I hope this update finds you well…
Thank you to all of our families who were able to engage in our Curriculum Night earlier this week. It was great to see so many of families in the building -- my compliments to our parents for quickly adapting to the new daily bell schedule! I can't recall a Curriculum Night where we have so few wayward parents trying to find their way -- very impressed!
Speaking of Curriculum Night, I wanted to share my recorded address for all to review. In my short opening address I outlined our major emphasis to reconnect students, staff, and families back to our YHS community along with rebuilding FOXPRIDE. As I outlined for our students in my address last week, we expect that...
- every student experiences academic success (Cs or better in attempted coursework).
- every student discovers an interest or passion.
- every student is connected to at least one school or community based activity.
- every student is connected to at least one trusted peer.
- every student is connected to at least one trusted adult.
While we have an amazing YHS team supporting our students, the true engine of our success is built upon a positive and productive partnership bewteen the home and school. I ask that our families...
- actively engage/review the weekly parent update (every friday).
- become a Canvas Observer (check Home Access Center on a weekly basis).
- proactively reach out to your child’s teacher/counselor (monthly) - don’t wait until your student is already in crisis.
- demand high expectations of your child - encourage routine practice and help them get support (before/afterschool, Office Hours, or FlexBlock).
- expect your child to be connected to at least one school or community based activity.
I know that by working together we can continue to see our student prosper. Enjoy the long weekend ahead!
The daily bell schedule for the week of September 6th is listed below:
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Monday, September 6th - Labor Day - no school
- Tuesday, September 7th - A Day
- Wednesday, September 8th - B Day
- Thursday, September 9th - A Day
- Friday, September 10th - B Day
*remember on a four day week we drop the C Day*
The daily bell schedule for the week of August 30th is listed below:
- Monday, September 13th - A Day
- Tuesday, September 14th - B Day
- Wednesday, September 15th - C Day
- Thursday, September 16th - A Day
- Friday, September 17th - B Day
Included in this update:
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Monthly Calendar - August - September - updated item
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YHS Activities Update - new item
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YHS Athletics Update - new item
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Fall PSAT/SAT Practice Administration - new item
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Herff Jones Ring & Packet Night - new item
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College Application Night - old item
- Sports Booster Meeting 9/16 - new
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Financial Aid Night - old item
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PSAT/NMSQT Registration - old item
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Homecoming Shirts on Sale - new item
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This week in Advisory... - new item
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Dean's Safety Update - new item
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Digital Citizenship Tip of the Week - new item
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Freshmen Physical Requirement - old item
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Senior Vaccination Requirement - old item
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Hey Seniors, Important Information for the Class of 2022! - new item
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Student Services Referral Form - old item
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Change of Schedule Process - old item
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SAT National Test Dates - old 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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The District has been made aware that some health survey emails are being blocked from certain email providers. We are currently working with the health survey company to identify a solution to ensure consistent delivery. During this time, we encourage families to whitelist the sender email address NOREPLY@QEMAILSERVER.COM as a possible resolution. Directions on how to do this can be found on the links below.
Comcast:
Microsoft:
To complete a Health Survey for students that did not get an email, please use this link.
We will follow up once we have a resolution to the above issue.
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Monthly Calendar - August - September |
Provided for our families is a month at a glance summary.
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A Days are highlighted in "Red" - September 7, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, & 30
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B Days are highlighted in "Gray" - September 8, 10, 14, 21, 24, & 28
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C Days are highlighted in "Green" - September 15, 22, & 29
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September 6 - Labor Day (yellow)
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Clubs & Activities Update |
Yorkville High School Clubs and Activities are ramping up! At the beginning of the school year, all clubs and activities at YHS are taking new members. Please encourage your student to be involved in at least one club or activity this school year. Here is a list of all the clubs offered at YHS. Contact the sponsor through email for more information or to sign up. Go Foxes!
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YHS is Going Gold in Support of Cal’s Angels!
In support of pediatric cancer awareness, YHS has partnered with Cal’s Angels and we are going gold during the month of September for Pediatric Cancer Awareness. Our goal is to turn Yorkville High School Gold during September. If you attend an athletic event during September, you will see gold accessories on our athletes that were provided by Cal’s Angels. We will also be selling t-shirts for $10 out of the Athletic office the week of September 7th to wear to our Gold Out Football Game on September 10th. We are excited to partner with our friends at Cal’s Angels who support kids in our community as they fight cancer. Join the fight and go gold!
Congratulations to the Freshman, Sophomore, and Varsity football teams on opening the season with wins over Romeoville. The varsity defeated the Spartans 44-14 on Friday, August 27th. Touchdowns were scored by John Swarn, Kendall Smith, Nate Kraus, Gio Zeman and Lucas Fisher.
Congratulations to the varsity volleyball team on winning the silver bracket at the Oswego East/Metea Valley tournament, taking 5th place out of 16 teams. The Foxes beat Batavia (25-23, 24-26, 25-19) and Oswego East (26-24 and 25-22) on Saturday, August 28th. The Foxes overall record is now 5-1. The tournament stat leaders included Saige Avery with 27 kills, 67 assists and 20 digs; Grace Lindgren with 8 aces and 33 digs; Janelle Pye-Blacknard with 48 kills, 13 aces, and 45 digs; Ella Bourque with 34 kills, 72 assists, 11 aces, and 25 digs and Kendall Heitz with 8 blocks and 11 kills. Great job, volleyball players!
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Fall College Board Suite of Assessments Practice Tests! |
On Wednesday, September 15th all 9-11 grade students will take either the practice PSAT9 (freshmen), practice PSAT10 (sophomores) or practice SAT (juniors). Seniors are excused in order to provide optimal testing. Seniors are encouraged to participate in a college visit, job shadowing or community service venture in lieu of attending school.
LASP students will be in attendance until 11:00 am. 9th and 10th grade students will be dismissed at 11:00 am and transportation via Septran will be provided. 11th grade students will be dismissed at 12:35 and transportation will be provided via Septran. Students with accommodations will be notified of the ending time of their respective test and which transportation time they will use.
All 9th-11th grade students will be testing in their Advisory classroom. Students that receive accommodations will receive direct communication with their testing location.
Our goal is to provide our families more information to help your student reach their post-secondary aspirations. Towards that end, I have included a chart that provides a breakdown of the SAT suite of assessments. Additionally, I have included links for each specific assessment that I strongly encourage you to explore.
SAT Suite of Assessments
TEST STRUCTURE AND FORMAT
Testing time - 3 hours + 50-minute SAT essay (optional)
Structure - 3 tests + optional SAT essay
SCORE RANGE
Composite 400–1600 (SAT Essay: reported in 3 dimensions, each 2–8)
TEST LENGTH AND TIMING
Number of questions - 154
Time per question - 1 minute 10 seconds
Reading Test: 65 Minutes/52 Questions
Writing and Language Test: 35 Minutes/44 Questions
Math Test: 80 Minutes/58 Questions
Use of a calculator on some problems
Finally, I encourage our families to check out the videos below to learn about the specific demands of the SAT/PSAT suite of assessments.
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What to Expect on the SAT Reading Test
When you take the Reading Test, you’ll read passages and interpret informational graphics. Then you’ll use what you’ve read to answer questions. Some questions ask you to locate a piece of information or an idea stated directly. But you’ll also need to understand what the author’s words imply. In other words, you have to read between the lines.
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What to Expect on SAT Language Test
To answer some questions, you’ll need to look closely at a single sentence. Others require reading the entire piece and interpreting a graphic. For instance, you might be asked to choose a sentence that corrects a misinterpretation of a scientific chart or that better explains the importance of the data.
The passages you improve will range from arguments to nonfiction narratives and will be about careers, history, social studies, the humanities, and science.
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What to Expect on the SAT Math Test
Instead of testing you on every math topic there is, the new SAT asks you to use the math that you’ll rely on most in all sorts of situations. Questions on the Math Test are designed to mirror the problem solving and modeling you’ll do in:
College math, science, and social science courses
The jobs that you hold
Your personal life
For instance, to answer some questions you’ll need to use several steps —because in the real world a single calculation is rarely enough to get the job done.
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Herff Jones Ring & Jacket Night - September 8th |
Order your Official Class Ring and Custom Letter Jacket!
Family Order Night - Wednesday, September 8th
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
In the Athletic Lobby
Bring your Letters and Numerals to order day!
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College Application Night - September 9th (in-person or asynchronous) |
HEY SENIORS & SENIOR PARENTS - SAVE THE DATE!
The YHS Guidance team is hosting COLLEGE APPLICATION NIGHT on September 9th at 6:30 p.m. Families can choose to participate in-person or watch an asynchronous recording of the presentation. The in-person presentation will be hosted in the YHS library. All attendees will be required to complete a health certification process. Please click here to complete the required Health Questionnaire. This evening is tailored to our senior families, but all are welcome to come. Parents and students will be given a guided tour through the college application and admission process along with providing answers to the most commonly asked questions (and those that aren't so common!) regarding the application process.
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Sports Booster Meeting on September 16 |
All parents interested in contributing to the future of the sports boosters are invited to an informational meeting on Thursday, September 16th. The meeting will be held in the Athletic Lobby at YHS at 6:15pm.
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Financial Aid Night - September 22nd (in-person & ZOOM) |
Hey Seniors! Please plan to attend YHS’s Financial Aid Night Presentation with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission on September 22nd at 6:00 P.M. Please note that this presentation will be in-person and on ZOOM. If you need to learn more about paying for your son or daughter's post-secondary education, this presentation is for you! This presentation will be conducted in English and in Spanish. Please click here to complete the required Health Questionnaire.
Topics covered will include:
- FAFSA: What is it and why is it important?
- Financial Aid Timeline: When can I apply? When will I be notified
- Scholarships: Where do I begin?
- Grants: How do I qualify?
- Loans: How do they work?
- Cost of attendance: Direct vs. Indirect Costs
Click here for the ZOOM link. We hope to connect with you!
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PSAT/NMSQT Test: Wednesday, October 13th |
The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test is co-sponsored by the College Board & NMSQT Corporation. This is an optional test that provides practice for the Spring SAT (in which all Juniors will participate) and a chance to enter a scholarship competition. By participating, you will be provided with an actual test-day experience plus access to college and career preparation tools. Students must be a Junior to qualify as a National Merit Scholar. All Juniors are encouraged to test.
Please submit this PSAT/NMSQT Registration Form by September 11th to the Guidance Office. Cost is $17, payable by checks only. See registration form or see the Guidance Office for more details. Don’t delay, sign up today!
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Homecoming Shirts On Sale Now! |
Students! Homecoming week will take place the final week of September this year...this year's theme...HOLLYWOOD. Keep an eye out for emails regarding the week's activities! In the meantime, if you are interested in purchasing a homecoming shirt, click on the below link. You can choose a short sleeve, long sleeve, crewneck or hoodie in your class colors or your favorite color. Final day to place an order is Sunday September 19th!
You have an option of picking it up at Stevens in Yorkville or picking it up at the high school through Mrs. Messersmith. Any questions? Email Mrs. Messersmith at smessersmith@y115.org.
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This past week, the focus of Advisory was to provide time for students to get to know their peers and advisory teachers. A primary focus of Advisory is to help connect students with their peers and teachers, and we are happy to report that many students are already feeling more "connected" as a result of our introductory lessons!
Students were also introduced to the "Fox Mindset", and had the opportunity to explore their personal response to adversity. The "Fox Mindset" is Yorkville High School's personal spin on a Growth Mindset, please use the Growth Vs. Fixed Mindset link for more information on this concept. This is a great resource to help facilitate conversations with your child about the benefits of adapting a Growth Mindset to embrace the challenges they may face.
Listed below is a summary of the Academic and Social Emotional Lessons that will be taking place in your student's Advisory Period for the upcoming week:
Tuesday, September 7th (Academic Lesson): Students will learn about the YHS curriculum, graduation requirements, and what it means to be college, career and life ready.
Thursday, September 9th (Social Emotional Lesson): Students will continue to explore the idea of "Fox Mindset" and complete an activity that will help them reflect on their own actions and thoughts during challenging activities.
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Attention Parents, parking spots are filling fast, if you are indeed looking for a spot to park...your driver must already have a driver's license..
Also, please remind your driver to only park in the spot issued to them.
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Digital Citizenship Tip of the Week |
Parents and Students, attached is an article that touches on the do’s and don'ts of social media when seeking post-secondary opportunities. It will help you gain perspective from the school side on some of the decisions that we commonly make on social media.
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Freshman Physical & Dental Requirements |
As a reminder, all students entering 9th grade are required to have a physical exam on the Certificate of Child Health Exam form, and updated immunizations on file by October 1st, 2021 to avoid being excluded from school. Appointment dates will not be accepted. Additionally all 9th grade students are required to receive a dental examination by May 15, 2022. Here is the proof of dental examination form that must be submitted. If you have any questions please contact the Building Nurse at Yorkville High School Academy, Arlene Anderson, at 630.553.4385 ext. 4925. Don’t delay, do it today!
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Senior Vaccine Requirements |
As a reminder, all seniors must show proof of having had the meningitis vaccine for school attendance this year. Seniors must have at least 1 does of the meningitis vaccine after their 16th birthday. Additionally, as you were notified previously, proof of having the vaccine is required in order for students to complete the registration process. If your student has already had this vaccine and you have not yet turned in proof, please contact Jamie Anderson (alphabet A-Kt) at jaanderson@y115.org or Caitlyn Jess (alphabet Ku-Z) at cjess@y115.org. If your student has not had this vaccine yet, please do so ASAP— don’t delay, do it today!
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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:
October 2, 2021
November 6, 2021
December 4, 2021
National ACT Test Dates in Early/Late Fall 2021
Test Dates:
September 11, 2021
October 23, 2021
December 11, 2021
*Go to www.act.org for test day registration information
Good Luck!
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