Head of School Update

Mr. Art Campbell, Head of School

Ms. Kelly Stauffer, Admin. Asst. to the Head of School

Early Dismissal Procedures Tardy Notes, etc: Please be reminded that if a student will be picked up early, an email should be sent to stemattendance@dasd.org . Students should stop by the office to pick up an early dismissal slip to show their teachers, and then should report to the main office at the designated dismissal time to check out in the front office. Students will be dismissed to meet their parent/guardian along side of the building that exits back to Manor Ave. If your student is absent, those notes can also be emailed to stemattendance@dasd.org

PSAT testing will take place for all students in grades 10 and 11 on Thursday, October 10, 2024. Please review the PSAT Letter emailed to all families earlier this month and contact our counseling office.

Traffic: Please review the student pick up and drop off procedures located under School Day on our Website. Please allow enough time for traveling to school in the morning.

Volunteers: We would like to welcome volunteers throughout the school year. Please take a moment to review the Volunteer Requirements. The Annual DASD Volunteer Disclosure Form should be completed and returned each school year. All volunteer clearances and forms can be emailed to Kstauffer@dasd.org.

40 STEM Academy members of the Class of 2025 were among 34,000 students recognized nationwide for the National Merit Commended program:

Ishaan Baheti, Anish Bandapelli, Xinnuo Cao, Aditya Chavan, Vikram Davey, Matthew DiAddezio, Rathan Epur, Olivia Francisco, Rahul Ganesh, Ella Ganz, Bhavya Guru, Tyler Hein, Siddharth Iyer, Navyash Jain, Grace Janczak, Aakansh Jaypuriar, Sheetal Joshy, Riya Kesari, Melanie Liu, Evangeline Lutz, Akshay Mandapati, Advaith, Nair, Ahswin Natarajan, Eleanor Pandya, Rayna Pherwani, Nived Philip, Avaneesh Potti, Cole Ranalli, Farisa Rubaiyat, Aanya Sanghvi, Hannah Schifter, Leo Shi, Ritika Shukla, Devvrat Singh, Ellie Tsai, Akshay Uppala, Neel Vadher, Alyssa Vanore, Alyssa Workosky, Connor Zou.

(Not pictured: Leo Shi and Connor Zou)

Please visit National Merit Corporation for more information.

Thank you to all of the 8th grade families that attended the Class of 2029 virtual presentation on Wednesday, September 25.

The Admissions Application for all 8th grade students is now open. Please review the information listed on our website under Applying to the Academy . You will also find the Class of 2029 Virtual Presentation recording from Wednesday, September 25, as well as the padlet with questions/answers from the evening.

The application will close on Sunday, October 20, 2024 at 9:00 pm.

Application Requirements and Criteria for Admission can be found here.

Additional questions should be directed to stinfo@dasd.org

The Downingtown Area School District is excited to invite all DASD residents to tour our newly renovated buildings and see how they have been transformed into modern learning spaces that reflect our community's committment to education. Explore firsthand how these improvements are enhancing the educational experience for our students.

• October 16 (6:00 - 7:30 pm): Downingtown High School East & Uwchlan Hills Elementary
• October 29 (6:00 - 7:30 pm) : Downingtown High School West & STEM Academy

Any member of the Senior Class is eligible to submit a design for an emblem to represent the Class of '25! Entries accepted until October 18th. See full contest rules, tips and spec at this link: Senior Mantle Contest Rules Good Luck!

STEM Academy Class of 2025 Diploma Name Verification : This form must be completed by the graduating senior, using the student DASD email address and should be completed no later than October 14.

Class of 2025 IB Fees Letter with Payment Schedule

2024-2025 IB Exam Schedule: Mark your calendars!

STEM Academy Class of 2025 Senior Class Parking Permit : As a reminder, this application must be completed by the student, using their DASD student email address. For future reference, all of this information can also be located on our website, under the Backpack.

Senior Early Dismissal/Late Arrival Form (Senior Privileges) 24-25: This form is for Early Dismissal/Late Arrival permission for Senior Class students.

Act 10 Military Letter: Please review this letter and return to Ms. Stephanie Rockowitz in the STEM Counseling office by October 10, 2024 if you wish to be excluded as noted in the letter.

All of this information for the Class of 2025 can be found on our website throughout the year: STEM Academy Class of 2025 Important Reminders.

Mr. Michael Sheehan, Dean of Currciulum and Instruction

Ms. Meghan Schell, Administrative Assistant

2024-2025 Program of Study

STEM Academy Class of 2025 IB Fees Letter: IB Fee Payment #3 is due on September 15th!

2024-2025 IB Testing Schedule: Mark your calendars!

Ms. Alyssa Sherlock, CAS/EE Supervisor

Senior CAS/Graduation Project Spotlight:

Emily Lloyd, Emma Loehrer, and Hannah Schifter will design a wooden laser-engraved plaque for the outside of the UH Elementary Library marking the name and room number, and the room number in braille. This will replace the misnamed room “learning commons” to the word “library”. In addition, they are graphically designing a more modern “days of the week” poster to be posted in the room. There will be a month of planning to initiate the project, working with the head librarian, Mrs. Mitchell, to decide on designs for the sign and mural, and then we will come up with the necessary materials.

Class of 2025 [Seniors]:

Students continue to upload photos and videos as evidence for the experiences; address all three strands (C, A, and S), and all seven learning outcomes; and know what to do to keep their ManageBac portfolios up to date. Examples are provided on Schoology. Students should also be paying attention to Schoology for information on CAS Interview #2.

Class of 2026 [Juniors]:

With a CAS Plan in place, students have started entering their Experiences into ManageBac. They will be formally introduced to the CAS Project requirement on October 11.

Class of 2025 [Seniors]:

Students are working with their EE Advisor to focus their RQ, review their outline and research, and refine their writing for a rough draft. Example essays for all subjects, along with the grading rubric, are available on Schoology.

Class of 2026 [Juniors]:

Juniors have started their CAS Portfolios in ManageBac, and will be formally introduced to the Extended Essay (EE) process on October 11.

Dr. Troy Podell

Downingtown STEM Academy Internships and Partnerships
Supervisor of Teaching & Learning

Ms. Kaitlin Brinker, Admin. Asst.

Register now for the GETT Expo on October 26th from 12-5 at the Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks!

REGISTER HERE

The GETT EXPO is an annual, one-day, free, in-person, interactive STEM experience for girls in grades 4 through 10.

Girls who attend GETT have the opportunity to explore STEM educational pathways and career opportunities via hands-on activities as they visit expo tables staffed by a diverse group of professional women in STEM from companies and organizations across Eastern PA and beyond.

These impressive mentors not only share their STEM career pathway with the girls, but also their personal challenges, lessons learned and inspirational messages gleaned along their

The schedule below outlines additional MEA Softskills trainings that will take place during the 2024-2025 school year. Thank you HSA for the funding provided for these events.

Ms. Katherine Cole, Dean of Academics & Student Life

Ms. Kaitlin Brinker, Admin. Asst.

Parent Volunteers helped coordinate with the 2nd Annual STEM Academy Hispanic Heritage Celebration during lunch and learn. Students enjoyed Latina dancing, trivia from the Spanish Club, and also were able to try different ethnic foods provided by Ms. Tina Ayala and Crystall Lucien of Taino Cuisine.

Thank you to everyone for making this such a nice event!

Any questions? Please contact Ms. Janette Romano or Ms. Megan Dunn, Yearbook Advisors

Contact Ms. Jocelyn Long for more information regarding the Summer of 2025 and the Summer of 2026 trips.

French students! Live your best French life! This is more than just a tour… it’s the STEM French Exchange.

Enrollment closes September 30, 2024

Contact Mme. Ann Bosch with any questions!

Ms. Stephanie Rockowitz, Counseling Secretary/Registrar

• To schedule an appt. to visit your school counselor, please complete the following form: Counseling Appointment Request Form
• Additional Resources from the STEM Counseling Department

Ms. Jennifer Stull, Prevention Specialist

Guide to Districtwide Mental Health Resources

College visits for the senior class during the school day, have been added to our STEM Academy website calendar and will be updated throughout the school year.

If you are in need of a work permit, please find the application located in the STEM Back Pack at the bottom of the page under Work Permits. Permits can be obtained in the counseling office. Please be sure to review and provide the necessary documentation listed on the website.

Additional Resources

College App Workshop presentation

Common Date Set Overview

US Dept. of Education College Scorecard

The Common App is now open! For those looking to get a jump start on their applications, below are some FAQs regarding school info that you will need to input.

So much more to come when we are back to school later this month!! Please contact Ms. Glowik or Ms. Hewitt with any questions.

October 14th 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM United Sports Center

*A special one-hour pre-event program designed for learners with disabilities and their families. Get answers about post-high school options and meet representatives from local colleges and trade schools offering specialized programs and support.

October 14th 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

In partnership with Reading Aero Club, the Reading Regional Airport Authority is hosting their annual Aviation Career Expo on October 19th, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will be a great opportunity for students who are already pursuing a career in aviation, as well as those who are simply exploring potential career paths.

Students will have the chance to meet industry professionals, learn about various roles within the aviation sector, and explore hands-on exhibits related to aviation technology, engineering, and operations.

Admission to the event is free, but we would like to encourage students to register for a chance to win free stuff! The link to our website is aviationcareerexpo.org and the link to register is here.

2024-2025 STEM Academy HSA Board

President: Kerri Roberts

Co-Vice Presidents: Mary Gasser and Heather Steiger

Secretary - Marcie Epstein

Treasurer - Kousalya Alapati

The next HSA meeting will be held on Monday, October 14, 2024 in the STEM Academy Knowledge Commons at 7:00 pm. Up and coming October events are listed below:

• October 1st, we’re kicking off the season with a cozy, fall-themed Pumpkin Spice Breakfast for our wonderful teachers and staff. If you’re interested in helping with teacher appreciation events, please reach out to Marcie Epstein or Mary Gasser—we’d love to have you join us!
• October 10: Our annual Senior Pancake Breakfast! For many of us, this is a bittersweet moment as we celebrate the seniors in their final year of high school. This is one of the last opportunities for senior parents to volunteer before our kids head off to college, so don your aprons and join us for a heartwarming, flipping-good time. Let’s make some memories! Sign up to volunteer. Contact Mary Gasser or Heather Steiger with any questions.
• October 23: It’s Fall Fest during lunch and learn! We’ll be handing out delicious fall treats to all grades, and it’s always a fast-paced, super fun event. Sign up to volunteer. Contact Kerri Roberts with any questions.

If you’re interested in volunteering for any of these events, please be sure your volunteer clearances have been submitted to Kelly Stauffer in the front office. She can be reached at kstauffer@dasd.org.

For more details on these events and everything else we have going on, head to our website: STEMHSA.org.

Lastly, SAVE THE DATE — November 14, 6pm-9p, is the Downingtown STEM Academy Powderpuff Game. Come out and cheer your students on as the girls challenge each other in football and the boys provide the entertainment! Show your school spirit by wearing STEM gear. Don’t have any? Head on over to our Spirit Wear Store and shop with plenty of time for your items to be delivered to your doorstep by November 14th.

Stay up to date on all HSA activities by following our Facebook and Instagram pages.

The DHS-MPA is made up of parents and guardians of students involved in any of the Downingtown High School music programs, including Marching Bands, Concert Band, Symphonic Band and ensembles, String Orchestra and ensembles, Vocal Choirs and ensembles, Indoor Drumline, and Color Guard. Our mission is to provide program support to maintain the existence and the integrity of the music programs at all of the Downingtown High Schools, including the Downingtown East Campus, the Downingtown West Campus and the STEM Academy.

The MPA is hosting a USBands Competition and it requires joint effort from all music program students and adults. Funds raised by hosting a USBands show impact all of the DHS Music Programs. So, come on out and join music students and parents for a fun day at Kottmeyer Stadium. Volunteering for a shift gives you free admission to the show and NHS credits!

We need a variety of volunteers including concessions, ticket sales, candygram sales, parking lot attendants, 50/50 and crowd control. Please visit our USBands Volunteer Signup to volunteer your time. It is GREATLY appreciated!

Wawa Shorti Coupons

Coupons are available for $5 each and never expire. A portion of each sale is donated to the MPA to impact EVERY DHS music program!

· Reach out to Tina Ayala or email DHSMPA.waysmeans@outlook.com to get your coupons today!

The MPA is seeking local business sponsorships to help support our efforts for the 2024-2025 season. As a thank you for sponsoring and supporting our music programs, we have put together a Sponsorship Benefit Program to promote your business and services to not only our band community, but to our entire school district!

Go to MPA SPONSORS to see what it's all about. Sponsoring is easy, simply go to BECOME A SPONSOR and check out all of the sponsorship benefits.

The concession stands need YOU! It does not matter if you are East, West, or STEM or band, choir, or orchestra because when you volunteer, your time benefits every music program. This is one of our two biggest fundraisers to support all high school music programs. Adults and students may volunteer, and students can receive honor society credit.

Signup to Volunteer HERE!

Get Your Clearances Now!

All Parent Chaperones are required to have clearances on file with DASD. Visit DASD Volunteer Info to get started!

Thank you for joining the MPA's Membership Toolkit (MTK) Site. We are continuing to make improvements to make this system work for everyone. Have a suggestion? Email dhs.mpa.mtk@gmail.com. Know a music parent that hasn't joined yet? Share our website - www.dhsmpa.org. They can find new user information under the About Us tab.

What is the MPA?

Donate to the Music Program

Follow us on Facebook

All students at STEM are encouraged to participate in athletic programs offered at their home schools.

An activity bus is available for students heading to East to participate daily, and is located in the bus loop at dismissal.

To find more information about what sports are offered at your students’ homeschool, please choose one of the following that links directly to the correct Athletics page:

Downingtown East High School Athletics

Downingtown East High School Athletics Schedule

AND

Downingtown West High School Athletics

Downingtown West High School Athletics Schedule

Please save the date for the following events:

• Tuesday October 8, 2024: Interest Meeting, run by the coaches, will be held in the West Library from 7:00-8:00. All current team members and interested team members and parents should plan to attend. Email dwestswimanddive@gmail.com with any questions.

Student Drop Off

Please be reminded that students are to be dropped off behind the school. No students should be dropped off on Manor Ave. We appreciate your cooperation. Safety is always our first priority.

Also for the safety of all students and staff crossing back and forth during lunch time, the entrance to the STEM Academy on Campbell Drive will be closed during all lunch times for the remainder of the school year. Please use the West entrance to access the campus during that time.

Traffic:

Parents are not permitted to park, drop-off, or pick-up students from the left side of the Academy or on Manor Avenue.

• All parent pick-up vehicles must enter from Manor Avenue on the right side of the building (Campbell Drive). Parents will be directed by the traffic guard to loop around the building in order to pickup students.
• Bus pick-up for students from the Downingtown East High School attendance area will be along the fence that faces Kottmeyer Stadium. Bus pick-up for students from the Downingtown West High School attendance area will be at Downingtown West High School and Downingtown Middle School. Students will then walk to the Academy.
• Please make sure students are prepared for inclement weather. Parents are not permitted to park, drop-off, or pick-up students from the left side of the Academy or on Manor Avenue.
• For the safety of our students, it is essential that all drivers adhere to traffic patterns and regulations

Please review the student pick up and drop off procedures located under School Day on our Website.

Bus Passes are for Emergency use only. All bus rosters are full and only in the event of an emergency will a student be allowed to ride a different bus home. The request for a bus pass should come to the main office and will need approval from Mr. Campbell.

The 24-25 Parking Permit application opened for the Senior Class on Monday, August 5, and for the Junior Class on Monday, August 12. Please be reminded that students should use their DASD student email address to apply, as the permit is issued to the student driving the car on campus. Information regading parking permits can be found on our website in the Backpack. Additional parking permits are available this school year as construction on campus is winding down.

• Online Registration: Please remember to complete the Online Registration for your child(ren). This will provide me with updated health information as well as give permission for over the counter medication this school year. Go to Infinite Campus Parent Portal to complete the process.
• Medication: Students are only permitted to carry emergency medication (Epinephrine, Asthma inhalers, and diabetes medication). Any medication to be administered during the school day, should follow our current medication policy (attach board policy) and complete the authorization for medication administration
• Please contact Ms. Jennifer Mikulich with any questions or concerns.

• 2024-2025 School Year

  The DASD 2024-2025 Calendar was board approved on Wednesday, January 10, 2024. Please note the change in school start times as shared on the district website and noted below:

  The schedule for the 2024-25 school year is as follows:

  
  

  • Elementary (Grades K-6): 9:00 a.m.-3:35 p.m.
  • Secondary (Grades 7-12): 8:00 a.m.-2:45 p.m.
  
  
• Infinite Campus: Student schedules, report cards, and access to updating the annual registration verification can be accessed here.
• Payschools: All Activity, Technology and Food services fees can be paid quickly and easily in this portal. (All parking permit fees should now be showing in student accounts.)
• Schoology: Many courses and classes are updated daily. This is a very important tool for communicating!
• Service Desk: Technology support can be accessed here. Please review the directions for the new platform for service desk request for the 24-25 school year.

The Downingtown STEM Academy is the third high school in the Downingtown Area School District. The STEM Academy opened in the fall of 2011 at 335 Manor Avenue, Downingtown, PA 19335.

The Academy is an IB World School offering every student the opportunity to earn an IB Diploma. The curriculum offers Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Pathways. Students are engaged in rigorous, challenging academic work that requires a mindset of growth and effort.

Email: stinfo@dasd.org
Website: https://st.dasd.org/
Location: 335 Manor Avenue, Downingtown, PA, USA
Phone: 610-269-2420