Inside Yorktown CSD

Welcome to the August 2024 edition of “Inside Yorktown CSD.” This newsletter will take you inside our schools by sharing photos, stories, announcements, upcoming events, and more — all with the goal of creating a more connected school community.

• August 24 — Fall Sports Begin

• August 26 — Board of Education Meeting

• August 28-29 — Superintendent's Conference Day

• September 2 — Labor Day (Schools Closed)

• September 3 — Schools Open

• September 9 — Board of Education Meeting

Athletic schedules can be found here.

For more calendar information, visit this link.

Dear Yorktown School Community,

I hope this message finds you well. I am pleased to provide some updates on our various programs and initiatives as we progress through the summer.

Extended School Year Program

Our Extended School Year (ESY) special education program is going very well. The program began on July 1 and will run until August 9. Each Wednesday, our students and staff enjoy a day at the town pool, which has become a highlight of the week and provides a wonderful opportunity for students to engage in recreational activities. We are thrilled to see the students enjoying these experiences and making the most of their summer learning.

Summer Reading Program

Our K-8 Summer Reading Program recently concluded, with the K-5 program running for three weeks and the 6-8 program for two weeks. I extend my heartfelt thanks to all the faculty, staff, and students who participated in this excellent program.

Turf Renovation and Track Resurfacing

The resurfacing of the high school track is complete, and the turf renovation is nearing its final stages. We expect the new turf to be fully installed by mid-August. The renovation looks amazing so far, and we are on target to complete the project on time and within budget. A timelapse video of the renovation is available below.

Relocation of PPS Department

To make way for our new FlexPath program on the YHS campus, our Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Department will be moving to French Hill in August. While the phone extensions and email addresses for PPS members will remain unchanged, please call ahead to confirm the location if you have an in-person meeting scheduled.

Fall Sports Registration

Registration for fall sports is now open. If your child wishes to participate in any of our modified, freshman, junior varsity, or varsity athletic offerings, please register them as soon as possible. An email with specific details from our athletic director, Mr. Barrett, was sent earlier this summer to all middle school and high school parents. For further information and to access registration materials, please visit the Athletics Department website. We are excited to see our student-athletes back in action this fall.

Employment Opportunities

Hiring across the District continues to move along productively. Please click here for a list of vacancies.

As always, thank you for your continued support of our excellent school district. I wish you a terrific remainder of the summer.

Sincerely,

Dr. Ron Hattar

Superintendent of Schools

YCSD's Board of Education held its annual organizational meeting on Monday, July 15. A video replay is available on the District's YouTube channel.

The board will hold its next meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, August 26.

Unless noted otherwise, all Board of Education meetings will be held in the middle school cafeteria. You can find agendas and upcoming meeting dates by visiting the following link: BOE Agendas.

You can visit the District's Communications website to keep up with the latest news and to read archived stories.

We are proud to announce that the Yorktown High School Aeronautics Club has won a national championship. This remarkable achievement comes just two years after the club's inception.

Known as the “Corntographers,” the club competed against other teenage drone enthusiasts from July 22 to 24 in the prestigious UAS4STEM competition in OshKosh, Wisconsin. Following a preliminary round in the spring, they were one of five teams to qualify for the finals in the Beginner Division.

This year marked the club’s second consecutive appearance at UAS4STEM. The national competition takes place during AirVenture, a celebration of aviation that attracts more than half a million visitors to OshKosh.

The Aeronautics Club was founded by student Sharik Bose in the second half of the 2022-23 school year. The club has thrived and exemplified teamwork, communication, and collaboration — essential skills for success in the field of aeronautics.

Now a rising senior, Sharik expressed his gratitude and excitement, stating, "Placing first among extremely skilled and capable teams at the national level is a dream come true!"

The club's success is attributed not only to their technical expertise but also their dedication to safety and preparedness. Their autonomous flight missions require programming skills, understanding GPS coordinates, and quick decision-making. The team refined its strategies throughout the practice sessions and prepared its drone to withstand various weather conditions.

Sharik said he is grateful for the District's support. In addition to the Aeronautics Club's success, the launch of the drone elective class in the 2023-24 school year demonstrates the District's commitment to fostering innovation and preparing students for future career opportunities in the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) field. The course emphasizes flying regulations and hands-on piloting in order to prepare students for the Federal Aviation Administration’s drone certification exam.

Sharik hopes the Aeronautics Club continues to grow and excel in the coming years, even after his graduation. He encourages more students to join the club, saying it offers “something for everyone.”

Looking ahead, the club aims to extend its impact beyond competitions. The Corntographers hope to live up to their team’s name, which is a play on the word cartography, the science of mapmaking. The club also has community-oriented goals, such as partnering with local emergency responders on search and rescue efforts and providing workshops for younger students.

“As a rising senior at Yorktown High School, Sonia Eddolls is already contributing to groundbreaking research at the University of Michigan Museum of Paleontology.”

Check out the following article about one of our incredible YHS Science Research students, Sonia Eddolls, who spent her summer analyzing hormones in mastodon tusks!

New York high school student contributes to research at UMMP

Introducing The Yorktown Minute!

On Mondays throughout the school year, Dr. Hattar will take 60 seconds to update you on important information and preview the week ahead. Videos will be posted to our Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook accounts (@YorktownCSD).

• News 12, 5/19/24 - Charity Led by Yorktown Student Helps Raise $6,000+ for Women in Need
• Yorktown News, 5/25/24 - Performing Arts Spotlight: Abe Marron
• Yorktown News, 5/27/24 - Performing Arts Spotlight: Esther Villamin
• Yorktown News, 6/5/24 - Yorktown Lacrosse Wins Regionals and Sectionals
• Yorktown News, 6/12/24 - Husker Constantine Named All-American Again
• Yorktown News, 7/3/24 - Coverage of YHS Graduation

We continue to update our website with various job opportunities — both instructional and non-instructional. If interested, please click here for a list of vacancies.

To ensure you remain informed about the latest school news and announcements, we encourage you to download the free “Yorktown Central Schools” app. This app is available for both iPhone and Android devices and provides a convenient way to receive school news directly on your phone without having to sign up for any social media platform.

The app also allows you to personalize your news feed. By navigating to “Settings” and then “Follow Schools,” you can choose which schools within the district you'd like to receive updates from. You can also use the app to check calendar information, browse the latest lunch menus, and much more.

We have included a step-by-step guide below to walk you through the process of downloading and customizing the app.

The Yorktown Central School District is full of amazing students and staff members, and we know they all have a story to tell. Email communications@yorktown.org, tell us all about it, and you could appear in an upcoming edition of Inside Yorktown CSD and our social media pages!

If you are not a District parent but would like to stay connected with our School Community, please fill out this form to receive our monthly newsletter.

You can read more District highlights by visiting our website and social media pages, which are updated regularly with stories, photos, and announcements.

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Website: www.yorktown.org
Location: 2725 Crompond Road, Yorktown Heights, NY, USA
Phone: 914-243-8000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YorktownCSD/
Twitter: @YorktownCSD