Congratulations to our YC Christmas Cash winners this week:

December 22 – $25 – Alli Stover #01432

December 23 – $50 – Bob Wachowski #01609

December 24 – $250 – Seth Grove #00571

December 25 – $500 – Elizabeth Bower #00107

December 26 – $25 – Meg Kessler #01498

December 27 – $25 – Joshua Green #00544

December 28 – $25 – Nina David #00272

Winners are posted daily on the YC website at www.yorkcatholic.org. Prizes are mailed to the winners weekly.

 Classes will resume Wednesday, January 3.

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

• Instructional Support Teacher
• English Teacher
• Substitute Teachers
• Cafeteria Aide
• Cafeteria Volunteers
• High School Boys Lacrosse Head Coach
• High School Boys Lacrosse Assistant/JV Coach
• Middle School Girls Volleyball Head Coach
• Middle School Girls Volleyball Assistant Coach
• Middle School Girls Soccer Head Coach

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

We will celebrate Mass as a school community on Thursday, January 4, at 10:30 AM in honor of the Feast of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, the founder of the parochial school system in the United States.

Father Joshua Weaver, Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Harrisburg, will speak with our students Thursday, January 4, about how God calls us to serve Him in the world.

Mid-term examinations for grades 9-12 are scheduled for Wednesday, January 10, Thursday, January 11, and Friday, January 12. Middle School students will report to school all three days for regularly scheduled classes.

As a reminder, no trips will be approved during mid-term exams (Student Handbook/Agenda pg. 32).  Students will not be permitted to take a make-up exam due to a trip.

Students who take more than one class in a major subject area will take the second conflict exam during the conflict time slot on the day of their scheduled exam. The high school exam schedule is as follows:

January 10

Exam 1: Religion

Exam 2: Science 

Exam 3: Conflict Exams 

January 11

Exam 1: English

Exam 2: Foreign Language

Exam 3: Conflict Exams 

January 12

Exam 1: Math 

Exam 2: Social Studies 

Exam 3: Conflict Exams 

Time Schedule

8:15 AM - report to homeroom

8:40-9:40 AM - Exam 1

9:55-10:55 AM - Exam 2

11:00 AM - dismissal for high school

11:10-12:10 PM - Conflict Exam

Please note this special dismissal schedule:  

High School - High School students will dismiss at 11 AM each day. Students testing in the AAC may be dismissed at a later time according to documented learning needs. All students are required to leave the building at the conclusion of exams unless staying for a supervised activity.  

Middle School - Middle School students will dismiss at 3 PM on January 10 and 11, and at 11 AM on January 12. 

School districts have been notified of the 11 AM and 3 PM dismissal times. Please check with your bus driver to see if your bus will be operating at your dismissal time and plan to make arrangements for alternate pick-up plans if it is not.

Parents of Graduating Seniors: In your January 2024 tuition statement you will find an additional graduation fee charge.  In order to assist with the expenses associated with all of the planned activities surrounding Graduation, there is a nominal fee of $70.00 for each senior.  This fee includes a cap and gown, diploma, professional 5” x 7” photo of your graduate on stage during the conferral of his/her diploma, and Senior Breakfast expenses. Thank you in advance for your attention to these first steps toward the important celebration of your child’s years of success at York Catholic.

The Knights of Columbus Educational Foundation is offering scholarship opportunities to any student whose father is a member in good standing with a Pennsylvania Knights of Columbus Council or who is a child of a deceased Knight of Columbus and was a member in good standing at the time of death. More than fifty $1000 grants will be distributed throughout Pennsylvania to students in grades 1‐12 for the 2024-25 school year.  The application deadline is January 31, 2024.

York Catholic is offering an SAT Math Prep course for juniors interested in getting extra practice before taking the actual exam. The course will run four Saturday mornings from 9-11:15 AM in York Catholic classrooms, and will be team-taught by members of the Math Department. Class dates are as follows: January 20, 27, February 3, 10. If snow causes cancellation of any of the classes, the make-up date is February 17. Cost is $200 per student and includes the cost of the Kaplan book. Registration forms and a check made to York Catholic should be turned into Mrs. Hand in the main office by Friday, January 12.  

Our musical costume crew is seeking parent helpers for this year's production of "Footloose."  There are 2 ways you can help:  you can come to the YC auditorium on Saturdays in January and February, or you can pick up sewing assignments and complete them on your own time. We also need helpers who don't necessarily have sewing skills to label racks, iron and steam clothes, measure fabric, set up racks, sew buttons, hand sew, etc.  If you can help, contact Mrs. Dawn Oswald at doswald@yorkcatholic.org.

Congratulations to the following fall athletes who have been named to various All-Star Teams:   

Boys Cross Country

District III-A Boys Silver Medalists

Mitchell Bradley - YAIAA Division III All-Star Team 

Jack Driscoll - YAIAA Division III All-Star Team 

Girls Cross Country

District III-A Girls Silver Medalists

YAIAA Division Champions

Madeline Murphy - PIAA 7th Place 

Madeline Murphy - District III Champion

Madeline Murphy - YAIAA Division III Girls Runner of the Year

Sheila Driscoll - District III Silver Medalist

Sheila Driscoll - YAIAA Division III All-Star Team

Gwen Kerr - YAIAA Division III All-Star Team

Golf

Olivia Kury – YAIAA Division III All-Star 

Sam McKim – YAIAA Division III All-Star  

Boys Soccer 

Andrew Schuler - Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association All-State Team

Andrew Schuler - YAIAA Division III Player of the Year

Joe Nattans - YAIAA Division III Coach of the Year

Ryan Outhout - YAIAA Division III All-Star First Team

Ryland Staub - YAIAA Division III All-Star First Team

Matt Felker - YAIAA Division III All-Star Second Team

Joey Kelchaw - YAIAA Division III All-Star Second Team

Christian Ludwig - YAIAA Division III All-Star Second Team

Kobin Proudfoot - YAIAA Division III All-Star Second Team

Girls Soccer

YAIAA Division III Officials’ Sportsmanship Award

Caroline Rapp – YAIAA Division III All-Star First Team

Claire Staub – YAIAA Division III All-Star First Team

Emily Anthony – YAIAA Division III All-Star Second Team

Katie Bullen – YAIAA Division III All-Star Second Team

Leilani Garber – YAIAA Division III All-Star Second Team

Girls Volleyball

District III-AA Silver Medalists

Kayla Dinh - Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association Class AA All-State Team

Ashley Patterson - Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association Class AA All-State Team

Kayla Dinh - District III-AA All-Star First Team

Ashley Patterson - District III-AA All-Star First Team

Bailey Green - District III-AA All-Star Second Team

Caroline O’Neill - District III-AA All-Star Second Team

Kayla Dinh - YAIAA Division III All-Star First Team

Ashley Patterson - YAIAA Division III Coaches All-Star First Team

Paige O’Brien - YAIAA Division III Coaches All-Star Second Team

Caroline O’Neill - YAIAA Division III Coaches All-Star Second Team

Bailey Green - YAIAA Division III Coaches All-Star Honorable Mention

Football 

JP Watson - YAIAA Division III Coaches All-Star First Team - Punter

Everett King - YAIAA Division III Coaches All-Star Second Team - Tight End

Evan Kipple - YAIAA Division III Coaches All-Star Second Team - Athlete

Bill Gillmen - YAIAA Division III Coaches All-Star Second Team - Defensive Tackle

Sean Melhorn - YAIAA Division III Coaches All-Star Second Team - Corner

Sean Melhorn - YAIAA Division III Coaches All-Star Honorable Mention - Running Back

JP Watson - YAIAA Division III Coaches All-Star Honorable Mention - Outside Linebacker

York Catholic High School’s Athletic Booster Club is inducting three new members into its Sports Hall of Fame.  The inductees will be introduced Saturday, January 27, at approximately 4 PM between our girls’ and boys’ basketball double-header games with Berks Catholic. After the game, the inductees will be honored with a reception in the cafeteria.  The Sports Hall of Fame honors former coaches and student athletes, administrators, and volunteers. Those being inducted include:  Karli McFatridge ‘12 (basketball), Ava Spoden ‘11 (athlete), Anna Spoden ‘13 (athlete), Kenneth Staab ‘40 (service to country).

Calling all aspiring athletes! Have you ever wanted to try a new and exciting sport? Perhaps you've seen lacrosse being played and wondered what it's all about. Well, wonder no more! We're thrilled to announce the York Catholic Intro to Lacrosse Clinic being held Thursday, January 18, from 3:30-5:30 PM at the YC stadium. The clinic is designed for beginners of all ages and skill levels; boys and girls.

In this fun and relaxed environment, you'll learn the essential skills of lacrosse:

• Catching: Master the art of cradling and securing the ball in your stick.
• Throwing: Develop your throwing accuracy and power to connect with teammates.
• Shooting: Learn the proper technique to send the ball flying towards the goal.

No registration required.

For more information, contact Coach Jim Mullen at jmullen@yorkcatholic.org

The YAIAA is hosting a Winter Mental Health Symposium for student-athletes on Sunday, January 7, at Susquehannock High School. The event will feature a wellness fair from 2-4 PM and a presentation and question and answer session from 3-4 PM with a student panel discussing the stressors student-athletes face and how parents can assist their children to mitigate those stressors and/or how to seek assistance for their child. Registration is not required.

The Knights of Columbus Free Throw Challenge will be held Saturday, January 13, at St. Joseph York gymnasium.  Registration begins at 1 PM and the competition begins at 2 PM.  All boys and girls ages 9-14 may participate.  Winners will move on to the district competition.

Volunteers are needed for this event.  Students needing service hours can request to do so.  Duties could include measuring and adjusting six basketball hoops, setting up tables and chairs for the event, lining the floor, organizing the student scoring sheets as they report by age, inflating basketballs, assisting with scoring and rebounding during the event, or taking pictures of the competition. Text or email Chairman Kelly Brown at 717-668-0509 or kbbrown79@hotmail.com.  

Students in grades K-6 are invited to Futures Night at the York Catholic basketball games!

Future girls’ basketball players are invited Friday, January 5, when the YC girls’ team takes on Biglerville.

Future boys’ basketball players and cheerleaders are invited Friday, January 12, when the YC boys’ team takes on York Tech.

The JV games start at 6 PM followed by the Varsity games. Futures will participate in the pre-game prayer and huddle, and become part of the welcome tunnel. Students should wear their uniform shirt for free admittance and must be accompanied by an adult. Come out and cheer your future school onto victory! 

York Catholic Middle & High School is blessed with generous alumni, parents, and community friends like yourselves who have continued to support our school for nearly a century.  We hope to continue to make a Catholic education possible for anyone who seeks it. 

As December 31st approaches, many of you are looking at your charitable giving in terms of tax benefits. We ask you to prayerfully consider YC as a charity of choice for your year-end gifts to our annual York Catholic Fund.

Our York Catholic fund supports every student by enriching extra-curricular programs, music and the arts, professional development for teachers, academic program support, athletic programs, technology, special projects, and operating expenditures. This year, we have a fundraising goal of $300,000 for the York Catholic Fund by June 30, 2024. 

Every gift, whatever the amount, counts and is truly valued. Please click the button below to use our secure online donation page.

Given the current economic conditions, if it’s possible, we humbly ask that you consider increasing your gift from last year by 10%.

Thank you for caring and giving!

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/2022/08/spe-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.

During inclement weather that would cause a school closing or delay of schedule, York Catholic will call/text/email you through our One Call Now Emergency Notification system.  Other modes of notification include WGAL TV-8, Fox43, and the YC website.  Students from individual school districts are automatically excused if their district closes and does not provide transportation to YC.  The exceptions to this are Southern and Southeastern.  These students follow York Catholic’s delay and closing schedule.

St. Joseph Teaching Position

St. Joseph School in York is looking for a long-term substitute teacher, with the possibility of permanent full-time, for third grade beginning immediately. Requirements include development and implementation of appropriate programming in alignment with the Diocese of Harrisburg curriculum, supervision of children, communication with parents, and performance of other related duties as needed. Individuals interested can apply at https://bit.ly/493ZbOq and should reach out to Principal Mrs. Corrinne Eck at Eck@sjy.org or 717-755-1797.