September 15, 2023 YHS Weekly Newsletter

Good Afternoon Patriot Families,

We appreciate all of your engagement and support over the first several weeks of school! Our Patriots are doing great and thriving so far this year. We hope you can make it to our Back to School Night this Wednesday, September 20th at 7:00 p.m. at Yorktown. More information below.

Next week we will begin our attendance monitoring of unverified absences and tardies to class. Students with excessive unexcused absences or tardies will be assigned after school or lunch detention to make up the time and work missed in class. Counseling support will be available during these times. Additionally, weekly grade reports will be generated automatically this week and shared with parents and guardians. These are snapshots of progress, and we invite you to partner with teachers, counselors, and administrators if you have any questions or concerns.

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

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT YORKTOWN

Communication Regarding Incidents and Emergencies

As we begin the school year, I want to ensure all Yorktown families understand how APS and our school will communicate in the event of an emergency. My priority in any incident is to make sure students and staff are safe. I am also committed to informing families as quickly as we can and providing families accurate information about what is happening at the school, including the steps being taken to protect your child’s health and safety.

If there is a police presence at school, or any threat to safety, we will alert the Yorktown community as soon as possible. All messages regarding school safety will include the nature of the threat in as much detail as we know. There are three instances when there are limitations to what information we can share:

• In a medical emergency, I will notify families that there is an ambulance at the school due to a medical emergency, to provide reassurance that there is not a broader threat. We cannot share any further information with the school community as part of our legal obligation to maintain students’ private medical information.
• When a school receives a threat of violence under active police investigation, we work closely with ACPD to ensure we do not jeopardize their investigation by releasing confidential or inaccurate information ahead of the police report. Once the investigation is complete and the report has been posted, we share it with our families.
• Regarding student discipline, our goal is to assure families that appropriate disciplinary action has been taken to prevent further harm or danger. In most cases, we cannot provide specific information about disciplinary action related to individuals involved in making threats or other unsafe behaviors, due to student privacy.

I appreciate your partnership in keeping our students safe and healthy whether they are at school, home or in the community. Let’s continue to work together.

Free and Reduced Lunch Application Reminder

Parents can apply at myschoolapps.com or they can complete a paper application. Paper applications are available in the school cafeteria, online or at the Office of Food and Nutrition Services at the Syphax Education center.

Block Schedule Calendar

Please see the APS High School Block Schedule Calendar for a one-page calendar with Even/Odd days. This calendar does not change with any missed days due to snow or other unscheduled closings. This Week’s Advisory PlanThis week, students will have Advisory on Tuesday and Thursday. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, students will be able to choose where to go within the building during Patriot Period. We encourage you to discuss this opportunity with your students and encourage them to make good choices about how they use this time. Students are not permitted to leave the building during Patriot Period. Students will participate in the following lessons next week aligned with the “Self-Awareness” CASEL competency.

• Tuesday (9/19):
  • 9th-11th Grade ONLY: Naviance Lessons:
    • 9th Grade: Strengths Explorer
    • 10th Grade: Achieveworks Personality
    • 11th Grade: Career Cluster Finder
• 12th Grade ONLY: Lesson for adding email in Naviance for college/career info
• Thursday (9/21): Begin Academic Check-In Meetings

Back to School Night This Wednesday!

BTSN is in-person at Yorktown High School, Wednesday, September 20th from 7-9:00 p.m. Students’ schedules can be found in ParentVUE. From 6:30-7 p.m. we will have an optional drop-in session in the Cafeteria with counselors and specialists (AP Coordinator, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Coordinator, Math Coach, Resource Teacher for the Gifted, School Psychologists, School Social Workers, Substance Abuse Counselor). Parking is limited, please plan accordingly and arrive early. See the schedule below:

Excellence in Teaching and Learning Parent & Student Virtual Session with Dr. Willingham, UVA Professor

Please save the date for an engaging presentation on helping your child become an Excellent Learner. Dr. Willingham, Professor at the University of Virginia, will present to Yorktown families and students on strategies from his research and recent book, Outsmart Your Brain: Why Learning is Hard and How You Can Make it Easy. The presentation will be virtual on Wednesday, September 27th from 7-8:30 p.m. Click here for the link to attend.

Join the Yorktown Equity Team!

Please consider joining the Yorktown Equity Team to help us advance our vision of an equitable, inclusive, safe, and anti-racist school community.  Apply at this link – applications are due by Wednesday, September 27, 2023.

Hispanic Heritage Month

Each year, National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed from September 15 to October 15 to honor the histories and cultures of the American Latino Community. Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes and celebrates the achievements and contributions of Hispanic American champions who have inspired others to achieve success.  YHS will celebrate with highlights of Hispanic food and culture during announcements and on the Dailies, conversational Spanish opportunities (for beginner, intermediate, and advanced learners) during lunches on Wednesdays, music and dancing lessons in the courtyard on Fridays during Patriot Period, and Hispanic treats for students on Wednesdays!  Edu-Futuro, a non-profit that empowers immigrant and underserved youth and families through mentorship, education, leadership development, parent engagement, and workforce development, will visit YHS on September 19th.

APS Strategic Plan Engagement Opportunities

As part of the process to develop the 2024-2030 APS Strategic Plan, APS is conducting focus groups in the coming weeks with various stakeholder groups that will focus on gathering community input on the hopes and aspirations for APS students, the greatest opportunities and challenges APS faces, and what APS should prioritize in its next strategic plan. Below are two opportunities for parents to provide feedback on the process.

• Parent Focus Group. Seeking 6 Parent Representatives from YORKTOWN for Focus Group
  • The focus group will be comprised of parents from multiple schools and will be hosted at Escuela Key Elementary School, Wednesday, September 27, 2023, from 3:00 p.m. – 4:14 p.m.
  • Email Dr. Clark (Kevin.clark@apsva.us) if you are interested in participating
• Community Forum. Tuesday, October 3rd at Yorktown at 6:30 p.m.

PSAT Day Information, October 11th

On Wednesday, October 11th all students in grades 10 and 11 will take the Preliminary SAT, also known as the PSAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT). The PSAT is a practice version of the SAT, and students in 11th grade who take the test could qualify to receive a National Merit Scholarship based on their PSAT score. The PSAT is 2 hours and 45 minutes long (not including breaks) and assesses students’ skills in reading, writing, and math. In order to provide an optimal testing environment for our students, on October 11, Yorktown will modify the day as follows:

• Only students in grades 10 and 11 who are taking the PSAT will report to school. They will arrive and begin their day at the regular time. Regular bus transportation will be provided.
• Students in grades 9 and 12 will have an asynchronous day of learning. Lessons and activities will be posted on Canvas for students to complete at home.
• When students finish the PSAT (approximately 12:30 p.m.), they may be released with permission from their parent/guardian, or they may stay at school until the normal dismissal time. Bus transportation home will be provided.
• A grab-and-go lunch will be provided for all students at approximately 12:30 p.m. Students in grades 9 and 12 can go to their home school and get lunch if they wish.

COUNSELING CORNER

College/Career Application Help for Seniors

Starting next week, counselors of seniors will be in the College and Career Office during lunches to assist seniors with applications, or anything else related to graduation and beyond.  Students may drop in during their lunch as needed.

Parent Virtual Senior Information Night Monday, September 18th *New Date*

For parents of seniors, we will be holding a live virtual event via Microsoft Teams on Monday, September 18th at 7:00 p.m.  Senior counselors will cover college and career research and the college application process.  There will be an opportunity to ask questions about senior year transitions.  Please use this link to join the event.  The event will be recorded and can be accessed using this same link once it is over.

Credit-by-Exam

APS allows students with the ability to understand and communicate in languages other than English to earn high school credits through state-approved world language tests. Registration closes September 28th. Credit-by-Exam measures students’ world language proficiency to award up to four high school world language credits which can be used toward the advanced diploma requirements.

• Who should NOT take this exam:
  • Students currently enrolled in level IV or fluent speakers III class, as they will be given the exam in the spring
  • Students who want to improve their grade in a previous world language course as this is not allowable
• There is no cost for APS students to take the exam
  • Depending on the language, some students may be assessed with an Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI). Students who are registered for this and do not show will be responsible for a $60 no-show fee
• For more information and to sign up, please see the World Languages Office website

ACTIVITIES UPDATES

Upcoming Home Games

Homecoming is October 13th Weekend!

The Homecoming football game will be October 13, at 7 p.m. against Langley with the dance on Saturday night, October 14, from 8-11 p.m.  More information on purchasing tickets will be available at a later date.

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

/Winter and Spring Sports

For your planning purposes, winter sports (basketball, gymnastics, swim/dive, wrestling, cheerleading, rifle, indoor track) begin on November 6th and crew winter training begins on November 16th.  Spring sports (baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, tennis, outdoor track, crew) begin on February 19th.  Please note tryouts and practices will be held on school holidays such as Grade Preparation Day (Nov. 7th), Veterans Day (Nov. 10th), and 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.

Off Campus Lunch Privilege for Seniors

Seniors may obtain an Off-Campus Lunch Pass and may leave the school grounds during their lunch period.  Because the school is responsible for all students’ behavior and activities during the normal school day from the time a student leaves home until returning home after school (including extracurricular activities), please review the following Code of Conduct before completing the form linked below. Please complete the form linked here. Passes can be picked up in the main office at the end of next week for forms submitted after September 6th.A photo ID or appropriate ID (StudentVUE) is required for Seniors to go off campus at lunchtime.

1. Seniors will return to campus early enough to ensure that they are not tardy to their next scheduled class.
2. Proper conduct and respect for private property, both in the immediate school neighborhood and the adjacent community, are necessary.
3. Seniors may not take underclass students off campus at lunchtime.
4. Seniors may not bring back food for non-12th grade students.

Failure to observe the Student Code of Conduct may result in the revocation of this Senior privilege.  If the student continues to go off campus, disciplinary action will be considered.

Senior Portraits

Portraits will be taken at school on September 26-29. Seniors who have not yet been photographed will receive their appointment and purchase information in the mail. The final make-up session on site will be November 30-December 1. After this time, Seniors may then schedule an appointment at one of the Studio locations in Hanover or Rockville.

Class Rings

A representative from Herff-Jones will be at school the first week of October to take orders for Junior and Senior Class rings. There will be samples to look at and ring sizing available. The representative will be in the cafeteria lobby from 10:50 AM-1:30 PM and after school from 4:00-6:30 PM. Ring brochures are now available in the Student Activities office.

Save the Date

Class of 2024 Graduation – Thursday, June 13, at DAR Constitution Hall

TECHNOLOGY CORNER

PSAT Technology Preparation

This year, the PSAT will be administered online on student devices through an Application called Bluebook. To prepare, next week, in 10th and 11th English Classes, students will open their Bluebook App in preparation for the upcoming PSAT. Teachers will collect any issues to follow up and address. If your student misses English next week, please have them connect with their teacher so they can verify their device and Bluebook are working properly.

Hardware Issues

Students receiving error messages about security or those with devices that are broken or in need of repair will need to see Mr. Wilson in room 235.

UPCOMING DATES

See YHS Calendar for more information

• September 25 – Holiday – Yom Kippur