The Student News Source Of Kennedy High School

Kennedy Torch
Teachers struggle to conduct day-to-day operation in the wake of a printing budget deficit.
Kennedy Teachers Face a Printing Crisis, Limited to 25 Pages Per Day
Kennedy' spring musical "Hadestown" audition camp and auditions will be held March 31 through April 2
Kennedy Theatre Department Prepares for Atypical Spring Musical Auditions
Classroom environment set to change for incoming freshmen in new Seminar Elective in the 2025-2026 school year.
Freshmen Seminar Confirmed as Elective for 2025-2026 School Year
The future of CRCSD remains uncertain as several questions are raised regarding curriculum changes.
Innovative or Ill-Conceived: College and Career Pathways Come to CRCSD
Kennedy's color guard accompanies the marching band's show "Shattered" with technicolor flags.
Winter Color Guard Places Third on 3/9
Taking a shot on goal, freshman Bibek Magar looks to get his first goal on the season.
Kennedy Varsity Soccer Begins Season With Tie Against Waterloo West
Intercepting the ball, sophomore Gracie Feltes breaks free from the Xavier opponent.
Photos: Varsity Girls Soccer Jamboree
Senior Trey McKowen receives the Boys Basketball State Qualifier banner from Kennedy athletic director Shawn Thomsen.
Kennedy Varsity Boys Basketball: A Season of Growth
Throughout Meredith Kaump's wrestling season she has had support from her friends and family.
Meredith Kaump Places Sixth at Girls State Wrestling
Senior Ella Moser Hits 1,000 Points In Her High School Basketball Career.
Senior Ella Moser Hits 1,000 Points In Her High School Basketball Career.
This is an editorial cartoon that is addressing the current paper shortage going on at Kennedy High School. Hence why Mike from the office is talking to Kline, because he owns a paper company. This is a comedic take on the current dilemma that our school is facing.
Editorial Cartoon: Got Paper?
The new "drag" ban bill (HF891) that is currently under review originally targeted drag shows by stating if a minor attended or viewed the performance, all parties involved could be charged with a felony. The restriction now concerns anyone who allows/performs an "obscene performance" in front of a minor, but the word obscene is subjective and leaves the law up to interpretation.
Editorial Cartoon: To Be or Not To Be Obscene
"Mufasa" succeeds in conveying the story of Simbas father from the original "Lion King".
Mufasa Makes a Splash in the Box Office
TikTok is a time sink for a number of users, designed to be addicting.
The TikTok Time-Bomb
As the political climate shifts, so does that of education.
Editorial Cartoon: A Shifting Stance on Education
DnD Club Engages Students in Cult Classic Game Dungeons and Dragons
DnD Club Engages Students in Cult Classic Game Dungeons and Dragons
Kennedy High School participates in an annual student exchange with a school in Japan.
Bridging Cultures: Japanese Exchange Students Experience Student Life at Kennedy
Speech members celebrate after receiving their scores.
Large-Group Speech Season Wraps Up in Ames
Kennedy's Model UN Provides Diplomatic Opportunities for Students
Kennedy’s Model UN Provides Diplomatic Opportunities for Students
Instructor Brain Jeffords adds weight to a bridge.
Photos: Kennedy’s Project Lead the Way Experiments with Engineering and Construction
Throughout Meredith Kaump's wrestling season she has had support from her friends and family.
Meredith Kaump Places Sixth at Girls State Wrestling
Junior, Kennedy girl's wrestler, Olivia Hallam who has recently earned a state title.
Olivia Hallam Ranks Fourth at Girls State Wrestling
Senior Eliana Hansen has completed in pageants since 2021.
Elíana Hansen: Finding Confidence in Pageantry
Freshman Bentley Dill runs down the court while protecting the ball.
Freshman Bentley Dill Joins Kennedy Girls Basketball
Tackling a Davenport North player, Henry Wilkes nears the 50 yard line.
Henry Wilkes: Students, Athlete, Musician
Torch Out Loud, the Kennedy Torch podcast, presents a new episode.
Torch Out Loud: Moonlight Express on Jazz Choir at Kennedy
All- State qualifiers of Speech and Improv before performing last month.
Kennedy’s All-State Speech and Improv Team Perform in Showcase
Kennedy' spring musical "Hadestown" audition camp and auditions will be held March 31 through April 2
Kennedy Theatre Department Prepares for Atypical Spring Musical Auditions
Happiness, Inc. members portray the father (senior Avery Theis) and son (junior Saul Ervin) in the choir's show.
Varsity Show Choir ‘Happiness’ Season Recap
Kennedy's color guard accompanies the marching band's show "Shattered" with technicolor flags.
Winter Color Guard Places Third on 3/9
Taking a shot on goal, freshman Bibek Magar looks to get his first goal on the season.
Kennedy Varsity Soccer Begins Season With Tie Against Waterloo West
Senior Trey McKowen receives the Boys Basketball State Qualifier banner from Kennedy athletic director Shawn Thomsen.
Kennedy Varsity Boys Basketball: A Season of Growth
During the national anthem, the Kennedy basketball team stands together.
Photos: Kennedy Varsity Boys Basketball Defeats Waterloo West on February 24
Elevating above the Xavier opponent, McKowen looks to hit a three from deep.
Photos: Kennedy Varsity Boys Basketball Defeats Xavier on January 31
Freshman Wrigley Davidson looks to pass the ball to freshman August Wilkes.
Photos: Freshman Boys Basketball Defeated by Xavier on January 30
The Student News Source Of Kennedy High School

Kennedy Torch
The Student News Source Of Kennedy High School

Kennedy Torch
Joshua Barker

Joshua Barker, Writer

Hello there! I’m Joshua Barker, an aspiring student at Kennedy High School and a future attendee of Coe College. I also love writing, research and debate which works perfectly with my journalistic work. Enjoy your time here visiting Torch!

All content by Joshua Barker
Representatives discuss college options at the annual Kennedy Open House.

A Guide to Picking College

Joshua Barker, Writer
October 10, 2023
Rachel Dean's "The Anxiety Project" debuts in Iowa as the alum returns to her hometown.

Introducing the Anxiety Project

Joshua Barker, Writer
September 29, 2023
New activities director Shawn Thomsen is taking over for Kennedy's Aaron Stecker.

Former Kennedy Coach Shawn Thomsen Steps in as New Activities Director

Joshua Barker, Writer
August 22, 2023
Gov. Kim Reynolds gives the Condition of the State address to members of the Iowa Legislature inside the House Chamber, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10, 2023, at the Iowa State Capitol, in Des Moines.

Iowa Auditing Bill Threatens Accountability and Rule of Law

Joshua Barker, Writer
June 1, 2023
Strolling the aisles of Target is a popular pastime in Cedar Rapids.

A Picture Perfect Spring Break

Joshua Barker, Writer
March 11, 2023
Kennedy Culture Club Hosts Culture Night

Kennedy Culture Club Hosts Culture Night

Joshua Barker, Writer
February 17, 2023
Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School, a public school, from the outside.

The Effects of Iowa’s “Student First Act”

Joshua Barker, Writer
February 6, 2023
Members of IYC gather in celebration of legislation passed early in the day.

Voices of the Future

Joshua Barker, Writer
January 3, 2023
Senior Elizabeth Goff (Belle) and senior Jake Horton (Beast) after their waltz in a dress rehearsal.

Kennedy Presents a Tale as Old as Time

Joshua Barker, Writer
December 1, 2022
Students can use Cougar Advisory to voice their opinion on a variety of topics like curriculum or other activities.

The Return of Cougar Advisory

Joshua Barker, Writer
November 29, 2022
Renewable energy has been growing in Iowa in recent years.

Iowa’s Go Green Incentives

Joshua Barker, Writer
October 18, 2022
The smallpox vaccine has proved effective against Monkeypox in clinical trials.

Monkeypox: Minor Disruption or New Epidemic?

Joshua Barker, Writer
September 16, 2022
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