December 1, 2023 Newsletter

Dear Yorktown Families,

I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving break and had a good week back. I am grateful for this amazing Yorktown community. This week, we launched our winter sports seasons and also hosted a wonderful Choir Pyramid Concert. More music concerts are upcoming in the next several weeks (information below). We continue emphasizing Respect for Others, the Community and Self and promoting positive contributions to the community. Thanks for all of your support!

A reminder that next Wednesday, December 6th there is an early release day with dismissal at 1:00 pm. Have a lovely weekend.

Dr. Kevin Clark, Principal

In this message:

• What’s Happening at Yorktown
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
• Activities Updates
• Senior Updates
• Technology Corner
• Upcoming Dates

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT YORKTOWN

Yorktown Teacher and Support Staff of the Year Announced!

Congratulations to Yorktown’s Teacher of the Year Kim Graver, and Support Staff of the Year Dani Jones! Thanks for everything you do!

High School Information Night (for Prospective Families) Tuesday

For any families with rising 9th graders, please consider attending our Yorktown Information Night this Tuesday, December 5th at 7:00 in the auditorium. We will be highlighting our Yorktown Academic Program, AP Capstone, student support, athletics, and student activities.

This Week’s Advisory Plan

This month, students are being introduced to the self-management CASEL competency during advisory lessons. Self-management is the ability to manage one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively in different situations and to achieve goals and aspirations. This ability includes the capacities to delay gratification, manage stress, and feel motivation and agency to accomplish personal and collective goals. Learn more about self-management at home by watching this video and read more about the importance of it in this article.Students will participate in the following activities next week.

• Tuesday (12/5):
  • Grade 9: “Welcome to High School” lesson developed by our College & Career Counselor
  • Grades 10-12: News Media and Literacy lessons

Science and Social Studies Program Evaluation Survey

As part of the data collection for the Science and Social Studies program evaluations, all students in grades 3-12 have the opportunity to complete a brief survey to share their feedback about science and social studies instruction. The survey window opens 12/8, and third period teachers at YHS will choose a day during the window (12/8-12/20) that works for them to have students respond. The survey is supposed to take about 15 minutes to complete. No individual responses will be shared, and all data will be aggregated when reported. If you have any questions, please contact Alie Bakaj (alesandra.bakaj@apsva.us)

Hands to Hearts CPR Training – Dec. 11 and 12

All 9th and 10th grade students will receive CPR training on Dec. 11 and 12 during their PE, Driver’s Ed or health classes.  Yorktown is partnering with Virginia Hospital Center and Arlington Fire Department to ensure all students are ready to recognize a cardiac arrest, request help, and initiate hands-only CPR.  This will be a refresher for most students, as all students receive more thorough instruction on CPR during their health classes.

Upcoming Winter Music Concerts

Come enjoy the sounds of the season with our Yorktown Music Department!

• Band & Orchestra – Thursday, December 14th @ 7pm
• Choir – Monday, December 18th @ 7pm

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

At Yorktown, we strive to create a community that supports all dimensions of human differences, including culture, race, language, ability, learning styles, ethnicity, family structure, religion, sexual orientation, gender, age, and socioeconomic differences.  Unfortunately, divisive misinformation about these differences spreads quickly, particularly on social media.  We encourage students to seek out a trusted adult to process their thoughts and feelings surrounding these and other issues.  Students may schedule individual or group time with our DEI Coordinator to discuss matters of concern or ideas for school improvement.

ACTIVITIES UPDATES

Reminders for Home Athletic Events

With the start of winter athletic events, below are a few informational items:

• Tickets for basketball games are $5 for all spectators ages 6-59 and can be purchased at the gate or online at www.gofan.co
• Backpacks and outside beverages are not allowed in the gym.
• High school age students must show a student ID or StudentVue indicating they attend a participating school.
• Students younger than high school age must be accompanied by their parent/guardian.
• Home athletic events in the gym will be live streamed on the NFHS network (subscription required).
• The most up-to-date athletic schedule can be found at www.yorktownsports.org

Home Games This Week

YHS Club of the Week: Board Games Club

The YHS Club of the week is the Board Games Club. This club is a place for students to meet people who share similar interests, to play tabletop board games, and to have fun after school. It is a good place to alleviate stress and allow students an opportunity to make new friends in a welcoming environment. See Ms. Davis for more information.

Where to find Athletics Information

Athletic Website – www.yorktownsports.org

Athletic Twitter/X – @yhssports

Athletic Instagram – @yhssports

Athletic Specific Sport Information – www.teamapp.com

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

Looking Ahead – Spring Sports

Spring sports (baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, tennis, outdoor track, crew) begin on February 19th.  Parents must complete the online Registration and upload their child’s physical form by February 14th.

Please note that  tryouts and practices will be held on school holidays such as Presidents’ Day (February 19th).  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).

Looking Way Ahead – Fall 2024 Sports

For planning purposes, most fall sports will begin no earlier than August 5, 2024, with the exception of golf and cheer which might begin as early as August 1. As in years past, dance tryouts will take place in May, cross country will start mid-August, and ultimate frisbee will start approximately two weeks after school begins.

Some of these dates are estimated but they will not move any earlier. Please note, playing a high school fall sport requires a commitment to be present for the duration of tryouts and daily practices thereafter. Families are advised that vacations planned after the start of fall sports will not be considered favorably during the tryout process because there is limited practice time to build a team prior to the start of scrimmages and games in mid to late August.

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.

Senior Dues Discount Reminder

Have you paid your Senior Class dues? Dues are $85 and covers the cost of graduation related expenses. If paid prior to Winter Break, dues are discounted to $80. Scholarships are available for any student to whom payment of dues would present a hardship. To request a scholarship, please contact the Yorktown Finance Officer, Ms. Ashby, by email or phone at 703-228-5407. Dues may be paid by cash, check, money order, or electronic payment (a small convenience fee applies).

TECHNOLOGY CORNER

A big thank you to all students for their cooperation during this week’s computer reimaging! If any 10th or 11th-grade students missed this week’s reimaging, please be sure they see Mr. Wilson in 235 during their lunch. Student computer Tech help will resume its normal hours during all lunch periods in 235.

UPCOMING DATES

See YHS Calendar for more information

• December 6 – Early Release (1:00pm) – Professional Learning
• December 21-Jan 1 – Winter Break – No School, schools and offices closed