Newsroom

YCSDigest - January 12, 2024

January School Board Meetings

During the annual organizational meeting held at York Hall this week, board members elected a new chair and vice chair, set the board’s meeting calendar, and identified committees each board member will serve on for the next 12 months. By a vote of 3-2, Lynda Fairman was named chair and Kimberly Goodwin vice chair for 2024.

During the discussion portion of the meeting, members discussed inviting local clergy to open the regular monthly meetings with prayer, the practice of recognizing students at monthly meetings, and student presentations to the board. At the recommendation of the superintendent, the board determined student recognition at board meetings would continue through this school year and they would revisit the discussion later.

Staff members also presented on work underway this school year, beginning with an update on factors which impact the development of the FY25 Operating Budget. The next steps in the budget process include a public forum during the monthly meeting at 7 p.m., Monday, January 29, at York Hall, and the presentation of the superintendent’s proposed budget on February 12.

The entire meeting is available for viewing on the division’s YouTube Channel.

Annual Science and Engineering Fair

The YCSD Science and Engineering Fair is just two weeks away. This event is open to all families, students, staff, and the community beginning at 6 p.m., Thursday, January 25, at the Grafton Complex. Come support our future scientists and engineers and learn about their research, experiments and inventions.

Held annually, the fair is more than a competition; it’s an opportunity for students to showcase vital skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, persistence, and communication. Participating students work on their projects for months, under the guidance of science teachers, to compete in either the junior (grades 6-8) or senior (grades 9-12) division.

Winners of the YCSD 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 High, Tabb High and York River Academy have earned recognition as Working in Support of Education (W!se) Financial Literacy Blue Star Schools for the 2022-23 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™ and earn a W!se CFL™, demonstrating that they have developed sound financial knowledge and skills.

Four division teachers are recognized as W!SE Financial Literacy Gold Star Teachers: Scott Munn (BHS), Janet Howard (GHS), Gordon Chai and Brian McGovern (THS). 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.

Instructional Materials Review

The York County School Division is currently going through the instructional material review process for K-5 literacy materials. As outlined in Superintendent Regulation IIA – Selection, Evaluation, and Adoption of Instructional Materials, the school division will provide an opportunity for families and community members to review the recommended materials prior to adoption. Those details will be publicized as soon as dates, times and locations are established.

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.