Senior Meeting

Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025

The Countdown begins. Here are some things you need to do now to prepare for your senior year.

​

Class of 2026

First of all, check your emails daily. We will send all kinds of senior information through emails.

​

YOU MUST USE YOUR SCHOOL GOOGLE ACCOUNT��

Join the Kennedy Senior Scholarship & Awards Google Classroom

​

�code: 4eotvynl

​

Kennedy Scholarships and Awards

• Submit your Kennedy Senior Scholarship application by January 20, 2026
• Optional Foundation and local scholarship applications will open in January in the Google Classroom
• Senior Recognition & Celebration is Sunday, April 26

​

Links to the scholarship information will be included �on the Kennedy Senior Information page when they become available.

Graduation

You must have a cap and gown to participate in the May graduation ceremony.

Cap and gowns can be ordered

• Fill out the form in the graduation packet you are given today
• Order online highschool.herffjones.com
• You can use a gown owned by a sibling or friend.

***If you use a gown from a past graduation, you will need to purchase a 2026 Memory Tassel. The Main Office will also have some available to purchase in the spring when the gowns are delivered to the school.

Graduation Announcements & Senior Swag

Order your Class of 2026 graduation cap and gown, official graduation announcements and senior swag from the order form found in the senior packet you received.

Order online at highschool.herffjones.com

There will also be a link on the Kennedy website. Make sure to enter for your school

“John F Kennedy High School” and select Cedar Rapids, IA.

Herff Jones reps will be here at the school

October 1st 10:45-1:15

to receive your orders, answer questions and hand out any of the senior swag that you order online before Oct 1st.

​

Graduation Caps & Gowns that are ordered

on or before October 1st will be delivered

to the school sometime in April 2026

Graduation Information Form

• A Google Form will be sent to your school email address. All seniors must fill this out even if you are not participating in the graduation ceremony.
• Carefully enter the information. Make sure to enter your name exactly the way you want it to be printed on your diploma, including capital letters, periods, spacing, and commas.

• You do not need to have your formal name announced at graduation, but make sure to enter what you want and how to say your name (so Mr. Kline can get it right).
• Include a non-school email address. Your school email account will be closed in June.

Important-if you have files in your school Google account that you want to keep, you must copy it to another account before you graduate. You will not have access after June.

• If you do not see the Graduation Information form in your email, check your spam or junk folder. You can also do a “search” in your Gmail account.
• If you still cannot find it, or have questions about the form, contact Mrs. Pei. Do not wait. Her email address is apei@crschools.us

A note about transcripts-

​

With permission, you may use a preferred name on your diploma.

Transcripts sent to a college, future employer, or requested in the future, will have your legal name.

• All Seniors are required to complete a basic CPR training to graduate.
• This will be offered September 15-16 from 8am to 2pm in the Weight Room. You do not need to sign up, just show up (preferably during a release, study hall, or gym class period).
• If you have a current CPR certification, this will fulfil the requirement. Bring the certificate to the Counseling Office.

Counseling Office

Counselors are available to help with applications anytime during the school day

Application Day Events:

October 2025 - Specific Dates TBA

Requesting Transcripts

Official transcripts need to be sent FROM KENNEDY. This can be done a couple different ways depending on the college/university.

1. Students may be able to include their Counselor’s name and email and the C/U will send a notification for submission via other websites (examples: Common App, Parchment, etc)
2. Students should follow the instructions within XELLO to request your transcript to be sent.

Once sent, transcripts takes 2-3 days to process at the college level before anything will be marked received.

FAFSA Info

• Any seniors planning to enroll in a college or university in the Fall of 2026
• Students (and parents/contributors) need to create FSA ID’s at least 1 week prior to filing the FAFSA
• FAFSA will be available in October 2025
• Pay attention to your school’s filing deadline.

Create Your FAFSA ID Here

Voter Registration Drive

​

​

CITIZENSHIP

​

State Award: 90% of Eligible Students Registered to Vote

Must be at least 17 years old.

Must be a United States Citizen.

Must be an Iowa Resident.

Cannot be a convicted felon

Cannot be judged mentally incompetent by a court of law.

Cannot claim the right to vote in any other place.

​

https://tinyurl.com/khsvotes

The BIG Why!

Your Future

Your Time

Your Money

REALITY:

College Dropout Rate ….

Why do students drop out?

How much debt and expenses does this result in?

How is this prevented?

JOB SHADOW CAREER CHOICES

​

Two ways to explore:

1. Career Exploration Days - offer an introduction to a career field and allow you to explore a broad scopes of careers within that industry, all in one shadow experience. Recommended for sophomores and students who are just beginning their career exploration journey.

​

• Specific Career Opportunities - perfect for students who are more certain of their career interest and want to focus on that career. (Priority given to juniors and seniors.)

More Reasons to Do Job Shadows

• Awards: We recognize any student who completes two or more Job Shadows or one Job Shadow and one Internship.
• There are two more enrollment sessions this year, so you can sign up for more than one job shadow each year, but you can only do one per session.
• Excused/Exempt Absence from School
• Get to learn first hand about a career. Find out if you really are interested.
• Hundreds of career opportunities.
• FREE!!!

Kennedy is #1 for Job Shadows in seven counties, let’s keep it this way!

​

Important Tips

• Be sure to use an email address you check regularly. All emails will come from Workplace Learning Connection. Save your login information.
• Be sure you enter your parent’s email address correctly. THEY MUST APPROVE THE APPLICATION. If it is entered incorrectly, they will not get the approval email.

​

​

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• How should I choose which job shadow to attend?

Choose a career you are interested in learning more about. If you are unsure about which career to choose, consider taking an online career assessment or choose a Group Job Shadow since it allows you to explore multiple careers in one shadow.

• Can I complete more than one job shadow each year?

Yes! The job shadow application portal will be open 3 separate times this year. The various portal openings will be communicated via daily announcements, email, and signage around the building.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• How does the application process work?

Begin by applying online at www.kirkwood.edu/wlc and submit the Student Approval; then have a parent or guardian complete the Parent Approval via email correspondence from WLC; and finally receive Guidance Approval via Mrs. LeClere.

• Why can’t I select a “School Contact” on my job shadow application?

Make sure you have Kennedy High School selected as your school, NOT Cedar Rapids Schools, and then Maddison LeClere will populate in your School Contact field.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

​

• How does job shadow placement work?

Due to the large volume of shadow requests, you could be placed as soon as October but it could also be later and can depend on host availability. Placement info will be sent to you via email and postal mail, to the school, and a text will also be sent to alert you to check your email.

• My shadow is complete…now what?

You may consider applying for another job shadow or interviewing for an internship position if your schedule allows.

• I need transportation, how do I arrange that?
• Make a note under SPECIAL REQUEST on the APPLICATION and Email Mrs. LeClere

QUESTIONS?

Contact Kirkwood’s Workplace Learning Connection at workplacelearning@kirkwood.edu or contact Mrs. LeClere (maleclere@crschools.us, Room 208).

JOB SHADOW CAREER CHOICES

Steps to Apply:

• Go to http://www.kirkwood.edu/wlc on a computer.
• Click on Job Shadows.
• Applications Due September 17 at 3:00 PM
• You may apply for one job shadow per portal opening.
• Both in-person and virtual opportunities available.

​

EVERY STUDENT SHOULD COMPLETE AT LEAST ONE JOB SHADOW IN HIGH SCHOOL

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A JOB SHADOW AND INTERNSHIP

​

​

• Job Shadows are brief, lasting a day or less while internships last 45-90 hours.�
• Internships are available during fall, winter, spring and summer.�
• Internships are graded and earn both high school and college credit. You are graded on your performance at the worksite, mandatory career development meetings, and a completed Internship Workbook.�
• Students will go through an interview process for internships.�
• If selected, internships are generally unpaid experiences, yet boost your resume and shows future employers that you have distinctive experiences

​

STEP ONE: SECOND SEMESTER INTERNSHIP REFERENCES

​

• You will need a personal reference, a non-related adult whom you have known outside of school and can vouch for your character and work ethic.�AND
• A teacher reference who knows your abilities and can speak to your academic strengths.
• Allow at least two weeks for your references to complete their portion of the application process. Plan ahead.�

STEP TWO: COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION

​

​

​

​

​

INTERNSHIPS: GREAT OPTION FOR YOUR FUTURE

​

• Internship portal opens Sept. 22nd- Oct. 31st at 3pm for winter/spring and Dec. 15- Feb. 6 for summer opportunities.
• High school juniors and seniors are encouraged to apply.
• If you have a full class schedule at Kennedy, a summer internship could be a better option for you.
• For optimal scheduling of internships, students should have an study hall/release in their schedule 4th block.

JOB SHADOWS AND INTERNSHIPS: GREAT OPTIONS FOR YOUR FUTURE

​

Senior Information Hub

​

• There is a Senior Information page on the Kennedy Website. Bookmark the page and refer to it occasionally as it will be continually updated throughout the year. Some of the information found there include: Yearbook/senior pictures, CPR requirement to graduate, information on commencement ceremony, senior recognition night, ordering cap/gown/ class ring.

​

• Make sure to check out the announcements that are played daily and sent to your email. Important dates and information, like scholarship opportunities are posted there.
• Check your school email. Things like the Diploma Form will be sent by email.

This is your senior year. Get involved and make it a great year!

There will be opportunities that you won’t have once you graduate. Try a new club or activity. Sign up for leadership roles. Volunteer. Make a new friend.

Make this YOUR year!

​