Blue & White Newsletter - 2/21/25

On February 13th and 14th, our teachers and staff participated in a powerful professional development experience—a poverty simulation designed to deepen their understanding of the challenges faced by many of the families they serve. This immersive experience aimed to provide educators with a firsthand perspective on the financial, emotional, and logistical struggles that individuals living below the poverty line encounter daily.

During the simulation, participants assumed roles of families navigating real-life scenarios such as securing housing, paying bills, accessing transportation, and balancing work and childcare responsibilities. The exercise highlighted the difficult choices families must make—deciding between purchasing groceries or paying for medical expenses, managing unexpected financial emergencies, and handling the stress of economic insecurity.

For many of our educators, this experience was both eye-opening and deeply impactful. While they are already aware that poverty affects many of our students, stepping into the shoes of these families reinforced the complexities of financial hardship and the resilience required to navigate it. Teachers left the simulation with a renewed commitment to fostering a supportive and understanding school environment where every student feels seen, valued, and empowered to succeed.

Recognizing that many West York families face these challenges daily, our educators are dedicated to using this experience to inform their teaching practices, build stronger connections with students and families, and advocate for resources that support academic and personal growth. The district remains committed to fostering a school community that provides equitable opportunities for all students, ensuring that economic hardship does not stand in the way of success.

West York is proud of its educators for their dedication to learning, growing, and creating a more compassionate and inclusive environment for all. Together, we continue to work toward a future where every student has the tools and support they need to thrive.

Our team from the High School, along with their Quiz Bowl Advisor, Mr. Jesse Skaggs (Physics & Astronomy Teacher) had a good time and gained a lot from their first-time experience. Overall, West York ended up 5th out of 9 teams in our York-Adams league. Sophomore Brayden Smith was one of the league All-Stars (6th best).

West York Quiz Bowl Team:

• Darien Reimold - Team Captain
• Ryan Kane - Co-captain
• Carter Coats
• Jonah Lewis
• Lucas Rishel
• Bennet Shetter
• Brayden Smith

Trimmer's K'nex teams participated in the STEM Design Challenge at LIU 12 in New Oxford on Wednesday, February 19, 2025. Team members worked their way through the design process to build a prototype that addressed a real-world problem related to infrastructure, transportation, or urban development. The competition prompt focused on Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure by inspiring students to think about how cities, roads, bridges, and systems could be built or improved to be more efficient, sustainable, and accessible. Teams created a blueprint of their prototype, kept a design notebook where they identified research to support their ideas and log their progress, they built their prototype out of K'nex pieces, and wrote an oral presentation to showcase their build. Trimmer's K'nex team members began preparing for the competition in December. They worked over lunch periods and even dedicated time after school to make sure they were ready for competition day.

Trimmer's Bulldog Bros. team earned 3rd place at the competition with their BioBoat prototype. The BioBoat is a high-tech boat that converts pollution from bodies of water into fuel for the boat, machines working within the boat, and vehicles that utilize the ferry component of the boat.

West York Teams:

• Bulldog Bros.: Kole Shoemaker, Grant Smith, Charles LaBarca, and Michael Denney
• WY K'nectors: Jude Miller, Charlotte Gausmann, and Piper Desenberg
• WYBC Builders: Brixton Kyle, Alexis Appnel, Miriam Hipkiss, and Andrew Bruck
• Mighty Bulldogs: Courtlyn Kunkle, Sofia Scholeno, Saiya Robertson, and Tanya Smith

On Thursday, February 20, six teams of students from the Middle School accompanied by Ms. Jill Striebig, Ms. Teresa Gallup, and Ms. Lisa Konopinski also competed at the STEM Design Challenge at the Lincoln Intermediate Unit (LIU) 12, using the same focus and process.

6th Grade Participants: Izaiah Brown, Coriana Dorsey, Callan Ginter, Temperance Graves, Lovelyn Hamilton, Connor King, Parker Reid, Zane Schrum, Kellan Shupp, Donovan Vega, Mackenzie Walizer, and Logan Wells

7th Grade Participants: Waylon Kearney, Mason Mansfield, Aiden Rubio, and Mason Zinn

8th Grade Participants: Avery Appnel, Camden Plappert, Peyton Ream, and Alexis Weaver

All of Trimmer's K'nex teams and the Middle School's K'nex teams did a fantastic job at the competition and we are very proud of them. They showcased how truly AWESOME West York students are!

Students in Ms. Christine McKee's class at Lincolnway Elementary participated in a heartwarming classroom activity designed to foster kindness, self-esteem, and their use of adjectives. Each student received a paper heart and, throughout the exercise, passed it around to their classmates. As the hearts circulated, students took turns writing positive adjectives that described the person whose name was on the heart. Words like "kind," "creative," "funny," "helpful," and "determined" filled the hearts, creating a collection of affirmations unique to each student.

When the activity concluded, students received their completed hearts, now covered with thoughtful and encouraging words from their peers. This simple yet powerful exercise not only strengthened peer relationships but also reinforced the importance of recognizing and celebrating the positive traits in one another.

Taking their hearts home allowed students to keep a tangible reminder of their worth and the supportive community surrounding them. The experience served as an opportunity for self-reflection and appreciation, helping students build confidence and a stronger sense of belonging in their classroom.

Zahkir Brown, 5th grader in Ms. Elizabeth Lapham's class at Lincolnway Elementary, has gone above and beyond the expectations for typing skills in Ms. Lauren Lane's Media class. Zahkir has made it to lesson 800 in Typing Club, a program elementary students use to practice their typing accuracy and speed. He has achieved this success by working on lessons in his spare time in class and while at home. What an amazing accomplishment!

On the flyer below, you will see a QR code if you would like to donate to our event. You can scan the QR code or click on the flyer to donate. You can make a general donation to the event, or to a student's individual fundraising goal if they are signed up on Donor Drive. Our collective goal is $25,000. We hope to see the West York community come out and join us during the community time!

The PA Public School Code requires certain school health services for all children of school age, including dental screenings. First, upon entry to school and in 3rd grade and 7th grade.

Ms. Melissa Franklin, School Nurse at Lincolnway Elementary, sends a huge Thank You to the third grade parents/guardians for helping the WYASD achieve 98% completion of dental screenings!

Spring will be here before we know it - HOPEFULLY! Actually, it will officially arrive on March 20th. In West York, that means concert time. So, check out the concert dates below and be sure to mark your calendars! Our students have been working hard and developing their musical talents. They are very excited to share their gifts with our community!

• Tuesday, March 4 - HS/MS Music in Our Schools Concert - High School Auditorium 7:00 - 9:00 PM
• Thursday, March 13 - MS/HS Choral Festival - Middle School Auditorium - 6:30 - 8:30 PM
• Wednesday, April 9 - TRM Beginning Band & 4th Grade Chorus Concert - 6:30 - 8:00 PM
• Thursday, April 10 - TRM Concert Band & 5th Grade Chorus Concert - 6:30 - 8:00 PM
• Friday, April 25 - HS/MS Spring Jazz Concert - High School Auditorium - 7:00 - 9:00 PM
• Friday, May 9 - HS Band Spring Concert - 7:00 - 9:00 PM
• Thursday, May 15 - MS/HS Pops Concert - Middle School Auditorium - 6:30 - 8:30 PM
• Wednesday, May 21 - MS Band Concert - Middle School Auditorium - 6:30 - 7:30 PM

Preschool Storytime is a great way to have your preschooler become familiar with Wallace Elementary ahead of joining us for kindergarten next year. Our next Preschool Storytime is:

• Thursday, March 13 - 10:00 - 10:30 AM - First Day Jitters

To register to attend, please click the image to the right.

For more information, call the Wallace Elementary School Office at 717-764-6869.

The Children's Home of York will be offering a fun and educational family-focused program right in our own back yard at Trimmer Elementary School. The Strengthening Families Program is a seven-week program that meets one night a week for families with children ages 10 to 14. The program runs from February 13th through March 27th.

What to expect:

• Free family meal - dinner at 5:30 PM (Program from 6:00 - 8:00 PM)
• Free childcare for siblings under 9 years of age
• $25 Gift card to a family restaurant when completing the course

Each week, the parents and youth meet separately for the first hour but work on similar skills. During the second hour, youth and parents have fun together playing games and doing family projects. Click the bar below for more details.

To register contact Ms. Kristen Kopp at klkopp@wyasd.org or Ms. Cecilia Keesey at ckeesey@choyork.org.

Seniors, this is your chance to earn some extra funds for college! If you're looking for financial

support to help pay for your higher education this fall, we've got fantastic news! First Capital Federal Credit Union and the York Chapter of Credit Unions are offering scholarships this spring to help make your college dreams a reality.

This year, First Capital will award FOUR Dennis Flickinger Honorable Scholarships (2 - $2,000 and 2 - $1,000) to deserving high school seniors in York County!

The York Chapter of Credit Unions will also provide TWO $1,000 scholarships to deserving students! So, share this post with someone you think should apply!

Applications for both can be found at this link: https://linktr.ee/firstcapitalfcu

To be eligible for the scholarships, student applicants must:

• Be a member of First Capital Federal Credit Union with an account in good standing
• Be a graduating York County high school senior
• Plan to attend an institution of higher learning full-time (accredited two or four-year degree
• program)

This is a great opportunity for all high school seniors looking to get a head start on their college funding. Take advantage of this incredible opportunity and make sure to apply before the deadlines! (First Capital: April 4, 2025; York Chapter of Credit Unions: March 7, 2025)

"No Body to Murder," by Edith Weiss, is a humorous whodunnit that will keep you laughing as you piece together the clues! The guests of the "Come On Inn" inn are all suspects of a murder that happened during a severe weather threat and the news of an escaped convict on the loose. Who could have committed this crime? Was it the cook who poisoned the lemonade? The gardener who shaves with an axe? Or maybe the mime with a broken heart?

Tickets will be sold at the door for $5 per adult and $3 per student. Concessions will be available for purchase.

Show Dates:

• Friday, February 21st at 6:30 PM
• Saturday, February 22nd at 2:00 PM

"The Addams Family - A New Musical Comedy" follows the kooky Addams family as their seemingly perfect, macabre world is shaken when Wednesday Addams falls in love with a "normal" boy and invites his parents over for dinner, forcing Gomez and Morticia to confront the idea of their daughter growing up and potentially abandoning their unique family values, leading to chaos and hilarious situations as the two families clash over their vastly different lifestyles.

It is sure to be another West York AWESOME production so be sure to purchase your tickets today!

Where: West York Area High School

When:

• Friday, February 28th @ 7:00 PM
• Saturday, March 1st @ 7:00 PM
• Sunday, March 2nd @ 2:00 PM

We need your help! On Thursday, March 13th, Junior Achievement of South Central PA will be at the High School with their STEM Summit Program. Students will be participating in the day-long event designed to explore careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

The goal of the STEM Summit is to inspire students to pursue an academic STEM focus in the remainder of their high school courses. After the completion of the STEM Summit, guidance counselors have a foundation to work with students on appropriate course work.

For this day to be a success, we will need volunteers to facilitate ONE of the STEM activities for the day as students rotate through your station. You do not need to have a STEM background to be a great volunteer!

You do not have to be an approved school volunteer to help with this day. Junior Achievement will provide online training as well as on-site support to all volunteers. A light breakfast and lunch will also be available for volunteers.

Please consider volunteering and join us as we spend the day empowering and inspiring our students. Check out the following information:

• Click the STEM Summit Overview for Volunteers green bar below to learn more about volunteering
• Click the Volunteering Video green bar to see a short video about volunteering
• Click the Volunteer Registration green bar to register yourself as a volunteer

You can reach out to Shannon Baker, Senior Vice President Program Operations, at sbaker@jascpa.org if you have any specific questions.

Support the West York Girls Lacrosse team and Boosters while enjoying a delicious meal at Primanti Bros. Primanti Bros. will donate 20% of event sales! Show the flyer to the right or use code DINE2DONATE for online orders.

When: Thursday, February 27th - 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM

Where: Primanti Bros. 2151South Queen Street, York, PA 17402

The Girls Lacrosse Boosters appreciates your support!

The Middle School is holding a MOD Pizza fundraiser! Check out the flyer below, or click here for a printable version.

When: Wednesday, March 5th

Where: MOD Pizza - 370 Town Center Dr., York, PA 17408

Use Code MODGIVES25 when ordering online.

The students of West York Area Middle School appreciate your support!

FEBRUARY 21, 2025

9th/10th Grade:

Ahsan Mukith

For being a great student in class with lots of potential!

11th/12th Grade:

Rose Shirley

For always having a positive attitude!

Faculty/Staff:

Ms. Dana Kieffer & Mr. Timothy Frey

For being two teachers who have done an exceptional job inspiring and creating an atmosphere for students to utilize their creativity and current knowledge in the subject of science. They efficiently work as a united team and consistently find ideas to improve the class for the students!

Stay abreast of the Athletic Department's weekly news with the Bulldog Breakdown, a weekly recap of the prior week's athletic accomplishments and the upcoming sporting events.

Simply click the Bulldog Breakdown bar below to view the latest issue!

• Friday, February 21, MS Play (6:30 PM)
• Saturday, February 22, MS Play (2:00 PM)
• Friday, February 28, HS All-District Spring Musical (7:00 PM)

• Saturday, March 1, HS All-District Spring Musical (7:00 PM)
• Sunday, March 2, HS All-District Spring Musical (2:00 PM)
• Tuesday, March 4, Music in Our Schools Concert (HS Auditorium 7:00 PM)
• Friday, March 7, Professional Learning Day - No School for Students
• Tuesday, March 11, EPC Meeting (5:30 PM)
• Tuesday, March 11, Work Session of the Board (7:00 PM)
• Thursday, March 13, MS/HS Choral Festival Concert (MS Auditorium 6:30 PM)
• Tuesday, March 18, Cocurricular Committee Meeting (5:30 PM)
• Tuesday, March 18, Board Voting Meeting (6:30 PM)
• Friday, March 21, Early Dismissal Marking Period 3 Ends/HS Semester 2/Term 1 Ends
• Friday, March 28, Marking Period 3 Report Cards Available in Sapphire

Make-up days for the inclement weather closures are as follows:

• For Tuesday, January 7th - the make-up day is Monday, April 21st.
• For Thursday, February 6th - the make-up day will be in June for teachers only.

The content below was in last week's issue but it bears repeating as a reminder or for anyone who may have missed it. If pertinent details of an article are changed, we will pull the article above this section and highlight any changes.

We can't wait to start meeting our newest little Bulldogs!

Does your child have signs or symptoms of the flu, Covid or RSV? Did they test positive?

The recommendations are that your child stay home until they are fever free for 24 hours without medication and that they feel good enough to return to school. The CDC also recommends (it is optional) that a mask be worn for 5 days after their return if they tested positive for Covid.

Students who have been exposed to someone who tested positive for Covid do not need to stay home from school unless they come down with symptoms or test positive.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your school nurse.

Using Your Computer to Report an Absence

MUST be completed within 3 days of the absence

From the District WEBSITE Attendance Page

➔ Scroll down to the vertical gray boxes just under the changing highlight pictures at the top of the District website's home page

➔ Click on the Attendance box

➔ Underneath Online Attendance click on Sapphire Community Portal Login

➔ On the login page put in your username and password (this must be set up prior to you using this page)

➔ On the left side is your student(s) name(s)

• If you have multiple students, please make sure you are at the correct student

➔ Under MY BACKPACK click on Student Data Forms (making sure it is the correct student)

➔ Underneath On Demand Forms click on Digital Excuse Blank

➔ Fill out the entire form and upload any doctor’s notes into this form

➔ Make sure to click on SUBMIT so your form is sent directly to the attendance secretary

Using the District App from Your Cell Phone to Report an Absence

MUST be completed within 3 days of the absence

➔ From the WYASD App Home Page, click on the More waffle icon on the right side of the screen

➔ Click on the Sapphire Portal icon on the right side of the screen

➔ Log in to Sapphire

➔ If you have multiple students, make sure you are in the correct student’s account

➔ At the bottom of the screen there is a purple circle with 3 white lines, click on the circle

➔ Click on the green circle marked Student Data Forms

➔ Underneath On Demand Forms click on Digital Excuse Blank

➔ Fill out the entire form and upload any doctor’s notes into this form

➔ Make sure to click on SUBMIT so your form is sent directly to the attendance secretary

If you are new to West York, you might be saying, "What is a Golden Bulldog Pass?" Exclusively for West York Area School District residents 65 and older, the Golden Bulldog Pass is valid for one admission to all District-sponsored events, including athletic events (excluding playoff events), fine arts events such as concerts, plays, and musicals, and special invitation-only events for senior citizens.

Our annual "Lunch and a Show" is our most popular invitation-only event and seating is limited! So, don't miss out on this and other opportunities! To learn more, please click the Golden Bulldog Pass card to the left.

Be sure to Like/Follow us on Facebook and Instagram so you don't experience FOMO - Fear of Missing Out! Simply click the images below.