
Blue & White Newsletter - 3/21/25
Week of March 17, 2025

WEST YORK MODEL UN CLUB FINISHES SUCCESSFUL 2024-25 SEASON
On Tuesday, March 11th, the 17 member Model United Nations team, advised by Ms. Melissa Carl, participated in the final conference of the Susquehanna Valley Model UN League (SVMUN) season. Model UN is an international activity with conferences and clubs located all over the world. Model UN conferences involve students role-playing delegates of the member countries in the United Nations. The club promotes research skills, public-speaking, and debate skills, as well as awareness of international relations and current issues.
The team came home with three individual awards won by seniors Will Plappert, Caroline Pritts, and Darien Reimold. Darien and Will role-played individuals debating issues related to Title IX in the United States, and Caroline represented Switzerland on the Security Council, the highest ranking committee at conference. William won the Consensus Builder Award, Caroline won the Parliamentarian Award, and Darien won the Outstanding Statesman Award.
Congratulations to the whole team for being awarded Second Place for the SVMUN League this year!
Every year the Model UN team attends five SVMUN League conferences held at various participating schools. This year the team went to Lampeter-Strasburg, Solanco, Penn Manor, Central York, and Eastern York, bringing home 12 awards total for the year.
Model UN Club will continue to meet to plan and host a mini-MUN event at the High School for the 8th grade seminar students guided by Ms. Lisa Konopinski.
Congratulations to all MUN students for a fabulous and productive season!
High Stakes, High Goals: Robotics Club Competes at VEX Champ's Classic
Robotics Club students at the High School participated at the VEX Robotics Champ's Classic competition at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology on Saturday, March 15th. Teams from throughout Pennsylvania gathered to compete in this year's game, "High Stakes." The object of the game was to attain a higher score than the opposing alliance by scoring rings on stakes, placing mobile goals, and climbing at the end of the match. Students have been working throughout the year during class and Lunch & Learn to build their robots. The fully student-built robots contain components such as gears, motors, pneumatic pistons, and a programmable brain. Opportunities for next year include the Robotics I and II classes, as well as Robotics Club. The club's goal for next year is to place at the state tournament and hopefully qualify for World!
The Robotics Club advisors are Mr. Andrew Rafferty and Mr. Christopher Storm. The students who participated in the March 15th competition are Jaden McFarlin, Ryken Bray, Jarod Bradford, Anjel Neopaney, and Sujan Dahal.
Celebrating Outstanding Winter Athletes and Record-Breaking Achievements
At Tuesday's Board Meeting, Mr. Brandon Fuhrman, Athletic Director, provided an overview of the winter sports season and the team/individual accomplishments. We had a total of 158 student athletes from 7-12th grade participating in our sporting events this winter.
Team Recognitions:
- Our Girls Swim Team won the sportsmanship award for this winter for the 2nd year in a row and two of our swimmers, Bri Miller and Tristen Thomas, just competed at the PIAA State Championships last week. Both girls dropped their time and finished better than their seed entering into the Championships.
- Our Girls Basketball Team finished 2nd in their division, finished 3rd in the District 3 Tournament, and advanced to the Sweet 16 in the State Tournament.
- Our Boys Basketball Team won their 4th straight Division II Title, finished 3rd in the District 3 Tournament, and advanced to the Elite 8 in the State Tournament.
Individual Recognitions:
- At the YAIAA Swimming Championships, junior Kevin Vu broke a 5 year old record in the 100 yard breaststroke. The record was last set in 2020 by Alex Landis with a time of 1:03.04. Kevin broke the record by nearly 2 seconds with a time of 1:01.34.
- Sophomore Brooke Nalls is a member of our Girls Basketball Team. During their game against Dover, our girls were struggling to start the game but Brooke was able to get on the board early with a couple of big baskets to get the team going. That game, Brooke finished with five 2-pointers, eight 3-pointers, and was a perfect four for four from the foul line. That put her at 38 points on the game which broke a 12 year old record set by Emily Wood during the 2012-2013 season at 36 points. In that same game, her eight 3-pointers also broke a 26 year old record last set by Holly Myers during the 1998-1999 season.
- Senior Reagan Doll has been a 4 year starter on our Girls Basketball Team and has helped lead the girls to the State Tournament each of her 4 years. This year, Reagan broke two basketball records. The first was for most 3-pointers in a season and the second was for most 3-pointers in a career. Both records were last set by Emily Wood during the 2014-2015 season. Reagan topped the number of 3-pointers in a season by 7, making the new record 76 3-pointers in a season. She really raised the bar in the number of 3-pointers in a career to 202 3-pointers, which is 72 more than the previous record. Over Christmas break, at the Manheim Township Tournament, Reagan reached her 1,000th point milestone in the game against Cedar Cliff. Reagan continued to add to her total points as the girls made a run into the Sweet 16 of the State Tournament and finished her career with 1,284 total points which puts her at 2nd All-Time amongst the leading scorers of West York Girls basketball. Reagan’s name has now been added to the 1,000 point banner and will be proudly displayed in the gym. Congratulations Reagan and best of luck to you as you graduate and go to college and major in early childhood education. Hopefully we’ll see you back here at West York teaching our little ones and maybe even see you back on the court or field as a coach.
Congratulations Kevin, Brooke, and Reagan for your hard work and dedication to your sports and your teams and for being a great representative of West York.
Pictured below: Front row (L-R) Reagan Doll, Brooke Nalls, "Spike," and Kevin Vu.
Back row (L-R) Mr. Dan Rice (School Board President), Mr. Jason Getz (Girls Basketball Head Varsity Coach), Dr. Todd Davies (Superintendent of Schools), Mr. Brandon Fuhrman (Athletic Director), and Mr. Reed French (Swimming/Diving Head Varsity Coach).
Wallace First Graders Share Stories and Smiles at Country Meadows
Lincolnway Students Excel in Recorder Lab!
Several Lincolnway Elementary students earned their Black Belts in recorder lab with Ms. Faith Wentworth, Lincolnway Music teacher. Four students earned their Gold Belts.
To earn a Black Belt, students must master the use of the five following notes: B-A-G-E-D. Students who earn a Gold Belt have mastered the use of the following nine notes: C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C-D.
Rocking Their Socks: Ms. Burt's LSS Class Raises Awareness for Down Syndrome
Ms. Amanda Burt's LSS class at the High School participated in Rock Your Socks Day, a global campaign that encourages people to wear their most colorful, mismatched socks to raise awareness to support individuals with Down Syndrome.
St. Patrick’s Day Treats Bring Smiles to Trimmer Elementary Faculty & Staff
Faculty at Trimmer Elementary spread some extra cheer by sharing festive St. Patrick’s Day treats! Faculty and staff members enjoyed a variety of delicious goodies, adding a touch of green and gold to their day. The thoughtful gesture brought smiles and helped celebrate the spirit of the holiday.
Substitute Teaching Opportunity for College Students
Are you a parent of a college student? If so, your child may qualify to substitute teach while on break!
An LEA (Local Education Agency) may allow a prospective teacher to serve as a substitute if the individual:
- Is currently enrolled in a Pennsylvania-approved college or university educator preparation program;
- Has completed at least 60 semester hours or equivalent; and
- Meets all statutory requirements related to clearances, citizenship, and good moral character.
The individual may teach a maximum of 20 days per school year.
For further information or questions, please contact our Human Resources Department at kljacoby@wyasd.org or 717-792-2796.
The Foundation for the West York Area School District Scholarship Deadline
Each year, the Foundation for the West York Area School District awards several scholarships. To date, the Foundation has awarded a total of $295,800 and they plan to award $70,500 in scholarships this year.
Completed scholarship applications must be received
in the Counseling Office by
TUESDAY, MARCH 25th!
Information on all scholarships can be found on the Counseling Center's webpage. High School students can find scholarship applications on the Guidance Canvas Resources Page. If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Gail Wildasin in the Counseling Center.
Join Us in Fighting Childhood Cancer
TOMORROW - Saturday, March 22nd!
On the flyer below, you will see a QR code if you would like to donate to our event. You can scan the QR code or click on the flyer to donate. You can make a general donation to the event, or to a student's individual fundraising goal if they are signed up on Donor Drive. Our collective goal is $25,000. We hope to see the West York community come out and join us during the community time!
Be Sure to Mark Your Calendars for our Spring Concerts!
Spring is almost here and that means concert time in West York. So, check out the upcoming concert dates below and be sure to mark your calendars! Our students have been working hard and developing their musical talents. They are very excited to share their gifts with our community!
- Wednesday, April 9 - TRM Beginning Band & 4th Grade Chorus Concert - 6:30 - 8:00 PM
- Thursday, April 10 - TRM Concert Band & 5th Grade Chorus Concert - 6:30 - 8:00 PM
- Friday, April 25 - HS/MS Spring Jazz Concert - High School Auditorium - 7:00 - 9:00 PM
- Friday, May 9 - HS Band Spring Concert - 7:00 - 9:00 PM
- Thursday, May 15 - MS/HS Pops Concert - Middle School Auditorium - 6:30 - 8:30 PM
- Wednesday, May 21 - MS Band Concert - Middle School Auditorium - 6:30 - 7:30 PM
MARCH 21, 2025
9th/10th Grade:
Eric Ramos Jimenez
For your bravery and responsibility!
11th/12th Grade:
Cooper Godfrey
For continuing to question what you believe is correct!
Faculty/Staff:
Mr. Todd Lewis
For stepping up at the last minute to provide an awesome learning experience for our "Littles"!
Bulldog Buck$!
Attention Students! You’re in luck! Want to earn extra cash just by making deposits into your First Capital account? Now’s your chance! Open a membership at the Bulldog Branch and receive your very own Bulldog Buck$ Stamp Card, an exclusive program just for West York Area students! Visit the Bulldog Branch of First Capital Federal Credit Union to pick up your Bulldog Buck$ stamp card. Students in other WYASD schools can get their card at the local branch! Every time you make a deposit of $20.00 or more—whether it’s from your paycheck, cash from shoveling your neighbor’s driveway, or birthday money—you’ll get a stamp! Once you fill up your card with 20 stamps, bring it back to us, and
we’ll deposit $20.00 directly into your account! It’s that simple—earn rewards for saving and making deposits! Stop by today and start collecting your stamps!
Also, on days the Bulldog Branch is closed, you can still earn stamps on your Bulldog Bucks stamp card! Simply stop by one of First Capital's other branches—located in West York, East York, South York, or Manchester—make a deposit, and receive your stamp!
The Bulldog Breakdown
The Weekly Athletic Department Newsletter
Stay abreast of the Athletic Department's weekly news with the Bulldog Breakdown, a weekly recap of the prior week's athletic accomplishments and the upcoming sporting events.
Simply click the Bulldog Breakdown bar below to view the latest issue!
Important Dates - March - April 2025
- Friday, March 28, Marking Period 3 Report Cards Available in Sapphire
- Friday, April 4, Early Dismissal
- Tuesday, April 8, Board Work Session (7:00 PM)
- Wednesday, April 9, Trimmer Beginning Band and 4th Grade Choral Concert (6:30 PM)
- Thursday, April 10, Wellness Committee Meeting (3:15 PM)
- Thursday, April 10, Trimmer 5th Grade Band and 5th Grade Choral Concert (6:30 PM)
- Tuesday, April 15, Communication and Engagement Committee (CEC) Meeting (5:30 PM)
- Tuesday, April 15, Board Voting Meeting (6:30 PM)
- Thursday, April 17, Professional Learning Day - No school for students
- Friday, April 18, Spring Break - All Buildings & Grounds are Closed
- Monday, April 21, Snow Make-Up Day - School is in Session
- Thursday, April 24, Off to Kindergarten (5:30 PM for 2025-2026 kindergarten students)
- Friday, April 25, HS/MS Spring Jazz Concert (7:00 PM at the High School)
- Saturday, April 26, Prom (6:00 PM)
- Wednesday, April 30, Guide to Middle School (6:30 PM for current 5th grade students)
Make-up days for the inclement weather closures are as follows:
- For Thursday, February 6th - the make-up day will be in June for teachers only.
IT BEARS REPEATING!
The content below was in last week's issue but it bears repeating as a reminder or for anyone who may have missed it. If pertinent details of an article are changed, we will pull the article above this section and highlight any changes.
2025-2026 Kindergarten Registration is Now OPEN!
We can't wait to start meeting our newest little Bulldogs!
Explore Free Summer Programs with MANTEC for High School Seniors & Young Adults
Check out the flyers linked below to learn about the opportunities being offered through MANTEC's free summer programs. The MFG U camps (one at York College, one at Millersville University) are for rising HS seniors. The MFG Access (in partnership with Thaddeus Stevens College at PA CareerLink in Lancaster) program is for 18-24 year olds.
Please reach out to Cindi Moses at cindi@mantec.org with any questions!
First Capital Federal Credit Union Scholarships!
Seniors, this is your chance to earn some extra funds for college! If you're looking for financial
support to help pay for your higher education this fall, we've got fantastic news! First Capital Federal Credit Union and the York Chapter of Credit Unions are offering scholarships this spring to help make your college dreams a reality.
This year, First Capital will award FOUR Dennis Flickinger Honorable Scholarships (2 - $2,000 and 2 - $1,000) to deserving high school seniors in York County!
The York Chapter of Credit Unions will also provide TWO $1,000 scholarships to deserving students! So, share this post with someone you think should apply!
Applications for both can be found at this link: https://linktr.ee/firstcapitalfcu
To be eligible for the scholarships, student applicants must:
- Be a member of First Capital Federal Credit Union with an account in good standing
- Be a graduating York County high school senior
- Plan to attend an institution of higher learning full-time (accredited two or four-year degree
- program)
This is a great opportunity for all high school seniors looking to get a head start on their college funding. Take advantage of this incredible opportunity and make sure to apply before the deadlines! (First Capital: April 4, 2025; York Chapter of Credit Unions: March 7, 2025)
Submitting a Student Absence Excuse Form Online
Using Your Computer to Report an Absence
MUST be completed within 3 days of the absence
From the District WEBSITE Attendance Page
➔ Scroll down to the vertical gray boxes just under the changing highlight pictures at the top of the District website's home page
➔ Click on the Attendance box
➔ Underneath Online Attendance click on Sapphire Community Portal Login
➔ On the login page put in your username and password (this must be set up prior to you using this page)
➔ On the left side is your student(s) name(s)
- If you have multiple students, please make sure you are at the correct student
➔ Under MY BACKPACK click on Student Data Forms (making sure it is the correct student)
➔ Underneath On Demand Forms click on Digital Excuse Blank
➔ Fill out the entire form and upload any doctor’s notes into this form
➔ Make sure to click on SUBMIT so your form is sent directly to the attendance secretary
Using the District App from Your Cell Phone to Report an Absence
MUST be completed within 3 days of the absence
➔ From the WYASD App Home Page, click on the More waffle icon on the right side of the screen
➔ Click on the Sapphire Portal icon on the right side of the screen
➔ Log in to Sapphire
➔ If you have multiple students, make sure you are in the correct student’s account
➔ At the bottom of the screen there is a purple circle with 3 white lines, click on the circle
➔ Click on the green circle marked Student Data Forms
➔ Underneath On Demand Forms click on Digital Excuse Blank
➔ Fill out the entire form and upload any doctor’s notes into this form
➔ Make sure to click on SUBMIT so your form is sent directly to the attendance secretary
Golden Bulldog Passes!
If you are new to West York, you might be saying, "What is a Golden Bulldog Pass?" Exclusively for West York Area School District residents 65 and older, the Golden Bulldog Pass is valid for one admission to all District-sponsored events, including athletic events (excluding playoff events), fine arts events such as concerts, plays, and musicals, and special invitation-only events for senior citizens.
Our annual "Lunch and a Show" is our most popular invitation-only event and seating is limited! So, don't miss out on this and other opportunities! To learn more, please click the Golden Bulldog Pass card to the left.
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