TeamMates Mentoring Program

I am very proud to be part of the York TeamMates Mentoring Program. I've been matched up with my mentee, Dalton, for four years now. He just finished his 9th grade year at YHS. While it is often very difficult to find 45 minutes a week to meet with him, it is always very rewarding. We play cards, board games, or go to the computer lab for most of our sessions. It is never anything too fancy, just some time to be together to help each other out.

I enjoy the conversations that Dalton and I have about school, family, and life. It's been great to get to know his friends. He provides me with great perspective and I hope I provide him with a little stability in return. Quite often, my days and weeks are full of tension-filled meetings, disgruntled adults, etc. It is VERY nice to have some regularly scheduled "normal time" with Dalton each week. He doesn't care about school budgets, tax requests, school improvement data, or the politics of school leadership. He just wants to beat me in cards....it is VERY refreshing!

The TeamMates Program now has over 110 mentor/mentee matches throughout York. It is truly a program where I feel the adults benefit as much or more than the kids. Our young people are so wonderful. Their energy, enthusiasm, and optimism is very contagious.

I'd encourage anyone and everyone to consider becoming a TeamMate in the near future. It is definitely a rewarding experience!

Celebrating the Class of 2014

I'm excited for graduation on May 25th. The Class of 2014 has done some amazing things over the past 13 years and that will definitely be celebrated! More importantly, however, is what they will accomplish over the next 80 years! My "speech" will be very short and will include the following.

* Recognition of the PARENTS of our graduates for sharing their children with us and supporting our school district
* Recognition of the GRANDPARENTS of our graduates for loving and helping to guide our students
* Recognition of our SCHOOL STAFF and BOARD OF EDUCATION for the dedication they have for the young people of our great community
* Recognition of our ALUMNI for making the YHS diploma special; for creating a proud tradition of being a Duke
* Recognition of current and former MILITARY PERSONNEL for defending our freedom so we can chase our dreams

It's a GREAT TIME to be a YORK DUKE and the Class of 2014 has certainly left their mark on our proud tradition!

GO DUKES!

Peter Pan is Coming to YHS

Peter Pan is coming to YHS.....The high school musical "Peter Pan and Wendy" will be May 16th and 17th, at 7:30 pm. Tickets will be sold at the door.

Peter Pan (Lauren Boyer) and Tinkerbell (Julianna Blackmon) have come to Wendy's (BreeAnna Gibbs) nursery to take her away on an adventure to Neverland. Hook (Brock Shoff) and Smee (Paul Lindsey) will cause trouble for them along the way. There are pirates, Indians, mermaids, and an unforgettable adventure that questions the need to grow up!

Please come out and support our Drama Department. They've put in an awful lot of time and preparation, including numerous 6:00 AM practices!

5th Grade Fitness Fun Day on May 15th

“Let’s Move York” is sponsoring a “5th Grade Fitness Fun Day” on Thursday, May 15th from 12:30-3:00 at East Hill Park in York, Nebraska. Fifth graders from Emmanuel Lutheran, St. Joseph’s Catholic, and York Elementary School will be in attendance with the objective being to expose them to the importance of staying active and making healthy snack and drink choices.

Students will participate in six different stations with three of them being informational and three being physically active. They will learn about the damaging contents of many popular drinks and snacks, where food comes from, and how much exercise it takes to burn off common snacks. All participants will be given a free water bottle and other goodies designed to encourage them to get and stay fit.

One of the highlights of the day will be a fruit and vegetable taste testing station that is being provided by LunchTime Solutions, which will begin to provide contracted food service for York Public Schools in August.

Special thanks go out to McCormick’s Heating & Air Conditioning, Eakes Office Plus, and Ameritas for helping to sponsor this important event.

“Let’s Move York” is made up of representatives from Four Corners Health Department, City of York, York General Hospital, York Public Schools, 4-H Extension Office, York County Head Start, and other organizations that are trying to provide support for children.

It's THAT Time of Year - Graduation is Coming!

I graduated from Ocala Forest High School in Florida on June 8, 1990. It seems like yesterday in many ways. I remember the full range of emotions from excitement to sadness to worry to disbelief that high school was over. It can be a confusing time for our soon-to-be graduates.

As York High School graduation creeps up on us, I want to thank the Class of 2014 for all they've done in their time as York Dukes. This class has been wonderful representatives of our school system, our community, their families, and our state in all they've done. In the classroom, on the stage, in labs and greenhouses, on the fields/courts/courses of competition, and in all they've done, they've been a great source of pride for us.

The challenge for the Class of 2014 is now to make sure that "high school" isn't the high point of their lives. Their best is yet to come. The same tenacity, poise, and strength that made them successful throughout their time at YPS will also serve them well in the "real world." Keep working Class of 2014. Keep reaching for the stars. Don't be satisfied yet. Go do amazing things and remember that you're forever a Duke! We are proud of you and wish you nothing but the best in your journeys. We are always here for you!