DCA Weekly Update
September 3, 2021
Kecia Nesmith
Kristie Burk
COORDINATOR FOR
ONLINE LEARNING
Note from Administration
This has been quite the start to a new school year. We have been saddened by the destruction that our community has had to face this week. If you are personally experiencing any problems related to this week's storm, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
If you completed a Personalized Learning Plan Agreement form for Option 2, you will receive an email with approval by Tuesday. Please be reminded that students must maintain "good academic standing" in order to continue an opt-out of synchronous Zoom lessons.
Our program is growing and we now have a waitlist for several elementary grades. A DCA Waitlist Form for K-5 has been created and can be located on our webpage. As space becomes available, families of students on the waitlist will be notified. We hope to be able to admit all who wish to attend.
Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday weekend. Also, Shanah Tovah to our friends who are celebrating Rosh Hashanah next week!
Fondly,
Kecia Nesmith, Principal
Kristie Burk, Coordinator for Online Learning
K-12 INFORMATION
Calendar Items
- 9/6 - No School - Labor Day
- 9/7-9/8 - Rosh Hashanah - Schools are in session
- 9/8 - DHSE Picture Day
- 9/9 - BTSN for 7-12 Video Shared with Families
- 9/10 - Coffee Talk with Admin - Grades 7-12 @ 12:00 PM and Grades K-6 @ 1:00 PM
- 9/15 - Two-Hour Early Dismissal K-12; Hispanic Heritage Month Begins 9/15-10/15
- 9/16 - No School - Yom Kippur
SCHOOLOGY TIP
Infinite Campus Toggling
Please note: If your child is a DCA Part-Time student, DCA courses will only show up under the 21-22 Downingtown Cyber 6-12 tab and courses in the home school will show up under that school's tab.
DCA Personalized Learning Plans
At the Downingtown Cyber Academy, we believe in a personalized approach to learning versus a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. Beginning in the 21-22 school year, we will offer personalized learning plans for students regarding synchronous learning (Zooms). Students in the DCA and their parents/guardians will have two plans from which to choose:
Plan 1 (default option): Zoom meetings are required, and students must attend. Attendance will be taken for each Zoom class by the teacher. Students MUST have their cameras on and be visibly present during the class.
Plan 2: Students and parents can sign an agreement with the DCA Administrative team that allows students to optionally attend Zooms as long as they maintain good standing in all of their classes. Students can still attend Zooms if they wish. Students and parents who are interested in this plan should complete the Downingtown Cyber Academy - Personalized Learning Plan Agreement -SY 2021-2022 FORM. (Must be completed separately for each student.)
All Zoom meetings will be recorded.
Note: Families should assume that their application has been APPROVED unless you hear from us!
Additionally, students will develop student agency by creating academic, social-emotional, and personal goals for the school year. This will enable students to take more ownership of their learning.
What do I do if there is a scheduling conflict with classes?
If this is the case, there are a few ways to address this problem:
1. Let your teachers know about this conflict so that they can try to work with other teachers to adjust the schedule time/letter day.
2. Fill out a Personalized Learning Plan Agreement for Option 2- Opt-Out of Zooms. You can watch the recordings of the class. You can also request Office Hours to review work.
We would rather adjust the schedule as feasible so that all have access to synchronous instruction. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to staff our growing program.
Free Breakfast and Lunch for DASD Students
DASD Food Service is excited to announce that breakfast and lunch meals will be FREE again for students during the 21-22 school year! Here’s an overview of what you need to know:
- Each student is eligible for a free breakfast and free lunch during each school day, due to a USDA waiver that allows this capability for the upcoming school year.
- If you are not present-in-person in a DASD school building during a meal period, you are still eligible for the free meals you missed! If you’re interested in receiving these, email us at the address below and we’ll coordinate on an individual basis.
- A lunch meal includes an entrée, a fruit and/or vegetable, and a milk.
- A breakfast meal includes an entrée, a fruit/juice, and a milk.
- We will be using our POS this year to track student meals, so we encourage students to remember their PIN to use when checking out in the lunchline when present in a school building for meal service.
Link to Website with More Information:
https://www.dasd.org/Page/1680
Questions Related to Food Service:
Elementary: K - 5
Elementary Information
Welcome to the DCA! Please see the information and/or select the links below to access information for the start of the school year. Questions can be emailed to cyberacademy@dasd.org.
- Materials will be distributed at the DASD District Office (Trestle) in mid-September. Stay tuned for more information.
- DCA Elementary Handbook-NOTE SECTIONS: Online Instructional Model, Personalized Learning Plans, Online Class Requirements & Attendance
- Back to School Night was held on August 25th. Email cyberacademy@dasd.org if you would like to view a recording.
Coffee Talk with Admin - Grades K-6
Friday, Sep 10, 2021, 01:00 PM
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RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Middle: 6 - 8
Middle School Information
Welcome to the DCA! Please see the information and/or select the links below to access information for the start of the school year. Questions can be emailed to cyberacademy@dasd.org.
- Schedules-Check Schoology, Emails from teachers, and Infinite Campus. Please note that the times in Infinite Campus for Cyber Classes are NOT the students' Zoom times. Teachers will post their Zoom times in Schoology.
- DCA Middle School Handbook-NOTE SECTIONS: Online Instructional Model, Personalized Learning Plans, Online Class Requirements & Attendance
- Back to School Night for Grades 7-8 was held on September 2nd. Email cyberacademy@dasd.org if you would like the recording.
- Back to School Night for Grade 6 was held on August 25th. Email cyberacademy@dasd.org if you would like the recording.
MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT ORIENTATION
If students missed the orientation, they should watch the recording before school starts on August 30th. The recording has also been sent to their student emails.
Access Passcode: DCA2022!
Back to School Night Grades 7-12 - Asynchronous
Since there are many holidays and events taking place in the next couple of weeks, we have decided to send families a recording of the Back to School Night Presentation for Grades 7-12. Additionally, teachers will post a course information video in their Schoology courses for parents/guardians/students to view. You will receive the video recording on September 9th. Information on how to access Schoology Parent Accounts can be found here.
We will provide a link to ask questions as well as invite you to a DCA Coffee Talk with Admin on Friday, September 10th at 12:00 pm. See more information about this event below.
DCA Coffee Talk with Admin for Grades 7-12
Friday, Sep 10, 2021, 12:00 PM
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RSVPs are enabled for this event.
High: 9-12
Picture Day for DHSE Students - 9/8/2021
The EAST Picture Day is scheduled for Wednesday, September 8th. All full-time DCA/East students can report to the Boyer Gymnasium (big gym) at 12:30 PM. Pictures will be finished prior to school ending. DCA students should enter through the Main Entrance at East.
High School Information
Welcome to the DCA! Please see the information and/or select the links below to access information for the start of the school year. Questions can be emailed to cyberacademy@dasd.org.
- Schedules-Check Schoology, Emails from teachers, and Infinite Campus. Please note that the times in Infinite Campus for Cyber Classes are NOT the students' Zoom times. Teachers will post their Zoom times in Schoology.
- DCA High School Handbook-NOTE SECTIONS: Online Instructional Model, Personalized Learning Plans, Online Class Requirements & Attendance
- Back to School Night was held on September 2nd. Email cyberacademy@dasd.org if you would like the recording.
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ORIENTATION
If students missed the orientation, they should watch the recording before school starts on August 30th. The recording has also been sent to their student emails.
Access Passcode: DCA2022!
Downingtown Cyber Academy
Email: cyberacademy@dasd.org
Website: www.dasd.org/cyber
Location: 540 Trestle Place, Downingtown, PA, USA
Phone: 610-269-8460
Facebook: facebook.com/dca
Twitter: @dasd_dca