John Jay Parent Post Sept 19, 2016 Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.

Transcription

1 John Jay Parent Post Sept 19, 2016 Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success. --- Henry Ford Dear JJHS parents, Thank you to all who stopped to chat at Campus Night, whether you are old friends or new acquaintances. There was certainly a wonderful buzz in the building. Big, big thanks go out to Julie Minard and Janet Heneghan who spent a good portion of last weekend editing our Student Directory and getting it out to print and to our in-house printers who turned it around so quickly. We hope to see many of you this Thursday morning, Sept 22nd, at our first PTO meeting of the year, featuring "coffee talk" with Principal Steven Siciliano. Here's to a wonderful school year! Madeleine Polemeni PTO President jjhspto@gmail.com GREETINGS FROM OUR PRINCIPAL I just want to take a moment and express how proud I am to be the Principal of John Jay High School. My entry into the school district has been aided by so many parents, teachers, and students who have expressed their support and good will. I m looking forward to working with the entire community and I already see we have the makings of a very special year. Our freshmen, for example, appear to be making a fine transition

2 into high school. We had the pleasure of meeting them during our Pot-Luck Supper on August 31st that also served as an orientation session. The early feedback has been that our new 9th graders have a grasp of how to navigate the building and are learning quickly about the increased expectations of high school and the support they have to be successful. In addition, we were glad to welcome back our returning sophomores, juniors, and seniors. During the first week of school, grade level assemblies were held in order for our students to meet their new administrative team (including welcoming Vincent Bell back to the building as Assistant Principal) and reviewing expectations and other important information, including the all-important college application process for seniors. Most importantly, we discussed what it means to be a community, including the rights and responsibilities inherent to being part of a healthy community. John Jay High School will continue striving to be a place where students know they belong, have every opportunity to learn at the highest levels, and serve others just as passionately. JJHS offers students so many positive experiences for students to say yes!, and we hope they will avail themselves to everything offered. High school is a wonderful time of life and together, we re-affirm our commitment to providing all of our students the best experiences possible. Thank you for all of your support and I wish everyone a most successful school year. Sincerely, Steven T. Siciliano, Ed.D STUDENT DIRECTORIES AVAILABLE! Copies of the new JJHS Student Directory, are available for purchase. Prices are $25 for one and $5 for each additional copy. To order, please send a check made payable to JJHS PTO, either by mail (Attn: PTO - Student Directory), or

3 with your child to the high school and we will send a copy back home with your child. Please include your child's name and your with your check. If you have updates to the information included in the Directory, please Janet Heneghan at heneghan@optonline.net. This is the PTO's primary fundraiser and a great way to stay connected in the high school community. We appreciate your support! PICTURE DAY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Parent volunteers are needed during school hours on Picture Day, September 29th, to assist with 9-11th grade student portraits. Lend your time and receive a FREE student portrait package! Portrait ordering details to follow in coming weeks. Please SIGN-UP for a shift at Questions? Please contact Dawn Kamerman, our Picture Day Coordinator, at dawn@trevorah.com. COUNSELING CORNER The Counseling Center is kicking off the school year with a variety of programs focusing on the College Application process for seniors and/or their parents or guardians: Sep 14th Sep 19th : Counselors meet with seniors in small groups to review the College Application Process TONIGHT - Sep 7PM: College Application Night for the parents/guardians of seniors in the JJHS theatre Wed, Sept 21nd : College Workshops for seniors begin during school hours (see Fall Workshops Flyer, attached). Counselors will meet with small groups of freshmen Sep 26th Sep 28th to ease their transition to the high school. Saturday, October 15th: PSAT exam (recommended for juniors). Register in Counseling Office with $20 check payable to KLSD no later than Wednesday, Sep 21st.

4 REACH OUT JOHN JAY (ROJJ) TUTORING LIAISON NEEDED Parent Volunteer needed to serve as ROJJ Tutoring Liaison between JJHS Students who've expressed interested in tutoring and the elementary school tutoring proctors. Coordination is primarily done via beginning the end of September to connect high school student tutors and elementary school students in need of tutoring (through the elementary Proctors) regarding tutoring needs and scheduling, with tutoring beginnning in November. Outgoing Elementary Tutoring Liaison, Nathalie Dwyer, is available to assist in the transition. To volunteer or learn more about responsibilities, please contact Nathalie directly at or by ing The JOHN JAY Focus student newspaper is available in all new digital format at SEPTA SCOOP The Katonah-Lewisboro Special Education PTA (SEPTA) is a district-wide Parent Teacher Association organized to provide information and support to students, parents, faculty and staff involved in special education and related services. DID YOU KNOW? SEPTA exists to help families of children with a wide range of needs: Children with an IEP or a 504 plan Children in self-contained or integrated classroom settings Children enrolled in building level services such as Speech, OT, PT, RTI Children who have ever needed the help of a school psychologist or social worker Children with severe allergies or other medical conditions Children facing extended absences due to injury or illness To become a member of K-L SEPTA, go

5 to: Visit us on-line at Upcoming SEPTA Events: Tuesday, Sep 20-10:30am Coffee and Conversation: Connect with other parents of children who receive special services in the district; held in a private residence. For location, RSVP by ing: rsvp@klsepta.org Monday, Sep 26-7:00pm SEPTA Kick off Meeting: JJMS Library. 7:00 PM Refreshments, 7:30 PM Presentation begins. COMMUNITY CONNECTION The Lewisboro Library Fair will take place rain or shine on Saturday, September 24th from 10 am - 4pm at Onatru Farm Park in South Salem. This is a wonderful community outing and the Library's primary fundraiser. VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED on Fair Day, as well as for the Pre-sale evenings on Sept 22nd and 23rd. Middle and high schoolers are especially needed to help with set-up and running children's games (Community Service hours!). Click HERE for Fair details and contact information to volunteer. On September 27th, the Westchester Coalition for Drug and Alcohol Free Youth presents: In Defense of the Teenage Brain: What science says about marijuana and the developing brain - 7pm at Student Assistance Services in Tarrytown, NY. Speaker Bertha K. Madras, PhD, a Professor of Psychobiology, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School and serving at McLean Hospital in Belmont, MA shares her research on addiction biology and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Flyer attached. For more information and to RSVP, contact Patty Warble at or pwarble@sascorp.org. NAMI Westchester and Westchester Community College present Let s Talk The Road Ahead, Wednesday, Oct 19th from 4-7pm at WCC, featuring Keynote Speaker Kevin Hines, followed

6 by a panel discussion and optional workshops regarding the road to college and how to successfully transition, maintain mental health wellness and resiliency. High school and college students, parents and counselors are invited to attend. Learn more about Kevin Hines and how to register at Eventbrite. HELPFUL LINKS JJHS PTO website: CrossRiver/PTO/apt1.aspx "Like" us on Facebook: JJHS website: JJHS Athletic Calendar: John Jay Boosters website: KL ArtsAlive website: KLSD Monthly Calendar KLSD Calendar Katonah Library website: Lewisboro Library website: IMPORTANT DATES: TONIGHT - Sep 19, 7PM - College Application Night for Senior Parents/Guardians in Theatre Sep 20, 10:30am - SEPTA "Coffee & Conversation" Sep 21 - Fall College Workshops begin for Seniors Sep 22, 9:15-10:45am -

7 PTO/Principal "Coffee Talk" in Theatre Sep 24, 10am-4pm - Lewisboro Library Onatru Sep 26, 7pm - SEPTA Kick-off Meeting in JJMS Library Sep 27, 7-8:30pm - In Defense of the Teenage Brain; SAS, Tarrytown, NY Sep 29 - Underclassmen Picture Day Sep 30 - Oct 7 - JJHS Spirit Week Oct 1, 7:45am - JJHSm Oct 3, 4 - NO SCHOOL - Rash Hashanah Oct Homecoming Oct 10 - NO SCHOOL - Columbus Day Oct 12 - NO SCHOOL - Yom Kippur Oct 15, 7:45am - PSAT JJHS Oct 19, 4-7pm - "Let's Talk: The Road Ahead" at WCC, Valhalla