http://yorkcountyschools.org The official website for York County Public Schools. This site contains general information about our school division and links to our school web sites. Education en-us Wed, 1 Sep 2010 00:00:01 EST Wed, 1 Sep 2010 09:30:00 EST webmaster@ycsd.york.va.us © 2010 York County School Division http://yorkcountyschools.org/images/YCSD_Logo_thumb.jpg http://yorkcountyschools.org 108 108 The school division allows parents and others to pay cafeteria and student activity fund fees by a personal check. This is convenient to parents, but there is a risk involved for the school division. Processing non-sufficient fund (NSF) checks is a costly issue and can take valuable time from school personnel. To manage this process, our school division will begin partnering with Infinity Business Group. This company provides a third party check recovery program through ChecXchange, which will begin September 7, 2010.

ChecXchange utilizes the federal and state laws allowing the electronic recovery process of NSF checks which results in a high rate of recovery at no cost to the school district. The cost becomes the responsibility of those who wrote non-sufficient fund checks with the electronic recovery of the face amount of the check and the electronic recovery of the state fee from the bad check writer's bank account. Utilizing ChecXchange is an effort by the school division to be fiscally accountable in a more efficient and cost effective manner.

York County School Division will gladly accept checks. When a check is used as payment, the check writer authorizes us either to use information from the check to make a one-time electronic fund transfer from the check writer's account or to process the payment as a check transaction. The check writer authorizes us to collect a fee through an electronic fund transfer from the check writer's account if the payment is returned unpaid.

]]> General News Wed, 1 Sep 2010 09:30:00 EST The Life Long Learning Center (LLLC), located on the York High School Campus, is dedicated to professional and personal development in the field of technology training. The LLLC offers a wide array of classes ranging from basic computing skills to desktop publishing solutions. Attend classes to learn the software programs and techniques you need to set your resume apart from the rest. For your creative side, explore classes such as Microsoft Publisher, Digital Photography and Photoshop Elements. There are classes available for different levels of experience ranging from beginners to advanced users. For contact information, schedules and course offerings visit the LLLC online. Classes are open to York County School Division employees, retirees, high school students, and community members. Sign up today and bring a friend.

]]> General News Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:30:00 EST The York County School Division will offer adult General Education Development (GED_®) and English as a Second Language (ESOL) classes for adults over the age of 18. GED testing will start in October.

ESOL classes will take place on Tuesday and Thursdays, from 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at Bethel Baptist Church at 1004 Yorktown Road, and on Tuesday nights at Tabb High School, room 202 at 4431 Big Bethel Road. Registration starts September 14 and 16.

GED class will be held at the adult learning center, LLLC, at York High School, 9300 George Washington Memorial Highway, Yorktown. Classes will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. Math refresher classes will be held on Tuesday nights at the same location at 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. Registration starts at class time on September 13 - 16.

The class offerings are free. For additional information please contact Kathy Phillips, Adult Education Coordinator, at 833-2259.

]]> General News Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:30:00 EST All schools within the York County School Division will be hosting an Open House for new and returning students. Open House takes place before school starts and provides parents and students with a chance to meet teachers and tour schools. Parents should contact their child's school for additional information. For a schedule of Open Houses, click here.

]]> Events Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:30:00 EST York County School Division today announced its policy for providing free or reduced price meals for children served under the National School Lunch, and/or School Breakfast Programs. Each school and/or central school nutrition office has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by any interested party.

Household size and income will be used to determine eligibility for free or reduced price meal benefits. Children from households whose income is at or below the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines may be eligible for either free or reduced price meals. Children who are members of households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (formerly the Food Stamp Program) or who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) may be automatically eligible for free meals. Children who are homeless, migrant, or runaway may also be automatically eligible for free meals. Foster children, who are the legal responsibility of a welfare agency or court, may be eligible for benefits regardless of the income of the household with whom they reside. Eligibility for the foster child is based on the child's income. Children who are members of households participating in WIC may also be eligible for free or reduced-price meals based on the household's income.

Application forms are being distributed to all households with a letter informing households of the availability of free or reduced price meals for their children. Applications are also available at the principal's office in each school and at the central office. To apply for free or reduced price meals, households must only fill out one application per household and return it to the school division. Applications may be submitted at any time during the school year. The information households provide on the application will be used for determining eligibility and verification of data. Applications may be verified at any time during the school year by school or other program officials. For school officials to determine eligibility for free or reduced price benefits, households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (formerly the Food Stamp Program) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) only have to list their child(ren)'s name and SNAP or TANF case number and an adult household member must sign the application. Households who do not list a SNAP or TANF case number, including WIC households, must list the names of all household members, the amount and frequency of the income received by each household member, and the social security number of the adult household member who signs the application. If the household member does not have a social security number, the household member must indicate that a social security number is not available. The application must be signed by an adult household member in order to be approved.

Under the provisions of the free and reduced price meal policy, Food Services Manager will review applications and determine eligibility. An application for free or reduced price meals cannot be approved unless it is complete. Households dissatisfied with the ruling of the eligibility determining official may wish to discuss the decision with the official on an informal basis. Households wishing to make a formal appeal for a hearing on the decision may make a request either verbally or in writing to:

Royce Hart
302 Dare Road
Yorktown VA 23692
898-0328

Households may apply for free or reduced price meals at any time during the school year. If a household is not eligible now but has a change, such as a decrease in household income, an increase in household size, becomes unemployed or qualifies for SNAP or TANF, the household should contact the school for an application. Such changes may make the children of the household eligible for benefits if the household's income falls at or below the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines.

Households that receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (formerly the Food Stamp Program) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) may not have to complete an application for free or reduced price student meals. School officials will determine eligibility for free meals based on documentation, obtained directly from the Virginia Department of Social Services, that a child is a member of a household currently receiving SNAP or is receiving TANF. School officials will notify these households of their eligibility. Households who are notified of their eligibility, but who do not want their children to receive free meals, must contact the school. SNAP and TANF households must complete an application if they are not notified of their automatic eligibility within the first 10 days of the new school year.

]]> General News Thu, 12 Aug 2010 12:30:00 EST The York County School Division website will be undergoing routine maintenance August 13 - 15. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. Thank you for your patience.

]]> General News Wed, 11 Aug 2010 12:30:00 EST As we transition to the new school year, course-specific Edline web pages for elementary and middle schools will not be fully updated and available to access until Sept. 3. Updated high school course web pages will be available Sept. 3 to Edline subscribers. Parents and students without an Edline account will not be able to view course-specific web pages until Sept. 9.

Until the course-specific web pages are available, teachers will ensure that students have timely access to all information that would have been posted on the web pages. As always, the school's main pages will be available and updated throughout the summer and school year.

If you have questions, please contact your child's teacher.

]]> General News Mon, 9 Aug 2010 13:30:00 EST Kevin O'Reilly, a student at York High School and the son of Yorktown Elementary School (YES) teacher Teresa O'Reilly, recently built six raised flower beds for YES. Kevin wanted to create a project that would beautify the school grounds and provide a living science classroom for each grade level. Students have charted the progress of the plants and experimented with different care plans to enhance growth.

]]> General News Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:30:00 EST Yorktown Elementary School (YES) fifth grade students were congratulated by their teachers and parents at the annual Fifth Grade Celebration. The day's activities kicked off with a grand parade around the school amid the cheers of the entire student body and faculty. Each fifth grade student received a certificate of achievement and enjoyed a special lunch with their parents. Students who were also recognized for outstanding academic achievement received Presidential Awards signed by President Obama. Additionally, each fifth grade teacher chose a student who exemplified good citizenship and perseverance through difficult situations.

]]> General News Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:30:00 EST Waller Mill Elementary School (WMES) third grade student, Chloe Yoder was named winner of the York County Mosquito Control Poster Contest. Chloe's poster was chosen among over 250 entries.

]]> General News Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:30:00 EST A new tradition has been added to the promotion ceremony for the fifth grade students at Grafton Bethel Elementary School (GBES). Fourth and third graders line the halls as they walk to the cafeteria for the annual ceremony, then Kindergarten, first and second grade students honor them as they leave at the end of their ceremony. As they walk through the halls they are applauded and honored with posters. It is a very touching way for the fifth graders to end their experiences at GBES.

]]> General News Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:30:00 EST The Grafton High School Boys Track Team were awarded the 2010 Team Championship after placing 4th at the State Cross-Country Championships and only getting a 5th place spot during the Indoor Track season. The boys were able to score 46.5pts and earn a 1st Place podium spot. Point scorers for Grafton were: Kyle King – 16pts, Dwayne Stover – 13.5pts, David Gunnerson – 10pts, Brian Gorwitz – 7pts. All making it possible for the Clippers to get onto the team podium for the first time in the history of Grafton High School.

Members who ran this weekend were: Brian Wilmer, Brian Gorwitz, David Gunnerson, Paul Tyler, Rehan Talibi, Ben Hoppe, Conor Wallace, Kyle King, Matt Garcia and Dwayne Stover.

Notable performances include:
Kyle King 2nd, Brian Gorwitz 7th in the 3200m
In the 4x800 Meter Relay – 11th (Ben Hoppe, Brian Wilmer, Paul Tyler, Matt Garcia)
Dwayne Stover – tied for 5th place in the High Jump
David Gunnerson 3rd, Brian Gorwitz 4th in the 1600m
Dwayne Stover 1st – the only individual champion of the weekend in the 400m
Kyle King 2nd, David Gunnerson 5th in the 800m
4x400 Meter Relay – 12th (Conor Wallace, Rehan Talibi, David Gunnerson, and Dwayne Stover)

]]> General News Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:30:00 EST The Tabb High School Key Club sponsored its annual Red Cross Blood Drive with over 125 students and faculty supporting the drive to donate blood.

]]> General News Thu, 10 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EST Tabb High School students Brandon Euker, Jordan Ludwig and Aaron Williams were named to the York County Youth Commission for the 2010 - 2011 school year.

]]> General News Thu, 10 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EST President Barack Obama gave Dare Elementary School (DES) student Samantha Wilson some assistance with her recent homework assignment with the Flat Stanley project. The Flat Stanley project is a literacy and letter-writing initiative based on the main character in the Flat Stanley book series by Jeff Brown. First grade students were asked to select a friend or family member anywhere in the world to serve as a "host family" for Flat Stanley. Samantha chose President Obama to host Flat Stanley because he travels so much. Samantha's sister, Kalynne encouraged her to find a backup host family but Samantha refused and remained confident that the President would not let her down.

Finally a large envelope arrived with the White House imprint. Samantha found Flat Stanley, now dressed in business attire with a tie, official photos of President Obama, the first family and first dog, Bo and a letter on the White House stationary. The president was happy to have had the opportunity to host Flat Stanley and reported that, "he worked hard, listened carefully, and had a lot of fun!" The letter further describes that Flat Stanley joined the President during his daily activities which included meetings in the Oval Office, seeing the beautiful rooms and art in the East Wing, meeting the First Lady and daughters Sasha and Malia and playing with Bo. The letter continued stating "He (Flat Stanley) told me how surprised he was by the important role reading, writing, math and science all play in my job. As a lifelong student, and as President, I use these skills every day. I can tell you with certainty that whatever path you choose, the things you learn in school and the extra reading and exploration you do after school will always be helpful to you in your life." It concluded with the President urging Samantha to bring a great thirst for knowledge to her classroom and passion for serving others in her community.

When asked if she was surprised that Flat Stanley was returned, Samantha said, "no ... I knew President Obama would send him back home." Her Flat Stanley is now on display at Dare Elementary School with all the other Flat Stanley's who had equally wonderful visits and adventures.

]]> General News Thu, 10 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EST The Grafton High School Key Club raised approximately $750 for the Virginia Living Museum's "Adopt a Wild Thing in School" program. The students sold Krispy Kreme doughnuts in the morning for one week. The Key Club was awarded first place in the club category and is sponsoring the following animals: bald eagle, sea turtle, lionfish, vulture, and blue heron.

]]> General News Thu, 10 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EST The Governor's School for Science & Technology (GOV School) held its annual Awards & Recognition Ceremony at the Virginia Air & Space Center in Hampton in May. The GOV School is a regional education center for 11th and 12th grade students interested in advanced classes in science and mathematics. As part of this specialized program, students have two years of research course work, prepare science fair projects and engage in mentorship experiences with local professionals including NASA, Jefferson Labs, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, the College of William & Mary, Sentara Careplex and many others. YCSD students who received awards and recognition are:

Grafton High School:
Maydeli Figueroa - $2,000 New Horizons Regional Education Foundation Scholarship
Nicholas Grigorian - Xerox Award for Innovation and Information Technology

Tabb High School:
Yvonne Mack - $2,000 Old Point National Bank Scholarship
Vinh Nguyen - Engineer's Club Outstanding Student Award
Christopher Kegelman - Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award
Brian Whitlow - Rochester Institute of Technology Computing Medal
Christopher Kegelman, Corin Sandford, Lucas Thomeer, Yvonne Mack and Eric Sernson - Outstanding Accomplishments in Research

York High School:
Katie Overbey - $1,500 New Horizons Regional Education Foundation Scholarship
Young-Ah Lee - Outstanding Accomplishments in Research

]]> General News Thu, 3 Jun 2010 13:30:00 EST The Board of Supervisors and Youth Commission of York County have announced four high school students as outstanding youths in four categories. The students were nominated by citizens and selected by a committee. Each student received a $500 educational scholarship. The recipients are:

Compassion - Sarah Williams of Grafton High School
Overall Achievement - Andrew Adderley, Tabb High School
Community Service - Stephen Dilts, York High School
Courage - Rico Gomez, York High School

]]> General News Thu, 3 Jun 2010 13:30:00 EST Clara Wincheski, fourth grade student at Magruder Elementary School, won Best in Show at the annual Magruder Student Art Show for her weaving entry. Clara's work will be framed and permanently displayed in the Panther Cub Art Gallery located at the school.

]]> General News Thu, 3 Jun 2010 13:30:00 EST The third, fourth and fifth grade students at Coventry Elementary School met for a pep rally to prepare for the Standards of Learning (SOL) test. During the rally they were given tips and strategies to help them do well on the tests.

]]> General News Thu, 3 Jun 2010 13:30:00 EST The Leadership Class at York High School put on a Chili Cook-Off, with all proceeds benefiting the Food Bank of the Virginia Peninsula. The student-run event raised $1,100 and featured nine competitors and five judges, including two professional chefs. The Chili Cook-Off presented a raffle, cake walk and bake sale to raise additional funds for the food bank. Winners: First place, Ron and Karen Gillingham. Second place, John Soles. People's choice, John Soles. Best booth decorations, Connie and Steve Hildreth.

]]> General News Thu, 27 May 2010 11:30:00 EST Peninsula Fine Arts Center (PFAC) Director and Curator Michael Preble announced the winners of the 2010 Prefaces: High School Juried Exhibition. The pieces were selected by juror Mark St. John Erickson, Daily Press arts writer. Sponsored by The Tidewater Chapter of the Society Inc., this competitive exhibition offers students the opportunity to have their work selected for show in a professional gallery space with the work of their peers. Tabb High School (THS) student, Kelly Balogh took home the $300 best in show prize for her original acrylic painting, "Pucker Up". Second place of $200 was awarded Sydney Strader of THS for "Reaching for Light," an acrylic painting on canvas. Third place of $150 went to Shannon Kuster of York High School (YHS) for her acrylic painting, "My First Bath." Fourth place of $100 went to Desiree Gibbs of THS for "The Fashion of Creativity," in color pencil. Educator's Awards were given to Jennifer Armstrong of YHS for her digital piece, "Heidelberg Castle" and to Annabel Kang of THS for her acrylic painting, "Self Portrait." Honorable mention was given to Bruton High School student, Jenna Anderson. The exhibition is on display through June 6. For more information visit online PFAC-VA.org.

Other YCSD represented in Prefaces 2010 include:
Bruton High School: Sara Rock and Joanna Wright
Grafton High School: Jordan Allen, Eric Anderson, Katie Barner, James Battle, Kristi Dixon, Jennifer Frazee, Russell Gibson, Allison Grossenaugh, Jordan Lawing, Sarah Rice and Britt Sorensen
Tabb High School: Morgan Barber, Kyle Beissnes, Nan Sae Choi, Shayana Filmore, Dominique Gibbs, Courtney Lebron, Emily Mason, Maria Ng, Emily Piazza, Shannon Reed, Dana Reynolds, Leigh Ann Soistmann, Kate Strickling and Victoria White
York High School: Rebecca Brindza, Katelyn Shematek and Xiaer Zhang

]]> General News Thu, 27 May 2010 11:30:00 EST Greg Dickie, Director of Member Services of VML Insurance Programs presented the 2010 Risk Management Performance Award to York County School Division (YCSD). VML Insurance Programs is a non-profit, group self insurance program of local governments in the Commonwealth of Virginia and has provided coverage for auto, property and liability for the YCSD. A member since 2001, the division has an overall 35% loss ratio. This compares favorably with the program average of 45%. Dennis Jarrett, Linda McIntyre, James Lash and Frank Pitchford along with the safety committee have worked diligently to put standard operating procedures in place to ensure a safe environment for students, school employees and citizens. The successful completion of this process earned the school division a 5% reduction on the premium for 2010/11. Recently YCSD participated in a VML Insurance special program on driver training designed to enhance the training already in place. This is just one example of how YCSD seeks to improve their overall risk management program. The proactive approach taken toward loss prevention and good claim management practices has earned this recognition. The support of the Superintendent and the School Board is evident in making York County Schools a safe and productive place for learning.

]]> General News Thu, 27 May 2010 11:30:00 EST The Region II School Bus Road-E-O held at Phoebus High School featured six York County School Division (YCSD) bus drivers. All who competed did an outstanding job representing YCSD. Ralph Crockett took first place in the Conventional Bus competition.

]]> General News Thu, 27 May 2010 11:30:00 EST The York Foundation for Public Education, Inc. (YFPE) and the Peninsula Community Foundation of Virginia are proud to announce that Raymundo "Rico" Gomez of York High School has been selected as the recipient of the second annual Michael Tylavsky, Jr. Memorial Scholarship. The Scholarship is named for Michael J. Tylavsky, Jr., former Principal of Tabb High School to honor his reputation as a highly respected and admired educator and school administrator in York County. "Mr. T." retired after 26 years of dedicated service. In keeping with Mike Tylavsky's character, ideals, and wishes, this memorial scholarship provides assistance to a student from a working family who is pursuing a career in health and technology. The scholarship award in the amount of $500 will be paid to Thomas Nelson Community College, where Rico will begin his college education in liberal arts studies with aspirations of a career in respiratory therapy, and hopes to transfer to William & Mary after achieving his Associate's Degree. Citizens and businesses are encouraged to make a donation to the Michael Tylavsky Scholarship Fund payable to the Peninsula Community Foundation with "Tylavsky Scholarship" noted in the memo line. Checks should be mailed to: The Peninsula Community Foundation, 11742 Jefferson Avenue, Suite 350, Newport News, VA 23606 or call Peggy Myatt, YFPE Executive Director, at 898-0451 for more details.

]]> General News Thu, 27 May 2010 11:30:00 EST At the May 24 School Board meeting, the following principal assignments were approved, effective July 1:

Seaford Elementary School: Ed Holler
Grafton Middle School: Laura Abel
Bruton High School: Vicky Corlett
Tabb High School: Angela Seiders

Seaford Elementary School and Grafton Middle School will benefit from the leadership of Ed Holler and Laura Abel, each of whom is a highly skilled, experienced principal who is familiar with York County.

Vicky Corlett, the current Assistant Principal of Queens Lake Middle School, returns to Bruton High School, where she served previously as an Assistant Principal and Assessment & Compliance Coordinator.

Angela Seiders, the current Principal of Dozier Middle School in Newport News, will become Principal of Tabb High School. Angela is a York County resident and will be a great addition to our administrative team.

An opportunity will be scheduled before the end of the school year for students, parents, and staff members at SES, GMS, BHS, and THS to meet with their new principals.

We are fortunate to have these effective leaders in our school division.

]]> General News Wed, 26 May 2010 13:30:00 EST Deardra Hanline and Kimberly Draper's second grade class at Coventry Elementary School has been busy tending garden, releasing butterflies and watching chickens hatch. The class has been studying the lifecycle of butterflies and observing the process up close. The students released the butterflies in Coventry's Butterfly Garden.

]]> General News Fri, 21 May 2010 08:30:00 EST Dr. Richard Berquist of the College of William and Mary and his assistant, Lee Briscoe arrived at Tabb High School with drilling equipment to demonstrate earth sampling techniques to Richard Howell's Earth Science classes. Students watched as Dr. Berquist and Mr. Briscoe wrangled the amazing drill to depths of 50 feet and then assisted the team as the samples were unearthed and examined. Students then analyzed the samples from different depths. Dr. Berquist assisted the students by providing information about the local geological formations and the Earth history they represent.

]]> General News Fri, 21 May 2010 08:30:00 EST The Tabb High School Jazz Ensemble performed at the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association District VIII Jazz Festival in April at Lafayette High School. The Ensemble received straight Superior Ratings from the adjudication panel. Pianist Rick Ochranek, member of the Tabb High School Jazz Ensemble was selected as the "Outstanding Soloist of the Day" during the performance.

]]> General News Fri, 21 May 2010 08:30:00 EST The Tabb High Student Council Association (SCA) sponsored by Leann Sasamoto organized a car wash to help Haiti. Aaron Williams, Sophomore Class Vice President took the lead in organizing the event. The SCA together with members of First Priority and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes raised over $1,500 to be donated to the earthquake victims in Haiti. In addition to the fundraising event, the group is collecting new and gently used shoes toward the effort to help Haiti.

]]> General News Fri, 21 May 2010 08:30:00 EST The Modeling and Simulation (MOD SIM) summer camp program recognizes the importance of allowing students the opportunity to explore additional specialized areas of computer modeling and simulation in engineering design. It is not meant to supplant the regular school academic activities. Presentations and workshops are taught by a variety of Thomas Nelson Community College professors, content area professionals and specialists in areas of simulation and gaming, engineering technology, and other related fields. Students will gain knowledge about existing and future jobs that use Modeling, Analysis and Simulation, Transportation, Homeland Security, Virtual Environments, Social Sciences, Medicine and Health Care, Game-based Learning, and Business and Supply Chain Modeling.

]]> General News Fri, 21 May 2010 08:30:00 EST Members of the Tabb High School (THS) Future Educators of America (FEA) sponsored by Betty Burdick, assisted the students and teachers at Tabb Middle School (TMS) with their first annual 8th Grade Community Service Day. The FEA students were assigned to help the groups of TMS 8th graders as they completed their community service project at one of the thirteen sites.

]]> General News Fri, 21 May 2010 08:30:00 EST Tabb Middle School eighth grade students participated in the first annual Community Service Day. The students raked, caulked, painted, mowed, decorated, sealed, bagged, created, trimmed, hoisted, washed, hauled, planted, weeded, sorted and assembled; they also entertained, beautified, sang, assisted, played piano, chatted, shook hands, held hands, smiled and made human connections. The 264 students in matching t-shirts went to four nursing homes, three elementary schools, the York County School Division Bus Garage, Bethel Park, Bargain Box and visited a nearby neighborhood to paint storm drains.

]]> General News Fri, 21 May 2010 08:30:00 EST Natalie Doucette, a seventh grade student from Queens Lake Middle School was awarded first place in the State for her artwork. Her ink drawing won at the local, district and now at the state level in the Virginia Federation of Women's Club Art Competition.

]]> General News Fri, 14 May 2010 13:30:00 EST Tabb High School eleventh grade student, Austin Pierce brought home the gold medal from this year's International Medusa Mythology Exam. Students in grades 6 - 12 are eligible to take the exam with five levels of awards. While the exam has a different theme every year, the format is always a multiple-choice format with 50 questions in English and students are allowed 40 minutes to complete the exam. This year's theme was "Olympians 2.0".

]]> General News Fri, 14 May 2010 13:30:00 EST Coventry Elementary third grade student, Haley Fowler took an ecology workshop with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. She assisted with building and then decorating a rain barrel to use in the Coventry Elementary Cougar Courtyard. The rain barrel will be used to maintain the Painted Lady Butterfly Garden and the Monarch Waystation gardens in the courtyard which are planted and maintained by Deardra Hanline's second grade class.

]]> General News Fri, 14 May 2010 13:30:00 EST When/Where:

• Grafton High School - 5/26/10; 4 - 6pm
• York High School - 6/2/10; 4 - 6 pm
• Tabb High School - 6/8/10; 3 - 5 pm
• Bruton High School - 6/9/10; 4 - 6 pm

Cost: $15 (checks are accepted)

Open To: High School Students Only. Rising 9th graders are allowed to attend.

Physical forms must have completed medical history and parental signature for the physician to see the student-athlete. The physicals is limited to high school students only.

Click here to download the form.

]]> Events Fri, 7 May 2010 13:30:00 EST Tabb Middle School's Technology Student Association (TSA) club competed at "Technosphere" in Fairfax, Virginia. This is a statewide competition for students competing at both the high school and middle school level. The events are highly competitive, requiring both detailed paper work and application in events such as web page design, boat design and building, dragster design and building, flight, hovercraft, leadership, technology bowl, technical writing and drawing, prepared speech, and many more.

The following are eligible to move up to the national level competition this summer in Baltimore, Maryland: Nick Anselmo, 1st place Electrical Applications; Josh Findlay, 1st place Graphic Design; Bryan Moon, 2nd place Transportation Challenge; Sam Rice, 2nd place Multimedia Production; Ashley Barclift, 3rd place Dragster Design; and Logan Wright, 3rd place Electrical Applications.

The following students placed in the top 10 of their event: Todd M. Barns, 6th place team-Marine Design; Kevin G. Brown, 9th place team-video game design; Alec Bultman, 10th place team Web page design; Thomas Goulter, 9th place team video game design; Matthew Montgomery, 9th place team video game design; Julia N. Smith, 6th place team Marine Design; Molly P. Spruill, 9th place team Systems Control and 10th place team Web page design; Nathan A. Velazquez, 6th place team Marine Design and10th place team Web page design; and Lauren A. Wright, 9th place team Systems Control.

Also participating were Amanda Carroll in both Robot Challenge and Engineering Structure and Kayla Shay in Leadership Strategies, Video Design and Problem Solving.

]]> General News Fri, 7 May 2010 10:30:00 EST The Yorktown Middle School Classics Club sponsored a "Hats Off to Avalon" Day. Students paid $1.00 to purchase a sticker which allowed the student to wear the hat of their choice to school for the day. The Club raised $467 to donate to Avalon - A Center for Women and Children. The Classics Club, sponsored by Lynn Rickerson and Mary Gatens, is open to all sixth, seventh and eighth grade girls and promotes self-esteem to empower girls to avoid drugs, teen pregnancies and abusive relationships. The club members are also encouraged to support each other academically through peer tutoring.

]]> General News Fri, 7 May 2010 10:30:00 EST Tabb Elementary School students witnessed the joining of letters "Q" and "U" The two letters will be forever together spelling words such as quarter and quest. The ceremony is held to reinforce the "QU" connection.

]]> General News Fri, 7 May 2010 10:30:00 EST Students at Yorktown Middle School (YMS) participated in a border exploration workshop delivered by students from the College of William and Mary. Conducted in Nancy Feigenbaum's Spanish I class, students engaged in decision-making scenarios of border life on the Mexico/United States border. The lesson was created in response to field studies of the border conducted by William and Mary students under the direction of Professor Jennifer Bickham Mendez. The experience enabled YMS students to increase their international awareness, enhance their English and Spanish vocabulary skills, and learn more about post-secondary educational opportunities.

]]> General News Fri, 7 May 2010 10:30:00 EST Best Buy of Williamsburg's team of employees from the store partnered with Lowe's of Williamsburg to host an Earth Day garden planting with Magruder Elementary School's kindergarten classes. The event was planned by Best Buy's View Point Committee while Lowe's supplied flowers and seeds for the kindergarteners to plant.

]]> General News Fri, 7 May 2010 10:30:00 EST The Grafton High School (GHS) marching band and wind ensemble directed by Darren Kirsch and Gabe Stone has been named the "Virginia Honor Band" for the 2009-2010 school year for the sixth time by the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association (VBODA). To receive this status, the band must demonstrate comprehensive success in the areas of both concert and marching band performance. The GHS band received "superior" ratings and special recognition was credited to the band directors by the VBODA.

]]> General News Fri, 7 May 2010 10:30:00 EST York County School Division has two new National Board Certified Teachers. Cynthia Hardesty from York High School and Mary Flaherty-Nobile from Grafton High School have met the rigorous standards and successfully completed the national assessment. These two teachers join the group of eleven certified educators in the division.

]]> General News Fri, 7 May 2010 10:30:00 EST In accordance with the Code of Virginia and the guidelines provided by the State Board of Education (BOE) and the Library of Virginia (LVA), the York County School Division destroys non-permanent records (not scholastic records) of all students including special needs students. These records have been retained five years after the student graduated or withdrew from York County School Division or transferred to another school division. Because this information may possibly be needed for social security benefits or other purposes, the student (or parent, if the former student is less than 18 years old) may obtain a copy of his/her records by calling 757-898-0314 or emailing gmcquigg@ycsd.york.va.us no later than June 18, 2010.

]]> General News Mon, 3 May 2010 08:30:00 EST The Earth Kids Club at Dare Elementary School (DES) is sponsoring a school-wide Arbor Day Celebration. On April 30, Arbor Day, the students will participate in a ceremony that will include a short explanation of the history of Arbor Day and the planting of a dogwood tree. The dogwood tree was purchased with donations to DES in memory of Mr. Frank Lia, a Dare grandparent and long time volunteer at DES. The ceremony for K-2 begins at 9:15 a.m. and for grades 3-5 at 9:45 a.m.

]]> General News Fri, 30 Apr 2010 07:30:00 EST Yorktown Elementary School teacher Lydia Lassalle discovered an owl entangled in the soccer net when she took her class outside for recess. She quickly called on fourth grade teacher Jorj Head for assistance. Head, who is an experienced outdoorsman, was able to remove the owl from the net. He and Lassalle painstakingly cut away the remaining net that entwined the owl's wings and talons. An animal removal specialist was called and everyone thought that the owl would have to be taken to the vet. However, Head released the owl and it flew away above the trees. The two teachers turned the rescue into an impromptu science lesson and a parent volunteer was on hand to videotape and photograph the entire rescue.

]]> General News Fri, 30 Apr 2010 07:30:00 EST There is no doubt that Tabb's got a tiger as soon as you approach the front of Tabb High School you can't help but notice the life-size cat watching over the main entrance. SCA sponsor, Leeann Sasamoto was approached by Leigh Ann Soistmann, the PTSA Liaision for the Sophomore Class with the idea. Leigh Ann had discovered the tiger replica over the summer and tracked down the manufacturer before coming to Ms. Sasamoto with the idea. Principal Laura Able thought the tiger would be a wonderful addition to the campus and negotiations resulted in "Tabb's Got a Tiger".

]]> General News Fri, 30 Apr 2010 07:30:00 EST Six students from York High School won first place in the boat design competition sponsored by the Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding Apprentice School's chapter of the Society of Naval Architect and Marine Engineers. The shipyard apprentices used the student designs to build the 9 foot long vessels. The boat, dubbed Boats and Hose was tested for speed, steering, construction, propulsion and maneuverability.

]]> General News Fri, 30 Apr 2010 07:30:00 EST The annual YCSD School Bus Road-E-O was held in the parking lot at York High School. The participants took both a written pre-trip inspection test and a general knowledge test, then drove through an obstacle course. Winners will compete in the Region II School Bus Road-E-O to be held May 15 at Phoebus High School in Hampton. Winners are as follows:

Conventional Competition
1st place - Ralph Crockett
2nd Place - Sherri Woodward
3rd Place - Caryn Best Randall

Transit Competition
1st Place - Marilyn Johnson
2nd Place - Jack Webster
3rd Place - George White

]]> General News Fri, 30 Apr 2010 07:30:00 EST The Kindergarten class at Seaford Elementary School provided a fun filled night of entertainment by performing the musical "Bugz" for family and friends.

]]> General News Fri, 30 Apr 2010 07:30:00 EST Girl Scout Daisy Troop 1659 of Yorktown conducted an Earth Day service project at Mount Vernon Elementary School. The Daisy Scouts, who were also joined by two Girl Scout Brownies, weeded and mulched Mustang Meadow, the school’s learning garden. The troop chose to give back to their own school.

]]> General News Fri, 30 Apr 2010 07:30:00 EST Benjamin Bakkum, a York High School (YHS) senior in the IB Diploma Programme, is the recipient of the Lee-Jackson Educational Foundation Scholarship in the amount of $10,000. Ben's essay was selected as the representative entry for the York County School Division and was later selected as the winner from entries submitted from all regions throughout Virginia. This essay represented Ben's dedication to historical and political research and analysis, and was developed under the direction of YHS instructor Paul Rice.

]]> General News Fri, 30 Apr 2010 07:30:00 EST The York County School Division's (YCSD) retiring Chief Academic Officer, Lucia Villa Sebastian, Ed.D., has been tapped to coordinate a Virginia Department of Education Title I grant at The College of William & Mary to assist local school divisions with schools struggling to meet annual student accountability measures. Sebastian's retirement from YCSD is effective July 1, 2010. The over $473,000 in grant funds will direct work with local K-12 leadership teams in the central offices of 42 Virginia school divisions with one or more underperforming schools. Sebastian will supervise the work of leadership coaches assigned in each of the school divisions. Sebastian will also serve as an Executive Professor teaching classes in the Educational Policy and Planning portion of The College of William & Mary's School of Education. Dean Virginia McLaughlin noted, "...Lucia's experience as a teacher, principal and central office educational leader will be a real benefit as we partner with K-12 educators to sustain student achievement growth...Lucia has taught for us part-time in recent years, and we are delighted now to have her working with us full-time." Dr. Eric Williams, YSCD Superintendent commented, "While we will miss Lucia’s instructional leadership, she is perfectly suited to assist school divisions that are working on improving student achievement."

]]> General News Fri, 30 Apr 2010 07:30:00 EST The York High Leadership Class will be holding a chili cookoff on Saturday, May 15th from 12 – 3 p.m. at the York High School Cafeteria.

$7 for a sampling of all chili and a drink
$2 for a bowl
Children 3 & under are free; 4 to 12 - $5

Baked goods for sale at the event

Entertainment includes Jazz Bear (band), Cakewalk, 50/50 raffle and activities for the children.

Enjoy an afternoon of exquisite chili homecooked by local competitors. All proceeds benefit the Foodbank of the Virginia Peninsula.

]]> Events Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:30:00 EST Tabb Middle School (TMS) is planning to demonstrate the importance of giving back to the community by sponsoring the first annual TMS Community Service Day for all 8th grade students during the morning of May 13. Students will sign-up to provide service to one of the following community locations: nursing/retirement center, selected YCSD elementary schools, the Bargain Box, Natasha House, Bethel Park and the Wythe Creek Farms Storm Drain Project. In preparation for the event, students are participating in essay and t-shirt design contests in their English classes. The essays will be shared with students the morning of the event and all participants will receive a t-shirt to wear while providing service in the community. TMS students are showing their pride in the community by giving back!

]]> General News Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:30:00 EST Tabb Middle School (TMS) has been awarded a $2500 grant from BAE Systems for the first Lego Robotics Program. Grant funding will be used to purchase materials to integrate into the classroom and for use by a TMS Competition Team. The Competition Team will be part of TMS's various extracurricular activities for interested middle school students. Robotics training will be provided to interested YCSD teachers during an August in-service training. The teachers will learn how to incorporate robotics into instruction. The program is designed to promote a greater student interest in science and technology.

]]> General News Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:30:00 EST Queens Lake Middle School participated in the District VIII, Solo & Ensemble Festival held at Yorktown Middle School. Congratulations to the following students who received Excellent & Superior ratings on the solo(s) they performed:

Solos-Excellent Rating-(2)
Kaitlyn Bolton, Flute
Nadia Frazier, Clarient
Joshua Dolson, Clarient
Jordan Robinson, Clarinet
Tori McCurdy, Alto Saxophone
Austin Gardner, Alto Saxophone
Michael Milligan, Tenor Saxophone
Reilly Kartchner, Trumpet
Wyatt, Baldasare, Baritone Horn

Saxophone Trio-Excellent Rating-(2)
R'landa Mapp, 1st Alto Saxophone
Austin Gardner, 2nd Alto Saxophone
Rachel Perry, Tenor Saxophone

Solos-Superior Rating-(1)
Libby Bieri, Flute
Carolina deJager, Flute
Makayla Starman, Flute
Victoria Diesburg, Flute
Jessica Holmes, Oboe
Danetta Williams, Clarinet
R'landa Mapp, Clarinet
Joseph Morrow, Alto Saxophone
Rachel Perry, Alto, Saxophone
Alberto Boites, Trumpet
Aaliyah Bartlett, Drum
Nic Falcione, Drum
Cody Jackson, Drum
Jaquille Fyffe, Drum
Joseph Morrow, Drum

]]> General News Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:30:00 EST School of the Performing Arts (SOA) has been recognized as one of the top writing programs in the state. Out of eight winners, YCSD earned five slots. School of the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community (SPARC) proudly announces the winners of the 21st annual competition for New Voices for the Theater, the nationally acclaimed statewide high school playwriting program that celebrates and cultivates young writing talent from across Virginia. One hundred and sixty plays from around the state were submitted this year and eight resident winners were chosen. The New Voices for the Theater playwriting competition provides an exciting opportunity for Virginia students to work closely with professional theater artists during a three-week residency. YCSD SOA winners are:

Olivia and Oliver by Jillian O'Hare
Stranded by David McKinney
Hell Hath No Fury Like a Robot Scorned by Sara Katherine Rock
Plumbing Problems by Helen Mittmann
A Treasure Hunt to Remember by Allie Christy

]]> General News Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:30:00 EST Bruton High School's (BHS) "Operation Green Sweep" was a great success. Over 75 students, parents, volunteers, teachers, administration and Kohl's employees showed up to beautify the grounds at BHS. Thank you to all that participated!

]]> General News Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:30:00 EST Congratulations to Grafton High School's (GHS) Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) for earning state recognition:

Chris Whitmire - 1st Place, Accounting I
Rand Irons - 1st Place, Personal Finance
Fangdi Sun - 3rd Place, Economics

Rand Irons was installed as the new Virginia State Vice-President to represent the Thomas Nelson Community College (TNCC) Region. Additionally, the GHS chapter was awarded the honors of: 5th largest chapter in the state of Virginia, Honor Chapter (one of 2 in the TNCC region) and National Gold Seal Chapter. Honors awards are given for having a well-rounded balance of activities based on number of points earned. First place Virginia state winners will compete at the National FBLA Conference to be held at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee in July.

]]> General News Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:30:00 EST Tabb High School's (THS) student activists group, sponsored by THS teacher Elizabeth Milne designated April 14 and 15 as "Skip a Meal for the Hungry" days. They encouraged students to donate money they might have otherwise spent on a meal to feed the hungry and save lives. The group collected over $350 for the two days.

]]> General News Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:30:00 EST Members of the Grafton Kiwanis Club visited Yorktown Middle School (YMS) to present the YMS Builders Club with its official charter. Currently in its inaugural year at YMS, the Builder's Club is a national service organization for middle school students sponsored by the Kiwanis. Around the world Builders Club members work to develop leadership skills while working with friends to help others in need. Over the course of the 2009-2010 school year, YMS Builders Club members have held a food drive, made cards for residents of local nursing homes, made and sold bracelets to raise money to support the Red Cross earthquake relief efforts and conducted numerous projects to benefit the YMS school community.

]]> General News Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:30:00 EST The Coventry Elementary Cougar Community enjoyed an evening of fun celebrating the arts and recognizing the many volunteers. The activities included "Art After Dark" which displayed art creations made by each student, a volunteer reception and the 2nd Annual Coventry Elementary School Student Talent Show!

]]> General News Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:30:00 EST The Teacher of the Year prize patrol surprised those teachers who were selected as the level teachers of the year for the York County School Division (YCSD). Gordon Parr, Tabb High School was selected as the YCSD’s Teacher of the Year and as the high school Teacher of the Year. Kathy Faron, Grafton Middle School was selected at middle school Teacher of the Year and Katie Gaylord, Waller Mill Elementary School was chosen as elementary Teacher of the Year. Congratulations to all the winners!

YCSD School Level Teachers of the Year
Anne Dunn - Bethel Manor Elementary
Patty Burger - Coventry Elementary
Nicole Shepherd - Dare Elementary
Kim Clore - Grafton Bethel Elementary
Carey Phillips - Magruder Elementary
Katherine Bowden - Mount Vernon Elementary
Libby Webb - Seaford Elementary
Jonathon Twiter - Tabb Elementary
Katie Gaylord - Waller Mill Elementary
Myra Ingram - Yorktown Elementary
Kathy Faron - Grafton Middle
Richard Onesty - Queens Lake Middle
Anne Wozniak - Tabb Middle
Nancy Feigenbaum - Yorktown Middle
Luanne Erdos - Bruton High
Matt Ellis - Grafton High
Gordon Parr - Tabb High
Laura Nestor - York High
Sam Carpenter - York River Academy

]]> General News Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:30:00 EST The three team sponsors of the YCSD Odyssey of the Mind state champions received grants from the York Foundation for Public Education, Inc. (YFPE). Grafton High, Dare Elementary and Yorktown Middle received $1,000 each to assist the Odyssey of the Mind teams with travel expenses to the World Odyssey of the Mind competition in East Lansing, Michigan in May.

]]> General News Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:30:00 EST Odyssey of the Mind Teams from Grafton High School, Yorktown Middle School and Dare Elementary School won first place at the state competition which was held in March 2010. These teams are now eligible to compete in the World Finals which will be held in East Lansing, Michigan in May.

]]> General News Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:30:00 EST The York Foundation for Public Education, Inc. (YFPE) granted eleven scholarships to seven teachers and four Para-Educators of the York County School Division. The individual recipients will receive monetary awards to be used for continued professional development and education. YFPE Liaison Peggy Myatt and YFPE board members, Dr. Catherine Jones and Tricia Biagas visited each individual recipient at their school.

Teacher Scholarships
Veronica Hodges, Magruder Elementary
Eric Holzshu, Queens Lake Middle
Judith Mitchell, Seaford Elementary
Renee Koob, Waller Mill Elementary
Jaime Miller and Laura Nestor, York High
Nancy Feigenbaum, Yorktown Middle

Para-Educator Scholarships
April Spruiel, Dare Elementary
Lynn Shematek, Seaford Elementary
Karen Neal-Shafer, Wall Mill Elementary
Shawneeque Randall, Yorktown Middle

]]> General News Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:30:00 EST Greg Mortenson, founder of Pennies for Peace, co-authored Three Cups of Tea, the story that inspired him to build schools for the children of Pakistan and Afghanistan. His dedication to building literacy and peace, one child at a time, has lead to the building of more than sixty schools to date. Students at Waller Mill heard his story and how a single penny can buy a pencil for children. Students collected pennies for this program and a school wide celebration was held. Students counted and rolled pennies together and shared tea.

]]> General News Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:30:00 EST Fifth grade students wrapped up their Colonial unit with a day of Colonial life experiences at Waller Mill Elementary School. Students shared colonial foods, participated in a colonial town hall meeting and enjoyed a presentation by members of the Williamsburg Colonial Fife and Drum.

]]> General News Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:30:00 EST Tabb High School's Advance Placement Biology teacher, Karen Mayeaux was selected by the Air Force Association's Langley Chapter as the 2010 Science Teacher of the Year. Ms. Mayeaux will be honored at the Association’s luncheon in June and be presented with a $750 award.

]]> General News Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:30:00 EST The Virginia Association of Pupil Transportation (VAPT) has named Richard White as first place winner in the association's first annual Virginia's Best School Bus Technician competition. Seven Virginia public school districts took part in the competition that consisted of both a school bus technical knowledge written exam and a hands on diagnostic and trouble shooting exercise. Mr. White received a trophy and a cash award of $100 and will represent Virginia at the National Association for Pupil Transportation School Bus Technician's Training and Skills competition taking place July 2010 in Jasper, Indiana in either the School Bus Technician or School Bus Inspector category. Bob Clinebell, the VAPT organizing chair for the event, said, "We are extremely excited to have had such a successful inaugural contest. Virginia has exceptionally talented and professionally-minded school bus technicians, so we are thrilled to have a format for recognizing these dedicated individuals."

]]> General News Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:30:00 EST Yorktown Elementary School's Project Dream students collected canned foods and cash donations for the Peninsula Foodbank. The program is in its fifth year and focuses on academic achievement, leadership development and community service. Students also attend various cultural and sports events. Mentors from the Naval Weapons Station and the College of William and Mary have participated in various events.

]]> General News Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:30:00 EST The first annual Operation Green Sweep will be on Saturday, April 17 from 8:00 a.m. to noon. In recognition of Earth Day and Environmental Awareness, Bruton High School's student organizations, Beautification Committee and PTSA, are partnering with Kohl's Department store of upper York County to sponsor the event. Volunteers from Kohl's local store and regional office will join students, parents and faculty members to beautify the grounds by planting flowers, trees and shrubs, removing trash and debris, and restoring the green and gold panther paws at the high school. To promote Earth Day, Kohl's is awarding Bruton High School a $1,500 "Green" grant.

]]> Events Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:30:00 EST Ema Tanaka seventh grader from Grafton Middle School (GMS) was awarded Honorable Mention in the Jr. High/Middle School category in the 2010 Photo Contest, co-sponsored by Jostens and Wolfe's Camera. Ema was among 103 winners selected from more than 8,000 entries nationwide. Submissions were judged on composition, artistic merit and technical qualities, as well the ability to convey a compelling story. "This is the first year for a middle school Yearbook class, and our first year to enter the contest. Several students submitted photos and the quality of those entries was excellent. I'm pleased and proud that Ema was recognized for her work," said Elisabeth Brantley, Yearbook teacher at GMS. The winning photographs are featured on the Jostens.com web site and also featured in the 2011 issue of the Jostens Gotcha Covered Look Book, a popular resource for yearbook advisers and staffs seeking creative ideas, trends and inspiration. Ema's photograph shows two of her best friends, Kyrstan Stokes and Monica Singer, against the backdrop of windows during the peak of fall. Ema remarked, "In my photo, I like the way the light shines. I was inspired by the big window showing the background of fall."

]]> General News Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:30:00 EST Members of the Tabb High School Future Business Leaders of America traveled to New York City to get a first hand look at how business in America really works. The group, sponsored by Gina Mancuso-Sidhu, visited the sights, attended workshops and participated in behind the scenes tours of various businesses over there four day visit.

]]> General News Fri, 2 Apr 2010 08:30:00 EST Magruder Elementary School hosted a career day with visitors from Hampton University's Aviation Department, the York-Poquoson Sheriff's office and a Civil Engineer.

]]> General News Fri, 2 Apr 2010 08:30:00 EST Emily Duke, a Marine Science student in Rachel McBride's class at Tabb High School won the Virginia Institute of Marine Science's Marine Science Day Artwork Contest. The theme this year was "sand”. Emily's design, showcasing a "sandman" was chosen from many to be printed on the t-shirts and used through out the advertisements for the event. Emily will be presented with a t-shirt sporting her artwork as well as a framed print on May 22nd, during the Marine Science Day in Gloucester Point.

]]> General News Fri, 2 Apr 2010 08:30:00 EST Coventry Elementary School celebrated Dr. Seuss and Read Across America, by holding a book exchange. Students brought gently used books to school and exchanged with other students in their grade level. The exchange was a great success in teacher’s, Gina Rayburn and Jennifer Overbay's Kindergarten classes.

]]> General News Fri, 2 Apr 2010 08:30:00 EST During Read Across America, Coventry Elementary School held a contest for students. They were asked to create a Dr. Seuss character from recycled material. The winners are K-12: Ada Reed, Madeline Hasstedt, Nicole Baba and TJ Sullivan. Grad 3-5: Caroline Kasten, Caris King and Miroslava Marinova.

]]> General News Fri, 2 Apr 2010 08:30:00 EST There will be an open house for prospective kindergarten parents and students on May 6th, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Grafton Bethel Elementary School. The Kindergarten classrooms will be open and there will be an opportunity to meet with the Kindergarten teachers.

]]> Events Fri, 2 Apr 2010 08:30:00 EST Congressman Rob Wittman paid a visit to the York River Academy (YRA). The congressman discussed current issues before Congress and gave students an opportunity to ask questions.

]]> General News Fri, 2 Apr 2010 08:30:00 EST Queens Lake Middle School (QLMS) has been selected as a recipient of the Williamsburg Area School Environmental Award for 2010. York County will present the award at the Earth Day Business Environmental Awards brunch, on April 22 at the Historic Freight Shed in Yorktown. QLMS will receive a plaque and $100 in support of their environmental programs.

]]> General News Fri, 2 Apr 2010 08:30:00 EST With increased competition in the job market today, students need to make sure they can hit the ground running when they begin their job search. Tabb High School's Career and Technical Education Department together with Assistant Principal, Francis Dukes organized a career fair for students to gain valuable insight into just what they need to do to secure their dream job. The school hosted over twenty exhibitors from businesses from all over the peninsula in the commons area of the building during lunch blocks. Representatives from the fields of finance, engineering, information technology, education, journalism, sales and marketing, to name a few, were answering student questions and providing valuable information to help students make sound career decisions.

]]> General News Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST There are over 50 different clubs and organizations sponsored for student participation at Tabb High School (THS). New this year to THS is the WWII Tactical Simulation Club. Sponsored by Mark Pingley, the club meets every Thursday after school in room 121. All interested students are invited to participate and stretch their minds around the events surrounding WWII and other tactical conflicts.

]]> General News Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST Kaitlyn Dunn, Grafton High School senior and mentorship student at Grafton Bethel Elementary School plays the bagpipes to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

]]> General News Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST In an effort to provide comfort for the children of earthquake ravaged Haiti, the Tabb High School Key Club sponsored a stuffed animal drive. The club collected almost 400 stuffed animals to send. Energizing the stuffed animal drive was a friendly competition between classes to see which could collect the most stuffed toys. The seventh period English class taught by Elizabeth Milne won.

]]> General News Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST Kindergarten students at Magruder Elementary School performed a patriotic program for their families and friends.

]]> General News Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST Antonia Fox, Principal of York High School was awarded the Virginia Student Council administrator of the year at the 84th annual Virginia School Counselor Association (VSCA) convention in Richmond.

]]> General News Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST Blinky the Lightbulb recently visited Seaford Elementary School to encourage participation in Think-A-Thon, the school's spring fund raising activity. Students obtained pledges from community members in anticipation of taking a special test at school. Pledges were collected based on the number of test questions they answered correctly.

]]> General News Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST Emily Wiggans, a junior at York High School (YHS) was elected to the post of president of the State Student Council Association. Emily ran a campaign entitled "Oh, the Places Emily Will Go!" YHS and SCA sponsor, Amy Holtschneider are proud of Emily and excited by this opportunity.

]]> General News Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST York County School Division (YCSD) is accepting applications for the Integrated Preschool Outreach Program (IPOP) for the 2010 academic year. IPOP is a language-based preschool environment. The program is designed to serve students who are typically developing and those with special needs. The curriculum places emphasis on school readiness and socialization skills. Applications and information are available at yorkcountyschools.org or they can be picked up in the main office of any YCSD elementary school. Application deadline is April 1, 2010. For further information contact Valerie Wilson at 757-898-0308.

]]> General News Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST Master gardeners from Virginia Cooperative Extension of York County (VCE-York County) will be hosting an outdoor hands-on "Estuaries to Oceans" field trip on March 29 for the entire fifth grade at Seaford Elementary School (SES). This is the third time VCE-York County has offered this science-based field trip to a York County School. The field trip takes place across three properties including and adjacent to SES. Student classes are split up and each group follows a different schedule consisting of the same six activities. Activities include: Guided walk, Geology, Phytoplankton Races, Aquatic Macro invertebrates, water quality testing, and observational buoys. Each activity is hosted by two to four educators and/or staffers, and the school provides parent chaperons who rotate with each group. At each station students do the featured activity and answer questions in their field trip journals. Jim Orband, Senior Extension Agent, VCE-York County will assist the group throughout the day.

]]> General News Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST Tabb High School DECA supported the Muscular Dystrophy Association's Shamrock sale and championed the "Send Chris to Camp" campaign by raising over $200 during the lunch block sales of shamrocks. Students and faculty supported the sale and had their names placed on shamrocks pasted along the media center front windows. To encourage participation in the event, a competition was held between the classes; the senior class purchased the most shamrocks.

]]> General News Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST Five members of the African American History Club served as the team representing Grafton High School in the 2010 Langley African American Heritage Council's African American History Trivia Bowl, held at York High School. Upon winning this year, Grafton High School retains possession of the first place trophy and is the only school in the York County School Division to be the winner of the Bowl since its origination in 2006. Teacher sponsor, Antoinette Burnett served as the team coach and Vice Principal, Craig Reed was in attendance to support the team.

]]> General News Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST Tabb High School student, Kirk Smith has taken first place in the annual Peninsula District of the Virginia Parent Teachers Association essay writing event. The theme of this years 750 word minimum essay was "Strong Citizens-Strong Communities". Kirk will be recognized for his accomplishment and receive his award during the Peninsula District PTA's annual dinner meeting on April 15.

]]> General News Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST Congratulations to Grafton Middle School's six winners of the 9th annual 2010 Holocaust Writing Competition sponsored by the United Jewish Community in Newport News. "The main goal of the writing competition is to encourage students to apply the lessons of history to the moral decisions they make today." These students, from Jill Barnes’ advanced English class, will receive recognition at the annual Holocaust Memorial Day observance on Sunday, April 11th at the Jewish Community Center in Newport News. Grafton Middle is proud to be represented by these talented writers!

Middle School Creative Division
1st Prize - James Bittner
2nd Prize - Elizabeth Ballman

Middle School Expository Division
2nd Prize - Kaija Craft
3rd Prize - Taylor Bradshaw
Finalists - Adam Church & Daniel Hain

]]> General News Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST Queens Lake Middle School’s Battle of the Books team took second place in the preliminary round of the Battle of the Books. Our top book battler was Alyssa Queen who scored an impressive 14 points. Next in line was Tia Maxfield, followed by Melissa Martin and Michael Wilson. These amazing readers will compete in the local finals on March 19.

]]> General News Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST The 59th Annual Regional Tidewater Science Fair was held at Old Dominion University in March. York County School Division (YCSD) entered 56 projects of the total 276 competing. YCSD students took seven of the category 1st place awards and a total of 34 place winners, along with special awards including plaques, t-shirts and monetary awards. Students from York High School, 1st Grand Prize winner, Jessica Lee and 2nd Grand Prize winner, Young-Ah Lee, along with a teacher sponsor, will travel to San Jose, California in May to compete in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.

]]> General News Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST Each year, the Virginia Student Councils Association (VSCA) recognizes one school administrator at each level in the state who has made an impact in their school’s Student Council through continued support and participation. YCSD is proud to announce that Antonia Fox, principal at York High School has been named the school administrator of the year by VSCA. The Council will present all awards at their annual convention held March 19-21. The students at YHS submitted Antonia for this prestigious award. Congratulations!

]]> General News Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST This year's musical production at Tabb High School is the longtime popular favorite "Grease". Over 100 students are part of the cast, on and off stage. Jack Poland, Drama Department, Gordon Parr, Choral Department and Adam Waller, Band Director have worked hard with the students to prepare for this year's musical production. The show opens on March 18th at 7:00 PM and runs the same time again on March 19th and 20th. Tickets are available in the main office for $8.00 each.

]]> General News Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST Deborah Eckstein and Cynthia Hardesty, York High School science teachers, recently received grants through the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association Science Teacher Tool Awards. Deborah will use her grant to purchase a deionization machine for the Chemistry classes and other lab equipment. Cynthia will purchase materials for her physics students to study global climate change and alternative energy sources.

]]> General News Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST Tabb High School's Annabel Kang received Honorable Mention in the Student Gallery competition presented at the Chrysler Hall Museum of Arts in March. Students in Tiffany Heiser's Art Classes at Tabb High School walked away with wins in this year's art competition sponsored by the Yorktown Woman's Club. Austin Hearn placed first in Printmaking. Jake Kimball placed first in Pastels. Sydney Strader placed first in Painting. Best in Show at this year's art competition sponsored by the Yorktown Woman's Club was one of Leann Sasamoto's photography students, Kayla Lupton. Kayla's photography entries were included in the Natural History and the Scenic categories.

]]> General News Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST The Virginia Board of Education is honoring ten public school divisions and 102 schools for raising the academic achievement of economically disadvantaged students. The awards are based on student achievement on state assessments during 2008-2009 and the previous school year.

All six of the York County Title I schools were recognized as "Title I Distinguished Schools" for maintaining full state accreditation under the commonwealth’s Standards of Learning program for two consecutive years, meeting federal benchmarks in reading and mathematics and having average test scores in both subjects at the 60th percentile or higher.

"When provided effective and focused instruction, all children — regardless of economic status — can achieve academic success, and these results confirm that," said Board of Education President Eleanor B. Saslaw. "The results of the hard work of thousands of students, teachers, principals and other educators are seen in the increased achievement of students in the honored schools and divisions," Superintendent of Public Instruction Patricia I. Wright said.

Each school and division will receive a certificate celebrating its status and achievement. The recognized schools of the York County School Division are as follows: Bethel Manor Elementary, Dare Elementary, Grafton Bethel Elementary, Magruder Elementary, Tabb Elementary and Waller Mill Elementary.

Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act provides funding to school divisions and schools for programs to raise the achievement of students identified as being at risk of academic failure. The federal education law requires schools and school divisions to meet annual objectives for increasing student achievement on statewide assessments in reading/language arts and mathematics. During 2008-2009, 520, or 72 percent, of Virginia’s 722 Title I schools met all federal objectives.

]]> General News Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST The following Yorktown Middle School (YMS) students were selected as Most Outstanding (MO) and Most Improved (MI) for third quarter of 2009/2010 school year. Principal Candi Skinner and Guidance Director Dr. Patricia Johnson presented certificates to the students at the MO/MI recognition. The YMS PTA also rewarded each student with a goody bag.

MOST OUTSTANDING

6th Grade
Madeline Honig
Anjali Patel

7th Grade
Ethan Jones
Doninique Rainey

8th Grade
Lawson Evans
Hannah Hautz

MOST IMPROVED

6th Grade
Foundations of Algebra Part I - Courtney Jenkins
Foundations of Algebra - Ahmad Alazzam
Language Arts - Dakota Lucker
Science - Alex Ryan
Social Studies - Mister Frazier

7th Grade
Math 7 - Jacob Ryan
Language Arts - Alexander Radigan
Science - Erica Isham
Social Studies - Rebekah Taylor
Algebra - Joshua Moore

8th Grade
Pre Algebra - Taylor Blanton
Algebra I - Murphy Heist
Geometry - Brittany Woodman
Language Arts - Colby Tran and Robert (Dean) Roberts
Advanced Language Arts - Tori Harris
Science - Walter (Trey) Rausch
Global Studies - Josh Harris

ENCORE – ART MOST IMPROVED

6th - Jerry Morgan
7th - Destiny Banks
8th - Kara Johnson

]]> General News Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST Yorktown Middle School (YMS) students recently participated in a contest to design a postcard for YMS staff to send positive messages to parents throughout the school year. Seventh grade student Michelle Kasbohm's entry was selected by the YMS students. Principal Candi Skinner presented Michelle a stuffed Falcon and a YMS cup to congratulate her on her winning design.

]]> General News Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST Congratulations to Natalie Doucette, seventh grade student at Queens Lake Middle School for being recognized as a blue ribbon winner at the Tidewater District Women’s Club Art Show! Her pen and ink drawing will move on to the state art show in Dulles, Virginia on April 24, 2010.

]]> General News Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST Waller Mill Elementary School faculty members from attended the Virginia State Reading Association's Annual Conference in Virginia Beach. They attended the Author's Luncheon with author/illustrator, Jan Brett. Jan Brett is the author of the children’s book The Easter Egg.

]]> General News Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST Students in Juli Semanski's Foundations Art class at York High School created drawings of celebrities while studying Photorealism in this introductory art class. They selected a small (4.5" x 6") black and white photo of a celebrity and enlarged it 4 times, using the grid method. Then they used pencil to create realistic 18" x 24" drawings. The pieces were then displayed in the York High media center.

]]> General News Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST Reading the story "The Grains of Rice" by Demi, prompted the third grade class at Grafton Bethel Elementary School to figure out how many grains of rice there would be if you doubled and kept on doubling the amount. The final amount after doubling 30 times was huge! Results of their calculations were displayed in the hallway.

]]> General News Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST In celebration of Read Across America, two York County School Division schools came together during a Dr. Seuss Parade. Waller Mill Elementary School students participated in the parade along with the Bruton High School marching band.

]]> General News Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST Tabb Middle School (TMS) garnered 12 trophies at the Technology Student Association (TSA) Tidewater regional competition that was held at Grassfield High School in Chesapeake, Virginia. Nineteen students competed in ten different team and individual events. The mission of the Technology Student Association is to foster personal growth, leadership and opportunities in technology, innovation, design and engineering. TSA is made up of 150,000 middle and high school students and 2,500 teachers and advisors in 48 state delegations.

First place: Nick Anselmo, Electrical Applications; Sam Rice, Communication Challenge; Josh Findlay, Graphic Design; Sam Rice, Multimedia Production and Ashley Barclift, Dragster Design.

Second place: Logan Wright, Electrical Applications; Kevin Brown, Technical Design; Bryan Moon, Transportation Challenge; Alexis Barclift, Dragster Design; Bryan Moon, Flight Challenge; and the team of Lauren Wright, Molly Spruill, Ashley Barclift, Systems Control.

Third place: Team members, Julia Smith, Todd Barns and Nathan Velazquez, Marine Design.

Others participants: Amanda Carroll, Jarrett Pierson, Trace Goulter and Matthew Montgomery.

TMS has participated in TSA and its competitive programs for the past 13 years. In the last five years, TMS has had 82 students win both regional and state trophies. Unique this year was the outcome of the traditionally male dragster design event. This event requires the design, technical drawing and building of a balsa wood car with power tools. The top two spots were won by twin sisters Ashley and Alexis Barclift of TMS.

]]> General News Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST Coventry Elementary School (CES) students are participating in "Pasta for Pennies" drive for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society sponsored by the CES Student Council Association. The homeroom with the most money after three weeks will win a lunch party catered by the Olive Garden restaurant. Rickey Barberree, first grader at CES donated his tooth fairy money to help with the drive.

]]> General News Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST Lauren Draper from Lynn Haggard's third grade class at Coventry Elementary School, entered author Jan Brett's 1,000 Free Books contest and won a copy of the latest release, The Easter Egg.

]]> General News Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST Coventry Elementary School (CES) students donated spare change to earthquake victims in Haiti. The students raised over $650. Students were then treated to a performance by CES teachers and staff in a CES American Idol show. Principal Cathy Cheney was judged by the "CES American Idol panel" for a chance to go to Hollywood.

]]> General News Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST Dr. Eric Williams, YCSD superintendent, made a guest appearance on the Morning Show at Coventry Elementary School (CES) to read Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day during the broadcasted morning announcements. CES students and teachers dressed up as their favorite book characters for a Read Across America Character Parade.

]]> General News Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST Students and staff at Mount Vernon Elementary School celebrated Read Across America by dressing as different book characters. Reading Teacher, Ann Campas dressed as Milo from the book, Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days, by Stephen Manes. Lynn Grey dressed as Deputy Head Mistress McGonagall from the Harry Potter book series, Principal Mary Lugo dressed as Snow White and Joanne Lane was a Harry Potter look alike. Students in Sandra Young's second grade class dressed up as their favorite storybook characters.

]]> General News Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST Tabb High School's Odyssey of the Mind team moves on to State Finals on March 27, 2010. This year's team adaptation of "The Three Pirates" brought accolades and a step closer to world level competition. Coach Rachel McBride could not be any prouder of her team and all of their efforts thus far.

The Yorktown Middle School Odyssey of the Mind team placed first in the 2010 Regional Odyssey of the Mind Competition. The team, coached by Isabel Galvez, was also presented the Ranatra Fusca Creativity Award for demonstrating an outstanding level of creativity in a creative problem-solving competition.

]]> General News Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:30:00 EST Bruton High School celebrated Career and Technical Education Week with their annual Bowling Tournament between FBLA, DECA and TSA.

]]> General News Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:30:00 EST An Open House will be held at Magruder Elementary School on Monday, May 3, 2010 for parents and students entering kindergarten in Fall 2010. Kindergarten rooms will be open at the school from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Registration packets will be available.

]]> Events Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:30:00 EST Wanda Holland, Instructional Para-educator at Dare Elementary School served Green Eggs and Ham for the Kindergarten students in Story Kerr's Class. The class read Bartholomew and the Oobleck to celebrate Dr. Suess month. The students made their own "oobleck". Wanda Holland was Daisy Head Maisy and Story Kerr dressed the part of Mrs. Sneetcher.

]]> General News Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:30:00 EST Tabb Elementary School Battle of the Books team won second place in the York County competition. Battle of the Books teams must read 15 books and then answer questions relating to the stories.

]]> General News Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:30:00 EST Tabb Elementary School (TES) celebrated Dr. Seuss' birthday with guest readers Superintendent Dr. Eric Williams, Thing 2 and Thing 1. Cheryl Parr, Principal and Dr. Tina Washburn, Assistant Principal, escorted Dr. Williams on his way to read to classes. At the end of the day, TES "DEAR"ed, Dropped Everything and Read.

]]> General News Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:30:00 EST Grafton Bethel Elementary School teachers joined their students in dressing as their favorite book characters in celebration of Read Across America day.

]]> General News Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:30:00 EST Brooke Gorsica, seventh grade student at Yorktown Middle School (YMS) won the state Reflections contest for Film Production in the Middle/Junior Division. Congratulations to Brooke and YMS!

]]> General News Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:30:00 EST The Essay Project for 2009-2010 theme was "Strong Citizens-Strong Communities". There were 132 entries. The following York County School Division students placed in their academic level:

High School
1st Place-Kirk Byron Smith, Tabb High School, Yorktown, Grade 11
3rd Place-Andrew Watt, York High School, Yorktown, Grade 12

Middle School
2nd Place-Melissa Jones, Grafton Middle School, Yorktown, Grade 8

The winners will be celebrated at the April District Dinner. Congratulations to all our winners and participants!

]]> General News Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:30:00 EST The York Foundation for Public Education, Inc. awarded Bruton High School $150 for a Science, Math and Nutrition program called, "Support for Sprouts". Teachers Deborah Ray and Carol Carter applied for the grant.

]]> General News Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:30:00 EST The Grafton High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) participated in the Thomas Nelson Community College (TNCC) Regional competitions and placed in 18 different events. First and second place winners are eligible for State Competition in Reston, VA on April 16-18th. Additionally, Rand Irons was elected TNCC Regional President. This qualifies him to be the State Vice-President at large representing the TNCC Region. Congratulations to all the winners!

]]> General News Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:30:00 EST Students at York River Academy (YRA) competed with 120 teams across Hampton Roads and won three awards at the 25th anniversary of the Great Computer Challenge sponsored by WHRO, Old Dominion University (ODU) and The Consortium for Interactive Instruction. On the campus of ODU, teams competed in categories such as graphic arts, desktop publishing, computer programming, digital music composition and many more. Four teachers at YRA sponsored five teams with a total of sixteen students attending the event. YRA students placed third in desktop presentations and first in Web design. The Academy also won the Grace Little Technology Enthusiasm Award which is given to the school with the greatest percentage of its students participating in the event.

]]> General News Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:30:00 EST June Jones, Yorktown Middle School's Educational Technology Facilitator, received the WHRO Consortium for Interactive Instruction Excellence in Technology Award. This award recognizes outstanding facilitators who effectively support teachers' integration of technology into the classroom. The award was presented to Mrs. Jones during the Great Computer Challenge at Old Dominion University.

]]> General News Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:30:00 EST The Grafton High School Blue Crab Bowl Team took on Governor's Schools and private academies to win second place in the state competition at Old Dominion University. Bobby Donze, Ryan Gestwick, Ian Van der Hoven and Britt Sorenson formed the GHS dream team. A job well done!

]]> General News Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:30:00 EST The York High PTSA is proud to bring the Teacher's Discovery Traveling Exhibit, Art Beyond Borders, to York High School. The York High Chapter is the recipient of the National PTSA Reflections Grant. This exhibit is a partnership between Teacher's Discovery and the International Museum of Twenty-first Century Arts (TIMOTCA). It was born from a series of international exhibits that premiered at the United Nations Headquarters. The goal of TIMOTCA is to collect one piece of art from an artist in every country in the world to serve as a catalyst for peace and cultural understanding through the universal language of art. To date, 63 countries are participating. This exhibit will feature 24 of those works of art in a vibrant, educational, eye-opening exhibit. The students and staff will enjoy the seven piece spectacular exhibit in the YHS KIVA during the week of March 22, 2010. The exhibit will be free and open to the public from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Tuesday, March 23.

]]> General News Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:30:00 EST The York Foundation for Public Education, Inc. awarded three grants to teachers at Tabb High School. Joyce Kuberek and Elizabeth Lerberg received a grant to purchase digital barometers for their science labs. Mark Pingley's grant will be used to purchase a calculator presenter to enhance his mathematics classroom instruction. Betty Lynn Darden, Tabb's Librarian, will use the award to purchase books to revitalize student reading.

]]> General News Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:30:00 EST The York County School Division is proud to announce the winners of the 2009 Fall School Board Office (SBO) Art Contest. Three winners were chosen from each academic level: Alyssa Reilly, second grade student at Yorktown Elementary School; Hayley Smith, eighth grade student at Grafton Middle School; and Annabel Kang, senior at Tabb High School. YCSD purchases the student art for $50 each and displays the pieces at the School Board Office. Congratulations to these young artists!

]]> General News Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:30:00 EST At this time, the York County School Division does not plan to schedule a make-up day for the school day missed on March 3 due to inclement weather. If division schools do not miss another school day this school year, we will meet state requirements regarding instructional hours.

]]> General News Tue, 9 Mar 2010 11:45:00 EST The Explorer Club at Grafton Middle School (GMS) collects shoes. Recently the club gave 330 pairs of shoes to the relief effort in Haiti. The students in the club prepare the shoes by washing, spraying, labeling and packaging them for delivery. COL Davis of the US Army, who is currently stationed at Fort Eustis, Virginia, learned of the shoe collecting project and asked if the Club would help with a relief mission to Haiti he was organizing. The students were more than happy to assist in the effort. The GMS students formed a passing line to assist the soldiers in loading the boxes of shoes to be sent to Haiti. The Explorer Club continually collects shoes and anyone is welcomed to drop off gently used shoes at GMS.

]]> General News Fri, 5 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST Student members of the drama program at Tabb High School (THS) will perform the musical "Grease" on March 18, 19 and 20. The show begins at 7:30 pm in the THS auditorium and only reserved tickets are available for $6.00, $8.00 or $10.00. Contact THS for additional information.

]]> Events Fri, 5 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST York High School is pleased to announce National Merit Finalists for 2010:

Juliana Wu and Sang Mee Ko - National Merit Scholarship Connection
Nina Blanson – National Achievement Scholarship Competition

]]> General News Fri, 5 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST Raymundo Rico Gomez, a York High School senior, has been honored for his exemplary volunteer service with a President's Volunteer Service Award. The award, which recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country, was presented by the Prudential Spirit of the Community Awards program on behalf of President Obama. Rico participated in the Spirit of the Community program this year as a representative of York High School, and performed the majority of his service with the Special Olympics in the local area as a coach and mentor to program participants.

]]> General News Fri, 5 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST In celebration of Read Across America, Seaford Elementary School hosted its annual Story Book Character parade, which encouraged students to dive into reading great books. Students, teachers and staff came up with some very original costumes to honor their favorite book characters.

]]> General News Fri, 5 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST Deborah Eckstein and Cynthia Hardesty, York High School science teachers, recently received grants through Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) Science Teacher Tool Awards. Ms. Eckstein will use her grant to purchase a deionization machine for the Chemistry classes and other lab equipment. Ms. Hardesty will purchase materials for her physics students to study global climate change and alternative energy sources.

]]> General News Fri, 5 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST The York County School Division will hold its Choral Music Festival Program on March 9, 2010 at Bruton High School. The chorus is made up of selected 5th grade students from each of the division’s elementary schools. Superintendent Dr. Eric Williams will narrate the program.

]]> Events Fri, 5 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST The York Foundation for Public Education, Inc. (YFPE) Innovative Instructional grants program provides small grants to teachers and other school level professional staff members to encourage creative approaches that enhance student learning in classroom instruction. YFPE awarded a total of $4,610 funds.

]]> General News Fri, 5 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST Students in Robin Loyall's class at Grafton Middle School were given the opportunity to experience an archaeological dig that coordinated with their study of the Jamestown Fort. Instructors Magda Tabor and Donna Taylor engaged the students with this hands-on activity. For the "dig", students made special dirt with a mixture of sand, coffee grounds, flour, salt and water. After the dirt mixture was complete, it was placed in small boxes, and the instructors buried various artifacts. The hidden artifacts included bleached chicken bones, buttons, pieces of terra cotta, spoons, nails, beads, rope and coins. As students dug for the buried items, they identified each artifact and sorted them into categories. They then recorded each item on a large chart to show results of the "dig". The instructors discussed the items that had been left behind by the Jamestown settlers and the Native Americans and how they related to the items they discovered.

]]> General News Fri, 5 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST York High School hosted the 5th Annual Black History Trivia Bowl competition on February 20, 2010. The event was co-sponsored by the Langley Heritage Club with Master Sargent Venis Adam directing the event. This was the largest turnout ever with more than 70 participants in attendance and all four high schools represented. Staff worked hand-in-hand with the Langley Heritage Club to make the experience memorable for parents, coaches and most of all the students. The Grafton High School team won for the fourth year, Congratulations!

The team coaches were: York High School - Veverlyn Lee and Samuel Eure, Tabb High School – Gina Mancuso-Sidu, Darcel Boyer and Gwendolyn Banks, Grafton High School - Antoinette Burnett, Bruton High School – Deborah Ray and Aaron Butler. York High School will host the Black History Trivia Bowl again next school year.

]]> General News Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:30:00 EST "Picasso People" took the stage at Grafton Bethel Elementary School. Through a single actor, a dozen Picasso's came alive in this professional production. Mime, mask, puppetry, narration and music were explored and brought to life. Students and faculty were thrilled by the light-hearts stories based loosely on Picasso's true-life experiences.

]]> General News Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:30:00 EST Kathryn Patterson, Instructional Specialist of York County School Division visited Grafton Bethel Elementary School to read the book Night Boat to Freedom as part of the Read Across America activities this month. The children loved the story and the subject went right along with their current lessons.

]]> General News Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:30:00 EST Through a York Foundation for Public Education, Inc. grant all Bethel Manor Elementary students are writing their own books (to be professionally hard bound!). Students began their projects with author, Gerome Meminger (The Lonely Blue Book) explaining how one becomes an author. Students worked on the writing of their books, with emphasis on the writing process. Books will be bound and published and in April parents and the community will be invited to see, hear and read Bethel Manor students' creations.

]]> General News Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:30:00 EST The CLASSICS Club (Character, Leadership, Academics, Sportsmanship, Service, Inclusiveness, Compassion and Sisterhood) instigated an unusual fundraising event at Yorktown Middle School (YMS). The faces of YMS teachers were pasted onto cans and placed in the lobby area. As the student body passed by they dropped money into the cans to select which teacher would be hit in the face with a pie! Five YMS teachers received the pies. The Club raised $150 for the American Heart Association. The CLASSICS Club recognizes students who complete 25 hours of community service by awarding them a bracelet with the infinity symbol. There have been five students to receive their bracelets so far.

]]> General News Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:30:00 EST First – Third Place Winners:

Nature Trail'R Division I
First Place - Dare Elementary*
Third Place - Mt. Vernon Elementary

Nature Trail'R Division III
First Place - Tabb High*

Return to the Gift of Flight Division I
Third Place - Magruder Elementary

Discovered Treasures Division II
Second Place - Tabb Middle
Third Place - Queens Lake Middle

Discovered Treasures Division III
First Place - Grafton High*

Food Court Division IB
Third Place - Yorktown Elementary

Food Court Division II
First Place - Yorktown Middle- Team A*

Food Court Division III
Third Place - Grafton High and York High

*Advancing to State Tournament on March 27, 2010 at Menchville High School, Newport News.

Other Results:

Discovered Treasures
Seaford Elementary - Sixth Place
York Middle - Fourth Place

Food Court
Bethel Manor Elementary - Fifth Place
Waller Mill Elementary - Eleventh Place
Coventry Elementary - Fourth Place
Tabb Middle - Fourth Place
Yorktown Middle Team B - Ninth Place

Yorktown Middle School received a Rantra Fusca award. The award is given for outstanding creativity in the solution of the problem, either Long Term or Spontaneous. The team received the award for "creative use of recycled materials throughout the performance, especially regarding the costumes. The judges were very impressed with the use of chip bags as fabric and cups for texture."

]]> General News Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:30:00 EST Students in Christina Gooch and Joyce Croman's kindergarten class at Mt. Vernon Elementary School celebrated Valentine's Day.

]]> General News Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:30:00 EST Karen Lucas, Waller Mill Elementary School reading teacher and PTA member, introduced students to Rob Westcott, Educational Entertainment Specialist. Mr. Westcott performed a reading themed magic show for Waller Mill students and their families during the school's annual Literacy Night.

]]> General News Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:30:00 EST Waller Mill Elementary School students attended a reading night celebration with their families so that they could PAWS to read. Students enjoyed a PAW themed evening of activities revolving around reading. Volunteer therapy dogs attended to listen to students read aloud and students made dog biscuits to donate to the local animal shelter. "Furry books" were created for students to journal in and they took turns reading in cozy "doggy beds" with their favorite books.

]]> General News Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:30:00 EST Waller Mill Elementary School second grade student Gabrielle Burge along with Yan Haux, Chinese teacher at the College of William and Mary and graduate student shared Chinese culture and the celebration of the Chinese New Year.

]]> General News Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:30:00 EST Waller Mill Elementary School Principal Jennifer Goodwin, along with students, welcomed the 100th day of school. The students celebrated this accomplishment in various instructional ways including reading, writing, math and arts integration.

]]> General News Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:30:00 EST The annual York County Health Fair/D.A.R.E. Fest will be held on Saturday, March 6, 2010 from 10 AM to 2 PM at the Grafton School Complex. There will be over 50 vendors featured under one roof. Exhibitions will include demonstrations, massages, eye exams, glucose testing, skin evaluations, education on nutrition, exercise and diseases and much more. There will also be lots of food and fun for the kids. You just can't miss this great community event. "Come for the HEALTH of it!"

]]> General News Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:30:00 EST The Committee for Minority Affairs (CFMA) is pleased to announce that the York Foundation for Public Education, Inc. (YFPE) has continued their strong support for the educational advancement of minority youth in the York County School Division. The YFPE has generously donated $3,250 to provide a scholarship to each high school, to support the post-secondary education of a nominated minority student. Together, we continue to build a strong educational foundation for all York County youth and support students in achieving their full potential.

]]> General News Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:30:00 EST Fifth grade students in the Math, Science and Technology School at Yorktown Elementary School entered their project titled, "Germs" in the school division's science fair held at Grafton Middle School.

]]> General News Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST Students at Yorktown Elementary School show off projects they created at the Lego Robotics Lab.

]]> General News Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST Dads enjoyed breakfast with their kids at the Dads and Donut event sponsored by the Yorktown Elementary School Watch DOGS.

]]> General News Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST The PTA'S annual sock hop at the Yorktown Elementary School featured a visit from the "King", Elvis Presley, Assistant Principal Kevin Goetz. The event offers concessions and a 50's band. Students, families and staff participated by dressing in leather, poodle skirts, bobbie socks and saddle shoes.

]]> General News Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST Jessi Volkers, an eighth grade student at Yorktown Middle School, volunteered at the Hampton Roads Harley Davidson store assisting with their annual coat drive. The store collected 655 jackets to be donated to the local shelters of Newport News. Monica Whitmore, Operations Manager at the Harley Davidson store said, "It is young people like Jessi that make a true difference in our community."

]]> General News Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST A Father/Daughter and Mother/Son Valentines' Dance was held at Bethel Manor Elementary School.

]]> General News Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST Calling upon their Spanish language skills, along with their human ingenuity, students in Nancy Feigenbaum's sixth grade Middle Years Program Spanish class at Yorktown Middle School immersed themselves in Hispanic culture. Joined by a team of parent volunteers, students researched and cooked cultural delights, including yucca, flan and churros. In between cooking and sampling, students cut crepe paper in the style of "papel picado," a traditional Mexican folk art, and created a Spanish language menu. This exercise provided a fun application of students' cultural and linguistic knowledge.

]]> General News Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST The Tabb High School's Fashion Marketing Program is collecting dresses to be donated to a Trunk Sale held by the Norfolk Tides Baseball Club. Tabb High collected gently used formal dresses from students and staff to be sold at extremely low prices. The Trunk Sale will be held on Saturday March 20th at Harbor Park - 150 Park Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23510. All proceeds from the sale will in turn go to the Tides Youth Baseball Fund to help offset expenses associated with attending clinics and tournaments.

]]> General News Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST The eighth grade students in the Queens Lake Middle School Global Studies classes became very concerned about Haiti, a 'developing country' which was devastated by the earthquake last month. Since the most immediate way to help is the donation of money, the students were in gear to collect money during the lunch shifts for a week. With everyon'’s help, over $400 was collected and contributed to Carol Scott, the Executive Director of the York-Poquoson Red Cross, to be donated to Haiti.

]]> General News Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:30:00 EST Tabb Middle School's Student Council Association has secured a grant to cover the cost of a school-wide recycling program which began in January. The school will recycle the same items that York County residents currently recycle at home. Each classroom will have its own recycle bin and large red trash cans have been placed in the cafeteria to collect recyclable items from the lunch blocks.

]]> General News Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:30:00 EST York High School faculty and staff celebrated the American Heart Association's National "Wear Red Day: Go Red for Women 2010."

]]> General News Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:30:00 EST Students studying French I at Yorktown Middle School celebrated the French tradition of La Chandeleur by learning to make crêpes. Similar to the tradition of Groundhog Day, where an animal prognosticates the weather, La Chandeleur uses crêpes as an indicator of what is to come in the crêpe-maker's future. Students in Isabel Galvez's class cooked their own crêpes and learned the language and culture associated with this holiday.

]]> General News Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:30:00 EST Students from Seaford Elementary School brought in their warmest styles and best grass skirts to celebrate Hawaiian Day during the month of January.

]]> General News Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:30:00 EST All York County School Division events, practices and games scheduled for February 5th and 6th have been cancelled due to inclement weather.

]]> General News Fri, 5 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST Monday, Feb. 15, 2010, will now be a regular school day for all YCSD students. This change to the school-year calendar is needed to make up one of the instructional days cancelled due to inclement weather.

At this time, no other make-up days are being added to the school calendar.

]]> General News Thu, 4 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST The Educational Policy, Planning and Leadership (EPPL) course faculty and staff, and the School of Education at the College of William and Mary have chosen Dr. Lucia Sebastian, Chief Academic Officer at YCSD to receive the Jo Lynne DeMary award for 2010. The prestigious award is given in recognition of distinguished leadership and contributions to the field of education. The award is named for the first recipient, Dr. Jo Lynne DeMary, an alumnus of William and Mary and the first female State Superintendent of Public Instruction for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Dr. Sebastian will receive the award at the EPPL Alumni Breakfast on February 18, 2010. Congratulations!

]]> General News Thu, 4 Feb 2010 13:30:00 EST The National Association for Music Education (MENC) announced the winners in the 2010 "Music! Just Imagine…" Essay Contest. Yorktown Middle School student, Gaelan Verry was among the top ten winners. The essay contest challenged K-6 music students to write about the ways they were inspired by music starting with the phrase "I imagine…" Of the more than 200 entries, ten were chosen as the top winners. A selection of the winners' essays will be featured in the 2010 World's Largest Concert^®, a sing-along event sponsored by MENC. The 2010 World’s Largest Concert will take place on Thursday, March 11 in schools and communities throughout the nation and around the world.

]]> General News Thu, 4 Feb 2010 13:30:00 EST Congratulations to all who participated in the York County School Division's PTA Reflections Contest!

Visual Arts: Intermediate Div, Honorable Mention - Caitlin Bertholf, GBES
Visual Arts: Junior Division, Third Place - Brooke Gorsica, YMS

Dance: Intermediate, First Place - Mackenzie Hermann, YES
Dance: Senior, Honorable Mention - Jenna Baker, QLMS

Music: Primary, Third Place - Christopher Williams, CES
Music: Intermediate, First Place - Cale Overstreet, DES
Music: Junior Division, Third Place - Tim Fary, Jr., GMS

Photography: Primary, Third Place - Emily Wilhelm, CES
Photography: Intermediate, First Place - Austin Ingram, SES
Photography: Junior, First Place - Meghan Deitz, GMS
Photography: Senior, Third Place - Brittany Ward, YHS

Literature: Primary, Honorable Mention - Lindsey Pettibon, MES
Literature: Intermediate, First Place - Mackenzie Herrmann, YES
Literature: Junior, Third Place - Cailin Chaloux, YMS
Literature: Senior, Third Place - Taylor Vollman, YHS

Film: Primary, First Place - Caroline Arnette, WMES
Film: Intermediate, First Place - Anastasia Mann, WMES
Film: Junior, First Place - Brooke Gorsica, YMS
Film: First Place - Hesuh Miriam Park, GHS

]]> General News Thu, 4 Feb 2010 13:30:00 EST Grafton Bethel Elementary School collected 259 tubes of toothpaste during their "Toothpaste for Haiti" drive. Lainey Griffin, a 3rd grader in Karen Bacon's class, shared her idea with the school and everyone wanted to help!

]]> General News Thu, 4 Feb 2010 13:30:00 EST The students at Tabb Middle School (TMS) and Tabb High School (THS) began selling and purchasing black and orange wristbands inscribed with "HELP HAITI." A donation of a minimum of $2.00 for each wristband was asked and in two days sales totaled over $1,500! The schools’ goal is $4,000 and to see a wristband on every student at TMS and THS. Because of a generous donation from Life Touch National School Studios, who underwrote the cost of the wristbands, the schools are giving 100% of their proceeds to Doctors Without Borders to help with medicine and medical supplies for the people in Haiti.

]]> General News Thu, 4 Feb 2010 13:30:00 EST The Student Council Association of Tabb High hosted their annual talent show in January. Over 1,500 students, parents, faculty and staff and community members came out to show their support for the up and coming entertainers. The venue presented 20 acts including soloists, dance groups, musical ensembles and bands. Spectators were polled to determine the best of the best. Winners of the 2010 talent show are: 1st place Dance Group - Hypnotic Control; 2nd place Vocalist - Annabel Kang; 3rd place Dancer - Dominique Louis. Twenty-five percent of the talent show proceeds will be donated to the Natasha House that supports a transitional shelter for homeless women and children. Tabb High School will team with Tabb Middle School in making a supportive contribution to assist in their continued goals to empower and equip its residents to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency.

]]> General News Thu, 4 Feb 2010 13:30:00 EST Queens Lake Middle School announces the selections for the 2010 All District Jr. Band.

• Jessica Holmes – Oboe
• R'landa Mapp – 1st Chair, Clarinet
• Joshua Dolson – Clarinet
• Rachel Perry – Alto Saxophone
• Peter McReynolds – 1st Alternate, French Horn

]]> General News Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST Members of the local Farm Bureau donated a "Learning Barn" to Magruder Elementary School. Members built a bookcase resembling a barn and filled it with agriculturally themed books for students to enjoy.

]]> General News Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST The first grade students at Dare Elementary School enjoyed getting their hands gooey during the school's Matter Day.

]]> General News Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST Congratulations to the all the students who won prizes in their respective categories at the York County School Division (YCSD) Science Fair. There were 77 projects and 84 students entered in the Junior Division (Middle School) and 100 projects and 135 students entered in the Senior Division (High School). The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners have the option of entering their winning projects in the Tidewater Science Fair to be held on March 13, 2010, at Old Dominion University. YCSD will enter 33 Junior Division projects and 28 Senior Division projects in the Tidewater Fair. Many thanks to Grafton High and Grafton Middle for hosting the science fair and to the many teachers, sponsors and volunteers for another successful fair!

]]> General News Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST Sandra Murawski, kindergarten teacher at Magruder Elementary School, discussed with her class her recent mission trip to Haiti and the events that have occurred there. After learning that Haiti needed help, her students collected $100 to donate to the cause. Some students donated part of their tooth fairy money. As a whole, Magruder Elementary collected over $1,000 for Haiti Relief through the American Red Cross.

]]> General News Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST Grafton High School Interact Club and Grafton Middle School Student Council Association and National Jr. Honor Society students distributed "It's One World! Help Haiti Now!" key chains and raised a combined $1669.64 for the American Red Cross International Response Fund. The Interact Club expects matching funds will be donated by a corporate sponsor as a result of their efforts.

]]> General News Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST David Victoria, sixth grade student at Yorktown Middle School (YMS), submitted the winning bookmark for the school's World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Reading Challenge, sponsored in conjunction with the American Library Association's Young Adult Library Services Association for Teen Read Week. David will receive a WWE DVD and a certificate for winning at the school level. His entry will also be judged at the regional level for a chance to win a trip to Wrestle Mania and $2,000 for the YMS library.

]]> General News Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST The focus of the Grafton Middle School (GMS) Explorer's club is "Waste and Conservation in America." This year GMS students are collecting shoes for the people of Afghanistan as part of an outreach program. The Explorer's Club have collected and sanitized over 150 pairs of shoes.

]]> General News Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST Grafton Bethel Elementary School (GBES) raised $2,060.92 for "Pennies for Patients", a campaign sponsored by the GBES K-Kids to support adolescent leukemia patients. Sandra Cherry's fourth grade class was the grand prize winner; raising $464.43.

]]> General News Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST Lilly Grella, an eighth grade student at Yorktown Middle School, won the school-level competition of the National Geographic Bee in January and a chance at a $25,000 college scholarship. Second place went to eighth grader John Adams, and third place was secured by eighth grader Christian Cox. The school-level Bee, at which students answered oral questions on geography, was the first round in the 22nd annual National Geographic Bee. The Bee is sponsored by the National Geographic Society. According to Laura Sanlorenzo, Yorktown Middle School teacher, the winners will now take a written test; up to 100 of the top scorers in each state will be eligible to compete in their state Bee in April 2010. The National Geographic Society will provide an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for state champions and teacher-escorts to participate in the national Geographic Bee national championship in May 2010. The first-place national winner will receive a $25,000 college scholarship, a lifetime membership in the Society and a trip to the Galapagos Islands courtesy of Lindblad Expeditions and the National Geographic Society.

]]> General News Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST The SCA-sponsored Red Cross Blood Drive at Grafton High School collected 66 pints of blood. The school exceeded its goal by eight pints. Over 100 Grafton High students donated blood. The drive was organized and staffed by 27 student volunteers and four faculty/staff volunteers.

]]> General News Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST The marine biology students at Grafton High School are raising 4,000 oysters this year in Back Creek. Twice a month, students leave school for two hours to perform water quality tests and monitor oyster growth. At the site, students take quantitative measurements of dissolved oxygen, turbidity, pH, salinity and water temperature. After completing the water quality tests, students remove the oysters from the two Taylor rafts and then clean the rafts. The oysters are rinsed several times to remove sediment and pseudofeces. One hundred random oysters are measured and recorded. Back at school the students determine average size of the oysters and compare the abiotic data to the data from the previous trip. Students enjoy learning outside the classroom and helping the bay's ecology by restoring oysters.

]]> General News Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST York High School's annual egg drop competition took place in Cynthia Hardesty's physics class in January. Students were challenged with the task of creating a vehicle to help their egg survive two drops, first from the bottom and then from the top of the football field's bleachers while meeting mass and materials restrictions in the project. Winning projects were based on three criteria: egg survival, lightest mass & closest distance to the target. Overall winners were Andrew Watt, Brian Mucklow and Zach Warthan.

]]> General News Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST York County School Division's (YCSD) Destini Canion, fifth grade student at Bethel Manor Elementary School, placed second in the Martin Luther King Essay Contest sponsored by WAVY TV and KIDTALK. Nearly 400 entries were submitted for the contest. Newport News students, Kaila Lemons and Tyana Scott placed first and third place. The group of nine winners were featured on the January KIDTALK episode honoring Dr. King.

]]> General News Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST Students in the Yorktown Middle School Middle Years Programme (MYP), an International Baccalaureate (IB) school, are using their letter-writing skills and history skills to communicate with MYP students at the Irmak School in Istanbul, Turkey. Students in both grades 6 and 7 gathered in Drew Maloney's MYP Humanities class to open the letters and respond to their peers across the "pond". This project reinforces elements of the IB Learner Profile, encouraging students to be caring communicators, in addition to supporting the course curriculum.

]]> General News Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST Students at Yorktown Middle School (YMS) gathered to decorate and distribute boxes for a school-wide recycling program. Art instructor, Danielle Vallino is working with the Middle Years Programme area of Interaction: Community & Service, encouraged students to serve their school community while also having an impact on the environment of the world-wide community. YMS, an International Baccalaureate candidate school looks forward to expanding service activities throughout the local area.

]]> General News Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST The Virginia Board of Education awarded seven York County School Division schools the 2010 Virginia Index of Performance (VIP) incentive program that encourages advanced learning and achievement in public schools. Bethel Manor Elementary, Coventry Elementary, Grafton Bethel Elementary, Mount Vernon Elementary, Tabb Elementary, Tabb High and Waller Mill Elementary Schools were among 288 schools from 15 school divisions that earned the award. The board also awarded four York County School Division schools the 2010 Virginia Board of Education’s Competence to Excellence Award. The schools are recognized for having met all state and federal benchmarks for at least two consecutive years and are making progress toward the goals of the governor and the board. Dare Elementary, Grafton High, Magruder Elementary and York High Schools were among 281 schools from 17 school divisions that earned the award.

]]> General News Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST Seaford Elementary School formally recognized students from each class for the month of January. After nominations from staff and consideration, the students chosen are those who naturally demonstrate a caring, helpful attitude toward others and their school environment. This month's winners are as follows:

• Kindergarten: Robert Cunningham, Atharv Achurya, Micaela Brown, and Dylan Hunter
• 1st Grade: Haley Humphries, Emily Eastwood, Savannah Reed, James Kuykendall and Cam Edwards
• 2nd Grade: Hayden Head, Marco Rivero, Logan Kirkwood and Olivia Russell
• 3rd Grade: Jake Verry, Ben Wagner, Jack Weidman and Cameron Dunbar
• 4th Grade: Jacob Shelhorse, Justine Collier, Reid Winer, Jordan Usselman and Claire Harris
• 5th Grade: Joey Shematek, Colton Young, Ryan Grimmett and Adia Wyatt

]]> General News Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST To enhance mapping skills, first grade students created edible maps in class at Seaford Elementary School. The maps were made on a tortilla, with chocolate chips as mountains, a Hershey bar as the school building, blue icing as the pond, raisins as houses and broccoli as trees. Students made their maps on a board in whole groups and then placed the items on the tortilla using the directions of north, south, east and west.

]]> General News Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST 1st Place Jenna Baker, Dance Choreography
2nd Place Ariannah Kubli, Film/Video Production
2nd Place Madeline Walters, Musical Composition
2nd Place Katherine Cho, Literature
2nd Place Kylie Griffin, Photography
3rd Place Zane Cabrera, Visual Arts

The recipients will be honored at an awards ceremony at York Middle School in February.

]]> General News Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST Yorktown Middle School (YMS) will host a Community Coffee on February 2 from 9 – 11 a.m. in the YMS Media Center. Discussion topics include: Positive Responses to School Bullying, Defining What It Means to be a YMS Student and A Look at Academic Technology that Parents and Students Can Access from Home. Refreshments will be served by PTA Hospitality Committee. Questions? Contact the YMS Main Office at 898-0360.

]]> Events Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST Members of the York High School International Baccalaureate (IB) Class of 2011 were officially welcomed into the Diploma Programme at the annual IB Pinning and Graduation Ceremony in January. Each student was pinned by an IB graduate from the Class of 2009, prior to pledging to uphold the academic and ethical standards of the IB Organization. Congratulatory remarks were offered by Dr. Eric Williams, Superintendent of the York County School Division, and welcomed into the programme by Antonia Fox, York High Principal, and Michelle Cihak, IB Coordinator.

]]> General News Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST The York High School International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme awarded diplomas and certificates to the IB Class of 2009. The diplomas and certificates were awarded by the IB Organization in July 2009, based on each student's performance on the six IB examinations, internal assessments, extended essay, and Theory of Knowledge assessment, as well as completion of at least 150 Creativity Action Service hours. The Class of 2009 went well beyond the requirements, accumulating over 14,000 hours of Creativity Action Service and obtaining over $1.1 million in scholarship money. Additionally, the coveted York High Medallion was presented to Maeve Hoyt for achieving the highest scores on her IB examinations. Congratulations to the members of the Class of 2009.

]]> General News Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST Yorktown Middle School (YMS) kicks off the WATCH D.O.G.S.® (Dads Of Great Students) Program with the “Dads and Kids Pizza Night” on January 28 at Yorktown Middle School from 6 - 7 p.m. WATCH D.O.G.S.® is the safe schools initiative of the National Center for Fathering (www.fathers.com). It was created in response to the Jonesboro, Arizona school shooting in 1998, and has spread to more than 800 schools in over 30 states. Volunteers are invited to sign up to spend one day this year serving as a positive male role model and helping increase a sense of security in the building. WATCH D.O.G.S.® will engage in various activities such as welcoming students during arrival, reading to classes, tutoring small groups of students, having fun at recess or simply sitting down and connecting with students during lunch. When Watch DOGS invest a day at school, they partner with the school to meet educational goals of students. To learn more about the WATCH D.O.G.S.® call John Sims, YMS Guidance Counselor.

]]> General News Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST Congratulations to Chelsea Nobles of Tabb High School (THS) for winning second prize in the Virginia Career Education Foundation contest. Chelsea received a digital camera and Lynn Pitchford, a teacher at THS, received a cash prize of $50 for having the most students provide correct answers in the contest. The contest for the foundation received 374 entries from across the state.

]]> General News Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST The fourth graders at Tabb Elementary School added a culminating activity to their study of Jamestown and the Powhatan Indians. Each student was asked to bring one, two or three "unwanted, but still useful" items from home that they already owned and were not purchased specifically for this activity. Students were able to trade those items with other students on Barter Day. Students could make an equal exchange or an uneven exchange (two or three items for one more desirable item). Students used the time to trade for items that they desired, and many used it as a time to "shop" for siblings' Holiday presents.

]]> General News Thu, 7 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST The 2009-2010 York County Beautification Calendar will feature the artwork of eight Bruton High School Students. Each student was awarded $100 for their submissions. Congratulations to the following: Anthony Malave, Josie Tillman, Ashley Petit, Greg Butchel, Emily Demeo, Katy Rasiak, Amanda Sheets and Luciana Legaspi.

]]> General News Thu, 7 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST Students in Leann Sasamoto's pottery classes at Tabb High School were able to experience first hand the art of Raku Pottery. Raku pottery style has its origins in Japan and is hand-molded creating all "one-of-a-kind" pieces. To create the unique effects associated with Raku pottery a specific ceramic firing process is required that incorporates both fire and smoke. Students created and cleaned up the finished pieces to be placed on display in the schools art department showcase.

]]> General News Thu, 7 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 824 and the Ladies Auxiliary in Grafton presented cast awards and certificates to the winners of the "Patriots" Pen Essay Contest. The theme was "When is the Best Time to Honor our Military Heroes". The three winners, all Queens Lake Middle School students, are 3rd place - Alexis Ferebee, 2nd place - Rachel Perry and 1st place - Josh Dolson.

]]> General News Thu, 7 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST The Queens Lake Middle School's Student Council Association (SCA) collected several boxes of canned and boxed food. It was donated to the Salvation Army of Williamsburg. This event is one of the SCA’s community Outreach projects. Barbara Maxwell is the Advisor.

]]> General News Thu, 7 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST Want to send that special classmate something sweet to let them know you are thinking about them? If so, the Young Republicans at Tabb High School have what you need - Candy-Grams. The group sold candy-grams during lunch blocks in the school concession area. Money raised from this venture is being donated to the Wounded Warriors Foundation in support of our troops. This fundraiser is just one of many, including a run in the spring, planned by the group, sponsored by Cory Martin, to raise funds for the foundation.

]]> General News Thu, 7 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST The following Yorktown Middle School students were recognized as “Most Outstanding” or “Most Improved” for the second interim period. Most Outstanding: 6th Grade - Paige Irvine and Juan Pazmino. 7th Grade - Mara Reichle and Matthew Shih. 8th Grade - Alec Mang and Kadie Aaron. Most Improved 6th Grade: Foundations of Algebra Part I - Aundrea Clark, Foundations of Algebra - Chris Huffman, Language Arts - Danielle Angell, Science - Bentley Zabicki, Social Studies- Ta'Tyana May. 7th Grade: Math 7- Kane Flannagan, Language Arts - Phillip Rollo, Science - Kyle Latulipe, Social Studies - Jonathan Showalter, Algebra - Alexx Hysell. 8th Grade: Pre Algebra - Cheyenne Taylor, Algebra I - Caelan Campbell, Geometry - Elise Watts, Language Arts - Hannah Hartman, Advanced Language Arts - Kyle Abbot, Science - Jewel Cooke, Global Studies - Jacob Arno, Encore French II - Rachel Hale, Spanish 1 - Darius Hickey and Spanish II - Kristin Smith.

]]> General News Thu, 7 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST The York County School Division has announced the students selected to participate in the Yorktown-Zweibrucken Student Exchange Program in 2010. The students will spend four weeks of the summer season in Germany. Bruton High School - Nina Shmorhun, Student Alternate - Celine Walker. Grafton High School - Ryan Bean, Kiarra Crump, Kelsey Evans and Mitchell Magee. Tabb High School - Lauren Cashman and Allison Crow. York High School - Taylor Brown, Samantha Guthrie and Kelsey Nunn. Helen Riley, of Bruton High School will be the teacher chaperone.

]]> General News Thu, 7 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST Tabb Elementary fourth grade students successfully mastered their multiplication facts with completing 100 problems in two minutes. The students were treated to a pizza lunch.

]]> General News Thu, 7 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST As a result of their outstanding artwork that illustrates inspiring new ideas and thoughts about what it means to be “green,” the following students have been named winners in the annual contest sponsored by NASA. Winners and their families, educators and administrators will be invited to attend a special award ceremony on February 5, 2010 at the Virginia Air and Space Center. The grand prize winner and the first place winners' artwork will also be featured in the 2010 Get Ready, Get Set, Go Green calendar as well as on display from February 5, 2010 to December 31, 2010 at the Virginia Air Space Center. Congratulations to:

Grafton Bethel Elementary:

• K First Place - Maile Schalm
• 2nd Grade First Place - Caroline Beard
• 3rd Grade First Place - Caitlin Allen
• 4th Grade Honorable Mention - Brianna Carden
• 5th Grade Honorable Mention - Burke Schramel

Coventry Elementary:

• 2nd Grade Third Place - Emily Wilhelm
• 4th Grade First Place - Samantha Gibbons

York High Winners:

• 9th Grade First Place - Mee Na Ko
• 10th Grade First Place - Xaier Zhang
• 11th Grade First Place - Molly Wiedemann

]]> General News Thu, 7 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST Kelsey O'Brien, senior at Tabb High School was named All-American by the NFHCA (National Field Hockey Coaches Association). The Association selected the top 30 field hockey athletes in the entire USA. She is one of only two Virginians to receive the honor this year. She is also the first York County field hockey player to be named All-American in YCSD history. Congratulations to Kelsey!

]]> General News Wed, 6 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST Beginning January 5th, final grades within .5 of the next higher letter grade will be rounded up on interim reports and report cards.

This change affects all York County School Division students in grades 3-12. Final grades for the first quarter of the 2009-10 school year will not be rounded retroactively. Semester grades will not be adversely affected by the implementation of rounding beginning with the second quarter because first and second quarter numerical grades are averaged to determine a student's final semester grade and only the semester and final grades are entered on transcripts and forwarded to colleges.

If you have any questions regarding this new policy, please contact your child's teacher or the guidance office.


FAQs

Why is this change being made? Since all teachers in grades 3-12 now use an online grade book, grades are averaged electronically, thus creating grades with decimal points. No division-wide rounding procedure was in place, and it is important that grades are calculated in the same manner regardless of which YCSD school a student attends.

Why is rounding up being implemented after school has started? Principals and teachers agreed that implementation should be sooner rather than later. Since rounding up second quarter grades would have no adverse affect on first quarter grades and on semester averages, it was determined that the procedure could be implemented second quarter.

Will my child's previous grades be rounded up? No, there will be no retroactive rounding of previous grades.

]]> General News Mon, 21 Dec 2009 9:00:00 EST The division has made some changes to the spring SOL testing dates. To ensure that tests are returned by the state’s deadline, SOL testing will begin on May 26 with the History 3 and History 4 exams. Students absent on May 26 may make-up the test on May 27. All other elementary SOL testing will be after Memorial Day and will run through June 9.

Elementary students are required to take the following SOL tests:

• Grade 3: English, Part 1 & 2; Math; History; Science
• Grade 4: English, Math, History
• Grade 5: English, Math, Science

]]> General News Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST Angela Collins' Kindergarten class at Magruder Elementary School made their second annual gingerbread house. This year, the students decided to build a castle and to donate it to a local charity for children along with a bag full of mittens, hats and candy.

]]> General News Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST The Tabb High School Debate Team took home the second place trophy from the Heritage Holiday Tournament. In the Varsity Division, Anam Jafri placed second and Austin Pierce placed fourth. In the Novice Division, Adam Barela placed third.

]]> General News Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST The Invisible Children's Club, new this year to Tabb High School, is a group of students that has undertaken the task of increasing awareness of less fortunate children. This group, sponsored by Michael Martinez has raised $2,600 over the past two weeks for their cause through an awareness campaign designed to enlighten the community to the plight of children living in war torn countries and secure donations. This money will travel to Rwanda and Uganda to help with the rebuilding of schools and to provide school supplies. The club plans on continuing its fundraising efforts throughout the school year.

]]> General News Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST The Marketing Education students at Tabb High School created over 200 cards full of thanks and well wishes for our military heroes that are unable be with us during this holiday season. Students and faculty throughout the building contributed to the postage fund.

]]> General News Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST The Tabb High School National Honor Society, sponsored by Lee Wallace and her students, baked over 3,444 cookies for the military service men and women and their families in our area this holiday season. The students donated the cookies to the Langley Officers' Spouses' Club for distribution.

]]> General News Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST The talented York High School Chorus, under the direction of Tiffany Temple, visited the York County School Board Office where they performed a sampling of their holiday concert for the staff. The Chorus then headed to the Tabb Library for another short concert.

]]> General News Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST The newly formed Builder's Club at Yorktown Middle School (YMS) gathered over 300 pounds of donated food in the inaugural Helping Hands Food Drive to benefit the Food Bank of the Virginia Peninsula. Designed to restock Food Bank shelves following the Thanksgiving holiday, students focused their efforts on collecting healthy selections for donations. The YMS Builder's Club is sponsored by the Grafton Kiwanis Club and is in its first year of operation.

]]> General News Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST The Yorktown Middle School Builder's Club gathered to make homemade holiday cards for residents of York Convalescent Home in December. Students applied their artistic and literary skills to generate a wealth of holiday cheer that will be delivered to residents of the nearby York Convalescent Home.

]]> General News Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST The York Foundation for Public Education, Inc. (YFPE) held their first annual Pie Patrol Fundraiser in November. YFPE raised over $900 and sold apple, pumpkin and pecan pies from the Jamestown Pie Company. The funds will be allocated to the Teacher and Para-Professional Scholarship Fund. Over 270 pies were delivered by YFPE board members and volunteers throughout the division. Mt. Vernon Elementary, Grafton Middle and York High schools were each awarded $150 from YFPE for being the top selling schools. Peggy Myatt, Foundation Director delivered the "check" to each winning school.

]]> General News Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST Students in Isabel Galvez's French I class at Yorktown Middle School (YMS) have formed a partnership with students in France. Exchanging letters, students are using this opportunity to build French language skills, as their French counterparts build their English language skills. This experience supports the Community and Service area interaction of YMS’s Middle Years Program.

]]> General News Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST Mid White, age 93 and great-grandmother to fourth grade student Noah Beach, visited the first grade students at Seaford Elementary School to highlight their lesson unit on learning the differences between the past and the present. Mrs. White described to students her two room school house with students between the ages of six and sixteen. She told the students about her seven mile ride to school on her pony. Mrs. White was also able to share photos, including pictures of her childhood home, for students to be able to visualize the clothing, buildings and styles of the early 1900's.

]]> General News Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST Science Fair Winners
Congratulations to the winners of the 14th annual Queens Lake Middle School science fair. First, second, third and honorable mention winners are eligible to move on to the York County School Division Science Fair to be held on January 21, 2010 at the Grafton School Complex.

Lion's Club Peace Poster Contest Winners
Queens Lake Middle School announces the winners of the Peace Poster design contest. The theme this year was "The Power of Peace." The first place winner received $25.

• 1st Place – Andrea Anton
• 2nd Place – Suzanna Wright
• 3rd Place – Hunter Embry

Queens Lake Middle School Artwork
Artwork from students at Queens Lake Middle School will be on display at Trader Joe's in New Town, Williamsburg for the month of December.

Queens Lake Middle School Holiday Concert
The Queens Lake Middle School band and choir will conduct their Winter Holiday Concert on Monday, December 14th at 6:00 PM at the Bruton High School.

]]> General News Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released a twenty page retrospective to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of the first ENERGY STAR label awarded to a building. The retrospective, titled Celebrating A Decade of ENERGY STAR Buildings: 1999-2009, includes a brief history of the program and highlights four dozen of the nearly 9,000 buildings that have earned the ENERGY STAR label this decade. Bruton High School is one of those mentioned in the retrospective, and is credited for its energy renovation in 2003 that included the new geothermal system. The ENERGY STAR is available for 13 types of commercial buildings, and the ENERGY STAR labeled buildings typically use 35 percent less energy and emit 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than average buildings. Bruton High’s operating costs are now significantly lower than average.

]]> General News Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST The Marketing Education program at Tabb High School has an active co-curricular DECA club this year. Newly elected officers hit the ground running and created a comprehensive program for the school year. Together with club meetings, the 80 member group planned several community service projects and wants to bring home medals from District, State and International competitions. Their first order of business was Officer Training Conference attendance. At this conference held in October, officers from District 25 DECA gathered to plan the District wide events, participate in training workshops and received their officer pins at the installation ceremony.

]]> General News Thu, 3 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST The Tabb High School Model United Nations (UN) group participated in the 23rd annual William and Mary High School Model UN Conference in November. The conference provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate their skills in a realistic UN setting. Each model UN school represents a different country at the conference. The student members must learn the perspective of their country on given issues or multiple issues and then present their country's views on the issues at the conference. Congratulations to Nathan Smuckler and Austin Pierce who both won Outstanding Delegate awards, and to the team of Sam Florer and Chris Webb who won the Best Delegation award.

]]> General News Thu, 3 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST The Career Mentorship program at Tabb High School gives students the opportunity to gain first hand experience in a career field they may have an interest in pursuing after school. The program helps students secure mentors that are willing to work with the students in their chosen career field to complete a project, learn valuable skills and discover if this is really the career they want to pursue in the future. Students are required to complete a minimum of 140 hours during the school year at the job site and present a culminating product/project that reflects their learning experience at a reception for the mentors in the spring. Approximately 60 students successfully completed the application process to enter the program this year. Betty Burdick and Gwen Banks are the teacher-coordinators of the program.

]]> General News Thu, 3 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST When you visit Tabb High School on any given Wednesday afternoon you will see students in the halls carrying boxes full of recyclable paper from the classrooms to the recycling dumpster behind the building. Club Earth's members are dedicated to reducing the carbon footprint of Tabb High School and are encouraging their peers and teachers to do the same. Right now the club collects paper and cardboard and places it in the recycling dumpster at the building. In the future the club hopes to use its funds to put an infrastructure in place for the collection and recycling of plastic, glass and aluminum.

]]> General News Thu, 3 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST The Tabb High School Key Club sponsored a "Can Soup Day" drive to support the York County Food Closet and the York County Food Pantry. In a friendly school competition, students were asked to bring in cans of soup to their homeroom class. This one-day can drive brought in over 500 cans of soup. Coach Brown's seventh period class brought in the most cans of soup and will receive a prize from the Key Club. Marissa Arager, Key Club President and Michael Martinez, Key Club Sponsor, supervised the collection and drop-off of the cans of soup.

]]> General News Thu, 3 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST Volunteers from Tabb High School (THS) participated in the Feeding 2000 Thanksgiving Harvest Event. THS students and teachers were among 80 of the Youth Volunteer Corp (64 youth and 16 adult volunteers/team leaders) who participated in the Feeding 2000 Thanksgiving Harvest. Volunteers were instrumental in set up, preparation and clean up surrounding the event. Volunteers from THS included: Mike Martinez, Cory Martin, Bob Brownschidle and student volunteers: Chris DiOrio, Evelyn Seay, Jill Rinehart, Megan Sepanski and Morgan Ames.

]]> General News Thu, 3 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST The annual YCSD Science Fair will be held on Thursday, January 21, 2010 at the Grafton School Complex. Student projects will be judged and then open to the public from 7:15 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. There will be an award ceremony at 8:00 p.m. in the auditorium.

]]> General News Thu, 3 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST Seaford Elementary School first grade teachers aged overnight and visited their students dressed as old women. The first graders read "I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie" to celebrate the Thanksgiving season. The book allowed the students to practice sequencing, rhyming and identifying details.

]]> General News Thu, 3 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST Grafton Bethel Elementary School (GBES) held its annual Turkey Shoot in November 2009. Students who completed the largest amount of baskets were given a turkey donated by Food Lion. Luanne Nicks, GBES physical education teacher and Karen Grass, GBES principal, congratulated the winners. Kindergarten winners: Madeline Amthor and Mason Thomas. First grade winners: Marisa Guajardo and Trevor Fields. Second Grade winners: Samantha Scott and Trey Kalil. Third Grade winners: Molly Fleri and Jordan Massey. Fourth Grade winners: Haley Chipchase and Mason Colls. Fifth Grade winners: Ginny Hunter and Sebastian Teubert.

]]> General News Thu, 3 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST The York County School Division received a check for $1,000 from Farmer’s Insurance Company for teachers’ professional development. Mike Lewis and Bill McArthur, from Farmer’s Insurance, presented the check to Superintendent Eric Williams during a presentation at the school board office. In the fall of 2008, Farmers donated copies of its award winning educational programs, American Promise and Across the Waves.

]]> General News Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST The Tabb High School 2009 yearbook Bengal, "Out of Many...One" won Trophy Class designation, the VHSL's highest award in its annual publication critique. It received a Superior rating in all five categories: concept, coverage, design, writing and photography. Co-editors Laura Craig and Katie Kennedy led the staff of twenty-two, along with adviser Melinda Schenkkan. Staff members and section editors included Michelle Ormsbee, Grace Kuenzi, Lea Marshall, Rachel Sepanski, Lauren Keefer, Abby Fredricksen, Sophie Karatsikis, Emilee Geer, Courtney Guy, Ben Kavit, Stacey Harlow, Ashlea Weems, Dan Byers, Ryan Cummins, Matt Jacobson, Josh Milot, Colleen Patterson, Kat Grosshans, Bob Mills and Maggie Stough.

]]> General News Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST Selected as one of ten winners for the Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grant Program, the York High School PTSA received $1,000 for comprehensive arts education. The grant proposal, drafted by Michelle Cihak and 2008-2009 President Tammy Pack, under the direction of current President Angie Zabicki, will be matched by funds from the York High PTSA local chapter. The award was presented at the Virginia State PTA Conference by National PTA President Chuck Saylors and outgoing Virginia PTA President Melissa Nehrbass.

]]> General News Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST The Tidewater Region of the Virginia Art Educators Association awarded York High School Art Teacher, Juli Semanski the Secondary Division Art Educator Award at the regional conference in November.

]]> General News Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST Seaford Elementary School's Student Council Association sponsored a canned food drive in November to assist our community. Students brought in 1,217 items that were taken to the local food bank for immediate use. The top two classes were Beth Beach's first grade class with 181 cans and Jennifer Tom's third grade class who brought in 110 items.

]]> General News Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST Heather Schaloff, a York High School teacher, was recently awarded a Langley Federal Credit Union Teacher Mini-Grant. The funds will be used to support the teaching of important financial concepts to her students. Gina Mancuso-Sidhu, Business Education teacher at Tabb High School is also a recipient of a Langley Federal Credit Union Mini-Grant. The $250 grant will be used to purchase materials and supplies to enhance the financial literacy of students in the Business Education Department at Tabb High School.

]]> General News Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST To the NJROTC cadets of Tabb, Gloucester, and York High, who attend the 3rd Annual Joint York County BLT, it will forever have another meaning: Basic Leadership Training. BLT was a four day overnight trip to Norfolk Naval Base to see what it means to be in the Navy. This year cadets departed from Tabb High on Thursday October eighth, after school, and did not return until Sunday October eleventh. This years BLT started with ninety four cadets and had the lowest attrition rate still it ended with only eighty nine, five cadets were unable to complete the weekend events and were sent home due to sickness or injury.

The first day of BLT always seems the most stressful, but with hindsight it may now be called an easy day. Cadets are split up into four platoons; Alpha, commanded by Loren Yourgal from York and Nicholas Chigos-White from Tabb; Bravo, commanded by Ross Barnett from Tabb and Jasnique Rolle also from Tabb; Charlie, lead by Jesse Pearsall from Gloucester and Will Burns from York; and Delta, commanded by Thomas Rivera from Gloucester and Jonathan Phillips from Tabb. The cadets also met their Cadre, or leaders. This year the BLT Commanding Officer was Tabb’s very own Angela Satava. The last thing that happens before lights out is the "Junk on Bunk" inspection. That’s when the cadets empty their luggage onto their bunks and the cadre sort through it to make sure they don’t have anything they aren’t supposed to have. Over the next three days the four platoons will compete in seven graded events for the title of Honor Platoon.

Friday October ninth was an exciting day for the boots, or cadets. They learned Damage Control and were challenged to “save a sinking vessel” on the “USS Buttercup trainer.” Everyone was cold and wet! Nevertheless with great team they kept the ship afloat – Great Job!

Next on the busy schedule were two ship visits after a short bus ride the cadets were able to see what it’s like to live and work on two national assets – the Aircraft Carriers USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) built in 1977 and the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN- 75) built in 1998. In addition to experiencing the living and working conditions while on board they learned about the ships namesakes and their unique contributions. The they marched back to the barracks for two inspections!

On Saturday the cadets went to Fort Eustis to be challenged by the Obstacle course as well as the ever exhilarating Leadership Reaction Course. There, boots were faced with a series of problems and only a handful of tools to solve them. They had to use their knowledge and craftiness to overcome problems ranging from crossing a river over a bombed out bridge, evacuation of a wounded shipmate via a highline, and escaping from a POW camp over a 10 foot wall and a moat.

Sunday marked the last day of BLT, still the Honor Platoon still had more work to do to lock it up. Before breakfast the cadets had to clean the barracks from stem to stern then hold a platoon Drill meet competition. The Drill scores really tightened up the Honor Platoon race, nevertheless there had to be a winner and by two points in the end it was Bravo platoon that took the Honor Platoon award. The Graduation was held at York High. In addition to all the cadets who completed the event earning the Mini-Boot Camp Ribbons the Honor cadets and platoon members received Honor Medals. The Honor cadets from each platoon were selected by the cadre and peers for outstanding effort. The Honor cadets were: Alpha - Daniel Pierce from Tabb; Bravo - Ben Welch and William McLawhorn from Tabb and Andrew Messick from York; Charlie - Abel Pardo from Gloucester; Delta - Allison Beams from Gloucester and Rebecca Valdez and Austin Wagner from Tabb. Every cadet left BLT a bit sore and very tired but with a sense of achievement, much to the parents delight. BLT was only four days long but they were four days that none of the cadre or boots will forget any time soon!

]]> General News Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST The York Foundation for Public Educators, Inc. (YFPE) awarded a total of $5,800 to five York County Schools for the 2009 Fall School Wide Initiative Grants Program. The funds are awarded for the development and design of innovative strategies that help to reshape, enhance or improve education for all students within the school. Peggy Myatt, Director of the YFPE, and YFPE Board Member Catherine Jones, along with the winning schools’ principals, presented the recipients with their grants during surprise visits of the YFPE Prize Patrol. Additional funds were awarded to the Integrated Pre-school Outreach Program (IPOP) from the YFPE Special Programs fund to be used for tuition assistance in 2009-2010.

]]> General News Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST Due to the school closings because of the inclement weather, Jan. 29th, originally a Teacher/Student Holiday, will now become a teaching day.

Additionally, first semester exams would begin on Tuesday, January 26th and end on January 29th. These exams were previously scheduled to begin on Monday, January 25th and end on Thursday, January 28th.

Click here to view the new calendar.

]]> General News Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST Seaford Elementary School formally recognizes a student from each class who displays good citizenship. Each month staff members nominate students who stand out as good citizens in all of their actions at school. The students chosen are those who naturally demonstrate a caring, helpful attitude toward others and their school environment. November's winners are as follows:

Kindergarten: Zach Harbin, Krishna Patel, Alex Riddett, and Jimmy DiMaggio.
1st Grade: Chase Crawford, Ryleigh Lemonds, David Winer, Seth Porter and Ben Poteat.
2nd Grade: Brandon Tolbert, Ryan McKnight, Olivia Henkel and Tyler Kurtyka.
3rd Grade: Maggie Gundling, Jacob Camp, Ashley Dupree and Ryan Sheck.
4th Grade: Calvin Yokum, Jenny Bush, Jarrett Medford, Allison Ormsby and Ben Lofton.
5th Grade: Christina Angel, Courtney Drewry, Rain Burleson and Hanna Angel.

]]> General News Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST York High School International Baccalaureate students Abigail Chen, Wei Chang and Brian Xu won first place at the Christopher Newport University Mathematics Contest. Under the guidance of Mary Deal, Math Department Chair, the students displayed their superior math skills. Even more remarkable, the students won with only three members on their team, yet all of the competition consisted of four members per team. Congratulations Falcons!

]]> General News Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST The Tabb Middle School Girls' Basketball Team finished a perfect 12-0 season by knocking off James Blair 40-29 to win the Bay Rivers District Title. Tabb's leadership led by the team captains Erin Fenton, Brooke Mahan and Tawana Rankin lead the championship victory. Their offense produced an average of 35 points per game and the perfect season was completed by winning every game by double digits. The Lady Tiger's play was marked by unselfishness as every player scored this season and the team averaged an impressive 9.8 assists per game. Coach Clarke, "This season was a total team effort from the beginning. We had 15 players and every one of them contributed to our season and our success. They made each other better every day in practice and each game they proved that."

]]> General News Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST Waller Mill Elementary School (WMES) students are collecting canned goods from November 17-25 to donate to FISH. Every WMES student will assist in the delivery of the canned goods. FISH, a social and human services organization is located next door to the school and will receive the donations as each class comes in.

]]> General News Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST Waller Mill Elementary School Fine Arts Magnet students will participate in a school wide walkathon on November 20th. The PTA is raising money for an outdoor classroom to be built on the Waller Mill Elementary School grounds. The College of William & Mary men's gymnastics team will begin the event by helping all 321 students and their parents warm up for the walk. November is National PTA Healthy Lifestyles Month.

]]> General News Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST Jennifer Overbay's Kindergarten class at Coventry Elementary School explores a York County Fire Truck during Fire Safety Month.

]]> General News Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST The Yorktown Middle School (YMS) 7th and 8th grade chorus students auditioned with nearly 1,000 other students from across the region for the 125 available slots in Workshop District Chorus. Students selected will participate in a concert at Woodside High School under the direction of guest conductor Angela Lemare in February 2010 with other students from across the district. YMS students selected are:

Soprano: Cara Stablien
Altos: Arianna Flores-Moya, Symone Holiday, Illeana Geary, Mikayla Raimo and Celia Neser
Baritones: Tyler Milam and Connor Cole (2nd alternate)

Congratulations to all who auditioned!

]]> General News Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST Grafton Bethel Elementary students explored the world of music and melody through the Virginia Opera's "Giovanni and the Beanstalk". The cast fielded questions from the students and many wondered how it was possible to sing that loud and pretty without a microphone.

]]> General News Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST Homecoming week in October was full of fun and merriment at Tabb High School. Displays of Spirit attire from wacky-tacky to movie characters filled the halls. Students and faculty alike got into the Spirit dress days all week.

]]> General News Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST Danielle Vallino's visual art class at Yorktown Middle School students in the Middle Years Candidate Programme (MYP) constructed creative bookmarks for a cultural exchange with students in both Portugal and France. Utilizing their artistic skills, the project was completed with the support of Donna Myers, Media Specialist, in support of the International School Library Month theme, School Libraries: The Big Picture.

]]> General News Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST Congratulations to Tia Maxfield and Noah Stoner, of Queens Lake Middle School who were named to District Chorus. Noah Stoner scored a perfect 200.

]]> General News Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST The concepts of Algebra come alive for students in Robin Brockmiller's Middle Years Programme (MYP) Algebra I class at Yorktown Middle School. Students learned about stress points as they worked to solve the real-world situation of how to rescue a child stranded on an ice pond. Students developed "Cell as a City" projects, in which they were challenged with the task to create a city or other organization that contains the same functions as the organelles in a cell. They developed visual comparisons of the Scientific Method and the MYP Design Cycle in their MYP 7th grade science class with Lesley White. Through this project, students observed the similarities between the two and the frequency with which we utilize processes to solve problems.

]]> General News Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST The Reflections National Contest sponsored by the PTA announced the Yorktown Middle School winners and hosted an awards ceremony in November. Students competed in six different categories and each of the school winners go on to compete in the county level and then at the national level.

]]> General News Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST The York Foundation for Public Educators, Inc. (YFPE) awarded a total of $3,381 to several York County Schools for the Fall 2009 Innovative Instructional Grants Program. The funds are awarded for projects that are designated to motivate, enrich and enhance student learning. Peggy Myatt, Director of the YFPE, along with YFPE Board Members Catherine Jones, Carrie Dayton and Bill Monroe along with the winning schools’ principals, presented the recipients with their grants during surprise visits of the YFPE Prize Patrol.

]]> General News Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST Queens Lake Middle School is hosting a Holiday Craft Show sponsored by the PTA on November 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring music, catering and unique gifts.

]]> Events Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST Yorktown Middle School Band Director, Wayne Powell announced the following students as band students for the month of October 2009:

• Advanced Band: Huma Ashai and Tatum Conner
• Intermediate Band: Tyler Castandeda, Ethan Jones and Matthew Shih
• Beginning Band (7th and 8th): Krystal Ortiz
• Beginning Band (6th): Josh Clough, Madison Conner and Ross Millner

]]> General News Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST In October, the 5th grade students from Magruder Elementary School went on a field trip to New Quarter Park where they were able to interact with experts in the fields of forestry, geology and history. Part of the experience was spent gathering acorns for the Department of Forestry. The students enjoyed it so much they continue to gather acorns from home and school.

]]> General News Thu, 5 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST The National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) has recognized the York County School Division (YCSD) with a Golden Achievement Award for the Building Access System Launch in 2009 and an Honorable Mention for the YCSD Strategic Planning Process Announcement.

Graphic Design USA, a national magazine for creative professionals, awarded the YCSD with a American Graphic Design Award for the 2009 Pre-Retirement Planning Seminar poster, created by Keli Slusher, Multimedia Design Specialist for the YCSD Community and Public Relations Department. The competition for this category is among the largest with 8,000 plus entries and only the top 15% selected for awards. The Community and Public Relations department is under the direction of Betsy Overkamp-Smith.

]]> General News Thu, 5 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST Seaford Elementary School's annual Hat Day was a tremendous success again this year. Students sported everything to include the traditional baseball cap, cultural hats, firefighter helmets, soldiers, Disney characters and even one pizza hat, complete with toppings.

]]> General News Thu, 5 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST Queens Lake Middle School announces the Student Council Association Board for 2009-2010. Congratulations to the following students. Ethan Rice, President, Vice-President, Simone Williams, Treasurer, Anthony Richardson, Activity/Morale Coordinator, Shreya Patel, and Secretary, Breanna Jarvis.

]]> General News Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST Alto Saxophones: Rachel Perry and Austin Gardner
Tenor Saxophones: Scott Racoosin and R'landa Mapp
Baritone Saxophone: Joshua Dolson
Trumpets: Peter McReynolds, Kyle Clark, Jabari Pace, Bryce Baker and Mason Farley
Trombones: Isaiah Williams and Karif McCoy
Bass Guitar: Alex Norris
Drum Set: Kavron Carr and Shaquille White

]]> General News Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, performed by Theater IV, is a great story known all around the world. Grafton Bethel Elementary School's students enjoyed the frightfully hilarious musical performance. The Cultural Arts division of the Parent Teacher Association sponsored this event.

]]> General News Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST Principal Antonia Fox congratulates the National Merit and National Achievement Semifinalists at York High School.

]]> General News Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST The York High School Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) will host a Cinderella's Closet dress sale on November 7, 2009 from 9 am to 2 pm in the high school’s KIVA. This sale will provide the opportunity for all community members to purchase high-quality formal and semi-formal dresses. Dresses will be sold on a consignment-basis, with 30% of all proceeds going to the PTSA. This event is open to the public.

]]> General News Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST First graders at Seaford Elementary School recently paid tribute to the legendary Johnny Appleseed by participating in a variety of apple activities which included making apple art, listening to stories about the famous folk hero and sampling several varieties of apples that are produced in the state of Virginia.

]]> General News Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:50:00 EST Kevin Luo, a York High Class of 2009 graduate, was recently honored at the White House as a 2009 Presidential Scholar by the U.S. Department of Education. Kevin is one of three high school seniors chosen in Virginia and one of 141 chosen nationwide for their accomplishments in academics, arts, leadership, citizenship and community service. Additionally, Kevin was joined by Cynthia Hardesty, IB Physics instructor, who he named as his most influential teacher.

]]> General News Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:50:00 EST The Grafton Bethel Elementary School’s Spell-a-thon raises funds by accepting monetary pledges through family sponsors for weekly spelling tests. All participating students receive a Wendy’s Frosty card and a principal’s homework pass. Classes are also treated to popcorn and snocone parties for each grade level that raises the most money. "This is very beneficial for the school and its faculty and students. It works well because it allows the student's friends and family to donate 100% to the school instead of a small percentage from an item they didn’t want anyway." says Tina Hoffman, this year's Spell-a-thon coordinator.

]]> General News Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:50:00 EST The decision to choose products that will protect children’s health and the environment is a major undertaking in schools today. Unsafe chemicals pose a serious risk to the health of teachers, staff and students. More importantly, they have a significant adverse impact on the local environment. The York County School Division strives to continuously improve the quality of our schools and to be good stewards of the environment.

Over the years, the school division has employed environmentally friendly products for many aspects of daily cleaning. Recently the school division adopted the use of green products and diminished waste by replacing liquid soap with foam soap and by using single sheet paper towel dispensers in all restrooms. One of the most significant items now being addressed by the division is floor finishes. Floor cleaning products are a major contributor to indoor air quality. Currently Yorktown and Dare Elementary Schools are working with a consultant to evaluate the need for additional use of green cleaning products and to update techniques that will diminish chemical use and cleaning time.

Green products currently used at York County School Division:

• 3M cleaning chemicals: Neutral Floor Cleaner, All Purpose Cleaner and Glass Cleaner.
• Hand towels and toilet paper manufactured by Cascades Company and distributed locally by Riverside Paper, Inc.
• Hand soap manufactured by Kutol Company and also distributed locally by Riverside Paper, Inc.

]]> General News Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:50:00 EST Autumn was celebrated in style at Grafton Bethel Elementary School’s annual Fall Festival. Harvest crafts, a hayride and fresh made apple cider were among the many activities sponsored by the PTA. The Honor students from Grafton High School and Bill Grass, the apple cider maker, volunteered their time to help make this a successful event.

]]> General News Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:50:00 EST Tabb High School students have received national recognition for their academic performance. Alex Brown and Ryan Souther are National Commended students, Yvonne Mack and Mark Tilashalski are National Merit Semifinalists and Martina Mitchell is a National Achievement Scholarship Program Semifinalist. Congratulations to all of these achievers.

]]> General News Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:50:00 EST The Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) have launched their website at Tabb High School, thanks to Bobby Jones and his construction skills. To gain access, go to the Tabb High School website site to keep up with current events, field trips and competitions.

]]> General News Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:50:00 EST Jerylyne Phillips of the Tabb High School Bowling Team has been selected a second year in a row as one of the top five female bowlers in our area to the All Star Team in the Peninsula Association of the United States Bowling Congress.

]]> General News Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:45:00 EST Tabb Elementary School’s Peer Mediation Program has been in place for 14 years. Mediators are fifth graders who have been selected by their classmates for their reliability and leadership. The mediators receive training from guidance counselor, Lynn Brothers. They assist students who are experiencing unresolved disagreements with other students. Generally the students refer themselves for mediation, but may also be referred by teachers, administrators or parents. The Peer Mediation Program creates a more peaceful school environment by teaching students non-violent ways to handle conflict.

]]> General News Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:45:00 EST York High School students were invited to participate in an art contest hosted by the Colonial Harbor. Residents voted by ballot to select the winners and prizes were awarded for first, second, and third place. First place went to Xaier Zhang and second and third place to Amanda Boyd. The staff and residents of Colonial Harbor enjoyed the event and hope to host another contest in the spring.

]]> General News Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:45:00 EST Through a partnership with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), 11th grade International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme Biology students at York High School are receiving instruction from Heidi Cotton, a VIMS scientist. The program, funded by the National Science Foundation, works to bring science to the community and what better way to do this than with students. Most recently, students began their long-term lab to study the biodiversity, water quality and sediment cores at Beaverdam Creek.

]]> General News Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:45:00 EST Members of the York High School Student Council Association traveled to Northern Virginia to participate in the Virginia Student Council Association (VSCA). Students were able to network with their counterparts from across the state, as well as further their own leadership skills.

]]> General News Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:45:00 EST Seaford Elementary School’s SCA sponsored a Cutest Pet Contest to raise money for the American Heart Association. Over 230 contestants participated by donating one dollar per entry. Pets included: cats, dogs, birds, lizards and horses. Pets were judged in three categories: Cutest Pose, Cutest Outfit and Most Unusual Pet. The contest was judged by York County School Division Superintendent, Eric Williams, Ed.D., YCSD Coordinator of Community and Public Relations, Betsy Overkamp-Smith, Seaford Elementary ACI Coordinator, Suzy Trench. Winner of the Cutest Pose was 4th grader Sean Connelly and his cat Victoria. Winner of the Cutest Outfit was 1st grader Adrienne Byrum and her dog Jake. Winner of the Most Unusual Pet was 2nd grader Kelsey Hensberger and her bearded dragons, Jagger and Spot. Each winner received a Seaford Elementary stuffed bulldog and a $10 gift card to PetCo.

]]> General News Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:45:00 EST Sandra Cherry’s fourth grade Literature Circle celebrates E. B. White's, Charlotte's Web with a pig party!

]]> General News Fri, 9 Oct 2009 9:45:00 EST An ENERGY STAR qualified school meets strict energy performance standards set by EPA and uses less energy, is less expensive to operate and causes fewer greenhouse gas emissions than its peers. The EPA's ENERGY STAR program recognizes buildings that have achieved a rating of 75 or better. This means that the building operates in the top 25% of all comparable buildings participating in the ENERGY STAR program. Prior to this year, YCSD had 6 buildings that had been recognized at least once as an ENERGY STAR Building. The following ten schools have been recognized as 2009 Energy Star buildings:

• Bruton High School – third consecutive year
• Grafton High/Middle School Complex – second consecutive year
• Mount Vernon Elementary School – second consecutive year
• Queens Lake Middle School – third consecutive year
• Seaford Elementary School – third consecutive year
• Tabb High School – first year
• Tabb Middle School – second consecutive year
• York High School – first year
• Yorktown Elementary School – first year
• Yorktown Middle School – first year

]]> General News Fri, 9 Oct 2009 9:45:00 EST Jennifer Tom’s third grade class at Seaford Elementary School celebrated their heroes by wearing their favorite jerseys on Favorite Sports Team Day.

]]> General News Fri, 9 Oct 2009 9:45:00 EST In September, the Coca Cola Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability team visited Tabb Elementary School. The volunteers read to the first grade classes of Connie Rowe and Pam O'Marah. Fourth grade students Lisanne Pearson and Dylan Winslow assisted the volunteers with the planting of two Crepe Myrtle trees.

]]> General News Fri, 9 Oct 2009 9:45:00 EST Representatives from the Seaford Coca Cola distribution facility visited Magruder Elementary School on the Coca Cola Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Day. They visited first grade classrooms and read Curious George Plants a Tree. Fifth grade students assisted as two Crepe Myrtles were planted in front of the school.

]]> General News Fri, 9 Oct 2009 9:45:00 EST As a part of Coca Cola’s Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Week, representatives from the Yorktown Sales Center in Seaford, VA visited each of York County School Division’s ten elementary schools on September 29th to read to students and plant trees. Students from each school assisted the Coca Cola representatives in planting two crape myrtle trees at each school site. In addition, the Coca Cola groups went from classroom to classroom reading Curious George Plants a Tree. A copy of the book was then donated to each school’s library.

]]> General News Fri, 9 Oct 2009 9:45:00 EST York County School Division is urging staff to promote energy awareness in the classroom, at home and in their daily activities. Promotional items, web resources, posters, lesson plans and basic energy saving tips have been made available to staff. Visit yorkcountyschools.org/greenYCSD/ for information and resources.

]]> General News Fri, 9 Oct 2009 9:45:00 EST Tabb Elementary School recently recognized those students who scored a perfect 600 on their 2009 Standards of Learning tests. The 37 students were treated to a breakfast with Principal Cheryl Parr and given a certificate to acknowledge their accomplishment.

]]> General News Fri, 9 Oct 2009 9:45:00 EST The Seaford Elementary School formally recognizes a student from each class who displays good citizenship each month. Staff members nominate students who stand out in all of their actions at school. After consideration, the students chosen are those who naturally demonstrate a caring, helpful attitude toward others and their school environment. This month's winners are as follows:

• Kindergarten - Megan Freeman, Katie Nobles, Hima Prasad and Olivia Resa
• 1st Grade - Haley Auche, Olivia Burns, Lauren Gladysz, Camille Jenkins and Jenny Wagner
• 2nd Grade - Sarah Cunningham and Erin Murray

]]> General News Fri, 9 Oct 2009 9:45:00 EST The award for Middle School Youth Art was presented to Queens Lake Middle School this year at "An Occasion for the Arts" in Williamsburg. Over 600 pieces of art representing over 24 schools were on display. This is the third straight year that QLMS has won the award for middle school art.

]]> General News Fri, 9 Oct 2009 9:45:00 EST In celebration of Fire Safety Week, firefighters visited Magruder Elementary School. Students were able to see all the equipment used to fight fires, including the gear worn by firefighters when they enter houses to rescue residents.

]]> General News Fri, 9 Oct 2009 9:45:00 EST The Joint Military Services School Liaison Committee (JMSSLC) is pleased to announce that Guidance Counselors, Cary Dukes of Bethel Manor Elementary School and Lynn Kenneally of Tabb High School have each received a mini-grant to support the following programs that assist military families.

Bethel Manor Elementary School
"Breaking the Ice with Ice Cream", an ice cream social welcome for all new families - 190 new kids this year! Faculty and some "old" families helped welcome the new ones. Teachers served the ice cream in the lunch lines and raffle prizes of books and school supplies were awarded to 10 kids.
"Military Kids" Groups – All of the students at BMES are military dependents; therefore approximately 50 kids at any given time have a parent deployed. Military Kids is a support group at each grade level. Participants receive engraved, distinctive colored “dog tags” to wear while their parent is deployed. Students are able to see others wearing the dog tag at school giving them the comfort of knowing they are not alone and that others are available to talk to if needed.

Tabb High School
The Tabb High program increases opportunities to provide services to military transfer students from their unique perspective as military dependents, through group activities that will help the students themselves evaluate the kinds of services that they need. They will assist Friendship Network members in developing information sessions designed to address these needs and topics. Students will develop a video in conjunction with the Multimedia Design class, portraying their experience as a military dependent at Tabb High School. The video will then be used as a tool by new military transfer students.

]]> General News Fri, 9 Oct 2009 9:45:00 EST Congratulations to Lisa Field, Science Teacher at York High School for receiving $1,000 from the Armed Forces Communications Electronics Association (AFCEA) Hampton Roads Chapter. Lisa Field is one of nine educators who received the 2009 Science Teaching Tools Awards. Recipients are invited to attend the Chapter’s monthly luncheon at Holiday Inn in October. The AFCEA efforts encourage others to support teachers who assist students in developing an interest in math and science.

]]> General News Fri, 9 Oct 2009 9:45:00 EST Do you want to travel to Germany for four weeks? Become a part of the Yorktown-Zweibrucken Student Exchange program and spend four weeks of the summer abroad in Germany. Information and applications are available in the guidance office of each high school in the York County School Division until November 6, 2009. For more information, please contact program coordinators Sandy Hespe at 898-0469 or Darnell Veach at 898-0462.

]]> General News Mon, 5 Oct 2009 12:45:00 EST Wayne Powell, Yorktown Middle School Band Director is pleased to announce the Band Students of the Month for September 2009.

• Advanced Band - Kyle Abbott and Ethan Buck
• Intermediate Band - Young Chae, Stuart Warshawsky and Patrick Wood
• Beginning 6th Grade Band - Leigh Ann Abbott, Ryan born, Davis Price and Alex Rouin

]]> General News Mon, 5 Oct 2009 12:45:00 EST Coca Cola Enterprises (CCE) employees teamed up with students at Dare Elementary and Magruder Elementary schools to plant trees as part of a joint venture with the York County School Division to help educate students at all ten elementary schools about the importance of protecting and improving the environment. This event is part of CCE's global, company-wide initiative called "CRS in Action Week" taking place this week, where many of CCE's 73,000 employees are participating in local community events to demonstrate the company's commitment to our communities and Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (CRS).

]]> General News Mon, 5 Oct 2009 12:45:00 EST Students at Tabb High School (THS) were treated to a club fair hosted by the Friendship Network. The commons was filled with displays and chatter as the students moved around the tables interacting with the various club members and sponsors during lunch blocks in September. This was the seventh annual club fair sponsored by the Friendship Network and is only one of its many efforts to welcome the new and transferring students to Tabb High School. Lynn Kenneally, the Friendship Network's sponsor says that the club fair gives the students an opportunity to get information on over 40 clubs and organizations being offered at THS.

]]> General News Mon, 5 Oct 2009 12:45:00 EST In conjunction with the International Baccalaureate (IB) community theme of "Sharing Our Humanity," the IB 11 Spanish students and the Spanish IV students participated in the International Day of Peace. Researching a visual representation of peace and then compiling their images, students applied their Spanish skills to describe the images and their relationship to the global, community theme.

]]> General News Mon, 5 Oct 2009 12:45:00 EST Michael Martinez's World History classes took a trip to the Renaissance Museum without leaving the building. Students exited the classroom, took a short imaginary bus ride and were greeted by the museum curator (Mr. Martinez) as they returned to the room. Each student was provided with museum directory and instructed to browse the exhibits and take notes on each renaissance artist's bust. Earlier in the week, teams of students in each class were given a bust (paper facsimile) of one of the notable artists of the Renaissance period. They researched the artist, recorded the information at the base of the bust and colored the bust to represent their interpretation of the artist's appearance. The museum activity was designed to help students identify renaissance artists and to be able to explain their contributions to renaissance art.

]]> General News Mon, 5 Oct 2009 12:45:00 EST Sandy Cherry's 4th grade class at Grafton Bethel Elementary School enjoyed observing the four stages of the monarch butterfly life cycle - the egg, the larvae (caterpillar), the pupa (chrysalis), and the adult butterfly. The students enjoyed feeding the butterfly sugar water as they watched closely until the butterfly flew away into the Grizzly Get-A-Way! It was truly amazing!

]]> General News Mon, 5 Oct 2009 12:45:00 EST This year, the York County School Division offers a new service for parents – edline. Through edline, parents are able to monitor their child's grades, access combined calendars and receive e-mails from schools and teachers.

The parents of middle and high school students should have received their edline activation codes at Back to School Night. If you did not attend Back to School Night and have not received your activation code, please contact your child's school.

Parents of students in grades 3-5 will receive activation codes at parent-teacher conferences in November. Grades for K-2 students will not be posted on edline, but parents of K-2 students can access all the information posted on elementary school web sites without logging in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Edline posts answers to frequently asked questions on its site through the "Help" link. To assist parents with this function, below are the most frequently asked questions and the applicable edline link.

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]]> General News Mon, 28 Sep 2009 9:30:00 EST The Grafton Bethel Elementary School PTA raffled five car washes at the Teacher Luncheon, in an effort to reach 100% teacher participation.

]]> General News Mon, 28 Sep 2009 7:45:00 EST Utilizing the book Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, by Eric Carle, Seaford Elementary School kindergartners practice learning their colors by highlighting a specific color each day.

]]> General News Mon, 28 Sep 2009 7:36:00 EST Four area schools have been recognized by the Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries, Virginia Naturally School Recognition Program. Coventry Elementary, Mt. Vernon Elementary, Seaford Elementary and Grafton Middle schools were among the 52 Virginia schools that were recognized for their efforts in supporting environmental conservation and stewardship for 2009. The schools were required to submit a plan, carry it through for the year, and then meet specific criteria to be recognized in years for their continued efforts. Coventry Elementary School and Mt. Vernon Elementary School have been recognized for five years each, Grafton Middle School for one year, and Seaford Elementary School for one year.

]]> General News Mon, 28 Sep 2009 7:22:00 EST Jerry Pallotta, a.k.a. the Alphabet Man, visited Grafton Bethel Elementary School in September. He spent the day visiting classes and talking to students about his creative and intriguing alphabet story books. Students were treated to an interesting program in which he shared various photos and stories from his books. Student Max Gonnerman won "The Skull Alphabet Book" by correctly identifying a skull from the story.

]]> General News Mon, 28 Sep 2009 7:20:00 EST The Grafton Bethel Elementary PTA kicked off the new school year by sponsoring a luncheon for all teachers and staff to encourage membership in the association. Cameras, flash drives, Starbucks gift cards and free car washes were awarded as door prizes.

]]> General News Mon, 28 Sep 2009 7:18:00 EST The PTA helped celebrate the success of over eighty students who earned a 600 on their SOL tests last spring. The students received certificates, were served donuts and juice and were congratulated for their success. Grafton Bethel Elementary School has much to celebrate with a 100% pass rate of last year’s 5th graders in reading and math.

]]> General News Mon, 28 Sep 2009 7:16:00 EST York High School is pleased to announce two of their students as semifinalists for the National Merit Scholarship Competition. Juliana Wu and Sang Mee Ko join the ranks of 16,000 semifinalists nationwide who are the highest PSAT scoring students from their states. Approximately 8,200 students are selected for the Merit Scholarships each year. Congratulations for an outstanding achievement.

]]> General News Mon, 28 Sep 2009 7:15:00 EST Watch DOGS (Dads of Great Students) will host pizza nights in September and October at YCSD elementary schools. Dads and children are invited to attend for free pizza and drinks. The sessions will demonstrate how to volunteer at schools to be an extra set of eyes and ears. Watch DOGS promotes positive male role models and is a focus group of Child Development Resources, Inc. CDR provides services to young children and families. For more information call 757-566-3300.

The session schedule is as follows:

• 9/22/09 – 6 p.m. - Tabb Elementary
• 9/23/09 – 6 p.m. - Waller Mill Elementary
• 9/24/09 – 6 p.m. - Dare Elementary
• 10/6/09 – 6 p.m. - Seaford Elementary
• 10/8/09 – 6 p.m. - Bethel Manor Elementary
• 10/8/09 – 6:30 p.m. - Grafton Bethel Elementary
• 10/08/09 - 6:30 p.m. - Magruder Elementary
• 10/22/09 – 6 p.m. - Mt. Vernon Elementary

]]> Events Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:15:00 EST The Tabb High Student Council Association (SCA) executive board officers once again remembered the fallen victims of September 11th by delivering a pizza lunch to Fire Station #2 located next to the school. The SCA has sponsored these firefighters each year since that tragic day by providing lunch accompanied by sincere gratitude for the many selfless, often heroic acts performed by firefighters everywhere, everyday.

]]> General News Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:10:00 EST An art exhibit is currently on display through the end of the month at the YCSD School Board office featuring art work created by the talented art teachers of the York County School Division. There will be a reception for the exhibit on September 17 from 4 - 5 p.m. in the School Board Office foyer located at 302 Dare Road. There are nearly fifty pieces on display.

]]> Events Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:10:00 EST The York County School Division has received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the US and Canada’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the Fiscal Year 2009 Operating Budget. The GFOA award is the highest form of recognition from the organization and is the only national awards program in governmental budgeting. To earn the award, YCSD satisfied nationally recognized guidelines to assess how well the budget serves as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide and a communications device.

]]> General News Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:05:00 EST Waller Mill Elementary School Fine Arts Magnet teachers enjoyed refreshing Sno Cones from Grafton’s Sno Zone at the end of a day of professional development.

]]> General News Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST It's becoming an annual event - Sno Zone at Tabb High School. THS Principal, Laura Abel treats faculty, staff and their families to a refreshing Sno Zone treat to begin the new school year. Sno Zone Proprietor, Alan Pritchard delivers the frozen delicacies right to the front door.

]]> General News Fri, 4 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST The Tabb High School Spanish Honor Society filled backpacks with school supplies to help the Salvation Army provide local area students with much needed school supplies. Members of the group - Colin King, Clint Yeaman, Phebe Dunkley, Marissa Spencer and Anam Jafri filled 200 book bags.

]]> General News Fri, 4 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST Advanced Placement (AP) course curriculum is rigorous and designed to challenge even the most gifted students. Social Studies Department Chair, Melinda Sloan and AP instructor Linnea Terndrup initiated the "AP Boot Camp" this year at Tabb High to help those enrolled in AP classes. For three days in August, the boot camp recruits focused on various skills needed to be successful in AP classes as well as regular classes. The event culminated with student presentations, demonstrating the skills learned during the camp, reinforcing their knowledge and their ability to apply the lessons learned.

]]> General News Fri, 4 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST The Tabb High School Student Council Association (SCA) welcomed students to Tabb High during the New Student Orientation in September. Vice President, Stacey Harlow and Advisor, Leann Sasamoto organized the event. The commons area was filled with club and organization, booster club and local business displays with over 500 students and parents in attendance. The displays offered information on the extracurricular activities available at THS. The program began with a welcome from the SCA Vice President and the Presentation of Colors by the THS NJROTC Color Guard lead by Cadet Chief Ross Barnett. Parents and students were introduced to student leaders, administration, faculty and staff. Class President, Tom West addressed his freshman class, “We are not little kids anymore. We are in high school. More than that – we are in Tabb High School.” The THS Multimedia class created and presented a PowerPoint of opportunities, encouragement and tips for a successful start to the school year. The activities concluded with SCA guided tours of the building for the students and a question and answer session for the parents in the auditorium.

]]> General News Fri, 4 Sep 2009 11:45:00 EST Tabb High School Band Camp opened this year under the direction of Band Director Adam Waller and Drum Majors Jonathan Lucas, Kirsten Lynch, and Jill Rinehart, with over 130 members, including 38 new members. The three week camp focused on marching and maneuvering fundamentals, musical technique and the musical rehearsal of the 2009 halftime show, "Music from the Incredibles". The first week, "rookie camp", provided new members the opportunity to learn the necessary marching band techniques. Week two brought the entire band together and expanded the rehearsals to include leadership workshops for section leaders and drum majors. Tabb's Marching Band Guard lead by Captains Lauren Keefer and Katie Deleo worked along side their marching band counterparts to add visual flare and sparkle to the show. This year's Guard consists of 17 returning members and eight new members. The lineup for the 2009-2010 school year includes performances at all five home Tabb High School football games, three marching band competitions, the Virginia Band & Orchestra Directors Association State Marching Festival and the Yorktown Day Parade.

]]> General News Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:45:00 EST Discovery Camp is alive and well this summer at Yorktown Elementary Math Science Technology Magnet School. While students attend a four day camp they are learning about bugs, stars, comets, habitats and more. Students pictured are making "Comets" to learn more about Astronomy.

]]> General News Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:00:00 EST Penny Vaughn, 6th Grade Science Teacher from Tabb Middle School, was honored as the 2008-2009 Science Teacher of the Year. This award is co-sponsored by the Langley Chapter of the Air Force Association and the Virginia Air & Space Center. The purpose of the program is to recognize classroom teachers for their accomplishments and achievement by inspiring K-12 students to be excited about science and math, and preparing them to use and contribute to tomorrow's technologies. Vaughn was recognized at the Chapter luncheon on June 9th at the Langley AFB Officer's Club.

]]> General News Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:00:00 EST Grafton Bethel Elementary School K-Kids celebrated the end of a great year of school-community projects with their mentors from the Key Club at Grafton High School.

]]> General News Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:00:00 EST The fifth graders at Mt. Vernon Elementary School held the first York County Kids' Walk for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). The walk was held at MVES after school on May 29. Fifth grader Danielle Manicone presented the idea of a Kids' Walk to her principal, Barbara Wood. With the help of students, parents and faculty, MVES organized and held the Kids' Walk in honor of two of Danielle's classmates, Hannah Speight and Isma-il Lewis, who live with juvenile diabetes. The students raised over $2,500 for JDRF.

]]> General News Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:00:00 EST SubFinder on the Web is an expansion of YCSD's current SubFinder system that will allow teachers and substitutes to access their SubFinder information via the Internet. A SubFinder on the Web tutorial for teachers can be found at http://breeze.crs-ivr.com/employee58. A SubFinder on the Web tutorial for substitutes can be found at http://breeze.crs-ivr.com/substitute58. YCSD employees can access SubFinder on the web at https://subfinderweb.ycsd.york.va.us/webconnect. This link is for external access to SubFinder on the Web. If you are on a school division computer and wish to access SubFinder on the Web, please visit Sid for the internal link. Please call 898-0483 if you have questions about SubFinder on the Web.

]]> General News Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:00:00 EST