Kennedy High student reps report first-time sports, music and internship interest

Vidya Saggendorf and Jaden Acevedo, student representatives from Kennedy High School, reported to the Waterbury Board of Education on Jan. 16 about recent student achievements and asked the board to consider options to expand internship opportunities for students.

Vidya, the 12th-grade representative, said many seniors are finishing postsecondary applications and shared that Kennedy’s varsity football team qualified for the Class LL playoffs for the first time in school history. She also reported the marching band went to nationals — a first for the school — and the jazz band is preparing for a national competition in Philadelphia.

Jaden, the 11th-grade representative, described completed roof replacement and near-complete HVAC work at the school, upcoming performances of the winter musical The Addams Family (three showings Feb. 28–March 1), and a FAFSA completion breakfast for more than 60 seniors. He and Vidya also outlined community outreach projects, including trunk-or-treat, toy donations and food drives.

Both students raised a staffing and work-experience issue: they asked the board to explore after-school or evening internship opportunities to help students who have difficulty getting paid work because of age and limited daytime hours. “We’d like to explore the idea of after school or evening internships to help...struggling students earn work experience,” Jaden said.

Why it matters: Student reports highlight extracurricular achievements that contribute to school morale and college preparation, and the internship request flags a potential district-university or employer partnership need to broaden work-based learning for minors.

No formal action was taken at the meeting on internship proposals; the student request was recorded in the minutes for consideration.