Newsroom

YCSDigest - September 17, 2021

COVID-19 Case Notifications

Effective today, September 17, the division will discontinue the practice of sending whole-school notifications regarding each time a positive COVID-19 case occurs among students and staff for that school. The volume of communication to families regarding COVID-19 cases is interfering with other important information families need to receive. The division remains committed to clear and open communication regarding events that affect our schools, so the following actions remain in place:

• School staff will continue to send personal notifications to staff members and families of students identified as a close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19.
• The YCSD COVID-19 Dashboard will continue to be updated daily with both positive cases and quarantine rates for every school and building.
• Schools will provide a weekly summary when one or more COVID-19 cases has resulted in close contacts within the school. These summaries will likely occur as part of the school's regular family communication messages.

COVID-19 Dashboard

More Than a Meal

Did you know that applying for the Free & Reduced Meal Program has more benefits than school meals? Filling out the form not only ensures YCSD receives certain federal funding to support students’ education needs, more importantly it allows eligible students to receive waivers or discounts on the following:

• College Application fees
• SAT, ACT and AP testing charges
• Athletics & School fees
• Internet Access

While the division is able to provide free meals to all students this school year, those families that qualify for the Free & Reduced Meal Program are highly encouraged to complete the application as soon as possible.

Free & Reduced Meal Online Application

YCSD Awarded Innovation Grant

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has awarded YCSD and 10 other Virginia school divisions state funding to implement innovative programs to support the Profile of a Virginia Graduate and the Virginia 5 C’s (critical thinking, creative thinking, collaboration, communication, and citizenship).

This is the second year YCSD has earned this $50,000 competitive grant. Funds will be used to expand the entrepreneurship program — currently offered in middle school — to elementary grades. The project-based curriculum will allow elementary students to become entrepreneurs and develop skills that can be applied within any of the commonwealth’s 17 career clusters.

Families, community members and businesses can help support the division’s Career Connections program by joining and participating in the YCSD EngagedIN program.

EngagedIN Registration

National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalist

More than 1.5 million high school students took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMQT) in 2020 and we are proud to share that Yunseo Chung of Grafton High School is one of 16,000 national semi-finalists. Chung is a member of the Grafton debate and forensics teams and aspires to attend law school following college. She will now move forward in the competition and possible eligibility for one of 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million.