Newsroom

YCSDigest - January 11, 2023

School Safety

Last week, a local educator became the victim of gun violence in her classroom. After any school tragedy, especially one as rare as this, it is natural to inquire about the measures in place at your own child's or loved one's school, a place where children and staff should feel completely safe.

YCSD has a comprehensive crisis plan to guide the safe, daily operations of our schools. The plan is reviewed and updated annually with support from the York-Poquoson Sheriff's Office (YPSO). Last week's event will also help inform our practices.

We all have a collective commitment to sustaining safe, secure, and caring environments that support the whole child. If you or your child see something out of the ordinary or concerning, there are multiple ways this information can and should be shared: speak with a trusted adult, call the YCSD Hotline (757-890-5000), use the YCSD App, or yorkcountyschools.org/ReportIt link.

Please join the School Board and YCSD staff in keeping the teacher, her family, and the students and staff of Richneck Elementary School in your thoughts and prayers.

Winter Weather Planning

While our January weather has been relatively mild so far, there are still several more weeks of winter ahead and the chance of school closings and/or delays still exists. The state allows up to 10 days of unscheduled remote learning in a school year, but the division must meet specific conditions to shift to remote learning due to school closures.

Over the last several months, division staff have developed plans to provide for the continuity of learning in the event of weather-related school closings lasting more than one day. The plan, presented to the School Board at Monday's meeting, includes a timeline for closing all schools and offices, staff workdays, and asynchronous student learning days. If YCSD implements these inclement weather plans, students in grades 3-12 will be provided assignments via Canvas, while students in grades PK-2 will receive paper assignments prior to a potential closing.

Parents and staff are encouraged to make advance plans and adjustments for potential school delays and closings. Visit the division website to learn more about weather-related school closings and delays.

School Calendar Survey

The division is seeking your input as we move forward with the development of the 2023-24 school year calendar. A committee of administrators, staff, families, and students is responsible for developing a draft calendar recommendation which not only meets state requirements, but which best supports student academic success.

All families, staff and students are invited to participate in a brief survey to help guide the committee's work. This survey is available online through January 18 (paper versions can be requested from any school and/or the School Board Office). The committee's recommendations will be presented to the School Board for approval and adoption by the end of March.

Take the survey

Annual Science and Engineering Fair

The annual YCSD Science and Engineering Fair is coming up this month. All families are invited to visit the Grafton complex starting on Thursday, January 26, beginning at 6 p.m., to view student projects from the junior (grades 6-8) and senior (grades 9-12) divisions in a variety of subject areas.

Students have been working on these projects for the past few months and have been developing important skills for future academic and career endeavors. Each year, winners of the YCSD Science and Engineering Fair can move on to compete in the Tidewater Science and Engineering Fair, Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair, and International Science and Engineering Fair.

YCSD Students Demonstrate Financial Literacy

Grafton, Tabb and York High Schools have earned recognition as Working in Support of Education (W!se) Financial Literacy Blue Star Schools for the 2021-22 school year for outstanding student performance on the W!se Financial Literacy Certification Test.

To receive this distinction, a school testing more than ten students must achieve an 80% passing rate on the W!se Financial Literacy Certification Test. Additionally, the school must have either a majority of students in a given grade level take the test, or have the students who took the test achieve a minimum average score of 85%.

Administered as part of W!se's Financial Literacy Certification program, this national standardized test is administered to students who complete a course or unit on personal finance. Students who pass the test become Certified Financially Literate^TM and earn a W!se CFL^TM, demonstrating that they have developed sound financial knowledge and skills.

Five division teachers are recognized as W!SE Financial Literacy Gold Star Teachers: Antoinette Burnett, Janet Howard, Gordon Chai, Maggie Kowalski, and Brian McGovern. To be considered for the Gold Star award, a teacher must achieve a 93% pass rate in at least one of their classes on either the Fall or Spring W!SE Financial Literacy Certification Test.

Advancing Computer Science Education Grant

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) recently named the York County School Division (YCSD) as a recipient of the Advancing Computer Science Education Grant.

Beginning this school year, YCSD will partner with CodeVA to create a sustainable model of computer science professional development for teachers participating in cohort model training. The grant program will enable staff to develop and implement the YCSD CODEplus video library of high-quality computer science integrated lessons, which include the VDOE Standards of Learning. Grant funding will be utilized to provide schools the necessary materials to implement the integrated computer science lessons with fidelity. Additionally, the grant program will provide opportunities for YCSD students to participate in a variety of after-school and summer activities designed to increase their interest in and awareness of computer science careers.

Community Announcements

The York County School Division offers local businesses and organizations the opportunity to share information with students and parents regarding educational/enrichment activities, events and opportunities, which are either available to YCSD students or support division programs. These flyers are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the York County School Division or the schools, but are made available as a community service for our families.

Community announcements can also be found on the division website and each school's website.