Open House

Thursday, February 8, 2024

6 PM to 7:30 PM

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!

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

• Instructional Support 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/

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.

Any interested sophomore is invited and encouraged to take the PSAT 10 this spring at York Catholic. The PSAT 10 is an optional exam that mirrors the PSAT, and offers a tenth grader the opportunity to preview and practice for the actual PSAT without stress over score reporting. Scores from the PSAT 10 are not reported and do not impact college applications in any way. Students benefit from the opportunity to engage with the material and become familiar with the format of the test before taking the PSAT in October of their junior year. PSAT test scores do count; those scores are referenced to determine Merit Scholars, and free practice tests are available online through College Board. Features of the PSAT 10 are as follows:

• The PSAT 10 is a three-hour exam, featuring a math section and a reading/writing section.  
• Each section is worth 760 points for a possible total composite of 1520.  
• The math section targets algebra and advanced math problems. A spring testing session is optimal as sophomores will be concluding a year of Algebra II.

The test will be offered at York Catholic from 8 AM-12 PM on Saturday, April 13. Any interested sophomore must register by February 21. Click the button below for the registration form; forms are also available in the main office. Cost per student is $20 with checks payable to York Catholic. The registration fee is non-refundable. Questions may be directed to Kathy Hand at khand@yorkcatholic.org. 

As juniors are planning their SAT testing dates, keep in mind that the SAT will be offered at York Catholic to current juniors on March 25.  This is a great opportunity for our students to take the test in a familiar testing environment for optimal results. 

Registration and payment are due to Mrs. Hand by Friday, February 23.  Cost for the exam is $60 and checks should be made out to York Catholic. Registration for this exam is non-refundable. 

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery or ASVAB is being offered free to all interested sophomores, juniors, and seniors on March 13 from 8:30-11 AM at York Catholic.  The ASVAB Career Exploration Program is a comprehensive career planning program that includes a multiple-aptitude test, an interest inventory, and various career planning tools designed to help students explore post-high school opportunities. Students do not need to be entering the military to take the ASVAB. For answers to questions or to register, email Mrs. Maurer at jmaurer@yorkcatholic.org. The deadline to register is February 16.

Our High School Student Council is selling Chips & Chocolate Valentine Grams. Students can purchase these treats for $1 and have them delivered to their friends on Valentine's Day! All Valentine Gram orders must be placed January 22-26 during homeroom.

York Catholic’s Blood Drive is being held on Wednesday, January 24, from 11 AM-4 PM.  Please contact our school nurse Mrs. Tiffany Brocius at tbrocius@yorkcatholic.org to schedule your blood donation time.  

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.

Seniors wishing to purchase graduation announcements can place their order online with Balfour now through March 15 by clicking the button below.  Any orders placed after that time are not guaranteed timely delivery for graduation.  You are free to purchase anything you like as a family, but you do not need to purchase a tassel, cap, or gown. That order has already been placed.  If you have any questions, contact Joann Brown at jbrown@yorkcatholic.org or 717-846-8871 x1317. 



Congratulations to 8th grader, Parker Kovach, our 2024 Middle School Geography Bee winner! 

The Diocese of Harrisburg is now accepting nominations from students and families to honor teachers and principals with the Golden Apple Award.  Eligibility requirements and nomination forms can be found under Resources at https://www.hbgdiocese.org/catholic-schools/golden-apple/ Click the button below to complete the online nomination form by February 2.

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. 

York Catholic is accepting advertisements from supporters and local businesses for its spring musical program for “Footloose.” Prices for ads are as follows: 

• Full page (7-1/2" x 4-1/2") - $120
• Half Page (3-1/2” x 4-1/2") - $70
• Quarter Page (1-3/4 x 4-1/2) - $40
• 100-character messages - $10
• Limited cover spots are available for $300; please email for availability. 

Cover ads and full page ads include a free ticket to the show. All ads and payments are due no later than Monday, January 29, to the main office. Ads can also be emailed to musicalads@yorkcatholic.org.

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.

Competitive Spirit Cheerleading

PIAA State Championship

January 26-27

at the Giant Center in Hershey

Competition will begin at 9 AM Friday, January 26. 

If the squad advances to the finals, championships will be held Saturday, January 27 at 9 AM. Spectators will be admitted beginning at 8 AM on both days.

General admission tickets for the Competitive Spirit Championships can be purchased beginning Friday, January 19. General admission ticket prices are $8 plus processing fees and can be purchased online at https://www.piaa.org/sports/tickets.aspx?from=hellobar

Due to field conditions with the recent snow, the Intro to Lacrosse Clinic scheduled for today has been canceled.

The YAIAA is hosting a Winter Mental Health Symposium for student-athletes on Sunday, February 4, 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.

York Catholic High School’s Athletic Booster Club is inducting four 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 (tennis), Anna Spoden ‘13 (tennis), Kenneth Staab ‘40 (service to country).

Join us at our York Partner Schools’ Celebration Mass on Saturday, January 20, at 4 PM in the YC auditorium. Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Timothy Senior with partner students participating as lectors, cantors, servers, and greeters. Attendance at this Mass fulfills the Sunday obligation. 

Following Mass, we will move to the gym for the Battle of the Buildings at 6 PM. This is a friendly inter-partner school competition of “minute-to-win-it” games where the teachers are the competitors and the families are the fans. The York Catholic Music Association will have food and beverages available for purchase including pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers, pulled pork sandwiches, chicken nuggets, chili, macaroni & cheese, hot pretzels, chips, candy, baked goods, soda, and water. 

As part of the Partner Schools’ Service Project, each school is collecting non-perishable food items at their school location to benefit the Catholic Harvest Food Pantry and the Southern York Food Pantry. The top three schools with the most donations will earn points for their team! The pantries are specifically looking to replenish the following items:

• ramen noodles
• tuna
• rice
• pasta
• canned goods
• soap
• no water bottles please 

The Shooting Irish Lacrosse Club is welcoming new and returning players to register for the 2024 boys and girls spring outdoor season. Register at https://shootingirishlacrosse.sportngin.com/register/form/593148101 by February 1.

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.