May 15, 2026 Newsletter

May 15, 2026 Dear Patriot Families,

Today is our last day for seniors participating in Senior Experience! We celebrated our amazing class of 2026 during the PTSA Sponsored Senior Send-Off BBQ. Congratulations to this phenomenal group of students!

Students also concluded the two weeks of AP Testing, with only make-up and late tests occurring over the next two weeks. Next Monday through Thursday, there is an altered schedule for SOL testing with tests at 8:20 and late start for those not testing at 11:10 am. Please see below for more information.

Additionally, post-season athletics are upon us and we wish all of the athletes still participating the best in their upcoming competitions!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

Dr. Kevin ClarkPrincipal

In this message: 

• What’s Happening at Yorktown
• Counseling Corner
• Activities Updates
• Senior Updates
• Technology Corner
• Upcoming Dates

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT YORKTOWN

SOL Testing next Week

End-of-Course SOL Testing will take place Monday, May 18 – Thursday, May 21. Please see the schedule here.  Students taking an SOL exam will begin testing at 8:20 a.m.  Buses will run on a normal schedule. Students who are not testing may stay home in the morning and come to school later with their own transportation, classes will begin at 11:20.

Teachers who teach an SOL course will inform their students of their assigned testing date and room number.  On their assigned testing day, all students should bring with them:

• Fully charged APS-issued laptop
• Pen/pencil (for scratch paper only, tests are online)

Please do not schedule time out of school for your student on their testing dates. It will help your student to perform at his or her best if he/she has a good night’s rest, a healthy breakfast, and arrives at school on time.

State Champions – Boys First Varsity Boat

The boys 1V won the VASRA State Championship this past weekend leading an all-Arlington sweep of the medals (Wakefield 2nd and WL 3rd).  This is the second consecutive state championship for the boys 1V.  The girls 1V placed second at the same regatta.  Both boats qualify for the SRAA Nationals in Tennessee later this month.  Additionally, all boys varsity boats took first place for a complete Yorktown sweep on the boys side. Most Yorktown boats will compete this weekend at Stotesbury in Pennsylvania.  Good luck to all competitors.

It’s Playoff Time 

Most Yorktown spring athletic teams are in the playoffs.  Check out this link for the most up to date playoff information for all spring sports teams.

YHS Theater’s Little Mermaid earns Cappies Nominations

Congratulations to everyone involved in YHS Theater’s amazing production of “The Little Mermaid” in April. Out of the 55 schools participating in Cappies program (DC high school theatre critic and award program), we are honored to receive eight Cappies nominations this year:

• Best Musical!!
• Props: Ava Check, Hunter Bombaci, Natalie Gilmore
• Costumes: Vivi Parsons, Peyton Olsen, Josie Hadges
• Hair and Makeup: Vivi Parsons, Peyton Olsen, Julia Zaiets
• Ensemble: Evil Trio (Ursula/Flotsam/Jetsam), Marney Shattuck, Sarah Lennox, Brady Knott
• Supporting Actor in a Female Role: Marney Shattuck (Ursula)
• Vocalist in a Male Role: Colin Lee (Eric)
• Vocalist in a Female Role: Elizabeth Marshall (Ariel)

Because we are nominated for best musical, the cast gets to perform “Under the Sea” at the Cappies Gala awards show on June 7th at DAR Constitution Hall! The whole gala will be televised and recorded.

Congratulations to the Yorktown Big Band!

The Yorktown Big Band (Jazz Ensemble) recently participated in two jazz festivals. At the Chantilly Invitational Jazz Festival, the band advanced to the finals and placed second. Silas Frickert received the senior scholarship for students pursuing music, and Peter Tigges earned a scholarship to the National Jazz Workshop summer camp.At the Essentially Ellington Regional Festival at Shenandoah University (April 30), the Yorktown trumpet section was recognized as the best of the festival, and Nick Tarquine and Silas Frickert were named outstanding soloists.

Upcoming Concerts

• Concert Band and Wind Ensemble – Tuesday, May 19 at 7:00 p.m. (YHS Auditorium)Jazz on the Lawn – Thursday, May 21 at 7:00 p.m. (Amphitheater, YHS main entrance). Bring a lawn chair and enjoy our award-winning jazz band!
• Guitar Ensemble – Come enjoy an hour of classical guitar and contemporary rock music next Friday from 7:00 – 8:15 PM in the Black Box! The guitar ensemble has been working all year to prepare for this short concert, and all faculty and staff are welcome to attend. Your support would be greatly appreciated. Email [email protected] with any questions. Thanks!

Looking Ahead – Junior Class Assembly – June 3

Early in November 2022, Braylon Meade submitted all of his college essays, was poised to lead the Washington Liberty High School boys’ varsity basketball team as their point guard and was ready to cruise for the rest of his senior year with his friends and girlfriend, Christine Wilson.  Just after midnight on November 11, 2022, Braylon kissed his girlfriend good night and jumped into his car to drive home.  Braylon never made it home alive that night—an impaired student, driving 95 miles per hour, struck Braylon’s car and killed him upon impact.  Braylon’s family, friends, girlfriend, and the Arlington community were devastated by his unnecessary loss of life.

The Meade family turned together with their shared grief and recognized that it was their duty to keep Braylon’s legacy alive.  Braylon showed courage, kindness, humor, and hard work in everything he did in his short almost 18 years of living.  The Meade family established four college scholarships in Braylon’s honor to help other WL and Arlington graduating seniors attend college.  Braylon’s friends, Charlie Taylor, and Jack Tsuchitani (YT class of 2023) created the annual Ginger Cup Golf Tournament in Braylon’s honor.  All proceeds from the 2023, 2024, 2025, and soon to be 2026 Ginger Cup, the Braylon Meade Basketball Classic, and donations from family and friends across the country fund these scholarships.

On June 3rd, 2026, the Parents of Braylon Meade–Rose and Kris will join Yorktown graduates Will Taylor and Karenna Wilson, friends of Braylon, to talk to our junior class about Braylon’s life, impaired driving, and strategies to stay safe.  Let’s keep a dialogue going among students, parents, teachers, and counselors to keep impaired driving out of our community- we can’t let this happen again.

Graduation is June 10, 2026, Asynchronous Day for Grades 9-11

Graduation is Wednesday, June 10th at 3:00 at DAR Constitution Hall. We encourage staff to participate. To accommodate Graduation, it is an asynchronous day for students in grades 9-11 with up to 1 hour of work per even day class and 30 minutes for 3rd period.

COUNSELING CORNER

Advisory Information

Just a reminder that due to the SOL testing schedule there will be no advisory or Patriot Period Monday-Thursday next week. There will be Patriot Period on Friday, May 22.

Please also remember to submit your 4th quarter SEL lesson plan here as soon as possible, but no later than next Friday, May 22.

Deadline Extended for Virtual Virginia Summer Classes

The following is an important update regarding course requests for Virtual Virginia.

The deadline to request a virtual course through Virtual Virginia has been extended. Families may submit requests for these courses through Wednesday, May 13 at 3:00 PM. The Virtual Summer New Work for Credit Courses webpage includes approved course lists, cost details, dates.

Families must complete the appropriate form below. School counselors must approve all course selections.

• Middle School Summer Course Request Form (Rising 8th graders only)
• High School Summer Course Request Form (Rising 9th graders should use the HS form)

This will be the final opportunity to submit a request for virtual courses and allow for timely processing. Requests received after May 13th will not be considered. *Note: the extended deadline is for approved Virtual Virginia courses only and does not apply to Edgenuity or Arlington Public Schools summer school courses.  If you have questions about virtual summer options, please contact Lissa Tapia or Dr. Kristin Devaney.

Virtual Presentation About Proposed Counselor Caseload Assignment Change

Last night we offered a presentation about the proposed change to the Yorktown counselor caseloads assignments. The event was recorded but unfortunately the presentation did not show up in the recording.  You can listen to the audio of the recording using this link, and follow along using the presentation slides link. Finally, we invite you to share some feedback using this google form.

Leaving Yorktown? Let Us Know!

Families of rising 10th-12th graders, if you know that you will not be returning to APS for the 2026-27 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 prepare for the next school year, this will ensure we have the most accurate numbers as we build next year’s schedule.

May Is Mental Health Awareness Month

This May, we are recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month by embracing the theme ‘More Good Days, Together.’ We know that mental health is foundational to our overall wellbeing, and that ‘good’ doesn’t have to mean happy or perfect—it means manageable and supported. At Yorktown, we are committed to fostering a culture where asking for help is seen as a sign of strength, and where we all play a role in supporting our colleagues, students, and families. Check on your neighbors, break the stigma, and know that you are not alone.  Resources are available at Mental Health America (MHA).  The counseling department, in cooperation with our Mental Health Matters club, has some fun activities planned during lunches on May 22nd. Everyone is encouraged to wear green in support of the cause.

Requests for Early/Late Final Exams

The following is a friendly reminder about requests for early and late final exams: Students will not be permitted to take their final exams early, with the exception of families receiving military or foreign service orders.  Proof of these orders must be submitted to the counseling office.  Students may take late finals, and grades will be calculated with a zero for the final until they are taken, and then updated based upon the final exam results.  When possible, arrangements should be made in advance for any late finals. Please let your student’s teachers and counselor know if you’re making a request.

Summer School Credit Recovery Information

Registration for summer school continues to be open for credit recovery.  If your student is failing a course needed for graduation, your student has the opportunity to recover credits toward fulfilling graduation requirements by participating in the in-person summer school program. Only one credit recovery course may be taken during the 2026 summer session.

Program Details:

• Dates: July 6 – July 31
• Location: Wakefield High School
• Time: 7:45AM – 12:15PM
• Cost: No cost

Registration Information:

Registration is open through June 1st via ParentVUE. Late registrations are NOT permitted, so if you are unsure if your student will pass a course, please go ahead and sign them up. They can be removed if they end up passing on the final report card. For directions on how to register, visit: Online Registrations for Pathways to Progress and Credit Recovery.

You may reach out to your student’s counselor with any further questions. You can also review more information, including details about new work for credit, on the website.

Changes to Course Requests

If students wish to make a change to the courses they requested for next school year, they should complete this Change Course Request form.  Changes will be made mostly in the order in which they are received, while also prioritizing missing classes or required credits first.  Please note that changes based on teachers or class periods will not be considered.  At this point in the year, the change will be made in our student information system (Synergy) and will not be visible on the course plan in SchooLinks.  Families can now see their student requests in Synergy via ParentVue.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION UPDATES

Interrupting Hate Speech Presentations

This week, we facilitated presentations with all 9th grade students on Interrupting Hate Speech.  In most classes, students were engaged and willing to participate. While discussing real-world scenarios, we noticed that most students said they would ignore those instances of hate speech for a variety of reasons, including not wanting to get in someone else’s business and not wanting to ruin friendships. We hope that the tools we provided will encourage students to step up to interrupt hate speech in the future. Additionally, parents were invited to attend a presentation on Tuesday night entitled Talking To Your Teens About Hate Speech. During this conversation, we discussed practical strategies for conversations at home, and parents walked away with concrete language and tools to support their child.

ACTIVITIES UPDATES

Spring Sports – Playoff and Spectator Information

Playoff season is upon us.  Lacrosse begins this Friday with a home Liberty District semifinal – girls at 5:30 pm and boys at 7:30 pm.  Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students.  A schedule of both playoff and regular season events is available on our athletic website. Games held in the stadium are available online on the NFHS network. Tickets for events in the gym are available online at GoFan and at the ticket booth. Regular season games are $7 for adults and $5 for students. 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. There is no charge for regular season tennis, baseball, and softball games.

Fall Schedules and Website

Fall schedules for sports are beginning to be populated on our athletic website.  We have been informed that sometime this summer, the back end of our website will be changing which will require all schedules to be transitioned to a new platform.  This should occur seamlessly, but as with any technology transfer, there might be some issues to work through.  For families involved in fall sports, we suggest making note of the schedule at the end of this school year in case any questions arise over the summer when the website scheduling function might be offline for a period of time.

Looking Ahead – Fall 2026 Sports 

Fall 2026 sports will begin on Monday, August 3, for cheer, volleyball, field hockey, and JV/V football. Freshmen football and cross country will likely begin Monday, August 10. Dance team tryouts will be on May 19 (with clinics on May 14 and May 18). The start date for golf (no earlier than July 30) and girls flag football (no earlier than August 24) have not yet been finalized. Sign up for www.teamapp.com under YHS – ‘sport name’ (i.e., – YHS – field hockey or YHS – football) for potential optional off-season opportunities this spring and summer.

Please note students who make fall athletic teams are expected to be present daily for practices and games throughout the month of August.

Reminder: All students must pass five credit-earning courses for the 2025-26 school year to be eligible for Fall 2026 sports.

Looking Ahead – Homecoming Fall 2026 – October 2 and 3

Homecoming weekend will be held October 2 and 3, 2026 with the football game on Friday, October 2 at 7 pm against Marshall and the dance on Saturday night.

Club of the Week – Asian American & Pacific Islander Club

The YHS Club of the Week is the Asian American & Pacific Islander Club. The aim of the Asian American and Pacific Islander club is to provide a safe and welcoming environment for students to experience and learn more about the vast and various cultures of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community at Yorktown. Club members engage in fun activities that embrace these cultures and promote unity in the wider Yorktown community. All students are welcome. See Mr. Yoon for more information.

Upcoming Home 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/

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.

Senior Dues

We are still missing some Senior Dues! Senior class dues are $85. Senior families can pay their class dues using this link. All students are expected to contribute to class dues. Students will be unable to participate in Senior activities such as Senior Experience, Prom, Senior Picnic, and Graduation if they do not pay their class dues.

Senior Experience

Seniors Experience will run from 5/18-6/8 for Seniors who have been accepted into the program. Seniors not participating in Senior Experience will need to report to school for regular attendance during those dates.

Important Dates:

Monday, May 18 – Monday, June 8th

• Senior Experience

Monday, May 25 – Wednesday, May 27

• APS Holidays. Seniors participating in Senior Experience are welcome to work at their internship, but it is not required.

Tuesday, June 9th

• Mandatory Final Seminar for Senior Experience during Patriot Period in Seniors’ Patriot Period classroom. Report time is 10:45 AM.

Prom – May 29   

Prom will be held on Friday, May 29, at the Westin in Ballston.  Tickets will be on sale beginning May 11 online and during lunches. Tickets cost $40 per person and will be sold in person during the lunches May 11-15 as well as online from May 11-29.  Seniors must pay senior dues and satisfy any outstanding obligations (i.e., sports uniforms, computer accessories, Yondr pouch, etc.) prior to purchasing a Prom ticket or departing on Senior Experience.  Guests will need to complete a guest pass in order to purchase tickets online or in person.

Class of 2026 Graduation and Rehearsal

Yorktown’s graduation will take place at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, June 10th at 3:00 p.m. Graduation rehearsal will take place that morning at 9:00 am at Yorktown in the auditorium. Graduates will receive your cap and gown and guest tickets (5) after rehearsal.

Graduation Name Pronunciation 

For those with names (first or last) which are commonly mispronounced, please email [email protected] with a phonetic spelling.

Graduation Livestream

Graduation will be broadcast on the AETV Vimeo Page and the AETV YouTube channel (both with closed captions). They will also be live on our Comcast Xfinity Channels in both HD (Ch. 1070) and SD (Ch. 70), and Verizon FiOS in SD (Ch. 41). The videos will be available at the same links after the event has ended to watch later.

Vimeo Showcase Link: https://vimeo.com/showcase/12195191

YouTube – Yorktown – Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 3:00 pm ET:

https://youtube.com/live/LAKl146jYRQ

Class of 2027 Senior Portraits 

Yorktown will have a new photography vendor for the 2026-27 school year.   CADY should have reached out to all Class of 2027 families by now to offer options for Senior portraits.  CADY uses a model where they emphasize the studio experience and supplement with onsite picture appointments.  Their studio is in Chantilly.  Onsite dates will be June 11 and 12.  You can select an onsite date or in studio date – both will allow your picture to be in the yearbook, posted in the main hall and the opportunity to purchase pictures.

TECHNOLOGY CORNER

Bluebook Installation for AP Testing 

To prepare for upcoming AP exams, we ask all students to ensure their laptops are in peak operating condition. Please follow these requirements:

1. Install Bluebook: Open the Self-Service app on your MacBook and download Bluebook from there. Once installed, open the app to run the “Test Your Device” check.
2. Charge Daily: Arrive at school each morning with a fully charged device to prevent interruptions during testing.
3. Restart Weekly: Make it a habit to restart your laptop at least once every seven days. This ensures critical updates are processed and keeps your device running fast.

Technical Support: If your device is not working properly, see your ITC as soon as possible:

• A–K: Mr. Opperhauser (Room 279)
• L–Z: Ms. Moten (Room 287)

Senior Device Collection

Senior device collection will take place on the following dates and times:

• Thursday, 5/14: 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM
• Friday, 5/15: 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Please make sure you bring the following items with you:

• Your APS-issued MacBook
• Your APS-issued charger

Important reminders:

• Students who do not return a charger with their computer will be charged $58 at the collection booth. Student obligations will not be cleared until the charge has been paid or waived.
• Please make sure your device is cleaned prior to turn-in and is free of excessive crumbs, stains, or debris.
• If there are any files or documents you would like to keep after graduation, please make sure to upload them to your personal Google Drive before turning in your device. If you need assistance with this process, please see your ITC: Mr. Opperhauser in Room 279 (Last Names A-K), Ms. Moten in Room 287 (Last Names L-Z).

UPCOMING DATES

See YHS Calendar or the APS Calendar for more information.

• Monday, May 25 Tuesday, May 26 – No School – Memorial Day Holiday
• Wednesday, May 26 – No School – Eid al Adha
• June 10, Graduation – Asynchronous Day for Grades 9-11