I hope this update finds you well…
I wanted to share my appreciation to our families for the wonderful response to the challenges occurring through various Social Media platforms. The pages were taken down within several hours, and when a new one emerged, it went unfollowed. I will take that as a good sign, but I am also not naive to think that this behavior is entirely in our past. As a community, we must continue to work collaboratively to ensure that our physical and virtual communities remain a safe, supportive, and welcoming space to all.
Yesterday, I conducted an all-school address that reviewed our expectations in several areas that I will highlight below:
The Guiding Principles governing the use of personal technology at Yorkville High School:
- The use of personal technology is permitted as long as it does not interfere with the educational environment or mission at Yorkville High School.
- The use of personal technology is permitted as long as it does not infringe on the educational, personal or privacy rights of others.
Intent Matters - following, liking, and resharing any reprehensible images, photos, depictions, or videos is not acceptable in any way. These acts are endorsements and those doing so are just as culpable as the perpetrators - and are subject to disciplinary consequences.
Language Matters - Your Words have Power. Do not...
- use profanity (swearing or cursing).
- talk about inappropriate things and/or make sexual comments.
- use code words or symbolic language to represent something inappropriate.
- use variations of inappropriate words or curse words and phrases.
- use sensitive words in an insulting or joking manner.
- use racial, stereotypical, or culturally insensitive words.
Use the three-part language test,
- Would it be ok to say in a place of worship?
- Would it be ok to say to your grandmother?
- Would it be ok to say to your principal?
We will continue to work collaboratively with our students, staff, and families to teach and reteach our expectations to ensure this behavior becomes a thing in our past. I am hopeful with continued emphasis and vigilance, we can reach this end. Thank you again for your partnership!
The daily bell schedule for the week of December 13th is listed below:
- Monday, December 13th - A Day
- Tuesday, December 14th - B Day
- Wednesday, December 15th - C Day
- Thursday, December 16th - A Day
- Friday, December 17th - B Day (1:30 dismissal)
The daily bell schedule for the week of January 3rd is listed below:
- Monday, January 3rd - A Day
- Tuesday, January 4th - B Day
- Wednesday, January 5th - C Day
- Thursday, January 6th - A Day
- Friday, January 7th - B Day
Included in this update:
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Monthly Calendar - November - December - updated item
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51 Foxes named as Illinois State Scholars - new item
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YHS Athletics Update - new item
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YHS Activities Update - new item
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SAT Prep Program registration is open - updated item
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13th annual PRISM Concert ~ December 10th & 12th - old item
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Seniors - Order your Cap & Gown - old item
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Spotlight on Learning - PE, Health, & Driver Ed. - new item
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This week in Advisory...- new item
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Digital Citizenship Tip of the Week - new item
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Become a Canvas Observer - new item
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22-23 Course Selection is underway - updated item
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Map My Next Move - College & Career Center - updated item
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Hey Seniors - FAFSA available - updated item
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SAT National Test Dates - updated item
In addition to my weekly email updates, I encourage everyone to follow us on Twitter and “like” our Facebook page to learn about all the great things happening at YHS. We have so many great things happening— so don’t just FOLLOW but SHARE our FOX PRIDE within our community—help us build our following!
As always, if this update raises questions, please ask. Thank you for all that you do—it does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. Have a great day! GO FOXES!
With PRIDE,
David S. Travis
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Monthly Calendar - December - January |
Provided for our families is a month at a glance summary.
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A Days are highlighted in "Red" - December 13, 16; January 3, 6, 1, 12, 18, 20, 24, 27, 31
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B Days are highlighted in "Gray" - December 14, 17; January 4, 7, 11, 13, 19, 21, 25, 28
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C Days are highlighted in "Green" - December 15; January 5, 26
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December - 20 -31, January 1-2 - Holiday Break; January 14 - Teacher Institute Day; January 17 - Martin Luther King Jr Day
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51 YHS Foxes named Class of 2022 Illinois State Scholars |
Congratulations to the 51 YHS seniors who were recently named Illinois State Scholars!
Trista Anderson, Kendrick Bakel, Elianna Black, Isabella Bourque, Blake Bowers, Anna Burson, Jenna Buss, Jezreel Culasino, Luke Davies, Abigail Dobson, Haley Duncan, Ava Engelken, Chase Evans, Andrew Fapp, Ava Fichtel, Marsden Fisher,
Evan Fogelberg, Autumn Fox, Isabel Gauss, Ava Glenn, Josiah Gulbro, Julian Halsey, Cayla Hardesty, Hamelynn Harzman, Paige Ingemunson, Geneva Jacobo, Sophia Jedziniak, Aleena Kallan, Brianne Kuczkowski, Kaitlyn Lay, Matthew Litchfield, Jacob Luytjes, Brianna Masssey, Erik Mattson, Kylie May, Kody Messersmith, Dylan Middendorf, Alyssa Navarro, Trevor Nolan, Ariel Pomierski, Brittany Pomierski, Reem Qattum, Kylie Regas, James Schmitt, Ariana Somma, Peter Standaert, Keith Stewart, Riff Talsma, Danica Tuohy, Alyysa Wallner, Olivia Woods
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Congratulations to the Varsity Cheerleading team on placing 2nd at their first competition of the season at Crystal Lake Central! The Foxes compete again this Sunday, December 12th at the Stevenson Invite!
Congratulations to the YHS wrestling team on defeating #17 ranked Plainfield North 45-27 on December 2nd. Raymond Cavey, Jack Ferguson, Dom Coronado, Cam Peach, Luke Zook, Nick Sinopoli, Kayden Kleckner, Hunter Janeczko and Ben Alvarez all picked up wins! The Foxes also defeated Sandwich 45-13 on December 3rd and then defeated Crystal Lake Central 51-21 and Rock Island 48-24 on December 4th. The Foxes are currently 7-0. Go Foxes!
This year marks the 50th year of Title IX and the Yorkville Girls Basketball program will be celebrating this Saturday, December 11th as we host Sandburg. We have several former YHS players and coaches coming to speak to our current student-athletes about their playing experience prior to the game. Come support the Foxes and all female student athletes as the JV plays at 1:30pm and the Varsity at 3:00pm.
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Yorkville High School National Honor Society began collecting donations this week to give to the homeless shelters in Kendall County. Below is a list of needed items that would be greatly appreciated. Students can drop these items off in the mornings at the Main Campus and Academy entrances where they can find the Giving Trees until Friday, December 17th. Let's make this a generous holiday season!
- Backpacks – adult sizes
- Bottled water, cases
- Hand-warmer packets
- Paper plates, bowls, cups; plastic glasses; plastic utensils
- Boxer shorts for men – all sizes
- Winter hats, gloves and scarves for men and women
- Socks for men and women
- Anti-perspirant
- Bar soap and plastic container
- Monetary donations (for general operating expenses, foods, cleaning supplies)
- Pre-paid laundromat cards ($7.00 each) for Yorkville Laundromat, Rt 34. (Guests receive a prepaid card once a week to use for their personal clothing)
- Prepaid gift cards (in $3.00 to $5.00 amounts) to McDonalds, Burger King, Dunkin Donuts, Arby’s (where guests often go to be out of the cold, rain, and snow)
- NCG movie theater passes in Yorkville
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Looking for a last minute gift for your student? Sign up for SAT Prep today! |
A student's SAT score can open doors of opportunity for college admissions and scholarships.
Yorkville High School’s SAT Test Preparation program provides a comprehensive approach to help prepare students for the SAT and enables them to apply and practice strategic methods that improve results. Starting in January, we will be offering a program that will include 6 workshops – each lasting 2 hours at a $100 price point. During each workshop, students will rotate through different sessions (English, Reading, and Math) in order to improve their skills in each of those three areas.
Moreover, in an attempt to meet individual student scheduling demands, the program will be offered on:
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Monday afternoons (3:00-5:10 P.M.): January 10, 24, 31 / February 7, 14, 28
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Wednesday evenings (5:30-7:40 P.M.): January 5, 12, 19, 26 / February 2, 16
We believe that all junior students at YHS would benefit from extra preparation prior to the Spring SAT! Linked in red is an SAT registration document (SAT Prep Registration) for your use …the registration deadline is December 15th. Please note that there is a high demand for this program and availability is limited. Don't just take the test - prepare for your future!
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13th Annual PRISM Concert - December 10th & 12th @ YHS |
The students of the YHS Music Department are preparing their 13th annual YHS Prism Concert. For those of you that are new to the Prism Concert concept, we hope that you will find the experience to be very fulfilling. During the performance, just as light fills a prism and refracts in many different directions, so too will our sounds of the season, and the talent of our 470 Yorkville High School student musicians in filling the auditorium. Due to COVID health and safety protocol, this year's Prism Concert will be held at the Yorkville High School Gymnasium. We look forward to transforming the gymnasium space into a performance space fitting for this celebration of music.
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Seniors - Order Your Cap & Gown by December 15th! |
If you have not ordered your Cap & Gown, you must order now! Deadline is December 15, 2021. Orders placed after this date will incur a late fee.
To order by phone or ask questions, please Call Herff Jones at 815-756-4743.
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Spotlight on Learning - Physical Education, Health & Driver's Education Department |
This week, our featured department is the Physical Education department. Students must be enrolled in a Physical Education class each semester as a graduation requirement.
Students in 9th-12th grade interested in creating their own fitness programs, based on their fitness goals may consider enrolling in Applied Physical Fitness (APF). Our Body Sculpt classes, open to juniors and seniors, use heart rate watches during workouts to stay in the target heart rate zone. Team Sports, also offered to juniors and seniors, maintain levels of physical fitness while participating in sports such as volleyball and floor hockey. Lifetime Sports provides opportunities for our juniors and seniors with skills related to individual and dual sports, such as badminton and fishing.
Our freshman and sophomores in PE are continuing to work on their personal fitness plan. Sophomores also recently began their dance unit. If you have a sophomore student- have them show you their dance moves! Students are enjoying learning steps from multiple dance styles. Additionally, we are proud of our sophomores enrolled in Sophomore CPR who are getting closer to earning their certifications.
The Physical Education department provides leadership opportunities for our students. In our Junior and Senior Leaders courses, students are responsible for teaching our skill and fitness lessons. Our Peer Leaders in Adapted PE guide our Adapted PE students through exercises, skill work and game play.
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This past week, students had the opportunity to explore and identify two career clusters that align with their interests and passions. Students used the Naviance program to explore various post secondary pathways and created slides for their Quarter 2 project.
Listed below is a summary of the academic and social emotional lessons that will be taking place in your student's advisory class for the upcoming week:
Monday, December 13th: Students will be decorating their classroom doors for the holiday season. Students will also have the opportunity to connect with their peers by sharing personal and family holiday traditions.
and Thursday, December 10th: Students will finish their Quarter 2 project and begin sharing with their classmates. The class will participate in a "Gallery Walk", where they will walk around the classroom and view their classmates' presentations. Students will also be given the option to share their presentation with the class as well.
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Digital Citizenship Tip of the Week |
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Parents and Students, attached is an article that outlines three important tips and resources for being a positive digital citizen.
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Become a Canvas Observer! |
Helpful Canvas Updates:
1. Install the Canvas Parent App
2. Become a Canvas Parent Observer, click HERE.
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Course Selection is Underway at YHS! |
YHS counselors and teachers encourage students to make meaningful decisions and use two important resources to select classes and navigate the course selection process year to year.
YHS Steps to Success
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Step 1: Learn the Graduation Requirements - Every high school has a set, minimum curriculum that students must complete in order to earn their diploma. You need 23 credits to earn a YHS diploma, plus course specific courses outlined in our guide. Planning is more than just credit counting. Ask yourself: How many credits in each subject do I need in order to graduate on time? What credits is my potential college asking for? Did I consider taking AP or Dual credit courses?
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Step 2: Ask Yourself the Right Questions & Perform a Self-Evaluation with Research - Start asking yourself questions about who you are, what you want, and what you need to do. Check in with yourself, and consider talking through your self-evaluation with your parents, coaches, teachers, or mentors.. Complete Career Cluster Inventories & Strengths Explorer on Naviance while researching career pathways of study. The honest answers to these questions will push you to be realistic about your goals and help you determine the best path to take. Knowing the areas in which you excel and how they align with your interests will help you narrow down the choices to make, the electives to take, and the activities to focus on.
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Step 3: Choose Electives that Interest You & Stand Out to Colleges or Careers - Start to research which electives you might want to take. Electives help you explore areas of study that you might be interested in and dive more deeply into subjects that may only be introduced briefly in your core classes. Use your elective options to learn what you like and dislike and where you excel. Your choices in elective courses show college admissions counselors what you are passionate about, the type of student you are, and how well you can manage a busy schedule. Taking interesting, well-planned electives shows that you take education seriously. Taking interesting, well-planned electives shows that you take education seriously, so ask your school counselor and upperclassmen about any special electives that might be a good fit for you.
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Step 4: Extracurricular Activities, Field Experience & Community Service Plan - Not only are extracurriculars fun, but they also look pretty great on a college app or resume, Sports, clubs, and community service organizations help you get creative, build a network, and stay motivated both outside and inside the classroom. And although you are first and foremost a student, it’s important to have other passions outside of academics.
Colleges want to see that you take initiative and are able to handle a full, well-rounded schedule—especially one that has you spending time with others and working in or leading a team. Internships or Field Experience at YHS is a great way to try it on and gain meaningful work related experience. The YHS Field Experience has a robust network of partners in a variety of businesses in and near Kendall County. For any questions about Field Experience, please contact Melissa Wojowski at mwojowski@y115.org.
Keep the planning process going...Tangible goals and clear timelines are key to preparing for life after high school. There’s no “one size fits all” option for a path to a dream college or career, but these steps are a great start. The earlier you start preparing, the easier it will be to do your research and set yourself up to face whatever challenges come your way. Your advisors, counselors, and parents can help you perfect your four-year plan and make any adjustments as you move through high school.
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Did you miss College Credit Night? |
If any families were unable to join us for the How to earn college credit at YHS night, please access this recording of the presentation. If you or your student has any follow up questions, please reach out to their school counselor.
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Map My Next Move Update - College & Career Center |
Each year, the Counseling Department requires that all students complete the Map My Next Move survey, detailing their individual post-secondary plans. This survey allows Counselors to collaborate with students and families to support the college and career aspirations for all students.
Post-secondary planning involves evaluating all options for students to pursue after high school graduation. These plans may include: entering the military, going straight into the workforce, attending a trade and/or vocational school, and attending a 4 year college or university. As a Counseling Department, we strive to ensure that all students have identified a post-secondary plan, and have the tools to help that plan turn into a reality.
Post-secondary plans should be attainable, researched and have a "back-up" plan. In the event that your student is planning on attending college, that means that they should have an identified "safety" school to apply to. Safety schools are defined as those in which a particular student has a 75% chance or better of being accepted.
Please click here to have your student complete the survey.
As of Wednesday, December 8, the Map My Next Move survey completion rate is as follows:
Class of 2022 (Seniors): 439/512; 86% completion rate
Class of 2023 (Juniors): 390/496: 79% completion rate
Class of 2024 (Sophomores): 469/517; 91% completion rate
Class of 2025 (Freshmen): 490/536; 91% completion rate
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Hey Seniors - Let's Complete the FAFSA! |
Senior Families: Completing the FAFSA or the FAFSA waiver is an Illinois state high school graduation requirement--in order to graduate, you MUST complete it! The FAFSA is the free application for federal student aid, that must be completed to qualify for federal grants, state grants, and institutional scholarships provided by colleges and universities. Remember, grant money is obtained by completing the FAFSA on a first come, first served basis! The FAFSA application is open now!
Each year, the amount of Illinois grant money runs out earlier and earlier. By completing your FAFSA as soon as possible beginning October 1st, you put your student in line to receive the money for which they qualify. The FAFSA application is based on your tax documents from the previous year; no need to estimate or update!
Six years ago, only 59% of the Class of 2015 grads completed the FAFSA, with less than 30% completing prior to the announcement that state grant money was depleted. Last year, 58% of the Class of 2020 completed their FAFSA prior to the announcement that state grant money was depleted.
As of Sunday, December 5, 225 families have completed the FAFSA graduation requirement!
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To maximize your post secondary options and merit based scholarship opportunities we encourage you to take the SAT or the ACT. Please consult with our College & Career Counselor Kendall Sims at ksims@y115.org if you have any questions in regards to test options and college admissions. Senior Counseling Lessons will also showcase the testing experience to support your student's decision. Test registration dates are approaching!
National SAT Test Dates in Early/Late Fall 2021
Test Dates:
December 4, 2021
National ACT Test Dates in Early/Late Fall 2021
Test Dates:
December 11, 2021
*Go to www.act.org for test day registration information
Good Luck!
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