Hats off to John Jay High School class of 2025

John Jay High School graduates toss their caps at the commencement ceremony June 17. Jim Maclean photo

By JEFF MORRIS

The John Jay High School Class of 2025 was celebrated with the school’s 69th commencement exercise at Caramoor on Tuesday, June 17.

Though the skies were cloudy and the weather cool, there was warmth within the big Venetian Theater tent as the students gathered and were embraced by their families, friends, teachers and administrators.

After a rousing rendition of the national anthem by the combined Notables, Treble Makers, and Vocal Jazz ensemble, JJHS Principal Steven Siciliano welcomed everyone. He began on something of a melancholy note, inviting students and families to “reflect upon anyone who has shaped our graduates’ lives but have passed on and are not able to see this day.” He singled out Brooke D’Aleo as part of the Class of 2025, noting her “courageous battle against cancer since the spring of her freshman year at JJHS and until she passed on June 27 of last year,” and recalling how she lived every day with the expectation she would resume being a student and “one of the girls on the softball team,” even taking her Regents exam from her hospital bed. 

When diplomas were bestowed, the first one went to Brooke, accepted by her younger sister, Paige.

There were performances by the Notables and the Treble Makers, presentation of the Key of Knowledge, speeches by salutatorian Kate Stevens, valedictorian Dakota Cameron, a keynote address by English teacher Jason Mahlke, who spoke about the “Dangers of Certainty” and warned, “you are heading into a world where populist leaders, the expansive reach and influence of AI, and global temperatures are all on the rise,” and a senior class address by Emilia Viders.

Soon it was on to bestowing 229 diplomas, with handshakes from Siciliano and Superintendent Raymond Blanch, and a final tassel flip before the class of 2025 went out into the world.

The Recorder will have full coverage of the John Jay and Fox Lane high school commencements in next week’s issue.