Knight News from York Academy

Knight News

January 15, 2021

CEO Corner

Dear York Academy Families:

The Board of Trustees is holding a Special Meeting regarding the return to school tonight at 5:30 p.m. It will be live streamed on our YouTube Channel, and we invite you to watch it live.

After the vote is final, you will be receiving an individualized email from me with more information and an important survey. Please make sure to check your inbox this weekend.

Stay safe and healthy,

Ms. Sugarek

Calendar Reminders

There is no school on Monday, January 18 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Both offices will be closed, and the Meal Program and Tech Hour will not be offered.

Also, Wednesday, January 27 is an Early Dismissal Day. Free meals will be available curbside at the Upper School from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. for students and children under 18 in the community. Please note the earlier time because of the half day.

Upper School Newsletter: The Round Table

by Carol Alvarnaz, MYP Coordinator & Instructional Coach

Click on the graphic below to read this week's Upper School newsletter, "The Round Table" from Mrs. Alvarnaz.

Knight Nod

Congratulations to Benjamin, a seventh grader who is our Knight Nod recipient. He was nominated for embodying the International Baccalaureate learner profile attribute of being reflective.

When we are reflective, we thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experience. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development.

According to his nominee, "Ben has proven to be reflective this trimester. He took the feedback provided during the first trimester, really reflected on how he could be better and work harder, and has been implementing that feedback. Ben always asks how he can improve. He is able to identify his strengths and he knows his weaknesses. Ben is determined not to let those weaknesses defeat or define him. He is dedicated to his own intellectual and personal development. Ben is charismatic, kind, funny, and puts in the work to be a wonderful, reflective IB student."

Here's a big "Knight Nod" for being awesome, Ben. We're proud of you!

Spanish Tutoring or Conversational Classes from Colombia

Are you interested in Spanish tutoring or conversational classes with native Spanish speakers? A group of instructors at La Universidad de La Sabana in Colombia will be offering virtual tutoring and conversation classes. The cost is $40 per session. If you'd like more information, please email Ms. Fedorko or Professor Gómez directly.

Kids Heart Challenge

Our Kids Heart Challenge kicks off on Monday, February 1! York Academy is proud to partner with the American Heart Association and help kids with special hearts. Miss Kinard will be kicking off this annual fundraising event by presenting a video in your student's PE class during the week of January 25.

Click here to learn more and find out how to register. Even if you're unable to donate at this time, please consider registering to win some cool prizes and have access to great resources on how to keep your student healthy. Thank you for your support!

Junior Achievement: Learning About Communities

Our second grade teachers are utilizing the digital resources from Junior Achievement to facilitate the "Our Community" unit. The students have been exploring who lives, works and plays in our communities. They have also been examining how their choices as citizens impact their local and global communities.

The second graders used their entrepreneurial skills to create new donuts that they could sell in their community. They will end the unit by exploring how community workers get paid, how taxes benefit the community, and how money moves through a community.

We appreciate the ability to work with our own community resources to provide these lessons for our students, even during eLearning!

Join York Academy's Envirothon Team

Envirothon is an environmental education competition originally created by Pennsylvania’s Conservation Districts. Envirothon events are held throughout the United States and Canada. In our Commonwealth, 66 counties participate. Studying our natural resources and taking part in the annual competitions are both part of the Envirothon, but so is teamwork, sportsmanship and fun!

This is a highly-intensive, self-paced study, work, and practice-competition. Weekly assignments and study materials will be provided via Canvas.

Students will be working asynchronously throughout the week and meeting LIVE via Zoom to go over assignments, ask questions, and complete practice quizzes to help determine the final team members. For more information, click the appropriate link below.

This form must be completed by January 29. Sessions will begin the week of February 8.

Click here for grades 3 and 4.

Click here for grades 5 and 6.

A confirmation email will be sent to notify students and parents with more detailed information. We're looking forward to a terrific Envirothon season!

2021-2022 Open Enrollment Is Coming

Open enrollment for the 2021-2022 school year will take place from February 1 - March 31. The link to apply online will be posted on our website on February 1. The lottery will take place in early April.

We will be offering Virtual Information Sessions and Open Houses during February and March so families can learn about York Academy. Click here for more details.

Please note that if your child is currently on the waiting list you will need to reapply, since applications are not permitted to roll over from year to year.

Make sure to share this information with your friends so they can be part of the York Academy family!

Virtual Session: Talking with Kids About Drugs and Alcohol

From York Academy's Counseling Department:

Join three local drug and alcohol prevention experts for a free, hour-long presentation on January 26 at 6 p.m. The session will focus on ways to engage kids in conversations about substance use.

Discover why some kids start using substances, the risk factors and how it impacts their brain. Explore protective factors to buffer the risks and learn what we can do to help our kids make healthy choices.

Click here for more information and to register.

Virtual College Fairs from College Board

College Board is hosting four virtual college fairs that are designed for students to have real conversations with hundreds of colleges, admission reps and current college students without leaving home. They can sign up to attend multiple events and explore colleges in each region across the nation!

BigFuture Day West & Southwest: Saturday, February 6 from 4 - 8 p.m. (for colleges located in AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NM, NV, OK, OR, TX, UT, WA and WY)

BigFuture Day Southeast: Tuesday, February 23 from 5 - 9 p.m. (for colleges located in AL, AR, DC, DE, FL, GA, LA, MD, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA and WV)

BigFuture Day Northeast: Sunday, March 7 from 4 - 8 p.m. (for colleges located in CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI and VT)

BigFuture Day Midwest: Thursday, March 11 from 5 - 9 p.m. (for colleges located in IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD and WI)

PSAT/NMSQT Reminder: January 26

As a reminder, the PSAT/NMSQT will be held on Tuesday, January 26 at the Upper School (for 11th grade). If your child is registered, please make sure that they arrive at school between 7:45 - 8:05 a.m. The exam will begin promptly at 8:15 a.m. and end at 11:15 a.m. Breakfast will be available before 8:05 in the cafeteria. Students will be dismissed to go home after receiving a grab-and-go lunch. Here are a few things to remember:

Do not bring any devices, including smartwatches, that can be used to record, transmit, receive or play back audio, photographic, text or video content.

All electronic devices must be turned off - even during breaks (including cell phones). Students will be dismissed immediately and their scores will be canceled if they use their phone or if it makes a noise - even during breaks. The phone may also be confiscated and inspected.