Opening Week!

Dear Students, Families, and Guardians,

It has been wonderful having our York High School staff back in the building this week. Our YHS student-athletes were there bright and early on Day 1 to welcome staff back, helping us kick off the year with plenty of energy and Wildcat spirit. Since then, we’ve been busy preparing classrooms, setting goals for the year, and putting the finishing touches on preparations for our students’ return. There is a great deal of excitement throughout the building, and we’re looking forward to another great year at YHS!

We’re also excited to share that the new Science Wing addition has been completed on schedule and is ready to welcome students on Monday. This is a tremendous addition to York High School, and we’re thrilled that our students will be able to begin using the new space from the very first day of school.

We’ll begin the school year on Monday, August 31, with our incoming freshmen and transfer students. The day will be dedicated to the Class of 2030 and designed to help our newest Wildcats get comfortable, meet classmates, and learn their way around YHS. A special thank-you to our Senior Facilitators, who will lead the day and help make this a memorable start to high school.

On Tuesday, September 1, all YHS students will return for a fun-filled Pride Day. We’re looking forward to having the entire school community back together!

We’ve also heard from several parents and students wondering about a school supply list. YHS does not have a specific school-wide supply list. Teachers will communicate any materials students need for individual classes once the school year begins.

If you have questions or need anything as we get started, please reach out. We’re excited to welcome our students back and officially begin the 2026–27 school year!

Kyle Hodsdon, Principal

Corinne Monaco, Assistant Principal

Please ensure students arrive with enough time to be inside their Block 1 classroom before the 7:50 AM bell. The school day officially begins at 7:50 AM, at which point students will drop off their cell phones in their Block 1 class. As a reminder, entering the building on time is not the same as being in your classroom ready to learn when the bell rings. At the end of the day, when the bell rings at 2:05 PM you will return to your Block 1 classrooms to pick up your cell phone.

• If you are a freshman or a transfer student, you will arrive at school by 7:50 (buses will be running). We will have lots of signs directing you where to go. Schedule for the Day

• Lunch will be provided

• Parents of the Class of 2030 - there will be an information session @ 7:30. Please join us for breakfast and answers to your high school-related questions in the Multipurpose Room.

We are excited that YHS will be one-to-one again this year for computers for students. We will no longer allow students to bring their own devices, which will help us with our cybersecurity and ability to manage educational programs and platforms more seamlessly. Here is an FAQ sheet provided by our tech department.

In order to cover the costs of replacements, the School Department will be offering a Protection Plan that will cover a one-time replacement for accidental damage, loss, or theft. This includes:

• Cracks to screen or device

• Missing Keys (not intentional picking of keys)

• Missing Power Adapter

• Lost Stylus

The premium for the protection plan will be $26 per individual per year. The device protection plan needs to be paid before the first academic day of school, September 2, 2026. This plan will allow for a one-time replacement of a device or accessory for the device. All other replacements will be billed appropriately.

As we enter our second year of implementing York High School’s Personal Electronic Device Policy, we remain committed to creating a school environment where students are present, engaged in learning, and connected to the people and experiences around them. During the 2026–27 school year, York High School will continue to be cell phone-free. This is not intended as a punishment, but rather as an opportunity to reduce distractions, strengthen relationships, and help students develop the focus and habits they need to be successful in school and beyond.

What’s New This Year

This year, we are making a change to the collection process. All students will place their cell phones in a designated phone locker at the beginning of Block 1 each day. There will no longer be a separate phone drop-off block as there was last year.

• Students will retrieve their phones from their Block 1 classroom at the end of the school day.
• Students with a planned dismissal will turn their phones in to the Main Office each morning and retrieve them when they are dismissed.
• Students who arrive late to school after 7:50 a.m. must leave their phone in the Main Office.

The district policy also prohibits personal electronic devices that receive notifications or have cellular or internet connectivity, including but not limited to smartwatches, wireless earbuds/headphones, rings, and other connected devices.

All classrooms have landline phones, and staff will have access to their personal cell phones in the event of an emergency. We have also worked closely with the York Police Department to develop a safety plan that aligns with best practices, and they support this initiative.

State Requirement

As of August 1, Maine's legislation establishes a “bell-to-bell” expectation for personal electronic devices. This includes:

• Cell phones
• Smartwatches
• Other personal electronic devices with internet or cellular network capabilities

Our goal is to make this transition as consistent and predictable as possible for students, staff, and families. Consistency will be critical to the success of this policy, and we appreciate everyone's support as we continue working to create a focused, connected, and positive school environment.

Student schedules are live in PowerSchool. If a student would like to add or drop a course, they must fill out this form first. We will only be making schedule changes for the following reasons:

1. The student has a failure from the previous semester in a prerequisite course.

2. The student completed a course previously that is on the schedule repeat; this may include courses from summer school.

3. Classes are out of sequence.

4. Seniors are missing a graduation requirement.

Any student who would like to add or drop a class must fill out the Google Form and if eligible, a school counselor may reach out with questions between 9/2 - 9/9. An administrator will then approve or deny the request by 9/11. Any withdrawals after 9/9 will be noted on transcripts as WP or WF.

Please be sure to complete the annual Back to School / Returning Student Registration forms. You will need to log into your PowerSchool Parent Portal at the following URL:

https://yorkschools.powerschool.com/public

Enter your username and password. In the left-hand navigation column, click on the Forms Icon, then the Enrollment tab. You will see the list of forms that need to be completed. If your student is entering grade 9, you will be asked to upload two proofs of residency.

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.

We will send weekly newsletters on Thursday afternoons via email to families with important information (it will come from me but through Reach My Teach, so if you do not receive it, check your Spam folder first). This will be a great resource for everyone to know what is happening at YHS.

If we have a school emergency or a change in our regularly scheduled programming, we will reach out to you as soon as we are able. Please know that your students may share information with you faster than we can, but the most reliable will come from an administrator.

We will also archive all of our Weekly Memos on our website, so if you miss something, be sure to look there.

In addition to our weekly newsletter, we also have a school Instagram account (@yhs_principal). Be sure to follow along on social media for additional updates and information.

School meals continue to be available to all students at no charge again this year, regardless of household income. Students are eligible for one breakfast and one lunch. Student lunch schedules will be based on the classes they are in for block 3. Teachers will share lunch information with students on the first day of school.

Monday, August 31 ~ Freshmen/Transfer Student Orientation

• If you are a freshman or a transfer student, you will arrive at school by 7:50 (buses will be running). We will have lots of signs directing you where to go.

• Lunch will be provided

• Parents of the Class of 2030 - there will be an information session @ 7:30. Please join us for breakfast and answers to your high school-related questions in the Multipurpose Room.

Tuesday, September 1 ~ First Day of School (All Students) - Pride Day

• First Day for SRTC Students - More information will be shared specifically with these students when schedules go out next week

Wednesday, September 2 ~ First Blue Day (Blocks 1-4)

• Laptops will be given to all students during Pride

Thursday, September 3 ~ First White Day (Blocks 1-4)

Friday, September 4 ~ No School

Monday, September 7 ~ No School ~ Labor Day

Wednesday, September 9 ~ Open House @ 5:00-6:30

Tuesday, September 15 ~ Picture Day (depends on English class)

Wednesday, September 16 ~ Picture Day (depends on English class)

Wednesday, September 16 ~ Senior Parent Night @ 6:00 (YCA)

Wednesday, September 23 ~ iReady Testing Day ~ Early Release Day (Dismissal @ 11:00)

Wednesday, September 23 ~ Financial Aid Night @ 6:00 (YCA)

Friday, October 9 ~ No School ~ Staff Professional Development Day

Monday, October 12 ~ No School ~ Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Tuesday, October 13 ~ Start of Spirit Week

Friday, October 16 ~ Homecoming Dance @ 7:00-9:00 (Guest forms due by 10/1)

Wednesday, October 21 ~ Early Release Day (Dismissal @ 11:00)

Monday, August 31

• Golf at Poland/Wells 3:30
• Girls Soccer at Traip 4:00/5:30

Tuesday, September 1

• Golf vs. Fryeburg 3:30
• Field Hockey vs. Traip 4:00

Thursday, September 3

• Cross Country at WMC Invitational 4:00
• Boys Soccer at Greely 4:15/6:00
• Girls Soccer vs. Greely 4:30/6:15

Friday, September 4

• Field Hockey at Greely 3:30
• Football at Greely 7:30

Principal: Kyle Hodsdon ~ khodsdon@yorkschools.org

Assistant Principal: Corinne Monaco ~ cmonaco@yorkschools.org

Phone: 207-363-3621

Website: yorkschools.org