Blue & White Newsletter - 10/20/23
Week of Monday, October 16 - Friday, October 20, 2023
Note: The Blue & White Newsletter is now coming to you in a new format. For best results, click “view this newsletter in your browser” at the top of this email. This will open features such as translation and viewing options, as well as a table of contents.
Reading With Our Local Seniors!
Binomial Bonanza: Multiplying Madness!
Students in Ms. Anne Hunter and Ms. Bethany Rodriguez's Integrated Math 1B class at the High School worked together to practice multiplying binomials by completing a Tarsia puzzle. In a Tarsia puzzle, each piece has a question or answer on it. As students match the pieces together correctly, answers to questions are revealed.
Essays in Progress - Voice of Democracy Contest
On Friday, October 13, students in Ms. Amy Wiker's Block 1 English 10 Honors class at the High School shared their Voice of Democracy speeches in groups and completed peer evaluations. This year's topic is "What are the greatest attributes of our Democracy?" Afterwards, High School Media Specialist Ms. Lyndsay Riedel shared the advantages of using Draft Coach, a feature available in Google Docs to West York students that allows them to identify and understand the mistakes in their papers related to grammar and citations. Voice of Democracy speeches will be given to West York's VFW Post by the end of the month. We can't wait to see if we have winners!
Fire Safety at Home
The West Manchester Township Fire Department recently visited Lincolnway Elementary. Students attended an assembly about fire and cooking safety and were then able to go out to the fire trucks to observe different tools the fire fighters use and how they work. Thank you, West Manchester Township Fire Department for visiting and helping our students understand fire safety in their homes.
Classroom Camping in Ms. Murphy's Class!
Ms. Kelly Murphy's first grade class at Wallace Elementary recently read the book, Camping Trip. In order to help students connect to the book, they enjoyed a tent day and some flashlight reading. Learning is always enhanced when it can be experiential!
Trunk or Treat Tales: Spooktacular Snaps!
Mechatronics Through YCST
Senior Nana Ama Nyamekye received a Snap-on Meter Certification award from York County School of Technology in the Mechatronics program she is enrolled in. Great job, Nana!
Family Night In The Community
All WY District students in Autistic Support classrooms and their families are invited to attend our Fall Festival at Sunset Lane Park on Monday, October 23rd, from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. This is a great opportunity to spend time together out of school and get to know other families, school staff, and classmates.
Fall games and snacks will be provided. We hope to see you there!
Veterans Appreciation Night
The West York Area Middle School Student Council is hosting a Veterans' Appreciation Night at the Middle School on Monday, November 13, at 6:30, to honor and thank our veterans. There will be a short program and light refreshments afterwards. We invite all West York community veterans to join us for this night of appreciation. Questions can be sent to Ms. Linda Joseph at lljoseph@wyasd.org.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
IN AND AROUND THE DISTRICT
Virtual Financial Aid Night
Monday, October 23rd @ 5:30 PM
Are you starting to look at funding your child's post-secondary education? Join us on Monday, October 23rd from 5:30-6:30 p.m. for a Zoom presentation led by Ms. Diona Brown, PHEAA's High Education Access Partner for York County. Be sure to use the Registration Link below (blue bar). After registering, you will receive the link to join the Zoom Meeting on October 23rd.
Any questions, please email Ms. Kaitlin Mock at kmmock@wyasd.org.
Bulldog Pantry - Next Distribution Date
Wednesday, October 25th @ 5:00 PM
Our next Bulldog Pantry distribution date is Wednesday, October 25th at West York Area High School. Use Door 14, located by the tennis courts, to enter the building.
Bulldog Pantry offers non-perishable food items, household items, paper products, etc., to any WY District students and their families, regardless of financial need.
No registration needed, while supplies last.
If you would like to donate items to the Bulldog Pantry, please visit the Bulldog Pantry webpage via the link below for a list of the most requested items. Questions can be sent to Ms. Amanda Burt at amburt@wyasd.org.
Volunteers Needed - Jr. Achievement YES! Program
We are still in need of volunteers for the YES! program at the Middle School on Friday, November 10th.
The YES! program is a half-day program with activities intended to help middle school students gain an appreciation for the importance that financial and career decisions will play in their lives as young adults.
This program is possible only with the help of volunteers like you! There is no experience necessary as training is provided and JA representatives and WY teachers are on hand if needed. You can check out the Frequently Asked Questions and register to be a volunteer via the links below.
District Holiday Cards Design Contest
We Can't Wait to See YOUR Designs!
Deadline - November 1, 2023
Each year, we offer our students the opportunity to submit a design for the front of our District holiday cards.
One design will be selected from the elementary submissions and one from the secondary submissions. The artists of the two winning designs will be invited to the December 12th School Board Meeting to be acknowledged and to see their cards framed and displayed in the District Boardroom.
Here are the details for design submissions:
- Theme: “Winter” or “The Holidays”
- Paper Size: Minimum size: 4.25” x 5.5” Maximum size: 8.5” x 11” - Paper is available from your child’s Art Teacher
- Orientation: Portrait only. Landscape-oriented designs will not be considered.
- Eligibility: All K-12 students.
- Identification: The student’s name, grade, and building should be on the back of their submission.
- Deadline: All submissions must be received in the Assistant Superintendent’s Office by Wednesday, November 1, 2023. Students should give their design to their Art Teacher prior to November 1st.
VFW Essay/Oracle Contests - Deadline October 31st
UPMC Student and Parent Health Care Career Night
Health care is one of the fastest growing industries in the U.S., and UPMC is holding a special event to help you and your parents/guardians learn about the many exciting and rewarding careers in the field.
Health care is not just nurses and doctors (though they are very important). Careers can range from direct patient care like nursing, or behind-the-scene work in a laboratory or pharmacy. There are a wide range of positions available – including some that just require a high school diploma.
UPMC staff from a wide range of areas will be there to share their firsthand experience and answer your questions. Also, various schools and universities will be there to discuss their health care programs.
This is a great opportunity to learn more about a rewarding career in health care.
To register, visit https://forms.microsoft.com/r/wHkGrnzrL9.
For general questions, please email thompsonss2@upmc.edu.
Golden Bulldog Pass Fall Events!
Winter Sports Season Registration is Now Open!
All students in grades 7-12 who are interested in playing a winter sport must register and submit a PIAA physical via FamilyID.
To access FamilyID, click the blue link bar below, visit out website www.wyasd.org>Athletics>Sign-Up, or scan the QR Code.
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 (newest in bold):
- Cub Scouts (Boys & Girls ages 5-12)
- Cub Scout Pack 67 @ Dover United Church of Christ
- Contact: Mark Baker at baker126@gmail.com
- Cub Scout Pack 94 @ Shiloh United Church of Christ
- Contact: Melissa Kopp-Smith @ melissakopp16@comcast.net
- Girl Scouts
- West York Boys Club
- West York FREE Lacrosse Clinics
- WY Middle School
- November 11th and 19th
- 6:00 - 7:00 PM
- Contact: Tim McNicholas at mcnicholas.t@yahoo.com
- York JCC
- YMCA of York
- YWCA of York
Community Resources such as:
- United Way
- Community Progress Council
- Dream Wrights Center for Community Arts
Fundraisers Benefiting WYASD Students, Teams, and Clubs
There are many ways to support the students and athletes in our District. One way is to support the various fundraisers they run throughout each school year. In many cases, you may already be a regular customer of the vendors. Our students and athletes thank you for your consideration, planning, and support!
A fun, and delicious, fundraiser is being hosted this week by the Class of 2024 at Crumbl Cookies' West York location on Wednesday, October 25th. A percentage of sales between 4:00 - 7:00 PM will be donated to the Class of 2024's Blue & White Fund. The Blue & White Fund is an account where each year's class accumulates proceeds from their various fundraisers with a goal to cover the expenses related to the prom. Each year, the junior class's Blue & White fund, pays for the senior class's prom.
Our PTO/PTSO organizations support our K-8 grades with various fundraisers to assist the District with educational materials, funding field trips, innovative instructional support, and technology grants.