JJHS
Community Bulletin
Monthly Community Bulletin October 2024
School Hours: 8:10am to 2:48pm
Main Office Hours: 7:30am to 3:30pm
Main Office Phone: 914-763-7201
Late Bus: Monday through Friday @ 4:15 pm and Monday through Thursday @5:00 pm.
Contact JJHS
Please email jjhsattendance@klschools.org to report absences, tardies, early dismissals or call 914-763-7218.
Important Dates at a Glance- October 2024
Oct. 3-4 Rosh Hashanah School Closed
Oct. 5 - SAT @ JJHS (pre-registration is required)
Oct. 5 - Board of Education Meeting in the JJHS Library @ 7:30pm
Oct. 11 - 1st Interim Ends
Oct. 11 - Emergency Mgmt Plan Early Dismissal Drill
Oct. 14 - Columbus Day/Indigenous People's Day School Closed
Oct. 16 - PSAT @ JJHS
Oct. 16 - Workshop Wednesday
Oct. 16 - Learning Cafe' @ 7pm
Oct. 18 - Blood Drive
Oct. 21 - Best Buddies
Oct. 22-23 JCK Foundation 9th Grade
Oct 24 - Board of Education Meeting in the JJHS Library @ 7:30pm
Oct. 26 - ACT @ JJHS (pre registration is required)
Reminders
If you not already completed the forms on Final Forms please do so ASAP. Also, please check with your children to make sure they have completed the forms as well. Click on Final Forms to login. There is a July 30th email from Final Forms (mailman@finalforms.com) regarding your account activation.
Safety: Drills and Emergencies
This is a gentle reminder that to help maintain building safety and security, students are expected to show ID whenever they enter the building. If your child does not have their ID when entering the building they will be asked to sign in with the greeter when entering.
If your child leaves for lunch, or any other reason, they will have to show ID or sign in every time they reenter the building.
School Happenings
Congratulations to our National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists!
Nina Vigil, Austin Omin, and William Harris are congratulated by Principal Steven Siciliano for being named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists.
JOHN JAY HIGH SCHOOL FALL DANCE
Saturday, September 28th 7:00 - 9:30 PM
Workshop Wednesday
LEAD A WORKSHOP FOR JJHS STUDENTS!
Senior School Spirit
Senior Sunrise
With the sunrise comes a new day and a new chapter. Here’s to our seniors and the adventures that await.
Rolling into Our Senior Year with Style and Spirit!
Seniors 2025
Spirit Week Sept. 16th - Sept. 20th
USA Day
Rocking the Red, White and Blue
Stars, Stripes, and School Spirit
JJHS Pep Rally- September 20th
All Grades celebrating our Club Chella and Spirit Week with the kick off our JJHS Pep Rally.
Athletics
**Homecoming Weekend Highlights: Hall of Fame Induction and Celebrations! **
On Friday, September 20, 2024, we kicked off Homecoming weekend with the very first Hall of Fame induction ceremony. We proudly welcomed the following 16 outstanding athletes and coaches into the Class of 2024 Athletic Hall of Fame:
Homecoming Highlights
Homecoming highlights included the Varsity Volleyball team securing a win in straight sets at their Friday afternoon game. Saturday morning Andy Condon and Sloan Wasserman won their respective races at the Pawling Cross Country Invitational. The Varsity Tennis, Varsity Girls Soccer and Varsity Field Hockey teams also brought home victories.
Newly Installed Scoreboards in the High School Gym!
On Friday afternoon of Homecoming weekend, we also debuted the newly installed scoreboards in the high school gym during the Varsity Volleyball game. This has been a four-year funding project, made possible by our generous Booster Club and the District. Construction of the new bleachers in the high school gymnasium will begin shortly and we hope you can check out these completed projects during our upcoming winter basketball season.
Thank you to everyone who participated in making this Homecoming a success! We look forward to more exciting events in the future!
John Jay High School Receives School of Distinction Award!
Athletic Director Chris McCarthy proudly displays the School of Distinction award from the New York State Public High School Athletic Association! ✨
McCarthy received the award on behalf of John Jay High School at NYSPHSAA’s athletic director workshop last week. The elite honor is given to schools in which 100% of its varsity teams receive the Scholar-Athlete team award, which means that at least 75% of each roster has an average GPA of 90 or more.
Congratulations JJHS WOLVES!
Counseling Center
ATTENTION PARENTS OF FRESHMAN:
Our high school counselors will be pushing into all 9th grade social studies classes on October 8th and 9th to meet with their students. This is an opportunity for counselors to get to know their students as well as support them in their high school transition.
ATTENTION PARENTS OF JUNIORS:
The PSAT/NMSQT will be administered digitally this year on Wednesday morning, October 16th to any interested junior.
Please keep an eye out for a letter that will be sent out shortly with the instructions on how to register your student.
Preregistration for this test is required.
The Registration Deadline is Friday, September 20th.
ATTENTION PARENTS OF SENIORS:
Reminder!!!! Have your students check SCOIR daily for the updated College Visit calendar.
To attend a visit, your student must register through their SCOIR account beforehand. Please go to your Student Dashboard, scroll down to the Register for Office Hours & Visits tile, then Click the Register button underneath the college visit you would like to attend. This will then show Registered if you did this successfully. You will receive an email, as well as a notification in SCOIR, the day before the visit reminding you of the visit date and time.
In-Person visits are scheduled during school hours and Virtual visits are scheduled for 4:00pm or 4:50pm. For In-Person visits: All missed work MUST be made up and attendance will be taken at each visit. Students are limited to two (2) in person college visits per day. If you have an interest in visiting more than two (2) college representatives on any given day, please visit your guidance counselor for permission.
UPCOMING COLLEGE FAIRS:
College Fair Northern Westchester
Wednesday, October 23rd @6:00pm-8:30pm
Jefferson Valley Mall
650 Lee Blvd
Yorktown Heights, NY
College Fair of Southern Westchester
Tuesday, October 22nd @ 6:00pm
Westchester County Center
198 Central Avenue
White Plains, NY
Please click on the link below to view the College Fair Guide
https://www.collegefairguide.com/spring-westchester-college-fairs
National Honor Society
The National Honor Society is hosting a Red Cross Blood Drive on October 18th from 8am to 2pm in the Gym. Please consider donating or asking your child to donate blood. Click on this link to register.
NHS will begin its student-to-student tutoring program in October. Your child can request a tutor for non-AP courses by clicking on this link.
Save the date: The John Jay Chapter of the National Honor Society will be holding the induction for members of the class of 2025 on Monday, November 25th at 7pm in the high school auditorium. Parents, friends and families are invited!
Red Cross Blood Drive- October 18th - 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Reach Out John Jay
Reach Out John Jay is a High School club that provides tutoring services to students in other buildings in the district. To find out more about the club or sign up to be a tutor, please contact Marc McAlley at mmcalley@klschools.org.
SAVE THE DATE! FOR THE FALL DRAMA "THE DINING ROOM" NOVEMBER 14-16
The John Jay Theater Workshop will perform A. R. Gurney's drama "The Dining Room" on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Nov. 14th through 16th, at 7:00 PM in the high school auditorium. There will also be a matinee on Saturday at 1:00 PM. Tickets are $5, available at the door.
"The Dining Room" consists of eighteen unrelated scenes, all set in different well-appointed dining rooms in New England, between the 1930s and today. Fifteen actors will play more than fifty roles, portraying an array of characters all connected in some way to a fine New England dining room. This moving, often funny play has been produced all over America since it's premiere in 1981.
Please click here for the Library Link
For more information, please check in with the Library staff. They can provide you with detailed information, guide you to the right resources, and help with any questions you might have.
Class of 2025
Dear Class of 2025 Families,
Senior Portraits
Please read the Senior Portrait Information digital document to learn how to schedule your senior portraits for the 2025 yearbook. October Dates are now available!
For those who have not already been photographed, please be sure you book your time slot now!
**All photos are taken at John Jay High School. When scheduling, please select Hudson Valley and John Jay High School. There is no need to go to the New Paltz studio unless you absolutely wish to do so.
Purchasing 2025 Yearbooks
Yearbooks are now available for purchase through our yearbook company called Varsity. Please visit www.yearbookordercenter.com or click here and enter the school code 4507.
Purchasing Senior Yearbook Ads
Friends and Family Ads are now available for purchase through the Yearbook Order Center. If you are interested in purchasing an ad, please visit www.yearbookordercenter.com or click here and enter job number 4507. You will see your options on ad size selections, and you will have the ability to create your own personalized ad. Please understand that space is limited. The deadline to design and purchase an ad is January 31, 2025. Due to yearbook deadlines, limited space, and inconvenience, prices on ads will be raised significantly after January 31, 2025.
Baby Photos
The Yearbook Club is now collecting senior baby photos. In order to proceed with the creation of the book in a timely fashion, there is a hard deadline (November 1, 2024) for this information. Baby photos must be uploaded via eShare. To upload, please visit www.hjeshare.com or click here or download the HJ eShare App--you must enter school code 4507. Please be sure to upload only one baby photo per senior. All photos must be approved by administration so please choose wisely before submitting.
Senior Quotes
All Senior Quotes are due by November 1, 2024! (All Seniors received a Microsoft form that needs to be filled out).
Graduation Verification Forms
All Graduation Verification Forms are Due by December 1st! ( All Senior Parents/Guardians received a Microsoft form that needs to be filled out).
Important Dates:
Senior Prom- Friday, June 13, 2025
Graduation , Tuesday, June 17, 2025- 5:00 PM- at Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts.
If you have any questions, please email Miss Muschio (nmuschio@klschools.org).
Reminders and Requirements
Dear Parents and Guardians,
For the 2024-2025 school year, please bring in your updated medication forms and a new supply of medication. Doctor’s orders MUST be dated after July 1, 2024. Forms can be found on the district website.
All students who carry emergency medication in their backpacks MUST have YEARLY medication orders on file in the health office.
All medication left after October 1st, 2024, without orders will be discarded.
This is a reminder that medication orders for emergency includes students who carry emergency medication in their backpacks. Please submit the updated forms as soon as possible (attached below).
As we begin the new school year, we want to ensure the safety and well-being of all our students participating in Physical Education and sports activities. If your child has experienced an injury, illness, or undergone surgery over the break, we kindly request an updated medical note from their healthcare provider.
This note should confirm that your child is cleared to return to PE and sports activities without any restrictions. Please submit this documentation to the school nurse by September 4th.
Thank you for your cooperation and support in keeping our school community safe.
9th and 11th Grade NYS Mandate
Physicals with immunization records attached are due by October 15th. Physicals must be dated after September 4, 2023. Dr. Corsaro, our school district physician, will be conducting physicals in November for those students unable to schedule with their pediatrician. Please call the nurse's office to schedule.
Any questions, contact Cyndi Mallon, RN NCSN cmallon@klschools.org or Kerby Anne Cabrey, RN kcabrey@klschools.org by email, phone 914-763-7205, or fax 914-763-6572.
Living with Celiac Disease
Please click the link - View it in your web browser
Join Our Monthly Virtual Meet-Ups
Next Virtual Meet-Up: Thursday, September 19th, 2024 at 10 a.m. PDT/1 p.m. EDT
Join the Celiac Disease Foundation and experts in the community for our monthly “Living with Celiac Virtual Meet-Up.” During this one-hour session, you’ll gain valuable insights from celiac experts who will provide practical tips, resources, and guidance on thriving with your diagnosis. And you’ll meet others who are navigating the gluten-free diet and can share your experiences, questions, and triumphs in a supportive and understanding environment. Everyone is welcome, including patients with celiac disease, caregivers of patients, friends of the celiac disease community, and healthcare providers. Topics will vary by month. Register Now
Learn More About Our Important Work
Celiac Disease Foundation
5850 Canoga Avenue, 4th Floor
Woodland Hills, California 91367
844.593.8169
info@celiac.org
News from the JJHS Student Assistance Counselor-Samantha Wagner
Dear Parents,
Many thanks to all of you who have donated to the PTO so far this year!
October marks the start of our Annual Fundraising Drive! Money raised from this fundraiser goes towards covering the expenses of the PTO sponsored events for all of our students, including the Fall Dance, Turkey Trot, and the much loved Winter Wonderland, as well as Jay Fest and Senior Week/Seminar Day activities in May. The PTO also organizes and funds special events throughout the year to recognize and thank our amazing teachers and staff.
These events can only happen if we have the funding, which comes from the parent community.
Our events are for, and enjoyed by, all of our students, and help support their social and emotional well being by providing a much needed break from the hard work of school. Every year, students let us know how great these events are and how much they look forward to them.
Without your financial support, the PTO may not be able to offer these events. This fundraising drive is the only one where 100% of your donation will go towards the PTO budget. Your voluntary, tax-deductible contribution will directly benefit our school and our students!
To make a donation, you can visit the PTO website (https://jjhspto.membershiptoolkit.com) and pay with credit card, Venmo, or Zelle. You can also mail in your donation (please make check payable to JJHS PTO) to:
60 North Salem Road
Cross River, NY 10518
Thank you so much for your continued support of the JJHS PTO. Your money will be well spent to enrich the lives of our students, teachers and staff.
Sincerely,
The John Jay High School PTO Board
Paul Kuszynski, Mavis Wright, Teryn Kendall, Lisa Valdes, Kailin Tu
KLSD ArtsAlive is the arts booster club for the KLSD! We have promoted arts in education programming in the Katonah-Lewisboro School District since 1997 and has been a district-wide arts booster club for all KLSD schools since 2018. We believe that promoting the arts in our schools unifies our entire community. By supporting arts-related events and programming, we give everyone the opportunity to celebrate our talented students and teachers.
Through fundraising efforts (and thanks to your support), KLSD ArtsAlive has been able to contribute funds in recent years to the the Art Gallery, Pottery Wheels, the Sound Booth, Bandshells, and participate in Arts in Education programming for Student Workshops and Field Trips at John Jay High School.
To find out more about us and see how you can become involved, please check out our website: https://klsdartsalive.org/
The John Jay Booster Club could use your help, please check out johnjayboosters.org to learn more about our mission and what we do.
Click on the link above for more information.
Extra Help
Tuesday - Art, Social Studies, World Language
Wednesday - Business/Tech, English, Music, Science
Thursday - Health, Math, PE
Helpful Links
Technology Help Desk
Prior Community Bulletins
Steven Siciliano
Principal
ssiciliano@klschools.org
Samir Biswas
Assistant Principal
sbiswas@klschools.org
Mallory McDonald
Assistant Principal
mmcdonald@klschools.org
Kim Piccolino
Assistant Principal
kpiccolino@klschools.org
Marisa Merlino
Director of Guidance
mmerlino@klschools.org
Christian McCarthy
Director of Health, Athletics, Physical Education and Wellness
cmccarthy@klschools.org