Blue & White Newsletter - 3/22/24
Week of March 18, 2024
Trimmer Elementary Encore Classes!
As we wrap up this glimpse into the elementary Encore classes, here's a look into the Art, Health/PE, Library/Media, General Music and Band classes at Trimmer Elementary!
STEM in the Library/Media Center
Students in Ms. Courtney Henry's classes learned about civil engineering and worked through all five steps of the engineering design process! They were challenged to create the tallest possible model tower with plastic straws and masking tape, while attending to time, material and building constraints. Some had successful towers that were over 3 feet tall!
This collaborative STEM activity mirrors the real-world engineering experience of understanding criteria, designing solutions within constraints, and cooperating with others while demonstrating problem solving skills!
General Music
In Music class with Ms. Janine Miller, students learned and performed an Irish dance and learned about world classifications of instruments. They were introduced to several Irish instruments and were able to listen to them and learn in which classification they belong. Among the instruments were the Celtic Harp, Bodhran, Penny Whistle, Uilleann Pipes, and the Hurdy Gurdy.
Elementary Band
Beginning Band students under the direction of Ms. Sarah Foery, Beginning Band and Elementary Concert Band Director, have spent the year thus far learning the fundamentals of their instrument, including how to play specific notes, read rhythms and pitches, and how to play with good technique. Thirteen students have completed their black belts, meaning they have successfully learned and performed independently 10 different songs, each increasing in difficulty. Congratulations and great work to these stand-out students! More recent lesson highlights from February include learning about Ella Fitzgerald and learning the melody to a song she recorded and performed many times, "A Tisket, A Tasket.” In March, they began learning about John Philip Sousa and "march" style music, including learning to play a clip from the final strain of his march "High School Cadets." Over these last months, students have also begun working in the band ensemble to work on their skills in playing as part of a group. All of our learning will come together in our spring performance on Wednesday, April 17, where the band will perform a variety of songs featuring the different skills they have learned this year.
Elementary Concert Band students have spent the year building upon the foundation they built last year in Beginning Band, and performed a Holiday Concert in December. Since then, they have been continuing to build the foundational skills on their instruments, allowing them to diversify the styles of music they are learning, and intensify the level of music they are capable of playing. Their spring concert performance will be on Thursday, April 18, in which they will showcase this learning and musical development. Their music will feature a variety of styles, tempos, and genres including: folk songs, spirituals, chorales, swing, canons, and 1950's style Rock & Roll. A group of Concert Band students have also been learning about World Drumming, particularly studying the musical instruments and style of South African percussion. They are working on creating an ensemble that they will perform in conjunction with the 5th Grade Chorus during one of their pieces at the spring concert.
Our students have been working very hard all year and they are very excited to share their talent with everyone on April 17th and April 18th! We hope to see everyone there!
Included in a few pictures below is Annaliese Eisenhart, a WY senior doing a career internship with Ms. Foery during the day.
Health/PE
In Health/PE classes with Mr. Brionne Caldwell, our 4th and 5th grade students have been focusing on volleyball fundamentals. Specifically, the serve, the bump, and the set. They have worked together in small groups of four to eight players in a circle with the challenge of counting the number of "volleys" that the teams can make without allowing the ball to touch the ground and without a player making a self pass. They begin with a beachball, then progress to a volleyball trainer, and finally finish with a real volleyball. Teamwork is as important as the skills for groups to have success. A lot of time is spent teaching what it means to work together.
Art - The Study of Artist Jen Stark
To kick off the celebration of Youth Arts Month, students in Ms. Tiffany Loucks' 4th and 5th-grade classes have been learning about contemporary artist Jen Stark. She is known for her repetitive, intricate sculptures which often resemble patterns in nature. Stark's hypnotic work embraces replication as it mimics plant growth, evolution, topographical maps, infinity, fractals, and the universe's geometry. Students are working both collaboratively and independently to create Stark-inspired drip paintings while reviewing color theory, and building off of our previous Heart Art painting unit covered in February.
For their current project, each student is in the process of creating two drip paintings which will later be cut out and put together as a larger collaborative piece. Through this unit, students gain a better understanding of how artists create, evolve, and collaborate. Jen Starks color inspiration is centered around her love of nature. How colors in nature, for instance, have a role in nature, such as its attractive and repellent properties—like a bright red berry enticing you to eat it or a blue poison dart frog telling you to stay away. Final class drips will become part of the Trimmer landscape and students will get to experience how their art will impact our space.
Earlier in the year students were very excited to see Ms. Loucks sporting Jen Stark design shoes. Some students since then have been sharing their own fashion choices to accompany our current lesson and artist inspiration.
Next month, we will begin spotlighting similar courses available at the Middle School. This will be a great way to provide a sneak-peak into the different offerings that are available to middle school students in the areas of Art, Music, Health/PE, Media Center, and our Project Lead the Way courses!
Jump Rope for Heart 2024 Edition
WOW!!!! Just wow! Thank you to all the parents, students, teachers and everyone that came out and helped make this year’s Jump Rope for Heart a RECORD BREAKING event!!
2024 RECORDS:
- 257 Total students in attendance
- 206 Students registered online
- 40+ Admin., teachers, staff, and adult volunteers participated in the event
- $12,320.44 Raised for The American Heart Association!!!
Thank you to all of the parents for allowing your sons and daughters to participate in the event! A special thank you for your patience and understanding as we worked hard to make certain that every student got in the correct car and made it home safely!!
A HUGE thank you to all of the teachers, staff, and parents who attended the event! It is not possible to run the Jump Rope for Heart event without all of your help!! We had seven different stations for the students to participate in! That takes a lot of volunteers to keep everything running!!
Stage the Page - An Immersive Field Trip
Stage the Page is a program to inspire and encourage young students to read while also exposing them to a high-quality theatrical production. This week, students from Wallace Elementary were able to attend a Stage the Page event about Treehouse Shakers' The Boy Who Grew Flowers. As detailed on the Appell Center's website, "Incorporating shadow puppetry, original music, and movement to play, The Boy Who Grew Flowers is a thoughtful story that lends itself to themes of diversity, creating empathy, and celebrating individualism." Every student received a complimentary show ticket made possible through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program. Each classroom received a copy of the book and accompanying activities to read prior to attending the performance so they had background information related to the performance.
What's So Cool About Manufacturing!
The Votes Are In!
CONGRATULATIONS to our “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” video contest team for winning the award for "Outstanding Educational Value"! The 8th grade seminar students at the Middle School, under the guidance of Ms. Jill Striebig, visited Say Plastics in December. They gathered video footage of the manufacturing process, interviewed employees about their roles in the process, and over the last few months worked on turning that footage into a story that showcases SAY Plastics and the manufacturing process. The students learned how to use adobe animate and created a character named Plastic Patrick.
The awards ceremony was held Wednesday evening at the Farm and Home Center in Lancaster. There were fourteen participating schools and seven awards were presented at the ceremony.
Well done Bulldogs!!
Pictured below (1st photo): Ms. Janel Cross (Award Presenter), Mr. Bruce Newell (President and CEO of MANTEC), Ms. Jill Striebig, Derrick Steele, Luke Van Vorst, Kerington Cooper, Gabi Rodriguez Fuentes, Ceci Halcott, Rylee Bievenour, Mr. Seth Worley, Project Engineer from SAY Plastics, and Mr. Erich Kaintz, VP of Business Development from SAY Plastics.
Picture below (3rd photo): Front Row: Minh-quan Nguyen, Luke Van Vorst, Derrick Steele, Llevy Bray, and Danny McGladrie. Back Row: Kerington Cooper, Alexa Hoff, Ceci Halcott, Jasmine Yeaple, Addie Schmoyer, Gabi Rodriguez Fuentes, and Rylee Bievenour. Not pictured: Preston Footman
Junior Achievement STEM Summit
Earlier this week, our 10th grade students at the High School participated in the Junior Achievement STEM Summit. This day is designed to inspire students to pursue careers in STEM fields.
The program includes several stations, such as:
- Chemistry - students experiment and learn about polymers by mixing two liquids together and watching it expand to 30 times its original size.
- Biology - students get to diagnose an illness and learn about epidemiology.
- Math - students must solve math problems by engaging in a scavenger hunt to collect clues to the math problems.
- Engineering - this is an opportunity for students to work with their group to build a bridge using limited time and materials.
- Technology - using ROOT Robot, students code their robot to move, draw, light up, and play music.
- Manufacturing - this activity requires students to work together to manufacture an order and complete a cost analysis.
- Electrical - students work in smalls groups to wire a circuit comprised of a buzzer, light switch, and receptacle.
- Physics - students engage in fun activities and experiments that demonstrate basic physics principles and test scientific theory.
Masked Singer Updates!
This week, the Masked Singer competition continued to unmask competitors participating in Lincolnway Elementary's Masked Singer Contest! With a total of 24 faculty/staff members, as of yesterday, we are down to only eight unmasked singers! The final match to determine the winner will take place on Wednesday, March 27th and revealed at their Bulldog Bash!
Also, we previously reported that Ms. Faith Wentworth was the winner of last year's competition, which was incorrect. Last year's winner was actually Ms. Gloria Maldonado, one of our second grade teachers! Will she be able to have back-to-back wins! She's still in the competition as of yesterday!
Check out the recordings below that were voted on between March 14th and March 21st!
Brackets
Unmasked Participants Thus Far!
Solar Eclipse - Early Dismissal on April 8th
REMINDER: We will have an early dismissal for our students on Monday, April 8th, due to the timing of the solar eclipse. If you missed Dr. Davies' communication, click the image to the left to read his communication.
The link below will provide you with an updated copy of our 2023-2024 District Calendar, which now reflects the April 8th early dismissal.
Don't Suffer from FOMO! Take Action Today!
Recently, we created fresh Facebook and Instagram accounts, as shared in our March 1st newsletter. Be sure to Like/Follow us so you don't experience FOMO - Fear of Missing Out!
Click below to Like and Follow us!
March 22, 2024
9th/10th Grade:
Fiona Myers
For being a great student in class and working hard!
11th/12th Grade:
Alivia Walters
For going to the board meeting and being generally awesome!
Faculty/Staff:
Ms. Bridget Toren
For helping me create lessons and helping me prep lessons!
2024-2025 District Calendar Now Available!
At the February 20th Board Meeting, the 2024-2025 District Calendar was approved and you can access it from our website by clicking the bar below.
March-April Important Dates
- Thursday, March 28, Professional Learning Day - No School for Students
- Friday, March 29, Spring Break - All Buildings & Grounds Closed
- Monday, April 1, Professional Learning Day - No School for Students
- Monday, April 8, Early Dismissal
- Tuesday, April 9, Communication & Engagement Committee Meeting (5:30 p.m.)
- Tuesday, April 9, Board Work Session (7:00 p.m.)
- Tuesday, April 16, Board Voting Meeting (6:30 p.m.)
- Wednesday, April 17, Bulldog Pantry Distribution (5:00 p.m.)
- Wednesday, April 17, Trimmer Beginning Band and 4th Grade Chorus Concert (6:30 p.m.)
- Thursday, April 18, Trimmer 5th Grade Band and Chorus Concert (6:30 p.m.)
- Friday, April 19, Early Dismissal
- Friday, April19, HS/MS Spring Jazz Concert @ HS (7:00 p.m.)
- Thursday, April 25, Off to Kindergarten @ Wallace (5:30 p.m.)
- Saturday, April 27th, HS Prom (6:00 p.m.)
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.
Don't miss important information on the PIAA postseason events, brackets, schedules, and how to purchase tickets! Simply click the Bulldog image to view the latest issue!
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.
Calling All Elementary Parents/Guardians and Staff!
Are you passionate about shaping the future of our school community? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of our students? We're looking for dedicated individuals to join the PTO Board for the 2024-2025 school year!
Positions Available:
- President
- Vice President
- Assistant Treasurer
If you're interested in any of these positions or want to learn more, click the image below to fill out the volunteer form by April 30th. The May 15th meeting is a must attend (6:00 pm) at Wallace Elementary.
Let's work together to make the 2024-2025 school year the best one yet!
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
IN AND AROUND THE DISTRICT
K-12 Yearbooks - Time is Running Out!
Elementary - Last Day to Order: March 31st!
Don't miss out on ordering your 2023-2024 Yearbook!
The yearbook captures today's memories to enjoy for a lifetime!
Elementary details: https://bit.ly/YearbookWYElementary
Middle School details: https://bit.ly/YearbookWYMiddleSchool
High School details: https://bit.ly/YearbookWYHighSchool
The Golden Bulldog Pass is available to our West York residents age 65 and older and admits the holder to various District events and activities.
- Complimentary admission to all home athletic events (excludes playoff events)
- Complimentary admission to all District concerts (most do not charge admission)
- Annual District Musical, including "Lunch and a Show" event (2024 show is fully booked)
We welcome those eligible who do not currently have a Golden Pass to stop by our Administration Office, Monday-Friday, between 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., to get your pass. All you need is a current photo ID showing your District address and date of birth.
If you know of an eligible friend, neighbor, or family member who might benefit from a Golden Bulldog Pass, please share this information with them. Questions may be directed to BullDogMail@wyasd.org.
Flower Bouquets for 2024 Graduation Ceremony
The Class of 2025 is holding a Commencement Bouquets fundraiser for the 2024 graduation! This is a great opportunity to have a beautiful bouquet of roses conveniently ready for you just outside the ceremony entrance! If you would like to pre-purchase a bouquet, please scan the QR Code below or click the picture to be directed to the vendor website.
WYASD Spirit Wear
Elementary PTO Fundraiser
Ready for some new spring/summer WY spirit wear? Here's your chance to purchase some really cool t-shirts, hoodies, shorts, and more to proudly show your Bulldog spirit!
Orders due by April 14th and delivered during the week of May 8th.
Full ordering details, directions, and deadlines can be found by clicking the t-shirt to the right.
LAST DAY to Order Gardners Candies!
Class of 2025 Fundraiser
The Class of 2025 his hosting a fundraiser for their class - Gardners Candies!
Online ordering is open NOW through March 22nd. It's so easy to order and your order will be shipped directly to your house! Click on the image to the left for ordering details.
2026 Germany Trip - Information Night
WY High school students, have you ever imagined yourself taking in the views from the top of the Swiss Alps, visiting the Dachau Memorial and Museum to learn about the history of WWII, or trying all the local German and Swiss food? You will experience all of that and more on our 2026 trip to Germany and the Alps! Join Miss. Deborah Schaefer and Ms. Nicole Pham for an interest meeting announcing our June 2026 trip to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland!
Come to the interest meeting with your parents on Thursday, April 4th at 6:00 PM at the High School. Please RSVP here so you receive the trip information: https://bit.ly/3v8DRIF. The specific meeting location will be announced to those who have sent an RSVP.
Space is limited. Spots will be filled first with students who are/have taken German and their parent(s)/guardian(s). Remaining spots (which we do anticipate having) will be open to other students and their parent(s)/guardian(s). We encourage anyone with any level of interest to attend this meeting.
NOTE: This is NOT a school-sponsored activity. The trip is offered by EF Educational Tours.
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
Opportunity to Support a YCAL Partner
The York Builders Association, a YCAL partner (York County Alliance for Learning), is hosting a 9-hole golf fundraiser on Friday, May 10, at Bridgewater Golf Club. All proceeds benefit the York Builders Association Workforce NOW Foundation as they continue providing scholarships, pre-apprenticeship training, and career exploration. Our programs are FREE to all student participants.
$100 for a single golfer | $400 for a foursome
Fees include a round of golf, cart, lunch, beverages, and the use of the driving range.
Choose from two tee times - 9:00 am or 1:00 pm.
Schedule
8:00 am – 8:45 am – 1st Round Registration
9:00 am – 12:00 pm – 1st Round
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm – Lunch, 1st Round Awards, 2nd Round Registration
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm – 2nd Round
4:30 pm – 2nd Round Awards
Email Melissa Longenberger at Melissa@YorkBuilders.com to registration or with any questions.