September 13, YHS Newsletter

 Good Afternoon Patriot Families,

This Wednesday, students enjoyed the Club Fair, which showcased student-led clubs available at Yorktown. We encourage students to join clubs and activities that interest them and thank our club leaders for their work to recruit students! Club information can be found on the Club Canvas Page or on the Yorktown website under Activities.

We also had a successful NWEA Map Reading testing on Tuesday for 9th and 10th graders and certain 11th and 12th grade students. Thank you for your flexibility in ensuring this universal screener went well.

Enjoy the weekend!

Dr. Kevin Clark, Principal

In this message: 

• What’s Happening at Yorktown
• Counseling Corner
• Activities Updates
• Senior Updates
• Upcoming Dates
• 2024-25 PTSA Information – PTSA Meeting Monday @7:30
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Corner

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT YORKTOWN

Hall Sweeps

Please remember that students should be arriving at school by 8:10 so that they can make it to their first block by 8:20. The late bell rings at 8:20, and any student arriving to class after the 8:20 bell will be marked tardy and will have to get a pass from the attendance office.

We will continue hall sweeps this week at Yorktown. Hall sweeps promote on-time attendance to class. For the second week of hall sweeps, an announcement will be made to indicate that a hall sweep will occur. Any student in the hallway after the late bell will report to an administrator for a pass. Students will receive a verbal warning for their first hall sweep, but will receive consequences (lunch detention, after school detention, parent meetings, etc.) in the subsequent hall sweeps if repeatedly caught in the sweeps. This will be the last week where hall sweeps will be announced; after this week, they will be unannounced.

Back to School BBQ Today!

There will be a free Back to School BBQ on Friday, September 13 from 5:30-7 pm prior to the varsity football game against Wakefield.  All students are invited to grab some food, listen to music and engage in lawn games before heading to the game.  The event will be in the front of the school near the amphitheater and bus loop.

Do You Need an Interpreter for Back to School Night?

As we prepare for Back to School Night on September 25th at 7 PM, we want to ensure that everyone receives the necessary support. To help us organize interpreter services, please complete our survey form.Complete the survey here: https://forms.gle/4dJkdN6HevWxdi4Q9

COUNSELING CORNER

Suicide Prevention Month

Everyone can play a role in preventing suicide. During National Suicide Prevention Month in September, join the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to raise awareness by sharing resources that can help you recognize the warning signs of suicide and learn how to get help. If you have any concerns about a student, no matter how small, please reach out to the student’s counselor as soon as possible.

Senior Information Night

There will be a virtual Senior Information Night for families of current seniors on Wednesday, September 18th, at 7pm. Counselors will present information about Naviance, the Common App, college applications and post-secondary planning.  Please use this link to Register and join the meeting.

Credit By Exam (CBE)

Does your student speak a language other than English? They may be able to receive high school credits simply by taking an exam. More information, and the link to register for the exam, can be found on the APS World Languages website. Credit by Exam registration is now open! Note: Registration will close on September 27, 2024 at 11:59 PM.

The test will be available in as many languages as are offered by the CBE.  Sometimes the list changes year-to-year. Most testing will be done on election day, November 5, at Wakefield High School, and families must provide their own transportation.  Some languages require one-on-one telephone interviews, and those will happen in November and December at Yorktown.

ACTIVITIES UPDATES

New Ticket Prices for Athletic Events

This year, per APS policy, ticket prices will be $7 for adults, $5 for students ages 6-18 and free for those over 60 and under 6.  This applies to football, field hockey and volleyball games in the fall.  Please consider bringing exact change or purchasing tickets online at www.gofan.co  Exact change at football games will facilitate faster entry.

Yorktown General Athletics Game Attendance Information

We look forward to seeing you at upcoming events.  Please note the following:

• No backpacks or bags are allowed and no outside food or beverages can be brought into any home games.
• Anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol will not be admitted or will be asked to leave the event. Parents will be notified to pick up their child from the event.
• Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for ages 6-18, including APS high school students, at all fall sporting events (volleyball, field hockey and football).  Tickets will be sold online before the game at https://gofan.co/app/school/VA24974 as well as at the gate (exact change is preferred)

Arlington Public Schools Varsity Football Attendance Information

Varsity football games are community events.  For the safety and security of all those in attendance, in addition to the above rules, the following rules are in place:

• Only students from Yorktown and the opposing school are allowed admission without their own parent or guardian present.  IDs or StudentVUE will be checked at the gate.
• Middle-school students (and younger) must be accompanied and supervised by their parent or guardian.
• There will be designated seating areas for Yorktown students, Yorktown band and general spectators.

Home Games this Week

Where to find Athletics Information

Athletic Website – www.yorktownsports.org

Athletic Twitter – @yhssports

Athletic Instagram – @yhssports

Athletic Specific Sport Information – www.teamapp.com

Athletic Registration – https://yorktownhs-ar.rschooltoday.com/

Homecoming is October 4th Weekend!

The Homecoming football game will be October 4th at 7 pm against Centreville with the dance on Saturday night, October 5th.

Homecoming Dance Ticket Information

The Homecoming Dance is on October 5, from 8-11 PM. Tickets for the Homecoming Dance will be available online beginning September 23 at www.gofan.co using your student ID number.  Tickets will also be sold during lunches the week of September 30.  Tickets cost $20 ($22 online including the $2 service fee).  Guests of YHS students will need to complete a guest pass before purchasing.  Guest tickets can be purchased in person or online (after submitting the guest pass form to the Activities office at which time the student will receive a code to purchase online).  All YHS students will need to show their StudentVue or student ID at the entrance to the dance.  Guests will need to produce a form of photo identification which will be matched to the name on the guest pass.

Winter and Spring Sports

For your planning purposes, winter sports (basketball, gymnastics, swim/dive, wrestling, cheerleading, rifle, indoor track and crew winter training) begin on November 11th; which is a school holiday, and spring sports (baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, tennis, outdoor track, crew) begin on February 24th.  Students can join www.teamapp.com for specific off-season and tryout information on winter and spring sports, which will be posted as it becomes available.  Please make sure to register on the new athletic registration site before attending any off-season activities or tryouts (see information above).

Girls Flag Football Intramurals

Yorktown will be offering girls flag football as an intramural sports from October 28-November 26.  This is the inaugural season and all are welcome.  There will be an interest meeting on October 8 with more details to follow.  We plan to offer both a competitive division and an open division if interest dictates.

SENIOR UPDATES

Be sure to bookmark the Seniors website which is linked on the Yorktown HS home page under Quicklinks and loaded with information for senior year. Find answers to your questions about these and more:

• Announcements and Rings
• Caps & Gowns
• Class Dues
• Graduation
• Graduation After-Party
• Off Campus Lunch Privilege
• Prom
• Senior Experience
• Senior Portraits
• Yearbooks

Senior Portraits

Appointments will be available for Senior Portrait retakes at school October 1, 2, and 4. Please visit https://prestigeportraits.com/ to schedule your makeup session today. After the final Senior Makeup session on-site, Seniors may then schedule an appointment at one of the Studio locations in Hanover or Rockville.

Save the Date

Class of 2025 Graduation – 7 p.m., Wednesday, June 4, at DAR Constitution Hall.

UPCOMING DATES

See YHS Calendar or the APS Calendar for more information:

• September 13 – Back to School BBQ – Bus loop
• October 3 – No School – Rosh Hashanah
• October 11 and 14 – No School for Students

2024-25 PTSA INFORMATION

PSTA Meeting this Monday, September 9th, 2024 7:30

Please see the information for Monday’s PTSA meeting at 7:30 pm. Zoom link:  https://zoom.us/j/91526779465?pwd=O8Sa9qZp2wPQccxczIqOdPdyugO8bT.1

• Sign up for weekly PTSA newsletters and join the PTSA – note that you need to sign up for the newsletter separately from joining the PTSA.
• The PTSA needs volunteers to support the Back to School Barbecue on September 13 before the first home football game. Sign up here to help.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION CORNER

Join the Yorktown Equity Team!

We need YOU on the Yorktown Equity Team!  The Equity Team is made up of students, staff, and families.  It works to actively identify bias, inequity, and discrimination at Yorktown.  Once identified, the Equity Team advocates for changes, and engages in anti-bias and anti-racist practices to ensure that each member of our school community feels valued, respected, and empowered.

Join the team at www.tinyurl.com/yhs-equityteam.  Meetings will take place on the first Tuesday of each month.  The first meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 1st at 3:30 – 4:30pm in Ms. Patrick’s room (223). (Subsequent meetings will be held on Nov. 12, Dec. 3, Jan. 7, Feb. 4, Mar. 4, Apr. 1, May 6 and Jun. 3).  Please contact Ms. Patrick with any questions (ackesha.patrick@apsva.us).