John Jay High School (Cross River, New York)
John Jay High School is a public high school located in Lewisboro, New York. It is the only high school in the Katonah-Lewisboro School District.[2] The school, which opened in 1956,[3] is named after John Jay, a Founding Father of the United States, and first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, who lived nearby. Over the years, the school former mascot, the Indians, had been controversial, and it was decided in November 2019 to retire the mascot in favor of a new one.[4] In 2020, the school announced that their new mascot would be the Wolves, a nod to the nearby Wolf Conservation Center.
For other schools, see John Jay High School.Athletics[edit]
Cross Country[edit]
John Jay has a Cross Country team. In 2013 the girls' section of the team were the State of New York Cross Country Federation Champions. These athletes gathered the school's first ever federation athletic title.
In 2017, the boys team won several invitationals, including the Warwick Wave Invitational, the Wilton Invitational, the Section 1 League 2B Championships, and the Westchester County Championships. John Jay sent their first ever boys team to the New York Federation Championships that year.[22]
Ice Hockey[edit]
John Jay High School's ice hockey team is a Division II program competing within Section 1 of the NYSPHAA. Since their inaugural season in 1999, John Jay has won the Section 1 championship 3 times (2013, 2018, 2019,2021) and have made 1 state finals appearance in 2013. The team hosts home games off campus at the Brewster Ice Arena located in Putnam County, New York. The program is funded through both the school district and the non-profit organization, Friends of John Jay Ice Hockey.[23]
Ultimate Frisbee[edit]
John Jay High School's Ultimate Frisbee team, Air Raid, was reformed in 2007 by students who, in that same year, coached themselves to a second-place finish losing 15-10 against Beacon High School in the inaugural New York State Championships tournament. Since that time, they have earned multiple state titles starting with a return in 2008 to defeat the reigning champions Beacon High School. Air Raid would become repeat champs in the 2011 and 2012 seasons, placing 3rd and 5th at regionals, respectively. During the 2012-13 school year, they began to include women on both Air Raid and the Bear Raid, the B-Team for the program. Bear Raid would go winless until the 2018 State Championship Tournament, defeating Bethlehem High School in a 10-7 match.
Student life[edit]
Science Research[edit]
Beginning in sophomore year, students in John Jay High School can choose to enroll in the science research program, which guides the student in conducting meaningful scientific research. The program is coordinated by AnnMarie Lipinsky, who, along with other science faculty, advises each student and guides each student through the challenges of conducting research for their first time. Planet 25511 Annlipinsky was named in honor for mentoring a finalist in the 2009 Intel Science Talent Search.[24] Students are tasked with finding a mentor in a field of their choice and collaborate with their mentor to conduct a research project. Students have participated and shared their projects with success in the Regeneron Science Talent Search,[25] the county and national[26] Intel Science and Engineering Fair, and the Junior Sciences and Humanities Symposium.[27] Alumni from the research program have gone on to successful careers in research, medicine, and engineering.
Vocal Jazz[edit]
John Jay High School's Vocal Jazz ensemble, directed by Steven Morse, has competed at Berklee College of Music's High School Jazz Festival every year but one since 2003. The group, ranging from 15 to 35 students and accompanied by a rhythm section, placed 2nd in the nation in the 2013 competition by only one point out of all Division 1 schools.[29] In the 2012 competition, three of John Jay's students were recognized for Outstanding Musicianship. The group finished in 3rd place at that competition.[30] In the 2019 competition, the ensemble placed 1st, winning by 11 points.[31]
Model United Nations[edit]
The John Jay Model United Nations Club, has been gaining popularity in recent years. In 2014, the club hosted their first conference, called JJMUNC, that had over 200 delegates. For the Model United Nations Club, the President also serves as the Head Delegate and Secretary-General. The Secretary-General of JJMUNC I was Jeffrey Steckler, and Secretary-General for JJMUNC II in 2015[32] and JJMUNC III in 2016[33] was Daniel Gordon. The Model UN Team competes at several conferences per year.[34]
Junior Statesmen of America[edit]
In 2005, a chapter of the Junior Statesmen of America (JSA) was founded at John Jay High School.[35]
Science Olympiad[edit]
John Jay High School has attended the New York State Science Olympiad final - usually held at West Point - every year but one since its founding. In 2010, a new event called "Protein Modeling" was created, and John Jay finished first in the state for an "extraordinary construction of [influenza] surface proteins."[36]
Theater[edit]
John Jay High School's theater program typically produces two major performances per school year: a drama in the fall, and a musical in the spring. In the 2013–2014 school year, JJHS put on Tom Stoppard's The Real Inspector Hound and Eugene Ionesco's The Bald Soprano in the Fall[37] and Jonathan Larson's Rent in the Spring.[38]