Category: Editions

  • Travel Tales: Puerto Rico

    I spent two weeks in Puerto Rico visiting beaches, historic sites, local food places, and much more. I want to share some of these experiences with you and maybe even spark your interest in enjoying the many wonders of this island. With this, I introduce you to La Isla de Encanto, Puerto Rico. 

     

    “Bienvenidos a la Isla de Encanto” is the first thing you hear as the plane lands in Puerto Rico.  It is accompanied by the flight passengers’ cheerful clapping and whistles. Puerto Rico is known as “La Isla de Encanto” or “The Island of Enchantment” for its tropical looks, beautiful clear beaches, and amazing food. 

    Puerto Rico is filled with many amazing artisans and musicians. As you walk through El Paseo de la Princessa in Old San Juan, you can enjoy the shops of the artisans, many of which have jewelry, paintings, accessories, and more to look through. You can hear music in the background from musicians. Yauco Yarn Bombed is a tree that was crocheted over; it was an amazing sight.

    El Castillo San Felipe del Morro, El Morro, is a large fortress built by the Spaniards.  They began building it in 1539 and finished in 1790.   It is located in the city of Old San Juan. I enjoyed seeing the history of El Morro and all the relics of the past encased within this museum. Another important landmark of Puerto Rico would have to be “Parque de Bombas,” a building first built in 1882 to be an exhibition pavilion for the 1882 Exhibition Trade fair, but later became a fire station-the first ever fire station in Puerto Rico! In fact, it is listed on the National Register of Historical Places as of July 12, 1984. Now it is a museum, keeping this historical place alive for anyone to visit. Inside the museum, there are pictures of firefighters who used to work there and many objects of its history.

    Being an Island, Puerto Rico has many beaches to explore and enjoy. Some of these are Crash Boat in Aguadillas, Playa Vega Baja, and Playa Montones. My favorite has to be Crash Boat for its soft, warm sand, clear ocean waters, and the ability to be able to see the expansive horizon. Playa Vega Baja is also very wonderful as it is enclosed by rocks, so there is barely an ocean current. It’s perfect for younger siblings, reducing the concern of them being swept away by a strong current. I would recommend going to both if you get the chance! 

    My all-time favorite part of this trip has to be La Palguera, a bioluminescent bay. Visiting at night, you are boarded onto a boat and taken to the bay.   Then, a swimmer goes into the water and collects a bucket of water and hands it to the people on the boat, allowing everyone to touch the water and see the beautiful blue glow sparkle as you move your hand in it. 

    I enjoyed my travels to Puerto Rico immensely, and hold in my memory so many other stories and adventures from this experience with my family. I hope that this inspires you to visit Puerto Rico sometime, as there is much to explore and enjoy in la Isla De Encanto.

  • Pippin – Directors Note

    Pippin – Directors Note

    At its core – Pippin is a story about our lives. This story is about a young boy searching for meaning in a world with endless possibilities. Pippin goes through temptations and experiences that we all can relate to. He is disappointed by the things he imagined he would enjoy the most, and ends up appreciating the things that he never thought he would. In our lives, we all have felt uncertain; whether it’s because we have pushed ourselves outside our comfort zones or it’s because we don’t know what comes next. Our society has put value on always moving to the next best thing, rather than slowing down and seeing what’s right in front of us. Pippin fights his battles with the voices in his head by reminding himself that he doesn’t have to fit into a box that was pre-imagined for him, and he can feel fulfilled by the little things in life. 

     

    Throughout this show, I have had the honor of working with an insanely talented cast to portray a powerful story. Backstage we had conversations where we analyzed how Pippin’s story was actually relatable. Some admitted, “I don’t know what I should even do after high school” and others reflected, “I have too much on my plate; I should take a break this weekend.” Bleeding through our different backgrounds, cultures, and struggles, was a community that came together to tell a very important story. As silly as it sounds, Pippin was more than a show for us – it has been a reminder that while we all grow into ourselves, we should remember the importance of the connections we have built, the love we have shared, and the growth we have experienced. 

     

    I would like to thank the directors, cast, crew, pit, and everyone that has put their all into this show. It has truly paid off. As for the audience, I hope you will enjoy the show and while doing so, reflect on your own life. This show serves as a cautionary tale that stands the test of time; each character represents something we should carry into our own lives. Berthe reminds us to appreciate the time we have on this earth, Charles’ story explains the age-old adage “walk a mile in my shoes,” Lewis warns against self-obsession, and Fastrada reinforces the belief that we never know one’s real motive. As Leading Player orchestrates this magic, I encourage you to think of a time when the little voice in your head led you astray. For example, when you talk down to yourself, or compare your experiences to others, you are allowing yourself to be led astray. Like all of us, Pippin makes mistakes, but when doing so, he is simply trying his best. Whether Pippin, and each one of us, makes the right choices, is up to us. 

     

    So as you watch this story unfolds, I hope you see pieces of yourself in Pippin’s journey—his doubts, his dreams, and his desire for something more. May this show remind you that mistakes are inevitable, but growth is always possible. More importantly, may it encourage you to appreciate the moments, people, and love that make life truly extraordinary. Thank you for being here, for supporting live theater, and for allowing us to share this story with you. Enjoy the show!

  • Semester 1 Art Show

    Semester 1 Art Show

    On January 14 our high school held its first semester art show. Work from the painting, ceramics, applied engineering, and drawing classes were showcased throughout the back hallway for students and parents to visit from 7am-7pm. 

    It was beautiful to see the talent of all of my peers showcased for everyone to see. From realistic to abstract, every piece had its own character, and the personality of the artist came through. Students worked hard throughout the first semester to prepare for this art show.

    Engineering and Art displays
    Engineering and Art displays

    Senior Allie Seifert was one of the most distinguished artists for this art show. Allie received hundreds of compliments on their art. They are currently in Painting 2 and Drawing 2, both of which have prerequisites, showing how fully dedicated to art they are. The amount of talent that Allie showcases is something that I truly admire. They are absolutely one of the best artists I have the pleasure of knowing. Some of their art can be seen below, but more can be found on their Instagram: @allie.trash.art if you are interested.

    Artwork by Allie Seifert (12)

    These seniors, along with every art and engineering student, should be extremely proud of themselves. Their months of hard work paid off, and their artwork made the hallways brighter and more enjoyable for everyone. Congratulations!

  • Punta Cana with Ana; Travel Tales

    Punta Cana with Ana; Travel Tales

    My ideal New Year’s, and I imagine our readers would love this as well, is spending it with family somewhere warm to escape from the cold winter. Our family has been accomplishing this by going to Brazil and staying with family for the past few years. However, this year we had the privilege of flying out to the Dominican Republic to stay at Iberostar’s all-inclusive resort on the beach of Punta Cana.

    I remember feeling like a new chapter had started, with the sound of Spanish humming in my ear and the bright sun and vibrant blue skies as we walked off the airplane. When we arrived at the hotel, we were greeted by warm smiles from all the workers, and you could feel a shift in the atmosphere. One of the funniest parts of this experience was that, although a few members of my family speak proficient Spanish, including myself, everyone knew we were Brazilian immediately. When I asked how, they said our accents were a giveaway, but that our Spanish was great nonetheless.

    The most beautiful part was the clean, soft-sand beaches with the clearest water. It was breathtaking how much I could see underwater, and as an ocean lover, it made the trip all that much more perfect! My family and I went on an excursion where we stopped by a “natural pool” in the middle of the ocean and jumped in for a swim. We found so many starfish and other sea creatures in the crystal blue waters. The pictures don’t do it justice!

    Another one of my favorite parts was the wonderful New Year’s experience. Our hotel had a dance party, which was filled with people from all over the world, after a dinner that was exceptional. We decided to walk to the beach for the actual ringing in the New Year, and it was totally the right move! We saw so many fireworks, and the beach was completely empty. It was such a special moment for our family! After that, a bus took us to the golf course in the hotel, where there was yet another dance party and even more fireworks—though I have to say the second ones were even better.

    Between the kind community, pristine beaches, and endless dance parties, my trip was amazing! Overall, my experience in Punta Cana was unforgettable, and I am so grateful to have experienced it alongside my favorite people in the world.

  • The Surprise Release of GNX 

    Kendrick seemingly ended his career in a neatly tied bow with Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers by realizing his trauma and exploring unhealthy coping mechanisms found in minority communities. However, following his heated rap battle with Drake, he dropped the surprise album GNX independently from Top Dawg Entertainment. This unexpected play proved Kendrick’s dominance and mastery of rap. The album follows themes of ego, love, peace, hate, and the details of Kendrick’s life. On the cover, Lamar leans against a 1987 Buick GNX, referencing the car in which his parents first drove him home from the hospital. Kendrick’s work is intertwined with contradicting messages of anti-materialist humbleness in “heart pt. 6” and ego-inflating verses about his superiority in “gnx” and “tv off” while “man at the garden” leaves the message to interpretation. He smoothly adds melodic features from SZA, Dody6, Lefty Gunplay, Wallie the Sensei, Siete7x, Roddy Rich, AzChike, Hitta J3, YoungThreat, and Peysoh, continuing his tradition of uplifting on-the-come-up artists that add depth to his tracks. The Regional Mexican singer Deyra Barrera adds hauntingly emotional solos to “wacced out murals,” “reincarnated,” and “gloria.” His West Coast style shines through in “dodger blue” through the laid-back beat and commentary on Los Angeles. “luther (with sza)” provides optimism and idealistic thoughts of a loving relationship in a culture of clubbing. Kendrick references Tupac’s poem, “The Rose That Grew From Concrete” in the line “In this world, concrete flowers grow.” GNX pays homage to West Coast rap culture while gleaming with experimental ideas that further the genre and Kendrick’s reputation. Any listener remotely interested in rap should stream GNX.

  • East York Elementary’s Holiday Shop

    On December 6th, East York held its annual Holiday Shop! The Holiday is an opportunity for 3rd-5th graders to shop for gifts for their families with the help of some high school elves. The event, led by Mrs. Rachel Fry, takes place at East York Elementary, and it includes an area for kids to shop gifts of prices between $1-$7, games and activities in the all-purpose room, and holiday snacks for the kids! The elves, York Suburban High School music students, volunteer their time in order to become an elf for the elementary students, aiding them in their search for the perfect gifts.

    The event starts off with an “Elf Training” to make sure all the elves are prepared for their night of magic. Once the students start arriving, they are lined up and matched with an elf by one of the volunteers. The elf takes them through the course of the shop, helping them with their money, and picking out the perfect gifts. Once all the gifts are chosen, students and elves proceed to the wrapping room, where more elves help wrap and label all the gifts, before proceeding to the checkout where they pay and are treated to a candy cane. 

    This year’s event was a blast. YS students showed up ready to shop. Some came with siblings; some were ready to set off into the shopping world alone. From budgets of $20-$62, our elves saw it all. Many kids came ready to shop for all their family members and some even came ready to shop for themselves! The all-purpose room buzzed with holiday cheer as kids ran around playing games, parents chatted with one another, and elves were in constant motion, providing the most elftastic service they could! With two hours of service time, the holiday shop tables were empty by the end of the night! It was a wonderful turnout that we are ecstatic to see every year. This event wouldn’t have been possible without the help of all of the magic elves that worked so hard to make the night special for each of the elementary school students.

    Being able to interact with all the kids is truly a hilarious experience. Some of them have no idea what their parents like and usually end up choosing fuzzy socks and a puzzle, while others have it exactly planned out. During the ‘quiet’ moment, all the elves shared stories about the funny interactions we had with students. From being told they were going to ask Santa for “an imaginary boyfriend,” to being hand selected by little kids to be their elf, we truly saw it all. Happy Holidays to everyone from the elves at YSHS!

    Written by Michela Soares

  • YSHS Winter Concert

    The Winter Concert occurred on Sunday, December 15 at 2 pm and consisted of the orchestra, band, and chorus. The YS Singers kicked off the concert accompanied by Haley Berkebile on the piano with their pieces “Glory Hallelujah, He is Born”, “Cold and Fugue Season,” “Ribbons and Bows” and lastly “A Hand for Mrs. Claus” which included the soloists Reece Busse, Marcella Rolle, and Ethan Wolfgang. After that, A Capella, a student-led group headed by Ruth Brown, Jonah Gibson & Madelynn Thomas, performed “Carol of the Bells.” Following that, the concert band walked onto the stage and after setting up, they presented their pieces “Fanfare and Procession on an Old English Carol,”  “A Christmas Carol,” and “Hanukkah Holiday.” For their last piece, the concert choir joined to put together “Jingle Bell Rock.”

    The concert choir led by Mrs. Stayer and accompanied by Haley Berkebile performed “Pat-a-Pan Salsa,” “The Snow Carol (Still, Still, Still)” and finished with “Candy Cane Lane.”

    The string ensemble led by Mrs. Thrush followed afterward with “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” The complete string orchestra then joined the stage playing “Christmas Medley” which included the songs “Joy to the World,” “Angels We Have Heard on High,” and “Away in a Manger.” Rosie Gray introduced “Oseh Shalom” which included solos from Meghan Martin, Elie Purkanto, and Bailey Phinney. Jonah Gibson joined on the drums to play “Last Christmas” with soloist singer Willow Hoffman-Smith.

    Finally, to end the concert the symphony orchestra performed “Christmas Memories” which included iconic Christmas songs like “Frosty the Snowman” “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” “Here Comes Santa Claus” “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” and “Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” The audience joined in to sing with a slideshow with the songs that Wade Stocker made. Even Santa Claus made an appearance, tossing candy canes to the audience, getting many excited claps.

    Overall, it was an excellent performance by all. The next concert is on March 12. I hope to see all of you there to enjoy our wonderful school’s instrumental and choral performances! 

    Written By Dilaila A. Perez-Colon
  • Mini-MUN

    Mini-MUN

    If you play sports, you might have practice every day from 3-5pm. Or if you are in a music ensemble, you might have rehearsal everyday during period 2. For the Model United Nations club, we don’t really get to “practice.” You get better by attending conferences and participating in the moment, which can be super nerve racking. This is why we try to hold a “mini-mun” for our members where we do a more exciting topic with low stakes to help practice procedures and public speaking. 

     

    Junior Lexi Purkanto presenting in front of the club.

    Last Saturday, we had an early wake up call and reported to the school at 8:00 am to set everything up for our conference. Students started arriving in their business attire and we had some warm breakfast items to help ease the discomfort of being away at such an early hour. However, as soon as the debate began, everyone was awake. With around 20 students participating and a little push from President Cambria Green, almost everyone got up to speak (including multiple new members). The study hall room was bursting with collaboration from a variety of students, representing a variety of countries, and it was wonderful to see them all working together. 

    Delegates talk during a conference break.

    The following students were recognized for awards:

    1. Best Delegate – Viet Cao
    2. Outstanding – Ethan Wolfgang
    3. Honorable Delegate – Alex Bien
    4. Best Position paper – Michela Soares
    5. Best Newcomer – Milan Gerald 
    6. Verbal performance – Alexia Purkanfo

     

    These students all stood out with some amazing communication skills and I personally observed and admired the way they carried themselves as delegates. Congratulations to all! 

  • York Suburban Tri-M Music Honor Society Induction 2025

    York Suburban Tri-M Music Honor Society Induction 2025

    On Wednesday 11/20, 17 students were inducted into the Tri-M Music Honor Society. These talented new members, along with many returning members, performed multiple amazing pieces in this recital which showcased their incredible talent!

    There will be another recital in the spring, possibly one in the winter, and hopefully other events throughout the community and school! 

    Here are the new and returning members of the society:

    New Members –

    • Jonny Allen
    • John Barley
    • Clarence Cashour
    • Rowan Cooper
    • Caseem Cross
    • Amelia Emsweiler
    • Austin Fry
    • Maple Gallo
    • Gabriel Gottloeb
    • Bailey Phinney
    • Whitley Kamarauskas
    • Ella Reed
    • Matthew Shorb, Jr.
    • Finleigh Stambaugh
    • Sophia Wile
    • Ethan Wolfgang
    • Sara Youcheff

     

    Returning Members –

    • Gabrielle Abdill
    • Dashiell Bedell
    • Ryan Beschler
    • Alex Bien
    • Ruth Brown
    • Reece Busse
    • Dylan Dang
    • Ana Carrara Farah
    • Jonah Gibson
    • Cayli Huynh
    • Meghan Martin
    • Alexia Purkanto
    • Marcella Rolle
    • Isabel Sarsfield
    • Sophia Scalet
    • Egan Torres

     

    York Suburban is proud to have these excellent performers in the music program, and they will all do many great things in the future!

  • Dear Edwina Jr. – A YSMS Production

    Dear Edwina Jr. – A YSMS Production

    On November 22 and 23, the York Suburban Middle school put on their production of “Dear Edwina Jr.!” After the school’s last musical, “The Little Mermaid Jr.” during the 2021-2022 school year, students have been anxiously waiting for another production. Directed by Ms. Andrea Unger and Miss. Hannah Kuhn, the production featured 36 students on stage between 6th-8th grade, and many more backstage helping run crew, lighting, props, and costumes. This show features a young girl, Edwina, played by Maya Rolle, who gives her family and friends advice through 24 musical numbers.

    The synopsis of the show can be seen below (spoilers ahead).

    “Thirteen-year-old Edwina Spoonapple has very talented siblings. But because of this, she thinks that she isn’t special or talented. Yet Edwina has many talents including leadership, singing and advising, and she combines all of them by directing a weekly mini-musical out of her garage. The topic of these musicals is letters written to her by neighborhood kids who need advice. She gives them advice through songs and dances that she orchestrates with her friends. One of the main themes of Dear Edwina is Edwina’s desire to be in the “Advice-a-palooza” festival because she feels it will prove that she is as talented as her siblings. This is all going on while Edwina’s love interest, Scott, is trying to win her over. But, since Edwina is so concerned about her show, she doesn’t care about Scott. Scott wins her heart by singing her a seductive love ballad as an impromptu performance on the show. The talent scout calls, and asks for Scott to perform at the festival, not Edwina. She is heartbroken when she runs into Katie Spoonapple, who has just run away from the Summer Math Olympics because she was getting made fun of by the other girls. She tells Katie not to listen to those kids, and to do what you love to do. Katie hugs her, and Edwina realizes that love is far more important than getting a prize.”    – Wikipedia

    The cast worked extremely hard to put together this amazing production. Watching the future stars of YSSD was truly a wonderful thing to see. For most, it was their first chance to perform a musical on a stage.  Many of the kids played multiple roles, with only a few playing only one character. This is a big step for many, as not only were they memorizing lines and songs, they were memorizing lines and songs for multiple characters.

     

    This show would not have been possible without the help of the admin, teachers, parents, and adults that worked endlessly with the kids to put on a magnificent production.

    Great job everyone! This show was truly amazing. Watching all the young actors flourish and find their voice on stage is always a heart-warming experience.