The Lowdown with Dr. Lowe |
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Hello Families:
There are so many exciting things happening at the York Academy! Last week we inducted new members into the National and Junior Art Honor Societies, our students presented a fabulous musical showcase, and we held the first Upper School Science Fair in two years! I'm very proud of our students. In case you missed any of those opportunities, I invite you to join me at the March Madness Concert tomorrow night at 6 p.m. in the Lower School gym. Please make sure to review all the other wonderful events that are coming up so you can support our students.
I also want you to know that the Comprehensive Planning Committee recently finished an eight-month working session to develop our Comprehensive Plan that we will use to guide our district over the next three years. The Committee is comprised of community members, York Academy teachers, Board members, administration, students and parents. Click here to review the Comprehensive Plan and find out how to share your thoughts. Opportunities for public feedback will conclude on March 23.
Enjoy your evening,
Dr. Michael Lowe
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Senior Feature: Paige Mullins |
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Meet Paige Mullins, one of our fabulous seniors! Paige has been at York Academy since second grade when the school opened. She plans to major in psychology and minor in business, and is still making a final decision on which college she’ll attend.
Paige qualified for the National Merit Scholarship Program and has been involved in many performing arts productions at York Academy. “Some of my best school memories are from the musicals, plays and concerts I have done,” she said.
“Overall, I’ve had a very good experience at York Academy, and I can’t imagine being anywhere else,” she said. Paige feels that YARCS has given her valuable experiences that have set her on the path for future success. “I am grateful that York Academy has given me opportunities I wouldn't have had elsewhere.”
Paige identifies with the IB attribute of being an inquirer. “I ask a lot of questions in order to better understand things that I’m not completely sure about,” she said. Along those lines, Paige’s advice for underclassmen is to always ask for help when they need it. She also encourages them to create bonds with the people around them, no matter what grade they are in.
Paige is thankful for her DP teachers, who are leading the Class of 2022 through all the “firsts.” She thinks they are all very helpful and thoughtful. “They’ve been with us through a lot, and they’ve seen us grow up and grow as people.” Paige feels most connected to Mrs. Reed and Mrs. Riggs, and says they have both made a significant impact in her life.
Her favorite quote comes from Belle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. “I want adventure in the great wide somewhere. I want it more than I can tell! And for once it might be grand to have someone understand. I want so much more than they've got planned...”
We wish you the very best as you take on new adventures, Paige! Your future is so bright. Congratulations!
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Join Us for the March Madness Concert Tomorrow Night |
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Don't miss Thursday night's "March Madness Concert" at 6 p.m. in the Lower School gym!
The York Academy Bands will perform march style pieces. In contrast, the York Academy Strings will perform chamber music selections in small groups.
Come enjoy the sounds of our talented musicians in grades 5 -12!
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Knight Staff Superstar: Moka Simmons |
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When we are caring, we show empathy, compassion and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us.
Ms. Simmons is fairly new at York Academy, and she jumped right in. She has taken the time to know each of her students on a personal level, and she is patient when they require her attention. Ms. Simmons cares deeply for her students and colleagues, and she is always willing to help.
Thank you for being an essential part of the team, Ms. Simmons. You make a difference, and you are truly valued!
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It's Parents' Night Out on Friday |
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Join us for the next Parents' Night Out event this Friday (3/4) from 6 - 9 p.m. at the Upper School! Mrs. Chester and the Upper School students of York Academy's National Art Honor Society would love to spend the evening with your children while you go to dinner, catch a movie, or just chill peacefully on your couch.
York Academy students in grades K-6 are invited. Siblings and friends/neighbors of YARCS who are not students are welcome as long as they are in kindergarten or older. There will be group games and activities in the gym and a cool down snack before everyone watches Encanto (PG) in the Dr. Dennis Baughman Center for Creative Expression/Black Box Theater.
Click below for more details and to register. All proceeds support the Upper School National Art Honor Society. We appreciate your help in advance!
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Kids Heart Challenge Ends on Friday (We Beat Our Goal!) |
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We are wrapping up our Kids Heart Challenge fundraiser on Friday (3/4). That means that Friday is the last day to turn in donations or raise money to contribute to our Kids Heart Challenge.
Can you believe that we've hit our highest total ever in York Academy history? Knights, you've raised $8,374.52, which is more than $1,000 over our goal! That means Miss Kinard will be turned into a human ice cream sundae sometime very soon! Stay tuned for details. Your life-saving donations for the American Heart Association will make a difference for kids facing heart-health issues. Thank you, everyone!
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Important: Dental & Physical Exams |
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Pennsylvania requires medical and dental exams for students' school health files in certain grade levels. They are:
- Grades 3 and 7: Dental Exam
- Grades 6 and 11: Physical Exam (including any immunization updates)
If your children are in the grades above, it's very important that you provide our nurses with a copy of their most recent dental exam or well-child check. Please note that if your child had the necessary exam last school year, those records would meet this requirement. You would not have to schedule another appointment.
For well exams, you may simply submit the full clinical visit note from your provider's portal (ex. WellSpan). It's quick, easy and much appreciated! Links to blank physical and dental exam forms can be found below, too. Please send the records to the appropriate nurse. Thank you!
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Lower School Ambassadors Share Random Acts of Kindness |
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In celebration of National Random Acts of Kindness Day on February 22, the York Academy Lower School Ambassadors decided to spread inspirational messages in the community by visiting Central Family Restaurant, Continental Square and Central Market. They handed out eggs with inspirational quotes from many famous people or leaders, including Maya Angelou, Martin Luther King Jr., Eleanor Roosevelt and even Yoda! They told people about Random Acts of Kindness Day and wished them an "egg-ceptional" day. They hoped the people found the quotes to be "egg-spirational."
Many thanks goes to Central Family Restaurant owner, Karl Spangler, for being a risktaker by allowing the Ambassadors to share acts of kindness with his customers and staff. Their smiles and laughter were an amazing way to kick off the day!
Mrs. Fitz, of Dennis Fitz Homegrown Fruits and Vegetables in Central Market, stopped the Ambassadors to share that the quote she received in her egg really made a difference in her day. It was about fear, and she's working to overcome her fear of heights. Mrs. Fitz helped spread more kindness by providing the Ambassadors with apples from her and her husband's stand.
Mr. Robeson, of Homegrown Marketplace in Central Market, also wanted to build on the Ambassadors' acts of kindness. He shared homemade chocolate pretzels with them because he loved the message they were spreading.
The Ambassadors said they truly saw that their actions brightened the day of many people, and that being kind to others not only made a difference in other people's lives, but it also made a difference in theirs.
Pictured Above:
Top Row: Riley Graham, Dazimiah Pringle, Marlowe Given and Madelyn Lentz
Middle Row: Claire McNally, Andrew Keller and Cole Strayer-Waninger
Bottom Row: Nia Stevens and Isai Caraballo-Gonzalez
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Students Impress at Science Fair |
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We're extremely proud of all of the students who participated in last week's Upper School Science Fair, sponsored by First Capital Federal Credit Union! Congrats to the outstanding winners who will represent our school at the York County Science & Engineering Fair next week! They are Morgan Mullins (1st Place, 11th grade), J'ontai Bailey (2nd Place - 8th grade ), Eden Kleinfeld (3rd Place - 8th grade) and Paige Kageni-Wilson (Honorable Mention - 11th grade).
Many thanks go to our amazing science teachers (Mrs. Reed, Mrs. Henninger and Mrs. Clauser) for sharing their knowledge, supporting the students, and giving their time to coordinate such an excellent event. We appreciate the many teachers and administrators who served as judges, and the seniors who helped with the event! Thank you to everyone who came to support the students, as well.
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Mod Pizza Fundraiser for National Junior Art Honor Society |
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Save the date for the National Junior Art Honor Society fundraiser at Mod Pizza on Wednesday, March 9! Check out the details below. |
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2022-23 Information Session: Wednesday, March 9 |
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Applications are being accepted for the 2022-23 school year through March 31 for grades K-9. The lottery will be held on April 4. Learn more and apply here.
Do you love York Academy? Please invite your friends/family to the last Admissions Information Session so they can learn about our stellar school! It will be held on Wednesday, March 9 at 6 p.m. in the Lower School gym. Click here for details.
Attention York Academy Parents: Does your child attend YARCS and you'd like their sibling(s) to start here in August (ex. kindergarten)? Applications are required for all new students, and you must apply online by March 31 so they're included in the lottery.
If your child is on the current waiting list, you will also need to reapply by March 31 for the 2022-23 school year.
Make sure to share this information with your friends and family, and spread the good word about our amazing school. Thank you!
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You're Invited: Celebrate Our First DP Senior Art Exhibition |
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York Academy's first DP Senior Exhibition will be hosted by The Parliament Arts Organization! The exhibition will feature the art of seniors Khora Pawelczyk and Jeniann Rodriguez Rosa, and will be open to the public through March 30.
As a requirement of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme in Visual Arts, students develop skills in art-making, curatorial practice, and theoretical practice over the two-year course, culminating in a senior exhibition curated and designed by the students.
A public reception honoring the artists will be held on Friday, March 11 from 5 - 7 p.m. at The Parliament's Gallery, located at 116 E. King Street in Downtown York.
Please join us on March 11 or stop by the gallery to view their beautiful work throughout the month!
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Donations Needed for PTO Teacher Appreciation Luncheon |
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The York Academy PTO is excited to provide a luncheon for the teachers, staff and administration on Thursday, March 24 (during conferences). They'll be providing pulled-pork sandwiches and slaw, but could use your help with all the extras! This is a meaningful way to show appreciation of the teachers and staff during such a busy time. They're also seeking items for a Teacher Egg Hunt in April! Click below to sign up to donate items. Thank you for your generosity, as always! |
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Order Your Upper School Yearbook & Place Ads by 3/25 |
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Our first ever student-created yearbook for grades 7-12 is in the works! The yearbook costs $45 and will be a hard-bound, 150-page book. Click here to order yours now.
You may also create a personal ad to recognize any Upper School student or place an ad for your business. The deadline for all ads is Friday, March 25. Click here to create your ad now.
For more information, email Mrs. Rebecca Chester ( Yearbook Advisor). Thank you for your support in advance!
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Students Shine in Upper School Music Showcase |
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Congrats to our talented musicians on a fantastic showcase last week! They worked hard, and it showed. We appreciate all of the families who came to share their support!
The Upper School Choir and Jazz Band performed for the very first time, and they were awesome! Jazz Band is all about improvisation. The students started with about 20 seconds of music for each song and the rest was created in the moment (as a group and by various soloists). That is very challenging!
The 7th/8th Grade and 9th Grade Modern Bands shared outstanding performances, too! The Modern Band approach is more about the structure and function of music. The students do not learn from sheet music and are not told exactly what to do. Mr. Gregory provides them with a framework for the songs, and they use their listening and musicianship skills to craft their performances. Both bands chose/wrote their pieces for this showcase.
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Students Learn About the Value of Relationships |
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Ms. Bonderowitz, our MYP School Counselor, shared a brief lesson with students to help them get to know each other. When we know more about each other, it's much easier to develop relationships and support and care for one another. The students stood in a circle and passed a ball of yarn around to show that everyone is connected, just like a web. They also realized that they have similar goals for after graduation, as well as things they enjoy doing. Ms. Bonderowitz encourages us all to keep making connections at school, at home and in our community! |
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York Academy to Present The Lion King, Jr. in May |
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The Upper School is excited to bring you The Lion King, Jr. this year!
Here's a short synopsis: The Lion King Jr. tells the story of the epic adventures of a curious cub named Simba as he struggles to accept the responsibilities of adulthood and his destiny as king. Along the way, the young lion encounters a colorful cast of characters including spunky lioness Nala, charismatic meerkat Timon, and loveable warthog Pumbaa. To claim his rightful place on the throne and save his beloved Pridelands, Simba must find his inner strength and confront his wicked Uncle Scar.
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If your child is interested in auditioning, click here to view the directions, character list and audition form. The dates are March 16 and 18.
In the meantime, make sure to mark your calendar for the performances!
- Friday, May 13 at 7 p.m.
- Saturday, May 14 at 3 p.m. & 7 p.m.
- Sunday, May 15 at 3 p.m.
We look forward to bringing musical theater back to York Academy!
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Junior Achievement Volunteers Needed on April 14 |
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The Upper School is in need of volunteers to help with the Junior Achievement YES! (Your Economic Success) Program for 7th and 8th graders on Thursday, April 14 from 7:45 - 11:15 a.m. You'll help to empower them to own their own economic success in a fun, engaging way! Check out the flyer below and click here if you'd like to help out. Thank you! |
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If you love children and want to make a difference in their lives, we are looking for you! As an equal opportunity employer, we invite all qualified applicants to apply for the positions listed below. |
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3/3
March Madness Concert
6 p.m.
Lower School Gym
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3/4
PTO Dress Down Day
Parents' Night Out
6 - 9 p.m.
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3/9
Early Dismissal
12:30 p.m. (K-12)
2022-23 Admissions
Information Session
6 p.m.
Lower School Gym
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York Academy Regional Charter School
Lower School: (717) 801-3900 | Upper School: (717) 900-5001
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