Blue & White Newsletter - 2/7/25

Faculty, staff, and students across the district enjoyed showing their team spirit ahead of this weekend's Super Bowl! As a Pennsylvania school district, many will be cheering for the Eagles, while others will be sad that their team isn't playing this weekend. Regardless, many NFL teams were represented throughout our classrooms and offices today and there's no shortage of excitement as the big game approaches. No matter which team they support, school spirit was on full display!

Ms. Faith Brenneman's class (top right picture below) at Wallace Elementary, with Ms. Regina Lau, enjoyed celebrating the upcoming Super Bowl with eagle hats, collecting and graphing data on who the class thinks will win the Super Bowl, and a football scoot to prepare for Sunday's big game! Ms. Brenneman's class thinks the Philadelphia Eagles will win the Super Bowl, unlike Ms. Lau!

We are proud to recognize our Semester 1 Distinguished Honor Roll and Honor Roll students at the High School! Their hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence is clear. Keep up the great work!

We look forward to sharing our Distinguished Honor Roll and Honor Roll students at the Middle School next week!

Ms. Marsha Yanick's 4th grade class at Trimmer Elementary earned a BARK reward and chose to learn about driving a Sphero Bolt. Ms. Laura Livingston and her students provided the expertise and taught the rest of the class how to drive them. We are looking forward to taking this learning further and learning to write code for them too!

The Lego Club has kicked off at Lincolnway Elementary! A group of 50 second and third graders were selected to join based on their interest and work during Media Encore with Ms. Lauren Lane. Each week, students are tasked with building a themed item with specific constraints. It is amazing to see their engineering, collaboration, and creativity in action!

Cami Plappert (bottom left) and Ryleigh Clancy (bottom right), both 8th grade students at the Middle School, both placed first all-around at the Flipping with the Stars Gymnastics Meet in Lancaster last weekend. Both compete through Skyline Gymnastics. Ryleigh took gold in the Xcel Platinum level, and Cami took gold in the Xcel Diamond level. Way to go, girls!

Kindergarten registration is now open for the 2025-2026 school year! If you are a West York Area School District resident and your child will be 5 years old by September 1, 2025, we invite you to begin the registration process now. Simply visit the Registration page of our website by clicking the red link bar below. On that page, click on the clipboard icon "Register a Student" to begin the registration process. Once you have completed the online registration, please call Wallace Elementary at 717-764-6869 to schedule your child's kindergarten screening appointment.

We can't wait to start meeting our newest little Bulldogs!

Preschool Storytime is a great way to have your preschooler become familiar with Wallace Elementary ahead of joining us for kindergarten next year. Our next Preschool Storytime is:

• Thursday, March 13 - 10:00 - 10:30 AM - First Day Jitters

To register to attend, please click the image to the right. For more information, call the Wallace Elementary School Office at 717-764-6869.

Attention West York Area School District Parents:

Is your child ready to take the next step in learning about money management and saving for the future? Through the Bulldog Branch and our Bulldog Buck$ program, we’re excited to offer an opportunity for students to gain essential financial literacy skills that will serve them for years to come.

This February, we’re spreading the love and encouraging your child to start building their financial future with us! To celebrate the season of love, we’re offering a special Valentine's Day incentive. If your child opens a new membership with First Capital in February, they’ll be entered to win a $25.00 gift card!

But that's not all…did you know that your entire family is eligible to join First Capital Federal Credit Union? This February, why not make it a family affair and take the first step together? We can’t wait to welcome your family to the First Capital family, where financial success and love go hand in hand!

Have any questions about First Capital membership or the Bulldog Buck$ program? Stop by the Bulldog Branch on Tuesdays or Wednesdays from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM and talk to Lily or Kayla to learn more about the account opening process. Or feel free to reach out to School Branch Coordinator Kayla Weaver by email at kaylaw@firstcapitalfcu.com for more information.

Here’s to love, savings, and a bright financial future!

"No Body to Murder," by Edith Weiss, is a humorous whodunnit that will keep you laughing as you piece together the clues! The guests of the "Come On Inn" inn are all suspects of a murder that happened during a severe weather threat and the news of an escaped convict on the loose. Who could have committed this crime? Was it the cook who poisoned the lemonade? The gardener who shaves with an axe? Or maybe the mime with a broken heart?

Tickets will be sold at the door for $5 per adult and $3 per student. Concessions will be available for purchase.

Show Dates:

• Friday, February 21st at 6:30 PM
• Saturday, February 22nd at 2:00 PM

"The Addams Family - A New Musical Comedy" follows the kooky Addams family as their seemingly perfect, macabre world is shaken when Wednesday Addams falls in love with a "normal" boy and invites his parents over for dinner, forcing Gomez and Morticia to confront the idea of their daughter growing up and potentially abandoning their unique family values, leading to chaos and hilarious situations as the two families clash over their vastly different lifestyles.

It is sure to be another West York AWESOME production so be sure to purchase your tickets today!

Where: West York Area High School

When:

• Friday, February 28th @ 7:00 PM
• Saturday, March 1st @ 7:00 PM
• Sunday, March 2nd @ 2:00 PM

Exclusively for West York Area School District residents age 65 and older, the Golden Bulldog Pass is valid for one admission to all District-sponsored events, including athletic events, fine arts events such as concerts, plays, and musicals, and special invitation-only events for senior citizens.

The Lunch & a Show, an invitation-only event for Golden Bulldog Pass Holders, is now taking reservations. Seating is limited so register soon! Lunch will be roast turkey, mashed potatoes, vegetables, and dessert, served with water, iced tea, and coffee.

• What: Lunch and a Show
• When: Sunday, March 2, 2025
• Where: West York Area High School
• Time: Lunch Served at 12:45 PM (doors open at 12:15 PM), Show starts at 2:00 PM

Register by clicking the bar below, or call 717-792-2796, Ext. 1004, or by emailing BulldogMail@wyasd.org.

Don't have your Golden Bulldog Pass yet? District residents age 65 and over can get one at the District Administration Building located at 1891 Loucks Road, Suite 100 (in the old York Newspaper Co. building), between 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday. Simply bring a photo ID and address.

The West York Area Middle School is hosting its 2nd Annual Family Trivia Night. The event will be held on Thursday, February 13th. Trivia night teams must include at least one current WYAMS student and at least one adult. There will be four rounds of mixed category trivia as teams compete to see who can answer the most correct. Concessions will be available for purchase throughout the event. The top three teams will earn gift card prizes.

When: Thursday, February 13th @ 6:00 PM

Where: West York Area Middle School Cafeteria

Use the link bar below the flyer, or scan the QR code on the flyer below, to register for the event.

We need your help! On Thursday, March 13th, Junior Achievement of South Central PA will be at the High School with their STEM Summit Program. Students will be participating in the day-long event designed to explore careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

The goal of the STEM Summit is to inspire students to pursue an academic STEM focus in the remainder of their high school courses. After the completion of the STEM Summit, guidance counselors have a foundation to work with students on appropriate course work.

For this day to be a success, we will need volunteers to facilitate ONE of the STEM activities for the day as students rotate through your station. You do not need to have a STEM background to be a great volunteer!

You do not have to be an approved school volunteer to help with this day. Junior Achievement will provide online training as well as on-site support to all volunteers. A light breakfast and lunch will also be available for volunteers.

Please consider volunteering and join us as we spend the day empowering and inspiring our students. Check out the following information:

• Click the STEM Summit Overview for Volunteers green bar below to learn more about volunteering
• Click the Volunteering Video green bar to see a short video about volunteering
• Click the Volunteer Registration green bar to register yourself as a volunteer

You can reach out to Shannon Baker, Senior Vice President Program Operations, at sbaker@jascpa.org if you have any specific questions.

Support our Class of 2028 by enjoying some delicious food from Isaac's West York location at 2159 White Street on Thursday, February 13th. Isaac's will donate 15% of all Dine-In, Take-Out, Catering and Gift Card orders.

Online orders enter code: Fundraiser on the payment page.

Takeout orders - be sure to let the Isaac's team member know you are part of our fundraiser when placing your order.

Thank you for your support.

Support the West York Girls Lacrosse team and Boosters while enjoying a delicious meal at Primanti Bros. Primanti Bros. will donate 20% of event sales! Show the flyer below or use code DINE2DONATE for online orders.

When: Thursday, February 27th - 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM

Where: Primanti Bros. 2151South Queen Street, York, PA 17402

The Girls Lacrosse Boosters appreciates your support!

FEBRUARY 7, 2025

9th/10th Grade:

Rosa Alcantara-Veloz

For helping other students in math class!

11th/12th Grade:

Dominic Maus

For doing well his first week at West York!

Faculty/Staff:

Ms. Laura Klinedinst

For your support to the LSS classroom! We appreciate you!

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!

• Tuesday, February 11, Spring School Pictures - Wallace Elementary School
• Tuesday, February 11, Ad Hoc Committee Meeting (5:00 PM)
• Tuesday, February 11, Work Session of the Board (7:00 PM)
• Wednesday, February 12, Spring School Pictures - Lincolnway and Trimmer Elementary Schools
• Thursday, February 13, Early Dismissal
• Friday, February 14, Professional Development Day - No School for Students
• Monday, February 17, Snow Make-up Day - Schools are In Session
• Tuesday, February 18, Communication & Engagement Committee Meeting (5:30 PM)
• Tuesday, February 18, Board Voting Meeting (6:30 PM)
• Friday, February 21, MS Play (6:30 PM)
• Saturday, February 22, MS Play (2:00 PM)
• Friday, February 28, HS All-District Spring Musical (7:00 PM)
• Saturday, March 1, HS All-District Spring Musical (7:00 PM)
• Sunday, March 2, HS All-District Spring Musical (2:00 PM)

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.

Do you have a child starting kindergarten in the 2025-2026 school year? If so, use the link bar below to join our distribution list and stay informed with all the latest updates about kindergarten! You'll receive information about kindergarten registration, kindergarten screening days, exciting events like Preschool Story Time, and other opportunities for incoming kindergarten students to become familiar with Wallace Elementary School.

Do you have a neighbor with an incoming kindergarten student who does not currently have children in West York? Feel free to share this newsletter with them so they can join the distribution list as well!

Does your child have signs or symptoms of the flu, Covid or RSV? Did they test positive?

The recommendations are that your child stay home until they are fever free for 24 hours without medication and that they feel good enough to return to school. The CDC also recommends (it is optional) that a mask be worn for 5 days after their return if they tested positive for Covid.

Students who have been exposed to someone who tested positive for Covid do not need to stay home from school unless they come down with symptoms or test positive.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your school nurse.

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

Our West York Area High School's Counseling Center compiles lists of available scholarships as our high school students prepare for their post-secondary educational plans and funding. An updated list is posted at the High School as new scholarships become available. The Counseling Center also emails each scholarship and updated bulletin directly to students' school emails.

Paper copies of scholarship applications are available to students at the Counseling Center in the waiting area.

PLEASE NOTE: The date due is very important. Students should have their applications submitted to the Counseling Center at least six days prior to the due date. This allows the Counseling Center staff sufficient time for review of the application and transcript preparation, ensuring that the application is sent out in a timely manner.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Gail Wildasin in the Counseling Center.

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.

Be sure to Like/Follow us on Facebook and Instagram so you don't experience FOMO - Fear of Missing Out! Simply click the images below.

The Community Corner of our website offers families many helpful links to organizations or flyers about upcoming or ongoing community activities, clubs, and events. The information on this webpage changes frequently and those changes will be highlighted here as they occur. The latest updates are pictured below.

From our Home webpage, click on Community to access links to various organizations/community events.

Here are just some examples:

• Cub Scouts (Boys & Girls ages 5-12)
• Girl Scouts
• West York Boys Club
• YMCA of York
  
• YWCA of York

Community Resources such as:

• Belmont Summer Academy - Theatre Summer Camps
  
• Community Progress Council
• Dream Wrights Center for Community Arts
• United Way