This Monday starts the last week of Marking Period 1. All work is due by Sunday, October 29th as usual. Report cards will be posted on Infinite Campus on November 10th.

As we enter the final week of the quarter, we want to take a moment to remind you of the crucial role you play in supporting your child's academic journey. Your encouragement, communication, and involvement can make a significant difference. Please ensure that your child is staying organized, managing their time effectively, and seeking help when needed. You can check student grades on both Schoology and Infinite Campus. Regularly checking your child's progress and communicating with teachers can help identify any challenges and allow us to provide the necessary assistance. Thank you for your ongoing support, and together, we can help your child finish the quarter strong.

Fondly,

Dr. Kecia Nesmith, Principal and Curriculum Supervisor

Dr. Kristie Burk, Coordinator for Online & Blended Learning

• 10/24 - STEM Application Essay for LMS Students @ 2:40 pm
  

• 10/26 - STEM Application Essay for DMS Students@ 2:40 pm

• 10/28 - ACT Testing

• 10/29 - All work for Marking Period 1 due

• 10/31 - Aimsweb Plus Reports in IC Backpacks Gr. 7-8
  

• 11/6 - BASC-3 Screening for all full-time students in Gr. 6-9

• 11/7 - No School/Teacher In-service Day- DCA Gr. K-12

• 11/10 - Report cards posted in Infinite Campus -DCA Gr. 6-12

• 11/20 - Early Dismissal - DCA Gr. 6-12

• 11/21 - Parent/Teacher Conferences via Zoom/No School DCA Gr. 6-12

• 11/22-24 - No School for Thanksgiving break DCA Gr. K-12

Subject: PA Climate Survey: Your Honest Feedback Matters!

Dear DASD Parents/Guardians,

This year, Downingtown Area School District (DASD) will use the Pennsylvania Climate Survey (PA Climate Survey) to gain valuable insights into our school climate and to make meaningful improvements in DASD. The PA Climate Survey is conducted by the Pennsylvania Department of Education Office for Safe Schools (PDEOSS), and replaces last year’s YouthTruth survey.

Your input is essential. The brief survey is open to all families, staff and students (grades 3-12) and we would greatly appreciate your participation. Survey completion time is 3-5 minutes, and it is available in both English and Spanish.

Parent/Guardian Survey Link: https://bit.ly/3r2q9oF

*Note: If you have more than one student, please complete one survey for each school that your children attend.

Student Survey Information

The DCA student-focused survey (grades 6-12) will be offered during advisory/link shared in the Advisory Schoology Course for full-time students during the week of November 13-17 and will be open until November 20th. If you would like to opt your child out of participating in this survey, please send an email to cyberacademy@dasd.org.

*Students who attend the DCA part-time will receive the survey link from their home school building and can take the survey twice - once for the building and once for the DCA.

Additional Survey Details

All responses will remain fully confidential, and individual school data will not be viewed or used by PDEOSS. Instead, the Pennsylvania Department of Education may utilize aggregated statewide and regional survey data to identify trends, evaluate programs, and provide technical assistance strategies.

After the survey process, DASD will receive the summarized data for analysis and planning. The PA School Climate Surveys (PSCS) assess three critical domains that have been proven to play a significant role in student learning and development:

• Student Support and Engagement scale: Measures the extent to which students feel listened to, cared about, and supported by teachers and other adults in the school to achieve their behavioral and academic goals.

• Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) scale: Measures staff or student perceptions of how well they relate to and support each other.

• Safe and Respectful School Climate scale: Measures how physically safe students or staff perceive the school to be and how emotionally safe students perceive the school to be.
  
  

Thank you for your participation and continued support. Together, we can make a positive impact on our school community.

On November 6th, we will be administering the BASC-3 Behavioral and Emotional Screening System (BASC-3 BESS) to all of our full-time students in grades 6-9 during advisory. This screener is designed to be administered to students ranging from preschool through high school and offers a reliable, quick, and systematic way to determine behavioral and emotional strengths and weaknesses of children and adolescents. More information will be sent home in a separate email.

Parents can check student grades on both Schoology and Infinite Campus. Please visit our Technology web page for directions.

The Annual Marsh Creek Trunk or Treat will be held on Monday, October 30th from 6:00PM to 7:00PM in the bus parking lot at school for all sixth graders. Candy cars will arrive by 5:30PM to begin preparing for the event. We will be collecting candy donations through Wednesday, October 25th, to help our candy cars get started. Candy can be dropped off in the main office or sent to Ms. Dunn’s room, B269. More information about Trick or Trunk will be posted in Schoology and on the website in the coming weeks.

If you would like to participate as a trick-or-treater and/or a candy car, please complete the following Google Form: Trick or Trunk SIgn-up Form

The Downingtown Area School District (DASD) is thrilled to announce its upcoming Clothing Drive, scheduled to take place on October 23, 2023, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Downingtown Middle School. This event aims to unite the community in a philanthropic endeavor while promoting camaraderie and goodwill. Attendees of the event can anticipate an engaging evening filled with music and energy, courtesy of a DJ who will be keeping the atmosphere lively. Also, skip cooking that night! Food trucks will be available for paid food.

The admission fee for this event is a simple yet impactful one: the donation of gently used or brand new coats, hats, gloves, scarves and other winter wear. This innovative approach to entry underscores the commitment of DASD and its partners to uplift the community while aiding those less fortunate. All donated clothes will contribute directly to helping individuals and families in need, embodying the spirit of compassion and support that DASD holds dear.

Adding to the evening's excitement, the event will feature the presence of Miss Pennsylvania and ToppFlight, one of Philadelphia's most renowned and humorous comedians and Philadelphia Eagles Olamide Zaccheaus. Joining us will also be Drew Anderson and Ellen Kolodziej from Fox29 news. DASD encourages everyone in the community to mark their calendars for October 23, 2023, and participate in this heartwarming event. Don't miss the chance to contribute to a worthy cause, interact with local celebrities, and enjoy a night of music and laughter.

DASD is thrilled to announce that celebrated actress April Hernandez Castillo will be the keynote speaker for its Bullying Prevention Month presentation. The event is scheduled to take place on October 25th at 6:00 pm in the West High School Auditorium.

Best known for her powerful portrayal of "Eva" in the acclaimed movie "Freedom Writers," alongside Hilary Swank, April Hernandez Castillo brings an extraordinary blend of talent, resilience, and authenticity to the stage. Her journey from the glittering lights of Hollywood to overcoming personal traumas is an inspiration that resonates with audiences worldwide. April's keynote address, titled "Moving Forward," April will underline the importance of choosing to move forward, even in the face of adversity. By sharing her own experiences of overcoming obstacles, she aims to motivate students to stand up against bullying and make a positive impact in their own lives and communities.

The Downingtown Area School District is proud to announce the upcoming program, "Supporting Grieving Students," scheduled for October 30th at 3:45 PM (EDT). This valuable training session will take place via Zoom and will be conducted in conjunction with the Cultural Equity Task Force meeting. The program aims to address an essential aspect of student well-being by providing support and guidance for grieving students. With the challenges and emotional hurdles that students face, it's vital for educational institutions to create a supportive environment. This program aligns with the district's commitment to holistic student development. The session will be led by Kate Lannan, a Licensed Social Worker and the Education Director at A Haven, a nonprofit organization dedicated to partnering with grieving families through grief support, education, community outreach, and instilling hope. Kate's extensive experience and background in social work, particularly in working with grieving children and families, make her a highly qualified expert for this program.

A local community group is seeking two individuals to plan and execute games and activities for a small group of special needs young adults. Meetings occur every Thursday 3-5pm in Downingtown. Minimum commitment is two meetings/month. Must be willing to plan activities independently and be comfortable engaging with young adults of all abilities. A fun and rewarding opportunity! Email maryfetterman5@gmail.com for more information.

Tel Hai Retirement Community in Honey Brook needs servers! The minimum age is 15, they offer $12.50-$13.50/hour, flexible schedules and free meals during your shift. Contact www.telhai.org/careers to apply!

Ashbridge Senior Living is hiring part-time servers and dishwashers 3:30-7:30 p.m. and weekends. They hire at 14 with working papers! Apply in person at 971 E. Lancaster Avenue. Visit www.ashbridgemanor.com for more information.

Junior & Senior Girls!! Volunteers are needed for the Girls Exploring Tomorrow’s Technology (GETT) Expo to be held on Saturday, October 28th, 2023, at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center from noon to 5 p.m. This is an awesome opportunity to connect with women in STEM careers! Contact Leigh Craig at lcraig@ccedcpa.com

All DCA students are considered students in their home buildings even if they are full-time DCA. Please check your child's school below for upcoming events and activities in which they can participate!

If your K-5 student took the Aimsweb Plus assessment this Fall, the report is NOW AVAILABLE in the Infinite Campus Backpack. Please take a moment to review your child's progress.

• A BVA field trip to the Zoo! Stay tuned for more information!
• Parent/Caretaker -Teacher Conferences - November 20-21. Look for communication from your child's BVA teacher.
• Smart Futures Career Readiness Artifacts in Canvas. Students will soon have a course in Canvas to link them to the DASD Class Link and Smart Futures application to access activities that must be completed for career readiness. More information to come!

Please visit our DCA website at dc.dasd.org for more information.

Backpack Resources

Email: cyberacademy@dasd.org
Website: dc.dasd.org
Location: 540 Trestle Place, Downingtown, PA, USA
Phone: 610-269-8460
Facebook: http://facebook.com/dca
Twitter: @dasd_dca