We are happy to announce Ashley Patterson has been named Valedictorian and Robert Gilbert has been named Salutatorian for York Catholic’s Class of 2024. Using grades through the third quarter of senior year, they have a cumulative grade point average that ranks them first and second among their classmates.

Ashley is the daughter of Charles and Jennifer Patterson and is a member of Hereford Faith and Life Church in Maryland. She will attend the University of Maryland to study Finance. Bobby is the son of Erika Nicholson and Robert Gilbert and is a parishioner of St. Joseph Church in York. Bobby plans to attend Vanderbilt University to major in Economics. 

Congratulations Ashley and Bobby!

Thank you for your support this school year as we continue to offer the finest Catholic education in the area. As we transition to planning for 2024-2025, we ask that you please read the following information thoroughly as it contains important information regarding Re-enrollment and Family Customized Tuition for the 2024-2025 school year. 

Re-enrollment

New this year – we have transitioned to online re-enrollment through Simple Tuition Solutions (STS)! Instead of a paper form you have completed in previous years, you will now be re-enrolling online. Since this is our first year of using this convenient process, you will be asked for more information to establish your profile than in previous years. The online re-enrollment process is easy and won’t take more than a few minutes to complete. Your patience is appreciated as we roll out this new online enrollment process. Please share your feedback with us so we can monitor and adjust.

Enrollment Deadline is tomorrow - Friday, April 12

To re-enroll your child for the 2024-25 school year, please click the button below to be directed to our new online re-enrollment portal. The re-enrollment fee is $300 per student if paid by April 12. After April 12, the fee increases to $350. 

Please click the button below to log into your Simple Tuition Solutions (STS) portal and complete the Re-enrollment section. Please note: This must be completed on a PC or laptop; this cannot be completed using a mobile device.

To prepare for this process, be sure to have the following items ready:

• Student's Physician Name and Phone Number
• Student's Medications
• Credit card (fee) or checking account number (no fee)

It’s time to celebrate York Catholic at the Green & Gold Gala! You are invited to join us for a festive evening of dinner, drinks, silent and live auctions, camaraderie, and fun. mark your calendars for Friday, April 19, from 5:30-10 PM at the Country Club of York. Tickets are $150 per person. Gather your friends and enjoy a fun night out! This event is for ages 21+. We only have a few seats remaining, so click below to make your reservation now!

Thank you to our Major Sponsors: Maple Donuts, Stewart & Tate, Tim & Krista Tate.  

All proceeds raised from the Green & Gold Gala will benefit our York Catholic Fund, enabling us to invest in tuition assistance for those in need, a vibrant curriculum, technology upgrades, the arts and athletics, resources for our valued teachers, and the beautification and safety of our school.

Open House

Tuesday, April 23

6 PM to 7:30 PM

Tell a friend!

Register to attend our upcoming in-person Open House and join us for a look at the York Catholic Middle & High School experience. Learn what life at our school is like and see all we have to offer students (grades 7-12) and their families. Space is limited and pre-registration is required to attend. Click here to pre-register 

https://yorkcatholic.org/admissions/open-house/

What You’ll Experience at York Catholic’s Open House Event:

✔Take a tour of the newly renovated campus.

✔ Talk with York Catholic teachers and administrators.

✔ Meet current students and hear their experiences.

Did You Know? On average, YC graduates are offered over $10 million dollars in college scholarships and over 90 percent of graduates now study at 55 colleges around the country. Join us to learn how York Catholic sets students up for success and creates a place where every student is known and cared for.

Reserve your spot today! We hope to see you there!

Students and visitors who use Boundary Avenue to access campus should be aware of a temporary detour in front of the new distribution center on the corner of Boundary and Albemarle.  Students should continue on Mt. Rose Avenue and turn left on Wheatlyn (across from Dunkin) or continue to Vander Avenue and turn left there. The detour is expected to last through the end of April.

York Catholic Middle & High School has the following employment opportunities available:  

• Art Teacher
• Substitute Teachers
• Cafeteria Aide
• Cafeteria Volunteers

Interested candidates can find details and application links at https://yorkcatholic.org/about/employment-opportunities/

Congratulations to our students from Holy Infant Parish who will be receiving the sacrament of Confirmation this evening.

Service Hours for the 2023-2024 school year are due soon! 

Seniors need to submit all of their hours by Monday, April 15.

The 7th through 11th grade hours are due Monday, April 29. 

Corporal works of mercy are an important part of Christian life, and our life as a YC community. Keep an eye out for service opportunities from now until the due dates if you are in need of doing a bit more.

Please note the dates are different than what was erroneously published in last week's Irish Eye.

Our April 2024 mission collection during homeroom on Wednesday, April 17, will be donated to the Stephen M. Leiser Memorial Scholarship Fund. This is a scholarship that a member of the senior class of 2024 will receive for their education at a college or vocational/technical school. 

Mr. Leiser was a dedicated science teacher at York Catholic for 23 years, and had a great influence on many of his senior students. He battled cancer during his last year of teaching, and passed away in 2007. Mr. Leiser’s family created the Stephen M. Leiser Scholarship in his memory. Please help to keep Mr. Leiser’s love of teaching alive by your contribution to this mission collection.

Junior Retreat

York Catholic retreats are a time to step out of the classroom for a day and focus on our relationship with God, both personally and as a student body. This year, the theme for the 11th Grade Retreat is "Behold I am Sending You."  Juniors will be traveling to Washington, DC on Monday, April 15 to tour the, attend Mass in the Crypt Church, explore the Basilica Garden, and take an afternoon tour of The Catholic University of America.  Please note:  Students will depart York Catholic at 7 AM and return at 5:30 PM.

Make-up Retreat Any student who was absent on their class retreat day will be participating in a make-up retreat on Thursday, April 18, at the Elizabeth Ann Seton Shrine in Maryland. Paper permission forms will be given to the students who need to attend; permission will not be processed through FamilyID for this retreat. Questions regarding the retreat can be sent to Mr. Paul Miller at pmiller@yorkcatholic.org.

The Virtue=Strength program is devoted to virtue formation through school, athletics, parish, and/or the community. It is designed to be used by teachers and staff across the entire student body. Each week a different virtue is highlighted to share with our students. Click below for the Virtue=Strength Virtue of the Week that helps parents reinforce virtue formation at home. 

The state of Pennsylvania requires all students entering 11th grade to get a health physical before the start of the 2024-25 school year.  Now is the time to schedule the appointment with your child’s physician as some offices do not have availability until 2-3 months from now.  Students who do not have a physical on file at York Catholic by August 1 will not be permitted to start the school year.  Please schedule your child’s appointment now.

York Catholic’s Diversity Club invites all YC students and families to join the Race for Change Saturday, April 13, from 11:30 AM-1:30 PM at York Catholic Stadium.

This 3-mile walk/run event is designed to foster unity, inclusivity, and a sense of belonging for our YC community. By participating in this event you are showing your support in creating an environment where diversity of thought, culture, and practices are embraced and valued.

There is no fee to participate.

Prom will be held Friday, April 26, at the Out Door Country Club. Click the button below for the Prom Packet with complete information including the Overview, Dress Code Agreement, Expectations, and Guest Form.

Tickets will be on sale April 8-12 from 8-8:15 AM and 3-3:15 PM in Room 109.

College, Trade & Technical Schools, and Military

Junior students and their families are invited to attend “For My Future:  YC Moves Me Forward” hosted by our Guidance Department on Thursday, April 25, from 6:30-8 PM.  The session will highlight the Senior Year Timeline and what families can do this summer to assist their rising seniors as they make their post-secondary plans.  The Guidance Department will be discussing college, technical and trade schools, military opportunities, and NCAA Eligibility Information. Important college resources will be highlighted and families will be provided with a parent workbook.  To register, click the button below by Friday, April 19.

Green Shirt Day

The YC Stewards of the Earth Club are encouraging students to spend a dollar to wear a green shirt in honor of Earth Day on Monday, April 22. Money will be collected in homerooms and will go towards sponsoring whale sharks. In previous years, we have adopted 2 manatees (2017), 3 red pandas (2018), 2 lion cubs (2019), 3 sets of sea turtle hatchlings (2021), 4 polar bears (2022), and 5 red-eyed tree frogs (2023).

Earth Day Clean-up at YC

We will have our Earth Day Campus Clean-up on Saturday, April 20, from 2-3 PM at YC. Students should meet on the front lawn by the main parking lot. We'll be walking around the school grounds cleaning up litter and trash, so good shoes and proper clothing are recommended. Service hours will be given to those who participate. Students do not need to sign-up.  

Middle School students who need help with service hour opportunities can come to the Middle School Service Project on Saturday, April 20, from 2-3 PM at York Catholic. Students can help clean with our Earth Day Clean -up of our campus. To participate, students can sign-up during homeroom the week of April 15.

The Byrnes Health Education Center will be presenting two topics to our Middle School students on Thursday, April 18, at YC during specials classes.  

The topic for 7th Grade students is “HumanKind: Be Both,” and utilizes media, music, and class discussion to raise awareness about different types of aggression and bullying with young teens. With a focus on respect, character, and empathy, other topics include sexting, cyber bullying, the skills needed to break the cycle of bullying, as well as how to rise above difficult social situations. 

The topic for 8th Grade students is “The Dating Game.” By providing insightful information about the characteristics of healthy versus unhealthy relationships, valuable information is shared that can be related to relationships in one’s life, despite whether or not an individual is actively choosing to date or not. Red flags (always unacceptable and/or unsafe behaviors) to look out for in relationships are emphasized, as well as the different types of partner violence.

Students who registered for the PSAT 10 are reminded to be at York Catholic this Saturday, April 13, by 7:30 AM to take the exam. Students will be ready for pick-up at 11 AM.



Senior students are reminded to complete the Google Form survey that was emailed by the Guidance Department titled, “Class of 2024.”  These surveys will assure that all students are honored on our social media leading up to Graduation.

Anyone wishing to send a senior a congratulatory carnation may order it from April 8-21 for the cost of $2 each.  Any parent, grandparent or friend may click the button below to fill out an order form. National Honor Society members will distribute the flowers on Tuesday, May 14, the seniors' last day of classes.



Class of 2024 congratulatory yard signs have been created for our graduating seniors. The cost of each sign is $26. Please click the button below to order by April 22 at 5 PM.  

It is time for the class 2025 to consider the purchase of a York Catholic keepsake, a class ring! 

Visit https://www.balfour.com/pennsylvania/york/york-catholic-high-school to make your decision. The gallery is extensive with selections for everyone and the opportunity to personalize with your name and activities. Ordering is done online, with easy payment options spread over three months if needed. 

Any junior needing help with sizing should stop by Mrs. Kemp’s desk in the main office. She has sizing rings available.

Order now and receive your ring in four to six weeks. We will celebrate the class of 2025 as they assume leadership of the school, and will commemorate their senior status with the blessing of the rings at our traditional Junior Ring Ceremony on May 30.  

A ring purchase is not required.

Questions can be directed to Kathy Hand at khand@yorkcatholic.org.

Over 250 students receive art instruction at York Catholic and are exposed to pencil drawing, canvas painting, marker designs, portraits, linoleum block prints, watercolors, charcoal drawings, sculpture, pottery, and 3-D design.  These art students are hosting a public display of their work at the school April 22-24 from 9 AM-3 PM.  Students in grades 7-11 are showing their work completed during this school year, while students in grade 12 are showing a compilation of their work from throughout their school career.  

Senior art students will be recognized at the art show reception Sunday, April 21, at 3:30 PM after the Spring Concert.

Graphic by Mitchell Kilgore '24

Instruments and voices come together as students perform at York Catholic’s Spring Concerts.

The High School Concert on Sunday, April 21, at 2 PM will feature Concert Band, Concert Choir, Jazz Band, Jazz Combo, and Brass Choir. 

The Middle School Concert on Monday, April 22, at 7 PM will feature Middle School Chorus and Middle School Band. 

Admission is free. 

Parents of music and choral students are welcome to attend the York Catholic Music Association meeting on Tuesday, April 16, at 8 PM.  The meetings usually last approximately one hour and everyone’s input and feedback are welcomed and appreciated. Your help in planning and implementing the efforts of the YCMA are critical. 

Partner school students in grades 1-6 are invited to Futures Games at York Catholic! Come out and be part of the team as you cheer for your future school! Partner students can spend time with the varsity players and coaches, listen to coach’s pre-game instruction, participate in team prayer, and pose with the team for a picture. Students should wear their uniform shirt for free admittance and must be accompanied by an adult.

Baseball – April 18 at 4:15 PM. Arrive by 3:45 PM (at Memorial Park’s Hoffman Stadium) 

Boys Lacrosse – April 23 at 7:00 PM. Arrive by 6:30 PM. NEW DATE!

Parents, would you like to save on your State Income Tax return? Additionally, what if I told you those savings can have a direct impact on York Catholic students? Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? If you file for, and are accepted, as a Special Purpose Entity (SPE), it’s a dollar-for-dollar reduction in the tax liability on your personal tax return. Please continue reading for additional information.

Pennsylvania now allows individuals to take advantage of EITC Tax Credits (just as businesses can) whereby you have the opportunity to re-direct 90% of your personal state income taxes to York Catholic Middle & High School. 

The Special Purpose Entity (SPE) is based on tax liability, not income, therefore each taxpayer’s situation will differ. Participants must be PA residents where at least one spouse is employed or has an ownership interest in a PA for-profit business. An individual or couple filing jointly must have a state tax liability of $3,500 or more to participate. To see if you qualify for 2024, you can find your PA tax liability on Form PA-40 Line 12 of your 2023 tax return. 100% of participant contributions are distributed to the school. You have to pay these taxes regardless, so why not have a say in how your taxes are allocated? Additionally, you will receive at least a 10% personal deduction on your federal taxes. The money you re-direct to York Catholic is for educational purposes, specifically tuition assistance.

If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity to reduce your tax liability AND provide much needed assistance to York Catholic students, please follow these steps:

• Review information on the SPE program to determine if you qualify at https://www.pennsylvaniaeitc.org/frequently-asked-questions.html
• Confirm your personal state income tax liability with your accountant.
• Complete and submit the Joinder Agreement at https://yorkcatholic.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/spe-flyer-and-joinder-agreement.pdf

For more information about this easy tax donation, please contact Dave Salter, York Catholic Director of Development, at dsalter@yorkcatholic.org or 717-846-8871 x1325.

St. John the Baptist Catholic School 

St. John the Baptist Catholic School is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Preschool on Sunday, April 28, from 12:30-2:30 PM. There will be a carnival-style celebration on the school parking lot featuring games, prizes, food trucks, vendors, entertainment, and more! You may even see an old school mate or teacher from years gone by! Click here for the flyer.

St. Joseph Church

St. Joseph Church in York is looking for volunteers for their Audio Visual Ministry. Operate the slides for the Saturday 5 PM Mass and assist with the livestream and slides for the Sunday 9 AM Mass. The time commitment is one Mass per month. Contact Bethany McKay at McKay@sjy.org for more information. Great service hours opportunity for students. Click here for the flyer.

Knights of Columbus

Knights of Columbus Council #6353 will be holding a Golf Tournament June 14 at Heritage HIlls Golf Resort. Registration begins at 10:30 AM, with lunch at 11 AM, and a shotgun start at 12:30 PM. Cost is $95 per person and includes 18 holes, cart, lunch, dinner, and beverages. Proceeds benefit Misericordia Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. Reservations can be made by clicking here.