June 6, 2025 Newsletter

Dear Patriot Families,

Congratulations Class of 2025 and families! We had a wonderful graduation ceremony at DAR Constitution Hall on Wednesday to celebrate our graduates. We are proud of you!

Next week is our last full week of school and final exams start on Thursday, June 12th. Please encourage your child(ren) to make the most of the last week and final exams. Let’s finish the year strong!

Have a great weekend!

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

Late Bus Transportation Ends Today

A reminder that today, Friday, June 6th is the last day for late bus runs (4:45 pm).

Final Exam Schedule

As a reminder, please see the final exam schedule below. There are no early final exams. Students who will miss a final exam can schedule a make-up exam in the summer through the counseling office.

• Thursday 6/12 – Pd. 2 Final (Last day for ACC)
• Friday 6/13 – Pd. 1 & 3 Finals
• Monday 6/16 – Pd. 4 & 6 Finals
• Tuesday 6/17 – Pd. 5 & 7 Finals
• Wednesday 6/18 – Make-up Finals

Congrats Cappies Awards Winners

Congratulations to the cast, crew, and directors of Anything Goes, Yorktown’s spring musical on the 4 Cappies awards!

• Matthew Aslaksen – Featured Actor in a Male Role in a Musical
• Francesca Klesius – Featured Actor in a Female Role in a Musical
• Yorktown Pit Orchestra – Orchestra
• Bella Houston – Lead Actor in a Female Role in a Musical

Congratulations Girls Soccer Region Champs

The Yorktown Girls Soccer Team defeated W-L in the Region finals last night to earn a Region Championship. They will play Robinson in the first round of the VHSL State Tournament on Tuesday, June 10th at 6:30pm at home at Greenbrier Stadium. Go Patriots!

Lacrosse Double Header Tonight at West Potomac

Girls and Boys Lacrosse Teams will both play at West Potomac tonight in the first round of the VHSL State Tournament. Boys play at 5:30 pm and girls play at 7:30 pm. Up to date game information can be found on the athletic website. 

Last Reminder: School Health Program Survey

From May 16 to June 8, Arlington County’s Public Health Division, in coordination with APS, invites families to complete a survey on the School Health Program (SHP). School Health promotes a healthy learning environment for all APS students by offering a clinic in every school and the opportunity to achieve a lifestyle that will lead to a satisfying and productive life. SHP strives to provide the best service possible in the school clinics.

To help us understand what we do well and areas where we can improve, please take a few minutes to tell us about your experiences with your student’s school clinic during the 2024-25 school year. All results are anonymous. If you wish to talk with someone about the School Health program, please contact (703) 228-1631.

• English: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8252236/2024-2025-School-Health-Parent-Survey
• Amharic: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8252236/61d117227613
• Arabic: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8252236/26a95cf87514
• Mongolian: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8252236/67638a8cb4da
• Spanish: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8252236/9e142b2792d9

COUNSELING CORNER

Final Transcripts and Report Cards

Final transcripts for all grades, including seniors, will be ready on June 27th. At that time, senior transcripts will be uploaded to Naviance and sent to each student’s respective college or university.

Report Cards will be attached to student records in Synergy and available to families in ParentVUE/StudentVUE beginning on Wednesday, June 25th at 8:00am.

New College and Career Platform: Important Steps for Current 9th-11th Graders 

Dear Students,

Heads up! Arlington Public Schools is moving to a new college and career platform called SchooLinks. It will replace Naviance. All APS students, staff, and families will lose access to Naviance on July 31, 2025.

Log into Naviance now to decide if you want to print or download your resume or other documents.

Below are instructions to help you download or print materials from Naviance. Here is a how-to video as well. You can print your resume using the Resume Builder in Naviance Student. Here are the steps:

1. Navigate to the About Me section and select Resume.
2. From the info message, select Access the Previous Resume Builder.
3. Click on Print or Export Resume.
4. From My Saved Resumes, choose either Download PDF or Download DOCX for the selected resume.

When downloading the DOCX format, you can make further formatting changes or update your resume information if needed. We encourage you to use this feature to prepare resumes for job applications, scholarships, or other opportunities.

You can also print your portfolio, which highlights your achievements, skills and goals, in Naviance Student by following these steps:

1. Navigate to the About Me section and select Portfolio.
2. From the Entries section, select Share and choose either New Link or Print.
3. If choosing the print option, students can manage their entries by:
   • Excluding their profile photo.
   • Removing any entries they do not want to include in the portfolio.
   • Reordering their entries.
   • Renaming the entry types by clicking the pencil icon.
4. Once the entries are finalized, select Print.
5. Share the printed version as needed.

More information coming soon about our new college, career, and work-based learning platform, SchooLinks!

Leaving Yorktown? Let us know!

Families of rising 10th-12th graders, if you know that you will not be returning to APS next school year, please complete this withdrawal form and email it to our registrar, Carol Thompson.  You may also reach out to Ms. Thompson with any questions about registering or withdrawing from school. As we plan for the next school year, this will ensure we have the most accurate numbers as we build next year’s schedule.

Advisory Information 

• Tuesday, June 10th: Study day with passes allowed
• Thursday June 12th: No Patriot Period – Final Exam Schedule

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION CORNER

Celebrate PRIDE Month

Although the month of October is LGBTQ+ History Month, an observance created by a Missouri History teacher in 1994, every day is a good day to acknowledge, celebrate, and center the histories and experiences of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community.  It is important that we create a safe and supportive school community where students feel a strong sense of belonging and connectedness (LGBTQ+ youth are at greater risk for poor mental health and violence than their non-LGBTQ+ peers; research shows that when students feel connected to a supportive school community, they do better socially, emotionally, and academically).  Below you’ll find a list of resources and events for celebrating Pride month:

Be an Ally

31 Days, 31 Icons

Capital Pride Parade (Saturday, June 7)

Capital Pride Concert (Saturday, June 7 & Sunday, June 8)

“When two enemies are talking, they’re not fighting” – Daryl Davis

Daryl Davis is a human rights activist, author, and race relations expert.  Last May, his presentation to the YHS student body was described by some attendees as “engaging”, “thoughtful” and “powerful”.  A student who attended remarked that “I learned a way to peacefully disagree with someone”.  During the presentation, Daryl encouraged us to to keep the following in mind when we interact with people, especially those who hold views that are contrary to our own:

1) We all want to be loved.

2) We all want to be respected.

3) We want to be heard.

4) We all want to be treated fairly.

5) We all want the same things for our family as anybody else wants for their family.

He went on to describe how truly transformative it can be if we take the time to really listen to each other (in keeping with the human desire to be heard).  Learn more about Mr. Davis here.

ACTIVITIES UPDATES

Club of the Week: The Gender Sexuality Alliance

The Yorktown Gender Sexuality Alliance is a group of students and teachers united by a common cause – creating a world of tolerance for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Activities at meetings often involve planning outings or special events and sometimes include discussions of matters relating to gender or sexual orientation. All are welcome and encouraged to attend the meetings. See Ms. Emmilu Olson for further information.

Spring Sports State Playoff Information

Congratulations to girls soccer, girls lacrosse and boys lacrosse who all advanced to state playoff action.  Both lacrosse teams play tonight in a doubleheader at West Potomac and soccer will play on Tuesday, June 10.  Check out the schedule on the athletic website for more specific details as soccer might host depending on the bracket.  

Fall 2025 Sports – Tryout Information

Fall sports tryout information is now posted on the athletic website.  This information will be updated throughout the summer as needed so it is recommended families check every few weeks.  Dates will not move earlier than those listed now but exact times for tryouts and practices might be slightly adjusted, especially later in July as the season approaches.

In order to participate in tryouts or any other athletic activity, students must have registered online and uploaded a valid, stamped VHSL physical form.  The VHSL physical form has changed as of April 2025 and the new form must be used moving forward.  Physicals are now valid for 14 months from the date of the doctor’s signature and families are responsible for ensuring they update their student’s physical within the 14 month period or the student will be ineligible midseason.  Any physical dated after May 1, 2025 will ensure eligibility for the entire 2025-2026 school year.

Due to a forced conversion, the online registration system and interface changed and registration is now open.  Families will need to create a new account unfortunately.  Registration information and the correct link are available at the athletic registration page.

All families should sign up for Stack Team App under the specific sports their student might consider playing in order to get specific information on out-of-season development opportunities (Green Days), interest meetings and other sport-specific information.

Please note that 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.

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://yorktownsports.org/main/otherad?contentID=55918744

Playoff Events this Week

Looking Ahead – Homecoming 2025

Homecoming weekend will be October 10 and 11, 2025.  The football game is against West Springfield and the dance will be Saturday, October 11.  Please note this is a three-day weekend for students with no school on Monday, October 13.  While not ideal, it is the best viable option given the home football schedule.

CLASS of 2026 UPDATES

Senior Pictures

All members of the Class of 2026 have been scheduled for a Senior Portrait sitting time by Prestige Portraits from June 13-20 onsite at Yorktown in the gymnastics room.  Each student has a unique 8-digit code which was sent in the communication.  Using this code, please visit www.prestigeportraits.com to confirm or modify online.

For those without a code, please use the online scheduling program to reserve an appointment.  Search by filtering the City & State, school and then your legal name.  If you have already scheduled your Prestige Portrait, you may confirm or modify it online.

It is important all students select their yearbook photo within ten days after their pictures are taken and proofs delivered.  The version selected for the yearbook will also be posted in the main hallway of the school.

Additional photography opportunities will be held in August and later in the fall onsite and any picture taken onsite will be included in the yearbook.  However, only pictures taken in June will be in the main hallway when school starts.

For additional ​questions about scheduling and appointment times, please contact Prestige Portraits directly at 1-855-918-2930

Graduation 2026

Class of 2026 Graduation will be held at DAR Constitution Hall on June 10.

UPCOMING DATES

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

• Friday, June 13-Wednesday, June 17 – early release days for final exams
• Friday June 18 – Make-up exams only for excused absences with documentation