Principal's Message

LIVE LINK TO DISTRICT CALENDAR

Important Dates:

• 1/23: End of 2nd Quarter & End of 1st Semester 🗓️
• 1/27: Begin 3rd Quarter & 2nd Semester Classes 🗓️
• 1/30: MP 2 Report Cards Mailed to Homes 📫
• 2/2: HS PTO Meeting 6:00 PM @CAFE A
• 2/7: Winter Snowball Semi-Formal Dance @ 7:00-10:00 PM 😁
• 2/09 - 2/13: Winter Sports Spirit Week Details TBA Soon! 📣
• 2/12: Cheektowaga Band Festival @ Cheektowaga Central 🎶
• 2/16-2/20: Mid-Winter Recess (ALL SCHOOLS CLOSED) ❄️
• 2/23: School Resumes (F DAY)
• 2/24: Board of Education Meeting 6:30 pm @ WW
• 3/2: HS PTO Meeting 6:00 PM @CAFE A
• 3/6: 25-Week Progress Reports

---

Winter Weather! ❄️

I would like to take a moment to thank our community for your flexibility with the rescheduling of the January 2026 NYS Regents Exams and the recent school closures due to weather. Students did an excellent job with the revised testing schedule, and we had a very successful administration of exams.  Please make sure you are receiving our mass alerts and communications by signing up for our District text messages by texting Y to 67587. ❄️

---

MP2 Report Cards 🗓️

Friday, January 23rd, marked the end of the second quarter. Grades will be available on the student and parent portal on/around Thursday, January 29th. Report cards will be mailed to homes on Friday, January 30th, and should reach families by Monday, February 2nd.  If you do not receive a report card in the mail, please contact the Guidance Office.

---

Course Selection 2026-2027

Our school counselors are currently meeting with students for next year’s course selection.  Please remember, schedule changes cannot be made past June 30, 2025. It is very important to speak with your child(ren) to ensure they select appropriate courses for next year.  Additionally, please be sure to review and sign their course selection sheet prior to returning to their counselor. I encourage you to view our updated Course Guidebook on our website. Here’s a live link: JFK Course Guidebook.  As always, please contact your child’s counselor or the main office with questions.

---

Homework Help Available!

If your child needs assistance with their schoolwork, please encourage your child to stay after school with Mrs. Gorenflo in the ALC. Mrs. Gorenflo provides 1:1 and/or small group Math tutoring; Regents Exam Prep; and homework help in all subject areas. The ALC has computers, printers, and school supplies available. Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity! The ALC is open after school Monday-Friday until 3:15 pm. 

---

Winter Snowball Semi-Formal Dance 💃🕺🪩

JFK High School’s Winter Snowball Semi-Formal Dance will be held Saturday, February 7th, from 7-10 pm in the cafeteria. Tickets are $12.00 cash and are sold in lunches. If your child would like to attend the dance but did not buy a ticket/missed the deadline, please contact me directly via email.  Additionally, please ensure that out-of-District guest forms are completed and returned by 2/3/26 to ensure timely verification.  Email RJulian@cheektowagasloan.org with questions. 
 

---

Contest Winners 2025-2026  

*We would like to send a big congratulations to Mrs. Capalbo’s Advisement class who won the JFK High School 2025 Holiday Door Decorating Contest!  This year, we saw so many amazing classroom doors it was difficult to select a winner!  In the end, Mrs. Capalbo’s class won a close race! Excellent job to all participants, and another congrats to all of our winners who received prizes courtesy of the Student Council, including Bear Bucks to our school store!

 

Candyland theme wins in ‘25!

*Another big Congrats goes out to the winners of our first-ever Beat the Bell Challenge! The following classes “Beat the Bell,” and will now ring in the rewards in February!  Special thanks to our school bookstore, The Bears’ Nook, for funding the rewards for our students.

Mrs. Frisicaro, Period 1 US History
Mrs. Ganci, Period 3 Spanish 3
Mr. Chudy, Period 7 Pre-Calc
Mrs. Thompson, Period 8 AP Lit
Mrs. Kruszynski, Period 9 Spanish 4

Pictured above is Mrs. Frisicaro’s 1st period US History Class. 
More winning photos to follow in the next newsletter!

---

Superintendent’s Council Meeting

Mrs. Galenski and Mr. Julian were thrilled to once again host the 2025-2026 Superintendent’s Council for a meeting to discuss school spirit, the upcoming Winter Snowball Dance, and all things JFK! Special thanks to our food services department for feeding our student leaders a special brunch!

 

---

ATTENTION CLASS OF 2026

The deadline to order your Cap & Gown is this Sunday, February 1st! Don’t delay!

Contact Mrs. Frisicaro or Mrs. Mehnert ASAP with questions/needs!

---

MORE PIZZA! YAY! 🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕

In an effort to improve the ‘fan experience,’ we are now selling pizza and snacks at select home boys’ and girls’ JV and Varsity basketball games. Food sales go to support our high school PTO and Varsity Club. All proceeds go directly back to the student body, so thank you for your support!

---

SPORTS SENIOR NIGHTS 🏀⛹️📣  

We would like to invite everyone out to our Boys’ & Girls’ Varsity Basketball & Cheer Senior Nights! See info below and ‘Pack the Gym!

Boys’ Varsity Basketball & Varsity Cheer: Wednesday, February 11th. Seniors Recognition immediately after JV game @6:15 PM; Tip-Off vs Holland @7:00 PM; and Alumni Recognition at Varsity game halftime!

Girls’ Varsity Basketball Senior Night: Thursday, February 12th.Tip-Off vs Cheektowaga Central @5:30 PM.
 

---

MAME!

We encourage everyone in our community to join us for a performance of MAME live on stage in our Greenauer Auditorium.  Additionally, all students in grades 9-12 will be treated to a musical preview assembly during the school day in March, just before the show. Tickets to the show will be available for purchase at the door each night.  If you’d like to purchase a program ad, please email JFKHSDramaGroup@gmail.com for info. 

 

Performance times listed below:

• Thursday, March 26 - Musical Preview Assembly for students (during the school day)
• Friday, March 27 - Show begins @ 7 PM, Aud opens at 6:30 PM
• Saturday, March 28 - Show begins @ 7 PM, Aud opens at 6:30 PM 
• Sunday, March 29 - Show begins @ 2 PM, Aud opens at 1:30 PM 

---

JFK High School Alumni Wall of Fame

JFK High School is now accepting nominations for the Alumni Wall of Fame. This honor recognizes JFK graduates who have made significant contributions in their careers and communities. Nominees must have graduated a minimum of 10+ years ago.

Nominees will be considered based on:

• Leadership and service
   
• Career accomplishments
   
• Honors, awards, and recognitions
   
• Community involvement
   
• Contributions to JFK High School

Supporting documentation is encouraged. To submit a nomination, please complete the electronic form here:
ALUMNI WALL OF FAME.

 

---

Code of Conduct Meetings

As we enter the second half of the year, we ask that all parents/guardians have a conversation with their children about the importance of following all school rules and expectations at all times, including attending all classes on time and remaining in class; using respectful language in the hallways, classrooms, and cafeteria; and adhering to our dress code including our hood/hat and cell phone policy as outlined in our District’s Code of Conduct.  Your partnership is critically important in this area and will help everyone experience a safe, orderly, and pleasant school environment. Mr. Conrad and I will be hosting assemblies with all students in order to reinforce these concepts. Thank you in advance!

---

As always, thank you for reading, and Go Bears! 

Sincerely,

Mr. Julian