Blue & White Newsletter - 1/10/25

The West York Area School District wishes all our families a Happy New Year! As we welcome 2025, we are excited to begin the second half of the school year with renewed energy and enthusiasm.

This is a time for fresh starts and new opportunities, and we look forward to continuing to support our students as they learn, grow, and succeed. Thank you for being an essential part of our Bulldog community, we couldn’t do it without you! Here’s to a fantastic second half of the school year. Let’s make it our best yet!

In the Commonwealth, January is a time dedicated to honoring and appreciating the invaluable contributions of our Board of School Directors to the West York community and its students. These individuals serve as the backbone of our district, guiding its vision and shaping policies to ensure that every student receives a high-quality education.

The role of a school board member is both challenging and vital. These community leaders volunteer countless hours to make informed decisions that impact every aspect of our schools, from curriculum and student achievement to budgeting and infrastructure. Their dedication ensures that West York schools continue to be places where students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

This month, we encourage the entire West York community to take a moment to express gratitude for their service and year-round efforts help make our district strong.

Thank you to our Board of School Directors for their unwavering commitment to our schools, staff, and students. Your leadership and vision are instrumental in shaping the future of West York!

A big thank-you to Ms. Marianne Panopoulos, Food Services Manager at Wallace Elementary, for going above and beyond for some of our Bulldogs! On Monday’s snow day, Ms. Panopoulos served up a warm, delicious lunch to children on her street, showing her dedication and care for our students. The menu included favorites like chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, tater tots, and corn. To top it off, the kids enjoyed apple juice slushies and a cozy cup of hot chocolate, perfect for a snowy day!

Thank you, Ms. Panopoulos, for your kindness and commitment to making a difference. You truly embody the Bulldog spirit!

Ms. Kelsey Sersen's and Ms. Courtney Munyon's Autistic Support classes at Lincolnway Elementary came together on Wednesday for a health/science lesson. After listening to “Sick Simon,” Ms. Dawn Ness, AS Teacher Aide, used a water spray bottle to demonstrate how germs are spread when we don’t cover our mouth. Afterwards, students used a special germ lotion that shows germs under a black light. They then practiced proper handwashing and checked their hands again under the black light to observe how the germs were washed away!

Do you have a child starting kindergarten in the 2025-2026 school year? If so, use the link bar below to join our distribution list and stay informed with all the latest updates about kindergarten! You'll receive information about kindergarten registration, kindergarten screening days, exciting events like Preschool Story Time, and other opportunities for incoming kindergarten students to become familiar with Wallace Elementary School.

Do you have a neighbor with an incoming kindergarten student who does not currently have children in West York? Feel free to share this newsletter with them so they can join the distribution list as well!

The High School baseball and lacrosse programs teamed up to complete a competitive workout led by United States Air Force personnel. The session was headed by MSgt. Garett Brown and Special Warfare Operator, MSgt. John Neidrick. The boys demonstrated great mental toughness and determination throughout the workout. Well done!

Each year, middle school and high school students have the opportunity to participate in the VFW Youth Scholarship Contest through the following two essay contests.

The Voice of Democracy contest, established in 1947, is open to students in grades 9 through 12. Each year, about 25,000 high school students enter the audio-essay competition. This year’s theme for the Voice of Democracy was: “Is America Today Our Forefathers’ Vision?”

The Patriot’s Pen contest, for students in grades 6 through 8, focuses on exploring American history and society. Participants are required to author a 300- to 400-word essay. This year’s Patriot’s Pen theme was: “My Voice in America’s Democracy.”

Congratulations to Lilah Van Vorst, 10th grader at West York Area High School, for winning 1st Place in the Voice of Democracy video-essay contest for VFW Post #8951!

Congratulations to Kaden Strausbaugh, 8th grader at West York Area Middle School, for being one of the two winners of the Patriot's Penn essay contest for VFW Post #8951!

Lilah and Kaden, along with winners from other schools in our area, will be honored by the West York Memorial Post #8951 and its Auxiliary at a ceremony on January 19th. Their essays will then be forwarded to the District and State level competitions.

The annual, all district, musical this year is "The Addams Family - A New Musical Comedy!" It is sure to be another West York AWESOME production so be sure to mark your calendars now!

When:

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

Ticket information will be coming soon!

Exclusively for West York Area School District residents age 65 and older, the Golden Bulldog Pass is valid for one admission to all District-sponsored events, including athletic events, fine arts events such as concerts, plays, and musicals, and special invitation-only events for senior citizens.

The Lunch & a Show, an invitation-only event for Golden Bulldog Pass Holders, is now taking reservations. Seating is limited so register soon! Lunch will be roast turkey, mashed potatoes, vegetables, and dessert, served with water, iced tea, and coffee.

• What: Lunch and a Show
• When: Sunday, March 2, 2025
• Where: West York Area High School
• Time: Lunch Served at 12:45 PM (doors open at 12:15 PM), Show starts at 2:00 PM

Register by clicking the bar below, or call 717-792-2796, Ext. 1004, or by emailing BulldogMail@wyasd.org.

Don't have your Golden Bulldog Pass yet? District residents age 65 and over can get one at the District Administration Building located at 1891 Loucks Road, Suite 100 (in the old York Newspaper Co. building), between 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday. Simply bring a photo ID and address.

The West York Area Middle School is hosting its 2nd Annual Family Trivia Night. The event will be held on Thursday, February 13th. Trivia night teams must include at least one current WYAMS student and at least one adult. There will be four rounds of mixed category trivia as teams compete to see who can answer the most correct. Concessions will be available for purchase throughout the event. The top three teams will earn gift card prizes.

When: Thursday, February 13th @ 6:00 p.m.

Where: West York Area Middle School Cafeteria

Use the link bar below the flyer, or scan the QR code on the flyer below, to register for the event.

The High School is hosting a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Completion Night for senior parents during the upcoming High School Open House. Our PHEAA (Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency) representative will be here as well. We will be set up in the library for this event. There is no need to register; it's a drop-in event.

When: Thursday, January 30th - 6:00 - 7:30 PM

Where: West York Area High School - Main Entrance - Session held in the Library

School Counselors, Ms. Vanessa Bicher (Lincolnway Elementary) and Ms. Kaitlin Mock (High School) recently attended the PA School Counselor Association (PSCA) Annual Conference in December. Ms. Bicher and Ms. Mock were able to attend sessions on growing our school counseling programs in our respective schools while also staying up to date on changes in our field. The conference is an important and vital part of our counseling department's growth, as school counseling and education continues to evolve and improve to best support our students and families.

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! If we do not have these volunteer spots filled, we are in danger of not being able to run this meaningful event.

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.

Check out this great and convenient opportunity through UPMC for middle school students to explore and learn about careers in healthcare, specifically:

• Dentistry
• General Medicine
• Health & Rehabilitation
• Imaging
• Information Technology
• Labs
• Nursing
• Pharmacy
• Public Health
• Respiratory
• Surgical Services

UPMC is offering a virtual 13-week Junior Health Care Explorers program. This program is free but you must register. The details are:

Session Dates/Times: Saturdays from 9:30 - 11:00 AM, January 25th - April 26th

Sessions are presented via Microsoft Teams - computer and webcam needed to participate

Registration Deadline: Wednesday, January 22nd.

If you have questions, please email JHCE@upmc.edu.

To register, click the bar below.

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.

We’re celebrating the new year with a special incentive! If they open a new membership with First Capital in January, they’ll be entered to win a $25.00 gift card!

But the fun doesn’t stop there…Did you know, your entire family is eligible to join First Capital Federal Credit Union?! So, why not make it a family affair. We can’t wait to welcome your family to the First Capital family!

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

• Tuesday, January 14, EPC Meeting (5:00 p.m.)
• Tuesday, January 14, Work Session of the Board (7:00 p.m.)
• Friday, January 17, Marking Period 2 Report Cards available in Sapphire
• Monday, January 20, Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday - No School/District Offices are closed
• Tuesday, January 21, Facilities Meeting (5:30 p.m.)
• Tuesday, January 21, Board Voting Meeting (6:30 p.m.)
• Thursday, January 30, HS Back to School Night (6:00 - 7:30 p.m.)

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.

Earlier this week, winter weather brought us our first plowable snow. Now is a good time to review a few tips to ensure your travel is safe! Click HERE to check out a few winter driving tips.

Thank you, Mr. Jeff Ludwig, Supervisor of Building and Grounds, for sharing this helpful safety information with us!

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 is posted at the High School as new scholarships become available. The Counseling Center also emails each scholarship and updated bulletin directly to students' school emails.

Paper copies of scholarship applications are available to students at the Counseling Center in the waiting area.

PLEASE NOTE: The date due is very important. Students should have their applications submitted to the Counseling Center at least six days prior to the 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.

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