, integrity, and grit as they strive to succeed in sports and in life. We are looking forward to a tremendous year in all facets of Lancer Athletics! REGISTER FOR FALL SPORTS Online registration for the fall 2022 sports season is now open through FamilyID on the Kennedy Catholic school website at www.kennedyhs.org/ athletics/athletic-registration. All interested student-athletes must be registered online and have a current sports physical on file with the Athletic Office to participate on the first day of tryouts/practice. Football officially begins on Wednesday, August 17. The first day of practice/tryouts for Boys & Girls Cross Country, Boys & Girls Golf, Girls Soccer, Girls Swim & Dive, Boys Tennis, Girls Volleyball and Boys Water Polo is Monday, August 22. SPORTS PHYSICALS Student-athletes must have a current sports physical on file with the Athletic Office (A108) prior to the start of the sports season. Physicals Back-To-School Guide | 3
are good for two years from the date of the exam and must remain valid for the duration of the sports season. We encourage all freshmen to begin high school with a brand-new physical. To check if your returning student’s physical is still current, email Laura MacLaren at maclarenl@kennedyhs.org. Sports physical forms may be downloaded at https://kennedyhs.info/3bBHehl You may drop off the completed and signed forms to the Athletic Office (A108) during school hours; scan each page to a PDF and email to maclarent@kennedyhs.org; or mail a hard copy to: Kennedy Catholic Athletic Office, 140 S. 140th Street, Burien, WA 98168. UNIFORMS If your student-athlete has not yet returned their clean, bagged, and labeled uniform and/or equipment from last year, please make it a priority to give their uniform to their coach or the Athletic Office as soon as possible. ALL-SPORTS PARENT NIGHT Parent/Guardians of all student-athletes are requested to attend the All-Sports Parent Information Night on Thursday August 25, at 6pm in the Goodwin Gymnasium. This meeting is intended for all parents/guardians of student-athletes regardless of the season(s) the student participates. Athletic Director Don Hoffman will give an overview of our athletic programs and touch on schedules, grades, transportation, athletic training services, and more. After the general session, parents/guardians will have an opportunity to meet with the coaches of each fall sport. Sessions specific to winter and spring seasons will be held later in the year. We look forward to seeing you there. CONNECT WITH L ANCER ATHLETICS For sports registration, general information about programs, and news and events, visit the Athletics homepage on our school website www.kennedyhs.org/athletics. The Athletic Department also provides weekly updates and important reminders in the school eNews. For tryout information, game and practice schedules, rosters, and team-specific information, head to our league website kennedycatholicathletics.org. To find a specific sport, select the season at the top of the homepage, followed by the sport and then the level. Follow us on social media @OurLancerNation on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, for announcements, photos, achievements, updates, and everything Lancer Athletics. CONTACT US DIRECTLY •
Don Hoffman | Athletic Director | hoffmand@kennedyhs.org
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Harley Wells-Schultz | Social media, uniforms, Summer Programs | wellsschultzh@kennedyhs.org
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Laura MacLaren | Registration questions, sports physicals, schedules | maclarenl@kennedyhs.org
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Head Coaches Directory | https://kennedyhs.info/3BKry6e
BOOSTER CLUB Looking for a way to support our athletic program? Join the Kennedy Catholic Booster Club! Information about membership levels, events, ways to volunteer and offer support may be found online at www.kennedyhs.org/support-us/parent-groups.
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TRANSPORTATION Each family must determine the best way for their student(s) to arrive on time and return home after dismissal or student activities. Kennedy Catholic offers four bus routes to assist families in meeting their transportation needs during the school year. KENNEDY CATHOLIC SCHOOL BUSES Registration is required for bus transportation at https://kennedyhs.info/3Q6092E. Anyone who has previously registered their student must do so again, even if you have previously done so, for your student to ride the school bus. Families pay for transportation on a per-ride basis by purchasing ticket books through the main office. Ticket books cost $100 and will be good for 20 rides ($5 per ride). Tickets are one-way only, so students will need two tickets for a round trip. Cash will not be accepted as payment from the student. If a student boards the bus without presenting a ride ticket, the driver will take their name and a $7.50 fee will be added to their account for each unpaid ride. SIGN UP FOR TRANSPORTATION REMIND 101 Remind 101 allows for communication and better messaging for early morning bus routes or afternoon route changes. Please follow the instructions for your route by sending the @ below to 81010 (example: @wseattle to 81010). To receive messages via text, you need to text the following based on your child’s school bus route: ROUTE
TEXT THIS MESSAGE
TO THIS #
OR TEXT TO THIS #
West Seattle
@wseattle
81010
915.603.5384
Eastside & Renton/ Rainier Kent/Auburn
@eastrain
81010
915.603.5384
@kentaub
81010
915.603.5384
Federal Way
@fedway
81010
915.603.5384
The routes and the times for pick up and drop off may be seen on the Kennedy Catholic website www.kennedyhs.org/student-life/transportation. STUDENT PARKING Parking passes are available at no charge on Back-to-School Orientation days. Passes will be distributed to carpools and seniors first and then remaining passes will be made available as space allows. Students must sign up with the make, model, and license number of their car at Back-to-School Orientation Day on August 23. There will be a wait list complied for all non-carpools and juniors. DROP OFF AND PICK UP The student parking lot is locked from a half hour after school begins in the morning until a half hour prior to school letting out in the afternoon. Student pickup may take place in either the front (140th Street) of the building or in the student parking lot. All parking spots are reserved for students. If a parent/guardian needs to enter the building, they will need to use the visitor spots on 140th Street in front of the building. Back-To-School Guide | 5
VACCINATIONS Please submit proof of all vaccinations by Friday, August 26 to Kelly Etzkorn in the Campus Life Office. Forms may be emailed to etzkornk@kennedyhs.org or mailed to: Kennedy Catholic High School, ATTN: Kelly Etzkorn, 140 S. 140th Street, Burien, WA 98168.
LUNCH PROGRAM – KENNEDY CATHOLIC CAFETERIA Kennedy Catholic contracts with Lexington to provide students a variety of food options for breakfast and lunch throughout the school year. Students may pay by cash; however, the preferred method is through an on-line student cafeteria account that allows parents/guardians to monitor student meal purchases, track student purchases, make deposits directly into their student’s meal accounts, and have an email reminder sent to when an account balance gets low. Student debit account deposits may be made through Revtrak payments or by credit card. Parents/Guardians may also set up Auto Replenish for their student’s account. Sign up information is unique to each student and will be mailed directly to families the week of August 22. It is important for students to protect their pin codes, especially early in the year as cafeteria staff are still learning faces and names. If your student forgets their pin code, your student may ask cafeteria staff to retrieve it for them. Please contact the Cafeteria Manager, Katie Watland, at 206-246-8900 or email Katie.Watland@kennedyhs.org if you have any questions concerning the cafeteria.
LOCKERS Students will select their lockers during the Back-to-School Orientation Day on Tuesday August 23. Freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors will all have their own lockers.
YEARBOOKS There is no additional fee for yearbooks this year. A yearbook is included in each student’s tuition/ fees and every student will receive one on distribution day in late May. Back-To-School Guide | 6
CAMPUS LIFE If your student will be late or absent, please either call 206-246-3787 or email attend@kennedyhs.org by 9am to report the absence. If your student needs an early dismissal, please either call 206-246-3787 or email attend@kennedyhs.org prior to the dismissal time to request the dismissal. Please join the school emergency notification Remind 101 by texting @hafd8a to 81010. All school closures and emergency information will be communicated through this text line; AM radio stations; KIRO 7, KING 5 and KOMO TV 4 stations; and on the website at www.kennedyhs.org. If your student is tardy to school, please call 206-246-3787. A student is considered tardy if they are up to 15 minutes late for class. After the first 15 minutes, the student is considered absent. Tardiness is disruptive to the learning environment and demonstrates negligence. As such, students may be assigned detention for any tardy. This will be followed with applicable, progressive discipline for future offenses.
ATTENDANCE In the 2022-2023 school year, students missing eight days in each class period (per semester), will be required to meet with an administrator, counselor, parent, and teacher to discuss the circumstances surrounding the chronic absenteeism. Should the student reach a total of 10 absences (excluding school-related absences) in a given class period, the student will be required to submit a written “petition for credit” stating the justification for the teacher to grant credit, despite the chronic absenteeism. A panel review will then be scheduled for the student and parents/guardians to address the issue with a counselor, teacher, and administrator. At that time, medical documentation of chronic illness, injury, or other documented special circumstance can be presented and reviewed by the panel. A subsequent determination will be made whether the student can earn credit in the course, despite the chronic attendance issues.
EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENT ATTIRE & PHYSICAL APPEARANCE PHILOSOPHY In accordance with our school mission statement, we expect students to make sound decisions in a healthy, academic environment and to promote clean, modest, and professional dress. Appearance should respect the dignity of self, other individuals and groups, and promote effective learning and social environments. GUIDELINES •
Clothing and personal grooming must be neat, clean, and modest.
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Modesty includes, but is not limited to, the following: loose rather than tight-fitting clothing. Clothing should fully cover undergarments and the midsection and must be appropriate for school -- no spaghetti straps, halter tops, or tube tops. Shorts and skirts must be of sufficient length (approximately 3” above the knee). Back-To-School Guide | 7
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Clothing should be in good repair. Clothing with messages communicating double entendres may be inappropriate, possibly offensive, and should not be worn.
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Clothing should be free of references to messages that promote alcohol, alcohol-related establishments, tobacco, drugs, politically divisive or anti-religious sentiments, sexual innuendo, or violent images.
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Students are required to wear appropriate clothing and footwear not only during the academic day but at all Kennedy Catholic-sponsored events.
ALL-SCHOOL MASS DRESS CODE The dress code for All-School Masses is more formal than the everyday dress code. This is to help students understand and respect the importance of these events to the Kennedy Catholic community. The dress code for all-school Mass will be strictly enforced. Students out of dress code will receive detention and/or Lancer Service and their parents/guardians will be called and asked to bring their student appropriate clothing so they may attend Mass. If a family has any difficulty providing a student with appropriate clothing for All-School Masses, they should contact the Campus Life Office in advance for assistance. If families have clarifying questions or any concerns regarding the dress code policy, they should contact the Campus Life Office at etzkornk@kennedyhs.org in advance of school starting for clarification. Students who violate the dress code will receive detention for a first-time offense. Second and/or subsequent offenses may result in additional consequences, including Lancer Service. The Dean of Students, in accordance with this policy, reserves the right to determine if clothing or personal grooming practices are hindering effective learning and social environments at school or school-related activities.
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IMPORTANT DATES Aug. 22 BACK TO SCHOOL ORIENTATION DAY 1 All new students (class of 2026 and all transfer students) | 8am - 12pm | Goodwin Gymnasium | Link Crew Retreat, lunch provided Aug. 23 BACK TO SCHOOL ORIENTATION DAY 2 All new students (class of 2026 and all transfer students) | 8am - 12pm | Goodwin Gymnasium | No lunch provided 10th grade & 11th grade | 8-10am | Cafeteria 12th grade | 9-11am | Dillman Center Aug. 24 BACK TO SCHOOL ORIENTATION DAY 3 9th grade Freshmen Mini Schedule | 8am – 12pm | Goodwin Gymnasium 12– 2:30pm | Roller Skating Social and Pizza Party at Southgate Roller Rink (Complete enclosed permission slip) 12th grade Back to School Senior Kick-off | 10am – 12pm | William F. Eisiminger Field 10th and 11th grade | You do not need to report unless assisting with activities Aug. 25 First full day of classes | 8am – 2:30pm All Sports Parent Night | 6pm | Goodwin Gymnasium Aug. 31 Back to School Parent Night | 6-8pm | Goodwin Gymnasium | Families will meet their student’s teachers and follow their student’s schedule following an introductory overview session Sept. 5 Labor Day, no school Sept. 6 First Late Start of 2022-2023 School Year | Classes begin at 9:35am Sept. 7 9th grade Parent Information Night | 6:30pm | Cafeteria Sept. 8 Mass of the Holy Spirit (First All-School Mass; Mass dress code in effect) | 9:45am Sept. 14 12th Grade Parent & Student Information Night | 6:30pm | Cafeteria Sept. 28 11th Grade Parent & Student Information Night | 6:30pm | Cafeteria Oct. 3-7 Homecoming Week (Spirit Days and Activities) Homecoming Mass on Oct. 4 with Auxiliary Bishop Schuster Oct. 8 Homecoming Football Game | Kick-off 12pm | Highline Stadium Homecoming Dance | 8-11pm | Location TBD
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