Kennett High School Named One of Nation’s Best High Schools

The Kennett Consolidated School District is proud to announce that U.S. News & World Report has named Kennett High School one of America’s Best High Schools.

To produce the 2017 Best High Schools rankings, U.S. News & World Report teamed up with North Carolina–based RTI International, a global nonprofit social-science research firm. The comprehensive rankings methodology is based on the key principles that a great high school must serve all of its students well, not just those who are college bound, and that it must be able to produce measurable academic outcomes to show it is successfully educating its student body across a range of performance indicators.

“This award is meaningful because it reflects the growth in academic achievement realized by our students. I congratulate our parents for their influence on our students’ efforts to work to their potential, our teachers and principals at all grade levels who teach and give of their time to our students each day with the expectation that they all succeed, and the students themselves for their desire to do their best,” says Kennett Consolidated School District superintendent Dr. Barry Tomasetti. “This type of high school recognition is a credit to all of our teachers, from kindergarten through twelfth grade, as each teacher has a hand in molding our students for a successful future.”

“It is motivating and satisfying to see the hard work of our students and the dedication of our teachers recognized by U.S. News & World Report,” says Kennett High School principal Dr. Jeremy Hritz. “The success of Kennett High School is the direct result of their daily efforts. I am very fortunate as principal to work with such amazing students and teachers.”

For more information on the U.S. News & World Report’s ranking processes and details on Kennett High School’s rankings, please visit click here.

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Friends of Music 9th Annual Benefit Tasting

Benefits the Kennett High School Music DepartmentKennett Friends of Music

Once again Kennett High School Friends of Music is holding their 9th Annual Wine Tasting Gala at the gorgeous Oberod Estate in Centerville! Everyone is invited to catch a rare glimpse of the mansion and taste over 40 wines in the stately library, foyer, den, dining room, great room, courtyard and patio overlooking the beautiful property. The event will include an assortment of appetizers and desserts from local restaurants and businesses. Cafe Riveria will be on-site again this year with their outdoor pizza oven.

Please support the Friends of Music in their efforts to raise funds for the many music programs at Kennett High School.

  • Saturday, May 6, 2017
  • 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
  • $60.00 per person including tax, gratuity and off-street parking
  • Tickets can be purchased online at frankswine.com
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The 8th Annual KHS Arts Festival

The 8th Annual Kennett High School Arts Festival will be open to the Kennett community on Thursday, May 4th from 9:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. in the auxiliary gym of Kennett High School.

Come and enjoy the exhibits showcasing the talent and creativity prepared by students.

Special evening hours will be available on Wednesday, May 3rd from 2:35 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. for parents and anyone unable to attend the daytime showing.

Student Art Work

by Alex

by Madie

by Lydia

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Talent Show Tickets On Sale NOW

talent show graphic

Talent Show tickets are being sold during lunches for $4.

Tickets will cost $5 the night of the show.

The show, which will be absolutely amazing, will be Tuesday, May 2nd, from 7-9 pm. All proceeds will be donated to the Kennett Food Cupboard.

Buy your ticket early!

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Attention Seniors – Scholarship Deadline 4/28

Attention Seniors,

The guidance office is happy to announce two more scholarship opportunities just for Kennett High School seniors. Applications for both are available in the guidance office.

First, is the Johnson Family Scholarship which is worth a total of $10,000. Applicants must be a first-generation college student. The application includes an essay and three (3) letters of recommendation. The Johnson Family Scholarship application is due by 2:40pm on Friday, April 28th.

The second scholarship is offered by the Kennett Masonic Lodge and is worth $500. Students only need to complete a short personal essay to be considered for this scholarship. The essay and application are due Monday, May 1st.

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KHS Junior Awarded Summer Trip to Germany

Kennett High School junior Eric Benjamin Gaver (shown at right with Mr. Kotz)has been awarded an all‐expense‐paid summer study trip to Germany. Ben, a fourth-year student of German teacher Mr. Duane Kotz, was selected as a national winner after scoring in the 90th percentile on the Level 4 2017 National German Exam for High School Students sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG). Over 20,000 students participated in the program. After qualifying with a high score on the National German Exam, Ben was required to submit responses to several short essay questions in German and in English and was then interviewed by a committee comprised of high school teachers and college professors of German.Mr. Kotz and Ben Gaver

Ben is one of forty‐four outstanding German students selected from across the US to receive the award. The summer 2017 study trip includes round‐trip air transportation to Germany, a home-stay with a host family, and excursions to places of cultural and historical significance. The study trip, now in its fifty-seventh year, is made possible through a grant from the Federal Republic of Germany.

“Ben is a remarkable student. His proficiency in German is extraordinary, and his hard work and dedication to improving his German make him a very deserving recipient of this prestigious award. I am extremely proud of him,” said Mr. Kotz.

“This year’s prize winners are some of the finest students in the US,” said Keith Cothrun, Executive Director of the AATG. “The prize is a great reward for excellence in learning German—and the best way to better get to know a fascinating language and culture through firsthand experiences living with a German family and attending school.”

Founded in 1926, the AATG represents German teachers at all levels of instruction. The AATG is dedicated to the advancement and improvement of the teaching of language, literature and culture of the German‐speaking countries.

Ben is very excited about his forthcoming trip. “This is a wonderful opportunity, and I am thankful that I will be able to immerse myself in the German culture.”

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KHS Inducts National Honor Society Members

The Kennett High School Blue and White Chapter of the National Honor Society welcomed the 2017-18 inductees at a ceremony and reception on March 22, 2017.

Chapter adviser Dr. Alicia Tamargo opened the program. Four National Honor Society members from the Class of 2017 highlighted the Cardinal Objectives, the qualities expected of members: Madison Bowe (character), Danial Quraishi (scholarship), Austin Maxwell (leadership), and Luke Beeson (service). Senior speeches were delivered by Meredith Mitchell and Isabelle Morrison.

Next, Mr. Jeffery Thomas, Assistant Principal, called the role of the existing members of the Chapter. These students were inducted into the Society last year: Cullen Abelson, Molly Adelman, Luke Beeson, Madison Bowe, Edwin Castaneda-Campos, Samantha Castleton, Delaney Chaffin, Michaela Clarkson, Michelle Disler, Olivia Donia, Kate Doroba, Victoria Gallivan, Kylee Harvey, Zachary Hrenko, Lindsay Krieger, Yvonna Liszewski, Austin Maxwell, David McVey, Kelsey Mentzer, Arianna Meola, Meredith Mitchell, Isabelle Morrison, Margaret O’Sullivan, Olivia Pagliaro, Lydia Pebly, Laurel Petersen, Danyal Quraishi, Devon Reilly, Abigail Roche, Jack Ryder, Ryan Salameda, Emily Sauer, Charlotte Schmitt, Cindy Serrato Zavala, Julia Sharp, Charles Shattuck, Benjamin Skross, Kerry Tomasetti, Jacqueline Tucker, and Samantha Weaver.

Dr. Jeremy Hritz, Principal, called the role of new inductees who were welcomed into the Chapter: seniors Julia Beldyk, Claire Brady, Susanna Casini, Chloe Clark, Ryan Ganly, Lauren He, Catherine Hodges, Katelin Judge, Rebecca Lustig, Danielle Phillips, Madissyn Stanton, Jamie Wessels, and Hannah Wissner; juniors

Ashton Albert, Leo Battalora, Jose Becerra, Tyler Bowdoin, Megan Bunke, Francesca Caccamo, Daniela Carmona, Clare Catanzaro, Hannah Church, Giulianna Claricurzio, Katherine Clarke, Anna Colamarino, Madelyn Conlin-Day, Michael Crognale, Jillian Curran, Abby Davidson, Claire Dawyot, Abigail Devestine, Kaitlyn Devonshire, Daniel Drennan, Abigail Duckworth, Erin Duffy, Nicholas Erni, Eliane Esparza Villarruel, Kevin Fiss, Melissa Fitzgibbon, Eric Gaver, David Geller, Victoria Gonzalez, Ryley Harris, Caroline Hertz, Sydney Holder, Nicole Huff, Quinn Huffaker, Alexa Hussey, Kelsey Jernegan, Cedric Jones, Benjamin Jordan, Delaney Joyce, Maxwell Judd, Jake Kalscheur, Brinda Kapur, Meghann LaCosta, Keiri Lemus Ramirez, Benjamin Lesher, Caroline Maroko, Matthew Patterson, Cameron Petrillo, Gianna Pippin, Elizabeth Rauscher, Lily Reilly, James Rosser, Katherine Rowe, Alena Rybarczyk, Jennifer Schaen, Morgan Schaen, Kathleen Schuetz, Linus Silbernagel, Elijah Smith, Lukas Staudenmayer, Samantha Sullivan, Allison Taylor, Emily Thompson, Madison Thureen, James Tuley, Citlaly Weed, Trinette Wheeler, Kaitlyn Willey, Chase Williams, Anna Wilson, Karma Yang, and Cynthia Zern.

Following the induction ceremony and roll call, Assistant Principal Raymond Fernandez administered the pledge of honor, and Dr. Tamargo announced the newly elected officers for 2017-18: President James Tuley, Vice President Madison Thureen, Secretary Kaitlyn Willey, Treasurer Claire Dawyot, and Historian Jillian Curran. Dr. Hritz then closed the ceremony and invited all to a reception in the cafeteria.

Members of the Blue and White Chapter must demonstrate and maintain high standards of the four hallmarks of the National Honor Society: scholarship, leadership, character, and service. Throughout the year, members of the National Honor Society members participate in service activities, including tutoring and fundraising. This year they have organized two blood drives for the American Red Cross, worked on volunteer crews for the Mushroom Festival, and ushered patrons at this year’s musical The Drowsy Chaperone. The group is also looking forward to sponsoring social activities at the high school, including May’s very popular Glow Dance, as well as volunteering this spring at the Kennett Run.

Members of the Blue and White Chapter became eligible by posting a 3.75 grade point average (GPA) by the second semester of their junior year. Additional qualities of character, leadership, and service were assessed by the faculty of Kennett High School and reviewed by members of the National Honor Society Faculty Council, chosen by the principal from among the faculty and serving for a period of two years. This year’s Faculty Council included Mr. Robert Anthony, Mr. Vincent Civiletti, Mrs. Sara Donovan, Mrs. Kimberly Guarneri, Mr. Joseph Hutcheson, Mrs. Lisa Kochmansky, Dr. Erin McDonnell-Jones, Ms. Heather Morihara, Ms. Amanda O’Connor, Mr. Michael Replogle, Mr. Robert Socash, Mrs. Hannah Taylor, Mr. Francis Vanderslice, and Mr. Robert Wagner.

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