Message from the Superintendent

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Let us all celebrate the work of a very fine group of community servants – our elected School Directors.  January is Pennsylvania School Director Month and we should all pause to salute this group who spend dozens of hours each month voluntarily leading our schools and making difficult decisions.  

Lynne Leopold-Sharp, President

Cathy Shaffer, Vice President

John Posenau, Treasurer

Emily Bates

Scott Eden

Ellen Freireich

Rich Robinson

Lois Ann Schroeder

Mike Thoman

York Suburban School District educates more than 3,000 students and we have a proud tradition of excellence.  Thousands of students have graduated from York Suburban and have achieved many levels of success.  The roads to success have been paved by the hard work and leadership of this dedicated group of volunteers.  Our School Board ensures that there is a strong foundation for an excellent education system.

Few positions in the public sector have a more profound impact on the future, or provide a better example of true volunteer service, than that of school director. Not only should we celebrate this fine group but we should also consider joining them. Four sitting members are completing their terms and at least one will not be running for re-election.  Are you the one to fill that seat?

Eligibility for election or appointment to a Pennsylvania school board is dictated by PA School Code.  One must be a citizen, at least 18 years old, of good moral character, and a resident of the school district in which they wish to run for at least one year prior to the date of election. Following the May primary elections, directors are elected in November and seated in December.  

While there is no financial compensation to serve as a school director, the rewards are many.  By shaping the educational program of the local school,  directors have a significant impact on the future of our communities.  

So You Want To Be a School Board Member?  Join us for this informational session on Tuesday, January 24 at 7:00PM at Valley View Elementary School, 850 Southern Road, York, PA  17403.  A panel discussion will include Dr. Barbara Rupp of the South Western Area School District along with several current school directors.  Come learn about this exciting opportunity.

Swimmers Give Back

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A small group of swimmers representing the York Suburban Swim Team baked cookies and shared some holiday smiles recently with the residents of Broadmore Senior Living. The swimmers visited the residents door to door extending holiday greetings and an individualized bag of cookies. The residents and staff were so touched by this simple expression of human kindness. This effort was spearheaded by Alexis Bowen.

Are You Connected Yet?

 

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York Suburban School District invites you to connect with us via our new York Suburban Community Connections Portal.  Connecting to the Portal will enable you to receive emails and/or text messages with updates of the many events, activities, and accomplishments throughout the district.  By following the simple registration process, you may subscribe to any group within our York Suburban community with whom you would like to stay connected. YS families with currently enrolled students already receive this information through Infinite Campus – you do not need to connect to this new portal.

Interested neighbors, business owners, retirees, alumni, and York Suburban fans can connect by following the instructions on our YSSD website:  Community Connections Portal.

New Grant Supports Impact Foundation

Submitted by Lucy Cook,  Senior and IF Board Member

Students of the Impact Foundation (IF), a student-led committee of the York Suburban Education Foundation (YSEF), have secured another grant to contribute valuable funds to their projects across the district. In December 2016, IF students completed building six Impact Closets at each school in the district with the help of YSEF volunteer advisors Josh Carney and Sarah Reinecker, faculty advisors Dr. Denise Fuhrman and Dr. Brian Ellis, and various district faculty. The organization was awarded $2,000 by the School Superintendent’s Association and National Joint Powers Alliance (AASA/NJPA) Helping Kids Urgent Mini Grant in January 2017. This grant was written by Resource Development co-chair Lucy Cook, and additional grants are being pursued by co-chairs Jack Schultz and Parker Faircloth-Henise.

The AASA/NJPA Mini Grant allots money for closet stock of high demand, high cost items like laundry detergent and cleaning products. Furthermore, it provides funds for the future implementation of a district-wide eye glasses program. This was in response to a growing number of students who have been identified through the annual school nurse vision screenings as needing corrective vision glasses. IF/YSEF building meetings with staff professionals in the beginning of the 2016-17 school year revealed that as students are screened, more may have difficulty securing glasses. The seed money will be used to link York Suburban community eye glass professionals with school professionals with the purpose of developing an ongoing program.

You can help the Impact Foundation with this project by making a monetary donation at www.ysef.org/donate.   Helping to sustain the Impact Closet stock is another way to help by dropping off needed items like laundry detergent, feminine hygiene products and cleaning supplies to one of the IF donation bins located in each YS building. Stay tuned for the many other ways York Suburban students are helping students.

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2016-17 Student Board L to R: Collin Slenker, David Ilayan, Sahara Wilt, Emily Englar, Zach Weinstein, Carl Young, Matt Baquero, Jack Schultz, Lucy Cook, Parker Faircloth-Henise, Peter Wagner

B.o.B. 2017 is Coming!

York Suburban knows how to SERVE UP SOME FUN!!

 

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Hilarious moments in the spirit of competition – come watch your favorite teachers attempt challenging feats while vying to emerge the victors of the coveted Battle of the Buildings trophy.  Teams are training rigorously in preparation!

A past champion, Janifer Nolte (IR ’06,’09), reflects upon the grueling intensity of training and thrill of victory:

“I do remember practicing in the halls of Indian Rock with Sarah Coppersmith for the 3-legged race. We thought with our matched heights – and because we practiced, we would be awesome.  We were not. And….we had bruises on our legs for a week afterwards. We were quickly caught up in the heat of the competition and beside ourselves with excitement when we won!”

 

  Prepare to join us for another thrilling evening of fun and fundraising for
York Suburban Dollars for Scholars!
 February 4
6:00 PM 
YSHS Gymnasium

 

 

High School Introduces New Courses for 2017-18

Submitted by Dr. Brian Ellis

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The high school is excited to offer three new courses next school year. The courses are titled: Building & Programming Small Machines, Digital Design II, and Research Passion Project.   Each new course targets developing student interests.   Building & Programming Small Machines builds on our traditional computer programming courses to teach students how to program “gadgets.”  Students will develop the circuitry for small electronic devices and then program them to functions.  Examples include garage door openers and simple musical keyboards.   Digital Design II builds on the introductory Digital Design course allowing students to dive more deeply into digital art, including desktop publishing and computer tablet based artistic design.   Finally, Research Passion Project gives the students opportunities to engage in research, not unlike what they experience in English class, but includes the opportunity to develop action steps to address their “passion”.   

The Applied Technology department has also reorganized to provide more targeted options for students including courses related to Cabinetmaking, Carpentry/Construction, Computer Fabrication, and Furniture Design.   The high school is excited to see these offerings begin in 2017-18!

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Middle School Returns to the Alley for Bowl for Kids’ Sake 2017

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Join York Suburban Middle School for our annual community fundraiser benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of York County. Enjoy a great time bowling with your friends and family, have a snack, and win prizes while supporting a worthwhile cause!

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When:

Friday, March 3  (bowling and  school dance)

  • 3:45 PM – 5:15 PM (grades 7&8)
  • 5:45 PM – 7:15 PM (grade 6)

Saturday, March 4  (bowling and laser tag)

  • 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  • 12:00 PM –   2:00 PM

Where:   Laser Alleys Family Fun Center (formerly known as Colony Park East)

How:

  • Register your teams at school and begin collecting pledges.
  • A copy of the Registration Form and Bus Permission Slip can be found on the YSMS website.
  • If desired, decide on a team theme and dress up accordingly.

This day will include free shoe rental, 1 game of bowling, hot dog and soda, and assorted free raffle prizes and treats!

Any questions? Contact Anne Perkins (aperkins@yssd.org), Cindy Eifert (ceifert@yssd.org), or Donna Joy Krane (dkrane@yssd.org).

 

 

Working Out at the Brain Gym

Submitted by Dr. Tawn Ketterman

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Students at Valley View Elementary are hitting the gym and building their muscles—their academic muscles that is!  Brain research supports the link of movement and physical activity to increased academic performance.  Thanks to a generous grant from York Suburban’s Educational Foundation, Valley View staff have created a BRAIN GYM in a former classroom.  Teachers and intervention aides take small groups of students to the BRAIN GYM to jump rope, hula hoop, army crawl through tunnels, use agility ladders, pedal stationary bikes, jump on a mini-tramp and balance on various boards and blocks—-ALL WHILE PRACTICING AND REVIEWING ACADEMIC CONTENT. Students are practicing spelling words, math facts, vocabulary words, letters and letter sounds all while their bodies are moving on the various BRAIN GYM equipment.  Movement builds a framework for learning and directly corresponds to how information is processed.  Using more of the senses increases the function of the frontal lobe, thus growing new brain cells in the memory center (hippocampus) of the brain.  The program promotes self-esteem, cooperation, communication, and reduces stress—-and students LOVE it!

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Project Harmony Reaches for Respect

Submitted by Betsy Bedell

To bring awareness to No Name-Calling Week (Jan.16-20) and to celebrate kindness, Project Harmony hosted a free-throw competition on Wednesday, January 18.  The competitor who made the most shots in a row won a $20 gift card from Sheetz; 2nd and 3rd place contestants won a $10 gift card to Sheetz. Each participant will also received a gummy bracelet that reads “YSSD Reaches for Respect,” funded by Mrs. Foy and Project Harmony.

Students were asked to sign a pledge in honor of No Name-Calling Week, stating that they believe “bullying and calling other students hurtful names is wrong.” The pledge encourages students to intervene, if they safely can, when they see bullying and to support efforts to end bullying and name-calling.

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K-9 in the Classroom

Submitted by Gayle Rudacille

On Tuesday, January 10th, Mrs. Mason and Mrs. Biser’s classes at East York Elementary had special guests come into the classroom, Lieutenant Godfrey and his K-9 companion, Captain Dargo.  Lt. Godfrey shared facts and information about Dargo’s role as part of the York County Sheriff’s K-9 unit.  The students had the opportunity to watch Dargo in action.  Lt.  Godfrey hid something in the classroom, and then gave Dargo the command for search.  Dargo quickly sprung to action and located the item.  During the presentation the students learned about the training Dargo completed to become a member of the K-9 unit.  Lt. Godfrey emphasized that the training for both him and Dargo is ongoing.  The students were also given the opportunity to ask questions. This visit was memorable for both students and teachers!  

 

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