Blue & White Newsletter - 3/28/25

West York Area High School’s 2023-2024 yearbook has been recognized for excellence and featured in the Jostens Look Book 2025, celebrating the best-of-the-best in yearbook design and inclusivity. The Jostens Look Book is a collection of outstanding yearbooks and their creative themes, cool covers, beautiful designs, relevant coverage of school events, meaningful storytelling, and stunning photography. Along with design excellence, the annually published Jostens Look Book honors the work of the students who create the yearbook over the course of 6-12 months. Through it, they chronicle the experiences, stories, and achievements most relevant to students and that academic year.

Our featured page (pictured below) was recognized for its unique idea, use of color and use of graphics or lines. It is a portrait page that includes student doodles and elements of a journal.

"Our talented senior staff from last year really took the idea of the journal theme and ran with it," said advisor Ms. Nicki Stiger. "They designed the yearbook in their spare time, after school and on weekends. They definitely worked hard."

Former co-advisor and design expert Ms. Lyndsay (Riedel) Cirko shared her enthusiasm for the project, stating, "It is my favorite book we have done. I am so proud of this one and how it turned out."

“The Jostens Look Book showcases the hard work and dedication of students who tell the story

of the school year through photos and words. It is their collaboration and communication, as

well as creative thinking in challenging situations, that results in the fine designs shown in this

book,” said Kristen Scott, Yearbook Marketing Senior Manager at Jostens. “We are very proud

to celebrate the ability of this country’s future leaders and communicators by showcasing their

sophisticated designs and photography.”

Pictured below is last year's yearbook staff who are all graduates of the class of 2024.

Front row: Ms. Nicki Stiger, Reagan Hamilton, Fariya Bushra, and Ms. Lyndsay Cirko (Riedel)

Back row: Jordyn Zimmerman, Ella Mikula, Angel Taveras Gonzalez, Ailed Ruelas-Garcia, and Hayleemarie Ruppert

Eight students from the Middle School, under the direction of Ms. Laurie Kumontis, were selected to represent West York in the York County Middle School Honors Band! These dedicated students joined other top musicians from across York County to rehearse and perform together, showcasing their hard work and musical talent. On Saturday, they took the stage and delivered an outstanding concert for family, friends, and community members. We are so proud of their commitment and achievement—way to go, Bulldogs! Congratulations to our students on this amazing accomplishment!

On Saturday, March 22nd, the Student Council at the High School held our semi-annual Mini-THON. This is an event designed to raise money for the Four Diamonds Foundation through Penn State. Our District came together, with the help of our students, faculty/staff, and the community, to raise above our goal of $25,000. At the time of the event, we raised $25,042; at this time, we are now at $26,200!

We are so proud of our community. At the Mini-THON event, students danced, played sports, did Zumba, arts and crafts, yoga, ate great food, decorated cupcakes, and made a music video. They also participated in the luminary walk that honors those fighting childhood cancer, those that have won against childhood cancer, and those that have passed on from childhood cancer.

We would also like to thank all of our sponsors and the community for their support of the event, our students, and the Four Diamonds Foundation. We all did it For The Kids! FTK!

The Middle School wrapped up the 3rd marking period with excitement and school spirit during the Blue versus White Indoor Soccer Game! This fun and competitive event gave students a well-earned break while celebrating their hard work and academic success.

To attend or participate in the game, students had to meet an important goal—passing all of their classes. This incentive encouraged students to stay focused and finish the marking period strong. Eligible students from each grade level had the chance to hit the field, with classmates cheering on their teams from the sidelines.

The competition was fierce, and each game was packed with impressive plays and thrilling moments. Here are the final results:

• 8th Grade: Blue Team claimed victory with a 3-2 win.

• 7th Grade: Blue Team edged out White in a close 5-4 match.

• 6th Grade: White Team took the win with an exciting 4-3 finish.

A huge congratulations to all the players for their teamwork and effort, and to all the students who worked hard to be eligible for this fun event. Way to go, Bulldogs!

Students in Ms. Kelsey Sersen’s and Ms. Courtney Munyon’s Autistic Support classes at Lincolnway Elementary celebrated St. Patrick’s Day together by making brownies, creating a rainbow craft, experimenting with elephant toothpaste, and playing games! Giggles, the leprechaun, left students a fun scavenger hunt. Students worked on life skills, fine and gross motor skills, science, and peer socialization all while having so much fun! A big shout-out to Miss Dawn for her creativity in planning such engaging stations!

A huge THANK YOU to all of our students, families, and staff who participated in this year’s Coin Wars! Your generosity and competitive spirit made this PTO fundraiser a huge success. We’re excited to announce the top two classes at each elementary school that collected the most:

Wallace

Kindergarten: Ms. Schlemmer’s Class - $109.29
1st Grade: Ms. LaCour’s Class - $86.95

Lincolnway

2nd Grade: Ms. McKee’s Class - $159.12
3rd Grade: Ms. Shearer’s Class - $92.79

Trimmer

4th Grade: Mr. Jinks’ Class - $70.93
5th Grade: Ms. Lutz’s Class - $63.28
Learning Support: Ms. Munyon’s Class - $9.09

Total Raised by School:
Wallace: $617.29
Lincolnway: $840.63
Trimmer: $518.40

Grand Total: $1,976.32 donated to our schools! Congratulations to the winning classes who earned an ice cream party! Thank you again to everyone who contributed—every penny counts, and your support makes a big difference for our schools!

Pictured below is Ms. Christine McKee's class at Lincolnway Elementary and Ms. Taylor Schlemmer's class at Wallace Elementary enjoying their ice cream reward from the PTO.

Are you a parent of a college student? If so, your child may qualify to substitute teach while on break!

An LEA (Local Education Agency) may allow a prospective teacher to serve as a substitute if the individual:

• Is currently enrolled in a Pennsylvania-approved college or university educator preparation program;
• Has completed at least 60 semester hours or equivalent; and
• Meets all statutory requirements related to clearances, citizenship, and good moral character.

The individual may teach a maximum of 20 days per school year.

For further information or questions, please contact our Human Resources Department at kljacoby@wyasd.org or 717-792-2796.

Spring is almost here and that means concert time in West York. So, check out the upcoming 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!

• 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

MARCH 28, 2025

9th/10th Grade:

Jayden Galarza

For a great job with voice delivery and information during the presentation!

11th/12th Grade:

Isabella Newcomer

For doing an awesome job with Mini-THON!

Faculty/Staff:

Mr. Raul (Sonny) Urrunaga

For sending me reasons to smile and laugh. You are the best!

For helping out students with math in the BLC!

Seniors, there is only one more week left for a 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 is offering scholarships this spring to help make your college dreams a reality.

This year, First Capital will award FOUR (4) Dennis Flickinger Honorable Scholarships (two - $2,000 and two - $1,000) to deserving high school seniors in York County!

The application for the scholarships can be found by clicking the link bar below.

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 deadline of April 4, 2025.

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, March 28, Marking Period 3 Report Cards Available in Sapphire

• Friday, April 4, Early Dismissal
• Tuesday, April 8, Board Work Session (7:00 PM)
• Wednesday, April 9, Trimmer Beginning Band and 4th Grade Choral Concert (6:30 PM)
• Thursday, April 10, Wellness Committee Meeting (3:15 PM)
• Thursday, April 10, Trimmer 5th Grade Band and 5th Grade Choral Concert (6:30 PM)
• Tuesday, April 15, Communication and Engagement Committee (CEC) Meeting (5:30 PM)
• Tuesday, April 15, Board Voting Meeting (6:30 PM)
• Thursday, April 17, Professional Learning Day - No school for students
• Friday, April 18, Spring Break - All Buildings & Grounds are Closed
• Monday, April 21, Snow Make-Up Day - School is in Session
• Thursday, April 24, Off to Kindergarten (5:30 PM for 2025-2026 kindergarten students)
• Friday, April 25, HS/MS Spring Jazz Concert (7:00 PM at the High School)
• Saturday, April 26, Prom (6:00 PM)
• Wednesday, April 30, Guide to Middle School (6:30 PM for current 5th grade students)

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

• For Thursday, February 6th - the make-up day will be in June for teachers only.

Exciting news! Two new opportunities have been added to the Community Corner page on the District’s website. Be sure to check them out!

York East Rotary & Safety Town

* Safety Town 2025 Summer Camp (2 Sessions) ages 3-8

* Monday - Thursday - 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

YWCA York Synchro Team

* Free beginner clinic - Boys & Girls ages 6+

* May 10, 2025 - 1:30 - 3:30 PM

Visit the Community Corner page to stay up to date on community events, programs, and resources available to our students and families.

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.

Kindergarten registration is now open for the 2025-2026 school year! If you are a West York Area School District resident and your child will be 5 years old by September 1, 2025, we invite you to begin the registration process now. Simply visit the Registration page of our website by clicking the red link bar below. On that page, click on the clipboard icon "Register a Student" to begin the registration process. Once you have completed the online registration, please call Wallace Elementary at 717-764-6869 to schedule your child's kindergarten screening appointment.

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

Check out the flyers linked below to learn about the opportunities being offered through MANTEC's free summer programs. The MFG U camps (one at York College, one at Millersville University) are for rising HS seniors. The MFG Access (in partnership with Thaddeus Stevens College at PA CareerLink in Lancaster) program is for 18-24 year olds.

Please reach out to Cindi Moses at cindi@mantec.org with any questions!

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.