August 23, 2024 Weekly Newsletter

Good Afternoon Patriot Families,

The Yorktown Teachers and Staff have been working hard this week to prepare for the first day of school Monday! We can’t wait to welcome new Patriots and welcome back our returning students. Monday, all students will arrive at school at 8:10 and report to their Patriot Period Advisors by 8:20. The late bell rings at 8:20, so please ensure students are in class by then. Thanks for your support for a great school year!

Reminder to please check Student Vue for the schedule Sunday night and Monday morning as some changes are still being made to classrooms and teachers. See you Monday!

Let’s go Patriots!

Dr. Kevin Clark, Principal

In this message:

• What’s Happening at Yorktown
• Counseling Corner
• Activities Updates
• Senior Updates
• Technology Corner
• Upcoming Dates
• 2024-25 PTA Information

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT YORKTOWN

Welcome from Yorktown Faculty and Staff!

APS Student Handbook

Please take a moment to review the APS Student Handbook with your child. Thank you for helping us start the school year on a positive note!

Drop-Off/ Pick-Up Reminders

The roads and parking lots are very busy around Yorktown High School, especially during the morning arrival and afternoon departure times. Please be sure that you are aware of the entrances and exits for student Drop-Off or Pick-Up. Student Drop off is off on 28th St. No cars are allowed in the Bus Loop on Yorktown Blvd between 7:30-8:30 and 2:30-3:30 due to bus arrivals and departures. Do not drop off students on Yorktown Blvd as this causes congestion. Please ensure students cross streets at crosswalks. Let’s work together to ensure safe arrivals and departures from school.

Please see the visual map below for assistance. If you need to park on campus for any reason, stop by the main office to pick up a Visitor Parking Pass to park in the staff lot. Also, please note the Arlington County School Zone Speed Camera information.

Attendance Updates

We encourage parents to report full-day absences via the ParentVUE website or ParentVUE mobile app. The attendance reporting feature appears as a blue button titled “Report Absence” on the ParentVUE main page.  The ParentVUE- Report Absences link will show you step-by-step how to report full-day absences in this manner.  If you have questions regarding your ParentVUE account, see the ParentVUE website.

If you are unable to submit an absence via ParentVue or your child is checking in late or leaving early, you can send in a note with your student, leave a voicemail or email one of our Attendance Administrative Assistants:

Ms. Campana – 703-228-5411  Constance.Campana@apsva.us

Ms. Perez – 703-228-5410  Anai.Perez@apsva.us

Please review the APS Attendance Policy J-5.1.30 Attendance that defines excused absences:

Students learn best when they attend school regularly. Each parent/guardian or person having control or charge of a child within the compulsory attendance age is responsible for such child’s regular and punctual attendance at school as required under provisions of the law. All students must attend all regularly scheduled classes unless excused in writing by a parent/guardian or verified by a school official. Schools shall monitor and record the absences of all students.Excused AbsencesThe following are considered excused absences:

• llness (to include mental health), quarantine of student, doctor, therapy, or dentist appointment; 

• Injury; 

• Funeral; 

• Observance of a religious holiday; 

• Summons to a court of law or other legal obligation; 

• Medical procedures; 

• Military obligations; 

• Violent storms or state emergencies; 

• Suspensions; 

• Severe family emergency;

• Middle and high school students for one school day for the purpose of engaging in a civic event(advanced notice from parent required)

• High School Seniors, with prior approval from the principal or designee, for the purpose of college admission visitations, or to apply for post-graduation jobs; and

• All others approved in advance by principal or designee.

APS Enacts New Student Personal Electronic Device Rules for 2024-25

As notified by APS this week, new rules for student personal electronic device use are provided in Policy Implementation Procedure M-12 PIP-11 Student Use of Personal Electronic Devices. As mentioned by APS in their message found here, and as we have emphasized, this is to help students be their best learners, and avoid distractions and harmful impacts of the use of phones and social media.  We also support any parents and students who chose not to bring a phone to school. We have a phone in the main office and are happy to deliver any messages from a family member to a student.

For high school students, phones must be off and away during instructional periods. Smart watches and other wearable devices may be worn, but features equivalent to those on a smartphone, including texting and phone calls, are to be off when cell phone use is prohibited.

Visit the APS website for more information, including:

1. Expectations by Grade Level
2. Full Copy of the New Guidelines
3. Frequently Asked Questions
4. Policy J-30 Available for Public Comment

September 10: NWEA MAP Testing (Delayed start for 11th and 12th graders)

This year, all 9th and 10th grade students as well as a select few 11th and 12th graders will take the NWEA MAP Reading Assessment. This is to ensure students are able to put forth their best effort, to ensure sufficient time, and to minimize disruptions. The results of this assessment help identify students who need additional support and inform reading interventions.  On Tuesday, September 10th, testing will begin at 8:20 am and classes will begin at 11:20 am.  The details of this delayed-start schedule are forthcoming.

COUNSELING CORNER

Student Schedule Update

Please continue to check student schedules for any changes as we update room numbers and course/teacher changes.  Any changes we make are in the best interest of students so that we get the most students possible the courses they wish to take.  This can include adding additional sections, which may change which period or teacher your student has.

If your student identifies an error on their schedule, or would like to request a change, please use this change request form.  Changes to address errors or conflicts will be prioritized over preference changes, and some preference changes may not be possible.  Please note that we do not allow changes based on teacher or period preferences. Counselor assignments can be seen in StudentVue on the Course Request tab.  Some counselor assignments have changed since last year due to staff changes.  Class preference changes (ex. wanting a different elective) must be made no later than the end of the second week of school, September 6th.  Dropping a level of a course (ex. Intensified to regular) must happen by the end of the 6th week, October 4th.  Counselors will be available in the atrium during the optional open house for new students on August 22nd from 10-11:30am.

ACTIVITIES UPDATES

Student Activities Fairs

There will be two Activities Fairs for students to familiarize themselves with the clubs and activities available at Yorktown.  New students and their families will have the opportunity to attend an Activities Fair as part of the August 21 New Student Orientation. The other activities fair will be held during lunches on Wednesday, September 11.

Back to School BBQ

There will be a free Back to School BBQ on Friday, September 13 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.

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.

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/

Fall Athletics Update

Most fall sports are underway and started August 5.  However, students who are interested in participating can still join cross country or ultimate frisbee.  Cross country will accept new students as late as August 29 and meets daily (M-F) at 3:30 pm. Ultimate frisbee begins on September 3 with boys practice at 4:15 pm and girls practice at 5:45 pm – no physical registration is required to participate and all are welcome.  In order to try out or participate in any sport, with the exception of ultimate frisbee and after-school weight lifting, students must register online prior to attending.  The registration process includes uploading a VHSL doctor’s physical page. Hard copies of physical forms are no longer accepted as all registration is done online.  If you have an 8th-grade student who wishes to register, please email Maryann.Mahan@apsva.us first with the student ID number so the student can be entered into the system, allowing you to register them.

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).

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.

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 1-4. After the final Senior Makeup session on-site, Seniors may then schedule an appointment at one of the Studio locations in Hanover or Rockville.

Off-Campus Lunch Permission

Per Arlington School Board policy, seniors who obtain an Off-Campus Lunch Pass may leave the school grounds during their lunch period. Please complete the application for off-campus lunch privileges with your parent/guardian. Valid Lunch Pass with student name, and ID# must be on their person when students are exiting and returning to the building. Passes will be distributed to students from Dean of Students, Ms. Irwin during lunch the week of September 3-6, 2024. Off-campus lunch privileges will begin on Wednesday, September 4th for those who provide the application and pick up their pass. Students without a lunch pass will not be allowed off campus for lunch.

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:

• August 26 – First Day of School K-12
• August 30 & Sept 2 – Holiday – Labor Day
• September 13 – Back to School BBQ – Bus loop

2024-25 PTSA INFORMATION

Below, see ways to connect with the Yorktown PTA this school year:

• The PTSA invites all families to subscribe to our email list to receive weekly PTSA updates and occasional email communications regarding important YHS/PTA/APS activities, events, and resources. PTSA membership is not required to receive the newsletter. Please share with families you know through social media, neighborhood listservs, etc.
• Visit the PTSA’s website for news, info, and resources for parents/guardians and families.

All are welcome and valued; all ideas, thoughts, and concerns are important; and together, we’ll do our best to support our kids and our YHS community!  Questions can be directed to Maurine Fanguy and Janet Pence at president@yhspta.org.