Katonah-Lewisboro School District Moving Up & Graduation Snapshots

As students passed through the 18th-century Pegasus Gate, their easy chat turned into broad smiles. The unmistakable sounds of "Pomp and Circumstance," recorded by the John Jay Orchestra, grew as they neared the Venetian Theater, as well the buzz of 1,500 faculty and family members gathered in the gracious, tented space.

John Jay’s commencement at Caramoor is a long-standing tradition. Yet 2022 marks the first time in three years that the school was able to celebrate graduation at the historic Katonah venue. To create safe social distance during the pandemic, the district moved commencement to a shopping mall parking lot and then a minor league ballpark. It was good to be back!

There was another first to the day, too. A ramp led up to the Venetian Theater’s stage, making John Jay’s commencement accessible to all.


Congratulations Class of 2022

Andrew Smith, the senior selected by his classmates to speak at commencement, brought down the house with his reference to Superintendent Andrew Selesnick’s snow day morning phone calls, ending his comments with Selesnick’s signature sign-off, “Be safe and be well.”

“I am not discouraged by the future because I have had a front row seat to it,” said Principal Steven Siciliano. “When you hear people say that the world is divided and polarized, I hope you’ll hear an opportunity to be a listener and a connecter,” said Superintendent Andrew Selesnick, before declaring the Class of 2022 to be graduates of John Jay High School.

How else could he close Commencement but say to all, “Be safe and be well!”

KAITLYN VARRIALE, VALEDICTORIAN

Throughout our KLSD education, it has been instilled upon us to be the best versions of ourselves. Likewise, as the honorable Ruth Bader Ginsberg inspirationally explained, “I would like to be remembered as someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the best of her ability.”

I hope that we can all be remembered this way, that throughout life, each of us uses whatever talents we have to do our work to the best of our abilities. I know that this is an ambitious goal. For being your best doesn’t come without challenges, and frequently doesn’t even include being the best. Instead, it often requires humility, hard work and the courage to overcome adversity. It can be physically, mentally and emotionally draining, but even more so tremendously uplifting and rewarding.

VICTORIA FENTON, SALUTATORIAN

Our journey through high school was one of spirit, flexibility and fortitude. This class always found a way to overcome our obstacles together. No junior prom? That’s alright, we can do it ourselves. We won’t see most of our classmates for the better part of sophomore and junior year? We’ll just have to make senior year twice as memorable. In my opinion, we certainly did.

It is our continued resilience and optimism that brings me such confidence that we will achieve great things beyond high school, not simply for ourselves and our futures but for the greater good of the world. We are at a critical turning point in our lives where our generation will no longer be observing world problems and demanding someone makes a change: we will be the people to make that change.

ANDREW SMITH, STUDENT SPEAKER

When people ask me what I'm going to miss about high school, of course I'll say I miss my friends and the amazing teachers at John Jay ... but there's one thing that tops it all for me. Nothing, and I mean nothing, topped the feeling of waking up on a cold brisk January morning to the sound of the phone ringing with the gracious, angelic voice of Andrew Selesnick filling the room telling you that school has been cancelled for the day ...

All jokes aside, some of the most genuine and nicest people I've met are sitting behind me. I would say good luck to the Class of 22 but I know they won't need it. This class's ability to adapt and overcome challenges is what made us so special. I conclude with a quote from Mr. Selesnick as he would always say in his morning snow day phone calls, "Be well and be safe."


The photo shows (clockwise): Increase Miller Elementary's fifth graders about to sing "Always" at their Moving Up ceremony. Katonah Elementary's fifth graders singing "You Can Count on Me" at their Moving Up Ceremony. Meadow Pond Elementary's fifth graders enjoying a reception after Moving Up. John Jay Middle School's eighth graders celebrating at a reception following Moving Up. The processional of John Jay High School's Class of 2022. Valedictorian Kaitlyn Varriale and Salutatorian Victoria Fenton.

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Submitted by Katonah, NY

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