The Cougar Crier - April 2021

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The Cougar Cr ier TheStudent NewsSourceof John F. Kennedy High School April 2021

cougarcrier.org

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District awaits guidance for senior year activities BY JESSICA BLUMBERG Staff writer Due to COVID-19, the fate of prom and graduation? benchmarks of the high school experience? is currently unknown. The state presently prohibits events in which people congregate in large groups, and as a result, Kennedy students and staff have been looking into alternatives. In an interview with Mr. Owenburg, The Cougar Crier gained some insight into some tentative plans. Concerning prom, Mr. Owenburg revealed that it is one of the events he receives

the most phone calls about, from both students and parents alike. However, until the state issues a specific prom announcement, the school must look into alternative ideas. The state has not yet confirmed whether prom must be outside or inside, the maximum number of people that can attend, or whether COVID-19 testing will occur before prom, which complicates how much the school can accomplish. However, the school anticipates more information about these guidelines soon. Mr. Owenburg and the school faculty are planning to hold a

special event for the seniors, whether it be a ?prom-esque? event or something completely new. The principal has held two Zoom meetings with the senior class. The students had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss ideas. One concept was a red carpet event between the courtyard and the gymnasium. Another suggestion was to have two proms. The committee(s) organizing events would ensure that students could attend with their friends. Additionally, the class SENIOR | Page 4

@JFK_HS

Mr. Owenburg addressestheClassof 2020 at oneof thegraduation ceremonieslast year.

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High school career to end for Leone just as he had hoped it would BY SARAH KLEIN Staff writer There are many dedicated and determined student athletes here at Kennedy, but John Leone is undoubtedly the epitome of diligence and dedication.

@jfkcougarcrier

Staff membersmeet with faculty advisorsMr. Seidman and Dr. Urban via Zoom last August.

Crier staff has learned to adjust to virtual world BY NIKITA RODOV Staff writer Along with the rest of the world, the Kennedy community has recently commemorated one year of living in the COVID-19 pandemic and reflected on all from what we have suffered. It was unknown how truly devastating and interminable the pandemic would be from the very first day of lockdown. Soon, we saw the tolls that it took on our loved ones, our freedoms, and even

our schools. Following a series of sporadic delays and closures, Kennedy was given no choice but to end its in-person functionality, leaving its clubs to slowly fade out to distant memory. However, in ambitious strides, we brought back most of our clubs to retain Kennedy?s rich extracurricular culture. Among those clubs is TheCougar Crier, which has CRIER | Page 3

Leone, a senior, is a well-rounded student and athlete. He plays football and wrestles for Kennedy. He has been wrestling for six years now. W hen he received the news that wrestling was back on, he was ecstatic. Knowing he would have an opportunity to wrestle? and the thought of being with all of his teammates again? brought him so much joy. In his junior year, Leone had a bad shoulder injury that took him out for a significant part of the season. But Leone pushed through like a champ and worked even harder to develop his strength and ability to wrestle on that mat again. ?This wrestling season was definitely one for the books,? said Leone. One of his highs

from wrestling at Kennedy was beating Seaford and elevating the team?s record to 6?0. ?The energy in that gym was something else. Every single one of the wrestlers was getting loud and showing support for one another; it was really how wrestling should be.? Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all wrestlers have to wear masks to participate. ?I knew that if I wanted to wrestle and finish my senior season, I would have to wear one. However, the physical exhaustion of wrestling definitely made it hard to breathe? even with all KENNEDY FOOTBALL the conditioning John Leoneawaitng thestart of last year's training wrestlers go Homecoming game. through. However, made it to the playoffs and you do what you have to do if then had a county you want to succeed,?said Leone. LEONE | Page 15 In a normal season, the wrestling team would have


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