Dover Area High School
August 2024 Back to School News
Welcome Back
As you may have noticed, Skyward Family Access is not open for viewing. As per the email sent out by the district, it will open on Monday, August 12th. In order for you and your student to see his/her schedule and teachers, you are asked to complete the “Review/Update 2024-2025 Information” link found in Skyward Family Access. You must verify or update information such as phone number, e-mail address, and emergency contacts. In addition, there are several forms that we are asking you to complete such as the annual medical information.
Furthermore, there are a couple of additional items to be mindful of:
- You must complete this for each student that attends the Dover Area School District.
- Do not attempt to complete the “Review/Update 2024-2025 Information” via the Skyward App. It will not work.
- Please complete the “Review/Update 2024-2025 Information” using a web browser on a computer. We have had some families state they had difficulty completing some of the forms on their mobile device.
- In years prior, some families stated that they were unable to complete a particular form. If you encounter this issue, please contact the high school directly. Traditionally, this is due to security settings where Family 1 is the only family able to complete the form. Family 1 is typically set either by custody or other legal paperwork.
- If you do not have a Skyward Family Access account, please contact us to have one set up for you.
We hope you enjoy this newsletter and find it helpful for your family. We look forward to seeing everyone soon!
Sincerely,
Dover Area High School Administration
Congratulations to our AP Scholars!
An AP Scholar with Honor Award is granted to any student who receives an average score of 3.25 or above on all AP exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.
An AP Scholar with Distinction Award is granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.
Allison Albin, Class of 2024
AP Scholar with Honor
Evan Lamison, Senior
AP Scholar with Honor
Clare Mailey, Class of 2024
AP Scholar with Honor
Alivia Murren, Junior
AP Scholar
Elizabeth Smith, Junior
AP Scholar
Megan Yiengst, Class of 2024
AP Scholar
Calendar
- August 19 - First Day of School for 9th/12th Graders Schedule
- August 20 - All students in session Schedule
- August 21 - Meet the Teams Night 6PM (Stadium)
- August 27 - Picture Day
- August 28 & 29 - Senior Pictures by Appointment
- August 26 - Back to School Night 6:00 PM
- August 30 - No School
- September 25 - Three Hour Early Dismissal
Skyward Access
First Day of School
- Seniors will follow a two hour delay schedule if they have their own transportation. Any senior who rides a bus will attend regular school hours and report to the cafeteria during homeroom.
- August 19th Schedule
Tuesday, August 20, 2022 - First Day 10th & 11th Grades
Schedule Changes
Starting on August 12th, students may use the following form to request a schedule change. Please know schedules are very tight this year, and there is not much room for the changing and switching of classes. Counselors will be working through students who do not have a full schedule (not including homeroom or MMA) before looking at any change requests. Most likely, if you already have a full schedule, there will be a very small chance it will be able to be changed.
All requests must be submitted through the form below.
The following are acceptable reasons for requesting a change:
- Have not completed pre-requisite for course
- Approved release time is not scheduled
- Physical limitations
- Already failed this course with this teacher
- Senior in need of credit to graduate
- Academically misplaced
- Increase the rigor of education program
Schedule changes will not be completed for the following reasons:
- Balancing course load
- Decrease in course rigor
- Friends in other sections/courses
- Teacher preference
- Change of Lunch
* Schedule change requests are not guaranteed; some sections/courses may not have available space.
* Schedule change requests that do not meet the aforementioned criteria will be denied.
* Schedule changes are only permitted through the first 6 days of the semester.
Cell Phone Policy
As we embark on a new school year, we wanted to inform you that we will be adhering closely to the cell phone policy outlined in our student handbook. This year, students will only be permitted to use their personal devices, including ear buds, during homeroom, MMA, lunch, and between classes. Cell phones will not be permitted to be used in classrooms unless explicitly communicated by the teacher. The expectation is for all phones to be off and away during class time.
The decision to enforce this policy strictly stems from our commitment to maintaining an optimal learning environment. Research has shown that cell phones can be significant distractions in the classroom. Here are a few reasons why:
- Loss of Focus: Notifications and the urge to check messages or social media can disrupt a student's focus on class activities.
- Reduced Academic Performance: Studies indicate that students who use cell phones during class tend to have lower grades and decreased retention of material.
- Increased Risk of Cheating: Easy access to the internet and communication tools can tempt students to engage in dishonest behaviors during assessments.
- Social Distraction: The presence of cell phones can encourage off-task social interactions, reducing engagement in collaborative learning activities.
Our goal is to provide an environment where students can thrive academically and socially without unnecessary distractions. By limiting cell phone use, we believe we can enhance students' focus, participation, and overall success in school.
We appreciate your support in reinforcing this policy with your children. Together, we can ensure that our students have the best possible conditions for learning and growth.
Failing Grade Reports
New this year, parents and guardians will receive an email every Monday if their student is failing one or more classes. The email will notify them of the failing grade and refer them to Skyward Family Access to check the grade and/or notify the teacher for more details. These reports will be sent to for any student who has a 64% or less in any graded class.
SmartPass Roll Out
This year, we will begin using the digital hall pass system SmartPass. SmartPass is a digital hall pass system that replaces traditional hall passes such as sign-out sheets, wooden blocks, passbooks, and lanyards.
It provides administrators an accounting of which students are outside of the classroom during the school day. In case of emergencies such as fires, severe weather, or building intruders, administrators have real-time access to this critical information. Overall, the pass history of a student will lead to more effective and informative parent-teacher conferences, as well as ensuring students are where they should be - in the classroom learning.
Students and staff can access SmartPass from their school-provided device on the SmartPass App or at www.smartpass.app/login.
For more information, please visit the SmartPass website www.smartpass.app.
Semester 1 Back to School Night
On August 26, 2024, we will be holding a Back to School Night for first semester classes. However, this will not be a traditional Back to School Night. The schedule for the evening will consist of three parts - Activity Fair, Mini-Informational Sessions, and Meet the Teachers.
Activity Fair (5:30-6:30)
The Activity Fair will be held in the cafeteria. Each department will have an informational table set up to discuss with parents the various course offerings, appropriate levels, and required courses for graduation. There will also be informational tables for our student organizations (FFA, DECA, and Skills USA) to help make parents aware of different ways students can be involved outside of school. This is a drop in time. It is not a formal presentation with an official start and end time. Light refreshments will be provided by our Class Act Beverages and Eagle Eatery.
Mini-Informational Sessions (see schedule below for times)
Sessions are being offered for parents on the following topics: Skyward, Schoology, Parent Square and Act 158/Graduation Requirements. Parents may attend the sessions that are most suited for their needs and guiding their student through high school.
Meet the Teacher (7:20-8:15)
Parents will travel through their student's schedule to briefly meet the teacher and be provided an overview of the course.
ACT 158
For students graduating in 2023 and beyond, the following options exist to meet the statewide graduation requirements:
- Keystone Proficiency Pathway
- Keystone Composite Pathway
- CTE Pathway
- Alternate Assessment Pathway
- Evidence Based Pathway
The high school administration and counselors will be working with all students to meet one of the pathways to graduation, but we will be concentrating on the members of the Class of 2024 who have not yet met a pathway. Please review the following graphic for more information about how to meet the five different pathways.
Junior Achievement REAL Life
We need your help! On Tuesday, October 8, 2024, Junior Achievement of South Central PA will be at Dover Area High School with their REAL Life Program. All students in 11th grade will be participating in the day-long program. It consists of a series of activities all intended to help students gain an appreciation for the importance of owning their own economic success.
Half of the day is spent in our Budget Builder activity. The other half has students gaining an understanding about going out into the real world after high school. The REAL Life day is intended to help students gain an appreciation of the importance that financial decisions will play in their lives as young adults. The program will inspire students to appreciate the key issues surrounding personal finance and the importance of getting good advice as they make decisions.
For this day to be a success, we will need volunteers to facilitate ONE of the REAL Life activities for the day as students rotate through your station. If we do not have these volunteer spots filled, we are in danger of not being able to run this meaningful event. Please also share this opportunity with friends, neighbors and colleagues who may be interested in helping the students of our school. I have attached a flyer with all of the information for the day and a direct link for you to sign-up.
You do not have to be an approved school volunteer to help with this day. Junior Achievement will provide online training as well as on-site support to all volunteers.
Please consider volunteering and join us as we spend the day empowering and inspiring our students. This opportunity is only possible with the support of wonderful volunteers like you.
To sign up to volunteer, please contact Shannon Baker with JA’s Volunteer Engagement Team at sbaker@jascpa.org or stem@jascpa.org.
CTE News
Welcome back, all CTE Students.
Get involved with CTE - Any student can be engaged with Dover’s three different Career & Technical Student Organizations - FFA, SkillsUSA, and DECA.
In June, our students at SkillsUSA, Ethan Deardorf and Alex Roman, showcased their talent and dedication by securing 3rd place nationally in Web Design & Development. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to both Ethan and Alex for this remarkable achievement.
Bryler Poteet will represent Dover as SkillsUSA State Officer. Congratulations to Bryler for being elected as State Officer.
NOCTI Pre-Exams are Scheduled for September 26, 2024, at 8 am in the LGI. Remember, the NOCTI Exam is not a Pass/Fail exam. It is an Exam for the student to show their knowledge in their specific Technical Program.
Please Visit our Dover CTE WEB Page for more information about each program.
https://www.doversd.org/schools/dover-career-and-technical-education-cte/
You can follow Dover CTE on Facebook and Instagram.
Ethan Deardorff
Class of 2024
Bryler Poteet
Senior
Alex Roman
Class of 2024
Free and Reduced Meal Applications
Other Informational Items & Reminders
Attendance Procedures
Highlights:
- Key times of day for attendance (High):
Tardy- arrival after 7:45, the start of homeroom
½ Day Absence- any absence that is 3 periods of the school day
Full Day Absence - any absence of 4 or more periods of the school day
- Emails and/or phone calls to release students for an appointment will not be accepted, as we can not verify the validity of the source. In addition, we need the parent/guardian signature to release a student without a parent present.
- Every student is limited to 10 absences per year. This includes Excused, Unexcused, and SERF days. After 10 absences, a student will be required to submit doctor's excuses for any absence to be approved. If an absence occurs while on doctor's notes and a doctor's note is not received, the day will be marked as unexcused.
- A student who becomes ill during the school day must report to the nurse to be dismissed. A written parent excuse will not be accepted. The dismissal will be unexcused unless the parent provides a medical excuse.
- Requests for release time for dental and medical appointments shall be honored when impossible to arrange them on non-school time. A written request from the student’s parents or guardians is necessary. The request should be turned into the Attendance Office at least one day in advance of the dismissal. The early dismissal will be considered unexcused unless the student submits a doctor’s note from the appointment.
- In order for a tardy to be considered excused, a written explanation signed by the parent or guardian must be presented upon arrival. A tardy may be classified as excused for reasons supported by the state attendance law which provides that personal illness, health care therapy by licensed physician, quarantine, family emergency, recovery from accident, required court attendance, death in the family, and impassable roads constitute legitimate reasons for absence to be excused.
- Students who fail to provide an excuse card within three school days of the absence will have the absence recorded as unlawful/unexcused. Electronic excuse cards may also be submitted by parents on the DAHS website under “Attendance” within three school days.
All completed Student Excusal Request Forms (SERF) must be submitted to the front office, not less than five (5) school days prior to attendance at the event. The student is responsible for making up work missed in the manner of any other excused absence. The building principal retains the authority for final approval for each and all requests. SERF forms are available in the main office and on the district website. A student may only use five (5) days for a SERF and this is part of the ten (10) total allowable excused days. SERF Form Link
College Visits approval form must be submitted to the front office, not less than five (5) school days prior to attendance at the event. College visit forms are available in the guidance office and must have guidance counselor approval. College Visit form Link
Behavioral Health Screenings
The physical and mental health of young people plays a key role in their ability to succeed in school. Dover Area School District is committed to working with you, not only in the academic education of your child, but also to ensure that students reach their full potential outside of the classroom. The past year has unveiled significant changes in our student’s mental health, and we are committed to the health of the whole child.
It is in this spirit that we provide the universal screening of Behavioral Health for all 9th grade students. These universal screenings dates will be held 9/30-10/4 at the High School. For more information, please read the Behavioral Health Screenings informational letter for parents.
Class Fees
Dress Code
Guidelines:
- Basic Principles: All students are expected to be neatly dressed and well groomed. Certain body parts must be covered for all students at all times.
- Clothes must be worn in such a way that abdomen, genitals, buttocks and breasts are fully covered at all times with opaque fabric.
All items listed in the “must wear” and “may wear” categories below must meet these basic principles.
Students Must Wear, while following the basic principles of Section 1 above:
A shirt (with fabric that touches the waistband in the front, back, and on the sides under the arms), AND
Pants/jeans or the equivalent (Ex. skirt, sweatpants, leggings, dress, shorts), AND
Shoes
Religious headwear
Ripped shorts/jeans, as long as underwear, buttocks, and genitals are not exposed
Tanks tops
Students Cannot Wear:
Hats, hoods or any item that obscures the face or a person’s identity
Violent language or images
Images or language depicting drugs or alcohol (or any illegal item or activity)
Hate speech, profanity or pornography (including logos or images)
Images or language that creates a hostile or intimidating environment based on any protected class or consistently marginalized groups
Any clothing that reveals visible undergarments (waistbands and straps excluded)
Halter and strapless tops
Swimsuits (except as required in field trips or athletic practice, or other approved event)
Sunglasses (unless required by a physician)
Accessories that could be considered dangerous or could be used as a weapon or violate this section
iPad Distribution and 1:1 Device Protection Option
The Dover Area School District has invested in a 1:1 program to prepare students for success in the workplace. Students are allowed to take their assigned devices home; however, they remain the property of the Dover Area School District (DASD) and are configured to maximize students' learning. Students must take care and responsibility for these devices. To ensure that the district is able to repair these devices, an optional device coverage fee is available to all students receiving a 1:1 device. This plan will cover the student for two incidents of accidental damage per school year: only on the device itself. Cases and other hardware are not covered and prices are listed in the table below. Students who do not purchase the device coverage will be responsible for the full cost of repair or replacement of the device in the event of intentional damage or loss.
If you are interested in purchasing the coverage, please log into your Skyward Family Access account, click Fee Management on the left side of the screen, then click on the words “Make a Payment.” This should open a separate window for you. Please note, this option may not be available via the Skyward app. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact your student’s building.
Late Work Policies by Department
Parking Permits
School Dances (Homecoming/Prom)
In order to participate in a school-sponsored dance, a student must be in school the entire school day on the day of the dance. For a dance that is scheduled to take place on a non-school day, a student must attend the entire school day immediately preceding the event. The exception is a doctor’s note, a SERF form, or school approved shadowing.
QUALIFICATIONS
In order to be eligible to attend a school-sponsored dance, students must:
Be Conduct eligible
No Tier 3 disciplinary infractions in the prior three months
Not have an excessive referral count -
Semester 1 - 5 or more referrals for the school year
Semester 2 - 10 or more referrals for the school year
Be Attendance eligible
Absent for no more than 10% of school days to date, including excused and unexcused absences.
Students who believe that an exceptional circumstance exists may request a waiver of these qualifications. The request must be submitted in writing to the school principal prior to the conclusion of ticket sales.
Student Arrival/Dismissal Procedures
Please refer to the High School Drop Off Procedures for a map of the entrances and more information. As a reminder, the loop around the student parking lot is ONE WAY during student arrival and dismissal times. This is for the safety of all of our families.
Student Handbook
Please be sure to read and review the Student Handbook and Code of Conduct. Students are expected to know the information in the document and be able to use it as a reference.
Transportation
2025 Yearbook Information
Don't miss out on the best price for your student's yearbook! Books are $65, which is the best price available all year. Through 9/13, you can personalize your student's book with their name and up to four activity icons for only $10 more. Books can be ordered directly from Josten's site at this link. They do have payment plans to help make the cost more manageable.
2025 Senior Picture Information
There is one last session scheduled for Senior pictures on August 28th, 29th, and 30th. Photo sessions are free and are the only way to get your Senior photo into the yearbook. Please use this link or call 1-800-220-7667 to schedule your Senior's photo.
Celebrate Your 2025 Graduate with a Baby Photo Ad!
Don't miss this chance to celebrate your senior "baby" in the yearbook! Custom ads are available in several sizes at this link. Don't delay! Reserve your space now!
Stay up to date with yearbook information all year at the Dover Yearbook site.
Mission and Vision
Our Mission
Educate, Empower, and Inspire all students to become contributing citizens in an ever-changing world.
Our Vision
DASD students will achieve success by engaging in rigorous and relevant instruction, exploring a broad range of opportunities and discovering unique pathways to a productive future through the supportive collaboration of the entire school community.