Kennedy Torch

News
Football Under the Full Moon
September 13, 2019
Joel Dillman, Writer
On Friday the 13th, under a full moon, two undefeated teams will take to the Kingston turf in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Kennedy Cougars will take on the #1 ranked West Des Moines Valley Tigers. The Cougars have two wins this season against Cedar Rapids’ Jefferson J-Hawks and Marion’s Linn-Mar Lions....
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News
SMART Time Gone Forever
September 12, 2019
Joel Dillman, Writer
After four years, all SMART-related efforts have been cut out of the daily schedule. Students no longer have a built-in time to make up work during the school day. Students remember SMART Time as a 30-minute stretch between second and third hour when they could go to a classroom of their choice to...
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Feature
Best Spirit in America
September 7, 2019
Maggie Talbott-Malone, Writer
1800 Kennedy students dressed in green and gold, crammed into the fluorescently lit gym for this year's first pep assembly. Their goal; the spirit stick. At last year’s spring pep assembly, the seniors walked away with their heads held high after a triumphant win. They entered the gym at the beginning...
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Arts and Culture
Standing Up Against Social Injustices
June 11, 2019
Abby Bonat, Writer
To the naked eye, Jackie Garcia may seem like an average eighteen-year-old high school student, but behind her tightly curled hair and relaxed demeanor is a girl who has encountered more challenges and overcome more obstacles than most adults. Garcia is a student at Kennedy High School who moved...
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Arts and Culture
A Journey of Understanding
June 10, 2019
Jack McGrane, Writer
Imam Hassan Selim from Cairo, Egypt, is an integral leader of the Muslim community in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He leads prayers at the Islamic Center of Cedar Rapids and is the vice president of the Inter-religious Council of Linn County. His journey has brought him across the world where he has encountered...
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Eastern Iowa Veterinary Specialty Clinic where Jax Niemuth, sr., did their internship.

May 29, 2019 • No Comments

Summer is coming and internships are starting to open for juniors and seniors. Internships are opportunities for students to go and work for a company over the summer or during the school year if they...

Recent News Stories

A Final Act of Kindness

May 24, 2019

On the morning of May 23, 2019 the Kennedy seniors donated their remaining class funds of $3500 to Miranda Neff, the daughter of Kennedy High School's librarian Lesa Neff. Miranda was recently diagnosed...

Say Hello to the Adult World, Seniors

May 23, 2019

It's the time of year when the senior class begins a new journey in life. This Friday, May 24, seniors from Kennedy will graduate at the US Cellular Center in downtown Cedar Rapids. The ceremony will begin...

Oh Rats…

May 15, 2019

Click. Click. Click. Good job. Click. Click. Click. Here’s a treat. That’s how class time is used in the AP Psychology classroom. Students are learning about learning with first-hand experimentation...

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Sports

Kamae Jacobus: The Sister on the Sidelines

Yearbook

Senior Kamae Jacobus smiles as she looks out at the football field.

Kamae Jacobus: The Sister on the Sidelines

Jenna Anderson, Editor-in-Chief

June 2, 2019

Fall Friday nights consist of cheering on the football team from the stands for most high school students. Yet senior Kamae Jacobus had a different experience with the football team. As football manager,...

Provided by Kajsa Gerkens

Exchange student Kajsa Gerkens after her races at the Drake meet.

Track Star From Deutschland

Mathew WorthingtonBarnes, Writer

May 28, 2019

Junior Kajsa Gerkens is a foreign exchange student who has done something amazing during her visiting school year-- she recently broke the school district record for the 400-meter hurdles. Her time...

Recent Sports Stories

Move to Express

Fifteen years is a long time to be committed to something. In 15 years, Lily Hartney has dedicated her mind, body, and soul to dance, and continues to push herself at dance practices and competitions. To...

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Opinion

One- to- One

Alyssa Friedley, Writer

June 8, 2019 • No Comments

Having access to technology will give students the ability to work online during class, which can overall boost the amount of work we get done in one day. Going one- to- one will create an advanced learning...

The World is Dying

Jami Martin-Trainor, Writer

June 7, 2019 • No Comments

According to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), society has until 2030 to drastically change our way of living when it comes to carbon emissions, or else the damage will be irreversible,...

Vol. 52, Issue 2: Letter from the Senior Editors

Jenna Anderson and Anna Reinhart

June 5, 2019 • No Comments

Ending four years of high school is bittersweet. It's the end of the crazy pep assemblies, but also the end of eight-hour long school days. The end of fast-walking to class in four minutes and cheering...