Friday January 19, 2024 Weekly Newsletter

Dear Yorktown Families,

We hope you enjoyed the extended weekend and snow days! Next week is the last week of the semester. Students should take advantage of the week to make up work, retake assessments, or connect with teachers. During Patriot Period, students will be required to report to their advisor, but can request a pass from a teacher. Monday, January 29th is a grade preparation day and there is no school for students.

Have a great weekend!

Dr. Kevin Clark, Principal

In this message:

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

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT YORKTOWN

2024-25 Course Request Starting In January

On January 23rd, students will receive Course Request Forms with options for courses for next school year. For more course information, please visit the APS Program of Studies. We will also have the following information sessions available for students and families:

• CRFs distributed and information shared with students (Patriot Period, January 23rd)
• Academic Planning Night Presentation linked on our website
• Electives Fair for Students (Thursday, January 25th)
• AP Information Sessions – current students will share course info with prospective students (during Patriot Periods on 1/24, and 1/26) Click Here to see a flier with specific details
• Academic Planning Coffee and Conversation- Thursday, January 25 @ 8:45am in the cafeteria – families are invited to join instructional resource staff for a Q&A session with the Instructional Resource staff and member(s) of the counseling team.

Next Week’s Advisory Plan

This month, students are being introduced to the responsible decision making CASEL competency. We are all faced with making decisions on a daily basis. As we get older those decisions can become more complex. Supporting our children in developing decision-making skills can equip them with the skills and tools they need when faced with choices on their own. Read this article and this video to learn more ways to help children develop healthy decision-making habits.Students will participate in the following grade level activities next week:

• Study Week! All students report to Patriot Period Advisors daily, and can get a pass from a teacher except on Tuesday when they will receive CRFs.
• Tuesday 1/23:
  • 9th-11th grades- Students will watch videos (available on our website) provided by the counseling department to walk them through the course selection process and explain how to create their course planners in Naviance
  • 12th grade- Personal Finance Highlights video
• Thursday 1/25: Academic check-ins

Semester Exam Schedule & Patriot Period

A semester exam is optional in any full year course. Teachers administering semester exams must follow the following exam schedule:

• Monday, January 22                      2&6
• Tuesday, January 23                             1&7
• Wednesday, January 24                     3&4
• Thursday, January 25                         3&5
• Friday, January 26                               Make-ups

During this week, all students will report to their Patriot Period Advisory Teacher’s class the same as a Thursday. Students can request a pass to meet with teachers, except on Tuesday.

Upcoming Surveys January & February

VA School Survey of Working Conditions

On January 30th during Patriot Period students will be conducting the Virginia School Survey of Climate and Working Conditions. We will survey students in grades 9, 10, 11 and 12 (during advisory), as well as classroom instructors and staff. The purpose of the student survey is to measure student support, student engagement, school discipline, and safety conditions in each school. This information will be used to guide educational practices that produce a safe and supportive school environment. You may preview the questions asked in the student survey at this website: https://tinyurl.com/VaSchoolSurvey

Your Voice Matters – February

This is just to keep you informed that in February, we will be administering the Your Voice Matters Survey to all staff, students and parents. This survey is administered every two years and informs plans and progress on school goals.

Yorktown Science Fair

Yorktown’s annual science fair will be held on Saturday, January 27th from 9 am until about noon.  While the fair is not open to the public (so that students and judges may interact without distraction) there will be a public viewing time on Friday, January 26th  from 4-6 pm, right after the students set up their presentation boards.  We invite you to come and see the projects our students have been working on.

COUNSELING CORNER

Please see this flier for an overview of upcoming important dates and tips about academic planning and course selection from the counseling department.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

 Community Information Night—Leading Safe, Inclusive Learning Environments

APS will host an event Mon, Jan. 22, at 7 p.m. at Wakefield High School to educate our families and the broader community about how we work to provide positive, safe school climates. We will also discuss current procedures for preventing and addressing bullying, harassment or discrimination. During this event, we will highlight some of the different challenges faced, proactive measures being taken and opportunities to improve and strengthen our efforts.

This is the first of a variety of opportunities for families to learn more and engage with APS leaders on these important topics. Learn more and register.

APS Cultural Night

The Career Center is hosting a county-wide Cultural Night on January 26, 2024, from 6:00-9:00 pm at Wakefield High School!  Join the festivities and partake in food from various cultures, dancing, and more!  Please sign up here to volunteer to make this event a success.  Interested in a booth to showcase your country, culture, or ethnicity’s traditions through storytelling, food, dance, cultural dress, arts, etc.?  Sign up here!

ACTIVITIES UPDATES

Reminders for Home Athletic Events

With winter athletic events well underway, 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

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, freshman football will begin on August 12, 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.

Graduation Cap & Gown Order Deadline

Many seniors have not yet ordered their caps and gowns for graduation. If this is you, stop by the Activities Office to complete the order form by Friday, January 26. There is no fee to order.

Yearbook Deadline for Senior Baby Pics and Quotes

Baby photos and senior quotes are due by January 31st. We are missing a significant amount of seniors and don’t want them to miss out on having their photo and quote in the yearbook!  Complete the form to submit your entries: https://forms.gle/urUwyQNFEtXgqmhj6

TECHNOLOGY CORNER

Parent’s Ultimate Guide to Instagram and Snapchat

Ever wonder about the apps your student is using? Is Snapchat safe for kids? Is Instagram safe? How do they work? And what’s with Snapstreaks? How do teens use these apps? Many important facts parents need to know about popular apps in these guides from Common Sense Media below:

• Parents’ Ultimate Guide to Snapchat
• Parents’ Ultimate Guide to Instagram

UPCOMING DATES

See YHS Calendar for more information

• Friday, January 26th, is the last day of 2nd quarter
• Monday, January 29th, No school for students, Grading Day
• Wednesday, February 7th – Early Release Professional Learning Day (1:00 pm release)