John F. Kennedy High School (Guam)

John F. Kennedy High School
Address
331 N. Marine Corps Drive, Tamuning, Guam 96913
Tumon, Guam
Information
Type Public School
Motto "Home of the Islanders"
School district Northern Central Guam
Principal Barbara R. Adamos, Ed.D.
Staff 50
Faculty 135
Grades 9–12
Enrollment 2,347 (SY 2011-2012)
Color(s) Green and Gold
Mascot Islanders
Accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Website John F. Kennedy High School

John F. Kennedy High School (JFKHS),[1] formerly Tumon Senior-Junior High School,[2] is a public secondary school located in the Tumon area of Tamuning in the United States Territory of Guam.[2] It is a part of the Guam Public School System.

The school, which opened in September 1959, serves Tamuning, Hagåtña, and portions of Dededo.[2]

History of John F. Kennedy High School

Early Years

John F. Kennedy High School was opened in September 1959 as "Tumon Junior-Senior High School". The first graduating class was from the same school year and graduated in 1960. In November 1962, Typhoon Karen, a category 5 typhoon, devastated Guam, leaving the only other public high school, George Washington High School (GWHS) without a campus. Following Typhoon Karen, GWHS held double sessions at John F. Kennedy High School. During 1962, John F. Kennedy High School's chapter of the National Honor Society was chartered.[2]

In 1964, Governor Manuel F.L. Guerrero signed Public Law 7-113, introduced by Senator J.U. Torres. This law renamed Tumon Junior-Senior High School "John F. Kennedy High School".[3] Following enactment, the date of enactment was changed by Public Laws 7-124[4] and 7-125[5] to begin August 26, 1964. On August 26, 1965, Governor Guerrero signed Public Law 8-74, introduced by Senator George M. Bamba. This law appropriated $2,000 to design and erect a statue of President John F. Kennedy in front of John F. Kennedy High School.[6]

John F. Kennedy High School's Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (AFJROTC) started at the school in 1970. In 1976, the Guam Community College began offering vocational training courses in nursing, marketing, and electronics through JFKHS.[2]

Temporary relocation

In June 2008 some of John F. Kennedy High School's buildings were declared unsafe, so for the school year 2008-2009, Kennedy students shared space with George Washington High School in double sessions.[7] For the 2009-2010 school year, JFK moved into a facility in the Tiyan area of Barrigada. While other public high schools welcomed their students back on Tuesday, August 11, students at the John F. Kennedy high school interim at Tiyan were met with bad news after hearing that their school was delayed further after having large amounts of the chemical Chlordane in the soil and in the air. The students were able to finally arrive to school on August 24 after declaring the Chlordane levels in the air safe.[8][9]

Accreditation with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) is the accreditation authority for John F. Kennedy High School. The following is a brief summary of the accreditation history of JFKHS:

Accreditation year Accreditation period granted
1986 initial, 6 years accreditation[10]
1993 6 years accreditation[10]
1996 mid-term visit, reaffirmed[10]
1999 3 years accreditation[10]
2002 3 years accreditation[10]
2005 2 years accreditation[10]
2007 1 year accreditation[10]

School fight song

Come on and fight, fight, fight for Kennedy High, Get up and raise your banners to the sky, We have a school of honor—brave and bold, And with our colors green and gold, so green and gold!

Among the palms we'll have a jubilee, For Kennedy's the best school by the sea, We have the finest school, you'll all agree, all agree, It's Ken—ne--dy, Hey![11]

Student body

During the 1999-2000 school year, the school had 2,400 students. 42% were Filipino, 37% were Chamorro, and the next largest groups Asians and other Pacific Islanders.[12]

Notable Alumni

References

  1. ↑ "Progress Report Smaller Learning Communities Planning Grant." Guam Public School System. June 30, 2005.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 History. John F. Kennedy High School. Retrieved on September 1, 2009.
  3. ↑ Guam Legislature. Public Law 7-113. Hagatna, 1964.
  4. ↑ Guam Legislature. Public Law 7-124. Hagatna, 1964.
  5. ↑ Guam Legislature. Public Law 7-125. Hagatna, 1964.
  6. ↑ Guam Legislature. Public Law 8-74. Hagatna, 1965.
  7. ↑ "John F. Kennedy High remains in limbo." Pacific Daily News. June 23, 2009.
  8. ↑ Tamondong, Dionesis. "Pesticide found at JFK site: Concerns could delay classes at Tiyan facility." Pacific Daily News. August 8, 2009. Accessed September 1, 2009.
  9. ↑ Staff. "BREAKING NEWS: Final chlordane test in soil done, interim JFK could open Monday." Pacific Daily News. August 21, 2009. Accessed September 1, 2009.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 John F. Kennedy High School. Accreditation History. Tumon, 2012.
  11. ↑ John F. Kennedy High School. School fight song. Tumon, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Guam's Public High Schools." Guam Public School System. Accessed September 8, 2008.
  13. ↑ KUAM, Michael San Nicolas, Hagatna, July 2012.

External links

Coordinates: 13°30′04″N 144°47′50″E / 13.5011°N 144.7971°E / 13.5011; 144.7971

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