December 20, 2024 Newsletter

Dear Patriot Families,

The Yorktown Team wishes you and your family a happy holiday season and a wonderful winter break! We appreciate all of your support and engagement this past year. As we approach the end of the year, I would like to share my gratitude for our supportive, engaged, and caring Yorktown students and families. I’m continually amazed by the incredible work and positive contributions of our students and the families that support them. Yorktown is truly a special place and we appreciate our students and families!

Wishing you a happy, safe, and prosperous new year. See you in 2025!

Enjoy the break!

Dr. Kevin Clark, Principal

In this message:

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

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT YORKTOWN

Cell Phone Policy Reminder

On Dec. 12, the School Board approved Policy J-30 Student Use of Cell Phones and Personal Electronic Devices. In accordance with Virginia Department of Education guidance and Governor Youngkin’s Executive Order, the new policy, effective January 6th, requires student phones and personal devices to be off and away during the entire school day at all grade levels. 

• Students will be allowed to use their phones briefly during lunch in a designated Library space.
• Students who require the use of their phone or device as an accommodation or for a medical need may make requests through their 504 plan, Individualized Education Plan or Individualized Health Care Plan.
• In the event of an emergency, students who can safely access their phones will be able to use them.

 APS Program of Studies Approved

When we return in January, students will start their course selection for the 2025-26 school year. All students will meet with their counselor to review their course plan. Selections will be made electronically. Please review the APS Program of Studies to be informed of course offerings at Yorktown.

COUNSELING CORNER

Academic Planning Night & Electives Fair

Please mark your calendars for Thursday, January 23rd, at 7 PM when we will host Academic Planning Night with information about choosing classes for the 2025-2026 school year.  The event will take place in person in the auditorium, followed by an opportunity to ask questions of department chairs in the atrium.  While some of the presentation is geared toward rising 9th graders, all grade levels are welcome to attend. For rising 10th-12th graders, our course selection procedures will be different this year, as we transition to an online process.  Counselors will meet with students to choose classes, and parents will be able to view these selections in ParentVue in February (more instructions to come later).

On Friday, the 24th, the electives fair will take place for students to review elective options.

Advisory Information

Tuesday, January 7th

• 9th-12th Grades: Regulating Emotions (RULER Lesson)

Thursday, January 9th 

• Academic Check-ins or students may leave with a pass to visit another teacher

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION CORNER

The concept of celebrating the New Year is a universal one, but the timing and customs associated with it vary greatly from culture to culture. While January 1st marks the beginning of the year in many parts of the world, numerous other New Year celebrations provide insight into the rich tapestry of global cultures.

Chinese New Year (January 29, 2025)

Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is celebrated in China and by Chinese communities worldwide. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which follows a fixed date, the Chinese New Year is based on the lunar calendar.  In China, the legal holiday is seven days long. Each year is associated with one of the 12 zodiac animals, rotating in a cycle.  2025 is the Year of the Snake. The festivities include vibrant parades, dragon and lion dances, fireworks, and the giving of red envelopes (hongbao) filled with money, symbolizing good luck and prosperity.

Nowruz – Persian New Year (March 20, 2025)

Nowruz, or “New Day,” is celebrated by Iranians and various other communities in the Middle East, Central Asia, and beyond. It marks the arrival of spring and falls on the vernal equinox.Preparations for Nowruz begin weeks in advance, with families cleaning and decorating their homes. The Haft-Seen table, featuring seven symbolic items that start with the Persian letter ‘S,’ is a central element of the celebrations. People also visit friends and family, exchange gifts, and engage in various festive activities.

Hindu New Year (March 30, 2025)

The Hindu New Year generally falls in March or April. Different regions in India have their own names and customs for this celebration. Maharashtra, a state in western India, celebrates it as “Gudi Padwa,” South India as “Ugadi” or “Puthandu,” and Odisha, an eastern state, as “Maha Vishubha Sankranti.” In Gujarat, on the western coast, the New Year is observed the day after Diwali and is known as “Bestu Varas”.

The Hindu New Year signifies the arrival of spring and is seen as a time of new beginnings, growth, and prosperity. People engage in various rituals, prayers, and festive activities. Cleaning and decorating homes, wearing new clothes, preparing special dishes, and sharing traditional sweets with loved ones are common practices during this time. Many also visit temples to seek blessings for the coming year.

Songkran – Thai New Year (April 13, 2025)

Songkran is an ancient celebration that occurs annually starting on April 13 and can last between 3 to 7 days, depending on the province in Thailand. It is renowned for its water festival, during which people splash water on each other as a symbol of cleansing and purification. Songkran is a time for paying respects to elders, visiting temples, and participating in traditional ceremonies.

In addition to the water festivities, people create sand pagodas at the temple, participate in parades, and enjoy traditional Thai dishes with their families. Songkran embodies the spirit of renewal and unity.

Matariki – Maori New Year (June 20, 2025)

Matariki is celebrated in New Zealand and by the Maori people. The exact date varies from year to year but typically falls in late May or early June. Matariki is marked by the appearance of the Matariki star cluster (also known as the Pleiades) in the predawn sky.

The celebration involves storytelling, traditional dances, and the sharing of Maori myths and legends. It’s a time to acknowledge the connections between people, the land, and the environment. Families often come together for feasts and cultural activities.

Hijri – Islamic New Year (June 27, 2024)

The Islamic New Year, also known as the Hijri New Year, is observed by Muslims worldwide. It marks the beginning of the Islamic lunar calendar year and typically occurs in the first month of the Islamic calendar, Muharram. The exact date varies each year based on the lunar calendar, so it falls on different dates in the Gregorian calendar.

While there are no grand festivities associated with the Islamic New Year, Muslims often visit mosques, read the Quran, and spend time with family and friends. It’s a time to reflect on one’s actions and seek spiritual growth in the coming year.

Enkutatash – Ethiopian New Year (September 11, 2025)

Celebrated on September 11 or 12, Enkutatash marks the end of the rainy season in Ethiopia and the start of a new year on the Ethiopian calendar.  According to Ethiopian tradition, on September 11, the Queen of Sheba (Makeda in Ethiopian) returned to Ethiopia from her visit to King Solomon in Jerusalem. Her followers celebrated her return by giving her jewels. Hence ‘‘Enkutatash’’ means the ‘‘gift of jewels”. The celebration includes family gatherings, traditional songs, and unique foods like doro wat (spicy chicken stew) and injera (a flatbread).

Rosh Hashanah – Jewish New Year (September 22 – 24, 2025)

Rosh Hashanah is a significant event in the Jewish calendar marking the beginning of the High Holy Days in Judaism. During this time, Jewish communities worldwide come together to reflect on the past year, seek forgiveness, and pray for a sweet and prosperous year ahead.

One of the most iconic traditions of Rosh Hashanah is the blowing of the shofar, a ram’s horn trumpet. Families gather for festive meals featuring symbolic foods like apples dipped in honey, symbolizing the wish for a sweet year, and pomegranates, representing the hope for a year filled with good deeds.

ACTIVITIES UPDATES

Club of the Week: Community Impact Club

The YHS Club of the Week is the Community Impact Club.The purpose of the Community Impact Club is simple: to make a positive impact in our community, Arlington and the areas surrounding it. Student members organize and take part in community clean up events to connect with our community and keep it beautiful. The club also collects clothes to upcycle them, brand them with a Yorktown logo, and donate them to local charities. All students are welcome to join and lend a helping hand with the Community Impact Club. See Ms. Akpata for more information.

Winter Sports – Spectator Information

With winter sport competition beginning this week, a schedule of events is available on www.yorktownsports.org. Many gym events are available online at www.nfhs.com Tickets for gym events are available online at www.gofan.co. Discounted student-priced tickets are $5 cash only at the gate.  Backpacks, as well as outside food or drinks, are not permitted.  Students in middle school or below need to be accompanied by their parent/guardian for admission to sporting 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/

Home Events January 6- January 10

Looking Ahead to Spring Sports – February 24

For your planning purposes, spring sports begin on February 24th.  Students can join www.teamapp.com for specific off-season and tryout information for 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 2025 Sports

For planning purposes, Fall sports will begin as early as July 31 with most beginning on August 4. Check Team App or the website for more information.

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 homepage under Quicklinks and contains essential information for senior year. Find answers to your questions about these and more:

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

Baby Photos 

Seniors, please submit your baby photo no later than January 5th. You can upload your photo here: https://forms.gle/iXuhoM7TyLY1n7tY9. No photos will be accepted after this date. Additionally, all senior pose selections for the yearbook are due December 15th. On December 16th the orders are finalized and sent to the yearbook staff to be uploaded in the book. Changes will not be permitted after December 16th. If you would like to verify your pose, you can stop by room 264 (Mr. Olsen’s room) to verify or change your selected pose.

Senior Dues

Senior dues are $80. Senior dues cover the cost of cap and gown, diploma, diploma covers, as well as other senior activities. Senior dues can be paid at https://arlingtonva.schoolcashonline.com/ or by cash, money order, or check (made out to Yorktown High School) and given to Sabrina Ashby in the main office.

Senior Experience

The Senior Experience Application is now open! All required documents can be found on The Senior Experience Canvas page and must be submitted by March 14th!

Cap and Gown Orders

Seniors can now order their cap and gowns. Please stop by the Activities Office to do so. No payment is required at this time. Price is included in the senior dues.

Save the Date 

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

UPCOMING DATES

For more details, refer to the YHS or APS calendar.

• December 23 – January 3 – No school – Winter Break