Four Merit Semi-Finalists and Three Letters of Commendation

October 11, 2011 by
 York Suburban High School has been notified that it has four National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists and three Letters of Commendation recipients among the students in the Class of 2012.

 In addition, one of the Letter of Commendation recipients is also a semi-finalist for a National Achievement Scholarship.

 The Merit Semi-Finalists are:

National Merit Semi-Finalists (from left): Noah Baker, Daphne Blakey, Justin Renjilian, and Brandon Leshchinskiy

Noah Baker, son of James and Amie Baker, Spring Garden Township.  He hopes to attend Penn State of the U.S. Naval Academy.

Daphne Blakey, daughter of Albert Blakey and Eleni Pournaras, Spring Garden Township.  She is undecided as to where she hopes to attend college. 

Brandon Leshchinskiy, son of Mike Leshchinskiy and Milana Leshinsky, Springettsbury Township.  He hopes to attend the University of Pennsylvania, Penn State, or Carnegie-Mellon. 

Justin Renjilian, son of Rev. Robert and Christy Renjilian, Springettsbury Township.  He hopes to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

Letter of Commendation recipients (from left): Rachel Upadhyay, Benjamin Lam, and Ahleah Miles. Ahleah is also a semi-finalist for a National Achievement Scholarship

The Letter of Commendation recipients are:

Benjamin Lam, son of Tu Linh and Yen Luc Lam, Spring Garden Township.

Ahleah Miles, daughter of Luella Neiman, Springettsbury Township.

Rachel Upadhyay, daughter of Asit and Susan Upadhyay, Spring Garden Township.

 

Ahleah Miles was also notified that she is a semi-finalist for a 2012 National Achievement Scholarship, a National Merit program for “Black American high school students,” according to the notification letter.

Filed Under: Feature, October 2011

Homecoming 2011 Memories

October 10, 2011 by
 
Homecoming Game

A Powder Puff football game, parade, lighting of the restored cupola atop the newly renovated Valley View Elementary School, a bon fire, Homecoming Court, a football game, a dance, and a 50th year reunion all highlighted a very busy Homecoming 2011 weekend.

Prior to the football game on Saturday, October 1, Gabe Greco was named Homecoming Queen.  Members of the Homecoming Court were:  Candace Campbell, Katelyn Duncan, Hannah Jones, Lexi Ketterman, Milena Kovacova, Becca Meyer, Priscilla Murru, Olivia Stein, and Alex Thibodeau.  The Court Princess was Valley View Elementary School student Emilyn Bedell, daughter of Betsy and Russ Bedell, and the Court Prince was Theodore Crosset, a Yorkshire Elementary School student, son of Lisa and John Crosset. 

The Friday evening Powder Puff football game kicked off Homecoming 2011 activities.

The Homecoming Parade featured students from each school in the York Suburban School District.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
      
 

The restored cupola atop the newly renovated and expanded Valley View Elementary School attracted a large crowd of students and parents.

 

 
                    Bonfire brightens the night.
 
 
 

The Homecoming Court. Front row, Prince and Princess Theodore Crosset and Emilyn Bedell. Seated (left to right): Milena Kovacova; Priscilla Murru, Candace Campbell, Hannah Jones, Katelyn Duncan. Standing (left to right): Gabe Greco, Becca Meyer, Alex Thibodeau, Olivia Stein, and Lexi Ketterman

  
Homecoming Queen Gabe Greco
with her parents, John and Amy Greco.
 
Filed Under: Issue Left, October 2011

Survey for Parents about Development of School Calendar

October 10, 2011 by

The Board of Directors and Administration are looking for feedback from parents about building next year’s school calendar.  We are interested in whether families have preferences regarding vacations while understanding that a minimum number of days are mandated.  School calendars are driven by curriculum and Commonwealth required days of attendance.  Thank you for taking your time to complete the short survey.  The survey will be open October 17 through 31.

The on-line survey can be accessed with this link – http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Y5CWKBV

Parents without on-line access can pick up a paper survey at your child’s building.

Filed Under: Issue Right, October 2011

A Look at Activity Fees and Budget Process

October 9, 2011 by

 Greetings from the Superintendent:

The topics for my letter this edition are the new secondary activity fee, the 2012-13 budget, and Superintendent’s survey.

First, as you may be aware, York Suburban implemented a $25 activity fee for students in grades 6-12 who participate in any extracurricular activity.  The $25 is a result of the budget planning from last year and was designed to help offset the costs associated for extracurricular activities.

 What makes the York Suburban activity fee unique is that it covers any and all activities for students.  In other words, assume a high school student is playing on an athletic team, is in the drama club, and serves as a member of the National Honor Society.  The $25 covers all of those activities.  Approximately two-thirds of York Suburban students participate in at least one extracurricular activity and a majority of those are in more than one.  Students and families unable to afford the fee may apply for an exemption.

BUDGET PROCESS — The 2012-13 budgeting process is upon us and, as before, the Board and Administration will have a transparent approach.  In fact, many suggestions from the community, staff, and students were incorporated into the current budget.

I encourage you to attend school board meetings and offer input into the 2012-13 process.  School board meetings are held at 7:30 p.m. in the Ronald Provard Education Center on the first and third Monday of the month and the 2012-13 Preliminary Budget, budget process, and Final Budget presentations will be occurring at every meeting throughout the school year.  The 2012-2013 Budget Calendar is on the website and paper copies are available by request. In addition, a series of Community Budget meetings will be scheduled in late November and early December.  Please check the website for additional information.

SUPERINTENDENT’S SURVEY — My annual Superintendent’s Survey will occur from November 1-15.  There will be a direct link from the website and paper copies are available from Wendy Erwine in the Education Center.

Last year, I found the information submitted on the survey of great value.  That information was presented to the Board at a public meeting and helped shape my goals for this school year.  The survey will only take a few minutes and is completely anonymous.  Thank you in advance for your participation.

If you haven’t already had the opportunity, please check out the York Suburban School District presence on Facebook! 

Dr. Kate Orban

korban@yssd.org

 

Filed Under: Issue Left, October 2011

18 Languages

October 9, 2011 by

There are 69 English Language Learners in the York Suburban School District this year who speak 18 different languages.  Ten of those students are new to the district.

Twenty-four students speak Spanish as their first language and 14 speak Vietnamese.

There are four students each of whom speak Bengali, Mandarin Chinese, or Portuguese.

Other languages include:  Arabic, Bangla, Cambodian, Farsi, Greek, Hindi, Khmer, Lao, Malay, Russian, Telugu, Turkish, and Urdu.

The breakdown by school shows:  Valley View, 5; Yorkshire, 17; East York, 13; Indian Rock, 3; York Suburban Middle School, 7; York Suburban High School, 24.

Filed Under: Issue Right, October 2011

Suburban Shines on SATs

October 8, 2011 by

York Suburban High School’s 135 students who took the SAT exam last year had results that exceeded the state and national averages.  The scores were among the highest in York County.

York Suburban students had averaged scores of:

  • Verbal, 512
  • Math, 540
  • Writing, 502

 The national averages were:  Verbal, 497; Math, 514; and Writing, 489.

 The Pennsylvania averages were:  Verbal, 493; Math, 501; and Writing, 479.

Filed Under: Issue Left, October 2011

3 Foreign Exchange Students at YSHS

October 8, 2011 by

York Suburban High School is hosting three foreign exchange students this school year.  The students are:

From left: Milena Kovacova, Evan Pardalis, and Priscilla Murru

Milena Kovacova, 17, from Banska’ Bystrica, Slovakia.  Her exchange is through the Rotary Club of York.

Priscilla Murru, 17, from Charleroi, Belgium.  Her exchange was arranged through the Amicus program of Young Life.

Evan Pardalis, 16, from Stuttgart, Germany.  His exchange was arranged through the Amicus program of Young Life.

 A tradition at York Suburban High School is to include female foreign exchange students as members of the Homecoming Court.

Filed Under: Issue Right, October 2011

Community Budget Meetings Set

October 7, 2011 by

Community Budget Meetings have been scheduled at six different schools in the York Suburban School District and at various times. 

The meeting will provide an opportunity for district residents to learn about the 2012-13 budget, ask questions, and make comments.  The format for the meetings will be identical.  Parents and community members are encouraged to attend the meeting most convenient for their schedule and location.  If parents have children in different buildings, you only need to attend one meeting.

The meeting date, times, and places are:

Tuesday, November 29, 6 to 7 p.m., York Suburban Middle School.

Wednesday, November 30, 4 to 5 p.m., Valley View Elementary School.

Thursday, December 1, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Indian Rock Elementary School.

Wednesday, December 7, 4 to 5 p.m., East York Elementary School.

Thursday, December 8, 10:25 a.m. to 11:25 a.m., Yorkshire Elementary School.

Saturday, December 10, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., York Suburban High School.

 

Filed Under: Issue Left, October 2011

New Awnings for Food Stand

October 7, 2011 by

New awnings are in place at the Big Orange Café.

 
There’s something new at the Booster Club food stand:  bright orange awnings.  Imprinted on the awnings are the words “York Suburban” and “Big Orange Café.”
 
The three sections of awnings were installed to provide shelter for those waiting for food orders and to keep the inside of the stand cooler, according to Bob Perina, a long-time member of the Booster Club.
 
The $5,000 cost for the retractable awnings came from the York Suburban High School Student Council ($3,000) and an anonymous donor ($2,000).
Filed Under: Issue Right, October 2011

Benefit and Health Fair for YS Staff

October 6, 2011 by

York Suburban staff members could visit 50 booths at the Benefit and Health Fair.

More than 250 teachers, administrators, support staff, and retirees of the York Suburban School District attended the district’s first Employee Benefit/Health Fair on August 26.

Representatives from 50 health, fitness, and benefits organizations had booths in the York Suburban High School gymnasium.  Many of the agencies offered free screenings, including sight and hearing, as well as information on healthy lifestyle choices.

The six-hour event was arranged by Kathy Meals, York Suburban School District’s Community Education Coordinator. 

York Suburban High School math teacher Kent Gable (left) has his hearing tested by trained Sertoma volunteer Dick Lloyd in the regional Sertoma Club of York’s Hearing Van parked behind the high school during the district’s first Employee Benefit and Health Fair.

 
 

Vision tests were available at the Benefits and Health Fair.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Filed Under: Issue Left, October 2011
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