February 19, 2021
A Message From Principal Bagdasarian
Dr. Shahe Bagdasarian
February has been an eventful month at York. Our teachers are working extraordinarily hard, meeting regularly in their collaborative learning teams, to provide the best possible instruction within the confines of the hybrid instructional model. After-school sports are competing for season two, which consists of most of our winter sports teams. February also marks Black History Month (BHM) and celebrating the contributions that African Americans have made to this country in their struggles for freedom and equality. By recognizing and reflecting on these contributions, we have gained a deeper understanding of our Nation’s history.

York High School will be administering the SAT on Tuesday, April 13th. Advanced Placement (AP) testing will take place during the month of May. Most of our AP students have registered for their AP Exams. Click here for the 2021 exam schedule set by the College Board. If your child did not sign up for an exam and would like to there still is time. A $40 late fee will be charged on top of the testing fee. Contact our AP Coordinator Meredith Sheriff if you have questions. She can be reached at msherrrif@elmhurst205.org or by calling 630.617.2429.

Various advisory groups, consisting of a cross-section of senior students, parents and administrators are convening to discuss a number of issues around the end of senior year. They are discussing various events, such as the Prom/prom alternatives (tentatively scheduled for May 15th) and graduation (May 23rd). They bring ideas from their peers and, with administration, will help chart the path to the finish line for our seniors. I am thankful for their time, wisdom and dedication to their peers. Together, we hope to deliver the best possible experiences to the deserved Class of 2021.

Stay safe and warm!  

Best regards,
Dr. Shahe Bagdasarian
York High School Schedule February 22 through March 12, 2021
Congratulations To our National Merit Finalists!
Every October, about 1.6 million juniors across the country take the PSAT. Those who score in the top 1% achieve the distinction of National Merit Semifinalist. Most of these students move on to become National Merit Finalists, with some winning scholarship money for college. We are thrilled to recognize our seven National Merit Finalists from York High School!
Samuel Ayers
Jake Downey
Zoe Burkhardt
Serena Jobi
Evan Frank
Adrian Zhuang
James Golen
Student of the Month- February
Please see the February Student of the Month video-

York Activities...............Raeba Pradhan York Athletics…...............John Borchers York Athletics...............Robert Hessling York Athletics....................Ryan Pickell Business & Technology….....Stella Bilder English…..........................Daisha Allen EL…………..........Sharon Hernandez Sosa FCS.....................Abbigail Romanowski
Industrial Technology......Cole Kennison Mathematics………......Jacqueline Cimino Performing Arts.............Andrew Brooks PE/Health/Drivers Ed….......Olivia Greco Science……....................Thomas Krupa Social Studies…...........Frederick Levins York Student Services.....Adrian Mendez Visual Arts…....................Allison Waski
World Language…...........Kyra Hickman
In-Person Academic Supports For Students
The following in-person support centers will be available to students from 1pm-3pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday for the remainder of the semester.

  1. Learning commons
  2. Test make-up center
  3. Math lab (by appointment with teacher)

We are committed to providing our students with access to in-person academic supports that will enhance learning throughout 2nd semester.
York Saturday Success Academy (YSSA)
York Saturday Success Academy (YSSA) sessions are offered on from 9 a.m. until noon in the York High School Learning Commons. Students who need extra academic support will receive assistance from YHS teachers during these sessions. It is also a great time to work on group projects or have room to spread out and study. All YHS students are welcome to attend. The program is designed to help students from falling behind while providing support in their academic classes. Seniors at risk of not graduating are strongly encouraged to attend.
 
Cannot make it this Saturday? Why not take advantage of student check-in times that are offered on block schedule days from 1:50-3:06PM. Please contact individual teachers to set up an appointment. 

Who can attend? The YSSA is open to all students who need additional academic support. Students who have a D and/or F in any class are highly encouraged to attend on Saturday until their grade improves. 
How can I get to school on Saturday? Transportation will be provided for students based on request. 

Will there be food? No eating will be allowed in school. Students are encouraged to eat breakfast before attending YSSA.

Who will work with the students during YSSA? The YSSA will be staffed with York teachers from various academic departments. We will also have peer tutors available to work with students.

Is pre-registration required? Yes. Due to social distancing capacity may be limited each week. Pre-registration form HERE. The registration form will be shared with parents, students and staff in addition to being posted on our website. Students and parents will be responsible for signing up for this academy. Teachers are always welcome to share the link with families.
York Athletics Updates
Winter sports have started and it is exciting to see winter sports back in action. Several parents questioned the West Suburban Conference not allowing spectators at athletic events. Thank you for your patience in allowing the WSC Principals and Athletic Directors' work on a plan that will comply with all IDPH and IHSA guidance and maintain the health and safety of student-athletes, coaches, officials and spectators.
 
The IDPH has released new guidance on Friday, February 5th. IDPH states that: “Sports organizers or venues should configure space to ensure there is at least 30 feet social distance between spectators and participants or, in the case 30 feet is not practicable for the venue, spectators are seated on the opposite side of the playing space (e.g., field, court) from participants not actively engaged in play and at a distance of least 12 feet from the playing space.”
 
West Suburban Conference details on spectator plan for 2021 winter athletic season:
  • York High School will allow spectators at home varsity sports only (top priority given to senior parents).
  • York parents will not be allowed to attend away competitions in the West Suburban Conference.
  • It is a West Suburban Conference decision to allow home team spectators.
  • A Pass List will be created for the first few events/games to reserve two tickets per student-athlete on the varsity roster.
  • Varsity athletes will be limited to two members per event.
  • Schools may have up to 50 spectators in a facility.
  • Spectators must be seated 30 feet from athletes and field of play.
  • Areas will be marked on the bleachers to maintain 6 ft social distance.
  • Masks must be worn at all times inside the school and facility.
  • Spectators will be health screened and temperature checked upon entry.
  • Basketball, badminton and girls' gymnastic spectators should report to entrance #4, boys' swim and dive spectators should report to entrance #2. Girls' Bowling spectators are not allowed at this time. Stardust Bowling Alley is not allowing spectators at high school competitions due to capacity restrictions.
  • Most varsity York contests/games will be streamed on either NFHS Network or the York Sports Broadcast students on YouTube.
  • To stream York games, you can create an account with NFHS for free by going towww.nfhsnetwork.com/users/signup.
  • After creating an account go to NFHSnetwork.com. Search for York High School.

 The York Athletic Department appreciates your understanding and support!
2021 Senior Prom Parent Meeting
We continue to hold conversations with our senior members of the York Student Council regarding details and plans for our 2021 Prom. While we are unable to provide a traditional Prom for the class of 2021, we are committed to providing a Senior Prom event this year. The Student Council created a survey for the senior students, but we would also like to invite parents to be part of the process as well. We will be holding a parent meeting on Wednesday, February 24th at 7pm to provide information and gain feedback from our parents. This will be a virtual meeting and we are asking parents to preregister. Please follow the link below to register for the event.  

While we know this news will be disappointing for our junior students, we are confident that we will be able to hold a traditional prom next year during the spring of 2022.  

Click HERE to Register in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. We look forward to hearing from you.
A Note From Student Services
Just breathe...literally! Have you ever noticed how you breathe when you feel relaxed? The next time you are relaxed, take a moment to notice how your body feels. Or think about how you breathe when you first wake up in the morning or before falling asleep. Breathing exercises can help you relax because they make your body feel like it when you are already relaxed.

When we practice our breathing, it can help lower stress by sending messages to our brain to calm down and relax. Those things that happen when you are stressed like increased heart rate, fast breathing, and high blood pressure, all decrease as you breathe deeply to relax. It also may relieve any tension and can be done at any time! 

Here is a simple and quick breathing exercise to try the next time you find yourself in a stressful moment. This is called “Equal Breathing”
  1. Choose a comfortable seated position.
  2. Breathe in and out through your nose.
  3. Count during each inhale and exhale to make sure they are even in duration. Alternatively, choose a word or short phrase to repeat during each inhale and exhale.
  4. You can add a slight pause or breath retention after each inhale and exhale if you feel comfortable. (Normal breathing involves a natural pause.)
  5. Continue practicing this breath for at least 5 minutes.

There are many forms of breathing - this is only just one. Sometimes, the best self-care comes in the simplest forms. We encourage you to pause, breathe, and center yourself as you tackle any demands coming your way! Remember, you got this!
York Chess Team
On Feb 12 and 13 the York Chess Team competed in the IHSA State Finals tournament. The eight players and coach met at York HS, and they competed in online matches against seven other schools from across the state. The York team finished 4-3 and ranked 39th overall out of the 118 teams that entered the tournament. It was a great opportunity for the team to bond together and build memories. The Chess team competed all season long against other WSC Schools and looks forward to an exciting season next year in 2021-22. 
 
Competing Players:
William Quinn
Aaron Taub
Justin Macatangay
Andrew Brooks
Mitchell Stephens
Ian Keilman
Ryan Felice
Kiran Moore
York Community High School 355 W. St Charles Rd. Elmhurst, IL 60125 |