Feature

Reflection

June 7, 2016 by jhershner

We are YS Proud! Congratulations to the graduating Class of 2016!

I am particularly fortunate to serve as the Superintendent of this fine District as my husband and I are now celebrating the graduation of our third child from York Suburban High School. We have been the benefactors of a collective 39 years of a York Suburban education. The duality of my role – parent and Superintendent – has been very interesting and enlightening and this year’s commencement celebration has prompted considerable reflection on my part. This reflection has led me to one conclusion: I owe this community a very large THANK YOU!

I believe that I speak for most parents when I express my gratitude to this community for building and supporting a school district that so effectively serves the students. Thank you for supporting a district that encourages all students to succeed. Thank you for supporting a district that expects academic excellence. Thank you for supporting the teachers, administrators, and support staff in this district. Thank you for supporting the extracurricular programs in music, art, athletics and all areas. Thank you for supporting a quality education for all children.

This community is unique and special. It includes all residents, students, parents, and school employees. It is evident in countless ways that we support one shared mission: To educate, challenge and prepare students to shape the future. More than 200 students crossed the stage last Thursday evening, ready to shape the future. I have every confidence that they are well prepared to do so. Thanks to the ongoing support of this outstanding community, I expect 200 more students to do the very same thing next year, and the following, and the following.

THANK YOU for all you do to support our students!

Filed Under: Feature, June 2016

Revisiting Recess

April 13, 2016 by jhershner

Hearing the chatter of young voices outside, I found myself drawn to the window of my office. It happened to be a bright sunny day and the children from Valley View were headed to the stadium field for a little bit of recess. As they waved to me at the window, it did not take long for me to decide that I could use a little bit of recess too. I jogged out to join them on the field for a fun-filled game of Follow the Leader! How refreshing to follow these youngsters around the field, hopping, skipping and twirling! It really was a great break from the stresses of the job and a terrific reminder for me of why I do what I do.

My time of late has been consumed with planning for the 2016-17 school year. In so doing, we are making decisions about staffing, budget and facilities. Despite the uncertainty of the state budget, there are difficult decisions to be made. The business of the school district does not stop because we do not have a state budget. After losing twenty-three instructional positions over a period of five years, we must recover some of them as our student population grows. The administrative team is developing a plan to do just that. We must begin to tackle some of the maintenance that has been deferred for the last few years. We recently made a commitment to upgrade the outdated Middle School cafeteria so to address safety concerns and we will be adding secure entrances to East York and Indian Rock Elementary buildings. These are necessary elements of school security in this day and age. The District is also in the final stages of developing a budget that is respectful of our community while ensuring that we deliver the best possible education to our students.

For comments recently printed in the York Sunday News: www.ydr.com/story/opinion/readers/2016/03/24/

Thank you to the entire York Suburban community for your continued support! You help to make us:

A Community of Encouragement. A Culture of Excellence.

Filed Under: April 2016, Feature

Of PRIDE and Budgets

February 24, 2016 by jhershner

Hello from the office of the Superintendent.

Allow me to introduce the new editor of the YS PRIDE: Mrs. Judy Brown-Hershner, Administrative Assistant for Communications. Most of you know Mrs. Hershner as the “face of the District” as she serves as the receptionist in the Education Center. Others know her as the “voice of the District” as she answers many of your phone calls. Mrs. Hershner has many additional responsibilities including serving as the new editor of the YS PRIDE.

For years, the District has contracted with the Newton Group and Mr. Gordon Freireich to edit this newsletter. He has done a fantastic job in building an important communication tool for the District. It is with tremendous gratitude and respect that we publicly thank Mr. Freireich for his work.

The YS PRIDE provides the District with an opportunity to share with the community important news in the District. Much of that news involves the outstanding accomplishments of our students – in the classroom, on the stage, in the gym, around the community, and on the athletic fields. The York Suburban community has great reason to be proud of our students.

The York Suburban School District is committed to continuing to provide for our students a strong educational foundation. To do so, we must confront the realities of our present circumstances. Our enrollment continues to climb, with particular growth in the past two years. The needs of our students are increasing, including academic, social, and emotional. We have reduced our instructional staff by more than twenty positions in the last five years, with additional reductions in support positions. This has resulted in some larger classes and the addition of programs to support the needs of our students. As a District, we must consider reinstating a few positions in order to manage the growth in size and need, and to ensure the best opportunities for all of our students.

Unfortunately, as the saga of the PA state budget continues, it is more difficult than ever to build a financial plan to address these needs. While the District has received some state money for this current school year, we do not know if or when we will get more. We have been told not to expect at least some of the money previously committed to us for this year. Nonetheless, we have a legal responsibility to develop, approve and submit a balanced budget for the 2016-17 school in the coming months. To accomplish this task, we can only speculate on how the state budget will impact us. We must plan and be prepared for the worst.

Thanks in large part to the ongoing support of our community, I have every confidence that York Suburban will continue to fulfill its mission to: educate, challenge, and prepare students to shape the future.

Dr. Michele A. Merkle

Superintendent

Filed Under: Feature, February 2016

The State Budget and Your School District

December 22, 2015 by G. Freireich

Greetings from the office of the Superintendent!

I am wishing you all a wonderful holiday season. No matter your beliefs or traditions, may you find joy in the spirit of the season.

Now to more serious topics. We do not often think of our local school district as being an extension of the government, but it is very clear at this point in time as we deal with legislative issues at both the state and federal levels.

THE STATE BUDGET: We will soon have gone a full six months without a state budget. To the York Suburban School District, that means we do not know what we are able to count on with regard to our budget for the current school year, let alone the future. We can only speculate what money will come our way or if it will at all. We do not know what additional financial burdens will be placed on public schools.

Perhaps the greatest hardship is our inability to plan appropriately for next year and beyond. With the ever-present goal of fiscal responsibility, the district builds a budget each year, looking out three to five additional years. This is a difficult task and without knowing our current situation, planning for the future becomes even more difficult. Nonetheless, the district is obligated to meet specific budgetary timelines and we will do just that. To do so, however, we must plan and be prepared for the worst. We have to assume that we will get no money from the state and prepare accordingly. While in the end, I believe that will not be the case, it is our responsibility to be prepared. Budgetary planning will continue to be based on the principle of preparedness.

ESSA LEGISLATION: At the federal level, historic legislation was recently passed in the Every Student Succeeds Act(ESSA). This legislation will replace what we all come to know as the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. Indeed, both are wonderful names and who does not want every child to succeed? Who wants to allow any child to be left behind? [Read more…]

Filed Under: December 2015, Feature

New Tagline Captures Essence of YSSD

November 2, 2015 by G. Freireich

A Community of Encouragement. A Culture of Excellence. That newly adopted tagline captures the essence of the York Suburban School District. It embodies not just who we are, but also defines who we want to be.

The community of York Suburban is comprised of our students, staff, parents, and district residents. It includes alumni, retirees, grandparents, and all of our supporters. This community reaches far beyond the geographical boundaries of the district and it goes to great lengths to offer encouragement to our students. Encouragement comes in many different forms but always results in support for our students, and very often their families.

This community has created a culture of excellence that is entrenched in all that we do. There is a long and strong tradition of excellence in this district. While excellence is most evident in the performance of our students in the classroom, it is also demonstrated in the music and theater programs, on the athletic fields, in the gym, at organizational meetings, and in the Board room. This tradition is recognized and respected by the community and we continue to work purposefully to grow this culture. Students and staff are inspired by the rich culture of excellence.

Just a few weeks ago, I had the distinct pleasure of providing a tour of the York Suburban High School to members of the Class of 1965. Volumes were spoken about the rich traditions of the district. The expectations for excellence were established with these early graduating classes and have never changed. I heard many stories of achievement and success and was inspired to lead with a respect for the strong foundation that has been laid.

As a district, we must continue to grow and develop. As we face the many challenges of today, we must stay true to our identity — A Community of Encouragement. A Culture of Excellence

Dr. Shelly Merkle, Superintendent

Filed Under: Feature, November 2015

A Jump on the New School Year

August 7, 2015 by G. Freireich

We look forward to welcoming our students for the start of another great school year!

Our teachers return on August 17, a full three weeks before Labor Day and many of us are still adjusting to this early start. With an end date of May 27, 2016, our students in particular appreciate the benefits of getting a jump on the school year.

We will kick off the year with many new and exciting programs. Most notably, we have greatly expanded our Early Learning Program with a large number of pre-school and school aged children and classrooms in each of our four elementary buildings.

At the other end of the spectrum, we are opening our high school campus by expanding the opportunities for our students to learn outside of the walls of the school building. Students must meet the same rigorous standards, but may do so through unique learning experiences.

Students in grades 3 through 7 will have greater daytime access to computers while our students in grades 8-12 continue to be one-to-one with a Chrome Book.

TEACHERS ARE BUSY — This summer has been very busy in preparation for the school year. Teachers are heavily involved in professional development, curriculum work, and lesson planning. The staff and administration have been doing the same while also hiring new staff, and preparing programs and schedules to meet the needs of all of our students. We are welcoming a number of new teachers and staff members in all of our buildings.

The York Suburban School District has tackled a number maintenance and construction projects, all focused on improving student safety and addressing the maintenance that has been deferred in recent years.

TRACK RESURFACED — A very special thanks to the community for their patience as we resurfaced the track. The many walkers and runners that use the facility will appreciate the new surface as will all of our physical education classes and our student athletes. Visitors to the high school will be greeted through a new secure entrance that will be used during school hours and will help to protect our students. Indian Rock is under a new roof and all buildings will benefit from internal maintenance upgrades and cleaning.

The 2015-16 school year is sure to be filled with more great things from our students. With the ongoing support of our wonderful community, there is every reason to believe that York Suburban School District will continue its long-standing tradition of excellence in education.

Dr. Shelly Merkle, Superintendent

Filed Under: August 2015, Feature

205 Students in the Class of 2015

May 29, 2015 by G. Freireich

Caps in the air at the conclusion of commencement ceremonies.

With hearts aglow we sing to thee

Dear YSH will be,

A hallowed name we’ll ‘ere proclaim

A flame eternally.

Class of 2015 graduation speakers. (Front, from left) Michael Peck, Alison Liu, Nickolas Gati, Julianna Kates, Maura Brehl, and Mitchell Weber.

Class of 2015 graduation speakers. (Front, from left) Michael Peck, Alison Liu, Nickolas Gati. (Back, from left) Maura Brehl, Julianna Kates, and Mitchell Weber.

The opening words of the York Suburban High School alma mater were certainly appropriate for the Class of 2015 commencement program on Thursday evening, May28,with an overflow crowd of family and friends.

Two hundred and five students took part in the outdoor evening ceremony.

The student speakers at the graduation ceremony included:

Julianna Kates, President of the Student Council; Maura Brehl, Vice President of the Student Council; Alison Liu, Valedictorian; Mitchell Weber, co-Salutatorian; Nickolas Gati, President of the Class of 2015; and Michael Peck, co-Salutatorian and Vice President of the Class of 2015.

Jennifer J.P. Clancy, Esq., brought greetings from the York Suburban School Board. York Suburban High School Principal Dr. Brian Ellis offered remarks before the presentation of the Class of 2015 by High School Assistant Principals, Christopher J. Adams and Dr. Denise R. Fuhrman.

The graduates received their diplomas from Dr. Michele A. Merkle, Superintendent, and Dr. Patricia Maloney, Assistant Superintendent.

Academic Medal Award Winners — the top 10 acadamic students — for the Class of 2015 are: (Front, from left) Claudia Mingora, Alison Liu, Tagan Lehr, Jenisica Isiminger, and Breah Koller. (Back, from left) Leah Deroche, Seth Rosenkrans, Mitchell Weber, Michael Peck, and Holden Caplan.

The Concert Band and Concert Choir provided musical interludes during the ceremony.

The loudest round of applause at the program came when Dr. Ellis asked those seniors who had enlisted in the military to stand and be recognized.

Nickolas Gati earned a standing ovation from his classmates at the conclusion of the rap lyrics he wrote regarding graduation.

A reception for the graduates and guests was held in the cafeteria at the conclusion of the commencement program.

[Show picture list]

Filed Under: Feature, May 2015

New Opportunities for Youngest Learners

April 23, 2015 by G. Freireich

Preschool is coming to York Suburban!

I am delighted to share with you this exciting news about our Early Childhood Initiative. Beginning August 2015, York Suburban School District will house a preschool program, as well as a kindergarten enrichment program and a before and after school child care program. Our goal is to serve the many and diverse needs of our community.

These programs will bring no expense to the district or our taxpayers, but will provide affordable opportunities to the youngest learners in our community. This initiative is explained in greater detail in another article in this edition of the PRIDE.

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION: By now, you should be seeing the yard signs posted across the district announcing kindergarten registration.

Children who will be 5 years old before September 1, 2015 are eligible for kindergarten. Please make an appointment for your child and share this information with friends and neighbors with young children. We cannot overstate the importance of spring registration.

SCHOOL BOARD: There are plenty of other yard signs endorsing political candidates for all sorts of offices. Absent from those signs, however are endorsements for the York Suburban School Board.

There are five open seats on the York Suburban School Board. Two of our incumbents are running, John Posenau and Lois Ann Schroeder. Three members of the Board will be stepping down from the Board in December, leaving three vacancies. Three members of our community have filed and we expect to see their names on the primary ballot in May. Thank you to our candidates: Scott Eden, Richard Robinson, and Michael Thoman. Barring unforeseen circumstances, these men will represent the larger community through service on the York Suburban School Board.

While there are months remaining before they begin their terms, we are preparing for the transition. We will be losing the valuable experience brought by three talented board members. Jennifer Clancy is stepping down after eight years on the board. Roger Miller will have served the Board for eight years, with his final two years as President. Joel Sears will be stepping down after four years of service.

PROM AND GRADUATION: Finally, it is at this time of year that we anticipate many important milestones. With particular attention to prom and graduation, let us be reminded of our responsibility as parents, friends and neighbors to help ensure the safety of our students.

Together, let us safely celebrate the many accomplishments of our students!

Dr. Shelly Merkle, Superintendent

Filed Under: April 2015, Feature

‘The State of the District Is Strong’

February 24, 2015 by G. Freireich

Greetings to the YS Community:

As we have now passed the mid-point of the school year, I would like to share a few highlights:

STATE OF THE DISTRICT — I am pleased to share with you that the State of the District is strong! A comprehensive report on the State of the District was shared with the Board at a recent meeting.

In summary:

The district continues to demonstrate excellence in the classroom at all levels.
The district is on pace to successfully complete the ambitious goals set for the 2014-15 school year.
The district is prepared to present a budget for the 2015-16 school year that will not exceed the index.

The district certainly faces many challenges, but by appropriately utilizing our resources, we will continue to excel. Our strongest resources include:

Outstanding students, talented and dedicated staff, and supportive families.
Excellent curriculum and strong implementation strategies.
A supportive school board and community.

To view an abridged version of the State of the District report, go to: http://www.yssd.org/Home.aspx

ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND CURRICULUM PRESENTATION — District administrators recently presented to the public an update of our curricular practices. While the transition to PA Core has posed significant challenges, our teachers and administrators have worked hard to support our students through these changes.

A representative from the state spoke to the audience and raved about the growth that our students demonstrate in the classroom. Using data from across the state, York Suburban stands out.

In this time of transition, we face new assessments with more rigorous standards. While we anticipate some growing pains, we have absolute confidence that the district will rise to these new challenges over the next few years.

SO YOU WANT TO BE A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER? — The district recently hosted a no-charge, public session informing participants on just what it takes to be a school board member. As we soon enter the primary election season, now is the time for folks to decide if this is an opportunity for them to serve their local community. Information is posted on the district website for anyone who may be interested.

Exciting things are happening across the district. Our students continue to perform well in the classroom as well as in a wide array of extracurricular programs. Come out and see them in action. We look forward to spring musicals, concerts, and athletic competitions. There are many special things happening and we invite you to be a part.

Your ongoing support for the York Suburban School District is appreciated!

We are YS Proud!

Dr. Shelly Merkle, Superintendent

Filed Under: Feature, February 2015

YS Schools Leading the State

December 19, 2014 by G. Freireich

The York Suburban Middle School is the top-ranked middle school in the state of Pennsylvania!

The entire community shares in the pride of this distinction. This Number One ranking comes from the score of 98.1 earned by our middle school on the School Performance Profile (SPP), recently published by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

The SPP score takes into account student performance on standardized tests, attendance, and promotion rates. It is quite an honor to earn this distinction. Congratulations students, teachers, staff and community!

The York Suburban community takes great pride in the academic accolades earned by the District. Within the past year, York Suburban has been recognized as follows:

#1 Ranked Middle School in PA – as per 2014 SPP scores
12^th ranked high school in PA for 2014 SPP scores
67^th Best High School in the United States (5^th best in PA), Newsweek magazine
83^rd Beating the Odds: America’s Best High Schools for Low-Income Students, Newsweek magazine
Keystone Awards – four of our six schools earned this award for 2013 and 2014 SPP scores
10^th ranked high school in Pennsylvania for 2013 SPP scores

[Read more…]

Filed Under: December 2014, Feature

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