Senior Check list
| Order Cap and Gown | Order before December. There is a late fee for orders after January. They will be delivered to the school in April. |
| CPR requirement | We will offer many opportunities to get this done. Make sure you attend a session. If you do not do it at school, you must arrange to do this on your own and turn in your certificate of completion to the Counseling Office |
| Yearbook | If you want a yearbook order early for the best price. Senior photos are usually due by February to be included in the yearbook. |
| Senior Recognition Ceremony | Sunday, April 26, 2026 at 3pm |
| Prom | Friday, May 1, 2026. Tickets must be purchased before the event. |
| “Then and Now” slideshow | A Google form to submit your photos will be shared in the spring. |
| Senior Walk | May 18-20, 2026. A Google Form will be shared in the spring. |
| Fees and lunch accounts | Make sure to pay all fees by May 20th so they won’t be sent to collections. Contact the bookkeeper if you have questions. If you have money left in your lunch account, you can donate it, move it, or get a refund. Go to the Food and Nutrition page on the District website for more information. |
| Return Chromebook and charger | You must return your Chromebook/charge before you leave Kennedy. Make sure to save any information you want to keep to a personal drive. Here are instructions: https://drive.google.com/file/d/12pfecISGS_qA2M_rqnYTIH-UozO1amrP/view?ts=664b693a Chromebook return will be May 19-20, 2026. |
| Library Books/TextBooks | All books and materials must be returned to the IMC by May 20, 2026 |
| Graduation Rehearsal | Friday, May 22, 2026, 8-9:30 am. Information will be sent to your email. Arrive early to find your seat so we can start on time. |
| Graduation Ceremony | Saturday, May 23, 2026 at the Powerhouse Center downtown. Students should arrive at 6pm, the ceremony starts at 7. No tickets are required. |
| Broadcast of ceremony | Graduation is usually broadcast live on KCRG 9.2 and streamed on KCRG.com and Zeam.com. Broadcast dates will be shared at graduation. |
Senior Meetings
There will be two Senior Meetings. Each meeting will have important information students need to know as a Kennedy Senior. They will usually be held during Homeroom. The slideshow from the meetings will be posted here when available but it is always best to attend in person so that any questions can be fully answered. Topics covered include: ordering cap and gowns, scholarships, prom, commencement, post graduation information, and more. In addition, in the spring, a letter is mailed out to all seniors and their parent/guardian with end of the year information.
Cap and Gown
Students must have a cap and gown to participate in the graduation ceremony. You can borrow one from a friend or sibling or you can order one from HerffJones. Please do not use other vendors as the color might not match.
Order forms can be picked up from the Main Office or you can order online. Click the button below for the link. Make sure to choose John F Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids. Please order by December to avoid rush shipping fees. Gowns will be delivered to the school in April. We will post the pick up date on the announcements.
If you are reusing a gown, 2026 tassels will be available for purchase in the main office. The cost is $12. Please bring exact change.
Herff Jones also has additional senior items for optional purchase including class rings, t-shirts and hoodies, announcements and more.
Scholarships
There are many scholarships available to all students. Check the daily announcements, the Counseling board, your counselor, Mrs. Koch, and the Scholarship page for other opportunities. In addition, Kennedy High School has many scholarships and awards specific for our students. Join the Senior Recognition Google classroom with CODE: 4eotvynl for information about how to apply for scholarships and awards selected by Kennedy staff and recognized at the Senior Recognition Event in April.
Senior Pictures/Yearbook
Each year, seniors are invited to submit their senior picture for the yearbook. These can be, but do not have to be professional photographs. If you are having professional photos taken, ask your photographer to submit the photo for you. If you take the photo yourself, do not edit it before submitting and do not submit selfies. The yearbook staff also has a studio where they can take your photos. If you do not submit a photo, your school photo will be used. We cannot be held responsible if you do not take or submit a photo.
In addition, you can submit other photos that you would like to see in the yearbook. Photos must be “actual size” or the largest size possible, do not edit before submitting, and wherever possible, identify the people in the photos.
Seniors are also invited to submit an appropriate Senior Quote. Be watching for your opportunity to do this.
Yearbooks will be distributed the end of the school year. You must order in advance to receive a yearbook. We will not have extras available.
Yearbook Senior Ads can be purchased to commemorate student achievements and important milestones. Revenues from ads help our school create a better yearbook.
CPR
The Healthy Kids Act requires that every high school student receive CPR training by a certified instructor prior to graduation. We offer several opportunities to complete this requirement and dates will be communicated through the daily announcements. This is an abbreviated CPR course to meet the graduation requirements. It is not a complete course and no certificate will be given.
Outside CPR courses taken can fulfill this requirement. Bring your certificate to the Counseling Office and they will update your record. If you do not take the course at Kennedy, you must arrange to take an outside course to fulfil this requirement.
To check if you have completed this requirement, log on to your Infinite Campus account. Click on Documents. Under “Other” click on Academic Progress. Click on Academic Plan then generate a report. Your status will be at the bottom right.
Graduation Ceremony
The Class of 2026 Graduation Ceremony will be Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 7pm. The ceremony will be downtown at the Alliant Energy Powerhouse. There is no admission charge for general seating on the upper level and everyone is welcome to attend.
Handicap seating is available in the general seating area. It is not reserved so we ask that only those that need ADA seating sit in this area. Family can sit nearby.
Graduation rehearsal will be from 8-9:30 the day before graduation. Students must attend the rehearsal if they are planning to participate in the ceremony. You will not need your cap and gown at rehearsal.
Joe Photo will take a picture of each senior as they cross the stage. They will also be available before the ceremony if students want to take a nice photo or photo with friends and family.
The ceremony will air live on KCRG 9.2 and stream live on KCRG.com and Zeam.com (It will also be here for on demand viewing approximately a week later. Go to the KCRG section). It will also be available on our District YouTube channel in June.
Lunch Account
Seniors who have money left in their lunch account when they graduate have three options. Parents can request a refund, they can move the money to a sibling’s account, or they can donate the money to help provide meals for students in need. Go to the Food and Nutrition website and fill out the appropriate form: https://crschools.us/students-and-families/school-meals/paying-for-meals/
Recycling Gowns
If you no longer need your graduation gown, you can donate it to the Kennedy Choir program. Donated gowns can be dropped off at the Attendance Window.