September 8, 2023 YHS News Letter

Good Afternoon Patriot Families,

I hope you enjoyed the Labor Day weekend and had a productive second week of school. We appreciate everyone contributing to our safe and orderly school environment by being in class on time, following school behavior expectations, and practicing Respect for Others, the Community and Self (ROCS). As I have visited classes this week, I have observed collaboration, communication, student engagement, and connections to SEL skills, especially self-awareness and social awareness. Students have been engaged and productive, and we appreciate all of their hard work!

Please note, SchoolTalk messages are posted on the Yorktown website. Have a great 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

Back-to-School BBQ & Football Game Next Thursday, September 14

Come to the Student Government Association Back-to-School BBQ before the varsity football game Thursday, September 14th for free food, music, and games. The event is for students and will begin at 6 p.m. in the bus loop!

Student Activities Fair Next Wednesday

There will be an activities fair for students held on Wednesday, September 13th from 11 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. in the Atrium and Cafeteria lobby. Students are invited to find out more information about some of the clubs offered at the school. Also, students should check out the Activities Canvas page and daily announcements for club information.

This Week’s Advisory Plan

This week, students will meet with their advisors Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. On 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 can meet with teachers or counselors, work with peers, and access the library or other resources.

• Monday 9/11: Safety and Expectations Review and Acknowledgment
• Tuesday (9/12): Quarter 1 Goal Setting
• Wednesday (9/13): Student Choice
• Thursday (9/14): Introducing the Academic Planner
• Friday (9/15): Student Choice

Parent Canvas and ParentVUE Access

Parents may create a Canvas Parent Observer account and access Canvas via a web browser OR the Canvas Parent app.

Canvas: Parents can see assignment details, and their child’s submissions, scores, and specific feedback.  To monitor progress in Canvas, Parents/Guardians must create a Canvas Parent Observer account:

• Step-by-Step Guide: Set up an APS Canvas Parent Observer account
• Parents/Guardians must log in using the APS Canvas Parent Login on the ParentVUE &Canvas webpage
• Canvas Parent Account FAQs

ParentVUE: ParentVUE is the place to see official grades, attendance, bus and other student information.  Parents can expect to see grades for all assignments and assessments being used to calculate the final grades (quarter, semester, final etc).

Paper Online Tutoring Support Expanded

Expanded Academic Support for Middle and High School Students: APS is expanding the services offered by PAPER for grades 6-12 to include literacy support, direct access through Canvas and more. PAPER offers 24/7 on-demand virtual tutors for assistance with homework, essay review and other academic assistance in multiple subjects and languages. I encourage you to utilize this resource as needed. Details online.

Back to School Night

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 also 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 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.

Introducing The Learning Center (TLC)

We are excited to introduce an instructional space in our library for student academic support. Students may now use The Learning Center for taking and retaking assessments, catching up after an extended absence, or remediation. Teachers are responsible for scheduling the assessments and appointments for students. Students interested in using this space should speak to their individual teachers to learn more. Additionally, students will be able to access this space on a first-come-first-serve basis from 3:15 p.m.-4:15 p.m. beginning Monday, September 11.

Drop-Off/ Pick-Up Reminders

The roads and parking lots are very busy places around Yorktown High School, especially during the morning rush to get to school and the afternoon rush to leave school. Please be sure that you are aware of the entrance/exit for student Drop-Off or Pick-Up. We do appreciate it if you follow the entrance/exit routes as this helps people move along in a relatively efficient process. Please see the visual map below for assistance. If you need to park on campus for any reason, please be sure to stop by the main office to pick up a Visitor Parking Pass to park in the staff lot.

Join the Yorktown Equity Team!

In APS, Equity Teams are collectives of individuals, representing students, teachers/school counselors, administrators, and parents/guardians/caregivers, who work collaboratively to promote and advance equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives.  The Yorktown Equity Team strategically examines individual experiences, data, policies and practices to actively identify bias, inequity, and discrimination at YHS in current and historical contexts.  Once identified, we advocate for institutional, curricular and instructional changes, and engage in anti-bias and anti-racist practices to ensure each member of our school community feels valued, respected, and empowered.  Please consider joining the Yorktown Equity Team to help us advance its vision of an equitable, inclusive, safe, and anti-racist school community.  Apply at this link – applications are due by Wednesday, September 27, 2023.

Deaf Awareness Month

September is recognized as Deaf Awareness Month. Celebrate Deaf Awareness Month by supporting deaf artists, reading books written by deaf authors and expanding your knowledge about the deaf community and culture.

Hispanic Heritage Month

Each year, National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed from September 15 to October 15 to honor the histories and cultures of both Hispanic and Latino Americans. Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes and celebrates the achievements and contributions of Hispanic American champions who have inspired others to achieve success.  We will celebrate with weekly activities, treats and music during Patriot Period and lunch.  Stay tuned for more information about festivities planned to celebrate our Hispanic and Latino students and families!

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.

For parents of seniors, we will be holding a live virtual event via Microsoft Teams on Thursday, September 14th at 7:00pm.  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.

Suicide Prevention Awareness Week September 11 – 15, 2023

APS secondary schools will be acknowledging Suicide Prevention Awareness Week from September 11 – 15. Intervention Counselors will be spearheading this effort through morning announcements and tables at lunch with information and activities that address risk factors, protective factors, staying connected to others, building a support network, and when to ask for help. Copies of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Line Fact Sheet (English and Spanish) will be available in the counseling suite and during lunch.

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.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

Yorktown vs. Washington-Liberty Attendance Information

The varsity football game between Washington-Liberty and Yorktown will be held on Thursday, September 14, at home at 7 p.m.  Tickets will only be sold at the gate and the cost is $5.

Yorktown students and spectators should plan to enter through the staircase on North 27th Street near the concession stand.  This will facilitate quicker entry.

Reminders:

• No backpacks or bags are allowed and no outside food or beverages can be brought into any home games.
• Anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol will not be admitted or will be asked to leave the event.
• Only students from Yorktown and W-L are allowed admission without their own parent or guardian present.  IDs or StudentVUE will be checked at the gate.
• Middle-school students (and younger) must be accompanied by their parent or guardian
• Admission is $5 and tickets will be sold at the gate (exact change is preferred)

Upcoming Home Games:

Fall Sports Update

Most fall sports are underway and began August 1 or August 7.  The only remaining fall sport is ultimate frisbee.  Please make sure to register on the new athletic registration site before attending.  The registration process includes uploading a VHSL doctor’s physical page. Hard copies of physical forms are no longer accepted as all registration is done online.  Ultimate frisbee is an intra-county activity which meets twice a week and does not require a physical or prior registration to join – all are welcome.  The boys team will meet on Tuesday, September 12, at 3:30 p.m. on the grass softball field; and the girls team will meet Tuesday, September 12, at 5 p.m. on the grass baseball field.  Interested students should bring sneakers/turf shoes and cleats (if desired) as well as water to the first practice.

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 – @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) and crew winter training begin on November 6th; and 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 should be on the lookout for an appointment card in the mail.  Make-up appointments may be self-scheduled. 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.

Save the Date

Class of 2024 Graduation – Thursday, June 13, 3:30 p.m. at DAR Constitution Hall.

TECHNOLOGY CORNER

Access Issues

Students should access Canvas, email, and other educational apps via MyAccess. Independent approved educational apps or sites will be directed by the teachers using them.

Computer Distribution

If your student does not have a computer or needs to turn in their iPad, please have them see Mr. Wilson in room 235 during all three lunches or Patriot Period.

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.

Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) Slides

Please see the links to the Yorktown High School AUP slide presentations below. Further details about access to educational tools and email are highlighted in the last five slides.

AUP ENGLISH

AUP AMHARIC

AUP ARABIC

AUP MONGOLIAN

AUP SPANISH

UPCOMING DATES

See YHS Calendar for more information

• September 25 – Holiday – Yom Kippur