The York Suburban Education Foundation (YSEF) is very pleased to announce it has awarded ten grants totaling $43,998.34 through its 2016 Grant Program.  

A combined grant of $10,000 was awarded to the following: Moving Minds and Shaping Learners – Cris Forney and Amy Schnetzka (Yorkshire); Taking a Stand – Alicia Kowitz (Middle School); Thinking on Your Feet – Jennifer Kozak and Kayla Ichter (Valley View); Think on Your Feet – Chris Rumbaugh, Marge Smith and Oliver Good (High School).  This grant will provide students with adaptive furniture options that will enable them to focus and boost brain function, which research has shown to promote academic growth.

A grant of $2,040 was provided for Applied College Tuition, the High School Dual Enrollment Program – Dr. Denise Fuhrman and Dr. Brian Ellis.  This grant will enable selected students, who may not have the ability to pay for college course tuition, to experience college courses while still attending high school. This grant supports a YSSD initiative to provide experiences that will increase the likelihood of post-secondary success. This grant is provided through corporate funds approved through the PA State Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program.

Laura Gordon (Yorkshire) received a grant for $7,164 for Escaping Language Limits. This grant will benefit English language learners enabling them to have access to individualized language instruction. Many of these students at the primary level do not have reading skills in their native language. This program will provide first- language support in 15 languages and gradually transition them to acquiring essential English language skills.

A grant of $1,500 was awarded to Kathleen Green (Middle School) for Trout in the Classroom. This is an interdisciplinary program provided by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Environmental and Ecology, and Pennsylvania Trout Unlimited. The program will allow seventh grade students to raise brook trout in the classroom beginning at the egg stage of life and to release the brook trout in May into an approved Pennsylvania waterway.

The Brain Gym, an Action Based Learning Center, – Dr. Tawn Ketterman (Valley View) received a grant for $903. This grant will support a pilot program for kindergarten students where teachers will take an entire classroom to rotate through a series of movement stations. Brain research supports to link of movement and physical activity to increased academic performance.  This grant was made possible from endowment proceeds through the Jeffrey D. Sindicich Foundation, a named donor endowment fund held by YSEF at the York County Community Foundation.  The fund is in memory of Jeffrey Sindicich, York Suburban graduate class of 1986.

Scott Payne and Brian Gentzyel (Middle School) received a $4,011.26 grant for Body Systems in Clay. This goal of this grant is to implement an innovative approach to learning through kinesthetic manipulation of clay. As they study the various body systems, seventh grade students will engage in cooperative, student-driven instruction engaging all types of learners while minimizing rote memorization and increasing knowledge retention.

Fizz, Boom, Read ….Full STEAM Ahead!, the YSSD Elementary Summer Enrichment Program, will receive $18,380.08. This grant was awarded to the four elementary principals: Dr. Mary Beth Grove (East York), Dr. Greg Gulley (Indian Rock), Dr. Tawn Ketterman (Valley View) and Dr. Kim Stoltz (Yorkshire). This grant aims to reinforce reading, writing, math and science skills for rising 1st-5th grade students through teacher led activities. STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math) concepts will be incorporated to guide student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking.  In addition to this on-site program, students will be encouraged to participate in the motivating Summer Reading Program sponsored by the Martin Memorial Library to increase reading stamina and to encourage a love for reading. This grant is provided through corporate funds approved through the PA State Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program.

YSEF has awarded 104 grants totaling $214,998 to teachers, administrators and students since its inception in 2008.  Funds are made possible by donations from individuals (including former and current YS parents, YS alumni, YS current and retired YS staff, students); corporations; foundations; and community partners.

YSEF has also funded an endowment at the York County Community Foundation now totaling more than $153,000 to perpetuate sustainability with the goal of impacting the lives of York Suburban students over time.

For more information on YSEF grants, visit the YSEF website at www.ysef.org.

The following  students earned the YAIAA Academic All-League Award:

Jonathan Abel*, Elisabeth Curtis, Kirstin Copenheaver, Olivia Eytcheson* Gareth Keene, Carson Gross, Jordan Landis, Derek Lehman, Zachary Lehman*, Emma Leik*, Susan Lloyd, Hannah Taylor*, Thomas Merkle, Jessica Renjilian*, Olivia Gettle, Matthew Spinello, Bradley Smith, Paul Um*  (*not pictured)

 Criteria for selection:

• Cumulative GPA 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
• A senior who has lettered in at least two varsity sports during his/her junior and/or senior years.
• Possess good citizenship and good sportsmanship as defined by the local school with recommendations coming from the coach(es), athletic director, and principal.

Congratulations to all recipients!

Congratulations to the York Suburban Middle School girls’ volleyball teams! Both the Junior Varsity and Varsity teams finished their spring season with undefeated 11-0 records. Way to go, YSMSVB!!

!