November 7, 2025 Newsletter

Dear Yorktown Parents and Guardians,

Congratulations on making it through the first quarter! As we begin the second quarter, I would like to remind you of the importance of on-time school attendance. Please ensure your child arrives at Yorktown prior to 8:10 so that they are in class by 8:20. We are seeing more students arriving late to school. As a result, we will be increasing morning hall sweeps, which provide immediate consequences to students who arrive late to school. Thank you for your support of positive attendance.

Monday, November 10th marks the first day of winter sports try outs. Swim/dive, basketball, wrestling and gymnastics begin Monday with indoor track, winter crew conditioning and cheerleading begin Monday, November 17.  Students must be registered through the Yorktown Athletic Website to participate in tryouts. Please see below for more information.

A reminder that there is no school on Tuesday, November 11th, 2025 for the Veterans’ Day Holiday. Thank you to all who have served for your sacrifice to our country.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Dr. Kevin Clark, Principal

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

Employee of the Year Nominations Accepted Until November 14th

It’s that time of year again! Nominations are open to select one Teacher of the Year, Support Employee of the Year, and Assistant Principal of the year representing Yorktown. Please submit Nominations using this form by Friday, November 14th. A reminder that the person making the nomination is responsible for collecting all supporting documents if the nominee is selected as Yorktown’s employee of the year.

Congratulations Marching Band!

The Yorktown Marching Band capped off a remarkable season with the VMBC Freedom Showcase, where they finished in first place in Group 3 and won all the caption awards for best music, visual, general effect, percussion, and guard. Congratulations to the YMB on an incredible season!

AFAC Club Food Drive at the Football Playoff Game – November 14

Please consider bringing non-perishable food to support those with food insecurity in our local community.  The AFAC club students will be collecting canned and non-perishable food items at the football playoff game on Friday, November 14. Join the cause and support our school club and local food distribution network.

Greenbrier Turf Field Replacement

Starting November 24 or December 1, the Greenbrier Park field will be closed for construction to replace the synthetic turf and update the infill. The Greenbrier Park track is expected to remain open for the public during this time, however, a section of the track will be a construction entrance to the field and will not be usable so running laps will not be an option. Staff estimate the turf replacement will be complete in mid to late February 2026.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Updates

Hot Meals for APS Families

Beginning Thursday November 6th, APS will launch a temporary meal program to support students and families affected by the federal government shutdown. APS families are invited to enjoy a free hot meal at Yorktown, Washington-Liberty, or Wakefield high schools from 5:30-7:30pm Monday through Friday. Meals will be served in each school’s cafeteria, and we ask families to eat on site so we can serve as many households as possible.

Please note that there will be no meals served on Veteran’s Day, Tuesday November 11, 2025.

APS asks that you complete this brief, optional form. Your input will help APS meet the needs of our community. The form does not collect identifying information and it is not required to attend. Free and Reduced Lunch Applications

Families who have been impacted by job/income loss due to the government shutdown are able to apply or reapply for Free & Reduced Meals to reflect their current situation. You can complete the application 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

There will be no Tuesday advisory lesson due to the Veterans’ Day Holiday. Students can report to any classroom Monday-Friday for academic support.

New Counselor

Please welcome our new counselor, Caroline Capoccia, an experienced school counselor who is replacing Ms. Bourciquot.  Ms. Capoccia started this week and is looking forward to getting to know her students. A meet and greet was held for her students today, and they can also see her in the counseling suite.   During lunches, 12th graders may find her in room 107, the college and career office, helping students with their college applications.  Ms. Capoccia can be reached at 703-228-5358 or [email protected]

ACTIVITIES UPDATES

Playoff Action Update

The girls cross country team won the districts, came in third at regions and now will compete at the State meet on Saturday, November 8 at Oatlands.  The football team won the district and will begin their postseason with a home game on Friday, November 14 at 7 pm.

Winter Sports Tryout Information – Starts Monday

In order to participate in tryouts or any other athletic activity, students must have registered online, including uploading a valid, stamped VHSL physical form and APS participation agreement. The VHSL physical form has changed as of April 2025 and the new form must be used moving forward. Physicals are now valid for 14 months from the date of the doctor’s signature and families are responsible for ensuring they update their student’s physical within the 14 month period or the student will be ineligible midseason. Any physical dated after May 1, 2025 will ensure eligibility for the entire 2025-2026 school year.

The winter tryout/practice schedule is now available.   Basketball, gymnastics and winter cheer will conduct tryouts for at least three days, while other winter sports allow all students who show interest and commitment the first week. Students who completed the athletic registration process for the fall and need to be added to a winter sport tryout list should contact Mary Ann Mahan

November 10 – Basketball, wrestling, swim/dive, gymnastics – please note November 11 is a student holiday but teams will practice/tryout

November 17 – indoor track, winter crew conditioning and cheerleading

Rifle will conduct tryouts beginning November 10; however, only members of the fall club are eligible. Club orientation has already taken place.

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.

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 over 300 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 . For any student to whom payment of dues would present a hardship, please contact our School Treasurer, Sabrina Ashby to request a scholarship.

Final Opportunity for Senior Portrait Makeups

There will be one final opportunity for Senior Portrait Makeups on Friday, December 5th in the library. Seniors who have not yet had their portrait taken will be able to attend 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:

• Tuesday, November 11, – No School, Veterans’ Day
• Wednesday, November 26-28 No School, Thanksgiving Holiday
• Wednesday, December 10, Early Release, Professional Learning