Downingtown Cyber Academy Update

First, we're thrilled to announce that our very own DCA teacher, Ms. Handley, is a recipient of this year's prestigious Citadel Heart of Learning Award! This award is presented to teachers across the Greater Philadelphia area in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Lancaster and Philadelphia counties and honors those who consistently go the extra mile and positively shape the future of our students. Congratulations to Ms. Handley on the well-deserved recognition!

National and state testing will begin for our students starting next week. Our middle and elementary students will be taking the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) in English Language Arts, Math and Science starting next week. Our high school and some middle school students will be taking the Pennsylvania Keystone Exams in Algebra I, English Language Arts, and Biology. And finally, our high school students in Advanced Placement (AP) courses will be taking their AP exams in May.

All testing will occur in the students' home buildings. It is extremely important that parents continue to read the newsletters from their child's home school for testing and graduation information.

Please see the calendar below for specific dates and times for the upcoming exams. Also, remind your students that they must still log their DCA attendance in Infinite Campus between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m. on exam days if they have a scheduled DCA course.

As we approach the upcoming state exams, we want to assure you that we are dedicated to supporting your child through this process. Our teachers have been working hard to prepare the students, and we encourage you to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Let’s work together to ensure your child feels confident and ready!

Sincerely,

Dr. Kecia Nesmith, Principal & Supervisor of Teaching and Learning

Dr. Kristie Burk, Coordinator of Digital Learning

• 4/23 - PSSA ELA Test for 6th-8th grades

• 4/24 - PSSA ELA Test for 6th-8th grades

• 4/25 - PSSA ELA Test for 6th-8th grades

• 4/29 - PSSA Math Test for 6th-8th grades

• 4/30 - PSSA MathTest for 6th-8th grades

• 5/1 - PSSA Science Test for 8th grade

• 5/2 - PSSA Science Test for 8th grade

• 5/6 - AP Gov Test

• 5/9 - AP Environmental Science and AP Psychology Tests

• 5/10 - AP US History Test

• 5/13 - East, West, STEM: English Language Arts Keystone Test for 10th graders and Algebra I Keystone Test

• 5/14 - STEM: English Language Arts Keystone Test for 10th graders and Algebra I Keystone Test/ East, West: Biology Keystone

• 5/15 - STEM: Biology Keystone

• 5/16 - East, West: AP Spanish Test, English Language Arts test for 10th graders, and Algebra I Keystone Test/ STEM: Biology Keystone

• 5/17 - East, West: Biology Keystone

• 5/24 - Last day for 12th grade DCA students (Week 36 work due by 3 pm)

• 5/27 - No school for Memorial Day

• 5/28 - DCA 12th graders return devices to STEM and DEHS

• 5/29 - DCA 12th graders return devices to DWHS

• 6/4 - STEM graduation/Last day of school for DCA Kindergarten-5th graders

• 6/5 - DHSE graduation

• 6/6 - DHSW graduation/Last day of school for 6th-11th graders/DCA 4th and 8th graders return devices to home buildings

Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) testing for grades 3-8 will be held the week of April 22nd - May 3rd.

Marsh Creek

Students should arrive at MC by 9:00 am each testing day.

• English Language Arts PSSA (4/23 - 4/25)
• Math PSSA (4/29 - 4/30)

Downingtown and Lionville Middle Schools

Students should plan to arrive by 7:40 am each testing day.

• English Language Arts PSSA (4/23-4/25)
• Math PSSA (4/29-4/30)
• Science PSSA (5/1-5/2) - 8th Graders Only

If you have any questions, please reach out to the main office of your child's home middle school.

Students taking the following DCA AP classes will be taking the AP exams at their home buildings on the following dates:

• May 6 - AP Gov Test
• May 9 - AP Environmental & AP Psychology Tests
• May 10 - APUSH Test
• May 16 - AP Spanish Test
  
  

Questions? Please reach out to the AP teacher!

Keystone testing for students in Algebra I, 10th Grade English, and Biology will be held the week of May 13th-May 24th. All Downingtown Cyber Academy students are required to come to their home school for in-person state testing. Please see below for specific Keystone information by school:

ELA (All current 10th graders)

Downingtown East - Monday 5/13 and Thursday, 5/16: 7:40-10:40

Downingtown West - Monday 5/13 and Thursday, 5/16: 7:40-10:40

Downingtown STEM - Monday 5/13 and Tuesday 5/14: 7:40-10:40

Algebra (All current Algebra I students)

Downingtown East - Monday, 5/13 and Thursday, 5/16: 9:50-11:30

Downingtown West -Monday, 5/13 and Thursday, 5/16: 9:50-11:30

Downingtown STEM - Monday 5/13 and Tuesday 5/14: 7:40-10:40

Biology (All current Biology students)

Downingtown East - Tuesday, 5/14 and Thursday, 6/17: 7:40-9:20

Downingtown West -Tuesday, 5/14 and Thursday, 6/17: 7:40-9:20

Downingtown STEM - Wednesday, 5/15 and Thursday May 16: 7:40-10:40

Questions? Please call the main office of the student's home building or ask the DCA 10th Grade English, Biology, or Algebra teacher.

The school year for all 12th graders ends on Friday, May 24th. All marking period 4 work is due by 3 pm on this day. There are no 4th marking period extensions granted to seniors who are planning to participate in the graduation ceremony for East, West or STEM; we need enough time to have students' work assessed and final grades sent to the high schools for diplomas.

Summer school registration will be open until May 2nd for original credit courses and June 14th for recovery credit courses. Please visit the website for more specific details!

Students must send their own headshots - Parents may NOT do so on behalf of their students.

Any background is fine as long as it is school appropriate.

High School students send to: edeitcher01@student.dasd.org

Middle School students send to: rhudler01@student.dasd.org

Join us for an insightful virtual presentation on addressing student anxiety and unmet needs with Brendan Mahan, M.Ed., M.S.!

1. Date: Tuesday, April 30th
2. Time: 3:45 PM
3. Location: Online via Zoom

Register Here

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!

To access grades, login to Infinite Campus and they are located in the "Backpack"

If your child is in K-5, receives instruction from the Brandywine Virtual Academy (BVA) and wishes to return to their home school building, please follow the procedures outlined below:

1) Send and email to cyberacademy@dasd.org and complete the K-5 DCA/BVA Withdrawal Form 2023-2024.

2) An admin from the DCA will reach out to your child's home school building principal and the BVA admin to make a determination.

3) Once it has been determined that your child can return to the home school building, the building admin will reach out to you regarding information for the start date, the bus, classroom teacher, etc.

*All admin from the DCA, BVA, and Home School building should be included on correspondence.

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

Backpack Resources

K-5 Brandywine Virtual Academy website - https://www.cciu.org/bva

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