August 28 2025 Newsletter

Dear Yorktown Parents and Guardians,

We had a great first week of school! Thanks for your support and engagement. We hope students are enjoying their classes and new teachers. Next week, we will be launching the YONDR Pouch initiative to promote student well-being and focus on learning. If you would like to learn more, please join us for our Information Session on September 3rd at 6:30 pm in the cafeteria (more information below).

I also want to highlight a few key events, the Student Activities Fair during lunches on September 10th, and our Back to School Barbeque on September 19th before our home football game. Hope your Patriots can join and find ways to connect with the school!

Important Message Regarding Schedule Changes

Parents and guardians, we are asking for your patience as counselors work diligently to try to accommodate the many schedule change requests they have received.  Please help us by considering the following and by sharing this with your students:

• Staffing and course offerings are based on what students selected in the Spring, so changes are not always possible
• Students requesting a change, should complete the change request form one time only, and then please be patient
• Filling out the form does not guarantee that the change is possible
• While we completely understand everyone is eager to have their schedule updated, sending follow up emails, and students stopping by the counseling office to get an update takes the counselors’ time away from making the changes
• Changes are made in the order in which they are received, with priority given to necessary graduation requirements for 12th graders, and students who do not have a complete schedule

Wishing you a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

Dr. Kevin Clark, Principal

In this message:

• What’s Happening at Yorktown
• Counseling Corner
• Activities Updates
• Senior Updates
• Technology Corner
• Upcoming Dates
• 2025-26 PTA Information

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT YORKTOWN

YONDR Parent Information Session September 3rd, 6:30 

Thank you for your support of a phone-free Yorktown! Please join us for a Yondr information session in the Yorktown Cafeteria where we will discuss the policy, logistics, and implementation of our new Yondr pouches. Please see this letter that was sent to the community last week for more information. As mentioned, we will be distributing Yondr Pouches to students on September 4th. We look forward to seeing you to share more information about this new evidence-based district policy.

Picture Days Grades 9-11 – September 17 &18

Save the date! Fall pictures for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors will be on September 17th and 18th. More details including specific picture days will be available soon.

Advisory Updates & Logistics

• Advisory will occur 5 days a week. Students will report to their scheduled Patriot Period class on Tuesdays. Students will have a choice of where to report to on M, W, Th, and F, but must be in a classroom.
• More information is on the Infographic linked here.

Late Bus Service 

Students who participate in after-school activities will have access to late bus transportation beginning Tuesday, September 2, 2025. The late bus service is designed to ensure safe and reliable transportation home after activities. There is a 4:45 pm bus and a 6:45 bus. Please remind your student to confirm their bus route and stop in advance.

ROCS Revamp: What’s New in the 25-26 SY?

Respecting Others, Community, and Self

• Staff can nominate students that exemplify behaviors that show respect and responsibility! ROCS Awards monthly celebrations will be held in cafeteria with community outreach activity, certificates, Patriot Period ticket, and a small snack.
• ROCStar tickets are new! Staff can hand out tickets to students that are “caught” demonstrating positive and helpful behavior that contributes to our school community. Students that receive a ROCStar ticket can place their ticket in a dropbox outside of Dean Irwin’s office (191). Every Friday, a drawing will take place and one lucky student will receive a prize of their choice! (gift cards, spirit wear, free fitness classes, etc.)
• There will be a monthly invite-only event during Patriot Period for ROCS award recipients & students with at least one ROCStar ticket
• The Our Class ROCS award is new and will be given out quarterly! Teachers can nominate class periods that exemplify the values of ROCS. The winning class is surprised with a banner, treat, and YHS computer sticker.
• The Awesome Attendance Award is new and will be given out quarterly! Dean Irwin will recognize students who have less than 1 full day absence, 3 period absences, and 3 tardies each quarter. Students will receive a certificate and a small prize!

COUNSELING CORNER

Senior Night Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 7

Senior Night for parents/guardians of current 12th graders will be Thursday, September 18, 2025 from 7-8pm.  This will be a virtual event and counselors will present information about School Links (our new college and career platform), the Common App, college applications and other paths for post-secondary planning.  Please use this link to join the virtual event.

New Counseling Intern

Please welcome Christion Pinkney, a graduate student from the University of Southern California (online) who is studying to be a school counselor.  He also works for Sheltercare through the Alexandria Juvenile Detention Center.

ACTIVITIES UPDATES

Student Activities Fair

Our recent Activities Fair which was part of the New Student Orientation on Wednesday was a huge success! We will hold an additional Activities Fair for all students during lunches on Wednesday, September 10.

Theatre Arts – Auditions for the Fall Play:

YHS’ Theatre Arts Department is holding auditions for our Fall Play September 2 and 3 from 3:30-6:00 pm (with callbacks taking play September 4 and 5). You can find information at our website – www.yhstheatre.org, including how to sign up for your audition slot.

What’s the play? Well, this play has a massive plot twist at the very end that we are trying extremely hard to keep the audience from finding out before the performances. As such, we have not published the name of this show (NO SPOILERS!!)

However, here is a brief synopsis of the play: An incomprehensible event: every person in the audience of a high school play falls unconscious—every person but one. Using interviews with witnesses, loved ones, first responders, and the investigators pursuing the case, a theatre ensemble brings the story of the strange event to life, documentary-style. But as the strands weave together into an increasingly dangerous web, it becomes clear that this phenomenon might not be entirely in the past. Unnerving, exhilarating, and wildly inventive, you’ve never walked into anything quite like it.

Upcoming Home Events

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/

Ultimate Frisbee Begins Tuesday, September 2

Ultimate Frisbee begins on September 2 and all 9th-12th grade students are welcome.  Boys will begin at 4 pm on the baseball field while girls will meet the same day at 5:15 pm on the baseball field.  Ultimate practices two days a week and plays an 8 game schedule.  No experience necessary.

Interested students must register but do not need a current VHSL physical.  Please complete the registration process and upload a blank sheet of paper when it requests a VHSL physical.  Also, please join Stack Team App under YHS – (boys or girls) ultimate  (boys at 4 pm on the  and girls flag football on October 6.

Girls Flag Football Begins October 6

Yorktown will once again offer girls flag football, welcoming those students who want to play at the intramural level and the more competitive level.  The group will host internal games as well as play in some local interscholastic tournaments. More information about an interest meeting will be shared in the coming weeks.

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).  Playoff games are $10 for adults and $5 for ages 6-18.  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.

Homecoming is October 10th Weekend!

The Homecoming football game will be October 10th at 7 pm against West Springfield with the dance on Saturday night, October 11th.  Please note Monday, October 13, is not a school day for students.

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.

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. Senior Parents and students must complete this form to provide permission for their senior to leave campus for lunch.

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 2-5, 2025. Off-campus lunch privileges will begin on Wednesday, September 3rd for those who provide the application and pick up their pass. Students without a lunch pass will not be allowed off campus for lunch.  Please see expectations below:

1. Seniors will return to campus early enough to ensure that they are not tardy to their next scheduled class.
2. Proper conduct and respect for private property, both in the immediate school neighborhood and the adjacent community, are necessary.
3. Seniors may not take underclass students off campus at lunchtime.
4. Seniors may not bring back food for non-12th grade students.

Failure to observe the above Code of Conduct may result in the revocation of this Senior privilege.

Senior Portraits

Senior Portrait makeups will take place at school October 22-23. Please visit schedule.prestigeportraits.com. To locate your appointment code, enter Yorktown High School’s zip code (22207) and enter “Yorktown.” After you verify student details, you will be able to confirm your appointment. If you have any questions, please contact Lifetouch Prestige customer service (855-918-2930) or email [email protected].

Save the Date 

Class of 2026 Graduation – Wednesday, June 10, 3:00 pm at DAR Constitution Hall.

UPCOMING DATES

See YHS Calendar or the APS Calendar for more information:

• August 29 & Sept 1 – Holiday – Labor Day
• Tuesday, September 23, 2025 – Holiday – Rosh Hashanah