March 8, 2024 News Letter

Dear Yorktown Families,

We hope you had a good week. We are collecting parent feedback through the Your Voice Matters Survey. Please take a moment to complete the Your Voice Matters Survey today. You have received a personalized email from PanoramaEd with a link to the survey. This is administered every two years and we utilize the data to inform our school action plan, how we support students, and how we engage with families. Thank you in advance for your feedback.

Next Friday, March 15th is an early release day for professional development. Students are released at 1:00. Staff will be working with Dr. Willingham of the University of Virginia on learning skills, evaluating learning, and studying for assessments. Thank you to the Yorktown PTA for supporting our professional learning focused on Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Yorktown.

Have a great weekend!

Kevin

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

March Writing SOL Information

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.  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)

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

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

1. 1. 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.

1. 1. 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.

Spring Pep Rally – Friday, March 22

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.

Advisory Plans

This month, students are being introduced to the relationship skills CASEL competency during advisory lessons. Relationship skills include the abilities to establish and maintain healthy and supportive relationships and to effectively navigate settings with diverse individuals and groups. Learn more about how to help your student better understand the needs and perspectives of others in their larger community by watching this video.

Tuesday (3/12):  

• 9th Grade: Healthy Friendships Lesson
• 10th Grade:  10th Grade Career Lesson
• 11th Grade:  Healthy Relationships Lesson
• 12th Grade:  Healthy Relationships Lesson

 Thursday (3/14):

• Academic Check-In Meetings or students can leave with a pass

COUNSELING CORNER

Arlington Career Center First Responders Night

Please join us for the First Responders Night information session on Thursday, March 14, 2024, from 6:30-8:00 pm at the Arlington Career Center. Learn more about educational pathways and career opportunities within Arlington County’s Emergency Services departments. Register today at this link. We hope to see you on the 14th for this important and exciting event!

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 – Yorktown Rescues ClubThe YHS

Club of the Week is the Yorktown Rescues Club.

The Yorktown Rescues Club provides an opportunity for students who share an interest in animals.  Specifically, the club will organize service projects which benefit rescue animals or shelters.  It will also provide information to the Yorktown community on adopting animals and supporting rescue shelters. See Ms. Snyder 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 Computer Prep

All 11th-grade English students who are taking the SOL Writing exam are readying their APS-issued device by completing a TestNav Readiness Test in class. Since students are required to test on an APS-issued device for all state SOL exams, please be sure your student has theirs and it is in working order. If something isn’t working, if they are missing a charger, or if an issue arises, be sure your student stops by rooms 287 and/or 235 before testing begins!

UPCOMING DATES

See YHS Calendar for more information

• Friday, March 15th – Early Release – Professional Learning for Staff.