top left, clockwise: Increase Miller Elementary's orchestra rehearses for the winter concert. Meadow Pond Elementary mom Dr. Jeanmarie Sandford shares the book she illustrated with the second grade. Katonah Elementary celebrates the books purchased to donate to local families during the holiday season. John Jay High School's robotics team The MOB takes top honors at regional qualifier for States. John Jay Middle School celebrates spirit week in winter holiday style. John Jay High School students relax and enjoy the PTO-sponsored Winter Wonderland.

Orchestra students are holding cutlery, not bows, in Faith Willett’s orchestra classroom. What’s going on? The fifth graders are celebrating their completion of the 12 Days of Practice with a special reward—lunch with the orchestra teacher!

The students seem delighted by the treat. They munch tacos and cheese sticks in the calm space lit by twinkle lights and enjoy quiet conversation with their teacher.

The 12 Days of Practice is one of several innovative ways that Katonah-Lewisboro’s elementary orchestra and band teachers are encouraging good practice habits. “Regular practice is the key to building individual skills,” said Willett. “When students are prepared, it allows the whole orchestra to make the most of our rehearsal time.” MORE

Maddie knows what dogs like - treats and tennis balls (to play fetch with!) - because her family includes Wilbur von Smooch, a Boston terrier, and Sugar Ray Frank, a German shepherd. She plans on purchasing some items like these with her mom to donate to the SPCA of Westchester, to help the organization care for dogs who are waiting for a home.

The sixth grader found out about this way to help animals through John Jay Middle School’s Animal Care Club. She and other members of the afterschool club, advised by teacher Jane Williams, are decorating collection boxes for the school's reception area, so others can help animals, too.

This is only one way that Katonah-Lewisboro’s schools, students, staff and parents care for others, particularly during November and December. The mosaic of support includes gift cards for essentials for local families in need, toys for critically ill children, winter coats for Lakota people in North Dakota, and baby clothes for children of incarcerated women at Bedford Correctional Facility. MORE

The aroma of Saturday morning wafted out of room N205. Round the corner to find out why, and enter the Sweet Times Café!

The pop-up café, hosted by Maria Mellon’s Life Skills class, is a super fun and multi-faced opportunity for her students to flex their interpersonal skills and their job skills. “Each of our students takes classes at BOCES Career and Technical Center,” said Mellon. “This is one way we put what they are learning into action.”

The café was open for a private event—Charles Morales-Thompson’s class came for breakfast during second period. MORE

John Jay High School is planning a shift in scheduling for September 2025 designed to allow more time for learning and make school more manageable for students. The school is moving to block scheduling, with four 82-minute blocks each day and a 60-minute common lunch. MORE

QUICK LINKS: Athletic Calendar | Lunch Menus | District Calendar | Board of Education | Capital Project | Local Live - stream athletic events | KLSD App

SCHOOLS: John Jay High School | John Jay Middle School | Increase Miller Elementary School | Katonah Elementary School | Meadow Pond Elementary School | Katonah-Lewisboro School District