I hope this update finds you well… Earlier this week, indivdual student schedules were made available on the Home Access Center. Families should reach out to their child's counselor with any questions regarding their student's schedule. As a staff, we could not be more excited to welcome back all of our learners to full-time in-person learning! Speaking of schedules, we are implementing a new Modified Flexible Block daily bell schedule this year as a means to meet the varied needs of our students. I am excited by the opportunities this will provide for our students and staff. This will take some time to become familar with our new bell schedule, but with time and some patience, it will soon become routine. With that in mind, I have shared some of the major elements of our new schedule in this update. Each week, I will post a little more information to help everyone build their understanding and comfort. Don't worry, we will get there together! Make sure you circle Thursday, August 26th on your calendars— you don’t want your student to miss the first day of school!    Hey Freshmen and new families to YHS -  please note that school supplies at the high school are determined on a course by course basis.   On the first day of class, your respective teachers will distribute their course syllabus that will outline the needed as well as recommended class supplies.  I encourage all students to bring a writing utensil (pens & pencils), your fully charged Chromebook , your calculator and a notebook in their backpacks for the first day.   Also,  please note that historically bus drop off is completed approximately 10-15 minutes prior to our first bell leaving ample time for your student to get to their first class.  I know the transition to high school can be a little scary, so I encourage you to reach out if you have questions. Included in this update: 21-22 YHS Modified Block Schedule - new item The purpose of Advisory - new item The purpose of FlexBlock - new item Monthly Calendar - August - September - new item Fox Caravan - August 19th - new item YHS Athletic Update - Fall Sports are underway! - new item Freshmen Transition Program - August 24 - old item Main Campus (Upperclassmen) - Open Campus Visit - August 24 - old item Student Parking - old item Off-Campus Application, Locker Request, Lunch Assignments - new item 21-22 Returning Y115 Student Registration - old item Key Important Dates for Release of Information - old item Fall Sports Registration - old item Freshmen Physical Requirement - old item Senior Vaccination Requirement - old item 2022 Yearbook Pre-Order - old item Senior Ads - Yearbook 2022 - old item 20-21 Yearbook pick-up information - old item PSAT/NMSQT Registration - old item 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 and a fantastic summer!  GO FOXES! With PRIDE, David S. Travis

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YHS 21-22 Modified Block Schedule Yorkville High School has designed a Flexible Modified A/B/C Block Schedule that affords the opportunity to deliver learning experiences in both longer (90 minutes) and shorter (48 minutes) blocks of instructional time. The schedule recaptures 97% of the instructional time of the 2019-20 daily bell schedule with the added benefits of 60 minutes of weekly Advisory and 110 minutes of weekly student FlexBlock aimed to reconnect students to adult advocates and peers, rebuild school culture and pride, and provide opportunities for support and/or pursuits of interests. The schedule maintains seven instructional periods meaning that students can still take up to seven different instructional courses each semester. Students may pursue up to eight courses if they selected a Period 0 option (early bird). As a means to optimize instructional time,   On A Days - students will have three (3) 90 minute instructional periods, one (1) 90 minute Advisory (30 minutes)/Flex Block (55 minutes) period, and a 50 minute Lunch (25 minutes)/Office Hour (25 minutes) period.  On B Days - students will have four (4) 90 minute instructional periods and a 50 minute Lunch (25 minutes)/Office Hour (25 minutes) period. On C Days - students will attend all seven (7) 48 minute instructional periods. There is no Advisory or FLEX Block (period 3) on B or C Days The new schedule still retains our popular zero (0) period that will meet every student attendance day from 6:30 a.m. - 7:20 a.m. -- Not listed on the examples below Pasted below are examples of "A", "B", and "C" day schedules for your understanding

A - Days

B - Days

C - Days

For our new YHS families, I will preview a weekly/monthly daily schedule at a glance each Friday in my weekly community update for your use. During the first two days of school, we plan to conduct an all-school review each period to go over expectations and processes of the various facets of our new schedule with our students. Our plan is to "zoom" into all classrooms across both campuses to provide a common message and understanding for all.  Thursday, August 26 (A-Day) Period 1 - (Advisory - Why, How, What, and Expectations; Office Hours/Lunch - when do I eat lunch)  Period 3 Advisory/FLEX Block - (FLEX Block - Why, How, What, and Expectations) *we will use the first five minutes of Advisory to distribute Student IDs - followed by 30 minutes of Advisory Period 5c - (Dean's Meeting - Earned Privileges, Student Expectations) Period 7 - Whole School Mindfulness Activity Friday, August 27 (B-Day) Period 2 - Getting Connected - Why, How, What, and Expectations Period 4 - Student Support - Office Hours, DEN Testing/Tutoring Centers - Why, How, What, and Expectations  Period 6c - Principal's Address Period 8 - Whole School Mindfulness Activity This will allow us to roll out our expectations and procedures in a digestible manner while still providing the opportunity (75 minutes/period) for our teachers to start building positive relationships with your students.

The Purpose of Advisory Noted director and producer Steven Spielberg noted, "the delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves". As a major aspect of our new schedule, all students will be assigned to a twice weekly advisory (30 minutes) that will focus on rebuilding school culture and climate. Additional goals of our student advisory will be to reconnect students to peers, to adults, and to Yorkville High School, as well as supporting the whole-child’s social emotional health and well-being. Each advisory block will have two adult mentors assigned to a group of approximately 26-28 students that will meet on A Days. Periodically, the advisory time will be allocated to deliver developmental guidance activities and to develop executive functioning skills. We want every student to feel connected, supported, valued, and proud to be a Yorkville Fox!

The Purpose of FlexBlock "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." – Mark Twain A primary function of high school is to help our students discover their interests, passions, and purpose. We are excited by the prospect to reach that end through FlexBlock. Each full week, students will have two dedicated FlexBlocks (55 minutes). The FlexBlock serves as an opportunity for students to engage in activities, service based opportunities, pursue personal enrichment or interest, or seek help or assistance. FlexBlock will operate as an open campus experience based on a system of earned privilege. Staff not engaged in weekly collaboration will be available to support targeted interventions, provide academic assistance, and/or deliver case management support during the FlexBlock. Students will also have access to DEN Tutoring/Testing Centers, Open Labs (STEM, Art, Science, Food, Wellness Center), and Enrichment/Interest (for example, performance rehearsals) Activities. Due to the importance of reconnecting all students to school, time for school sponsored Clubs/Activities will be allocated on a monthly rotating schedule. Though our students may earn off-campus privileges during FlexBlock, all students will be expected to engage in at least two FlexBlock opportunities per month. As Twain stated above, our hope is that students use this time to explore, dream, and discover!

Monthly Calendar - August - September Provided for our families is a month at a glance summary. A Days are highlighted in "Red" - August 26, 30; September 2, 7, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, & 30 B Days are highlighted in "Gray" - August 27, 31; September 3, 8, 10, 14, 21, 24, & 28 C Days are highlighted in "Green" - September 1, 15, 22, & 29 September 6 - Labor Day (yellow); Teacher Institute Days - August 23, 24, & 25 (blue) It is important to note that our new schedule adjusts based on the number of attendance days in a given week. For example our first 5 day week (August 30 - September 3) - Monday (A), Tuesday (B), Wednesday (C), Thursday (A), Friday (B). On a five day week, students will attend each course 3 out of the 5 days (228 minutes). For example our first 4 day week (September 7 - September 10) - Tuesday (A), Wednesday (B), Thursday (A), Friday (B). On a four day week, we drop the C day, students will attend each course 2 out of the 4 days (180 minutes).

Fox Caravan for former eLearners - August 19th Welcome Back former eLearners! All former eLearners are invited to our Fox Caravan on Thursday, August 19th! Our Caravan is designed to reacquaint eLearners with both the main campus and the Academy. Our Caravan will take approximately 15-20 minutes. Students can arrive any time starting at 1:00 pm and our last Caravan will take off at 1:45 pm. All incoming 9th grader former eLearners will meet at Door 1 of YHSA and all incoming 10th-12th grader former eLearners will meet at Door 1 of YHS. All students receive an email from Mrs. Martinez with further details and a QR code to have students self certify before entering the building. If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Martinez at mmartinez@y115.org.

Athletics Update - Fall Sports are underway!

All IHSA sports are resuming in 21-22 with normal scheduling and spectators allowed at both indoor and outdoor sporting events. Spectators at indoor events and events in the stadium will need to verify they have completed the self-certification survey prior to entering those facilities. The self-certification survey can be found linked to the Athletic website. Spectators attending indoor events are required to wear a face mask.  We hope to see you at one of the following home events to kick off the 21-22 year!  Tuesday, August 17th  Girls Golf vs Sandwich at Blackberry Oaks; 4pm Wednesday, August 18th Boys Golf vs Oswego at Blackberry Oaks; 4pm Thursday, August 19th Boys Soccer Red/White Scrimmage; 5pm in the Stadium Girls Volleyball Red/White Scrimmage; 6pm in the Main Gym at YHS Girls Tennis (JV) vs Kaneland; 4pm at the YHS Tennis Courts Friday, August 20th  Red/White Football Scrimmage; 6pm Start in the stadium Cheer, Poms, and The Marching Band perform throughout the evening Monday, August 23 Boys and Girls Cross Country host the Foxes Invite; 5:30pm on the YHS Campus

Hey Freshmen... Don’t forget!  We are hosting our annual Freshmen Transition Experience (for students only) on Tuesday, August 24, 2021 from 1:00 PM-3:00 PM at our freshmen campus (YHSA). All incoming freshmen are expected to attend this event, which allows students to familiarize themselves with the high school and find out what it takes to be successful as a high school freshman. Please note that as we get closer to the date we will share specific information and expectations for the event. Unfortunately, we don’t provide bus service so families must provide their own transportation. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Mike Guzaldo at mguzaldo@y115.org.  Don’t miss it!

Hey Upperclassmen...we didn't forget about you... The YHS main campus will be open on Tuesday, August 24, 2021 from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM on to give our upperclassmen the opportunity to find their lockers, walk their schedules, meet their teachers, and check out the building.   We hope this helps!

Student Parking - Get your applications in today! Attention Drivers! In order to park on school property, students must have a parking tag for an assigned parking space. To be eligible for a parking tag, students must complete a parking application and pay the required fees, which can be found in the Student Payment Portal on the Yorkville District #115 Registration Homepage.  All of the following items must be submitted prior to receiving the parking pass : Completed Application with parent and student signature Copy of student driver’s license  Copy of CURRENT insurance  A copy of the student’s driver’s license and insurance can be submitted electronically to Dloos@y115.org or in person during parking permit distribution.  How do I turn in my parking application: Applications must be completed online through the Student Payment Portal. The parking application must be completed by August 13th, 2021 to be entered into the lottery.  How do I get to choose my parking spot? Parking spots are assigned randomly. They are not assigned on a first come first served basis.

Attention Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors!  Earlier this week, an email went out to parent emails detailing our Off-Campus Policy for the 2021-2022 School year. If you have not done so already, please fill out the Off-Campus Application and use the unique code sent in the original email to serve as the parent signature In order for a student to be eligible for Off-Campus Privileges, academic and disciplinary requirements from the 2nd semester of the 2020-2021 school year must be met. Please refer to the Off-Campus Information Document for more information on these requirements.  After the final deadline for Off-Campus Application, YHS Administrations will review submitted applications to determine eligibility. Families will be notified via email by August 20th if the application was accepted or denied.  If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to the Dean's Office at (630) 553-480 ext. 4056.  Lunch Assignments Students will have the option to purchase a lunch at school, bring a lunch from home, or leave during the lunch period (with Off-Campus Permissions). If your student has Off-Campus Privileges and plans to leave campus during lunch, they will not be assigned a lunch space. If your student elects to leave during the lunch period but decides to stay on campus on a particular day, they will be assigned a lunch space for the day. All students that elect to eat lunch at school will be assigned a space for the duration of the lunch period. Please indicate your student’s lunch preference on the Off-Campus/Locker Request Form. All students without Off Campus Privileges will automatically be assigned an assigned lunch space.  Locker Requests For the 2021-2022 school year, lockers will be available upon request. If your student would like a locker for the school year, please indicate this on the Off-Campus Application for Grades 10-12 and the Yorkville Academy Locker Form for incoming Freshman.

2021-2022 Returning Student Registration Returning families are expected to complete the on-line portion of the registration process prior to August 2nd. I would like to extend my gratitude to the nearly 1,800 families that have already completed the online process—WAY TO GO! Families still needing to complete this process should follow the instructions on the District Registration webpage. If you need additional assistance or for more information, please contact us at 630.553.4380 ext. 5358. Please note that families that have multiple children at the high school may register at the same time regardless of their year in school. We thank everyone in advance for their cooperation and support—we hope to see you here!

Key Important Dates for Release of Information As a means to ready our families for the start of the school year, listed below are some tentative dates that we will release the following information: 21-22 Student Schedules are now available to view on the Home Access Center. Parking Permit Applications can be accessed via the Student Payment Portal - due August 13. Bus Route Information will be posted on the Home Access Center on August 19. Parking Permit pick-up in the YHS Sports Lobby on August 23 starting at 9:00 a.m.

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!

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!

Hey Parents, PRE-ORDER your 2022 YHS yearbook now!  Pre-orders are available from August 2, 2021 until May 1, 2022, and books cost $65. Guarantee a book for your student by placing your order early! You can pre-order in one of TWO ways this year:  Visit www.yearbookforever.com and search for "Yorkville" -- we are listed as Yorkville Community High School. Here, you can place an order for a book and other add-ons, including personalization of your book with a Namestamp or iTag. This site also allows you to purchase a senior ad. Visit the Y115 payment portal to order your yearbook. Use the link here, and make all of your Y115 payments at once! No personalization or senior ads will be sold through the Y115 payment portal -- this is for books ONLY.

SENIOR parents Are you interested in commemorating your student in a unique way this year? Consider purchasing a senior ad! Senior ads allow you to select a 1/8 or 1/4 page slot in the yearbook and feature your own photos and message to your senior. Please check out this four minute video to learn more about senior ads! Senior ads are available for purchase until March 1, 2022. Reach out to Mrs. Calder at kcalder@y115.org for more info.

Did you order a 2020-2021 yearbook? Books will ship in mid-September and be available for student pick-up at Yorkville High School. 2021 graduates may pick up their books from the main office once books arrive. Please have your student listen to announcements and watch for fliers with info about yearbook distribution. A limited number of books will be available for purchase with cash or check if you missed out on a pre-order.

PSAT/NMSQT Test: Wednesday, October 13th he 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!

Hey Seniors... 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: August 28, 2021 October 2, 2021 November 6, 2021 December 4, 2021 *Go to www.collegeboard.org for test day registration information  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!