As June approaches, I want to share some important information about the close of this year and some updates regarding next school year. For students in grades K-8, the last day they will receive new assignments from their teachers is May 22. Students will have until May 27 to complete and submit all assignments. Teacher will continue to hold virtual meetings with their students through May 29. Since our high school students will receive a standard grade for the third trimester, teachers in grades 9 and 10 will continue posting and collecting assignments through May 29. To ensure the safety of all our families and staff, we will assign specific times during the week of June 2 for parents to drop off technology and pick up their student’s belongs, school pictures and report card. Families will receive their scheduled time along with guidelines for the visit by May 22.
There has been a great deal of speculation on the news and social media about next school year. I want to share some changes that are unrelated to the pandemic and then I will provide information regarding contingency planning specific to COVID-19. First, we are making some structural changes to better align our IB programmes and improve the utilization of our buildings. Beginning in 2020-2021, sixth grade will become the capstone year for our Primary Years Programme and seventh grade will move to the Upper School as the entry grade to the Middle Years Programme. This will alleviate the split in our Middle Year Programme that currently exists and increase the number of students in our Upper School facility. More importantly, a wide body of data show that students who attend sixth grade in an elementary setting have better academic and social-emotional outcomes then students who move into a middle school setting for sixth grade. As required by IB, sixth grade will be self-contained and students can expect to have a schedule very similar to the one they experienced as fifth graders. Since our current fifth graders have already completed Exhibition, they will not need to do so again.
Another exciting change for the 2020-2021 school year is the expansion of our academic offerings to include formal STEM instruction for all students. In the Primary Years Programme (Grades K-6), we are adding a STEM class to our enrichment rotation. In this class, students will learn to solve problems through coding and applied science, math and engineering. In the Middle Years Programme (Grades 7-10), students will take computer science in addition to our traditional design courses. Finally, our 11
th
grade students have the option to select computer science as their science course for the Diploma Programme. It has long been my practice to ask students what problems they want to solve instead of the traditional question of “what do you want to be when you grow up?” The addition of integrated STEM courses will go a long way toward ensuring all of our students have the skills and experience they need to solve any problem that interests them.
With Governor Wolf’s announcement on Friday that York County will move into the yellow phase on May 22, we are hopeful that schools will be open in the fall. York Academy begins school on August 11, which means we have time to plan and prepare to implement the type of social distancing practices necessary to keep everyone in the school community safe. Unfortunately, we cannot know exactly what the social distancing practices will need to be in August and there is a strong likelihood that those practices will change throughout the school year. For these reasons, we are developing three different operational plans depending on the spread of COVID-19 in York County:
- Little to no community spread: Social Distance Lite
- Minimum to moderate community spread: Social Distance Plus
- Severe community spread: Virtual Learning
While the specific practices and procedures for each plan are still in development, the CDC has provided some general information about each model. With little to no community spread, all students would attend school at the same time during normal school hours. We would increase cleaning and disinfecting of all space and surfaces in the building and adopt mandatory handwashing procedures for all students and staff. Large gatherings would be limited and students would remain in cohorts, which would require staff to rotate between classrooms versus students changing classes.
In the event of minimum to moderate community spread, the number of students in each classroom may need to be limited to ensure six feet of distance between them. This could require a modified schedule with students receiving some instruction virtually and some in the classroom. The expectations for cleaning, disinfecting and handwashing would remain in place and restriction on gathering and movement in the building would be strictly enforced.
The final model is similar to the one we are in now, but with improved facilitation of learning via a more robust learning management system and better curriculum resources. In addition to these models, we are developing a plan to guide our actions should we have a confirmed case of COVID-19 in one of our buildings. Regardless of the operational model, York Academy is committed to protecting the health and safety of our community, while also ensuring the best possible educational experience for our students.
Thank you for your support during these unprecedented times. All of us at York Academy appreciate your patience and perseverance.
Stay healthy,
Angela Sugarek
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Congratulations to Janiel, a third-grader who is this week's Knight Nod (formerly Student Spotlight). He was nominated for embodying the
International Baccalaureate attribute
of being
balanced
. It's critical to understand the importance of balancing the different aspects of our lives—intellectual, physical and emotional—to achieve well-being for ourselves and others. When we are in balance, we recognize our interdependence with other people and with the world in which we live.
Janiel has his hands full balancing his responsibilities as a new big brother alongside completing his online assignments in Mrs. Woods' third grade class. He uses his time wisely and continues engaging in the activities that he loves, eating healthily, and being a role model to his younger siblings. Mrs. Woods says that Janiel impresses her every day with both his independence and his ability to seek support from his teachers. Way to go, Janiel. Here's a big "Knight Nod" for balancing all that's happening at home and staying on top of your school work. Keep it up!
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FREE Meals for ALL Children
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As a reminder, York Academy is pleased to offer free meals to ALL children under 18 in the community. The children do not need to be students at York Academy and they do not need to be present in the car to receive the meals.
Our terrific Food Services Team distributes the meals on weekdays, in alignment with our school calendar, from
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
in the rear lot of the Lower School. We are thankful for their dedication to providing consistent meals and sharing smiles with families during this unusual time!
Make sure to check the menu below to see which of your favorite teachers and staff members will be there to say hi.
- Monday (5/18): Hot Dog, Carrots, Snack, Fruit & Milk (Come see Mrs. Alvarnaz and Mr. Shuey!)
- Tuesday (5/19): McKnight Burger, Peas, Snack, Fruit & Milk (Come see Miss Schmid and Mrs. Woods!)
- Wednesday (5/20): Corn Dog Nuggets, Baked Beans, Fruit & Milk (Come see Mrs. Abreu and her daughter, Reina!)
- Thursday (5/21): Meatballs, Cheese Stick, Celery, Fruit & Milk (Come see Mrs. Lewis and Ms. Frederick!)
- Friday (5/22): Garden Salad Topped with Chicken, Fruit & Milk (Come see Ms. Zeiders and Ms. Waninger!)
- Alternative Option (every day): Cheese Sandwich, Snack, Fruit & Milk
- All lunches are served with a take-along breakfast.
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Lower School Instructional Assistant, Mrs. Taylor Mohr, was nominated for displaying the
International Baccalaureate attribute
of being
balanced
.
It's critical to understand the importance of balancing the different aspects of our lives—intellectual, physical and emotional—to achieve well-being for ourselves and others. When we are in balance, we recognize our interdependence with other people and with the world in which we live.
Mrs. Mohr has been an amazing addition to York Academy. She exemplifies all of our Learner Profile Attributes, but she is especially caring, balanced and open-minded. Mrs. Mohr has gone above and beyond in her first grade classroom, hitting the ground running from day one. She has built amazing relationships with not only her own students, but with students across the school through her cheer club. Mrs. Mohr is wonderfully artistic, and used her creativity to decorate the first grade hall before the pandemic. Since then, Mrs. Mohr has been balancing some changes, and she has continued to go above and beyond for both her own family and her classroom family. In early April, she became a new mother to sweet Braylon! Before he arrived, she made sure to be online to meet with students and participated in daily class meetings, even when Ms. Waninger told her to take a break and rest! Mrs. Mohr is an important part of our York Academy family, and we thank her so much for all she does for us. We hope you and your family are doing well, Mrs. Mohr!
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2020-2021 School Calendar
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The 2020-2021 school calendar was approved by the Board of Trustees and is reflected on our
website calendar
. Click on the button to view and print a PDF.
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Save the Date: Virtual Family Fun Day
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We're hosting a virtual Family Fun Day on
Friday, May 29!
It will include aspects of Field Day and Chalk the Walk, along with an exciting event with the American Heart Association. More details will be shared this week!
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York County Libraries: SummerQuest 2020
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While the library doors may be closed, York County Libraries are still working hard to provide entertaining and enriching activities to keep your family active all summer long! Since they are not able to host in-person events, they've adapted a variety of events for live streaming or on-demand viewing, plus some fun downloadable activities.
Click here to learn more
about Summer Quest 2020 and
register now!
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Make sure to keep scanning your Box Tops and help the York Academy PTO! The Box Tops for Education app makes earning money for York Academy easier than ever. Simply
download the app
, select our school and scan your grocery receipts to earn 10¢ for each participating product purchased. Ordering groceries online? Just create an account at
btfe.com
then email your digital receipts to
receipts@boxtops4education.com.
Right now, Box Tops for Education is celebrating and supporting teachers.
Click here
to find out how you can recognize your favorite teacher.
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Through the IB Lens
An MYP Head of school and student share how the MYP develops research and analytical skills, which allow students to understand underlying concepts and make knowledgeable personal contributions.
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No School
(Memorial Day)
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Virtual Family Fun Day!
Details Coming Soon
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York Academy Regional Charter School
Lower School: (717) 801-3900 | Upper School: (717) 900-5001
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