Blue & White Newsletter - 5/2/25

Under a sky full of stars — and a dance floor full of excitement — students celebrated one of the most unforgettable nights of their high school journey: West York Prom 2025.

Dressed to the nines, attendees arrived in a stunning array of gowns, sharp tuxedos, and creative ensembles that showcased their unique styles. From the moment the first song played to the final slow dance, the energy was electric. Our Bulldogs posed for pictures, laughter echoed through the halls, the king and queen of the prom were announced, and memories were made that will last a lifetime.

Prom isn’t just about dancing — it’s a celebration of the friendships, the challenges, and the milestones that have defined the high school experience. As these young adults prepare for graduation and to take their next steps into the future, prom serves as both a joyful ending and an exciting beginning.

Scroll through the gallery below to relive the magic of the night — the smiles, the style, and the West York spirit that made Prom 2025 truly unforgettable.

Friday night brought a memorable evening of music as audience members were treated to a spectacular jazz performance by the Middle School and High School jazz bands. The concert showcased the dedication and talent of young musicians, filling the auditorium with energy, rhythm, and soul.

The Middle School Jazz Band, consisting of approximately 40 students and directed by Ms. Laurie Kumontis, kicked off the evening with an impressive set. Their repertoire included jazz favorites such as All of Me, Riffin’ Around, Basin Street Blues, You Are the Sunshine of My Life, Isn’t She Lovely, and a lively Earth, Wind & Fire Dance Mix. The performance featured standout solos from Mackenzie Landis, Rye Swartz, Collin Thurlby, and Liam Rishel. A special highlight came from sixth-grade vocalist and trombone player, Sumaiya Yankson, who delivered a heartfelt rendition of You Are the Sunshine of My Life.

Following the middle schoolers, the High School Jazz Band, made up of 15 skilled musicians under the direction of Mr. Rod Meckley, continued the evening with a polished and dynamic performance. Their set included Groovin' Hard, Just Before I Close My Eyes, Shiny Stockings, That's All, The Bari Thought of You, and Swingin' Shepherd Blues. Soloists Darien Riemold, Ava King, and Tayo Shonaiya brought expressive improvisation and technical excellence to the stage, earning enthusiastic applause from the audience.

It was an inspiring night of music that celebrated student talent, hard work, and the joy of jazz.

Ms. Tracy Pastelak’s first-grade class from Wallace Elementary spent a wonderful day exploring ZooAmerica, where they enjoyed up-close encounters with wildlife, learned fascinating facts about native animals, and soaked up the sunshine in a fun-filled outdoor adventure!

Sophomore Lilah Van Vorst was recognized by the York County Bar Foundation at a ceremony held on Thursday, May 1st, at the Valencia Ballroom, for her first-place victory in the Law Day Essay competition. From a selection of four prompts, Lilah thoughtfully chose to explore the question, "Does diversity make the United States stronger?"

The event featured remarks from The Honorable Todd Platts, a distinguished lifelong resident of York who served as a Congressman from 2001 to 2013. Proudly attending to celebrate Lilah's achievement were her parents, Rob and Christinia, and her honors sophomore English teacher, Ms. Amy Wiker.

Congratulations on this impressive accomplishment, Lilah!

For the third consecutive year, Regina Lau, Plant Operator at Wallace Elementary, has brought excitement and generosity together through the Cereal Box Domino Challenge! Ms. Lau organizes the event by collecting unopened cereal boxes for donation to the Bulldog Pantry. Before the boxes are delivered, she carefully arranges them in the multipurpose room to create an impressive domino chain reaction.

Adding to the fun, the students who contribute the most cereal boxes earn the honor of starting the domino fall. This year’s top donors were Elena Schrum from Ms. Margaret Sullivan’s class and Caleb Shaffner from Ms. Kelly Murphy’s class—congratulations!

Thanks to the generosity of our Wallace community, approximately 330 boxes of cereal were collected for the Bulldog Pantry. What a fun and meaningful way to support others!

Each spring, a unique and heartwarming tradition takes place at Lincolnway Elementary. For over ten years, the same mother duck has returned to our courtyard to lay her eggs, trusting our school as a safe place for her and her ducklings.

After patiently nesting and waiting for her eggs to hatch, she begins the next chapter of her journey—leading her ducklings to water and the wider world. When the time comes, our staff carefully opens the doors from the courtyard and guides her through the school building, providing a safe and peaceful passage for the entire duck family.

It’s a magical moment that our students and staff look forward to each year. This small but powerful tradition reminds us of the beauty of nature, the importance of stewardship, and the special connection we have with the world around us—even within the walls of our school.

Thank you to Ms. Gloria Maldonado, 2nd grade teacher, for recording the process and producing this awesome "movie." Click the image above to watch it!

Students in Mr. R. Glen Medice and Ms. Megan Eckbold’s classes at Trimmer Elementary have been hard at work preparing the Trimmer Garden for this year’s spring planting. Thanks to a generous donation of topsoil from H & H General Excavating, the garden is off to a strong start.

The students rolled up their sleeves to weed the beds, then shoveled and raked the fresh topsoil to create an even surface. With the groundwork laid, Dr. Matthew Minacci, Acting Middle School Principal, stopped by to till the soil, getting it ready for planting.

So far, the classes have planted lettuce, beans, and beets—and they’re not done yet! Peppers, tomatoes, and cucumbers are next on the list as they look forward to a productive and delicious harvest.

On Wednesday, April 30th, the Middle School opened its doors to 5th grade students and their families for a special building tour. Over 81 families attended the event, making it a wonderful opportunity to connect and prepare for the upcoming school year.

The tours were led by our outstanding Bulldog Ambassadors, who guided visitors through key areas of the building while sharing helpful information and answering questions. Their leadership and enthusiasm were on full display throughout the event.

During the visit, families also heard from Acting Middle School Principal Dr. Matthew Minacci, Assistant Principal Mr. Brennan Long, and Assistant Principal Ms. Julia Serrano. They shared a warm welcome, introduced the Leader in Me program, and provided an overview of what a typical student schedule looks like.

We are incredibly proud of our Bulldog Ambassadors for their dedication and the leadership they demonstrated during this important event. It was inspiring to see so many families come together to support the transition to middle school.

Our Bulldog Ambassadors are:

Kennedy Atwell- Marshall, Sophia Deardorff, Elizabeth Elder, Jaxsen Ferguson, Daniel Lawrence, Dakota Menke, Jerrel Myrick, Zy'Era Preston, Peyton Ream, Caley Richards, Julian Sastre, Maliana Schott, Kensington Shetter, Leah Shiflett, Kellan Shupp, and Ryelan Swartz.

On April 24th, incoming kindergarteners and their families took part in Off to Kindergarten at Wallace Elementary, an exciting and informative event designed to help prepare children for their first year of school. During the session, families learned about kindergarten expectations, routines, and readiness skills, while students rotated through a variety of hands-on learning centers.

Each center was thoughtfully designed to support the development of key skills for a successful transition into kindergarten. At the end of the event, families left with engaging take-home activities and books to continue the learning journey at home.

Have questions about First Capital Federal Credit Union or the Bulldog Branch but can’t make it during business hours? We’ve got you covered!

Join us for “Chillin’ with the Bulldog Branch”

Monday, May 6 from 6:00–8:00 PM

at Rita’s Italian Ice on Loucks Road in York, PA

This is a perfect chance to:

• Learn more about First Capital and the Bulldog Branch of First Capital Federal Credit Union
• Ask questions about all the things we can offer you and your family
• Open a savings and/or checking account, and more!

PLUS, everyone who stops by will receive a FREE small treat, generously donated by Rita’s.

Whether you’re a student, parent, or just curious—come chill with us, grab a sweet treat, and get the scoop on how First Capital can help you reach your financial goals!

Check out the launch of the West York Running Academy, led by West York's cross country and track teams' coach, Mr. Bill Chambers. The focus of the program is to enhance youth runners' speed, agility, and running optimization, improing their performance in any sport they participate in.

Details:

• 10 Week program - meeting twice a week - Mondays and Wednesdays
• Begins on Monday, June 8th - 6:00 - 7:00 PM
• Cost - $80 (includes a t-shirt)
• Registration extended to May 8th

Click the bar below for more details. Registration forms are available at the West Manchester Township Office or by contacting Coach Chambers at billterrich@comcast.net or via cell at 717-318-8318.

Join us for an elementary STEM activity night! Hands-on learning, discovery, RAFFLE DRAWING, and fun for all West York kindergarten through fifth grade students and their families.

Monday, May 19th

5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

West York Area Middle School Cafeteria

Scan the QR Code below or click the image to register to attend.

With our March and April spring concerts behind us, May brings our final opportunities to enjoy the musical talents of our students for the 2024-2025 school year! Our middle school and high school students are excited to share their music with the community and look forward to having you join them!

• Friday, May 9 - HS Band Spring Concert - 7:00 - 9:00 PM
• Tuesday, May 13 - Cherry Lane Box Lunch Revue - 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM MS/HS Jazz Bands perform downtown at Cherry Lane
• 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

Does your family drink soda or other canned beverages? Do you use soup or other foods with metal pull tabs? Throughout April and May, the Middle School is collecting can tabs to support the Hershey Ronald McDonald House.

This marks the seventh year our school has participated in this initiative! The Ronald McDonald House provides a comforting place for families to stay while their child receives medical care. The collected can tabs are recycled to help fund this vital service for families in need.

Please save the tabs from soda cans, soup cans, and other pull-tab containers and drop them off at the Middle School by the last day of school, May 30th.

For any questions, contact our Middle School Reading Specialist, Ms. Jill Raudensky, via email at jeraudensky@wyasd.org. Thank you for your support!

Award Winners

5/2/2025

9th-10th Grades

Leobardo Esteban

For coming to school every day ready to learn something new!

11th - 12th Grades

Ean Spangler

For being a positive HR student!

Faculty & Staff

Ms. Anne Hunter

For your willingness to share!

Congratulations to the outstanding track and field athletes who broke existing District records or established new ones! Your speed, strength, hard work, dedication, and exceptional performance have set a new standard of excellence.

Important information from the West York Athletics Department.

OSS Sports Physicals - Open to all athletes entering Grades 7-12 for the 2025-2026 school year.

• Wednesday, May 14, 2025
• Thursday, July 24, 2025
• Both dates: WY High School @ 6:00 - 8:00 PM
• No appointment needed
• $15 Cash or check

Letterman Jacket Fitting - Available through Jostens

• Wednesday, May 14, 2025
• 6:00 - 8:00 PM
• WY High School's Athletic Lobby
• Jacket prices start at $265

If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Brandon Fuhrman, Athletic Director, via email at bcfuhrman@wyasd.org.

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, May 13, EPC Meeting (5:00 PM)
• Tuesday, May 13, Board Meeting - Combined Work Session and Voting Meeting (7:00 PM)
• Thursday, May 15, MS/HS Choral Pops Concert (6:30 PM @ MS)
• Monday, May 19, Remake Learning Family Event (5:30 PM @ MS Cafeteria)
• Wednesday, May 21, MS Band Concert (6:30 PM)
• Monday, May 26, Memorial Day - District Closed
• Thursday, May 29, Early Dismissal
• Thursday, May 29, Graduation (7:00 PM - Tickets Required)
• Friday, May 30, Early Dismissal and Last Day of School for Students

The May Work Session and the May Board Meeting will be combined into one meeting due to the May 20th Primary Election. The meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 13th at 7:00 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.

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!

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

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.