CYSD E-News Weekly  
 Friday, May 20, 2016

GUEST BLOG: CYHS LEARNER SHARES HER MASS CUSTOMIZED LEARNING EXPERIENCES ON SUPERINTENDENT'S BLOG
   
Mohtaz Mahmuda
Grade 11
Central York High School
NOTE: Mohtaz Mahmuda, an eleventh grade learner at Central York High School, recently shared a blog post she wrote with Dr. Michael Snell, Superintendent. Dr. Snell invited Mohtaz to be a guest blogger and share her writing via the CYSD Ecosystem Blog. Her column is included, below. 

We are the last generation.

We are the last generation to be taught cursive.
 
We are the last generation that remembers the Sony Walkman and the VCR.

We are the last generation that will have to adapt from the pencil to the stylus.
 
As technology advances, my generation will have to travel farther away from the foundation of everything we learned growing up.

This is a good thing.

As an aunt and older sister, it is odd to see my 12-year-old sister doing the same things I did in ninth grade on the iPad. My 10-year-old niece probably knows more about the device than I do. My six-year-old niece and nephew have been using iPods and iPhones since they were two, learning from YouTube videos and exploring through children's apps like Osmo.

Technology is shaping a generation into the vision of Steve Jobs.

Children are learning to code with the Hour of Code. They know how to use iMovie, and they are creating complex presentations for school projects. They no longer use big, standardized poster boards to display their work. They're creating interesting, fun, and interactive Prezi and PowerPoint presentations.

I find myself asking my niece or sister how to use a certain app or how to get a certain effect on my presentation. True digital natives, they are teaching me how to be better connected.

Central York School District's new wave of tech tools and application has created higher standards for all grades, and therefore better quality work. Students are not just using apps. They are creating them.

Technology and social media have the power to connect students with people who they might normally never have had the opportunity to collaborate with in person.

Central High School's Improv team was born from a single tweet sent out to someone living in L.A. With one click of a send button, Mr. Hodge was able to start a new comedy-loving community that has connected over 20 students with professionals and rising stars in the industry.

This is the power of media and technology.

More kids are using screens and soft skills to create huge projects and becoming student entrepreneurs. In our Apollo-- mass customized learning--  program, students have the opportunity to create their own non-profit organizations by crafting an in-depth outline and researching other groups who share similar interests.

Teachers are more interactive. They have more time to talk to students one-on-one.
They are provided both the tools and the skills used in today's new workforce.

Recently, Forbes started looking for young people to head their Snapchat. Using and working with social media has become a whole job in itself. And Central York School District is giving kids  more experience for these kinds of jobs than other school districts in the county.

I am a part of the last generation.

But I am also the beginning of a brand new vision.

Steve Jobs said it best: "If you are working on something exciting that you really care about, you don't have to be pushed. The vision pulls you."

CALENDAR UPDATES FOR 2015-2016

New Last Day of School for Students 
During its Regular (Action) Meeting held Monday, April 18, 2016, the Central York School District Board of School Directors changed the last day of school for students for the 2015-2016 school year.

The new last day of school for students is Friday, June 3, 2016. This will be a FULL DAY of school for CYSD students

Graduation Date
Commencement Exercises for the Class of 2016 will be held Friday, May 27, 2016, at Central York High School. The ceremony will start at 6:45PM and will be held outdoors, in the Athletic Stadium, weather permitting. Please stay tuned for additional information and updates as the date approaches.
 
2016-2017 District Calendar 
The first day of school for students will be Wednesday, August 24, 2016. The last day of school for students will be Thursday, June 1, 2017.

To view a copy of the "Calendar At-a-Glance," please click here. The complete District Calendar of Activities & Events will be published later this year. 

2016-2017 BUDGET UPDATE 

The Central York School District Board of Directors on Monday, May 16, 2016, approved the  proposed General Fund Budget, as presented by the Administration, authorized the advertisement of the 2016-2017 General Fund Budget and provided notice of intent to adopt the 2016-2017 General Fund Budget on June 20, 2016. 

A copy of the Proposed 2016-2017 General Fund Budget is available by clicking here.

The Board will hold a public Planning Meeting at 7:15PM Monday, June 13, 2016 and a Regular (Action) Meeting at 7:15PM Monday, June 20, 2016. Both meetings will be held at the Educational Service Center, 775 Marion Road, York. Public comment time is available at each meeting for anyone interested in speaking about the budget or any other issue. 

Please note: The Board of School Directors WILL NOT meet in July 2016.  

CENTRAL YORK TO "MOVE THE PRIDE" JUNE 2, 2016

We are excited to announce that Central York School District will participate in the "Move the Pride" program this school year on Thursday, June 2, 2016.
 
Move the Pride is a program through which ALL K-11 learners will have an opportunity to visit their new, 2016-2017 classrooms or schools - and meet their new teachers and classmates - before the end of the 2015-2016 school year.
 
We believe Move the Pride will benefit our students, families, faculty and staff by:
  • Building relationships before the new school year begins (learners, teachers and classmates)
  • Easing student and parent/guardian anxiety over the summer months
  • Allowing teachers to "hit the ground running" at the start of a new school year.
 
How it works
In the past, your child's teacher/classroom assignments were mailed home in early August. This year, you will receive your child's classroom assignment for next school year in early June. In addition, your child will have the opportunity to meet with his or her teacher and new classmates during a special Move the Pride day on June 2, 2016.
 
For third grade/sixth grade/eighth grade families:
If your child is currently in Grade 3, 6 or 8, he or she will also participate in this program. We will transport students by bus to their future fourth grade, middle school or high school classrooms on June 2. They will participate in Move the Pride activities in their future school and classroom, meet their new teachers, tour the buildings, eat lunch in the cafeteria and more.
 
Have you done this before?
Yes! All schools in Central York School District participated in this program in June 2015. Stony Brook Elementary School piloted this program at the end of the 2013-2014 school year for its students and teachers. The program has been a great success for students, faculty and families, and we receive many positive comments from parents/guardians about its benefits for their children. 
 
What's next?
We are working on classroom assignments and schedules for the 2016-2017 school year now through the end of May, as well as planning for the June 2  "Move the Pride" day. We will send you another update with more information on the logistics of the June 2 day in May later this month.  You will receive your child's classroom assignment and another update on the June 2 schedule the last week of May. You will receive bus assignment and bus stop information by mail during the summer months.
 
We are very excited to share this program with ALL of our students and families, and look forward to being part of the "Move the Pride" program this June.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our office at any time. You can also view more information on the Move the Pride program on our District website homepage, at www.cysd.k12.pa.us. 

HELP STOCK THE PANTHER PANTRY SHELVES FOR THE SUMMER 

The Panther Pantry provides food and household items to Central York School District families in need through monthly "pick-up nights" held at Central York High School. 

The Panther Pantry relies on generous donations from faculty, staff, students, families and community members to stock its shelves each month. Beginning next week, ALL buildings in the district are encouraged to collect donations in order to stock the pantry enough to supply families throughout the summer months. As always, the following items are accepted:
  • Food Items - canned fruits and vegetables, soups, pasta, sauces, peanut butter, jelly, rice, snacks, cereal, granola bars, baby food/formula, juice boxes, etc, etc, etc (anything packaged with a decent shelf life)
  • Paper Goods - toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, tissues, baby wipes
  • Household Items - laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, dish soap
  • Personal Care Items - shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, etc.
Donations may be delivered to the main office of any school or to the Educational Service Center, 775 Marion Road, York. Thank you for your continued generosity and support of this important effort to provide for our families in need.
NEW ON THE PANTHER FAMILY PORTAL
Learning Management Systems & Student Information Systems

Central York School District's Technology Support Teachers recently launched a YouTube Channel that houses informational and educational videos for families and students related to using technology in support of learning and other District initiatives.

The CYSD Panther Family Portal is already home to many short videos created to support families and students with using the different features and apps available on personal learning devices used by our students and in our classrooms.

This week, we've added a new video that explains the difference between a Learning Management System (LMS) and a Student Information System (SIS). Check out the video here.

Click here to visit the YouTube Channel and subscribe for updates when new material is added. 

Have an idea for a video or a topic you'd like to learn more about?

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR BOYS' BASKETBALL YOUTH CAMP
 
Registration is now open for the 2016 Summer Boys' Basketball Camp for boys entering grades 4 through 8 in the 2016-2017 school year. The camp will be held from 9AM-2PM June 20 to 24. 

Click here to learn more and find registration information. 

REGISTER NOW FOR GIRLS' BASKETBALL CAMP

The Central York Girls Basketball Camp will be held from 9AM-2PM June 13-17 at Central York High School. Girls entering grades 3-8 in the Fall of 2016 are invited to attend.

The cost is $65/camper. Registration forms are available online via the following link: http://cysd.ss5.sharpschool.com/cms/One.aspx?portalId=3161898&pageId=3541892
 

SUMMER AQUATICS BROCHURE, REGISTRATION NOW AVAILABLE


 

Registration is now open for the Summer 2016 Community Aquatics Program offered through Central York School District.
 
Click here to visit the Aquatics Department website, learn more about summer aquatics classes for community members of ALL ages, and register today! 



ATHLETIC PHYSICAL SIGN-UPS NOW OPEN FOR CENTRAL YORK
 
Central York School District athletes interested in participating in school-sponsored athletics in the 2016-2017 school year must have a physical completed, and paperwork returned, within a specified timeframe.






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