Blue & White Newsletter - 9/6/24

We are thrilled to announce this year's Homecoming Court:

Back Row (L-R): Nate McGladrie, Jeremy Russell, Eddie Laracuente-Ruiz, Will Plappert, Owen Justice, Angel De La Cruz

Front Row (L-R): Saige Heiland, Ella Schmoyer, Kyla Myers, Carlee Warner, Christle Wittig, Nylah Jefferson

Be sure to mark your calendars for this year's Homecoming activities:

• Wednesday, September 18 @ 6:00 p.m. Community Parade and Bonfire
• Friday, September 20 @ 7:00 p.m. Homecoming Football Game vs. Kennard-Dale High School
• Saturday, September 21 @ 7:00 p.m. Homecoming Dance (Ticketed event for HS students only)

More details, including the parade route and a list of the food trucks at the bonfire, will be shared in next week's issue of the Blue & White.

As the youngest Bulldogs, Wallace Elementary students embark on their academic journey by mastering the basics. At West York, this includes learning fundamental student behaviors. What are the expectations for walking in the hallways without disrupting other classes? What is it like to eat in a cafeteria with other five- and six-year-olds? For many, the structured school day is a new experience. What are the behavior expectations? What relationship skills are necessary to be an engaged student within my class, grade level, and school community? Developing these skills is crucial as they start their years at West York, thriving and becoming world class citizens!

This week, students engaged in various activities and assemblies focused on the following:

• Character Trait Assembly - The character trait assembly introduces the character trait that students will focus on and for September it is Responsibility. This first assembly was done virtually with teachers showing a pre-recorded assembly in the classrooms. Future character trait assemblies will bring all of the kindergarten and first grade students together.

• Playful Pups Reward - This is a monthly incentive to encourage positive behavior. Students who do not have any behavior infractions earn the opportunity to participate in the Playful Pups Reward. This week, our Bulldogs kicked off the school year having all students participate in the Playful Pups Dance Party and experience the reward to encourage them to work toward each month's Playful Pups Reward!

Students currently taking Personal Finance with Mrs. Manda Meese, Mr. Christopher Storm, or Mrs. Catherine Strathmeyer at the High School listened to a financial presentation from First Capital Federal Credit Union's Ms. Kayla Weaver and got the chance to stop in the Bulldog Branch Office at the High School to see what FCFCU has to offer!

The High School started the year with awesome professional development focused on deeper learning. Pictured to the left was a session on data teaming led by math teachers, Ms. Annie Hunter, Ms. Karen Backus, and Ms. Michele Lam. They shared valuable experiences about analyzing assessment data and the positive impacts on instruction and student learning.

Students in first grade class at Wallace Elementary have been reviewing line, shape, and patterns in art class with Ms. Alyssa Daugherty the past two weeks. They were introduced to Spanish artist Romero Britto and learned how he uses lines to create patterns. They created their Britto-inspired piece by drawing patterns and adding splashes of bright colors to make their work stand out. They had a lot of fun coming up with their own unique patterns!

Students pictured below: Matthew Stambaugh, Emma Brown, Dion Detorio, Ellyana Grove, and Grayson Steinmetz

Students in Mr. Andrew Rafferty's Robotics class at the High School making improvements to their pivoting arm crane. Students are using their knowledge of the mechanical advantage of gears and levers to lift a 200 gram weight as high and far as they can. This group even incorporated a compound gear train!

Pictured: Joh Childs (9), Ian McEvoy (12), and Carter Toun (10)

Students in Mr. Arzie Yeater and Ms. Kieffer's Applied Physics class at the High School document what they notice and what they wonder as they use electroscopes made from household items to discover the properties of charge in metallic and non-metallic objects.

On Thursday, the HOPE Club held its first meeting at the High School to begin discussing its activities for the year. HOPE stands for Hold On, Pain Ends, and is a club that works to spread mental health and suicide prevention awareness. Students work all year to spread messages of hope, connection, and positivity around the school.

The HOPE Club is here to remind everyone during this month, National Suicide Prevention Month, that:

• There are actions that people can take to help prevent suicide
• Prevention works
• Resilience and recovery are possible
• Effective programs and services exist
• Help is available

988 is available 24/7/365 with confidential and free support connecting those experiencing a mental health, substance use, or suicidal crisis with trained crisis counselors.

HOPE Club's year-long efforts wrap-up with the annual HOPE Day event in May, where the entire school engages in talks and activities to encourage strong mental health. We welcome community support through donations and volunteer services. Mental health matters; thank you for helping us make a difference.

September 6, 2024

9th/10th Grade:

Isabella Pickens

For helping her partner by completing their toolkit!

11th/12th Grade:

Jayden Exford

For playing such an important role in helping new students get acclimated to a new school year!

Faculty/Staff:

Mr. Christopher Storm

For being in the best department in the building!

Over the summer, Sarah Manning, 11th grader at the High School, represented West York Area School District at the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Conference (HOBY) at Millersville University with other nominees in the Central Pennsylvania area. HOBY's mission across the United States is to inspire the youth to get involved in their communities and display integrity and excellence. Sarah had an amazing experience at HOBY, and was offered a scholarship to attend their week-long World Leadership Congress in Chicago, Illinois, in the summer of 2025! Congratulations Sarah!

We recently shared on Instagram that Mr. Brandon Furhman, Athletic Director, entered the District in the T-Mobile 5G Friday Night Lights Sweepstakes. The prizes are awarded in three rounds: 1st round, $5,000; 2nd round $25,000, and the 3rd (grand prize) round is valued at $2 million!

Out of just over 1,000 high schools entered from across the country, we are happy to announce that we have won $5,000 in the first round!

This is an amazing opportunity for West York and we're encouraging all of our students, staff, families, and fans to show their Bulldog Pride by sharing school spirit photos on Instagram during Friday night football games and tagging @gowybulldogs and T-Mobile @TMobile, along with the #Sweepstakes and #FN5GL, to support and help us become one of the Top 16 finalists!

For more information on the T-Mobile Friday Night 5G Lights contest, go to www.fridaynight5glights.com.

Also, be sure to follow our Athletic Department Instagram!

Stay tuned to see if we make it to the 2nd round! Click the image above for more information.

West York Area School District students! Interested in taking advantage of our Bulldog Buck$ program and all the other great benefits of First Capital Federal Credit Union? High School students can stop in our Bulldog Branch on Tuesdays or Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and talk to Lily or Kayla to learn more about the account opening process.

Families with students in kindergarten through 8th grade, your WY student is also eligible for the Bulldog Buck$ program! Stop by the West York branch of First Capital FCU on Kenneth Road and open an account for them, make deposits, etc. The West York branch will give them their Bulldog Buck$ card and after 20 stamps (20 transactions), First Capital FCU will deposit $20 into their account! What a great way to start our younger students on their road to financial literacy!

Once a Bulldog Buck$ card is complete and redeemed, students will be given a new card to continue to earn Bulldog Buck$!

This month we are giving away a $25.00 gift card to one lucky student who opens a membership with us during the month of September.

Have any questions? Stop by the Bulldog Branch , or stop by the West York branch during their business hours.

The Arthur J. Glatfelter YMCA received a grant to provide free learn-to-swim lessons to local children that might not otherwise have access to lessons. They have chosen to offer the lessons to second graders in West York and York City schools.

The lessons (twice a week) are being taught at the YMCA located at 90 N. Newberry St. Students may only register for one session (dates below). They must register in person and provide proof of school district and that they are in second grade (such as providing the name of their teacher).

The session days/times are: Wed. & Fri. 6:00 pm - 6:40 pm or Wed. & Fri. 6:45 pm - 7:25 pm

The session dates are as follows:

• Sept. 11 - Oct. 2
• Oct. 9 - Nov. 1
• Nov. 6 - Nov. 29

Questions: Email Jackie Beck at jbeck@rosesymca.org

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.

Our Middle School PTSO is currently taking orders for beautiful, full, fall mums! This is a very popular fundraiser each year! Proceeds help support the costs of field trips for our middle school students.

The mums are in 9" pots and available in the following colors: Red, orange, yellow, bronze, purple and pink. (Size in above image not necessarily indicative of 9" mums.)

• Each mum is $10.00
• Orders Taken: August 24 - September 16
• Pick Up Mums: Wednesday, September 25
• Location/Time: WYAMS Cafeteria - 3:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Please check your child’s bookbag for this order form, or download a form by clicking the image above.

If you do not have a student at the Middle School and would like to place an order, simply download the order form using the link bar below. You can drop your order form and payment off at the Middle School main office any school day before Wednesday, September 25th.

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

As mentioned in our Secondary Back to School Nights article above, Ms. Zendaida Alicea, Life Skills Instructor with Valley Youth House, attended our Middle School Back to School Night and families were able to learn more about the amazing program they offer. They cover various topics, including:

• Budgeting
• Conflict Resolution
• Relationships
• Household Management
• Career Exploration
• Interviewing Skills
• Time Management
• And so much more!

The program runs 10 weeks for students in 8th grade and 15 weeks for students in 9-12 grades. At each session, participants are not only provided with these important life skills in a fun and engaging environment, but also a meal and a chance at a weekly gift card drawing. Transportation can also be available if that is needed.

Participants who complete the program receive a stipend at the end - $200 for the 10-week program and $300 for the 15-week program!

To learn more, including upcoming class dates and times, visit their website at:

https://bit.ly/WYValleyYouthDatesTimes

To sign up, complete their Sign-Up Form available at:

https://bit.ly/WYValleyYouthSignUp

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.

We are looking forward to another year of our student athletes showcasing their skills and continuing on their high school athletic careers.

While attending West York events, safety is not only a priority but an expectation. It is our duty to provide a safe environment for all spectators, fans, and student athletes. We ask that the community please adhere to District protocols to help us ensure a safe event.

Please click on the image below to view the communication regarding spectator attendance and expectations when attending sporting events at West York.

The pantry is open one day a month between 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. for families to pick up needed items. Donations to the pantry are always welcome as well. You can find more information on the Bulldog Pantry by clicking the bar below!

The schedule for the 2024-2025 school year is as follows:

Wednesday, September 25

Wednesday, October 16

Wednesday, November 20

Wednesday, December 18

Thursday, January 16

Wednesday, February 19

Thursday, March 20

Wednesday, April 16

Wednesday, May 21

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Ms. Amanda Burt, HS Learning Support Teacher, via email at amburt@wyasd.org.

REAL Life day at the High School is fast approaching!

This program is only possible with the help of WY volunteers! Junior Achievement staff are at each event and count on our volunteers to work under the direction of JA staff with small groups of students. Currently, we are still in need of several volunteers. Please consider coming and spending a fun day with our high school students.

All training is provided the morning of the event and no experience is needed!

Prior volunteers have shared how much fun they had while working with our Bulldogs!

REAL Life - High School - September 26th

Check out the REAL Life Program overview/volunteer Q&A here: https://bit.ly/JARealLifeOverview

Video preview here: https://vimeo.com/952705171/66344ffee7

Volunteer Registration Link: https://form.jotform.com/212215942576962

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.

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, September 10, EPC (Educational Programming Committee) Meeting (5:30 p.m.)
  
• Tuesday, September 10, Board Work Session (7:00 p.m.)
• Friday, September 13, Early Dismissal
• Tuesday, September 17, Budget and Finance Committee Meeting (5:30 p.m.)
• Tuesday, September 17, Board Voting Meeting (6:30 p.m.)
• Wednesday, September 18, Homecoming Parade/Bonfire (6:00 p.m.)
• Thursday, September 26, Wellness Committee Meeting (3:15 p.m.)
• Friday, September 27, Early Dismissal

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:

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