YHS PTA Meeting — 1/11/21

Principal’s Report/Q&A: Dr. Kevin Clark, Principal
a. Happy New Year & Thanks!
b. Virtual Yorktown & Return to School Update
i. Hybrid model & Timeline
ii. Return to Hybrid Town Hall Tentatively 2/3 & Orientations 2/8
c. Academic Planning on Naviance-
i. Program of Studies published end of January
ii. Student presentation 1/25 Patriot Period
iii. Parent presentation early February
iv. Counselors to work with students starting end of January
d. Introduction to Mental Health Presentation – Bethany Banal, YHS Psychologist
e. Academic Planning – Danielle Dessaso, YHS Counselor
f. Athletics & Activities Update
g. Q&A

Survey Results thus far: PTA Board
a. Needs, top tier: Stress regarding school (37), loneliness (30), mental/emotional wellness (25), uncertainty/anxiety (22), more college planning (20)
b. Needs, second tier: Executive functioning (18), academic achievement in Covid-world (17), SEL (16), other organizing (15)
c. On-line entertainment/fun/connection, top tier: Movie night (30), trivia night (25), discussion with professional sports figure (22), discussion with media figure (22)
d. Online entertainment/fun/connection, second tier: Among Us game night (21-any ideas for other games?), discussion with our Congressman 20), chats by grade (15)

PTA Events/Potential Events Stemming from Survey: PTA Leadership/Dr. Clark have thus far
a. Arranged 1/21, 7:00 p.m. Student Mental Health: Addressing Stress, Anxiety & Depression event through YHS Counseling/Student Services Staff, to help address top concerns from surveys so far for both students and parents/guardians.
b. Discussed possible executive functioning event, hopefully early February.
c. Begun work on a substance abuse/addiction event for February with Kim Chisholm, Mike Krulfeld, and Phoenix House (will ask Partnership for Children, Youth, & Family, too).
d. Looked for and begun events for fun and connection for our kids, to help address loneliness many said is a problem in survey answers:
i. Held well-attended/well-received Trivia Night over Break; scheduled second Trivia Night for Saturday, 1/30, 7:30 p.m.
ii. Researched Movie Night options and created survey to choose movies/best times.
iii. Contacted Congressman Don Beyer’s office to schedule a chat with our students.
iv. Begun researching media and professional sports figures for chats with students — let us know if you can help with contacts!
e. What else?

Other No-contact Ideas (Small Gift?) to Lift Kids’ Spirits?