John F. Kennedy High School (Guam)
The school, which opened in September 1959, serves Tamuning, Hagåtña, and portions of Dededo.
History
Early years
John F. Kennedy High School (JFKHS) was opened in September 1959 as "Tumon Junior-Senior High School". The first graduating class was from the same school year and graduated in 1960. In November 1962, Typhoon Karen, a category 5 typhoon, devastated Guam, leaving the only other public high school, George Washington High School (GWHS) without a campus. Following Typhoon Karen, GWHS held double sessions at John F. Kennedy High School. During 1962, John F. Kennedy High School's chapter of the National Honor Society was chartered.
In 1964, Governor Manuel F.L. Guerrero signed Public Law 7–113, introduced by Senator J.U. Torres. This law renamed Tumon Junior-Senior High School "John F. Kennedy High School". Following enactment, the date of enactment was changed by Public Laws 7-124 and 7-125 to begin August 26, 1964. On August 26, 1965, Governor Guerrero signed Public Law 8-74, introduced by Senator George M. Bamba. This law appropriated $2,000 to design and erect a statue of President John F. Kennedy in front of John F. Kennedy High School.
John F. Kennedy High School's Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (AFJROTC) started at the school in 1970. In 1976, the Guam Community College began offering vocational training courses in nursing, marketing, and electronics through JFKHS.
Temporary relocation
In June 2008 some of John F. Kennedy High School's buildings were declared unsafe, so for the school year 2008–2009, Kennedy students shared space with George Washington High School in double sessions. For the 2009–2010 school year, JFK moved into a facility in the Tiyan area of Barrigada. While other public high schools welcomed their students back on Tuesday, August 11, students at the interim John F. Kennedy high school at Tiyan were met with bad news after hearing that their school was delayed further after large amounts of the chlordane were found in the soil and in the air. The students were able to finally arrive to school on August 24 after the chlordane levels in the air were declared safe. The Islanders remained in this facility through the 2010–2011 school year.
Return to the Tumon campus
In August 2011, the JFKHS campus in Tumon was ready for occupancy. New equipment filled the classrooms and offices, to include: student and teacher desks, desktop computers, laptops, classroom furniture & equipment for the respective departments. Student enrollment averaged 2,800 annually until SY2014-2015 when a new central high school was opened. In 2018, the surface of the track and field lighting were replaced thus complementing the “newness” of the overall facility.
JFKHS accommodates approximately 1,750 students annually from grades 9 through 12 and is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
In celebration of JFKHS's 50th anniversary, the new statue of President Kennedy was presented to the student body, alumni, and the community of Guam.
Accreditation
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) is the accreditation authority for John F. Kennedy High School. The following is a brief summary of the accreditation history of JFKHS:
| Accreditation year | Accreditation period granted |
|---|---|
| 1967 | initial |
| 1968 | revisit, 2 years accreditation |
| 1970 | revisit, 2 years accreditation |
| 1972 | 6 years accreditation |
| 1978 | 3 years accreditation |
| 1981 | revisit, 2 years accreditation |
| 1983 | revisit, 4 years accreditation |
| 1987 | 6 years accreditation |
| 1993 | 6 years accreditation |
| 1999 | 3 years accreditation |
| 2002 | 3 years accreditation |
| 2005 | 2 years accreditation |
| 2007 | 1 year accreditation |
| 2008 | 3 years accreditation |
| 2011 | 3 years accreditation |
| 2014 | 3 years accreditation |
| 2017 | 6 years accreditation |
| 2020 | mid-term visit, reaffirmed |
Student body
During the 1999–2000 school year, the school had 2,400 students. 42% were Filipino, 37% were Chamorro, and the next largest groups Asians and other Pacific Islanders.
Notable alumni
- Leevin Camacho, attorney general of Guam
- John A. Cruz, politician and retired civil servant, Mayor of Hagåtña since 2005
- Eugene, member of the Korean girl group S.E.S.
- William C. McCool, NASA astronaut
- James Moylan, Guam delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives (2023–)
- Michael San Nicolas, delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives (2019–2023)
- Terry Stotts, NBA head coach
- Robert A. Underwood, president of the University of Guam, delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives (1993–2003)
See also
References
- ^ "Progress Report Smaller Learning Communities Planning Grant." Guam Public School System. June 30, 2005.
- ^ History. John F. Kennedy High School. Retrieved on September 1, 2009.
- ^ Guam Legislature. Public Law 7-113 Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine. Hagatna, 1964.
- ^ Guam Legislature. Public Law 7-124 Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine. Hagatna, 1964.
- ^ Guam Legislature. Public Law 7-125 Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine. Hagatna, 1964.
- ^ Guam Legislature. Public Law 8-74 Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine. Hagatna, 1965.
- ^ "John F. Kennedy High remains in limbo." Pacific Daily News. June 23, 2009.
- ^ Tamondong, Dionesis. "Pesticide found at JFK site: Concerns could delay classes at Tiyan facility." Pacific Daily News. August 8, 2009. Accessed September 1, 2009.
- ^ Staff. "BREAKING NEWS: Final chlordane test in soil done, interim JFK could open Monday." Pacific Daily News. August 21, 2009. Accessed September 1, 2009.
- ^ John F. Kennedy High School. Accreditation History. Tumon, 2012.
- ^ "Guam's Public High Schools." Guam Public School System. Accessed September 8, 2008.
- ^ "John Cruz biography". KUAM. 2016-06-30. Retrieved 2016-12-31.
- ^ KUAM, Michael San Nicolas, Hagatna, July 2012.