From the Desk of James Pastore, Chief Academic Officer Weekly Newsletter – December 19, 2014 THE IB Attribute for December is about being "Thinkers" A special quote on being a “Thinker” this week for parents and guardians… "If only the sun-drenched celebrities are being noticed and worshipped, then our children are going to have a tough time seeing the value in the shadows, where the thinkers, the probers and scientists are keeping society together." -Rita Dove, US Poet Laureate, 1993-95 Dear Parents/Guardians: Rita Dove's quote is a reminder to us that in this celebrity-obsessed culture we live in, that perhaps we need to pull back a bit from the TV and Internet and show as an example to the children around us that personal contact with "real" people around them - parents, grandparents, family, friends, uncles, aunts, etc.- is something to be appreciated and treasured. Take some time to go to the library together and look for a book, or walk in a park and play together, or watch a TV program TOGETHER and talk about it. But spend some time together sharing even mundane experiences and give the children the greatest gifts you possess - your time, your care, your attention. It's hard sometimes with the mercantile atmosphere leading up to the holidays. But the days off until the return to school on Monday, January 5 are a time to spend together, and I sincerely hope you take the opportunity to do just that! Now on to business... On Tuesday, the 23rd of December at 9:30 a.m., the students and faculty will have a “sing-along” in the gymnasium. There will be a total of seven or eight songs: one by each grade level, a school wide song, and a faculty song! Parents who wish to come to watch are to enter from W. North Street through the glass doors in the front of the gymnasium. We have a tight schedule, as immediately following the sing-along, we start our special early dismissal abbreviated lunch schedule. However, we would like to invite you to come and sit in the new bleachers in the gym and watch and listen as the children sing. Please do NOT come to the front entrance where the receptionist and offices are located. I would also like to inform you that we do have a busy schedule of work after the “sing-along” and thus students are expected to stay until 12:15 p.m. when we have the early dismissal. Parents will enter the gymnasium through the glass doors on W. North Street starting at 9:15 a.m., and the singing will start at around 9:30 a.m. Parents will sit in the new bleachers, and if needed, we will put out a few chairs as well. Please use the gravel lot parking area on W. Beaver Street across from the playground, and we appreciate if you do not park in the lots on W. North Street as they are for school staff and for the architecture firm across the street. Dress Down Day for the 23rd of December should be to wear some combination of GREEN, WHITE, and RED!!!! Children may also wear some sort of festive holiday hat this one special day! Please be reminded to bring $1.00 donation to the PTO to participate in this Dress Down Day. We want to be full of holiday cheer for the holiday concert that day, so please wear those holiday colors. There is an early dismissal on this day as well at 12:15 p.m. Special Informational/Application Sessions for the 2015-2016 School Year: Thank you parents and families for choosing York Academy. Please remind your friends who ask about our school that we will have several mandatory informational sessions for applicants to the school starting in January of 2015: Wednesday, January 7, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, January 15, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. Saturday, January 24, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 12, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. Attendance at one of these meetings is mandatory to secure an application for the 2015-2016 school year. Pre-registration for these meetings is not needed. A special reminder for SIBLINGS applying for 2015-2016: This year we have several siblings on our waiting list because families did not apply in time last year. As a charter school, we must follow very specific, state-mandated rules for accepting applications, and we have not and will not bend or break those rules as that could reflect poorly on our legal status as a charter school. Therefore, those of you who have a student who will be eligible for kindergarten in the 2015-2016 school year and you already have a child in York Academy, you need to follow the process just like any other applicant. Thank you for your understanding as we wish to follow the state-mandated rules and also to keep families "together" in our school! Physical Education (PE) Note: Overall, the vast majority of students are bringing in or wearing sneakers to school on their PE days. All students have PE two times in the six-day rotational cycle of specials (Art/Music, PE, Spanish). In various ways, teachers have communicated to you through the Friday folders your child's cycle schedule. I have noticed, however, that some students are coming unprepared for PE with shoes that are not user friendly for PE or for the new gym floor. Please check your child's schedule and have them wear or bring their sneakers to school for PE days. A Note to Bus Riders THIRD NOTICE: 1. Please do not call us after 2:30 p.m. to change your child's bus in the afternoon to parent pick-up. From 2:30 p.m. onward, the office can be very busy and we have a large amount of phone calls coming in as well. If you need to inform the school of a change from riding the bus to parent pick-up, we appreciate you sending a note with your child that day or calling earlier in the day so that we can double and triple check bus lists before the end of the day. Thank you! 2. When there is a chance of inclement weather, such as snow or freezing rain, please be sure to stay tuned to the school closures for your HOME district. For example, if you are from Red Lion and use their bus service, it is always possible that they may be closed, and many other districts open. This means that they may possibly NOT run their buses that day. If your home district is closed and we are open, then you will have to provide transportation to school. If a district dismisses (closes) early, the same thing may happen. Your child will be sent home when the bus from that HOME district comes for an early pick-up. You should ensure that your family is included in the automated calling system used by your home district. SNOW REMINDER: ONGOING REMINDER: If it is snowing, please check WGAL or FOX43 for school closings. Tina in the front office will also send out phone/text messages if we are going to either open late or be closed. If a phone/text message goes out to you from York Academy saying we are closed, or opening late "x" amount of hours...there really is no need to call us to double check as we need the phone lines open. Thank you for understanding! We determine our opening/closing according to what the districts around us do; we do not exist in a vacuum, and I thank you for your understanding that we are impacted by eleven district bus services as well as several other private providers of service in the morning and afternoon. The safety of students traveling to and from school is of paramount importance, and thus we pay attention closely to how and why several districts in particular open/close. REGULAR REMINDERS: Clearances to Volunteer at YARCS or Chaperone Field Trips: In addition to the Volunteer Registration Form (provided in the Volunteer Manual), you must have on file the proper clearances to go on field trips or to volunteer in the classrooms. This information is on the school website and the two clearances are: the Act 34 Criminal Record Check and Act 151 Child Abuse Clearance. You may pick up a “Volunteer Manual” at the front office or request one to be sent home with your child. If you are interested in being a chaperone for field trips at school, it is imperative that you do the background checks as required by state law. Please contact the front office for a set of guidelines and start the process as we are already planning trips and need your help! This is the last newsletter of the 2014 year. On behalf of the entire faculty, staff, and school board, I would like to thank you for sharing your children with us over the course of the 2014 calendar year. We all wish you a restful and safe holiday season and look forward to the continuance of the school year when we return to school on Monday, January 5, 2015! Have a great weekend, everyone! Sincerely, “Teaching children HOW to think, not what to think.” James Pastore Chief Academic Officer