JJHS
Community Bulletin
Monthly Community Bulletin March 2024
School Hours: 8:10am to 2:48pm
Main Office Hours: 7:30am to 4:00pm
Main Office Phone: 914-763-7201
Contact JJHS
Please email jjhsattendance@klschools.org to report absences, tardies, early dismissals or call 914-763-7218.
Important Dates at a Glance
March 2024
March 11 - Week of the Arts & Spring Sports Begin
March 12 - ACT vs. SAT PTO Meeting @ 7 p.m. via Zoom (more information below)
March 14 - Rite of Spring Opening @ 6 p.m. & Spring Musical @ 7 p.m. (more information below)
March 14 - Board of Education Meeting @ 7 p.m. in JJHS Library
March 15 - Spring Musical Legally Blonde @ 7 p.m.
March 16 - Spring Musical @ 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
March 19 - College Planning Night Part II @ 7 p.m. via Zoom (more information below)
March 20 - Workshop Wednesday for 9th and 10th Grades
March 21 - Board of Education Meeting @ 7 p.m. in JJHS Library
March 23 - Pre-ACT @ JJHS for Sophomores
March 27 - Blood Drive (more information below)
March 29 - April 7 - School's Closed for Spring Recess
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
ATTENTION SENIOR PARENTS
A few scholarship applications are still open. You can find them listed on the counseling center webpage. If you have any questions, please ask your child's counselor or Mrs. Kassman in the Principal's office.
Congratulations to Alice Cai, National Merit Finalist!
Senior Alice Cai was in Science Research on February 21 when a call came from the Counseling Center, asking her to come to their office. When she arrived, Dr. Steven Siciliano, principal of John Jay, and Marisa Merlino, director of guidance and counseling, shared exciting news. “Congratulations! You are a National Merit Scholarship Program Finalist!” said Dr. Siciliano.
Alice is student of broad talents. Not only is she the valedictorian of John Jay’s Class of 2024, but Alice is also Student Council president, a Campus Congress representative and founder and president of John Jay High School’s Fashion Reimagined Club. Outside of school, she is an accomplished pianist and an Advisory Board Member of the President's Junior Leadership Council at Northern Westchester Hospital.
“Alice’s future is undoubtedly bright, and we have no doubt that she will continue to excel in all her endeavors,” said Dr. Siciliano. “Well done, Alice, and best wishes for continued success!”
John Jay High School Presents Legally Blonde the Musical!
This play is an empowering, entertaining story about Elle Woods, a fashion-savvy sorority girl who enrolls at Harvard Law School with the goal of winning back her ex-boyfriend, only to discover her own potential as a talented lawyer. There are 37 cast members and countless crew members involved in the production!
Tickets are available at the door: $5 for students/senior citizens and $10 for adults.
Community and Culture Day at JJHS by the BEAT
The JJHS BEAT (Belonging, Equity and Advocacy Taskforce hosted its first Community and Culture Day at JJHS on February 14th! This day was a result of intense planning and collaboration between our students, families, and staff, and provided opportunities for our students to explore the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and talents of our school community. We are thrilled to share with you some of the highlights of this memorable day!
Our students participated in relevant and interactive workshops during the day:
· The History of Yoga in Indian Civilizations workshop led by Shivani Patel
· Aprendé a Bailar Bachata (Learn to Dance Bachata) workshop led by Franklin Miguel, Becca Valencia, Naomy Rodriguez, and Courtney Hamilton
· The Hexagon Community Project in 2D & 3D workshops led by Kristen Lowe
· La Cultura y Musica Dominicana (Dominican Culture and Music) workshop led by Angelo Lora
· How to Make Cannoli workshop led by Melissa Falco and Kim Piccolino
Madison Varriale, Fenton Lio, The Treblemakers, the JJHS Orchestra led by Ms. Leventhal, and the JJHS Wind Ensemble led by Mr. Henderson treated our school community with musical performances during the day.
We want to extend a special thanks to all the parents and community members who participated in this event, either by running workshops, sharing their cultures in the cafeteria, or by volunteering to help during the event. Your involvement and enthusiasm are greatly appreciated and valued.
The JJHS BEAT looks forward to continuing this tradition through an annual Community and Culture event. Pictures taken throughout the day are below.
Sincerely,
The JJHS BEAT
John Jay Young Artists Visit KMA Exhibition
All of our drawing students visited the Katonah Museum of Art to see the Young Artists exhibition which features work from high school seniors in the area, including some of our own. Students looked at how an exhibition is organized and looked for themes and connections between different works of art.
Junior State of America Club
Congratulations to Luke Pinney and Olivia Casabona who won Best Speakers at the organization's Winter Congress in Washington, DC. The whole group won for the best performance in singing the National Anthem. The club offers students a hands-on opportunity to learn about how legislation is created, debated and enacted.
On Sale Now
Yearbooks are now available for purchase! Please visit www.yearbookordercenter.com or click here and enter the school code 4507.
Community Outreach
SAT vs. ACT
Do you know the differences between the ACT and SAT?
(Presentation hosted by the PTO)
All parents/guardians can learn the answer to that question on Tuesday, March 12th at 7PM via Zoom.
Please look for an email with more information and the Zoom link.
Mark your calendars for College Planning Night Part II
College Planning Night – Part II, will take place on Tuesday, March 19th at 7PM via Zoom.
Please join us as college admission representatives from SUNY Binghamton, the University of Michigan, Fairfield University and Marist College speak about the college admission process.
Please watch for our email containing the Zoom link in the near future!
ATTENTION PARENTS/GUARDIANS OF SOPHOMORES
The PreAct will be administered on Saturday morning, March 23rd. Please reference the Connect-Ed email that went home on Tuesday, February 6th for details.
To register your sophomore for the exam, please CLICK HERE
ATTENTION PARENTS/GUARDIANS OF JUNIORS
If you have not done so already, now is the time to schedule your Junior College Planning Meeting. This is a two-period meeting with your child and child’s counselor, with the last meeting of the day starting at 1:24PM (the start of our 8th period). Please check with your child for the best 2 consecutive periods to book this meeting and then call the Counseling Center at (914) 763-7216.
Note: This meeting can take place in person or via Zoom.
Available through the JJHS Library website
National Honor Society
The students of the National Honor Society offer free peer tutoring to their classmates in non-AP classes. If you feel that your child could benefit from a student tutor, please speak with your child and have them fill out this form.
Class of 2024
Senior Independent Experience
ATTENTION SENIORS AND THEIR PARENTS/GUARDIANS:
Are you having trouble finding an internship?
Are you struggling with writing an introductory email or doing a resume?
Do you need to practice interviewing?
If you answered YES to any of these questions we are here to help!!!
The next “Please Help Me” meeting will be held in Q103 & Q104 immediately after school on
Monday, March 11th!
Graduation
The 2024 Senior Graduation will take place at Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts on Tuesday June 18 at 5PM. Please stay tuned for updates.
Senior Prom
Senior Prom will take place at Surf Club on the Sound in New Rochelle on Friday June 14 from 7PM to 10PM. Please stay tuned for updates.
Senior Year Things to Do
Purchasing 2024 Yearbooks
Yearbooks are now available for purchase! Please visit www.yearbookordercenter.com or click here and enter the school code 4507
Senior 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. It is highly advised that ads are purchased between the months of August and November in order to guarantee an ad for your child. Due to yearbook deadlines, limited space, and inconvenience, prices on ads will be raised significantly after February 1, 2024.
If you have any questions, please email Ms. Binns or Miss Muschio.
Reminders and Requirements
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).
Catch My Breath - Vape Education - Tobacco Youth Prevention is our evidence-based vaping prevention program to help educate our children in order to make informed decisions about e-cigarettes and resist social pressure!
What if I Can't Afford My Asthma Medication | Allergy & Asthma Network
What do do if you cannot afford the cost of your asthma or other respiratory medications? Check out your options, including manufacturer contact info.
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.
Allergy Plus is designed to improve how you understand and manage your allergies. Based on Pollen.com, an industry leading allergy forecasting website for the last 20 years, Allergy Plus provides location-specific, real time allergy information at your fingertips.
Click here to find out more.
SPRING SPORTS SIGN-UPS
Information can be found on the athletic webpage.
Please be mindful of deadlines. The deadline for Final Forms is March 1st to ensure all forms are reviewed promptly and do not delay a student's medical clearance.
A current SPRING SPORTS physical must be dated after MARCH 1, 2023.
Call for Senior Week Volunteers!
It's hard to imagine, but we're halfway through our senior year and it's time to start planning an unforgettable end-of-year celebration! Joanne Hasko and Amanda Hufnagel will co-chair the festivities, which include senior week (April 29th - May 3rd), pancake breakfast and senior BBQ. To make these events truly special we need your help! We're looking for parent volunteers to co-chair senior breakfast (Thursday, May 23rd) and senior BBQ (Thursday, Mary 23rd). We will also need assistance during senior week to lead daily activities. Please reach out to us at JJHSseniors2024@gmail.com if you're interested in volunteering and creating lasting memories for our seniors as they embark on the next chapter of their lives.
Thanks!
Joanne & Amanda
JJHS PTO is a group of parent volunteers who raise money and provide services and activities to benefit the students and staff of JJHS. The JJHS PTO is proud to foster a sense of community among both high school students and parents.
STAY INFORMED
The PTO is one of the most important sources of information about everything going on at JJHS. To make sure you stay in the know, sign up on our webpage
(https://jjhspto.membershiptoolkit.com) or use the QR code to the right and enter your contact information on the DIRECTORY tab. The PTO does not receive this info from the school district. This will be your link to the JJHS PTO!
SUPPORT US
By supporting the PTO, you will become an integral part of the larger high school community.
There are many ways you can be involved! Email us at johnjayhspto@gmail.com to find out more.
PTO Sponsored Events that need your support!
Homecoming Dance - *NEW*
Winter Ball - *NEW*
Turkey Trot
Winter Wonderland
Welcome Back Breakfast for teachers and staff
Movie Nights
Teacher Appreciation Week
Senior Week/Seminar Day (Pancake Breakfast & BBQ)
Senior Scholarships
Class Level Support
Jay Fest
We look forward to working with you and seeing you at some of our special events!
Contact us with any questions at johnjayhspto@gmail.com and follow us on our JJJHS PTO Facebook Page!
JJHS PTO Board
Lisa Valdes, Paul Kuszynski, Amy Buatte, Mavis Wright, Teryn Kendall, Lynette McHugh
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.
Keep an eye out for our merchandise store coming soon and for information about the return of the Harlem Wizards to the KL School District.
And thank you to all our volunteers during the fall season.
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