York Country Day School

🐧 STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Meet Ms. Bankert! 🐧

We are so excited to kick off our Early Learning Teacher Spotlight series! Today, we’re introducing you to one of the wonderful faces behind our Penguins class (4-year-olds), the amazing Ms. Bankert! 🎉

Ms. Bankert brings so much joy, patience, and energy to our littlest learners every single day. We sat down with her to ask a few fun questions so our community could get to know her even better:

🌟 Q&A with Ms. Bankert:
💬 What do you love most about teaching preschool?
"I love teaching preschool because I get to be creative and have fun with my students every day. Preschoolers are excited about learning. Everything is new to them and they are naturally curious about the world around them. Children at this age enjoy school and participating in new activities. It is fun to see them light up when they learn something new."

💬 What is one word you would use to describe your classroom?
"My classroom is fun because children are learning through play. In my classroom, you will find us singing, dancing, reading, creating art projects, conducting science experiments, playing, building, exploring sensory bins, and engaging in hands-on learning activities. Learning activities correlate with our theme of the week and are chosen based on the children's interests and abilities."

💬 What makes our school community special?
"YCDS is a special school because we create a safe space for children as young as two years and seven months until 12th grade. At YCDS students feel safe to learn and make mistakes, teachers have the opportunity to be creative as they meet the unique needs of each student, and families are active partners in their child's educational journey."

💬 What is your favorite part of the preschool day?
"My favorite part of the preschool day is story time. I love reading to my students and strive to make story time an interactive and engaging experience for them."

Our Early Learning program wouldn't be the same without her dedication and warmth. Let’s show her some love! Drop a 🐧 or a note of appreciation in the comments below to say thank you to Ms. Bankert for all she does! ❤️👇

Did you know? YCDS students can now enjoy expanded athletic opportunities by competing for their home district when a sport isn't offered at YCDS! 🏈

Now, you don't have to choose between exceptional academics and the sports you love. Exceptional academics + expanded athletic opportunities = the best of both worlds 🐾

Find more info at bit.ly/3RW2h36

🇩🇪 THE ADVENTURE BEGINS! Our Upper Schoolers are off to Germany! 🇩🇪

The bags are packed, passports are ready, and our Upper School students are off on an unforgettable two-week German exchange trip! They’ll be living like true locals with wonderful host families. Here’s what they’ll be up to:

🏫 Attending a traditional German high school
🍳 Cooking authentic meals (schnitzel, anyone?)
🌲 Sightseeing in the mystical Black Forest
🚗 Exploring local life on weekend day trips

Want to follow along? We’ll be sharing updates and photos right here!

To our students: Wir wünschen euch eine gute Reise! Soak up every moment and safe travels! ✈️

The Whitaker on Wheels van rolled onto campus yesterday, and our campers had an absolute blast! 🚐💨

Campers of all ages got to put their skills to the test with awesome, hands-on challenges. We loved watching our campers work together as teams, think outside the box, and explore new concepts throughout the day. 🧠✨

A huge thank you to the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts team for bringing the magic of the science center directly to Camp Greyhound and inspiring our campers!

Ready for your child's next adventure? We have openings in our 3-year-old and 4-year-old programs, and now is the perfect time to secure your child's spot!

Our classrooms are designed to help children build confidence, develop social skills, and discover the joy of learning in a caring and supportive environment.

We can't wait to share all the reasons families love being part of our school community and what makes YCDS so special. Schedule your personal tour today at bit.ly/4sr2bx2

🎶 Making music & making masterpieces! 🎨

This week, our specialty camps are all about expression. Campers in Mrs. Gischel’s Summer Songwriting Camp are finding their rhythm, while Mrs. Dacheux’s Creative Clay Creations Art Camp is shaping up to be a hands-on blast!

Swipe through to see our young artists and musicians in action! 📸

What a fantastic first week of camp! ☀️🎉

We packed so much fun into our first few days together. Some of our favorite highlights included a walk along the Rail Trail, campers and counselors getting to know each other, cooling off at the Green Valley Pool splash pad, and a special visit from Nova the police dog! 🐾🚔

We are so grateful for all the smiles, laughter, new friendships, and memories already being made. We can't wait to see what adventures next week brings!

Next week is STEAM Week, where campers will dive into science, technology, engineering, art, and math through creative challenges and an exciting visit to the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts. 🔬🎨⚙️✨

A huge THANK YOU to York Area United Fire and Rescue and York County Regional Police Dept. for spending time with our campers today! 🚒🚓

Our campers had an amazing behind-the-scenes experience exploring the fire truck, learning about all the specialized equipment, and getting a firsthand look at the important work these local heroes do to keep our community safe.

The highlight of the day? Meeting Nova, the police K-9! 🐾 Our campers loved getting to see Nova in action and learning about the important role police dogs play in serving and protecting our community.

We are so grateful to these dedicated first responders for taking the time to educate, inspire, and create unforgettable memories for our campers.

Last week we celebrated a very special milestone as our seniors officially became graduates. 🎓

Commencement was a beautiful evening filled with pride, reflection, joy, and celebration as we recognized the accomplishments of the Class of 2026 and the families who supported them every step of the way.

We are so proud of our graduates and grateful for the impact they have made on our school community. As they begin this next chapter, they do so with the support of a community that will always be cheering them on. Once a Greyhound, always a Greyhound.