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Dear Yorktown Families,As we conclude the first quarter of the school year, we would like to thank you for your partnership and support of our students and staff. We also want to acknowledge all of the hard work our students are putting in to complete work, retake assessments, and support each other along the way.
Reminder, next Tuesday, November 7th there is no school for students, and Friday, November 10th is the Veterans’ Day Holiday. Have a great weekend!
Dr. Kevin Clark, Principal
In this message:
- What’s Happening at Yorktown
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
- Activities Updates
- Senior Updates
- Technology Corner
- Upcoming Dates
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT YORKTOWN
End of Quarter 1
Monday, November 6th is the last day of the first quarter. Tuesday, November 7th is a grade preparation day, and there is no school for students. Report cards will be attached to StudentVue and ParentVue November 16th at 10:00 am.
This Week’s Advisory Plan
Students will participate in the following lessons next week. We are continuing our focus on the “Self-Awareness” CASEL competency.
- Tuesday (11/7): No School for Students
- Thursday (11/9): Academic Check-In Meetings or students can leave with a pass
Family Life Education Information Night – Nov. 13
There will be an opportunity to learn more about the Health and PE Family Life Education curriculum through a virtual meeting on November 13th at 7:30 pm. Yorktown health teachers will be available to answer questions.
Virginia Youth Survey November 14th
The Virginia Youth Survey (VYS) is administered to monitor health risk behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death, disability, and social problems among youth and adults within the Commonwealth of Virginia. The survey is administered every odd year in randomly selected Virginia public schools.
On November 14th, randomly selected Patriot Period classes at Yorktown will complete the VYS during the school day. The survey is designed to be completed in 45 minutes or less and will focus on the following areas: behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries and violence, alcohol and other substance use, tobacco use, unhealthy dietary behaviors, and inadequate physical activity. The survey has been designed to protect your child’s privacy; therefore, students will not put their names on it. Students can skip any questions they do not wish to answer and may stop participating in the survey at any point without penalty. In addition, no school or student will ever be mentioned by name in a report of the survey results.
Families are able to preview the survey here. If families would like to opt-out your student from participating in VYS, please complete the appropriate opt-out form before November 8th by visiting one of the links below: High School VYS Opt-Out
Additional details on the Virginia Youth Survey are available on the Virginia Department of Health website.
Save the Date: The Play That Goes Wrong! November 16-18
Get ready for the smash hit farce, The Play that Goes Wrong (High School Edition) by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields, produced with permission from Dramatists Play Service, Inc.
The Story: Welcome to opening night of the Cornley Drama Society’s newest production, The Murder at Haversham Manor, where things are quickly going from bad to utterly disastrous.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
Native American Heritage Month
November is National Native American Heritage Month – a time to celebrate the traditions, languages and stories of Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and affiliated Island communities and ensure their rich histories and contributions continue to thrive with each passing generation. It is also a time to celebrate the culture and heritage of these remarkable Americans who deeply enrich the quality and character of our Nation. Find more information here and here.
Virginia Racial Equity Summit
During this virtual event, which will be held on Wednesday, November 8, from 8:45-10:45 am, you’ll hear from experts as we explore the evolution of Virginia’s educational system, how to create a racially equitable system, and our individual and community roles in ensuring our school system prepares all students for a lifetime of success. APS Superintendent Dr. Francisco Durán will be a speaker. Find more information here. Register for the Summit at this link (anyone can attend).
Historically Black College & University Festival The Alfred Street Baptist Church presents its 21st Annual Historically Black College & University (HBCU) Festival, a hybrid event being held Friday, November 17, and Saturday, November 18, 2023. The festival is dedicated to connecting high school students and their families to HBCUs, and scholarship opportunities. Approximately 80 colleges and universities will be represented during the two-day event. Register here to attend.
- Friday 11/17: 4-8pm (VIRTUAL ONLY)
- Saturday 11/18: 9am-4pm (Virtual and In-Person)
- Location: The St. James, Industrial Road, Springfield, VA
We need YOU on the Equity Team!
The Equity Team works to strategically examine and identify bias, inequity, and discrimination at Yorktown in order to advocate for changes to ensure each member of our school community feels valued, respected, and empowered. The team includes students, staff, and family members that represent the diversity of the school. Our next meeting is on Monday, November 13, 2023, at 3:30 pm. Complete this form to apply.
ACTIVITIES UPDATES
Congratulations and Good Luck to the Field Hockey and Girls Cross Country Teams
The Girl’s Cross Country Team won the Northern Region Championship for the first time in Yorktown history! They will compete on Saturday, November 11, at Oatlands in Leesburg, VA.
The Field Hockey Team won the Liberty District Championship and is the VHSL Northern Region runner-up. The team earned a spot in the State Tournament and will play Grassfield High School on Tuesday, November 7, with the championship game scheduled for Saturday, November 11. Good luck Patriots!
YHS Club of the Week: Yorktown Association of Yarn
The YHS Club of the week is the Yorktown Association of Yarn. The purpose of this club is to create a fun and educational environment for students to learn how to do crafts that involve yarn. Club meetings provide a safe space to step back and relax while learning a flexible craft. The club meets on Fridays during Patriot Period in room 270. See Ms. McHugh for more information.
Winter Sports Tryout Information.
Winter sports begin as early as Monday, November 6, for basketball, wrestling, swim/dive, rifle and gymnastics. Cheer and track begin on Monday, November 13, with winter crew conditioning beginning on Thursday, November 16.
All students must register at least two days in advance of tryouts to participate. Registration is done online only – no paper forms accepted.
The tryout schedule for the first few days can be accessed here. Please note tryouts can extend all week for some sports so students should be available through Saturday, Nov. 11, for tryouts. Tuesday and Friday are no school for students but tryouts will be held on those days.
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/
Looking Ahead – Spring Sports
Spring sports (baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, tennis, outdoor track, crew) begin on February 19th. Parents must complete the online Registration and upload their child’s physical form by February 14th.
Please note, tryouts and practices will be held on school holidays such as Presidents’ Day (February 19th). Students can join www.teamapp.com for specific off-season and tryout information on winter and 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.
Graduation Cap & Gown Orders
Any senior who missed the class meeting on Thursday, October 19, should visit the Student Activities office to place their order for a graduation cap & gown.
Senior Experience
A presentation was made to Seniors at the class meeting on October 19, with details and important information on Senior Experience. This information is posted on the Senior website. Contact Ms. Sutphin with any questions.
Senior Portraits
Seniors will have one final opportunity to have their senior portrait taken in school on the Thursday and Friday after Thanksgiving, November 30-December 1. Appointment date and time information will be sent out by mail from Prestige Portraits.
For those who wish to have a retake, they will need to call the Prestige Line at 855.918.2930 as there are open slots on both days. There is also a link to sign up on a QR code, which is posted in the Activities office.
Senior Portrait Gallery
Senior portraits taken in the June and August sessions have been hung in the main hallway Senior Portrait Gallery. If your picture is not up, please see Ms. Stotler in the Activities Office. Portraits taken during the September session will be hung after they are received from Lifetouch.
TECHNOLOGY CORNER
Caring for your device-How to keep your device clean
Remember, both the student device and charger have been checked out to you. It is important to take good care of the computer because it belongs to the school, and it is there to help you with your learning. If you lose your charger or something happens to your computer, please be sure to see Mr. Wilson (the school’s Tech) in room 235 during your lunch.
Cleaning the exterior
The recommended practice is using a few drops of rubbing alcohol on a damp microfiber cloth, as it evaporates quickly. Don’t ever apply cleaning products like ammonia or bleach directly onto your laptop. The liquid could possibly seep into the crevices of your machine. Additionally, it’s best practice to invest in a quality case for your laptop. Reminder to shut off your computer once per week!
Cleaning the keyboard
- Unplug and turn off your laptop.
- Turn your laptop upside down while it’s open, and tap or shake it to dislodge debris.
- Wipe across the keys with a lightly dampened microfiber cloth. Use a soft-bristled brush to get between the keys!
UPCOMING DATES
See YHS Calendar for more information
- November 6th – End of 1st Quarter
- November 7th – No School for Students – Grade Preparation Day
- November 10th – Veterans’ Day – No School Holiday
- November 22-24 – Thanksgiving Holiday
