November 21, 2025 Newsletter

Dear Yorktown Families,

As we head into the Thanksgiving break, I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and your loved ones. I hope the coming days bring rest, connection, and moments of joy.

We are excited to share that Dr. Clark and his family welcomed a beautiful new baby, Eleanor. Both mom and baby are doing well, and we are thrilled for their family. I look forward to supporting our students, staff, and community in every way I can.

Wishing you a wonderful and restful Thanksgiving.

Warm regards,

Laura Porter

Acting Principal, Yorktown High School

In this message: 

• What’s Happening at Yorktown
• Counseling Corner
• Activities Updates
• Senior Updates
• Technology Corner
• Upcoming Dates
• 2025-26 PTA Information

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT YORKTOWN

Performing Arts Audition Workshop and Spring Musical

Join us on Monday, November 24 from 3:30-5:00 in the Black Box for our first-ever Audition Workshop! If you are interested in the spring musical but aren’t sure what is required for an audition, this is your opportunity to learn.  Please feel free to RSVP using this link from your APS device: https://forms.gle/M3zUrs1tAPaWNarC8

Speaking of which, auditions are scheduled for Tuesday December 2 and Thursday December 4 for our show! You can learn more at the bulletin board outside the Black Box or click on this link for information: https://bit.ly/YHSLittleMermaidInfo

New Field Turf Installation

Yorktown’s Greenbrier Park will begin its new field turf installation next week. The old turf field demolition/removal and new turf field install will run through the winter and will be ready for the spring athletic season. Students, families, and community members can expect construction fencing and material staging areas around the park until the installation is complete. Students who regularly park on North Greenbrier Street for school should anticipate needing to park further down North Greenbrier, or around the corner on North 27th street in the coming weeks and months due to the construction in the area.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Updates

Guest Speaker Series: Dr. Emma Violand-Sánchez

Thursday December 4, 2025 and Friday December 5, 2025

Dr. Emma Violand-Sánchez arrived in Virginia from Bolivia in the summer of 1961 as a high school senior knowing very little English. In the years that followed, she became a transformative figure in American public education and in service to immigrants and refugees, advocating for bilingual education and expanding opportunities for immigrant students and their families. During her forty-year career with Arlington Public Schools, Dr. Violand Sánchez was the first Latina teacher, administrator, and school board member. Her memoir Dreams and Shadows: An Immigrant’s Journey is out now. Yorktown is very excited to host Dr. Violand Sánchez for what will be an inspiring conversation. View the event flyer here!

Native American Heritage Month

November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate and honor the history, cultures, and contributions of Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian peoples. This month provides an important opportunity to learn about the diverse tribal nations that have shaped, and continue to shape, the United States. Throughout the month, we recognize the strength, resilience, and creativity of Indigenous communities while also deepening our understanding of their histories and contemporary experiences. By learning from Native voices and stories, we can better appreciate the richness of Indigenous cultures and reaffirm our commitment to respect, inclusion, and equity all year long.

Native American Heritage Month invites all people, not just those within Indigenous communities, to learn and take part in this story. Supporting Native-owned businesses, attending cultural events, or learning about the land one lives on are ways to honor this month’s recognition. Below are resources dedicated to Native American Heritage Month and uplifting the voices of Indigenous communities:

• Learning Resources for NAHM
• Library of Congress and Smithsonian Resources
• Bureau of Indian Affairs
• First Nations Development Institute

COUNSELING CORNER

Advisory Information

Tuesday, November 25: My Goals Lesson (all grades)

Finding Your Fit: Navigating the College Admissions Journey

Families of all grade levels, please join us for a virtual session on December 4th at 7:00 PM. Our goal is to support students and families as they begin navigating the college search process. The session will feature College Admissions Representatives who will be available to answer questions about the application and admissions process.

We will review the following topics:

• College Search
• Admissions Process
• Course Selection
• Financial Aid

Each section will include several key questions along with a Myth vs. Reality segment. We will conclude with a lightning round Q&A.

Please use this link to join us. We look forward to your participation!

Save the Date

On Thursday, January 15th, 2026 at 7pm, the Counseling Department will host its annual Academic Planning Night. Come learn about course options and selection using our new platform, Schoolinks.  More details coming soon.

Free Financial Aid Help Desk

Contact: Brittany Everett, Postsecondary Access and Success Specialist, [email protected]

Help is available for Virginia students and families who are filling out the recently available Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) announced a financial aid help desk and a new series of free webinars to support completion of the application.

Students can text “Hello” to 434-478-4003 and receive answers to their financial aid questions from an expert within 24 business hours. The service is available at no cost to Virginia students and is part of SCHEV’s efforts to ensure that no student leaves financial aid funding on the table.

In addition to text-based support, SCHEV has partnered with uAspire, a national non-profit focused on college affordability, to host a six-part webinar series for students and families. Each one-hour session offers guidance on the following financial aid topics:

• FAFSA Completion
• Financial Aid for Current College Students
• Scholarship Basics and Tips
• Next Steps After the FAFSA
• Financial Aid Offer Review
• Summer Steps for Financial Aid

Registration links and details are available on the financial aid events webpage.

ACTIVITIES UPDATES

Winter Sports

Winter sports are in full swing! Be sure to check out yorktownsports.org to find out when and where you can see our Yorktown athletes in action!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/

Looking Further Ahead – Spring and Fall 2026 Sports 

Spring sports will begin on Monday, February 23 and tryouts will continue throughout that week.

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 are typically in late May/early June.  The start date for golf (no earlier than July 30) and girls flag football (no earlier than August 17) have not yet been finalized.

Club of the Week

The YHS Club of the week is the Give Back Club. The purpose of the Give Back Club is to work and volunteer with a wide variety of community service organizations. The club will have one big project each month, and we will have meetings every other week (for organizing the project and doing smaller activities like making cards for elders.) See Ms. Kiyak or Mr. Moorhead for more information.

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.

Cap and Gown

We have had almost 400 entries for student cap and gowns so far! Thank you so much to those who have placed your order early. To those still needing to place your order, please do so ASAP by using this form. There is a bit of urgency to this, as we would like to have our orders finalized right after Thanksgiving. Remember, cap and gowns are included in Senior Dues.

Senior Experience

The Senior Experience Canvas page is officially up and running and invites have been sent out to students. Students wishing to participate in Senior Experience (May 18-June 8) will need to access these materials on Canvas. Please take your time to review all information and materials.

A few dates to note

:- Student Application Due by 3/13

– Mentor Application Due by 3/13

– Parent Authorization Due by 3/13

– Senior Experience Kick Off Meeting on 5/15

– Senior Experience from 5/18 to 6/8

– Senior Experience Seminar on 6/9

Senior Dues

For those of you who have not yet paid Senior Dues, please note that class dues are $80.00 if paid prior to Winter Break, and $85.00 if paid after. You can pay online using the following link: https://arlingtonva.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/4907/444/False/True . All students are expected to contribute to class dues. If a student is experiencing undue economic hardship, they should speak to the activities office regarding payment.

Final Opportunity for Senior Portrait Makeups

There will be one final opportunity for Senior Portrait makeups on Friday, December 5th in the library. The photo company is requesting that seniors who still haven’t had their portrait taken please confirm their appointment online. Please visit schedule.prestigeportraits.com. To locate your appointment code, enter Yorktown High School’s zip code (22207) and enter “Yorktown.” After you verify student details, you will be able to confirm your appointment. If you have any questions, please contact Lifetouch Prestige customer service (855-918-2930) or email [email protected]. Seniors who have not yet had their portrait taken will also be able to stop by the library on December 5th during Patriot Period with a pass from their teacher, or during their lunch period.

UPCOMING DATES

See YHS Calendar or the APS Calendar for more information:

• Wednesday, November 26-28 No School, Thanksgiving Holiday
• Wednesday, December 10, Early Release, Professional Learning