DCA Back to School Update
August 27, 2021
Kecia Nesmith
Kristie Burk
COORDINATOR FOR
ONLINE LEARNING
Note from Administration
Welcome to the 2021-2022 school year! We are excited to welcome you to the Downingtown Cyber Academy (DCA) and are elated that you have chosen this program to engage in authentic and meaningful learning online! Our teachers are preparing their courses to ensure students have a dynamic and enjoyable learning experience.
The DCA Update will be sent out every week. It is divided into sections for K-12, Elementary, Middle, and High school levels. Feel free to scroll to your child(ren)'s section(s) for relevant information. ***Please be advised that you will receive this communication if your child is enrolled in the DCA full-time or part-time (enrolled in at least one online course).
The first day of classes is MONDAY, AUGUST 30th. Please check your Schoology Courses and Infinite Campus for any changes to your schedules.
We look forward to working together to ensure all students engage in rigorous learning and develop student agency. Looking forward to a fantastic school year!
Fondly,
Kecia Nesmith, Principal
Kristie Burk, Coordinator for Online Learning
K-12 INFORMATION
Calendar Items
- 8/30 - First Day of School for Students K-12
- 8/31 - DHSW Picture Day
- 9/2 - Grades 7-12 Back to School Night - 6:30-8:00 PM
- 9/6 - No School - Labor Day
- 9/8 - DHSE Picture Day
- 9/15 - Two-Hour Early Dismissal K-12
- 9/16 - No School - Yom Kippur
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:
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.
SCHOOLOGY TIP
Elementary: K - 5
Elementary K-5 Back to School Information-UPDATED
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.
- Devices should have been picked up from homeschools. If not, please contact your child's homeschool to arrange a time.
- Materials will be distributed at the DASD District Office (Trestle) in early September. Stay tuned for more information.
- DCA Suggested Supplies
DCA Elementary Schedules-The students’ first Synchronous (Zoom) meeting will be held on Monday, August 30th at 9:00 am. You can find the Zoom links in the student’s class in Schoology. The teachers will also individually email you the link for the first meeting by Sunday, August 29th. During this first meeting, teachers will introduce themselves and help the class get to know each other. They will also show the students how to navigate around the Schoology course. You may also want to join them for the first session! Zoom meetings are required. See Personalized Learning Plans in the DCA Elementary Handbook for other options.
DCA Elementary Handbook-NOTE SECTIONS: Online Instructional Model, Personalized Learning Plans, Online Class Requirements & Attendance
- Student Accounts- All DASD students should have received NEW USERNAMES to log onto DASD systems (such as Class Link, Infinite Campus, Schoology) from the Technology Department. If you have not received your child's new login information, please contact the Technology Department via phone at the Service Desk and they can assist if you are having difficulty logging in (610-269-8460 x81811).
- You should have received a welcome letter from your child's teacher. If not, you can check Infinite Campus or Schoology for your child's teacher's name and email.
- Information previously sent-DCA Summer Update for Families Letter 7.21.2021
- Back to School Night was held on August 25th. Email cyberacademy@dasd.org if you would like to view a recording.
Middle: 6 - 8
Grade 7/8 Math & Science Teacher
Middle School 6-8 Back to School Information (UPDATED)
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.
- Devices should have been picked up from home schools. If not, please contact your child's homeschool to arrange a time.
- If any materials are needed, your child's teacher will let you know when and where to pick them up. Most materials are in an online format for grades 6-12.
- DCA Suggested Supplies
- 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
- Student Accounts- All DASD students should have received NEW USERNAMES to log onto DASD systems (such as Class Link, Infinite Campus, Schoology) from the Technology Department. If you have not received your child's new login information, please contact the Technology Department via phone at the Service Desk and they can assist if you are having difficulty logging in (610-269-8460 x81811).
- Core subject teachers will send a welcome email/letter to students by August 24th. You can also log into Infinite Campus to find out who is your child's teacher.
- Information previously sent-DCA Summer Update for Families Letter 7.21.2021
- Back to School Night for Grades 7-8 will be on September 2nd. See information and Zoom Link below.
- Back to School Night for Grade 6 was held on August 25th. Email cyberacademy@dasd.org if you would like the link.
Back to School Night Grades 7-8 (Parents)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://dasd-org.zoom.us/j/92356481200
Meeting ID: 923 5648 1200
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,92356481200# US (New York)
Thursday, Sep 2, 2021, 06:30 PM
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RSVPs are enabled for this event.
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!
High: 9-12
Picture Day for DHSW Students- 8/31/2021
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.
Geometry Teacher
High School 9-12 Back to 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.
- Devices should have been picked up from homeschools. If not, please contact your child's homeschool to arrange a time.
- If any materials are needed, your child's teacher will let you know when and where to pick them up. Most materials are in an online format for grades 6-12.
- 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
- Student Accounts- All DASD students should have received NEW USERNAMES to log onto DASD systems (such as Class Link, Infinite Campus, Schoology) from the Technology Department. If you have not received your child's new login information, please contact the Technology Department via phone at the Service Desk and they can assist if you are having difficulty logging in (610-269-8460 x81811).
- Information previously sent-DCA Summer Update for Families Letter 7.21.2021
- Back to School Night Information is below.
Back to School Night Grades 9-12 (Parents)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://dasd-org.zoom.us/j/92356481200
Meeting ID: 923 5648 1200
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,92356481200# US (New York)
Thursday, Sep 2, 2021, 06:30 PM
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RSVPs are enabled for this event.
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