Blue & White Newsletter - 12/6/24

Congratulations to our Middle School band and choir students who filled the air with holiday cheer during their Holiday Concert on Wednesday night. Under the direction of Ms. Laurie Kumontis and Mr. Robert Titus, the concert featured: 6th Grade Concert Band, 7th & 8th Grade Concert Band, Leader in Me Ensemble, 6th Grade Chorus, and the 7th & 8th Grade Choir.

They performed several holiday favorites, such as "The Little Drummer Boy," "How the Grinch Stole Christmas Medley," and "God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen." Some other songs included "Santa's Excellent Adventure," "Twas the Moon of Wintertime," and "Christmas Around the World."

Thank you, WYA Middle School, for kicking off our 2024 holiday concerts!

The holiday concerts are almost here! Our talented vocalists and instrumentalists have been working diligently and can’t wait to share the festive sounds of the season with you. Join us to celebrate their hard work and soak in the holiday spirit!

2024 Holiday Season Concert Schedule

Trimmer Concert Band & 5th Grade Chorus Concert

Thursday, December 12 @ 6:30 p.m.

High School Holiday Concert

Monday, December 16 @ 7:00 p.m.

The Class of 2027 will be selling treats at the High School Holiday Concert on December 16th.

The treats will be $1.00 each and sold before, during, and after the concert.

CASH is the only form of payment accepted.

Sixteen sensational 5th grade Bulldogs were chosen to represent Trimmer Elementary at the Elementary Chorus Festival at The Appell Center on November 23rd. These students worked tremendously hard to memorize six various songs and gave a fantastic performance at the concert! Well done!

Pictured below, top row, left to right: Brielle Brown, Alexis Appnel, Andrew Bruck, Brixton Kyle, Talaysa Paige, Chloe Wesner, Justin Juarez, Kamryn Gao, and Layla Lehman.

Bottom row, left to right: Lilliana Zadroga, Ariana Garnett-Knaggs, Josefina Davido, Annabell Crone, Nora Lehman, Miri Hipkiss, and Arly Jordan Aguas.

Some of Ms. Holly Holtzinger's students at Trimmer Elementary showed gratitude to the cafeteria staff by drawing pictures of them eating their favorite lunch - the annual Thanksgiving feast! The students surprised the ladies by singing while delivering their drawings! Thank you, Trimmer Cafeteria Staff for preparing delicious meals for us everyday!

Students in Ms. Kelsey Sersen and Ms. Courtney Munyon’s autistic support classrooms at Lincolnway Elementary celebrated Thanksgiving together with turkey crafts and dances, scarecrow games, Pete the Cat’s First Thanksgiving story, fall cupcake decorating, and an elephant toothpaste experiment! Thank you to our families who helped make this event a success, and a special shout out to Miss Dawn for her extra planning/preparation!

Ms. Kelly Lurz’s and Ms. Lorrie Rodriguez's classes at Wallace Elementary celebrated Friendsgiving together! Students watched A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, then enjoyed a feast of popcorn, bread, pretzels, and jellybeans just like Snoopy made for his friends!

First grade students at Wallace Elementary participated in various Thanksgiving festivities. They enjoyed made turkey hats, sang Thanksgiving songs, listen to a read-aloud, and had a feast together.

Ms. Jennifer LaCour's class at Wallace Elementary made turkey headbands to celebrate Thanksgiving. Later on in the day, they participated in the first-grade feast. The children got to eat muffins and popcorn with their friends from other classrooms.

Ms. Marsha Yanick's and Ms. Kelly McGladrie's 4th grade classes at Trimmer Elementary celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday by making pumpkin and apple pies. In addition, students participated in a WebQuest to learn about the history of Thanksgiving. Everyone agreed that the best part was eating the pie!

The first graders in Ms. Kelly Murphy's class and kindergarteners in Ms. Pamela Holmes' class at Wallace Elementary worked together to tap out words. They have been practicing tapping out words in their Fundations lessons. It was a great day to work with their buddies!

Ms. Manda Meese's Principles of Marketing class at the High School worked on creating a store front from a business idea that each student had in mind. Students were required to incorporate knowledge learned and topics discussed in class to create a store front using a shoe box, come up with a business name, and design the outside and inside of the store, while adding lights to add to the effect of the store fronts.

Pictured (L to R) are seniors Abby Cook ("Luminous Lilies") and Kathy Huang ("Purr & Pour") who proudly show their beautiful displays of their storefronts!

Ten eighth grade students at the Middle School, along with Mr. James Snelbaker and Ms. Lisa Konopinski, had the opportunity to visit York Precision Machining and Hydraulics. The students and this business were paired in the What’s So Cool About Manufacturing contest. Students met with many employees and the president to record footage of the manufacturing process from concept design through production and shipping. Students will now create a video showcasing the manufacturing process and a marketing plan. Be on the lookout in an upcoming issue for a link to view the video and vote for West York in the contest.

As we shared in our last issue of the Blue & White Newsletter, our submission is now on display at Miller Plant Farm and ready for your vote!

To view all of the beautiful murals created by our artists and those of 12 other school districts, stop by Miller Plant Farm, 430 Indian Rock Dam Road, York, PA 17403. The winning mural is based on the number of votes they receive. So, be sure to visit Miller's, or vote online, for your favorite art mural for just 50¢/vote - West York's of course! The winning mural's art department receives all proceeds from the competition plus a Miller Plant Farm donation! In 2023, $4,290 was donated to South Western's National Art Honor Society! In 2022, West York was the winner and received $2,030!

Voting takes place in-store and online through Saturday, December 14th.

Use the green bar below to access the online voting page.

The Class of 2025 is having an online fundraiser selling Gardners Candies once again for the holiday season. It's so easy to shop online and get your order delivered right to your door!

Orders are due by Dec. 15th, just in time for the holidays!

Three Easy Steps:

1. Click on the image below
2. Scroll down and click on Shop Now
3. Enter the Group ID: 10-1564

Select your items and submit your order knowing your order will be delivered directly to your door!

Thank you for supporting the Class of 2025!

As the holidays approach, let's come together to support our Bulldog families in need. The Bulldog Pantry is seeking donations to ensure everyone in our community has the food and essentials they need to enjoy this special time of year.

We are in need of:

• Non-perishable food items (canned goods, pasta, rice, etc.)
• Personal care products (toothpaste, soap, shampoo, etc.)
• Gift cards or monetary donations for fresh produce and other essentials

Your generosity can make a world of difference! Donations can be dropped off at West York Area High School during school hours.

Together, we can spread hope, love, and kindness this holiday season. Thank you for supporting the Bulldog Pantry!

Please reach out to Ms. Amanda Burt via email at amburt@wyasd.org with any questions.

December 6, 2024

9th/10th Grade:

Manny Toucet

For working hard in math class!

11th/12th Grade:

Stella Friedah

For doing great work on the Daily Fetch!

Faculty/Staff:

Ms. Bridget Toren

For being extremely helpful in getting my grades back to what I need. I appreciate that we sat down

and made a plan to get assignments done over the break!

Attention West York Area School District Parents:

Is your student ready to take the next step in learning about money management and saving for

the future? Through the Bulldog Branch and our Bulldog Buck$ program, we’re excited to offer

an opportunity for students to gain essential financial literacy skills that will serve them for years

to come.

This holiday season, we're celebrating with a special incentive! Open a new membership with

First Capital, and you’ll be entered to win a $25.00 gift card—just in time for your holiday

shopping!

Don’t wait! Take advantage of this fantastic offer and join the First Capital family today before

the year ends. We can’t wait to welcome you!

Have any questions about First Capital membership or the Bulldog Buck$ program? Stop by the

branch on Tuesdays or Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and talk to Lily or Kayla to

learn more about the account opening process... or reach out to School Branch Coordinator

Kayla Weaver by email at kaylaw@firstcapitalfcu.com!

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!

• Monday, December 9, LWY Picture Retake Day
• Tuesday, December 10, WAL Picture Retake Day
• Tuesday, December 10, Board Voting Meeting (6:30 p.m.)
• Wednesday, December 11, TRM Picture Retake Day
• Thursday, December 12, TRM Concert Band & 5th Grade Chorus Concert (6:30 p.m.)
• Monday, December 16, High School Holiday Concert (7:00 p.m.)
• Monday, December 23 - Wednesday, January 1, Holiday Break - No School
• Tuesday, December 24 - Thursday, December 26, District Offices are closed
• Tuesday, December 31 - Wednesday, January 1, District Offices are closed

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.

Current high school juniors have the opportunity to apply for acceptance into the 2025 PA Governor's School for the Sciences program at Carnegie Mellon University. This 5-week residential program is free to those accepted, including tuition, lab fees, room and board. The application window is now open and closes on January 31, 2025.

Click the image below to see the full program flyer. You can learn more about the courses, activities, and the application process by visiting their website at www.cmu.edu/mcs/pgss.

A student's high school yearbook is a way to capture all of the amazing memories that students experience during their final years here at West York - home of the Bulldogs!

Purchasing a yearbook early in the school year assures you the best pricing, currently $75, and an item off your "To-Do List" that builds as the end of the school year approaches!

Starting November 16th, the price will be $80 - so don't miss the $75 early purchase price!

Also available now is the opportunity to place a special message/ad in the yearbook just for your child. More information on this, and all things yearbooks, can be found by visiting the West York page of Jostens website by clicking the image above.

Don't miss out on ordering your Middle School yearbook! Order your copy today and check that off your to-do list before it's too late!

Click the flyer below to visit the Jostens website and to place your order.

Back to School Vision Voucher Program

VisionCorps and PA Vision Foundation have teamed up to offer free vision examinations

and glasses to qualified families in South Central PA.

Vouchers are accepted by Vision Benefits of America (VBA) network eyecare providers.

For more information and to see if you qualify for this program,

please call VisionCorps at 717-925-7275 or email vouchers@visioncorps.net

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 Home 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

Our West York Area High School's Counseling Center compiles lists of available scholarships as our high school students prepare for their post-secondary educational plans and funding.

An updated list will be posted at the High School as new scholarships become available. Each time the bulletin is revised, it is printed on a different color of paper from the previous bulletin, making it easy to tell when new information has been added.

PLEASE NOTE: The date due is very important. Please have applications submitted to the Counseling Center at least 6 days prior to due date. This allows the Counseling Center staff sufficient time for review of the application and transcript preparation, ensuring that the application is sent out in a timely manner.

All hard copies of scholarship applications are located inside the Counseling Center in the waiting area in the drawer marked SCHOLARSHIPS. The Counseling Center also emails each scholarship and updated bulletin directly to students' school emails.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Gail Wildasin in the Counseling Center.

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.

The Community Corner of our website offers families many helpful links to organizations or flyers about upcoming or ongoing community activities, clubs, and events. The information on this webpage changes frequently and those changes will be highlighted here as they occur. The latest updates are pictured below.

From our Home webpage, click on Community to access links to various organizations/community events.

Here are just some examples:

• Cub Scouts (Boys & Girls ages 5-12)
• Girl Scouts
• West York Boys Club
• YMCA of York
  
• YWCA of York

Community Resources such as:

• Belmont Summer Academy - Theatre Summer Camps
  
• Community Progress Council
• Dream Wrights Center for Community Arts
• United Way
  

The WY Swim and Dive team is inviting everyone to join them for a movie night in the pool fundraiser on Saturday, December 21st!

Graham Aquatic Center

543 N. Newberry Street

The Christmas Chronicles

6:00 - 9:00 PM

$15.00 per person

Food available for purchase

Contact Coach Reed for more information at refrench@wyasd.org