Break 2.3.12

Host an Exchange Student

York School hosts one international student on the AFS exchange program every year, and is currently looking for a host family for 2012-13.

It is already the time of year when the local AFS chapter receives papers on students from other countries who might be good candidates for York School.  The host family is part of this selection process, determining if we have a boy or a girl, and having a say in the language or country of origin of the student. The earlier we have a host family the more choice we have in students.

AFS students come to the U.S. from more than 90 countries. Learn more:  http://www.afsusa.org/host-family/

If you might be interested or would like more information, please contact Pam Sanford immediately psanford@york.org.

Admission News: Additional Entrance Exam Date February 11

To accomodate busy schedules, the Admission Office has scheduled one additional entrance exam. It will be Saturday, February 11, from 9:30 a.m. to approx. 12:30 p.m. in room 26 of the Science Building.  Please email or call 831.372.7338 to reserve a space.

York School Admission Office
Catha Smith, Director of Admission and Financial Aid, x115
Rachel Gaudoin, Admission Associate, x116 

York is Represented in Monterey Jazz Festival High School Honor Band

York School will be well represented in this year's Monterey Jazz Festival High School Honor Band. The members of the Honor Band are chosen by the MJF Visiting Clinicians, professional jazz artists who regularly visit every middle and high school jazz program in the county to work with the student musicians. From these students they select a full big band plus alternates. The Honor Band is directed by saxophonist and MJF Education Coordinator, Paul Contos. They rehearse several times during the spring (in the York School Music Room, in fact) and perform at the Next Generation Jazz Festival in April. They attend the Jazz Festival's Summer Jazz Camp and then go on tour. The program wraps up with a performance at the Monterey Jazz Festival in September.

Two York students were selected to be members of the Honor Band: Brendan Martin '14, tenor saxophone, and Esteban Sanchez '12, trumpet. Named as alternates were Quinn Murphy '15, guitar, Nick Newman '14, alto saxophone, and Lizzy Stanton '15, trumpet.

Congratulations to all these outstanding York musicians.

Monterey Herald: NAACP CEO Ben Jealous speaks to York students

Photo by the Monterey Herald

The York School graduate who ascended to become President and CEO of the NAACP returned home to the Monterey Peninsula this week, bringing with him an optimistic but pragmatic view of the state of our union.

Benjamin Todd Jealous spoke to high school students at his alma mater on Friday, urging them to pursue their dreams without fearing them, and to become politically involved on a local level — even if they're not yet old enough to vote.

Read more here ...

Break 2.1.12

Ben Jealous ’90 to Speak to York Students on Civil Disobedience

York School Alumnus Ben Jealous ’90, President and CEO of the NAACP, will speak at an all-school assembly Friday morning and will be involved in a discussion on civil disobedience in a tenth grade English class, which has been studying historical and contemporary figures who practice civil disobedience.

Students are researching Sophocles’ ancient tragedy Antigone (the story of the daughter of Oedipus who is sentenced to death by her uncle for violating a law she deemed unjust), apartheid opponent Nelson Mandela, Burmese protester Aung San Suu Kyi, and British anonymous street artist Bansky. They are comparing these figures with the writings of Thoreau, Gandhi, or Martin Luther King, Jr., all individuals who wrote extensively on how to participate in civil disobedience, to evaluate how well these figures conformed to the writings’ criteria for moral civil disobedience.

Jealous, 39, attended York School from 1986 to 1990. The youngest-ever leader of the NAACP, he will be the keynote speaker at the local NAACP’s 80^th year celebration banquet, to be held February 4 in Monterey. Named to Time Magazine’s prestigious “40 Under 40” list, the Pacific Grove native has been hailed as a ‘rising star of American politics.’

More soccer victories

Boys Soccer York 4, Gonzales 0

Freshman Wyatt Stade led York with two goals.  Luis Franco ‘13 had a goal and and assist, and Michael Cho ‘12 added the final tally for York.  Moncef Bouzar ‘12, Rutger Sperry ’15, and Tizoc Franco ‘12 each had an assist. Goalie Nick Newman ‘14 had five saves in the shutout for York.

Girls Soccer  York 5, Marina 0

Marina visited York on February 1. The final score was 5-0 york win with three goals from Santa Cruz native Caroline Chan '13, one goal from freshman Audrey Mustoe,  and one goal and assist from Santa Cruz native Becca Mace '13. York's next game is Friday, February 3 at home against PCS.

York sports update

On Thursday, January 26 Trinity High visited the York girls soccer team. The final score was 3-0, York. All three goals came from Santa Cruz native Caroline Chan '13. The girls' next game is Wednesday February 1 at home against Marina.

Wednesday is going to be a big day for sports when all of our basketball and soccer teams will be playing at home. 

4:00 Boys Basketball vs. PCS
5:30 Girls Basketball vs. PCS

3:30 Boys Soccer vs. Gonzales
3:30 Girls Soccer vs. Marina 

Break 1.30.12

York musicians perform with CCS Honor Ensembles

On Saturday January 21, 2012, York musicians performed at Salinas High School as members of The Central Coast Section (California Music Educators) Honor Ensembles.

Andi Canto '15, Morgan Ewing '14, Sam Griffin-Ortiz '14, Devon Hubert '14, Jennifer McDonnal '14, Katy Ohsiek '14, Josh Reeves '15, and Noah Reeves '13 sang with the choir under the direction of Dr. Robert Istad from Cal State Fullerton. Shirley Chen '14, Eunice Rhee '15, and Lydia Tao '13 played with the honor orchestra under the leadership of Ms. Joni Swenson from Santa Monica High School. Matteo Crow '13 participated in the honor band conducted by Dr. Robert Halseth from Cal State Sacremento. The members of these ensembles are chosen by audition from among four surrounding counties. They rehearse intensively for two days in preparation for the concert. 

York Music Director Murray Walker receives the 2012 Central Coast Section Outstanding Music Educator Award from section president, Barbara Priest, at the CCS High School Honor Groups Concert last Saturday.During the program York Music Director, Murray Walker, was recognized as the 2012 Outstanding Music Educator in CCS. Read more about that honor here. 

ET, Phone School!

A note from your Safety Committee:

Parents, please remember that it is vital that you call Andrea Sanico, our school secretary (ext. 100), if your student is sick and will not be at School. This is also true if your student needs to be released early from school.  It is helpful if you can call before 9 AM.  In addition, we require notification from a parent or guardian, even if a student is eighteen years old.  Thanks from all of us for making sure this important safety consideration is attended to!

York Boys Soccer defeats PCS 3-2

Congratulations to the boys soccer team for defeating Pacific Collegiate on Thursday 3-2. Tizoc Franco '12 scored a goal and stand-out freshman Rutger Sperry scored twice. Luis Franco, Jonathan DeAnda, and Cedric Coly each had an assist. Nick Newman held the Pumas to two goals. York hosts Gonzales next Wednesday. 

Brandon Saisho honored for artwork, profiled in Off 68

Brandon Saisho displays one of his artworks. ROBERT WALCH/FOR OFF 68

From Off 68

Although he plays in his school's orchestra and edits the student magazine's literary section, Brandon Saisho's art has perhaps made the biggest splash on campus.

The York School senior recently learned he received honorable mention for the work he submitted to the Youth Arts Award competition sponsored by the National Foundation for the Advancement in the Arts.

Read more ...

Be Present: The Power of Mindfulness

From time to time, we hear of events happening in our community which we think might interest our parents.  Though you have at your proverbial fingertips the remarkable community of specialists in adolescent education and development that is the York faculty, you might enjoy listening to a talk on the power of mindfulness in learning and daily life.

The Gateway School in Santa Cruz is sponsoring a presentation by Dr. Daniel J. Siegel entitled “The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind.”  Dr. Siegel is a professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine and co-director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center. He is also the Executive Director of the Mindsight Institute, an educational center devoted to promoting insight, compassion, and empathy in individuals, families, and communities. He is the author or co-author of several books, including Parenting from the Inside Out, The Mindful Brain and most recently, The Whole-Brain Child.

When: February 22, 2012, 7-9 PM

Where: Cabrillo College Crocker Theatre

Tickets: $5.00 – purchase at www.gatewaysc.org

Break 1.25.12

Safe Arrivals (not to mention departures)!

The Safety Committee would like to extend a heartfelt “Thank you!” to all of you who have been making an extra effort to use the drop off circle or to pull into a parking space when dropping off your student in the morning.  We know that the circle and the parking area by the main stairs are busy spots every morning and afternoon, but taking those extra steps to keep the drive clear and to observe the posted speed limit help to keep all of us safer.

Break 1.23.12

Chinese students celebrate the Year of the Dragon!

Spring Sports and Health & Fitness Sign-ups Now Available

Break 1.19.12