YS Pride March 2022

March 2022

YS PRIDE

YS Pride, March 2022

A Note About YS Pride YS Pride is focused on providing in-depth information about noteworthy students, employees, community members, and events. We’re excited to highlight the people and occurrences that make York Suburban so special!

In This Issue Mission: Mini-THON A Closer Look at York Suburban Mini-THON

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Student Spotlight Recognizing Students of YSSD

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In Case You Missed It Social Media Highlights

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Blast From The Past 1989 Yearbook Pictures

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YS Pride, October 2021

Mission: Mini-THON

York Suburban Mini-THON is not an ordinary fundraiser.

What was once a small event is now a big operation geared entirely toward fighting pediatric cancer. This student-run philanthropy project has taken on a life of its own, and it shows no signs of slowing down.

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YS Pride, March 2022

Mission: Mini-THON $528,718.25. This number isn’t the net worth of a local com-

pany or the price of a large home currently on sale. No, it’s not how much a wealthy millionaire recently donated to an alma mater or the salary of a high-ranking official.

You may be surprised to learn that it’s the amount of money raised by York Suburban High School students in only eight years.

That’s right, students. Not business executives or entrepreneurs with real-world experience, resources, and connections. Students. And the best part? Every cent has gone toward pediatric cancer research and helping families affected by childhood cancer. In the United States, 43 kids are diagnosed with cancer every day1, so it’s a cause that sorely needs support.

The fundraising efforts behind the $528,718.25 are all part of York Suburban Mini-THON, a 12-hour dance marathon during which the students never sit down. The money raised is given to Four Diamonds, an organization affiliated with Penn State Health Children’s Hospital.

When families arrive at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital for its world-class pediatric cancer care, they are understandably scared.

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YS Pride, March 2022

Students display the Four Diamonds symbol during the 2020 Mini-THON. A York Suburban record of $100,020.20 was collected as part of the year-long fundraising efforts.

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YS Pride, March 2022

Students welcome a young visitor to the 2018 Mini-THON. A total of $85,720.18 was raised during the event, which supported research and those affected by pediatric cancer.

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YS Pride, March 2022

A family often has its entire social, emotional, and financial world turned upside down by one word — cancer.

Imagine parents sitting in a hospital room, filled with worry about their child and how they’ll afford expensive treatments. Then, imagine the relief when the parents are visited by a social worker and told, “Four Diamonds will pay for all medical expenses not covered by insurance.” This hypothetical scenario hasn’t played out one or two times or even just a few dozen. It’s occurred over 4,800 times.2 To date, Four Diamonds has assisted 100% of the childhood cancer patients who have been treated at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital.3 That’s part of Mini-THON’s beauty — it raises real money that helps real children who are accessible and visible. York Suburban students have visited the Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, toured the research facilities, and met families assisted by the money they’ve raised. There is no guessing where the money goes or how it helps.

Still, the hard work of York Suburban students remains unknown to some. Many district residents have heard of THON and are familiar with the dance marathon concept. After all, it originated

A Mini-THON donati on collection containe r sits in the York Subu rban High School.

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YS Pride, March 2022

in Pennsylvania on Penn State University’s main campus. However, they don’t see the way students practically eat, sleep, and breathe Mini-THON during the 364 days leading up to the main event. That may seem excessive, but it’s necessary.

Fundraising is a non-stop activity that takes on many forms. MiniTHON dancers are each sponsored by community members through monetary donations, all of which count toward the final amount raised. The dancers can’t expect to sit back and collect money; they must spend a great deal of time asking anyone who will listen to support their mission.

On top of that, there are smaller Mini-THON activities throughout the year designed to — you guessed it — raise money. Many events go by creative names, such as No-shave November, Phone Calls From Santa, Flamingo Flocking, Mr. YS, and Color Clash. The look and feel of each may be different, but the concepts are always rooted in THON’s “For The Kids” rallying cry.

Additionally, a monumental amount of planning goes into York Suburban’s annual dance marathon, which has hosted up to 500 people.

You can’t simply ask students and spectators to stay on their feet from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. without activities, food, and entertainment. Students must solicit services from businesses and individuals that are then used to motivate and nourish the dancers during the 12-hour affair.

For example, FnP Productions assembles an entire stage inside the high school’s gymnasium, complete with lighting, sound equipment, 8

YS Pride, March 2022

Students participate in a Mini-THON fundraiser called Color Clash. Runners navigate a course around York Suburban High School while volunteers cover them with colorful powder.

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YS Pride, March 2022

Dancers pause during the 2019 York Suburban Mini-THON to take a picture. During the event, students do not sit down; they participate in many activities to avoid the urge to rest.

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YS Pride, March 2022

and music. Hairdressers donate hair cuts, yoga instructors donate their services, and rental companies provide discounted bounce houses or other fun distractions. It doesn’t have to be monetary to contribute to the cause. If it supports the students raising the money, it’s just as good.

Occasionally, even the most successful students need a nudge in the right direction. That’s where teachers Steve Whiteley and Casey Reider come into play.

As advisors, they help oversee the day-to-day operations of the York Suburban Mini-THON organization.

And that’s precisely what MiniTHON has become at York Suburban — a well-oiled organization. There are executive directors, committees, commit- Koogle, Reider, and Whiteley attend a MiniTHON planning mee ting on Feb. 3, 202 tee captains, junior captains, the 2. aforementioned advisors, and various other positions integral to the group’s shared success. It truly does take a village to make it all run smoothly.

Lexi Koogle and Amanda Sargen are part of that village, and they are serving as this year’s executive directors. These seniors have been involved with Mini-THON for years, and they know firsthand the 11

YS Pride, March 2022

commitment it takes to be successful.

“It’s a lot of before and after-school work, and we do work on the weekends sometimes. The week leading up to Mini-THON is like we practically live here,” said Koogle.

“Going up to the event it’s about five hours a week, sometimes more.

We [each] put in about 50-60 hours toward Mini-THON throughout the entire year,” added Sargen.

Advisors aren’t immune from the time commitment either. “I’m not sure I want to add up the number of hours I put into this. That would be difficult to estimate,” commented Whiteley. “It’s 150-200 hours or something like that.”

Of course, despite the time they’ve invested, pediatric cancer continues to exist and wreak havoc, which is precisely why that half a million dollars won’t stay stagnant. Far from it. York Suburban MiniTHON participants have no intentions of slowing down or stopping until cancer is cured. The next dance marathon is right around the corner — it’s scheduled for April 8-9, 2022 — and an announcement of another large fundraising total is expected.

YS Pride recently sat down with Lexi Koogle, Amanda Sargen, and Steve Whiteley to learn more about York Suburban Mini-THON and its complex operations. View the video on the following spread to see highlights of those interviews.

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YS Pride, March 2022

A York Suburban student shows the Four Diamonds symbol after covering a front yard with flamingos as part of the very successful Flamingo Flocking fundraiser.

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YS Pride, March 2022

The Power of Mini-THON You’ve read a bit about York Suburban Mini-THON, but there is more to the story. In this video, Lexi Koogle, Amanda Sargen, and Steve Whiteley share additional details about how Mini-THON’s big efforts are helping to achieve significant results.

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YS Pride, March 2022

More Information Article Credits/Sources 1 https://www.stjude.org 2, 3 https://www.fourdiamonds.org/about-us/ Important Links Donate to York Suburban Mini-THON Mini-THON Sponsorship Opportunities & Contact Info Attend Mini-THON Community Hour or Family Hour Mini-THON Overview Video by Alumnus Carter Fry

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YS Pride, March 2022

Student Spotlight

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YS Pride, March 2022

Lucy Richard

Fifth-Grade Student Indian Rock Elementary School

Lucy was nominated for recognition in the Student Spotlight section by her teacher, Mrs. Crumbling. Lucy has been attending the York Suburban School District since 2019.

Her favorite subject is math, and she is interested in pursuing teaching as a career. Lucy is also a vegetarian who loves animals and stays active through gymnastics. Perhaps the most inspiring fact about her is that she volunteers in Indian Rock Elementary School’s Autistic Support classroom. Despite her busy schedule, she is doing very well in school; currently, all her grades are either proficient or advanced. Thank you for your hard work both in and out of the classroom, Lucy!

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YS Pride, March 2022

Jonathan Stermer Seventh-Grade Student York Suburban Middle School

Jonathan was nominated for recognition in the Student Spotlight section by his cross country coach, Mr. Shorb. “He was an outstanding teammate,” said Coach Shorb. In addition to cross country, Jonathan enjoys soccer, building things, mountain biking, reading, family time, and the piano. (He even performed a piano accompaniment in the holiday choral concert earlier this school year!) His favorite subjects are history and math. His interest in math has undoubtedly paid off; he recently finished first in the York County and regional MATHCOUNTS competitions! Jonathan is considering a career in either engineering or sports medicine. With his many talents, perhaps he can do both!

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YS Pride, March 2022

75 Students

Grades 3-5 East York Elementary School

Dr. Fuhrman, EYES principal, nominated all 75 students volunteering their time to work in the school’s greenhouse! These students are part of the Greenhouse Business Club, and they each have a role as a manager, communications leader, or gardener. The club’s goal is to successfully raise plants, which will be sold during May Fest on May 21, 2022. Additionally, the students learn some very valuable life skills!

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YS Pride, March 2022

In Case You Missed It

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YS Pride, March 2022

York Suburban School District @YorkSuburban • Oct 27, 2021 The first-ever elementary and middle school rankings by @usnews have been released. Our eligible schools — @RockElementary, @EastYorkElem, and @YorkSuburbanMS — ranked in the top 200 out of 1,752 elementary schools and 939 middle schools! Visit bit.ly/usnewsrankings21 for info.

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YS Pride, March 2022

York Suburban School District @YorkSuburban • Nov 23, 2021 During last night’s meeting of the Board of School Directors, @PSBA recognized three of our school directors for their service. Thank you for your unwavering dedication to York Suburban School District!

Joel Sears, 8 years Ellen Freireich, 24 years John Posenau, 8 years

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YS Pride, March 2022

York Suburban School District @YorkSuburban • Dec 2, 2021 Dr. Snedden, the @YorkSuburbanMS principal, is currently camping on the school’s roof! He’ll be braving the elements all night as a reward for the students’ recent fundraising success and to kick off the annual canned food drive.

Check out the thread for more info!

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YS Pride, March 2022

York Suburban School District @YorkSuburban • Jan 7, 2022 Eighth-grade students benefited from an engaging presentation by Miss Nicole, a Byrnes Health Education Center instructor. She promoted social and emotional wellness, and the students learned to identify signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships. Thank you, Miss Nicole!

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YS Pride, March 2022

York Suburban School District @YorkSuburban • Jan 24, 2022 This past Friday was the 100th day of school. @YorkshireElem students celebrated by highlighting different decades, and @ValViewElem students dressed like they were 100 years old. It was a fun way to acknowledge the students’ hard work!

Check out the thread for more images.

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YS Pride, March 2022

York Suburban School District @YorkSuburban • Jan 25, 2022 Students at @EastYorkElem recently celebrated “Oh The Places You Can Go” Day. They met with a @ThaddeusStevens representative, took virtual tours of other postsecondary institutions, and received donated items from colleges and universities!

Check out the thread for more pics.

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YS Pride, March 2022

York Suburban School District @YorkSuburban • Jan 28, 2022 Yesterday, the sixth-grade Trailblazers team from @YorkSuburbanMS attended @JASCPA‘s BizTown. The students stepped into simulated workplaces for a day to learn about economics, citizenship, teamwork, responsibility, and so much more!

Check out the thread for more pictures.

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YS Pride, March 2022

York Suburban School District @YorkSuburban • Feb 7, 2022 Last week, 32 @YorkSuburbanHS students competed in the @PennsylvaniaTSA Region 3 conference, and 25 finished in the top three or qualified for the state event! Several even placed/qualified in multiple events despite many first-time participants.

View the thread for more pics.

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YS Pride, March 2022

York Suburban School District @YorkSuburban • Feb 9, 2022 Lt. Godfrey, Dep. Sharrar, and Capt. Dargo (a German shepherd) from the York County Sheriff’s Office visited with @YorkshireElem‘s first-grade students today. The kids learned how Capt. Dargo’s amazing tracking skills keep our community safe!

View the thread for more pics.

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YS Pride, March 2022

York Suburban School District @YorkSuburban • Feb 14, 2022 Shaurya Naidu, an Indian Rock Elementary School fifth-grade student, placed in his age group during a regional PA Invention Convention! He created an automated trash scoop for rivers that will prevent waste from reaching the oceans. Good luck in the state competition, Shaurya!

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YS Pride, March 2022

York Suburban School District @YorkSuburban • Feb 15, 2022 Dr. Steven Scalet was a member of the York Suburban Board of School Directors from December 2017 to December 2021. During last night’s Planning Committee meeting, he was honored by President John Posenau for his service to the York Suburban community. Thank you, Dr. Scalet!

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YS Pride, March 2022

York Suburban School District @YorkSuburban • Feb 17, 2022 The following seniors have earned spots in the PMEA All-State Band Festival.

Jordyn Myers Cade Fogdall Noah West These students are now considered among the best high school musicians in the state on their respective instruments! Way to go, Jordyn, Cade, and Noah!

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YS Pride, March 2022

York Suburban School District @YorkSuburban • Feb 28, 2022 Congratulations to students Olivia Gibson, Avery Meyers, and Steven Yao who were recognized by @artandwriting for their artistic skills! Steven’s and Avery’s art will be displayed at The State Museum of Pennsylvania from 3/5/2022 to 5/8/2022.

Shown: Almost Comfy by Avery Meyers

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YS Pride, March 2022

York Suburban School District @YorkSuburban • Mar 11, 2022 Last night, @EastYorkElem students put on a show to remember. Their rendition of Pirates! The Musical was a great example of the school’s amazing talent!

View the thread to see more photos.

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YS Pride, March 2022

York Suburban School District @YorkSuburban • Mar 11, 2022 Wednesday was Dress Like a Friend Day for @ValViewElem staff and students. There were many matching duos, including Ms. Kordek and Mrs. Johnson, shown in this image. The creativity was certainly impressive!

View the thread for more pictures.

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YS Pride, March 2022

York Suburban School District @YorkSuburban • Mar 15, 2022 Our @YorkSuburbanMS students did very well during the York County Science and Engineering Fair! Their most notable awards are below, and a full list is at bit.ly/ys-ycsef22.

Jr. Division Grand Champion Emma Bates Jr. Division Reserve Grand Champion Carter Weems

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YS Pride, March 2022

York Suburban School District @YorkSuburban • Mar 24, 2022 @YorkSuburbanHS students earned medals during the @PAFCCLA Leadership Conference, and qualified for nationals! Congrats!

Annie Connolly, Teach & Train Keaoni Bair & Noah Gellman, Public Advocacy Liz Heisey, Interior Design Riley Greenberg, Repurpose & Redesign

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YS Pride, March 2022

York Suburban School District @YorkSuburban • Mar 24, 2022 Korbin Shearer, a YSHS teacher, recently received awards from @iteea and @TEEAPOnline!

Gerald F. Day Excellence in Authorship Award Teacher Excellence Award Emerging Leader Recognition Today, @PADeptofEd‘s Brandt Hutzel presented Mr. Shearer with one of the plaques.

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YS Pride, March 2022

Blast From The Past

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YS Pride, March 2022

Blast From The Past

These pictures appeared in York Suburban High School’s 1989 yearbook.

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YS Pride, March 2022

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Staff Nick Staab

Coordinator of Communications & Administrative Services

Awards & Recognition

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2020

2019