YSSD February 2025 Newsletter

This school year, we are recognizing York Suburban students who represent the Portrait of a Graduate qualities we strive to instill in our students through our curriculum, opportunities, and experiences. This month, we are proud to spotlight Neil Oestereich, Class of 2025, as a student who exemplifies our Creative Problem-Solver competency.

Neil may be best known for his involvement in the Technology Student Association (TSA). As a TSA member, Neil participated in the 11th Annual York County Pumpkin Chuckin Competition hosted by York Tech and assisted his team in earning fourth place. Neil has attended the Pennsylvania TSA Region 3 Conference the last four years and each time qualified for states. Last year he earned first place at states which qualified him for nationals. While his impressive performance at TSA conferences in the Flight Endurance category is worthy of recognition, what happens while preparing for the events is truly impressive. According to TSA advisor Mr. Shearer, Neil has voluntarily taken on mentoring younger TSA members, assisting them with their projects and preparations for TSA events. It should be no surprise that someone with Neil's character and compassion would choose to enlist in the Air Force and pursue a career in the military after graduation.

Neil demonstrates the ability to approach challenges with an innovative mindset. He thinks outside the box and often through collaborative brainstorming with his peers. He truly exemplifies our Creative Problem-Solver competency. Neil, thank you for all you have done and continue to do for York Suburban.

Scott Krauser, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools

skrauser@yssd.org

• All Month - Black History Month, Career & Technical Education Month, and Children’s Dental Health Month
• February 2 - Groundhog Day
• February 3-7 - National School Counseling/School Counselor Appreciation Week
• February 5 - Trojan Spirit Day
• February 10 - 100th Day of School (moved due to snow days)
• February 17 - Presidents’ Day

For a complete list of events, please refer to the District's online calendar.

No School: Professional Development/Act 80 Day

Friday, February 14

No School: District Offices Closed

Monday, February 17

Tuesday, February 4, 6-8 p.m., York Suburban High School

This event is designed to help students currently in grades 8-11, and their families, navigate the diverse range of academic and extracurricular opportunities available to each high school student.

Friday, February 7, 5-9 p.m., Kick off at Marketview Arts

Saturday, February 8, 12-4 p.m., Art Walk Guided Tours

Join us to celebrate the following talented York Suburban artists at the annual York Community Art Scholars Exhibition (YCASE) Art Walk - Caseem Cross, Olivia Diehl, Ely Fernandez, Milan Gerald, Jaidan Kopp, Mason Lutz, Chloe Makowski, Sadie Marshall, Weston Saunders, Cameron Sikora, and Maya Wolpert. For more details and map of the art locations, please visit YCASE's website.

Presented by York Suburban High School

February 28, 7 p.m.

March 1, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students

Purchase your tickets online at https://our.show/yshs

Pippin follows the journey of a young prince who, disillusioned with his royal duties and the empty pursuits of power, embarks on a series of adventures, trying to find his place in the world.

PARENTS: Pippin contains some mild language and mature themes that may be better suited for children 13 and older.

Organized by Members of the High School Model-UN

Tuesday, April 15, 6-7:30 p.m., York Suburban High School

All are welcome to attend this free event featuring international food sampling, live music, performances, Henna, face painting, raffles, and more! If you are interested in volunteering to represent a country or culture, please email jgaeta@yssd.org to sign up.

Monday, April 21, 6-8 p.m., Heritage Hills Golf Resort

Join us for a fun evening of competitive Mini-Golf to benefit the York Suburban Education Foundation and Impact Foundation. Everyone is welcome to participate, but space is limited! For more details on registering, visit the event sign up page.

Sixteen York Suburban students graduated from the York Adams Academy (YAA) in January. Thanks to our partnership with YAA, these students were able to get assistance with credit recovery and earn their high school diplomas. Congratulations and best wishes to Adyson Coleman, Maxwell Devers, Jordin Fisher, Dakota Heisey, Connall Kirtland, Joel Knudson, Anika Malfliet, Anthony Moya, Joshua Murray, McKenzie Rojas, Jaqlyn Shetter, Nyko Sosa, Sydney Sprich, Layla Thompson, Pablo Vega Jr., and Jalyn Welch.

Seven High School students were selected to participate in PMEA District 7 music festivals this year. The fact that we have students in all three ensembles (band, choir, or orchestra) is incredible! Please join us in congratulating (left to right) Alex Bien, Finleigh Stambaugh, Ryan Beschler, Egan Torres, Aaron West, Ruth Brown, and Dashiell Bedell. Next up will be the PMEA Regional Festivals to which Alex, Egan and Ryan will be attending for Band, and Alex and Ruth will be attending for Orchestra.

The 2025 South Central Pennsylvania Scholastic Art and Writing Awards were announced recently and, once again, a York Suburban student is bringing home honors! Congratulations to Junior Michael Foremsky whose piece "Curiosity" received Honorable Mention honors.

York Suburban was the second largest high school chapter in attendance at the state-level Region 3 Technology Student Association (TSA) Conference and achieved some impressive results - two first place finishes, two second place awards, and nine third place honors. Next up for the teams is states, where we will be sending 32 students to compete against their peers from across the Commonwealth. Good luck, TSA!

York Suburban High School Senior Sophia Scalet and Junior Emma Bates (pictured left to right with Dr. Krauser) are the York East Rotary Club's Students of the Month. Sophia and Emma were selected for this honor as a result of their outstanding academic achievements as well as their impressive extracurricular and community involvement. Congratulations to you both!

York Suburban High School Junior Alexia Purkanto spent the first 89 days of her life as a micro preemie in the neonatal intensive care unit. As a token of her appreciation for the care she and her family received, Alexia donated $6,000 to the NICU! Visit WellSpan Health's website to learn more about Alexia's remarkable story.

On January 23, our ninth and tenth grade students received training in Hands-Only CPR. Thanks to the American Heart Association (AHA) and Penn State Health Children's Hospital, our students gained the confidence and skills to save a life when seconds count. Special thanks to the AHA for not only facilitating the training but also donating CPR & First Aid Anywhere Training Kits to our District.

Meetings are held in the High School Cafeteria and are open to the public.

COMMITTEE MEETING

Personnel Committee - Monday, February 3, 5 p.m

Property & Finance Committee - Tuesday, February 18, 5 p.m.

SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS

Planning - Monday, February 10, 7 p.m.

Regular - Monday, February 24, 7 p.m.

Related Links

In Person and Electronic Public Comment Guidelines

Board Agendas - published 24 hours before the meeting

Board Minutes - posted after Board approval

Board Meeting Calendar - 2025 Meeting Dates and Times

All children who will be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2025, and reside in the District are eligible to apply for kindergarten. Families are encouraged to complete the registration process early to ensure they receive communication regarding special events we have planned for incoming kindergarten students to help with their transition. Completing your registration now also helps the District determine enrollment for the next year, which is essential for future staff planning. If you have any questions about the enrollment process, please contact the registration office via email at registration@yssd.org.

At its meeting on January 27, the Board approved an academic calendar for the 2025-2026 school year. Highlights of next year's calendar include:

Physical exams are required by the state for children in grades K, 6, and 11. If your child's school nurse has not received their physical examination paperwork by Tuesday, March 18, 2025, your child will receive a physical by a district physician on March 25 or March 26, 2025. Please feel free to contact your child's school nurse if you have questions or would like to submit your child's paperwork electronically. Their contact information can be found on the District website on the Health Services Department page.

York Suburban High School will be hosting two career activities in April and we need your help to ensure they are a success. Please feel free to share this opportunity with friends, neighbors, and colleagues who may be interested in volunteering. Questions can be directed to Mr. Korbin Shearer, Career, College, and Workforce Coordinator at kshearer@yssd.org.

🗓️ Junior Achievement REAL Life Event

Tuesday, April 1, 2025, 8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Sign Up to Volunteer Here for REAL Life

Eleventh grade students will be participating in day long activities related to financial literacy and achieving success in "real" life. Volunteers will facilitate one of these activities during the day as students rotate through their station. Online training is provided as well as on-site support, and you do not need to have any special background in order to volunteer. A light breakfast and lunch will be provided as a token of our thanks.

🗓️ Annual Mock Interview Day

Wednesday, April 9, 2025, 8 a.m.-12:30 pm.

Sign Up Here to Volunteer for Mock Interviews

Students in tenth and twelfth grade will participate in 15 minute interviews with volunteers to practice their interviewing skills. We will gladly utilize any time you are available that morning. You do not need to be available the entire time.

Highmark Wholecare's COMPASS team has partnered with our District social workers to provide families with assistance renewing or applying for Medicaid benefits. The team can assist any family (not just those insured by Highmark) apply for Medical Assistance, CHIP, Food Assistance and other state related benefits.

Representative will be available at the District's Education Center (located behind the high school at 1800 Hollywood Drive) on February 27, March 27, and April 24 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. This service is available at no cost to families. Walk-ins are welcome. If you have any questions, please contact your student’s social worker: Miranda Jenkins, High School Social Worker, mjenkins@yssd.org; Brienna Derr, Middle School Social Worker, bderr@yssd.org; and Tera Hanson, Elementary School Social Worker, thanson@yssd.org.

• 2024-2025 School Year Calendar - This year's school calendar has been updated to reflect our January snow days and subsequent make-up days for students and staff. The revised calendar can be found posted on our website in English and Spanish.
  
• Annual Notices - School Districts are required by federal and state laws and regulations to provide several annual notices to parents and guardians. These required notices are available in our handbooks and board policies, but can can easily be referenced from the Annual Notices page on our website.
• Community Flyers - In an effort to decrease paper copies, the district posts approved flyers to the district website.
• Employment Opportunities - We have a variety of open positions perfect for individuals interested in working a schedule similar to our students.
• Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application Information - Families who may qualify are encouraged to apply for free or low cost meals this school year.
• Important Information for Families & Students - In addition to the building level handbooks, this document provides useful information for all families and will be particularly valuable for families new to the District.
  
• Renovation and Construction Updates - The District conducted two district-wide feasibility studies to review building conditions, educational goals, and enrollment capacities. Through those studies, we identified several conditions that directly impact our ability to inspire a BOLD future for ALL students. A summary of efforts to date regarding our plans to construct a new intermediate school, renovate the high school, and address capital projects district-wide can be found on our website.