November 15, 2024 Weekly Newsletter

Dear Patriot Families,

We had a great short week this week. Thursday, all students participated in a presentation from Silent No More, with presenters from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the DEA, Mental Health Organizations, and family members who have lost loved ones. Additional instruction will be provided throughout the year in 9th and 10th grade health and PE classes, as well as in 11th and 12th grade through English classes. Support is available from the counseling office for any student.

This is a great opportunity to speak with your children about drugs and alcohol and work collaboratively to develop expectations. We will be organizing a parent Silent No More presentation later in the year.  Please see this page for more resources. For any assistance, please reach out to your child’s counselor, or Ms. Sexton, Substance Abuse Counselor.

Good luck to our athletic teams competing this week in the postseason! Go Patriots! 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

Nominations Open for Teacher and Employee of the Year

Nominate Teacher of the Year, Support Employee of the Year, and Assistant Principal of the Year. Submissions for YHS teachers and employees are due Tuesday, November 26. Please use this Google Form to Nominate someone for YHS Teacher, Employee or Assistant Principal of the Year. https://forms.gle/uPexE7yp9aq89Sry6 For more information visit here.

Fall Sports Playoffs

The field hockey team is in the state playoffs and will travel to Ocean Lakes High School this weekend for the Final Four.  Game times are 5 pm today and 4 pm tomorrow (if the team wins).

Girls cross country placed second in the Region and will compete in the state championships on Saturday, November 16 at Oatlands at 10:30 am along with select boys runners at 11:15 am.

Football enters the regional tournament with a game at WL tonight at 7 pm.  Reminder this is a school event and behavior should be considerate of such. We are excited for this community event and ask for everyone’s support in making it enjoyable and safe for all.  Yorktown students should plan to park on the N. Quincy St. side of the school/parking garage and enter through the gates near door 10 – not the main ticket booth.

National School Psychology Week

This week is National School Psychologist Week! Thank you to Bethany Banal and Solange Caovan-Hornbake for all you do for students here at Yorktown!

COUNSELING CORNER

Advisory Information

Tuesday, November 19th

• 9th Grade: “Welcome to High School” counseling lesson

• 11th grade: Career Cluster Counseling Lesson  

• 10th and 12th grades: Students will complete the Arlington Youth Surve. Click here for more information including opt-out.

  Thursday, November 21st

• Academic Check in meetings or students can leave with a pass

Solutions to the Youth Anxiety Crisis – Arlington DHS

Date: Tuesday, November 19, 2024 | 06:00 PM to 07:00 PM

About

Come and join us to gain a deeper understanding of how anxiety can fuel other issues, including substance use, and effective approaches for reducing anxiety. We will discuss the multiple ways for parents to engage with their child’s resilience and build tools to overcome anxiety.The session will focus on solutions to the youth anxiety crisis.

Speaker

Jonathan Dalton, PhD – Dr. Dalton is the founder and director of the Center for Anxiety and Behavioral Change, which provides evidence-based treatment for anxiety and related disorders. He also has extensive experience providing professional training to a variety of audiences.

Join Us

This is an in-person event that will also be live streamed on YouTube. Join us in-person at Central Library or click the following link to view the livestream on the day of the event.View the Livestream on YouTube

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION CORNER

Transgender Day of Remembrance

Transgender Day of Remembrance is an annual observance on November 20 that honors the memory of transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence. It was started in 1999 by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998. The vigil commemorated all the transgender people lost to violence since Rita Hester’s death and began an important tradition that has become the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Participate in Transgender Day of Remembrance by attending and/or organizing a vigil on November 20 to honor transgender people whose lives were lost to anti-transgender violence this year and by learning about the violence affecting the transgender community. Vigils are typically hosted by local transgender advocates or LGBTQ+ organizations and held at community centers, parks, places of worship, and other venues. The vigil often involves reading a list of the names of those lost that year.  The Trans Action Kit contains many useful resources including terminology and student guides.

ACTIVITIES UPDATES

Club of the Week: The Bird Club

The YHS Club of the Week is the Bird Club. The purpose of the Bird Club is to learn about birds and conservation of birds and their habitats and build awareness of the wildlife native to Virginia. See Mr. Bridwell or Ms. Kravitz for more information.

Winter Sports Tryout Information

Most winter sports started on November 11.  Currently, wrestling, gymnastics and swim/dive are still allowing students to join.  Starting Monday, November 18, winter cheer and indoor track will welcome students for tryouts/practice.  Please consult this schedule for exact tryout/practice times.  Additional information can be found at this link and specific sports information is often available on Team App.  If you plan to tryout, you must be registered with a current physical before attending the first day.  Registration is only done online.

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/

Looking Ahead to Spring Sports – February 24

For your planning purposes, spring sports begin on February 24th.  Students can join www.teamapp.com for specific off-season and tryout information for 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).

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. Find answers to your questions about these and more:

• Announcements and Rings
• Caps & Gowns
• Class Dues
• Graduation
• Graduation After-Party
• Off Campus Lunch Privilege
• Prom
• Senior Experience
• Senior Portraits
• Yearbooks

Senior Portraits

Thursday, November 21st will be the last opportunity to take Senior Portraits at Yorktown. Students who have not taken their photos have been given an appointment time. Please stop by the Activities Office to view your appointment time.

Cap and Gown Orders

Seniors can now order their cap and gowns. Please stop by the Activities Office to do so. No payment is required at this time. Price is included in the senior dues.

Save the Date 

Class of 2025 Graduation – 7 p.m., Wednesday, June 4, at DAR Constitution Hall.

UPCOMING DATES

See YHS Calendar or the APS Calendar for more information:

• Wednesday-Friday, November 27-29 Thanksgiving Holiday – No school
• Wednesday, December 11 – Early Release (1:00 pm) Professional Learning