October 31, 2025 Newsletter

Dear Yorktown Parents and Guardians,

Happy Halloween! Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable Halloween tonight. Thank you for helping to make the Yorktown vs. W-L football game a success last night. We had a spirited and exciting rivalry game, and the students did a great job.

Reminder that the first quarter ends Monday, November 3rd. There is no school for students on November 4th, the grade preparation day for teachers. Additionally, there is no school on Tuesday, November 11th, for the Veterans’ Day Holiday.

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:https://forms.gle/B4ojxumsRuAjZEWJ8 by Friday, November 14th. Remember 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.

Underclassmen Fall Picture Retakes/Makeups

Underclassmen Fall Picture Retakes and Makeups will take place on Friday, November 7th, in the library. Students will be allowed to come to the library to have their picture taken during Patriot Period (with a pass from their Patriot Period teacher), or they can stop by the library during their lunch period.

Yorktown Theatre Arts Fall Production

Trap by Stephen Gregg, November 6-8 (7:00 pm evenings, 2:00 matinee on Saturday, Nov 8)An incomprehensible event: every person in the audience of a high school play falls unconscious—every person but one. Using interviews with witnesses, loved ones, first responders, and the investigators pursuing the case, a theatre ensemble brings the story of the strange event to life, documentary-style. But as the strands weave together into an increasingly dangerous web, it becomes clear that this phenomenon might not be entirely in the past. Unnerving, exhilarating, and wildly inventive, you’ve never walked into anything quite like Trap. (The play will run 90 minutes with no intermission.  Please note that due to the horror/mystery theme, this play is best for those 11+.)

To purchase your tickets, please visit http://tinyurl.com/YHSTheatre

Congratulations to the Yorktown Marching Band on another outstanding weekend. The YMB traveled to Lynchburg to compete in the Virginia Marching Band Cooperative State Championships. Yorktown came in 4th place in Group 3 and advanced to the Commonwealth Cup Championship for the first time in school history! The band had their best run of the show so far this season at finals and placed 13th in the state.

You can still see the marching band show when the band performs at the APS Marching Band Showcase on Tuesday, the home football game on Thursday, and the VMBC Freedom Showcase on Saturday.

Reminder: Arrival Drop-Off and Dismissal Pick-Up Safety Reminder

As a reminder, please follow all posted signs and traffic flow directions during arrival drop-off and dismissal pick-up times. For the safety of all students and families, we ask that you drop your student off in the parking lot area closest to the school building rather than other parts of the parking lot. The parking lot has many pedestrians coming from different directions, and following the drop off lane and designated drop-off area helps keep everyone safe and ensures a smoother process for all. Thank you for your continued cooperation and commitment to keeping our school community safe.

Youth Survey to Support Student Well-Being Begins This Fall

APS will administer the 2025 Arlington Youth Survey to students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12 between Nov. 10 and Nov. 25.

• The survey is voluntary, confidential and anonymous to protect student privacy.
• Students may skip any question or stop the survey at any time without penalty.
• The survey helps track health and well-being trends and supports services and programs for Arlington youth.
• Families can review survey questions in multiple languages for each grade level before completing it.

Families who do not want their student to participate must submit the opt-out form by Nov. 7. For questions, contact Student Services at [email protected] or 703-228-6061.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Updates

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.

The Emerging Leaders Program Through Edu-Futuro

The Emerging Leaders Program through Edu-Futuro is a future career focused pipeline that aims to enlighten a student’s mind to the limitless possibilities of higher education and offer them individual mentorship along the way. Our ELP I workshops for 9th – 11th grade focus on discovering your passion, goal setting, building a resume, networking skills, public speaking, college essay writing, and what to expect from the college experience. Students even have a chance to win scholarships and prizes by participating in our essay, speech, and resume competitions with awards of $500 – $1000!

After completing ELP I and entering their senior year, students can apply for ELP II, a year long mentorship program where students are matched with a recent college graduate as a mentor. Our mentors are side by side with the students as they apply for colleges and scholarships, prepare for standardized tests, and complete the FAFSA/VASA. Last year, Edu-Futuro was able to help 49 students receive almost $4.5 million in scholarships and financial aid.

If your child is interested, please direct them to fill out the appropriate application below:

ELP I Fall 2025 Application

ELP II Student Application

COUNSELING CORNER

Advisory Information

There will be no Tuesday advisory lesson due to the end of the quarter. Students can report to any classroom Monday-Friday for academic support.

New Counselor

Please welcome our new counselor, Caroline Capoccia, an experienced school counselor replacing Ms. Bourciquot.  Ms. Capoccia will be starting on November 3rd.  Until then, Ms. Dessaso and Mr. Pinkney will continue to complete the requirements for college applications, Mr. Bryant is supporting any mental health concerns, and Ms. Boyers is managing 504s and schedule questions.  We will let you know once Ms. Capoccia has started and how to contact her.  Thank you for your patience and understanding during this transition.

End of Quarter 1 Dates

The first quarter ends on Monday, November 3rd, and there is no school for students on Tuesday, November 4th.  Grades will be viewable in ParentVue starting at 10:00 am on Thursday, November 13th.

Post-Secondary Planning Help Sessions

Lunch Assistance

12th graders are invited to room 107, the College and Career Office, during their lunches to ask questions and get assistance with their post-secondary planning.  This includes, but is not limited to, college applications, common app accounts, Schoolinks functions, workforce and gap year questions, etc.  The sessions started this week and will continue through October.

Schoolinks

We have a new college and career platform for students this year called Schoolinks, which is replacing Naviance.  Please refer to the videos below for more grade specific information about the platform:

• Information and how-to video for 9th and 10th graders
• Information and how-to video for 11th and 12th graders

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 volleyball team competes in the District championship on Monday, November 3, at Langley.  The football team will begin their postseason with a game on Friday, November 14, with details to be determined.

Winter Sports Tryout Information

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 during 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) has 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 caps and gowns so far! Thank you so much to those who have placed their order early. To those still needing to place your order, please do so ASAP by using this form – https://tinyurl.com/capandgown26 . 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:

• Wednesday, October 29, 2025 – Early Release, Professional Learning
• Monday, November 3, 2025 – End of 1st Quarter
• Tuesday, November 4, 2025 – No School for Students – Grade preparation day
• Tuesday, November 11, – No School, Veterans’ Day