“Your gifts are not about you.  Leadership is not about you. Your purpose is not about you.  A life of significance is about SERVING those who need your gifts, your leadership, your purpose.” – Kevin Hall, author of “Aspire”

Dear Kennedy Catholic Family of Schools Friends,

As we look toward another year of striving to live up to our school motto, I wanted to reflect on the many ways our students, faculty and staff have shared their gifts in order to serve Christ in all that they do.

At St. John Paul II Elementary School, we instituted a monthly STEM Program where our families do projects together in order to connect critical higher level thinking processes between school and home.  We continued our SOAR (Students of Academic Rigor) program in order to challenge our gifted and talented students and recognized students who are both succeeding in the classroom as well as with our motto by inducting several into our National Honor Society. We added two after school programs, Chess Club and Spanish Club that have been well received with our families.  Our band earned a First Place Award at “Music in the Parks” at Kennywood. Our 5th & 6th grade girls’ basketball team won the annual Erin Scullin Tournament and our Boys and Girls Cross Country teams placed first at the MCAC Tournament.

At Kennedy Catholic Middle and High School, we again hosted our annual Halloween Dance Party for physically and mentally challenged individuals.  The students, staff and alumni collected and donated food for our Annual Thanksgiving Day Drive where we were able to feed 1,700 people and the students donated coats to those in need this past winter.  At Christmastime, we offered a party for underprivileged children with face painting and music and each family received food to take home with them. At Easter time, we prepared baskets for thirty-three families in need.

Academically, our students continue to use the gifts that they have been given by God to excel.  We sent 23 students to PJAS where 14 qualified for the State Competition. Our Middle and High school students also participated in and did well at the Youngstown State University English Festival. Our Robotics team continues to grow and improve with each competition in which they participate. We also started a Chess Club this year where 20 students spent their lunch period challenging one another.

At the graduation ceremonies this year, we celebrated the achievements of the 42 young men and women who did nothing but make us all proud!  They were offered over $3.3M in academic scholarships and also collectively served over 3,000 hours of community service. The many awards are just another testimony of a return on your investment in the students within this system.

Thank you for everything you do to support these endeavors and the students who benefit from your care.  We appreciate you more than you know and gladly accept your prayers, your time and your financial investment in the future of Kennedy Catholic Family of Schools!

Christo Servire!

Vincent F. Cardamon
Acting President