March 15, 2024 Newsletter

Dear Yorktown Families,

We have been fortunate to work with Dr. Willingham, professor at the University of Virginia, this year on our theme of Excellence in Teaching and Learning. The entire Yorktown staff met with him today to discuss how to incorporate best practices in teaching and learning in all of our classes. If you are interested in more information about Dr. Willingham’s work, please check out his books Outsmart Your Brain or Why Kids Don’t Like School or his Guest Essay for the New York Times here. There are some great research-based learning strategies students can implement.

We also want to remind families of the APS School Board Policy on attendance that defines excused absences. Prior approval from the grade level administrator is required for anything not listed under approved absences and for seniors attending college admissions visits or applying for post-graduation jobs.

Have a great weekend

!Kevin Clark

In this message:

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

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT YORKTOWN

Spirit Week & Spring Pep Rally

March 18-22 is Spring Spirit Week! Spirit Days are the following:

• Monday March 18- Adam Sandler Day- wear oversized shirts and pants
• Tuesday March 19- Tropical Shirt Day
• Wednesday March 20- Twin Day
• Thursday March 21- College & Career Day
• Friday March 22- Flip Flops and Slides Day

Spring Pep Rally

The Spring Pep Rally will be held on Friday, March 22, in the gym at the end of the day.  Students will attend all their even day classes before proceeding to the gym for performances by the winter guard, robotics, spring musical and other groups.  The state champion field hockey and girls swim and dive teams will be recognized in addition to traditional class competitions.

March Writing SOL is Next Week!

We will give the Writing SOL exams March 18th – March 21st to our juniors.  The Writing SOL is given over two days (day 1: multiple choice, day 2: essay).  The junior class will be split in half with half of the students testing on Monday and Tuesday and the other half testing on Wednesday and Thursday.  English teachers will notify their students of their two testing days.  The class schedule will be modified as follows:

Schedule changes for this week:

1. Students will remain in their 3rd period classrooms for Patriot Period Monday – Thursday. The bell schedule for those days is as follows:

• • 1st class – 8:20 – 9:50
  • 3rd period with Patriot Period – 9:56– 11:20 (Patriot Period 10:50 – 11:20)

2. The first and last class period of the day will be flipped on Wednesday and Thursday.

3. Yorktown students with classes at the Career Center in the morning or afternoon on Wednesday or Thursday will be excused from their classes at the Career Center.

1. • Students with Career Center during our 6th or 7th period will report to the auditorium during their Career Center class time where they can work on homework or study if they are not a junior who is testing that morning.

• • Students with Career Center during our 1st or 2nd period will report to Patriot Hall for the afternoon class time where they can work on homework or study.

• • Students who take the bus to the Career Center or home at the end of the day from the Career Center should see the front office if they need to know the bus schedule directly to and from Yorktown for the day they would usually attend the Career Center.

Advisory Plans

Since 3rd period is being extended next week during SOL testing, there is no advisory lesson planned. Students will have time to get caught up on homework.

COUNSELING CORNER

Yorktown’s 1st Career Exploration – March 19-20

Career Exploration will take place Tuesday and Wednesday in the atrium during lunch blocks.  This event will give students and employers the opportunity to meet one another, establish professional relationships and discuss potential jobs and or internship opportunities.  A variety of industries will be in attendance.

Summer School Information

New Work Summer Courses (through Virtual@APS)

Registration Window: March 4 – May 3

Cost: $350.00  (Free/Reduced Lunch Eligible Students $87.00)

Courses Offered (Health/PE9 including CPR, Health/PE10, Economics & Personal Finance)

• Virtual@APS Health/PE 9 (including CPR)
• Virtual@APS Health/PE 10

The Health/PE courses are blended courses where 2 weeks will be at Yorktown (from 7/8 – 7/19 from 7:45am – 12:15pm). For the remainder of the course (from 7/22 – 8/2) students will engage in asynchronous virtual self-paced learning (including daily submission of physical activity logs and online participation) and weekly virtual check-ins with the instructor.

*Students who exceed 2 absences during the in-person portion will be unable to continue in the summer program and will be withdrawn.

*Registration form for Virtual@APS Health/PE 9: click here

*Registration form for Virtual@APS Health/PE 10: click here

• Virtual@APS Economics & Personal Finance

Students should block out 5-6 hours each weekday to complete the assigned work for this ASYNCHRONOUS course. Additional information about this course can be found here.

*Registration form for Virtual@APS EPF: click here

New Work Summer Courses (through Outside Vendors)

Virtual Virginia Outside Vendor

Registration Window: March 4 – June 7

Cost: $375.00 (no reduced rates available)

• Virtual Virginia has an online payment option

Instruction  – SYNCHRONOUS (APS students can ONLY participate in Cohort 2)

• Instruction Dates: June 17 – July 26
• All courses will meet for daily synchronous instruction at 9am Mon – Fri. A select number of Summer Cohort 2 courses (check here) will provide the option for synchronous instruction at either 9 a.m. or 10 a.m. Each session will include approximately 45 minutes of instruction, followed by approximately 15 minutes of Q&A.

Edgenuity Outside Vendor

Registration Window: March 4 – June 7

Cost: $195 (no reduced rates available)

• Check or money order (payable to Arlington Public Schools) should be dropped off at Syphax or to the ACC Treasurer (Katrina Rainey)

Instruction – ASYNCHRONOUS

• Instruction: June 17 – Aug 2 (the exact start date and end dates are flexible within this window)
• Students are expected to work regularly and consistently over the summer to complete the course.

For more information, FAQs, and the Yorktown specific form, please see the APS Summer School site.

Northern Virginia Regional College Fair

The Office of Admissions at George Mason University invites students to join them for the 37th annual Northern Virginia Regional College Fair (NVRCF)! Students will have the opportunity to meet with admissions representatives from more than 200 colleges and universities. This will be a great opportunity to get your students motivated and excited about their post-secondary plans while equipping them with the tools and information necessary to successfully navigate the college search and application process.

Northern Virginia Regional College Fair

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

George Mason University – Fairfax Campus – Eagle Bank Arena

This is a StriveScan Fair. Students can pre-register for a barcode at https://app.strivescan.com/registration.

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Parking is available, free of charge, in Parking Lots A and L, directly across from EagleBank Arena. To view a campus map, click here. If you have any questions about this event, please email the Mason Admissions Events Team directly at admevent@gmu.edu.

ACTIVITIES UPDATES

PTA Spring Fling Rescheduled – Saturday, April 13

The Annual PTA Spring Fling was postponed to Saturday, April 13.  Make your plans now and join this yearly tradition put on by the PTA. The event will take place from 7:30-10:30 pm in the atrium and courtyard.

Tickets are $10 and will be on sale the week of the dance during lunch.  Cash and venmo accepted.  Students can bring a non-Yorktown guest by filling out a guest form available at the ticket table.  Students must enter the dance by 9:00pm, and there will be no re-entry for any reason.

Club of the Week – Women in STEM Club

The Women in STEM Club focuses on creating a more inclusive environment for girls at Yorktown who are interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). The club discusses different ways women are involved in STEM fields and inspires girls at Yorktown to explore areas of interest and learn about possible career paths. Through various activities – such as female guest speakers, science experiments, having an article of the day about a woman in STEM, and other related activities – the club aims to engage and empower girls to participate in STEM. The Women in STEM club works collaboratively with our current STEM club to promote STEM throughout our student body.  Even though it is a club for girls interested in STEM, boys may participate if they wish to be advocates and allies for women. See Ms. Wright for more information.

Spring Game Information

With spring sports season beginning, please note the following guidelines for attending.  Games in the stadium will be streamed on the Yorktown Boosters Youtube website and tickets are available at GoFan or at the gate. Tickets are $5 for adults, and students ages 6-18 are $2 at the gate.  Season passes are available.

• Backpacks and outside beverages are not allowed at sporting events.
• 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.
• 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/

Fall 2024 Sports Tryout Dates

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 past years, 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.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Women’s History Month

Each year, the National Women’s History Alliance sets the theme for Women’s History Month.  This year’s theme is “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion”.  The theme recognizes women throughout the country who understand that, for a positive future, we need to eliminate bias and discrimination entirely from our lives and institutions.  As members of families, civic and community groups, businesses and legislative bodies, women are in the forefront of reevaluating the status quo.  Explore articles and biographies of changemakers at the National Women’s History Museum website.

Ramadan (March 10-April 9)​​

Ramadan is a holy month of fasting, introspection and prayer for Muslims, the followers of Islam.  Fasting is one of the five fundamental principles of Islam. Each day during Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink from dawn to sunset. This year, Ramadan begins at sunset on Sunday, March 10. Muslims break their daily fasts by sharing meals with family and friends, and the end of Ramadan is celebrated with a three-day festival known as Eid al-Fitr, one of Islam’s major holidays. This year, Eid al-Fitr begins at sundown on Tuesday April 9. Schools are closed for Eid al-Fitr on Wednesday, April 10.

Yorktown will support students who may need special considerations or accommodations during this month-long practice of prayer and fasting. Students needing to pray may go to room 223, Ms. Patrick’s room.

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.  If you have not yet paid your senior dues ($85), please see Ms. Ashby in the main office.

Senior Experience Reminders

Senior Experience begins May 20th and runs through June 11th, with Seniors returning to school on June 12th for the Senior Seminar. All graduating seniors are encouraged to participate in this learning opportunity. The Senior Experience Application and Mentor Application can be found on the Senior Experience Canvas home page. These documents are due on Canvas by the deadline, March 15, 2024.

TECHNOLOGY NEWS

SOL Test Prep!

March 18th through the 21st is the 11th-grade English Writing SOL. Review the following checklist and suggestions below with your student so they are test-ready:

Set a reasonable bedtime–Getting enough sleep the night before is crucial to doing well on the SOL TESTS. If you are well rested, you will be better able to concentrate and remember information. Being well-rested can also help with anxiety.

Dress for comfort–Remember to wear comfortable clothing and dress for the temperature of your classroom. You may want to dress in layers. This way you will be ready if it is warm or cool in the room on the day of the test.

Have all your supplies packed the night before–Be sure to bring your fully charged APS-issued device, charger, and water/snack. Eat something before you start the test–Be sure to eat something before you start testing as you’ll be sitting and actively working on a test for multiple hours.

How to handle anxiety–A strategy to use for test anxiety or worry in general is called BATS.  BATS  is an acronym for:

B:  Breathe (Breathe in and out slowly 5 times in a row)

A:  Ask yourself to count to ten (not out loud)

T:  Think of your favorite place (picture a scene or think of a memory that makes you happy)

S:  Say, “I’m okay. I can handle it!” (Think positively)You got this! Best of luck, Patriots!

UPCOMING DATES

See YHS Calendar for more information

• Monday, March 25-Friday, March 29 – Spring Break
• Wednesday, April 10 – Eid al-Fitr – No School
• Monday, April 15 – No School for Students