Blue & White Newsletter - 2/9/24
Week of February 5, 2024
Empowering Students: Leadership and Life Skills
Students on Team Phoenix at the Middle School created posters to review the first 3 habits of the Leader in Me Program. Habit 1 is Be Proactive and focuses on taking responsibility for your life, Habit 2 is Begin with the End in Mind and helps students define and create goals. Habit 3 is Put First Things First and gives students an opportunity to learn the value of prioritizing tasks. These are great life strategies and the students enjoy learning to integrate the Habits into their daily routines.
Championing Student Success: Celebrating the Vital Role of School Counselors
This week we celebrated National School Counseling Week. West York has amazing counselors as part of our AWESOME Pupil Services Team! They provide support, encouragement, and guidance to our students in a variety of ways as our students engage with their education and the world around us.
Formerly referred to as Guidance Counselors, federal legislations acknowledged the title change in 2001. You can click HERE for more information on Guidance Counselor vs. School Counselor and why the title matters.
- American School Counselor Association (ASCA) has a National Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs, 4th Edition, containing the following components:
- Assess Program Assessment and School Counselor Assessment and Appraisal
- Define Student Standards and Professional Standards
- Deliver Direct Student Services and Indirect Student Services
- Manage Program Focus and Planning
- In addition to the Career Education and Work Standards, there are ASCA Student Standards: Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success K-12 College-, Career-, and Life-Readiness Standards for Every Student for school counselors to use when delivering their comprehensive school counseling programs.
- Best practice for school counseling programs is for counselors to spend 80% of their time in direct and indirect student services. 20% of their time should be spent on program planning and school support activities.
Pictured below: The Instructional Leader for our school counselors, Ms. Vanessa Bicher, coordinated an information session from Not One More on January 29th. Cindy Heath provided the counselors, as well as other pupil service staff, information on resources that Not One More can offer for our students and families that have a loved one or lost a loved one due to addiction.
L-R: Mr. Josh Schmalzer (School Psychologist), Ms. Traci Stauffer (Director of Special Ed/Pupil Services), Ms. Juliana Hickey (Social Worker), Ms. Kaitlin Mock (HS School Counselor), Ms. Amanda Thomason (MS TES Classroom Counselor), Ms. Amanda Snyder (Behavior Specialist), Ms. Jessica Oakhem (MS School Counselor), Ms. Kristen Kopp (Social Services Coordinator), Ms. Vanessa Bicher (Lincolnway School Counselor), Ms. Kelly Reh (MS School Counselor), Ms. Missy Gordon (Trimmer School Counselor), Ms. Cindy Heath, Not One More Presenter, Mr. John Barton (HS School Counselor), and Ms. Kelly Bauer (School Psychologist).
Brain-Based Multi-Sensory Learning!
Ms. Bridget Grasser's students in Ms. Erika Torres' room at Wallace Elementary had fun with recognizing numbers! Using brain-based research strategies to see the number, say the number, and write the number is one way to help students retain information in their long term memory!
An Indoor Winter Wonderland
All district students with complex needs (Autistic Support, Life Skills Support, Intensive Learning Support) and their families enjoyed a Family Night in the Community. The Wyndham Hotel provided the perfect space to share in a Winter Wonderland full of fun for the students, while parents learned more about extracurricular opportunities such as the Polar Bear Hockey Program, Penguin Project Theater Program, and Autism York. A special thanks to all who volunteered their time to share in this great night!
Music to Our Ears!
Six very talented musicians from our High School performed in the 13th Annual York County High School Honors Band Festival held on Feb. 3rd, along with students from other York County school districts.
Athletic Fields Project - Informational Meeting
We are pleased to extend an invitation to the West York Area School District Community to attend an informational meeting to learn about the proposed WYASD Athletic Fields Project. At the meeting, you will see the plans and meet design team members, School Board Directors, and District Administration.
Date and Time: Thursday, February 15, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
Location: West Manchester Township Building, 380 E. Berlin Road, York, PA 17408
Information about the project can also be found on the WYASD Website using the link below. Questions can be directed to BulldogMail@wyasd.org. Thank you for your continued support of West York Area School District.
Kindergarten Registration is Now OPEN!
Kindergarten registration for the 2024-2025 school year is now open. We encourage families to register early. Simply click the image to the right and click on Create A New Account. Even if you already have students in West York, you will use the Create A New Account to begin the registration process for your incoming Kindergarten student. Children need to be five years of age by September 1, 2024, to be eligible for Kindergarten.
If you have any questions, please contact our Registration Office at 717-792-2796 extension 1216.
30 Horrible Catastrophes of Middle School Show
The West York Area Middle School is proud to present its 2024 play, 30 Horrible Catastrophes of Middle School! While poking fun at teenaged insecurities and superficial stereotypes, this fast-paced vignette-style play examines the obstacles and pitfalls of middle school and reminds all those who have already traversed that world that nostalgia isn’t what it used to be. This cheerful production will warm the heart of anyone who dares experience the 30 Horrible Catastrophes of Middle School!
Dates:
Friday, February 23 @ 6:30 PM
Saturday, February 24 @ 2:00 PM
Location:
West York Area Middle School
1700 Bannister Street
Admission: $3.00/per person - Tickets sold at the door.
DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST!
Tickets Now On Sale!
Dates
Friday, March 1 @ 7:00 PM
Saturday, March 2 @ 7:00 PM
Sunday, March 3 @ 2:00 PM
Location: West York Area High School Auditorium
General Admission: $12.00
Students/Seniors: $10.00
Click the image above to purchase tickets.
Foundation for WYASD - Casino Night
Tickets Now on Sale!!
Join us for a fabulous night of delicious food, drinks, casino games, a silent auction, and more! Always a great time and a wonderful, fun opportunity for our community to come together to support our students. Be sure to invite your family and friends to join you for Casino Night!
The Bulldog Breakdown
Check out this week's issue of the Bulldog Breakdown, a weekly recap of the prior week's athletic accomplishments and lists the upcoming sporting events.
Check out the latest issue by clicking the Bulldog image to the left.
February 9, 2024
9th/10th Grade:
Donaghan Dotzel
For working ahead and getting stuff done!
11th/12th Grade:
Nyjai White
For stepping up to help put library chairs down on a Monday morning!
Faculty/Staff:
Ms. Katie Stoops
For always being there for me!
February Important Dates
- Tuesday, February 13, Work Session of the Board (7:00 p.m.)
- Thursday, February 15, Athletic Fields Project Community Meeting (7:00 p.m.) Meeting will take place at the West Manchester Township Building. Click link for our Stadium Project webpage.
- Thursday, February 15, Early Dismissal
- Friday, February 16, No School for Students - Professional Learning Day
- Monday, February 19, School in Session - Snow Make Up Day for Jan. 16th Weather Closure
- Tuesday, February 20, Board Voting Meeting (6:30 p.m.)
- Wednesday, February 21, Bulldog Pantry Distribution Day (5:00 p.m.)
- Friday, February 23, MS Play (6:30 p.m.)
- Saturday, February 24, MS Play (2:00 p.m.)
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
IN AND AROUND THE DISTRICT
Local Blood Banks Need Your Help!
The American Red Cross is experiencing an emergency blood shortage as the nation faces the lowest number of people giving blood in 20 years. Your blood donation is needed now to help alleviate the shortage and ensure lifesaving medical procedures are not delayed.
Please click the image to visit the American Red Cross website for upcoming Blood Drives in our area or to schedule an appointment.
Your donation can save lives! Thank you!
LOST & FOUND
Our schools are accumulating many items in our Lost & Found areas. Please remind your child to check the Lost & Found if they are missing anything. If there is something specific, feel free to contact the school office and and make an inquiry.
Time to Order Your MS or HS Yearbook
Calling all High School and Middle School students!
Don't miss out on ordering your 2023-2024 Yearbook!
The yearbook captures today's memories to enjoy for a lifetime!
HIGH SCHOOL price through January 26th - $80.00
MIDDLE SCHOOL price through January 26th - $35.00
Click the image below to order your yearbook today.
- Complimentary admission to all home athletic events (excludes playoff events)
- Complimentary admission to all District concerts (most do not charge admission)
Join us for a complimentary luncheon & performance of the all-school musical production of . . .
Community Corner - Be Sure To Check It Out Often!
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