North Shore High School Valedictorian and Salutatorian Announcement

The North Shore School District is very proud to announce the names of the two members of the Viking Class of 2021 who have been named this year’s Valedictorian and Salutatorian. Each of these students has devoted many long hours and an enormous amount of dedication and hard work to their studies at North Shore to receive this high recognition. The valedictorian of the graduating class is the student with the highest weighted grade point average, while the salutatorian of the class of 2021 has received the second-highest weighted grade point average.

Congratulations to Sophie Blumenthal, the Valedictorian of the North Shore School District. Sophie began her North Shore roots as a student at Sea Cliff School. Sophie has challenged herself by enrolling in the most academically rigorous IB courses offered in each discipline and is an IB Diploma Candidate. In her time at North Shore High School, she has registered for 18 IB/AP courses including IB Physics HL, IB English Language, IB French HL, IB Math, IB WATCH, and AP Calculus BC. For the third consecutive year, Sophie has been the President of the North Shore Gender Equity Club where she passionately developed goals and a platform on equity, diversity and human rights. Sophie is a member of the National Honor Society and was recently recognized as a Commended Student in the 2021 National Merit ® Scholarship Program. During her time at North Shore High School, she has thrived in the arts as a member of the Concert Chorale. Additionally, Sophie is a talented member of Madrigals, Elektra, Masquers, and founder of Move the Future Organization

Congratulations to Kate Weseley-Jones, the Salutatorian of the North Shore School District. Kate was also an elementary student at Sea Cliff School. At North Shore High School, she has been taking an array of rigorous courses including 15 IB/AP courses including IB Physics HL, IB English Language, IB Spanish HL, IB Math, IB HOTA, IB WATCH, and AP Calculus BC. Kate has a deep appreciation for the arts and music. Kate is President of the Art Portfolio Club and plays cello in the Select Chamber Orchestra. She is also the pianist in the audition-only Jazz Band. Math has been a constant source of inspiration for Kate, who is Co-President of the Mathletes competition team. She was recently recognized as a Commended Student in the 2021 National Merit ® Scholarship Program and is a member of the National Honor Society. Additionally, Kate has been actively involved in Science Research and has an article in press at the peer-reviewed Society of Animals Journal. She has also published on the website Faunalytics and in the Whitman Journal of Psychology and is a two-time Finalist in the national Stemanities research competition.

North Shore High School Principal Eric Contreras said, “It has been a pleasure getting to know Sophie and Kate. They have both impressed me with their hard work and dedication to our school. The Valedictorian and Salutatorian carry a very special distinction for the school and the student body. I could not think of two more deserving students to carry the message, voice, and aspirations of the class of 2021. I look forward to hearing more about their superb accomplishments over the course of this school year.”  
Director of Counseling Dan Doherty stated, "Sophie and Kate embody everything the North Shore district values in a student. We are so proud of their achievements and look forward to hearing of their future accomplishments.”

“Sophie and Kate are Renaissance Women,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Peter Giarrizzo. They have taken advantage of all North Shore has to offer and have excelled in the realms of academics, the arts, and in extra-curriculars. They will leave North Shore High School in a better place than they found it. I am profoundly grateful to both of them and am confident that we will continue to hear of their many future successes.”  
Please join us in congratulating both Sophie and Kate for their hard work at the North Shore Schools. The Class of 2021 is an enormously talented one and we are just so proud of them all. 

We wish them both the best of luck now and in their future endeavors.

Article and photos by Shelly Newman