York High School Weekly Memo

Hi Everyone,

Thank you for your support yesterday as we had our first district Early Release Day. This was a great opportunity for our staff to work together on professional development.

Next week is Spirit Week. We look forward to seeing all of our students (and staff) dress up to show their school spirit. We also have our annual Activities Fair on Wednesday and Thursday during Pride, so students will be able to see (and sign up for) the activities we offer here at YHS. We will have a Spirit Day schedule next Friday with activities and an assembly in the afternoon. I will share more information next Thursday!

If you need anything or have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Thanks,

Amanda

Congratulations to this week's Seacoast Student of the Week: Nathaniel Plocinski! Each week, we nominate a student from York High School to be featured in the Seacoast Online. Here is what we said about Nathaniel:

York High School is proud to recognize junior Nathaniel Plocinski as our Seacoast Student of the Week. A well-rounded high honor student, athlete, and musician, Nathaniel is a key member of the YHS baseball team and an exceptional talent in the school’s music program. He is currently exploring an extended learning opportunity in music education, working with York Middle School students to provide private lessons for beginning band members. YHS band director Dan Sovetsky describes Nathaniel as “an exceptionally dedicated and talented musician,” noting that he is “like a sponge, constantly absorbing information and seeking opportunities to learn and grow.”

Nathaniel’s achievements in music are nothing short of remarkable. Last year, he earned the highest score in the state on his All-State Jazz audition. At the state jazz festival in March, his standout baritone saxophone performance earned him the prestigious “Dale Huff” award, given to only one student per session. Sovetsky considers Nathaniel to be in the top one percent of the hardest-working and talented students he has ever taught, making his selection as Student of the Week a well-deserved honor.

We are looking forward to having our Homecoming Dance on Friday, October 3. If any YHS student wishes to bring a non-YHS student as a guest, those dance forms need to be submitted to the Main Office by Wednesday, October 1. Students will not be allowed admittance to the dance after 8:00.

We have partnered with YORKWISE and the York Police Department to help foster a healthy and safe Homecoming, and will be having all students and guests entering the dance take a breathalyzer test. Mr. Hodsdon and Dr. Suttie will be administering the tests. If students do not pass, then parents will be called to pick up their student. If students refuse to take the test, they will not be allowed admittance to the dance, and parents will be called to pick them up. If parents have any questions regarding this decision, please feel free to reach out to Dr. Suttie.

As some of you know, for nearly 20 years, York High School has had a strong connection with the town of Obersulm, Germany, in the form of an exchange between our two high schools. Some of you may have even participated in the exchange. Our German partners will be returning the visit this coming fall. They will arrive in York on Saturday, October 18 and leave on Tuesday, October 28.

We are still looking for host families. They all speak excellent English and are excited about learning more about York and our school. Your child does not have to speak German, just be willing to learn about another culture and provide a bed and food. They will shadow YHS students for four days in the school and take part in other field trips on the other days. Please contact the school or Frau Kyer (mkyer@yorkschools.org) for more information.

Important Dates for Seniors:
SENIOR PHOTOS ~ All photos must be submitted by December 1, 2025

SENIOR WRITE-UPS ~ Due by December 1, 2025

BABY PICTURES ~ Due February 1, 2026

If you have any questions about the events listed below, please reach out to your student's school counselor for more information.

We recommend that all junior and senior families join us for our Financial Aid Night on Thursday, September 25, at YHS in the York Community Auditorium from 6 to 7:30. This is an opportunity for you to meet a representative from the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) and hear about the FAFSA and preparing for college financially.

College rep visits are starting up, and they'll be held in person or virtually this year. These visits are a great chance to talk with college representatives about their campuses and what they offer. Sometimes, the reps you meet with are the same admission counselors who will be reviewing your application!

There are many colleges and universities visiting, so be sure to check out all the available slots in Naviance. For virtual visits, it's important to be in a quiet space so you can have a clear conversation.

Juniors and seniors can sign up and reserve their spot through Naviance by clicking on the "What's new" window on your Naviance home page. If you need a quiet place to participate, please let Student Services know ahead of time. If you have any questions, please reach out to us in Student Services.

This year, YHS will offer the PSAT/NMSQT in digital format on Wednesday, October 8th, during the school day. The test will be administered only on that day, with no makeup days available. Students will be using their school-issued Chromebooks to take the PSAT, so please ensure they are fully charged on the morning of the test. For more information, you can read this letter regarding PSATs.

Students can utilize the valuable individual data from their PSAT to prepare for the SAT. They may also practice taking full-length digital PSAT tests using the BlueBook App. Junior students are encouraged to register to take the SAT in the spring of 2026 and potentially again in the Fall of their senior year. To register for the SAT, please visit the College Board website.

Learn about Concurrent Enrollment, PSAT and SAT, SRTC admissions, and preparing for life after high school.

Hear about the college process, what to expect in senior year, and helpful tips for college admissions.

OUR MOST POPULAR EVENT!!

This is an opportunity for 10th and 11th-grade students and families to ask questions about college and the admissions process with admissions counselors.

If you are a student driver, please park in the large parking lot near the York Community Auditorium entrance. Please remember to drive safely and respectfully while on campus. If you are dropping off your student, please do so in the front loop so your student can enter the building through the main entrance. Please do not drop off or pick up students directly after school at the YCA entrance. This will help with traffic flow and make sure everyone gets where they need to be in a timely manner.

Thursday, September 25 ~ Financial Aid Night @ 6:00 (YCA) - TONIGHT!

Monday, September 29 ~ Start of Spirit Week

Wednesday, October 1 ~ Activities Fair @ Pride (Grades 9 & 10)

Thursday, October 2 ~ Activities Fair @ Pride (Grades 11 & 12)

Friday, October 3 ~ Homecoming Dance @ 7:00-9:00 (Guest forms due by 10/1)

Monday, October 6 - Thursday, October 9 ~ Maine Through Year Assessment (all sophomores in their English and Math classes)

Wednesday, October 8 ~ PSATs (all juniors)

Friday, October 10 ~ No School ~ Staff Professional Development Day

Monday, October 13 ~ No School ~ Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Friday, 9/26

• Girls Varsity/JV Soccer vs Greely @ 3:30/5:15
• Girls/Boys Cross Country at GNG @ 4:30/5:00
• Boys JV/Varsity Soccer at Greely @ 4:30/6:00

Saturday, 9/27

• Varsity/JV Field Hockey at Leavitt @ 10:00/11:30
• Varsity Football vs Foxcroft Academy @ 2:00

Monday, 9/29

• Varsity Golf at WMC Conference Match @ 10:30
• JV Football at Wells & Biddeford @ 5:00 (Wells)

Tuesday, 9/30

• First Team/JV/Varsity Volleyball vs Marshwood @ 3:30/5:00/6:45
• Girls/Boys JV Soccer at Cape Elizabeth @ 3:30/4:45
• Varsity Field Hockey vs GNG/NYA @ 3:30
• Girls Varsity/JV Soccer at Cape Elizabeth @ 5:00/7:00

Wednesday, 10/1

• Boys First Team Soccer at Scarborough @ 5:30

York High School will be providing a panel of students and staff to answer questions after the film.

York Athletic Boosters has also opened new apparel stores with SquadLocker, one general Wildcat store and two fall sports stores. Online ordering, quick turnaround, delivery to your door and the store is always open.

Principal: Amanda Suttie ~ asuttie@yorkschools.org

Asst. Principal: Kyle Hodsdon ~ khodsdon@yorkschools.org

Phone: 207-363-3621

Website: yorkschools.org