November 8, 2024 Weekly Newsletter

Dear Patriot Families,

Thank you for your support of our enhanced entry safety measures in the mornings. Students have been very prepared with student IDs or StudentVue ready to show staff. It has not impacted their ability to get to class on time. A reminder of the importance of quickly sharing safety concerns with school staff. Together, we can keep our students safe.

We also want to congratulate our students on a successful first quarter of the school year. Report cards will be available in Synergy on Thursday, November 14th at 10:00 am.

As we celebrate Veterans’ Day on Monday, we acknowledge and recognize the sacrifices and contributions of veterans in our community. Thank you for your service!

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

Silent No More Presentation Thursday

This Thursday during 3rd period and Patriot Period, all students will participate in a substance abuse prevention presentation called “Silent No More”. Featuring law enforcement staff, mental health experts, doctors, and family members of victims of overdoses, and, this powerful presentation helps provide students with critical information about preventing addiction, overdoses, and supporting themselves and others. APS is planning to have a follow-up parent session at a later date.

Students will hear from experts who are intimately familiar with dangerous drugs and their short and long-term effects on the brain, on one’s life, on relationships with family/friends, and on its impact on the community as a whole. This presentation seeks to educate individuals and share experiences, so that individuals can make fully informed decisions. Students who would like to opt-out can let their third period teacher know and report to the cafeteria.

Fall Sports Playoffs

The field hockey team is in the state playoffs and will travel to Stafford High School  on Tuesday, November 12 at 6 pm.  If they win, they head to Virginia Beach for the quarterfinals and possibly finals on November 15 (5 pm)/16 (4 pm) at Ocean Lakes High School.

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 an away game on Friday, November 15 at 7 pm (opponent TBD).

Congratulations Quarter 1 Yorktown ROCS Awards Recipients

Congratulations to students who were recognized by staff members for demonstrating respect for Others, the Community and Selves! Thank you for your contributions to a positive Yorktown community.

Yorktown Earns AP School Honor Roll Platinum Honors

Yorktown has been recognized by the College Board as a Platinum School on the AP School Honor Roll for 2023-24, the second year in a row and one of only 1,049 schools earning this recognition. Congratulations to students, staff and families on this honor!

COUNSELING CORNER

Advisory Information

Tuesday, November 12th 

• 9th-12th Grades: Say What?!  Free Speech & YOU lesson

Thursday, November 14th: No advisory for students as 3rd period will be extended for the “Silent No More” presentation

First Generation College Day: November 8, 2024 

Today we celebrated students attending college as the first generation in their family! Danielle Dessaso, our college and career counselor, led the celebration with morning announcements including fun facts highlighting school staff and famous people who are first generation college students.

It’s College Application Season

Counselors are working diligently to help students with their post-secondary plans.  This includes making sure recommendation letters are submitted to colleges by the required deadlines.  We ask for some grace and your patience as counselors make sure all deadlines are met.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION CORNER

Student Free Speech

Next week, during the Tuesday advisory period, all students will engage in a presentation about student free speech rights and limitations in public schools.  The following points will be highlighted:

• While students enjoy freedom of speech in school, the following types of speech are not protected by the First Amendment: obscenity, incitement to lawless action, true threats and defamation
• School officials can limit speech that may cause a substantial disruption to school activities or invade the rights of others
• Pro-drug messages are not protected by the First Amendment
• There are limitations to school officials’ authority to regulate off-campus speech
• School officials can censor school-sponsored publications (e.g. newspaper, school club flyers) if their decision is reasonably related to a legitimate educational purpose.
• APS prohibits hate speech defined as “Any form of expression through which speakers intend to vilify, humiliate, or incite hatred against a group or a class of persons on the basis of race, religion, skin color, sexual identity, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, or national origin.”

Thank you for encouraging your students to make Yorktown a welcoming, vibrant school community where students, staff and families feel a strong sense of belonging!

ACTIVITIES UPDATES

Club of the Week: The Everybody Plays Club

The Everybody Plays club focuses on educating the Yorktown community on travel and club athletic teams which offer subsidized registration fees in hopes of having more students be able to compete at the travel/club level without regard to socioeconomic status.  The club might also partner with a local travel/club team to subsidize a scholarship for the registration fee cost. See Ms. Armstrong for more information.

Winter Sports Tryout Information

Winter sports begin on November 11, which is a student holiday, for basketball and wrestling.  Other sports, such as gymnastics, swim/dive, track, cheer, rifle and crew conditioning, begin in the days following.  Please consult this schedule for exact tryout/practice times for the first three days.  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:

• Monday, November 11th, Veterans’ Day Holiday –  No school
• Wednesday-Friday, November 27-29 Thanksgiving Holiday – No school