Blue & White Newsletter - 10/11/24
Week of October 7, 2024
Curriculum work is never complete! Our K-12 teachers are preparing for STEELS, the new Science standards, beginning next year. Science, Technology & Engineering, and Environmental Literacy & Sustainability Academics Standards (STEELS) guide the study of the natural and human-made world through inquiry, problem-solving, critical thinking, and authentic exploration.
Our teacher teams are excited at all levels to investigate and facilitate lessons in new potential science curriculum, including Mystery Science, Open Sci Ed, PEERS Physics (Physics through Evidence, Empowerment through Reasoning), and BSCS Biology (Biological Sciences Curriculum Study). The lessons begin with a question or "phenomenon", and encourage students to think, question, wonder, try, try again, observe, and DO the science they are learning!
Last Monday, the Middle School Science Department (pictured above: Ms. Olivia Gardner, Mr. David Newby, Ms. Alyssa Roberts, Ms. Deb Parr, and Ms. Kayla Bowers) attended an immersive science experience as they prepare for new standards implementation next year! As their middle school courses are redesigned, students will question, wonder, investigate, and evaluate observations and data in Life Science, Physical Science, and Earth and Space Science!
Over the last two weeks, several of our K-5 teachers spent time researching, evaluating, and planning for new science lessons to pilot in their classrooms over the next month. Our elementary teachers working on the new standards are: Kindergarten - Ms. Erika Torres and Ms. Pamela Holmes, Grade 1 - Mr. Nathan Markey and Ms. Tracy Overlander, Grade 2 - Ms. Christine McKee and Ms. Heather Kopp, Grade 3 - Ms. Laura Medice and Mr. Andrew Wells, Grade 4 - Ms. Sarah Fuller and Mr. Alexander Jinks, and Grade 5 - Mr. Gary Barshinger and Ms. Nicole Flowers.
In Mr. Barshinger's 5th grade class at Trimmer Elementary, students brainstormed all that would be needed to successfully survive in a biosphere for two years. They then focused on how they would establish and maintain a food supply inside a dome for two years.
Ms. Kopp’s second grade class at Lincolnway Elementary were presented with this question: If you floated down a river, where would you end up? The students developed models of the Earth's surface and used them to discover an important principle about how rivers work. In the activity, they began learning about how landforms change over time with a study of how water has the power to move things with a model of mountain erosion. They observed patterns of how water and rivers flow using spray bottles, paper, and markers.
We will share more on the STEELS Standards preparations at the High School level in a future issue.
The 2nd and 3rd grade winners at Lincolnway Elementary of the West Manchester Township Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Poster Contest got to ride to school in a fire truck! Congratulations to Lucy Gausmann and Denahi Andino, our winners! They were also able to bring friends Rose Heathcote and Derek Besecker along for the ride!
Students and Parents, we will be spotlighting a new product or service every month to help you get to know First Capital Federal Credit Union and what we have to offer you and your family!
This week we are spotlighting our rewards-driven Kasasa® Checking Accounts! First Capital offers 3 Kasasa checking accounts that reward members! Kasasa Cash Back where you can earn up to $9.00 cash back each month; Kasasa Cash where you will earn 2.25% APY on balances up to $10,000; or Kasasa Play earning up to $10.00 back for streaming services. So, we are rewarding YOU to use these accounts.
Through our partnership with WYASD, students automatically qualify for membership at First Capital Federal Credit Union, and we would love to have you as a member! We will even make the initial opening deposit of $6 ($1 membership fee, $5 share savings deposit) for you! If you would like more information on these accounts, please stop by The Bulldog Branch to learn more about what First Capital has to offer on Tuesdays and Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
On Monday, November 11th, we will recognize the veterans in our local community. We plan to do this through a Field of Flags fundraising campaign at both the Middle School and the High School. The funds raised will benefit the Disabled American Veterans Organization (DAV).
The campaign coordinators for the High School fundraiser are Ms. Emily Corcoran and Ms. Yvette Ganoe. At the Middle School, Mr. Andrew Johnson and Mr. James Snelbaker are coordinating their fundraiser.
DAV provides a lifetime of support for veterans of all generations and their families, in positive, life-changing ways. DAV ensures veterans and their families can access the full range of benefits they deserve and receive care and support during tough times. DAV also advocates for the veteran community on Capitol Hill, connects veterans with meaningful employment, and so much more.
These are two separate fundraising campaigns, so you may donate to one or both campaigns as you see fit. As we raise money, DAV will send flags to each school to be displayed outside on the lawns. The fundraising campaign ends on October 28th, so do not delay!
Look for our flags starting November 8th in front of the Middle and High Schools.
Donations are online only.
Click HERE to donate to the Middle School Campaign.
Click HERE to donate to the High School Campaign.
Again, all funds donated go directly to the DAV organization to help our nation’s veterans.
All students in grades 7-12 who are interested in playing a winter sport must register and submit a PIAA physical via FamilyID.
To access FamilyID, visit: www.wyasd.org > Athletics > Sign-Up
or
A student's high school yearbook is a way to capture all of the amazing memories that students experience during their final years here at West York - home of the Bulldogs!
Purchasing a yearbook early in the school year assures you the best pricing, currently $75, and an item off your "To-Do List" that builds as the end of the school year approaches!
Also available now is the opportunity to place a special message/ad in the yearbook just for your child. More information on this, and all things yearbooks, can be found by visiting the West York page of Jostens website by clicking the image above.
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.
As a friendly reminder, when your child is absent from school, parents/guardians must complete an Absence Excuse Blank, either a paper copy or by using the online Digital Excuse Blank through the Sapphire Parent Portal. An Absence Excuse Blank must be received within three days of a students return to school following an absence, known as the 3-day rule.
The 3-day rule states "No excuse blanks will be accepted after the third day of the date of return from the absence. The absence will be recorded as unexcused for students 18 years or older. Students under the age of 18 are recorded as unlawful.”
While a paper Absence Excuse Blank can be sent in, they can also be forgotten or lost in transit. The most efficient way to assure the excuse is received within the 3-day rule period is to access the Digital Excuse Blank from the District website or the District App. Directions for both are as follows:
Using Your Computer to Report an Absence
MUST be completed within 3 days of the absence
From the District WEBSITE Home 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 will be posted at the High School as new scholarships become available. Each time the bulletin is revised, it is printed on a different color of paper from the previous bulletin, making it easy to tell when new information has been added.
PLEASE NOTE: The date due is very important. Please have applications submitted to the Counseling Center at least 6 days prior to 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.
All hard copies of scholarship applications are located inside the Counseling Center in the waiting area in the drawer marked SCHOLARSHIPS. The Counseling Center also emails each scholarship and updated bulletin directly to students' school emails.
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.
