John F. Kennedy High School (Guam)

Last updated
John F. Kennedy High School
JFKHSGUlogo.png
John F. Kennedy High School (Guam).jpg
John F. Kennedy High School in 2022
Address
John F. Kennedy High School (Guam)
331 N. Marine Corps Drive, Tamuning, Guam 96913

Tumon
,
Guam
Coordinates 13°30′04″N144°47′50″E / 13.5011°N 144.7971°E / 13.5011; 144.7971
Information
TypePublic
Motto"Home of the Islanders"
Established1959
School district Guam Department of Education
PrincipalJonathan Pilarca
Staff50
Faculty135
Grades 9–12
Enrollment1,792 (SY 2021–22)
Color(s)Green and gold   
MascotIslanders
Accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Website gdoe.net/jfkislanders

John F. Kennedy High School (JFKHS), [1] formerly Tumon Senior-Junior High School, [2] is a public high school located in the Tumon area of Tamuning in the United States Territory of Guam. [2] It is a part of the Guam Department of Education.

Contents

The school, which opened in September 1959, serves Tamuning, Hagåtña, and portions of Dededo. [2]

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. [2]

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". [3] Following enactment, the date of enactment was changed by Public Laws 7-124 [4] and 7-125 [5] 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. [6]

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. [2]

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. [7] 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. [8] [9] 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 yearAccreditation period granted
1967initial
1968revisit, 2 years accreditation
1970revisit, 2 years accreditation
19726 years accreditation
19783 years accreditation
1981revisit, 2 years accreditation
1983revisit, 4 years accreditation
19876 years accreditation [10]
19936 years accreditation [10]
19993 years accreditation [10]
20023 years accreditation [10]
20052 years accreditation [10]
20071 year accreditation [10]
20083 years accreditation
20113 years accreditation
20143 years accreditation
20176 years accreditation
2020mid-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. [11]

Notable alumni

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hagåtña, Guam</span> Capital city of Guam

Hagåtña is the capital village of the United States territory of Guam. From the 18th through mid-20th century, it was Guam's population center, but today it is the second smallest of the island's 19 villages in both area and population. However, it remains one of the island's major commercial districts in addition to being the seat of government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tamuning, Guam</span> Village in Guam, United States

Tamuning, also known as Tamuning-Tumon-Harmon is a village located on the western shore of the United States territory of Guam. The village of Tamuning is the economic center of Guam, containing tourist center Tumon, Harmon Industrial Park, and other commercial districts. Its central location along Marine Corps Drive, the island's main thoroughfare, has aided in its development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Felix Perez Camacho</span> Governor of Guam from 2003 to 2011

Felix James Pérez Camacho is an American politician and businessman who served as the 7th Governor of Guam from 2003 to 2011. A member of the Republican Party of Guam, he had previously served as a six-term senator in the Guam Legislature from 1993 to 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Republican Party of Guam</span> Guam affiliate of the Republican Party

The Republican Party of Guam, commonly referred to as Guam GOP, is a political party in Guam affiliated with the United States Republican Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Democratic Party of Guam</span> Political party in Guam

The Democratic Party of Guam is a political party in Guam affiliated with the U.S. Democratic Party. Its origins lie in the Popular Party, which was the only political party on Guam until 1956.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tumon, Guam</span> District of Guam

Tumon is a district located on Tumon Bay along the northwest coast of the United States unincorporated territory of Guam. Located in the municipality of Tamuning, it is the center of Guam's tourist industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl Gutierrez</span> Governor of Guam from 1995 to 2003

Carl Tommy Cruz Gutierrez is an American politician who was the 6th Governor of Guam, serving two four-year terms with Lieutenant Governor Madeleine Bordallo from January 2, 1995, to January 6, 2003. Gutierrez previously served a total of nine terms as a Senator in the Guam Legislature and was chosen by his colleagues to serve as Speaker of the 17th and 18th Guam Legislatures, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KTGM</span> ABC affiliate in Tamuning, Guam

KTGM is a television station in Tamuning, Guam, serving the U.S. territory as an affiliate of ABC. It is owned by Sorensen Media Group and operated by Lilly Broadcasting alongside low-power Fox affiliate KEQI-LD. The two stations share studios on 111 Chalan Santo Papa in Hagåtña (Agana); KTGM's transmitter is located in the heights of Barigåda (Barrigada).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. John's School (Guam)</span> Private primary and secondary school

St. John's School is an international college preparatory school located in the Tumon area of Tamuning, Guam, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guam Department of Education</span> Government agency of Guam

The Guam Department of Education (GDOE), formerly the Guam Public School System, is a school district that serves the United States territory of Guam. The school district can be thought of as analogous to the school districts of other cities and communities in the United States, but in some manners, it can also be thought of as analogous to the state education agencies of other states and territories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guam Highway 1</span> Highway in Guam

Guam Highway 1 (GH-1), also known as Marine Corps Drive, is one of the primary automobile routes in the United States territory of Guam. It runs in a southwest-to-northeast direction, from the main gate of Naval Base Guam in the southwestern village of Santa Rita in a northeasterly direction to the main gate of Andersen Air Force Base in the village of Yigo. It passes through Guam's capital, Hagåtña, as well as intersecting other territorial highways. The highway runs through tropical forest, urbanized commercial areas, and residential neighborhoods. The US military upgraded and extended the road starting in 1941. Construction ceased with the Japanese invasion in December 1941 and resumed after the Second Battle of Guam in 1944. The highway was formally dedicated to the U.S. Marine Corps by the governor in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barrigada, Guam</span> Village in Guam, United States

Barrigada is a village in the United States territory of Guam. A largely residential municipality, its main village is located south of the Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport near the intersections of Routes 8, 10, and 16. The community east of the airport known as Barrigada Heights is considered an affluent neighborhood on the island, where homes have excellent views overlooking much of Guam including the island's airport and hotels along Tumon Bay. Another significant location is Mount Barrigada, nearly 200 meters above sea level. Its location in the center of the island means it houses most of the island's radio masts and towers; the position and height make it easier for radio signals to reach the entire island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael San Nicolas</span> Guamanian politician (born 1981)

Michael Franklin Quitugua San Nicolas is a Guamanian Democratic Party politician, who served as the delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives for Guam's at-large congressional district from 2019 to 2023. San Nicolas was elected by his colleagues in the 116th United States Congress to serve as vice chair of the United States House Committee on Financial Services. Rather than run for reelection in 2022, San Nicolas ran and lost in the Democratic primary of the 2022 Guamanian gubernatorial election. From 2013 to 2019, San Nicolas served as senator in the 32nd, 33rd, and 34th Guam legislatures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lou Leon Guerrero</span> Governor of Guam since 2019

Lourdes Aflague "Lou" Leon Guerrero is an American politician and former nurse who has served as the 9th governor of Guam since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, Guerrero is the first woman to serve in the position. Leon Guerrero had served in the Guam Legislature from 1995 to 1999 and again from 2001 to 2007. From 2007 to 2017, Leon Guerrero was president and CEO of the Bank of Guam.

Regine Biscoe Lee also known as Regine Lee, is a Guamanian politician serving the Democratic and formerly serves as senator in the 35th Guam Legislature. A member of the majority party, Lee was selected as the Chair of the Committee on Rules. Senator Lee also chairs the Committee on Federal and Foreign Affairs, Telecommunications, Technology and Labor. In her first term as senator in the 34th Guam Legislature, Senator Lee served as Legislative Secretary and Chair of the Committee on Innovation and Economic, Workforce, and Youth Development.

John Aguon "Chaka" Cruz, is a Guamanian politician, retired civil servant, and a member of the Republican Party of Guam. He has held the office of Mayor of Hagåtña, the territory's capital, since 2005 when he succeeded longtime, outgoing Mayor Felix Ungacta. Cruz, who was first elected in 2004, has served four full terms as Mayor and was re-elected in November 2020 to a fifth consecutive term.

Amanda Lee Shelton is a Guamanian politician who currently serves as a senator in the Guam Legislature. Shelton was chosen by her colleagues to serve as Legislative Secretary and Majority Whip and Chairperson of the Committee on Higher Education and the Advancement of Women, Youth, and Senior Citizens.

Judith Paulette "Judi" Guthertz is a Guamanian educator and former politician. A member of the Democratic Party, Guthertz served as senator in the Guam Legislature for three consecutive terms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Esther Aguigui</span> Guam Adjutant General

Esther Aguigui is an Army National Guard officer who served as the Adjutant General of the Guam National Guard from 2019 to 2023. She was appointed by Governor of Guam Lou Leon Guerrero in 2019. She was the first female officer to lead the Guam National Guard.

References

  1. ↑ "Progress Report Smaller Learning Communities Planning Grant." Guam Public School System . June 30, 2005.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 History. John F. Kennedy High School. Retrieved on September 1, 2009.
  3. ↑ Guam Legislature. Public Law 7-113 Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine . Hagatna, 1964.
  4. ↑ Guam Legislature. Public Law 7-124 Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine . Hagatna, 1964.
  5. ↑ Guam Legislature. Public Law 7-125 Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine . Hagatna, 1964.
  6. ↑ Guam Legislature. Public Law 8-74 Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine . Hagatna, 1965.
  7. ↑ "John F. Kennedy High remains in limbo." Pacific Daily News . June 23, 2009.
  8. ↑ Tamondong, Dionesis. "Pesticide found at JFK site: Concerns could delay classes at Tiyan facility [ permanent dead link ]." Pacific Daily News . August 8, 2009. Accessed September 1, 2009.
  9. ↑ Staff. "BREAKING NEWS: Final chlordane test in soil done, interim JFK could open Monday [ permanent dead link ]." Pacific Daily News . August 21, 2009. Accessed September 1, 2009.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 John F. Kennedy High School. Accreditation History. Tumon, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Guam's Public High Schools." Guam Public School System. Accessed September 8, 2008.
  12. ↑ "John Cruz biography". KUAM . 2016-06-30. Retrieved 2016-12-31.
  13. ↑ KUAM, Michael San Nicolas, Hagatna, July 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.