Newsroom

YCSDigest - April 13, 2023

2023-24 School Calendar

The School Board has approved the student academic calendar for the 2023-24 school year, which is now available on the division website. The first day of school will be Monday, August 28, 2023 and the last day of school will be Friday, June 7, 2024. The approved calendar meets state requirements, as well as two of the top priorities identified by the calendar committee and division stakeholders - providing teacher workdays each quarter and ending the school year by Friday, June 7.

Additionally, the School Board approved several key dates and parameters for the 2024-25 school year to assist families and staff with planning. Those parameters include:

• A 180-day instructional calendar
• First Day: Monday, August 26, 2024
• Winter Break: Monday, December 23, 2024 through Friday, January 3, 2025
• Spring Break: Monday, April 7 through Friday, April 11, 2025

Student Safety & Wellness

As we begin the final quarter of the 2022-23 school year, students, families, and teachers start to experience the excitement and anticipation the end of the school year brings. However, for many of our students, the end of the school year can be a time of mixed feelings and increased stressors. Assignment deadlines, end of year testing, worrying about missing friends or a favorite teacher during summer break, as well as a number of other reasons, may bring on or increase feelings of distress in children and adolescents. To best support your child's well-being, it is important to recognize common signs of distress and understand ways to help your child cope and build resilience.

A few signs that your child may be experiencing stress:

• emotional outbursts or irritability
• withdrawing from others
• difficulty sleeping
• increased frequency of headaches or stomachaches
• school refusal or academic difficulties

There are several ways you can help prepare your child for the end of the school year. Some ways to build wellness and promote resilience include:

• consistent sleep routines
• regular physical activity
• balanced nutrition
• fostering supportive adult and peer relationships
• teaching and modeling problem-solving skills
• discussing challenges and adversity with your child
• monitoring and limiting screen time

School counselors, school social workers, and school psychologists can also partner with families to support students' mental wellness. Additional safety and wellness resources are also available on the division website.

Teacher Appreciation

The York County School Division, along with school systems across the country, will celebrate Teacher Appreciation week May 8 through May 12. The week is part of a nationwide campaign spearheaded by the National Parent Teacher Association.

This year, we encourage our families and community to send thank you notes to all teachers through the Thank a Teacher Campaign. You can send a digital thank you card online or learn how to request a print card, possibly even one designed by Grafton Middle School student Allie Beatley, by visiting thankateacherva.com.

Qualifying teachers who receive a thank-you note (either print or digital) can enter a drawing for a chance to win a Virginia-themed vacation, as well as $2,500 in supplies for their school.

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.