Welcome Back, Students & Families!

Dear York High School Students, Families, and Guardians,

We hope you’ve had a chance to enjoy the summer and recharge for the year ahead. As we prepare to welcome everyone back, there is a great deal of excitement throughout YHS. Mrs. Monaco and I are looking forward to beginning the year with you as the new administrative team and working alongside our students, families, and staff to make it a great year.

Our building and grounds have been busy this summer, with the Science renovation nearing completion along with a number of updates and improvements throughout the school. We are grateful to our custodial, maintenance, and year-round staff for the tremendous amount of work they have put in to prepare YHS for the return of our students.

This year, we will continue to focus on strong school culture, student achievement, and creating a safe and supportive environment where every student can learn and thrive. We will work together to strengthen literacy and mathematics achievement, improve attendance, support positive behavior, and build stronger connections between students and the school community. Whether students are in a classroom, on the field, in the gym, or walking through the halls, our goal is for every student to feel that they belong and are an important part of York High School.

This newsletter will provide important information to help students and families get ready for the first day of school on August 31. We encourage you to review the information and reach out if you have questions.

We are excited to get started and can't wait to see our students back in the building!

Kyle Hodsdon, 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 next 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 YSD Tech Director, Eric Lawson.

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 as of Friday, August 14. We have not made any schedule changes over the summer. 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. Our first official weekly memo will go out on Thursday, August 28 (as a reminder of all the great things to come the following week).

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 17 ~ Fall Sports Begin

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)

David McGuckin - Director of Athletics & Activities

Alyssa Skaves - Literacy Specialist

Avril Palazzi - Special Education Ed Tech

Principal: Kyle Hodsdon ~ khodsdon@yorkschools.org

Asst. Principal: Corinne Monaco ~ cmonaco@yorkschools.org

Phone: 207-363-3621

Website: yorkschools.org