John Jay High School

60 North Salem Road, Cross River, NY 10518


*Co-Principals:* Gil Cass Kim Piccolino Assistant Principal: Antonio Ramos *Interim Assistant Principal:* Sheila Silverman Telephone: (914) 763-7201 *Fax:* (914) 763-7494

Announcements

A Message from the Health Office at John Jay High School

The High School has been informed that we have a confirmed case of Pertussis among our student population. There is no cause for alarm, however the Board of Health has asked that we ask everyone to please review the Signs and Symptoms of Pertussis that are listed on our web pages under Health Services. If you have any concerns please consult your healthcare provider.

“The Rite of Spring”

For the second year running, JJHS art students will celebrate “The Rite of Spring” in the JJHS art gallery which adjoins the theater lobby. The exhibition will open on March 10th to coincide with the opening of our Spring musical, “Chicago.” Work will be on display at reception for the public beginning at 6 PM. The show will include drawings, paintings, graphic design projects, photographs, animated films, sculpture and ceramic work. All are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

The John Jay Theater Workshop, will be presenting the long-running hit musical Chicago. This landmark show has been presented on Broadway for over 6,300 performances since it opened in 1996, going on to win six Tony awards, including Best Revival of a Musical. The original production, directed and choreographed by the legendary Bob Fosse, opened in June of 1975 and was nominated for nine Tony awards.

Chicago, a “musical vaudeville” is based on a play by the same name written in 1926 by Maurine Dallas Watkins. It tells the story of Roxie Hart, who finds herself on Murderer’s Row in the Cook County Jail after shooting her lover. Smooth-talking attorney Billy Flynn takes on Roxie’s case and manipulates the Chicago press to make Roxie a celebrity. Roxie has a competitor for the media’s attention, however: another Billy Flynn client named Velma Kelly. Chicago is a cynical look at America’s celebrity culture and its corrupt judicial system, presented through the highly stylized language of song and dance.

The performances will be at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 10th and 7:00 p.m. on Friday, March 11th. In addition, there will be two performances on Saturday, March 12th at 1:00 p.m. and at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets will be sold at the box office outside the John Jay Theatre on Friday, March 4 from 3:00 – 5:00 and Tuesday, March 8 from 3:00 – 4:15 . Moreover, the box office opens one hour before all performances. All tickets must be paid for at time of purchase, there are no refunds or exchanges. No phone orders will be accepted and tickets will not be held at the box office without payment. If you have any questions regarding tickets please email Ronnie Thompson at [email protected]

Be sure not to miss Chicago the Musical for a fun, and exciting night of theater.

Congratulations to all of our
2nd quarter honor roll students!

(To view the complete list of honor roll students, click on Honor Roll 2015-2016 to your left under School Resources.)

JJHS Volunteers Bring Spark to Northern Westchester Hospital

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JJHS Men's Varsity Soccer wins Westchester-Putnam Soccer Officials Association Sportsmanship Award

The JJHS Men's Varsity Soccer won the Westchester-Putnam Soccer Officials Association Sportsmanship Award for the fall 2015 season. We were the only boys HS team to win this award, which was voted upon by the officials in Westchester and Putnam Counties. The team was recognized at a dinner at the Womens' Club in White Plains on 11/11. The 4 captains, Coach Egeler and Coach Neidell attended the dinner to receive the award. JJHS last won this award in 2008.

Celebrating School Spirit at Pep Rally

The student body of John Jay High School capped off Spirit Week and showcased their school pride with a traditional pep rally on Oct. 9. Students cheered as their peers introduced their sports teams and captains acknowledged senior year players.

The pep rally kicked off two days of homecoming games, which brought together students, parents, alumni and community members. The rally opened with a performance of the national anthem by the John Jay student a cappella groups. The Rolling Tones, Treblemakers and Notables gave outstanding performances for their classmates, while the high school dance team brought its invigorating energy to the crowd.

John Jay High School Athletic Director Christian McCarthy said that although the pep rally celebrates varsity student-athletes, he wanted to involve other groups within the school. “It’s a day to celebrate our students and bring together our whole school and community,” he said. “Homecoming is one of the few times of the year we get to do that.”

Junior Kaitlyn Ferentini said her favorite part of the day was when all students came together and team captains introduced their teams. Sami Shapiro, a senior and co-captain of the girls field hockey team, said she loved the energy the students brought into the gymnasium.

“It really shows how much school spirit we have,” she said. “Everyone was so excited to be there.”

Students participated in a number of themed days throughout the week leading up to the game, including Pajama Day, Red, White and Blue Day, and Colors Day, culminating with Spirit Day on Friday, when students wore purple and white for John Jay pride.

HS Community Gives Back at Blood Drive

John Jay High School’s National Honor Society held its annual blood drive, benefiting the American Red Cross, on Sept. 25.

“The National Honor Society is all about community service, so this was an easy way to get involved,” said NHS President Ryan Kramer, who organized the drive. “We had a lot more students than usual donate. It was nice to see people step up to the plate.”

Kramer said even some students who were previously afraid of needles agreed to donate for a good cause. The drive yielded about 50 pints of blood in total.

“It went very, very smoothly,” said NHS advisor Dr. Linda Burke.

Meet Georgia Grzywacz: Class of 2016 Valedictorian

Georgia Grzywacz, John Jay High School’s Class of 2016 valedictorian, recently warned a ninth-grade student on the soccer team that high school really does fly by.

“I remember a teammate telling me that when I was a freshman, and I thought to myself, ‘How can it? Four years in school is endless and I’ll want to get out as soon as I get in,’” she recalled. “But it’s just the opposite. I never thought four years could go as quickly as they have, but time flies when you’re having fun.”

And while she admits she would rather stay home and read a good book than attend a school football game, Grzywacz still has plenty of high school memories to look back on as she prepares to deliver her graduation speech and take her next steps in life.

“One of the things that stands out most to me at John Jay is the faculty and staff I’ve met and had the privilege to learn from over the years,” she said. “I remember my junior year, when I was having a particularly awful day, the teacher I lab assist for, Mrs. [Caroline] Weldon, brought me tea and cookies on her own accord. She’s one of the most wonderful women I’ve ever met, and I’m grateful I was her lab assistant for three years.”

In addition to assisting in the lab, Grzywacz is a dedicated soccer player, a member of the school’s Sustainability, Book and Relay for Life clubs, actively involved in Reach Out John Jay and a volunteer with the Appalachian Service Project. She also works part-time at a local business, babysits frequently and works in the nursery at her church.

While she is still deciding on a top college pick and major, Gryzwacz said she is considering environmental studies with a double major or minor in either classics, psychology or Spanish.

“To think that this is a year of lasts – last homecoming, last varsity soccer season, last spirit week – is hard to imagine,” she said. “Honestly, I don’t really believe it yet, especially for soccer. It’s weird to think that in a few months, we’ll be getting our diplomas and then going to college.”

Meet Ryan Kramer: Class of 2016 Salutatorian

Ryan Kramer remembers the first time he truly felt a part of the John Jay High School community: homecoming during his freshman year.

“After years of looking at the bleacher student section and all of the high schoolers going wild for our team, I was finally cheering alongside them,” the Class of 2016’s salutatorian said. “That was my first time ever experiencing homecoming as a high school student, so walking in and seeing everyone all dressed up and dancing was a total blast.”

Kramer’s participation in the school’s science research class also helped shape his high school experience and his interest in the sciences as a career. “That class really encouraged me to start pursuing my own intellectual interests,” he said.

He also hopes to continue studying French in college, thanks to Madame Henriette Kutscher’s teaching, whose class he took for three years. “She encouraged open seminar discussion on modern issues and helped me explore my own interests while continuing to learn French,” said Kramer.

In addition to his academic interests, Kramer is a member of the varsity swim team, participates in the Model United Nations club and writes for the student blog, Drawing Board.

Looking ahead, Kramer said he hopes to pursue a career as a physician, perhaps in the areas of oncology, neurology or auto-immunology — or maybe follow a different career path and go into politics. He advises freshmen to take advantage of all of John Jay High School’s extracurricular and academic offerings to help develop their interests.

“Join clubs, try out for sports and take classes you never thought you would,” he said. “It might be scary at first, but in the end, it’s so worth it. It really helps broaden your horizons and introduces you to people you probably wouldn’t meet otherwise.”

Letter regarding Health Exams from NYS Dept of Health

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Tennis Complex Officially Opens

Tennis players ranging from young novices to experienced adults flooded the six new John Jay High School tennis courts on Friday afternoon after a ribbon-cutting ceremony and dedication that officially opened the new community-funded complex.

Working in partnership with the district, the nonprofit Katonah-Lewisboro Community Tennis Association brought the courts from small idea to fruition over the course of three years. Superintendent of Schools Andrew Selesnick praised KLCTA President and John Jay High School varsity boys tennis coach Robert Labriola for his leadership in bringing the courts to life.

“Your dedication to this project is unbelievably clear,” said Selesnick. “On behalf of the district, it is my incredible opportunity to say thank you for this gift.”

Check back soon for a video of the dedication ceremony.

HS Names 2016 Valedictorian, Salutatorian

John Jay High School is pleased to announce its Class of 2016 valedictorian, Georgia Grzywacz and salutatorian, Ryan Kramer.

Congratulations to both of these accomplished students!

Check back soon for more information.

John Jay High School freshmen had an opportunity to learn more about the many clubs offered at the high school during a special fair on Sept. 3. Students explored booths created by club representatives, asked questions and discovered new ways to get engaged in the school community.

From the Nurse’s Offices of KLSD

EV-D68 is causing cases of severe respiratory (breathing) illness among children and other individuals. Such illness has sometimes been resulting in hospitalization, especially among children with asthma.

The New York State Department of Health is advising parents and health care providers to be aware of the signs and symptoms of enterovirus EV-D68, a serious respiratory illness which has now been confirmed in more than a dozen children in New York State.

Symptoms to Look For:
Fever
Runny Nose
Sneezing
Coughing
Body Aches

How It Is Spread
Enteroviruses are transmitted through close contact with a person who has the virus, or by touching objects or surfaces that have the virus on them and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.

What You Can Do Protect Yourself
It is important to protect yourself and others reminding your children to:

Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid kissing, hugging, and sharing cups or eating utensils with people who are sick.

Disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, especially if someone is sick.

Use the same precautions you would use to prevent the spread of influenza (flu).

These prevention steps are especially important for individuals or persons with family members who are infants, or who have chronic health conditions or compromised immune systems.

What to Do If Your Child Feels Ill
If your child is sick with a runny nose, cough, fever, or aches which are signs of an upper respiratory infection, do not send your child to school. Allow them to rest and recover at home. Contact your medical provider immediately if your child becomes seriously ill.

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