John F. Kennedy High School

John F. Kennedy High School

 

Commander Communicator

February 20th, 2026

 

Upcoming Important Dates

February 1st - 28th: Black History Month

February 24th: 9th, 10th, and 11th Grade P/SAT Assembly 2:45 pm to 3:45pm 

February 26th: 9th and 10th Grade PSAT Test (Please arrive by 8:00 am) 

February 27th: No School for Students

March 2nd: 11th Grade PSAT Test (Please arrive by 8:00 am) 

March 3rd: MLE PAC Night, 6 - 7pm

March 5th: Work Session & Public Comment - 4:30pm

 

Neighbors Supporting Neighbors

Are you a member of the Bear Valley Community that might need a little extra help? Your neighbors are here to support you! The Bear Valley Village is available for grocery shopping, child pick up, or other errands that you may need support with. Please reach out to thebearvalleyvillage@gmail.com directly if you would like to connect. 

 

February Testing Schedule

The week of February 23rd, our students will take another practice P/SAT exam. Please note the schedule for that week includes a few changes.

On Thursday, February 26th,  only 9th and 10th grade students will be testing. 11th graders do not test, so they do not need to come to the building that day. 12th grade students who are enrolled in edgenuity courses are encouraged to attend to engage in that learning.

On Monday, March 2nd, only 11th grade students will test. 9th and 10th grade students do not test, so they do not need to come to the building. 12th grade students will also be able to come in and work on their edgenuity course. 

scheudle

February 24th Assembly

To help everyone feel prepared and motivated, we are excited to announce a special whole-school assembly on February 24th. Please note that enrichment will not be offered on this day. All 9th, 10th, and 11th-grade students will attend the assembly from 2:45 pm to 3:45 pm, with dismissal at 3:50 pm. 12th-grade students will have access to their counselor and our College and Career Center for support with college applications and other resources.

Click here to see more information.

Join us for the MLE PAC Meeting! 

You are cordially invited to the MLE parents' meeting where important information for your student's future will be given. Come and learn about the programs Kennedy School offers for students. We'll have many guest speakers who will train us on substance abuse prevention. There will be a raffle, food and childcare. Please confirm your attendance by filling out the form below.

RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Xh74qI3xk94nr7SleeIKQrFJrmLVeSycISSaHRRc4rk/viewform?edit_requested=true

Guest Speakers:

- DPS Substance Abuse Team

-Blazing Cloud Information Table

-Rise Above Colorado Information Table

-Julie with Maddie Wright Foundation Information Table with handouts in Spanish & Vietnamese.

- Ally Arnaiz, DPHE Overdose Prevention & Education Program Coordinator

 

Drill is Life: The Prestigious Legacy of JFK’s Most Decorated Leaders 

John F. Kennedy’s reign over Denver Public Schools’ JROTC program is not new knowledge. For decades, JFK has held the legacy as one of the best teams in the entire nation. Seniors Mia and Brooke reflect on their experience as they prepare to graduate as some of the most decorated leaders in DPS history.

Read their full story here.

schedule

College and Career Success

College and Career Success is asking for your help in identifying and encouraging students to apply for the  #MyPlanDPS Student Achievement Award. This award is an opportunity to recognize students who have shown perseverance, growth, and determination, especially those whose hard work may not always be visible but has made a powerful impact.

This is a wonderful opportunity to share positive stories and recognize students who have achieved success despite challenges. By celebrating them, we not only honor their accomplishments but also uplift others by showing what is possible. These students become role models and sources of encouragement for peers who may need inspiration.

Thank you for helping us shine a light on our students’ successes and the amazing schools who are providing the environment for our students to thrive.

#MyPlanDPS Student Achievement Award Application

DPS Public Comments

If you would like to share your voice and opinions at the upcoming DPS Board Meetings, here is the schedule for Open Public Comments:

March 5th: Work Session & Public Comment - 4:30pm

April 15th: Work Session & Public Comment – 4:30pm 

May 7th: Work Session & Public Comment – 4:30pm

June 4th: Work Session & Public Comment – 4:30pm

https://www.dpsk12.org/page/board-meetings 

DPS is Cooking Up a Surprise 

Calling all Commander chefs! If you have a favorite recipe that uses iconic Colorado foods or locally grown ingredients, share it with the DPS Communications team here. In addition to the recipe, please add your contact information, so a member of their team can contact you if your recipe is selected for their upcoming surprise!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdu2__sYpUEQgopvuZw86huzIyLT4hvlt3IizyKBXxHJoV-Bw/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=117338815525497351116 

Submit Artwork for the Chance to be Featured in the Superintendent's Notecards

Commander students are encouraged to submit original artwork for a special opportunity! Selected art pieces may be turned into greeting cards used by DPS Superintendent, Dr. Alex Marrero, throughout the year! This is a chance for our JFK students to share their creativity, celebrate their voice and have their art seen and shared across DPS and beyond. Submissions are now open through Feb. 27. More details are linked in this submission form. We can’t wait to see what our students create!

Student Information

Khan Academy

We are excited to share that our students now have access to Khan Academy, a free SAT tutoring platform that offers personalized lessons tailored to each student’s needs, helping them master important SAT standards.

To ensure all students benefit from this resource, we will provide embedded time for SAT practice within their core content area classes. Additionally, we strongly encourage students to continue practicing at home to reinforce their skills and maximize their progress.

To further motivate our students, we will offer weekly incentives for those who log in and practice beyond class time, as well as for students who demonstrate mastery of key skills. Thank you for supporting our students as they prepare for success on the SAT!

 

Student Drop-Off

We understand that there are times when students need to get to school a few minutes before 8:00 am. As the weather gets colder, we invite students who arrive before 8:00 am to sit in the atrium on the East side of our building. Students can wait in the heated atrium until the building opens at 8:00 am. 

Yearbook Pages

Seniors – if you would like your yearbook photo this year to be your formal senior photo, instead of your default school picture, please complete this link.

To submit any of your own photos from this school year, with the chance for them to be featured in the yearbook, please upload them here.

JFK Theatre Presents: Mamma Mia!

Join us this March for JFK's Theatre performance of the smash hit musical Mamma Mia!

Dates:

Friday, March 20th at 6PM

Saturday, March 21st at 6PM

Ticket Prices:

$5 for Students, $10 for Adults

Tickets are available at the door. We hope to see you there!

 

Access or Donate to Local Food Resources

Dear JFK Community,

JFK offers K-Mart, a place where all JFK students can find a range of essentials. Open daily, please contact your counselor and Dre Calloway at dre_calloway@dpsk12.net. If you have any donations, please drop off in the main office or contact Dre. 

If you need support securing food…

  • City and County of Denver: Visit their website to find food assistance across the city.

  • Tasty Food Program: Afterschool meals for children will be offered at Denver recreation centers. Visit the Tasty Food website for locations and hours of operation.

  • Food Bank of the Rockies: Find a food pantry near you using their Pantry Locator tool.

  • Colorado 211: This confidential and multilingual service connects people to vital resources across Colorado. Call 2-1-1, 866-760-6489 or visit 211colorado.org. Note: The hotline is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, however, expect long wait times. To avoid waiting, use the call-back feature.

  • Feeding Colorado: The collaborative effort of the 5 Feeding America food banks that serve Colorado and Wyoming to coordinate and enhance food resources, ensuring food insecure Coloradans have access to healthy, fresh foods. Visit feedingcolorado.org/find-food or email info@feedingcolorado.org.

  • Hunger Free Colorado: Connects Colorado families and individuals to SNAP/food stamps, food pantries, free meal sites, WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) and other nutrition programs geared toward families, children and older adults. Call 855-855-4626 Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

  • School breakfast and lunches will continue as normal and remain free to families. 

The City and County of Denver’s Department of Human Services (DHS) will continue processing SNAP applications and renewals to make sure benefits are processed in a timely fashion as soon as the government shutdown ends. SNAP beneficiaries will receive SNAP benefits retroactively once the government reopens. DHS strongly encourages families to continue submitting SNAP paperwork in the meantime.

If you would like to support local efforts…

  • Denver Public Schools Foundation: Support the DPS community by donating to the DPS Foundation Food Security Fund.

  • City and County of Denver: Visit their website to learn more about donating food, money and/or time.

  • Denver Recreation Center Drop-off Locations: Non-perishable food items can be dropped off at any Denver rec center. Visit the City and County of Denver website to learn more.

  • Denver Animal Shelter: Donate pet food to the Denver Animal Shelter located at 1241 W. Bayaud Ave. or through their Amazon wishlist.

  • 10 Ways to Support Your Community Now:This slide deck from the City and County of Denver provides resources, suggestions and ideas on how to take immediate action in your community.

We're Hiring!

Check out these open positions at JFK and spread the word!

AN Paraprofessional (78951)

Office Support II (78919)

MIS Paraprofessional (78756) 

Girls Volleyball, Head Coach (78520)

Update on Student Drop-Off

We understand that there are times when students need to get to school a few minutes before 8:00 am. As the weather gets colder, we invite students who arrive before 8:00 am to sit in the atrium on the East side of our building. Students can wait in the heated atrium until the building opens at 8:00 am. 

CSC

Click here to view the most recent CSC notes. 

CSC Meeting Dates: 

March 4th, 2026 

May 6th, 2026

Weekly Bell Schedule

  • Doors open at 8:00 AM every day.

  • Class begins at 8:20 AM every day.

  • On Commander Days (Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays), class ends at 3:50 PM.

  • On Green Days (Wednesdays), class ends at 3:00 PM. Students may stay until 3:50 to engage with clubs, participate in study hall, or meet with teachers.

  • On Blue Days (Thursdays), class ends at 1:30 PM. Open office hours for teachers are held weekly on Blue Days from 1:30-2:30. 

bell schedule

Please see our updated bell schedule: 2025-26 Bell Schedule

 

School Breakfast and Lunch

This is a reminder that every student has the opportunity to receive free breakfast and lunch here at Kennedy. Families can access the menus through the SchoolCafé website. Useful features include:

  • Nutritional Information

  • Allergen Information

  • Print a PDF of the menu

  • Ability to make a sample tray with your student

 

Student IDs

All students are required to have their student ID out and visible at all times.

 

Student Handbook

Please review the 2025-26 Student Handbook.

 

General Information

Attendance Line: 

Call the Attendance Line at 720-423-4354 or email jfkattendance@dpsk12.net to excuse your student’s absences.

Office Support: 

Phone Number: 720-423-4300

Follow Kennedy on Social Media!

  • Instagram

  • Facebook


Quick Links:

  • Student Handbook

  • 2025-26 School Calendar

  • Bell Schedule

  • 2025-26 DPS School Calendar

  • Parent and Student Portal