The student news site of John F. Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Kennedy Torch
Cheerleaders at state basketball in Des Moines.
Kennedy Cheer Looks for New Team Members
Junior Maria Trotta swimming the butterfly leg of the 200 Yard Medley Relay at regionals.
Kennedy Places Ninth At Swimming and Diving State Meet
Junior Ellie Hance swims the 100 Yard Backstroke at regionals.
Swimming and Diving Scores in the Preliminaries
Senior Captain Casey Gannon competes in the 500 Freestyle at Regionals. A race that qualified her for state.
Girls’ Swimming and Diving Splashes Into State
Ami Jacobo practicing her choreography during Happiness Inc. rehearsal.
Kennedy Show Choirs Make Their Debut
The Return of Coach Courtney
The Return of Coach Courtney
Cheerleaders at state basketball in Des Moines.
Kennedy Cheer Looks for New Team Members
Junior Maria Trotta swimming the butterfly leg of the 200 Yard Medley Relay at regionals.
Kennedy Places Ninth At Swimming and Diving State Meet
Junior Ellie Hance swims the 100 Yard Backstroke at regionals.
Swimming and Diving Scores in the Preliminaries
Senior Captain Casey Gannon competes in the 500 Freestyle at Regionals. A race that qualified her for state.
Girls’ Swimming and Diving Splashes Into State
Kennedys Happiness Inc. attends a Trunk-or-Treat.
Trick-or-Treat or Trunk-or-Treat?
Noreen worked to meet the needs of everyone around her as superintendent. She met others with love and compassion.
It’s “Just Noreen”
Candy Corn Craze
Candy Corn Craze
Noreen Bush poses for a photo after discussing her chemo treatments.
Noreen Bush: A Life To Be Remembered
Im a Puff and Im staying.
Battle of the Puffs: Kennedy vs. Washington
Protégé soloist performing the shows opener during a dress rehearsal.
Protégé Enters The Danger Zone
Mens Volleyball will be coming to Kennedy in the form of a club.
Men’s Volleyball Comes To Kennedy
Meet The New Faces At Kennedy
Meet The New Faces At Kennedy
Im a Puff and Im staying.
Battle of the Puffs: Kennedy vs. Washington
Senior Nelta Earl waves during homecoming parade.
Homecoming Scene Changes…Again
The Return of Coach Courtney
The Return of Coach Courtney
Shiho Yabuchi and Daniel Carolin pose for a photo in their classroom.
Welcoming Shiho Yabuchi to Kennedy
Noreen Bush poses for a photo after discussing her chemo treatments.
Noreen Bush: A Life To Be Remembered
Gervin poses before heading into the game.
Aiyanna Gervin: History in the Making
Sports announcer, Glen Wiebel, watches a Kennedy volleyball game. After filling in for Rich Patterson, he fell in love with the job.
Glen Wiebel: The Voice of Cougar Athletics
Protégé soloist performing the shows opener during a dress rehearsal.
Protégé Enters The Danger Zone
Ami Jacobo practicing her choreography during Happiness Inc. rehearsal.
Kennedy Show Choirs Make Their Debut
Im a Puff and Im staying.
Battle of the Puffs: Kennedy vs. Washington
We have to go save her!
Kennedy’s Drama Departments Debuts Puffs as Their Fall Play
In preparation for the premiere, the Puffs production crew work on the props. The play was moved into the auditorium because of the size of the set.
Puffs Comes to Kennedy
Happiness Inc. performs Mr. Rogers Medley
Photos: Show Choir Premiere Concert
Junior Katelyn Mackey, Senior Lacey Neighbor and Junior Kylie Link placing 6th, 3rd and 1st in their division.
Photos: Girl’s Diving at Regionals on November 3
Cougar Swimmers Compete at Regionals
Cougar Swimmers Compete at Regionals
Freshman Slader Buckheister runs with his teammate, sophmore Reuben Schlaak close behind.
Photos: Boys’ Cross Country Competes at the State Meet
Kennedy Linemen Warm up with the Family block in the foreground.
Photos: Cougars Fall to Waukee NW in A Defense Controlled Game
The student news site of John F. Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Kennedy Torch
The student news site of John F. Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Kennedy Torch
Joel Dillman

Joel Dillman, Editor-in-Chief

Hello! I’m Joel Dillman. I’m in senior year, and this is my third year on the Torch team. I'm glad school finally returned to a semi-normal state with everyone in class together. The future looks bright!

All content by Joel Dillman
Don Dixson stands surrounded by his art. From left to right: Dancin Iris, No Rhythm and Glory to Ukraine.

Don Dixson: Sewing Seeds

May 25, 2022
AP classes are just a small part of a high school students concerns.

How Do AP Classes Actually Affect Your Future?

May 19, 2022
Senior Wilsee Kollie speaks during the walkout.

Kennedy Holds Walkout Over Roe v. Wade Opinion Leak

May 18, 2022
Quick access to warm coffee could be a thing of the past for Kennedy teachers.

A Charged Removal of Teachers’ Appliances

March 4, 2022
Masks below noses were a common sight at Kennedy before the mask mandate was removed.

Right Under Our Noses

March 3, 2022
COVID-19 is threatening Kennedy pep assemblies for the 2021-2022 school year

Fall Pep Assembly Canceled After COVID-19 Surge

August 31, 2021
The University of Iowa is included in Iowa Citys mask mandate.

Iowa City Mask Mandate Begins August 19

August 19, 2021
Minecraft streamers brought together players of different races, languages and sexual orientations.

[Photo] The Sides to MCYT

July 9, 2021
Playing video games helped connect people through the COVID-19 pandemic.

[Photo] Gaming Apart: Together

June 25, 2021
The bell schedule is planned to be the same in the 2021-2022 school year.

More Schedule Changes Coming Next Year

May 25, 2021
Students take the MAP tests on their school-provided Chromebooks.

May MAP Tests Canceled for Kennedy High School

May 14, 2021
Vaccines appointments can be scheduled through local hospitals and pharmacies.

COVID-19 Vaccine Available Free for All Linn County Residents At Least 16 Years Old

April 20, 2021
The ISASP will be taken on school-issued Chromebooks for the first time from April 19 to April 22.

Kennedy Students To Take ISASP in April

April 5, 2021
Photo of the COVID-19 Coronavirus provided by the National Park Service.

One Year of COVID-19

March 22, 2021
Students complete MAP tests on their Chromebooks as teachers monitor them with GoGuardian.

MAP Testing: Monotonous, Aggravating and Pointless

March 9, 2021
COVID-19 has shown up at Kennedy despite reduced class sizes.

Confirmed Case of COVID-19 in Kennedy High School

January 27, 2021
Reworking Routines for Remote Learning

Reworking Routines for Remote Learning

December 22, 2020
All CRCSD students will be moving to remote learning on Nov. 12 due to the continued threat of COVID-19

CRCSD Returning to Remote Learning

November 11, 2020
Jefferson High School and several other buildings within the CRCSD sustained heavy damage causing students to move their learning online for this 2020 school year

Jefferson and Washington High School Reopening November 16

November 9, 2020
Photos of victims of police brutality were placed on the stairs during the vigil. Attendees of the vigil laid flowers, candles and other memorabilia by the photos.

Candlelight Vigil Held in Memory of Breonna Taylor

October 15, 2020
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds recently announced an extension to the school closures due to COVID-19.

COVID-19 Keeps CRCSD Closed Through April

April 2, 2020
Photo of the COVID-19 Coronavirus provided by the National Park Service.

COVID-19 Closes CRCSD

March 16, 2020
Noah Hargrafen, Hannah Retz, Morgan Mahoney and Jasmine Hite sit about the recording table.

Torch Talks – Closing Out the Show Choir Season

March 5, 2020
@CRSCHOOLS on Twitter post the photo above each time there is a delay or no-school day.

What Causes a Cancellation?

February 19, 2020
PoliceLightsGPEIBLS_2740x_CPEI by Government of Prince Edward Island is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Robbery at Gunpoint in the Kennedy Parking Lot

January 27, 2020
The Kennedy High School sign located in front of the building.

New Year’s Day Shooting Near Kennedy

January 3, 2020

Quick Quotes – Winter Break Plans

December 20, 2019

Torch Talks – The Folks From Frozen

December 6, 2019

Quick Quotes – Favorite Thanksgiving Foods

November 26, 2019

Torch Talks – Kayde Bowers, Striding to Success

November 25, 2019

Torch Talks – The Novembisode

November 12, 2019
Kennedy Football player taking the field at Kingston Stadium.

Football Below Freezing

November 8, 2019

Cougar Corner – End-of-Season Energy

November 6, 2019
Friday Football Game VS Dodgers

Friday Football Game VS Dodgers

November 1, 2019

Torch Talks – The Actors Behind Arsenic

October 25, 2019

Torch Talks – Dress Stress

October 25, 2019
Poster for Crimes of the Heart

Crimes of the Heart Coming Soon to Kennedy Theatre

September 23, 2019
The Kennedy Varsity Football team running towards the student section after winning their latest game against the Linn Mar Lions.

Football Under the Full Moon

September 13, 2019
Students working in study hall.

SMART Time Gone Forever

September 12, 2019
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Kennedy Torch

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