JFK Times Blog

This week, 4th-grade students participated in a talk on economic activities led by 12th-grade students as part of the “How We Organize Ourselves” unit. The central idea of this unit is that a country’s development depends on various social, political, and environmental factors, as well as the use of its resources. 4th-grade students are currently exploring resources and economic activities, and their guest presenters from High School, as experts in the field of Economics, helped bring the content to life with dynamic presentations on economic sectors and what these mean for Mexico. During the class, the presenters explained the concepts of Economics and economic sectors, then led a practical activity with a lemonade sale. This exercise provided an opportunity to reflect on the concepts of Land, Labor, Capital, and Entrepreneurship and how inequality in these resources affects people in the real world. According to Elizabeth Jasso, PYP Coordinator, this activity is part of the inq...

Each school year, our High School celebrates an exciting tradition: the Principal rings a bell in front of all students to announce each new university acceptance. Last week, we had the joy of ringing the bell for our first two students of the year, Mariana Papacostas and Ricardo Calzada, who have been accepted into the universities of their choice! Where are they headed? Mariana Papacostas has been accepted to Florida International University to study Business Administration. Ricardo Calzada received his acceptance to the University of Glasgow for Software Engineering. This tradition marks the beginning of a memorable journey for our students, and we’re so proud to celebrate Mariana and Ricardo’s hard work and dedication. Congratulations to both—you’re inspiring our entire JFK community!  Watch our IG Stories here  -- Cada año escolar, High School celebra una emocionante tradición: el Director toca una campana...

As part of their physics class, 8th-grade students at JFK participated in the Spaghetti Bridges challenge, an exciting activity designed to test both creativity and engineering skills. Using only spaghetti and glue, students were tasked with building bridges that could support the maximum amount of weight, while their teacher evaluated the structures based on design and stability. This hands-on challenge encouraged students to apply key physics concepts. It also fostered problem-solving and collaboration, as teams worked together to create sturdy designs that could withstand stress tests. By combining classroom learning with real-world applications, the Spaghetti Bridges challenge allowed students to deepen their understanding of physics in an interactive and engaging way. It was a unique experience that brought out their creativity while reinforcing important academic concepts.  ------------------------ Como parte de su clase de física, los alumnos de 8º grado en JFK par...

Last weekend, the JFK Union and Peace Model UN (United Nations) event took place, under this year’s inspiring theme: “Voices of Tomorrow.” This gathering brought together young students from 18 different schools, all with a common purpose: to explore how their voices can be the driving force for change in a world full of challenges. Under the motto “The voices of tomorrow are not limited to who will create change, but how and through what means,” participants reflected on their ability to address problems that have arisen throughout history. With a focus on justice, armed conflicts, and environmental crises, students discussed how new generations have the power to reverse these issues and fight for a better future. "Voices of Tomorrow" has different interpretations, but the central message is clear: each individual must decide whether their voice will be heard amidst the world’s adversities. As Jackie Kennedy once said, “We must know ourselves in order to express ourselves,” ...

Recently, our 9th grade students embarked on their first-generation trip to Huasca, an unforgettable experience that allowed them to grow both academically and personally. During their stay, students participated in various activities designed to foster teamwork, reflection, and interpersonal skill development. Activities included leadership workshops, nature excursions, and group dynamics that encouraged bonding and mutual learning. This trip not only provided an opportunity to strengthen relationships among peers but also helped them discover new facets of themselves. We are excited to see how these experiences will impact their educational and personal journeys in the future. See the complete gallery here . ------------------------------------- Recientemente, los alumnos de 9º grado de High School disfrutaron de su primer viaje de generación a Huasca, una experiencia inolvidable que les permitió crecer tanto académica como personalmente. Durante su estadía, los alumnos participa...

Last October 10th we celebrated the 60th Art Celebration Project 1st Places Ceremony. This internal contest was held during September, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of our school. At the ceremony the firsts place winners from Preschool, Elementary and High School were recognized, as well as the Middle School first semester winners of this school year. The winning artworks are being exhibited outside the Library Media Center and all the community can visit the exhibition until December, to celebrate the creativity and talent of our students. Congratulations to our talented winners! Click here to visit the gallery ------------------------------------------------------------------- El pasado 10 de octubre se llevó a cabo la premiación de los primeros lugares del 60th Art Celebration Project, concurso interno de arte visual que se realizó durante el mes de septiembre con motivo de la conmemoración del 60 aniversario de nuestra escuela. En esta ceremonia, se nombró a los gana...

From October 2nd to 5th, the ASOMEX Students Leadership Conference was held at JFK, aimed at promoting leadership development among high school students. The conference encouraged the exchange of ideas and empowered students to become agents of change in their communities. This annual event is hosted by a different school each year and is designed for Student Council members from ASOMEX (Association of American Schools in Mexico) high schools. This year’s edition featured participation from The American School Foundation of Puebla, American Institute of Monterrey, The American School of Puerto Vallarta, Colegio Americano de Saltillo, The American School Foundation of Chiapas, and our school, John F. Kennedy, The American School of Querétaro. The event included workshops on leadership and emotional intelligence, as well as a regional tour of Querétaro’s historic downtown. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all participants for their enthusiasm and engagement throughout the event. C...

A couple of weeks ago, both new and returning parents from middle school and high school gathered for our "MYP for Beginners" Coffee Talk. We looked at approaches to teaching that form the foundation of the MYP program, we reminisced and reflected on how learning was assessed when we were in school, and then some of our NJHS students worked with small groups of parents to explain how we assess in the MYP program now and the benefits it can have for learning. Thank you to all who attended! ---------------- Hace un par de semanas, padres de familia de Middle School y High School se reunieron para nuestro "MYP for Beginners" Coffee Talk. Hablamos sobre los enfoques de enseñanza que forman la base del programa del PAI, recordamos y reflexionamos sobre cómo se evaluaba el aprendizaje cuando estábamos nosotros en la escuela, y luego algunos de nuestros estudiantes de la NJHS nos explicaron cómo evaluamos ahora en el programa del PAI y los beneficios que puede tener pa...

On September 25th, we held our College Fair 2024, the largest in the Bajío, featuring over a hundred institutions from more than twelve countries. This event gave our students the chance to explore various academic paths and connect with representatives from prestigious international universities.   The College Fair not only helps our students plan for their futures but also highlights the amazing opportunities available at JFK, allowing them to continue their education at respected institutions, regardless of their chosen field. A big thank you to everyone who participated! Click here to visit our photo gallery, ----------------  El pasado 25 de septiembre, celebramos nuestra College Fair 2024, la más grande del Bajío, con la participación de más de cien instituciones de más de doce países. Este evento ofreció a nuestros alumnos la oportunidad de explorar los diversos caminos académicos y conectar con representantes de prestigiosas instituciones internacionales.   ...

The Library Media Center Tour & Informative Session for new HS teachers at JFK School is taking place in the Library Media Center in English and Spanish on several occasions during September. We are aware that teachers are vital in handling information matters in their class. They have a unique role to play in guiding and supporting students, and there are lots of positive steps they can take to motivate students to use the school’s Library in order to aid their learning with secure, high quality resources.  The Library Media Center Tour & Informative Session help new teachers who are unfamiliar with the LMC to get to know the services, spaces, fresh new material on offer and the procedure to follow for borrowing books, reserving spaces and how to perform searches in the Library Search Stations, as well as to encourage teachers to develop a synergy with the Library. ------------------------------------------- El recorrido por el Centro de Medios de la Biblioteca y la se...

The High School Student Council elections were held on September 12, providing a highly educational experience in which all High School students participated. While many students cast their votes, some took on the responsibility of distributing ballots and counting the votes, ensuring a smooth process. There were three teams of candidates for President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. The winning team was Your Future, Our Mission, consisting of Ricardo V, Mateo C, Ana Paula S, and Isabella N. Congratulations to the winning team and to all High School students for making this event possible. This experience aligns perfectly with our mission: to lead, serve, and create beauty. --- Las elecciones del Consejo Estudiantil de High School se celebraron el 12 de septiembre, brindando una experiencia educativa significativa en la que participaron todos los estudiantes de High School. Mientras muchos votaron, algunos se encargaron de entregar las boletas y contar los votos, haciend...

John F. Kennedy, The American School of Querétaro, was selected among the top 15 high-performing academic institutions in Latin America to participate in a university counselors' meeting organized and funded by CEU universities in Spain. During this experience, representatives from these institutions visited their campuses in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, and Valencia. During this visit, I had the opportunity to observe how highly they value the profile of our students and the importance they place on the IB (International Baccalaureate) program, which opens doors to various scholarships for our students. In addition, I had the chance to interact with rectors, faculty directors, and admissions staff, with whom I experienced the rich Spanish culture in a natural and friendly way. I believe that for our students interested in studying in Spain, CEU universities offer a high-level European education, along with the opportunity to immerse themselves in a culture shared through our lang...

For the second consecutive year, I have enhanced a project based on service-learning that addresses the inclusion and acceptance of people with diverse abilities (disabilities). This inspired me to share my experience with new ways to change society. On May 30th, I had the opportunity to introduce a new concept to first-year students in the Elementary Multipurpose Room. I established a fair focused on change (Fair for Change), presenting two characters of my own creation. I then guided the students to understand: What is a disability? Why shouldn’t we use the term disability? Why is it better to use diverse abilities? and other related questions. The students engaged in activities based on one of three diverse abilities: blindness, amputation, or dyslexia, and then identified solutions to the challenges they might encounter when performing activities with certain restrictions. Before finishing their time at the fair, they wrote in a sentence, phrase, or words the concepts they had ...

Last week, our National Honor Society (NHS) students shared a donation of $ $30,564 to the Food Bank of Querétaro IAP. This money is the result of all the projects organized by our students, such as the Bikeathon, Ping Pong Tournament, Bake-sales in the Kermesse and the Christmas Market. Thank you so much to our entire community for being a part of this achievement, and for showing that together we can make a difference. Congratulations, we are very proud of you! --------------------------  La semana pasada nuestros estudiantes de National Honor Society (NHS), entregaron un donativo de $30,564 al Banco de Alimentos de Querétaro IAP. Este dinero es resultado de todos los proyectos organizados por nuestros alumnos, como el Bikeathon, Torneo de ping pong, Venta de postres en la Kermesse y Mercadito Navideño. Muchas gracias a toda nuestra comunidad por ser parte de este logro, por demostrar que juntos podemos hacer una diferencia. ¡Muchas felicidades!, estamos muy orgulloso...

Since 2015 the JFK School has celebrated Achieving Extraordinary, a program to value only those students who have achieved something exceptional in different areas like academics, sports or extracurricular activities. This year we’re going to reward two great students: Clarisa Temelo (12°) has made a name for herself as Golfer, just to name one of her many accomplishments, she ranked 4th in last years “Women’s Amateur Latin America”. While being a top athlete sometimes means leaving school aside, this was not the case for Clarisa. She completed the IB program and was offered 100% scholarship in 6 different Universities in the US. Clarisa will be attending the University of Arkansas. Mauricio Kouske Andrade (8°) recently graduated from Japanese school after an 11-year commitment degree this March. It wasn't easy at all to have a double-school-life for 11 years, but he did it!  We would like to congratulate him on this Extraordinary Achieveme...

Congratulations to Begoña (9th), for winning the national and international figure skating championship of FEMEPASHIDI (Federation of Ice Skating and Winter Sports, A.C.) in the Juvenile D category. It is a great achievement, earned through her effort and dedication. ----------------------------------- Muchas felicidades a Begoña (9°), por obtener el campeonato nacional e internacional de patinaje artístico FEMEPASHIDI (Federación de Patinaje Sobre Hielo y Deportes de Invierno, A.C.) en la categoría Juvenil D. Es un gran logro, obtenido por su esfuerzo y dedicación.

Ilse Priego, High School teacher, presented the virtual lecture "The Creation of Contemporary Short Stories as a Means of Evaluating Literary Learning" as part of the 14th Language Symposium organized by the Escuela Nacional Preparatoria of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. In this presentation, she discussed the work done by our 10th-grade students, who studied the genesis of contemporary short stories in a unit. As part of this, they read excerpts from the short story collection Missing Kissinger by Etgar Keret, "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe, and watched a short film based on "The Feather Pillow" by Horacio Quiroga. Our students analyzed these stories using printed educational materials designed to assess literary analysis, idea organization, text production, and language use (Middle Years Programme of the International Baccalaureate). Subsequently, for their summative assessment, they were tasked with creating a short story fea...