What’s behind graduation gown colors, anyway?

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Angie Mason
South Western students all wear black gowns at graduation, as seen in this 2011 Evening Sun file photo.

South Western students all wear black gowns at graduation, as seen in this 2011 Evening Sun file pho

A transgender student in Red Lion caught headlines recently when ACLU of Pennsylvania took up the issue of what color gown the student would wear at graduation, among other things.

Issak Wolfe wanted to wear a black gown, as boys do, not the gold gown that girls wear. And the district has said that’s OK (though it hasn’t agreed to some other requests).

So do all schools have male and female students wearing different colors at the ceremony? And why is that?

Districts around York County have different traditions when it comes to what students wear at graduation. And in many cases, the reason is just that – tradition – and little more. Continue reading →

Posted in Angie Mason, Central York School District, Eastern York School District, Northeastern School District, Red Lion Area School District, South Western School District, Spring Grove Area School District, York Suburban School District | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

York Catholic student collects supplies for kids who need them

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Angie Mason
Nicole Krevetski, a senior at York Catholic, gathered school supplies for kids in need.

Nicole Krevetski, a senior at York Catholic, gathered school supplies for kids in need.

York Catholic High School senior Nicole Krevetski created a campaign called “Smiles can go for Miles” to donate school supplies – everything from paper and markers to hand sanitizer -  to kids who need them.

St. John the Baptist Catholic School in New Freedom and Kenderton Elementary School in Philadelphia were the recipients of her efforts.

Krevetski placed donation boxes at her school and also raised more than $150, which she used to purchase supplies. She also created a Facebook page to promote the project.

Krevetski, who worked with DoSomething.org on the project, also volunteers at the Catholic Harvest Food Pantry and Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen, and participates in the Polar Bear Plunge to raise money for Special Olympics.

 

Posted in Angie Mason, Private schools | Leave a comment

Grant will take York City students to Eisenhower site in Gettysburg

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Angie Mason

Update

York City students at Ferguson Elementary School headed to Gettysburg on Tuesday to visit the Eisenhower National Historic Site, and guidance counselor Eric Schlosser shared a photo with us.

Schlosser said students were learning about Eisenhower by wearing “hats” that he wore during his lifetime.  “Different moments in his life highlight the leadership characteristics of TRRACC (Trustworthy, Responsible, Respectful, Accountable, Caring, and good Citizenship),” he said.

Alexander Manning, grade 5, portraying "Captain Eisenhower" reads about Eisenhower's leadership qualities to his classmates from Ferguson K-8. Ranger Beth Atkins looks on. (Photo submitted by Eric Schlosser)


Alexander Manning, grade 5, portraying “Captain Eisenhower” reads about Eisenhower’s leadership qualities to his classmates from Ferguson K-8. Ranger Beth Atkins looks on. (Photo submitted by Eric Schlosser)

Reported earlier

Through a grant program, some York City students will get to experience the Eisenhower National Historic Site in Gettysburg.

The Eisenhower site was awarded a Ticket to Ride grant from the National Park Foundation and Disney. The funding will allow fifth-graders this year and next year to visit President Eisenhower’s farm and participate in the character education program “The Molding of a Leader,” according to a news release.

Ferguson Elementary students will be heading there on Tuesday.

“Teachers will introduce their students to Dwight D. Eisenhower as they prepare them in the classroom to participate in the site program.  Students will learn to “Get On the Right TRRACC Like Ike” as they examine what it means to be Trustworthy, Responsible, Respectful, Accountable, Caring and a good citizen,” the release says. “During the visit to the historic site, a park ranger will lead them in the “Eisenhower: A Man of Many Hats” program as students role-play different time periods in Eisenhower’s life when Eisenhower learned or exhibited good character.”

Next year, eighth-graders will visit the site to participate in field studies on soil and water, learn about Eisenhower’s conservation ethic, and participate in hands-on science projects on the cropland and wetland, the release says.

Other donors supporting the trips include the Dwight D. Eisenhower Society, the Gettysburg Foundation, and Grace Fellowship Church, the release says.

“For many City of York students, this Ticket to Ride field trip will be their first visit to a national park but, hopefully, it will not be their last visit.  With decreasing school district budgets, assistance from outside donors is important to provide school students with these learning experiences,” Supervisory Historian Carol Hegeman said in the news release.

Posted in Angie Mason, York City School District | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

YWCA York has summer opportunity for York City students

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Angie Mason

The 21st Century Community Learning Center program run by the YWCA York is taking applications for its summer session, which runs June 17 to July 25.

The summer program can take around 150 students who live in the York City School District. (The program operates out of New Hope Academy Charter School, but it is open to any city students.)

During the summer session, kids going into grades 5 to 12 work on academics and do activities, said Vonia Bowie, director. The program runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays.

Deadline for applying is June 6. You can get an application on the YWCA website  (click enrollment form) or at the YWCA, 320 E. Market St., York, or at New Hope Academy, 459 W. King St., York.

Posted in Angie Mason, Charter schools, New Hope Academy, York City School District | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

2013-14 HACC budget includes ‘modest’ tuition increase, cost-saving measures

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Angie Mason

HACC sent out a news release about its budget today, including information on tuition increases, workforce reductions and economic factors influencing the budget.

Read the full release below:

“HACC Board of Trustees adopts 2013-14 balanced budget
HACC continues three-year reorganization plan to ensure growth and sustainability

HARRISBURG – The Board of Trustees of HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, today adopted a balanced 2013-14 budget of approximately $180 million that includes a modest tuition increase and the next phase of a three-year reorganization plan to offset ongoing economic factors. Continue reading →

Posted in Angie Mason, College, HACC | Leave a comment

Penn State looking to grow online education

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Angie Mason

Penn State is aiming to more than triple the number of students enrolled in its online education programs in the next 10 years.

According to this item posted on Penn State’s news site, the university plans to invest $20 million in World Campus (the online programs) revenue toward that goal. Penn State intends to fund new technologies, provide additional faculty, enhance student services, support research and development initiatives, and improve infrastructure and marketing efforts through the investment, it says.

Now 15 years old, the World Campus offers more than 90 undergraduate, graduate and professional education programs, the story says.

Read more at the link. The story also notes that Penn State is partnering with Coursera to offer five Massive Open Online Coursers (MOOCs) — essentially free courses you can take online.

 

 

 

Posted in Angie Mason, College | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Kennard-Dale raises $3,000 for York City music programs

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Angie Mason

Events organized by Kennard-Dale High School raised $3,000 to support York City music programs, according to Matt Barr, Kennard-Dale band director.

The music department hosted a swing dance night and organized a joint concert with the William Penn Senior High School band to raise money for city music programs.

“The swing dance night reached capacity for the community center and included many different age groups. The concert was fantastic and finished with both bands playing music from ‘Les Miserables’ and William Penn’s fight song, ‘We’re From York,’” Barr said in an email this morning. “The audience was quick to give a standing ovation and they were also incredibly generous with their donations. (William Penn band director) Kevin Crawmer and I really enjoyed watching our students interacting together and talking and playing games like they were old friends.”

At last night’s York City schools advisory committee meeting, city parent Monica Kruger brought up the events during public comment, saying the concert was “overwhelming” and “fabulous.”

“Our parents are out there, we are supporting students and trying to fund where we can, find money for those things we find very important,” Kruger said.

Also, during the meeting, parent Beth Fogleman said that she thinks the district needs to show what its kids are doing more.

She suggested three opportunities: band and orchestra concert at 7:30 p.m. May 9; piano recitals at 7:30 p.m. May 16; and the choral concert at 7:30 p.m. May 23. All of the free events are in the William Penn Senior High School auditorium.

“We’d love to see the auditorium filled,” she said.

Posted in Angie Mason, York City School District | Leave a comment

Read the summary of proposed York City schools recovery plan

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Angie Mason

David Meckley, York City School District’s chief recovery officer, presented a summary of his proposed financial recovery plan last night. He opted to recommend a plan that allows for reform from within the district, while also setting up an accountability system to ensure that change happens.

The next steps are for the full plan to be presented to the York City School Board on May 15, and the board will then vote on it in June.

Here’s a copy of the summary, which the Pennsylvania Department of Education provided this morning. (Click the box with the four arrows in the corner to see the document full screen.)

 

Posted in Angie Mason, Education issues, Statewide issues, York City School District | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

South Western, Spring Grove, West York top seat belt challenge

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Angie Mason

Three local high schools — South Western, Spring Grove Area, and West York — took the top honors in the Second Annual York/Adams High School Seat Belt Challenge, according to a news release.

Sixteen high schools competed in the contest, run by the York Area Highway Safety Council. The three top schools were honored today at West York Ambulance, marking the end of a month-long campaign to increase seat belt usage rates among teens, according to the release.

South Western and Spring Grove had the highest overall usage, 96 percent, during the competition. West York had the largest increase in usage, starting at 48 percent and ending at 86 percent, the release says.

Seat belt usage increased in 14 of the 16 high schools involved in the competition, the release said. Final usage rates ranged from 62 percent to 96 percent.

Unannounced observational seat belt surveys were conducted as teen drivers arrived or departed form school in February to compile baseline data, the release states. Then, participating schools were given incentive ideas to capture student’s attention and encourage involvement. The unannounced challenge surveys were conducted the week of April 8, the release says.

State Farm Insurance awarded $500 mini-grants to the top three high schools, which will also receive a free photo booth for use at their respective proms. The grants must be used to promote traffic safety.

Other schools participating were: Bermudian Springs, Central York, Dallastown, Dover, Eastern, Fairfield, Gettysburg, Littlestown, New Oxford, Northeastern, Susquehannock, York County School of Technology, and York Suburban.

The law: Pennsylvania’s graduated driver licensing law requires every occupant between the ages of 8 and 18 to wear a seat belt. A seat belt violation is now a primary offense, meaning police can pull over a vehicle to issue a citation without the driver first committing a moving violation, according to the news release.

Posted in Angie Mason, Central York School District, Dallastown Area School District, Dover Area School District, Eastern York School District, Northeastern School District, South Western School District, Southern York School District, York County School of Technology, York Suburban School District | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Eight York County school districts approved to raise tax rates higher than state ceiling

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Scott Blanchard

Click for details, annotated document.

 

 

Posted in Budgets and finances | Leave a comment