YIS Parent Newsletter

Parents & Guardians,

The month of September did not end the way we all expected. The impacts of Hurricane Helene on our area and surrounding areas have continued to be felt by our students, staff, and school families. Our teachers & staff were thankful to see our students return this week and finish the week on a high note. If you were not able to attend Parent Conferences, please reach out to your child's teacher to schedule a time to check-in on your child's progress.

Due to the impacts from the storm, the deadline for students' eLearning work has been extended until Tuesday, October 15th. Students only have eLearning work from Friday, September 27th.

As a reminder, make up days for our missed time will be as follows:

• Students will have an eLearning Day on Monday, January 6, 2025 to make up for missing Monday, September 30.
• Students will have an eLearning Day on Friday, February 28, 2025 to make up for missing Tuesday, October 1.

*Fundraiser items can be picked up on Tuesday, October 15 starting after school until 5:30. You will walk alongside the Gym towards the black gate and items will be located in the Health Room. We will have staff on site to assist.

As you will see in this newsletter, October is packed full of fun events! We look forward to a successful month!

Thank you,

Hannah Rescigno

Principal

Next week is our Fall Intersession Week. School will be closed October 7-11, then teachers have a Professional Development Day on Monday, October 14. All students will return to school on Tuesday, October 15.

Due to the residential growth occurring within the York School District One attendance zone, the district is experiencing capacity challenges. As of March 2024, approved residential development in the City of York will create 2376 new homes.

On June 11, 2024, the YSD1 Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve a resolution authorizing the district to pursue a Bond Referendum at the November 5th General Election. In SC, there are only three mechanisms through which a school district can generate funds for building or renovating schools. The three ways are listed below:

• Impact Fees
• 8% Capacity
• Bond Referendum

The School Board authorized the district to seek Impact Fees. However, York County Council denied the district's request. The district's 8% Capacity does not generate enough revenue to be able to build a school. Therefore, the district's only mechanism for generating the funds needed to build new facilities is to pass a General Obligation Bond. One elementary and middle school are at 90% capacity or above, and three elementary schools are at 80% capacity or above.

The proposed bond is for $90 million and, if approved, would be used to renovate Pinckney Street Learning Center and build an additional middle school.

• Renovations to Pinckney Street Learning Center into an early childhood center will free up classroom space at all elementary schools.

The estimated impact on homeowners would be:

• Homeowners (4% property valued at $100,000) $36/year

If the referendum is not approved, our existing schools will experience:

• Increased classroom ratios;
• May need to purchase mobile classrooms to accommodate growth; and
• Decentralized early childhood programs.

If you have any questions about the proposed YSD1 Bond Referendum, please contact Amy Hagner, Assistant Superintendent of Finance & Operations, at 803-684-9916.

Great news! Starting on Tuesday, October 15 students will eat breakfast in the cafeteria instead of in their classrooms. All students & teachers are excited about this change! Please make sure your child knows to report directly to the cafeteria from the bus or car if he/she wants to eat breakfast starting on Tuesday, October 15. Breakfast will still be FREE for all students!

We are excited about our upcoming Fall Book Fair during the week of October 21-25. Parents are invited to shop at the Book Fair on Tuesday, October 22 from 7:15-8:00 during our "Books for Breakfast" event.

Please check out the flyers below!

Picture Day is on Wednesday, October 16. Students received order forms this week. Extra forms are in the Main Office. You can order pictures online by clicking the link below and entering the following job/shoot key: 6C2H8DPD

Please help us celebrate Unity Day by wearing orange on Thursday, October 17. This is a way we can all come together to spread kindness, acceptance, and inclusion to prevent bullying.

*YIS is celebrating Unity Day one day late on Thursday, October 17, since Picture Day is on Wednesday.

Red Ribbon Week takes place each year and is the nation's largest and longest-running drug-use prevention campaign. YIS proudly joins the Red Ribbon Campaign's mission of drug prevention education & advocacy. We are celebrating Red Ribbon Week Friday, October 25 - Thursday, October 31. Check out each day's theme on the flyer below!

Show your YIS student jus thow much he or she ROCKS by painting a custom message for birthdays or other special events or accomplishments! Here are the guidelines for renting the YIS Spirit Rock:

Help your child succeed in school by building the habits of good attendance! Attending school regularly helps students feel better about school - and themselves. Absences and late arrivals add up and can cause students to miss essential learning experiences.

If your child has to miss a day of school, please let his/her teachers know in advance, if possible. Any student who misses school must provide an excuse within three (3) school days upon the student’s return to school.

You can click the button below or scan the QR code to submit an absence excuse for your child. Teachers will also be sending home the QR code so you can keep it handy any time you need to submit an absence excuse.

We appreciate your help in ensuring student attendance is a priority at YIS!

YCHS & FDJTC are hosting Fall Fest on Saturday, October 26. There will be trunk-or-treating from 12:00-1:00, a costume contest at 1:00, a petting zoo, games, inflatable games from the National Guard, a haunted hallway, and so much more! Admission and activities are free! Food is available for purchase as a fundraiser to support the Culinary Arts Program. There will be other items available for purchase as well.

October 7-11

Intersession Week- No School

October 14

Teacher Professional Development Day- No School

October 15

Students Return

Fundraiser Pick Up- after school until 5:30- Health Room

October 16

Fall Picture Day

October 17

YIS Unity Day- wear orange

October 18

Westward Expansion Day (5th Grade)

October 21-25

Fall Book Fair- see times on flyer above

School Bus Safety Week

October 22

Books for Breakfast (Book Fair will open for parents at 7:15)

October 23

YIS McTeacher Night- come see our teachers & staff at McDonald's

October 25

Reading Program Deadline

October 25-31

Red Ribbon Week- see schedule on flyer above

October 26

YIS Chorus Walkathon Fundraiser 9:00-11:00am

YCHS/FDJTC Fall Fest 10:00am - 2:00pm

October 28

SIC Meeting at 5:00- Media Center

October 29

Kidz in Lids Hat Day- bring $1.00 to wear a hat

October 30

YIS PTO Meeting- Media Center 4:00

November 4

Bundt Cake Fundraiser begins

November 5

Election Day- No School

November 12

YIS Domino's Spirit Night

November 13

Makeup Picture Day

Q2 Interims

November 18

Bundt Cake Fundraiser- orders due

November 19

Kidz in Lids Hat Day- bring $1.00 to wear a hat

November 22

Reading Program Deadline

November 25

SIC Meeting 8:00am

November 27-29

Thanksgiving Holiday- No School