YSSD September 2024 Newsletter

Welcome back to another exciting school year. With two weeks behind us, I hope the transition has been smooth and everyone is settling in well. The start of a new school year is an exciting time filled with anticipation, energy, and a fresh sense of purpose. It's good to have everyone back!

As we settle into the rhythm of the new school year, I would like to extend a special invitation to our upcoming Homecoming festivities (details below). Homecoming is always a highlight of the school year, offering a wonderful opportunity for students, families, staff, and alumni to come together and celebrate our collective school spirit and pride. Your presence and participation in school events like this one are what make our community so special.

Additionally, I would like to encourage parents and community members to consider applying to join one of my advisory groups. These groups have played a crucial role in shaping the future of our district and provide valuable input on important issues. Your insights and perspectives are not just valuable, they are integral to our District's success. At this time, I am seeking additional members for both the Parent Council and Community Advisory groups.

Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to York Suburban, I look forward to seeing you at Homecoming and throughout the school year!

Sincerely,

Scott Krauser, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools

skrauser@yssd.org

• All Month - Suicide Prevention Month
• September 2 - Labor Day
• September 4 - Trojan Spirit Day (details under Important Dates below)
• September 8 - International Literacy Day
  
• September 8 - National Grandparents' Day
• September 8-14 - Arts in Education Week
• September 11 - 9-11 Remembrance Day (all schools will observe a moment of silence)
• September 15 thru October 15 - Hispanic Heritage Month
• September 17 - IT Professional Day
  
• September 23 - International Day of Sign Languages
• September 26 - Human Resources Professional Day

The weather may necessitate rescheduling events. Please look for updates from your child's school and refer to the District's online calendar for schedule changes. Thank you.

No School: Labor Day Day Break

Monday, September 2

Deadline for Updating Back to School Documents in Infinite Campus

Tuesday, September 3

Trojan Spirit Day

Wednesday, September 4

Again this year, we’ll have monthly Trojan Spirit Days. Let’s come together as a school community to show our Trojan Pride by wearing orange and black or York Suburban spirit wear.

No School: Professional Development/Act 80 Day

Monday, September 23

Homecoming Activities

Thursday, September 26
5 p.m. - Powder-Puff Game at the Stadium

6 p.m. - Parade followed by Bonfire at the Baseball Field

7 p.m. - Powder-Puff Championship Game

Homecoming Football Game
Friday, September 27

6 p.m. - Pregame Show and Announcement of Homecoming Queen at the Stadium

7 p.m. - Our Trojans will face the Dover Eagles. See information below about signing up for the YS Alumni Band.

We are excited to feature 206 students, 71 staff members, 5 Board Members, 4 dogs, 1 cicada, and 2 younger siblings in our first-ever First Day of School Video! Thank you to all who shared their smiles with us this year.

Please Note: Every effort was made to ensure all photos submitted by the deadline were included. Please forgive any accidental omissions.

Again this school year, Dr. Krauser, Superintendent, will be meeting with three advisory groups. The purpose of these groups is to improve communication and strengthen partnerships between the District and its stakeholders.

Group 1: Parent Council

Parents play an important role in promoting the social, emotional, and academic success of all students. This council provides the Superintendent and other district staff with feedback from different family perspectives. Ideally the group has diverse representation from all corners of our District. Meetings will be held in October, December, February, and April.

Group 2: Community Advisory

Community members, leaders, and service providers play a valuable role in helping the District prepare its students for success after graduation. The goal of the Community Advisory is to discuss a variety of topics, share information and broaden understanding of school-related issues. We are particularly interested in involvement by local businesses, nonprofits, health and human services, real estate professionals, alumni, etc. Meetings will be held in October, January, and May.

Group 3: Student Advisory Student Advisory

The student advisory group will be formed with the assistance of high school administration.

Apply Online

Space is available for adults interested in joining the Parent Council or Community Advisory group. Please click here to complete our brief application. Deadline is Wednesday, September 11.

Starting in October, we will highlight one of the six competencies of our Portrait of Graduate each month in our electronic newsletter. This month we wanted to provide an overview of what the Portrait of a Graduate is and what it supports.

What is a Portrait of a Graduate?

• A comprehensive educational framework that defines the essential skills, attributes, and qualities the community aims to cultivate in its students.
• Students build these competencies from kindergarten through their senior year.
• Portrait of a Graduate goes beyond traditional academic knowledge and focuses on skills, experiences, and attributes that students need in their everyday life as contributing members of their family, friend groups, clubs, sports teams, etc. Students might also use these skills in the future as they pursue post-secondary education opportunities or a career.

What does it support?

• well-rounded graduates
• graduates prepared for a rapidly changing world
• students ready to address complex challenges
• graduates who contribute meaningfully to our communities and the global society
• curriculum planning and instruction focused on our chosen competencies

For additional information about our Portrait of a Graduate and how the competencies were chosen, please visit our website.

Again this year, parents are expected to update their child's general information, emergency contacts, communication preferences, and health history in Infinite Campus. Infinite Campus can also be used to pay student fees or purchase a student parking permit.

It is very important that your family's contact information be current to ensure we can reach you in an emergency. For step-by-step directions and related documents, click here. If you have more than one student in the district, be sure to complete these tasks for each child.

Physical examinations are required for children upon entry into school, in grade 6, and in grade 11. Additionally, a variety of immunizations are required for all students with additional immunization requirements for entry to grades 7 and 12. For a complete list of requirements and related forms please visit the District's Health Services website.

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

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Property & Finance Committee - Monday, September 16, 5 p.m.

Personnel Committee - Monday, September 30, 5 p.m.

SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS

Planning - Monday, September 9, 7 p.m.

Regular - Monday, September 23, 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

• 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.
• Employment Opportunities - We have a variety of open positions perfect for individuals interested in working a schedule similar to our students.
• 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.
  
• Online Registration - If you moved into the district this summer and have not yet registered your child for the 2024-2025 school year, please do so as soon as possible.
• 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.