YMS NEWS

Greetings YMS Parent(s):

We had a fantastic first semester. Students have grown academically. Teachers have been constantly challenging them to think critically, be creative, problem-solve, and collaborate with other students.

While we certainly have been busy growing academically, we also have seen tremendous growth socially and emotionally at YMS. The adults in our building take great pride in supporting the whole child, especially as students move through some of the most significant periods of growth and change in their young lives.

As we finish our first semester this year and say goodbye to 2025 I would like to ask for your help in a few different areas to help improve your child’s experience at YMS:

Remind your child(ren) that the last few weeks of this semester are critical. We have many important education topics to discuss and experiences to encounter to finish off a positive first semester. Encourage them to run all the way to the finish line.
Continue to foster a growth mindset at home. Encourage the process, not the ability. Remind them that it is ok to fail, but not OK to quit and that it is always possible to improve any situation.
This is a challenging time for young people and sometimes they can have doubts about themselves. Help remind your child(ren) during this period of doubt that the only thing that matters is how you see yourself.
Now that the normal daily temperature has fallen please try to make sure your student(s) are dressed for the weather. Even though it might be a bit colder, most of the time we will be sending kids outside at noon recess. We will not go outside if it is dangerously cold but will send them out if only to, as my dad would say, “blow the stink off of em” and let them release some energy.

In our Friday assembly meetings, we talk about five ways to deal with a bully. These steps empower students to begin to manage their actions when faced with bullying behaviors.

Ignore- Acting like you don’t care can deter a bully.
Walk Away- Walking confidently away can let the bully know that you are not going to be bullied.
Talk Friendly- “Please stop saying/doing that to me.” “I really don’t like it when you do/say that.”
Talk Firmly- “Stop that! Don’t say/do that again! I have had enough!”
Tell an adult- When all of these steps have failed it is time to tell an adult.

We also have discussed with students a saying that states, ”The only thing that matters is how you see yourself!” We tell kids if you think you are strong, caring, brave, kind, confident, curious, genuine, and self-reliant then you are!

I hope you take time during the holiday break to enjoy family and friends. Thank you for all your effort to make this first semester at YMS one of the best for your child. I can’t wait to finish off this fantastic first semester and then work hard to make the second semester even better than the first. Go, Dukes!

Kenny Loosvelt

Report Cards

This year we have switched to semester grades at YMS, unless you are a 6th/7th grader that has Shop, FCS, Computers or Art. These classes will continue to change every quarter. This change means we will no longer hand out quarterly honor roll certificates. Students will continue to be recognized for 1st and 2nd semesters in York News Times. You can access grades on the parent portal on Infinite Campus. Please direct any specific grading questions to the classroom teacher. We will only mail report cards home, at the end of the year, in May. You can access the Infinite Campus parent portal using the directions below:

Visit https://necloud1.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/york.jsp
Log in with the proper username/password (contact YMS to reset password if needed)
You may be asked to verify your device as trustworthy for security purposes.
Select your student.
Click the three horizontal lines on the upper left hand corner. You will be able to access Grades, Schedules, Attendance Records, Fees, and Documents.

School Closing Procedures

In case of a weather emergency, we will follow the same procedure that has been in practice in the past years.

That procedure is as follows:

1. Radio Station KOOL (103.5 FM 1370 AM), and KTMX-FM (104.9) will again serve as our primary source for dispensing “school closing information.” They are 24 hour stations.

2. If severe weather necessitates an early dismissal, a school cancellation, or information concerning school buses, it will be broadcast on KOOL and KTMX.

3. Bus drivers are instructed to use good judgment in determining whether a road is passable. The

Transportation Department will notify parents where children can be loaded if a specific road cannot be traveled. Buses will travel the regular routes and maintain a time schedule consistent with the conditions of the roads.

4. “Emergency Messages” will be sent to our student’s parents and guardians who have an email or cell phone number listed in Infinite Campus, and the YPS Staff. Information will be posted on our website at www.yorkpublic.org, on our Facebook page at York Public Schools and on Twitter at

@MitchBartYPS (#yorkdukes). Parents and Guardians – please be sure to provide the school

secretaries with your current email address and cell phone number in order to be notified!!

FILE: EBBDA POLICY ON SCHOOL DISMISSAL FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER

The York Public Schools will be closed, when in the determination of the Superintendent of Schools or his/her designee, the weather conditions constitute a hazard for students going to or from school.

When regular morning school bus routes cannot be run due to road conditions, yet travel in town is not seriously hampered, school may remain open. When possible a "limited service" bus route shall be run anytime school remains open and it is not possible to run regular routes. The starting time of the morning session may be delayed when necessary.

When, during the school day and while school is in session, it is necessary to send bus pupils home

early, school may be dismissed for all students.

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ON SCHOOL DISMISSAL FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER

When school is not held or is dismissed early due to poor weather conditions, notification will be placed on the York radio station and any other such means as the superintendent may deem necessary and feasible.

When it is necessary to dismiss school due to inclement weather after the school day has started, all students should be accounted for in their homeroom by their homeroom teachers. Bus students should be dismissed first. Teachers shall be responsible for their assigned students. Before dismissing elementary town students, the teachers shall not let any student who has been transported to school go home without contacting their parents, unless they are sure other arrangements have been made. Students who have walked to school may be allowed to walk home if the teacher feels the weather does not present a hazard. Teachers will be dismissed when all of their students have been accounted for.

📆Important Dates

December 16

YMS Winter Choir Concert @ YHS- 7:00PM

December 19

NOON Dismissal

December 19(Noon Dismissal)-January 4

Christmas Break🎄

January 19

No School-Teacher In Service

LUNCH MENU

🎼Choir

Students are hard at work practicing and getting ready for the upcoming Winter Choir Concert. We would love to see you at the YMS Winter Choir Concert, December 16 @ YHS Theatre- 7:00 PM

🎺Band

Join us for an evening of festive music and delicious soup!

York’s annual Band Concert & Soup Supper is December 9 and we’d love to see you there!

📍York High School Cafeteria 1005 Duke Drive, York, NE 68467

Soup Supper: 5:00 PM Concerts: YMS @ 6 PM, YHS @ 7 PM

MATHCOUNTS will begin on January 15. This is open to all 6th,7th,and 8th graders interested in trying out. We will meet every Thursday morning from 7:30-8:00 AM. The top 6 students will compete at UNK on February 9.

Any questions please let me know.

Mr. McKinney

Student senate members attended UNL's Leadership pep rally and women's basketball game

When your child is ill and unable to attend school we want to hear from you. Give us a call at 402-362-6655, option 1, between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. Please let the office know in advance when your child is going to be absent for an appointment or will be going out of town.

For the safety of your child, we make sure all absent children are accounted for!

YMS Access

All YMS doors will be locked during school hours, 8:00 a.m. – 3:13 p.m. Anyone wishing to enter the building will need to access the buzzer system located at the main, west entrance of YMS. This system will alert office staff. Once visitors have been identified and viewed through the video monitoring system, they will be allowed to enter.

Supervision at York Middle School begins at 7:40 a.m. We ask that students not arrive on campus prior to that time. One staff member supervises the cafeteria. Students are welcome to congregate in that area. Once students get to YMS, they are expected to come on campus and remain there. Students enter the halls at 7:50 a.m. with classes beginning at 8:00 a.m. Dismissal is at 3:13 p.m. Students are expected to clear campus and return home as soon as school is dismissed unless they are participating in a supervised extra-curricular activity, staying after school with a teacher, or participating in the YMS After-School Clubs. On early dismissal days, students must leave campus and return for sports practice no earlier than 3:30 p.m., unless the student is involved in an After-School Club.

Influenza is a contagious viral illness involving the respiratory tract (nose, throat, and lungs) that can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia and the worsening of other chronic health conditions. The best way to protect your family from new influenza strains is to get vaccinated each year and to practice frequent handwashing. Seek further guidance from your healthcare provider to ensure that the flu vaccine is right for you and your family members.

Vision, hearing and dental screenings will be conducted during 2nd semester for 7th grade students and transfer students with no record of previous screenings. If a student does not meet the screening guidelines set forth by the state, a letter recommending further evaluation will be sent to the parent/guardian. If you have concerns regarding your child’s hearing, vision or dental health, please follow up with your healthcare provider, eye doctor or dentist, even if you do not receive a letter of referral. If you do not want your child to participate in these screenings, please notify the school office prior to January 9th, 2026.