DHS Collegiate Academy Newsletter
January 7, 2024
Howdy Collegiate Academy Family
Happy New Year! I hope this message finds you refreshed and ready for an exciting start to the spring semester at the DHS Collegiate Academy. As we embark on this new chapter, there's much to look forward to, and I wanted to share some highlights with you.
For our phenomenal senior class of 2024, this spring is a pivotal time. It's an opportunity to focus, persevere, and ultimately celebrate as you work towards earning your associate degree. Your hard work and dedication have brought you to this point, and I have no doubt that you will finish strong and achieve remarkable success in your collegiate journey.
To our vibrant freshman class of 2027, welcome to your first college semester! This spring, you'll begin your college experience with EDUC 1300, setting the foundation for a transformative academic journey. Embrace the opportunities, challenges, and growth that college life offers, and remember that you have a supportive community cheering you on every step of the way.
As we dive into the spring semester, let's approach each day with enthusiasm, curiosity, and a commitment to excellence. Together, we'll continue to foster a community of learning, collaboration, and achievement at the DHS Collegiate Academy.
Wishing you all a fantastic start to the spring semester!
Week-at-a-Glance
- A Day
Tuesday, January 9
- B Day
- Math MAP Testing
Wednesday, January 10
- A Day
- Math MAP Testing
Thursday, January 11
- B Day
Friday, January 12
- A Day
- English MAP Testing
Texas Success Initiative Assessment 2.0
Texas Success Initiative (TSI)
TSIA 2.0 is a required exam that measures college readiness. For scholars enrolled in the Collegiate Academy, they are required to meet the TSIA 2.0 reading, writing and math standard prior to registering for college courses. The passing requirements are below.
- ELAR - 945+ passing requirement or make a 910-944 with a diagnostic score of at least 5 and an Essay score of 5+
- Math - 950+ passing requirement or make a 910-949 with a diagnostic score of at least 6.
Prior to taking the full TSIS 2.0 exam, your scholar will need to complete a pre-assessment activity. Scholars may access the pre assessment using this link - TSIA 2.0 Pre Assessment Link
Once the pre-assessment activity is complete, your scholar can register to take the exam using this link.- Register for TSIA 2.0 The next test dates are:
- January 17th
- January 27th
It is imperative for your scholar to meet the TSIA 2.0 passing requirement to continue taking college courses. If you are unsuccessful in passing the first administration of the TSIA 2 assessment you must complete 4 hours of TSIA 2 tutoring prior to being admitted to your 2nd assessment testing session.
Scholars may contact Mrs. Lee, DHS Collegiate Academy Academic Dean, for more information regarding the TSIA 2.0 requirement. bmcintoshlee@duncanvilleisd.org
Mountain View
For Collegiate Academy Juniors and Seniors who are enrolled in Duncanville High School classes, it is mandatory that they attend all in-person high school classes during the following weeks:
January 8-12, 2024
Transportation To and From Home:
Bus transportation will be provided for scholars who typically ride the bus to DHS from home. If your scholar doesn't typically use the bus service, a parent or guardian will need to arrange for their pickup.
Spring 2024:
Duncanville High School classes will resume on Monday, January 8, 2024. Students enrolled in DHS classes will return to DHS for in-person high school classes on that date.
Scholars who are not enrolled in Duncanville High School classes will return on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, for their Dallas College Mountain View courses.
Class of 2028 Collegiate Academy Application
The Collegiate Academy at DHS Class of 2028
The Collegiate Academy admissions application is open to students who are completing the 8th grade and will be promoted to the 9th grade for the 2024-2025 school year. Students interested in joining the Collegiate Academy must commit to completing the multi-disciplinary pathway offered by Duncanville High School and Dallas College. Enrollment is limited and incomplete applications will not be considered.
Application for Admissions Timeline
- Applications will be accepted online beginning November 13, 2023
through February 26, 2024. - Only complete applications will be reviewed and considered.
- Students and parents/guardians will be notified about the status of their application by March 8, 2024.
Attendance Matters
Attending school is crucial for a myriad of reasons. Not only is it a legal requirement but also a fundamental aspect of academic success. Consistent attendance ensures that students receive continuous instruction, engage in interactive learning experiences, and build a strong foundation of knowledge. Moreover, regular school attendance fosters a sense of routine and discipline, preparing students for future responsibilities. The Texas Education Code's 90% rule underscores the direct correlation between attendance and academic achievement, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a minimum attendance rate to support students' overall success in their educational journey.
Attendance Recovery:
A student shall not be given credit or a final grade for a class unless the student is in attendance 90 percent of the days the class is offered. This means that your child is in danger of failing one or more courses for the school year.
In order to receive credit or a final grade for a class, a student is required to attend class 90 percent of the days class is offered, regardless of whether the student's absences are excused or unexcused.
If a student does not attend in accordance with the law, they may not receive credit for their courses. Students will have the opportunity to regain credit by attending attendance recovery held on Thursdays from 3:15 pm to 6:15 pm and Saturdays 9:00 am to 12:00 pm in the DHS East Cafeteria. Students receive credit for 2 days for each attendance recovery session that they attend.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the 90% rule?
- Texas Education Code, Section 25.092: The 90% rule is a provision in the Texas Education Code (TEC) that applies to a student in any grade level from kindergarten through grade 12. TEC Section 25.092 provides that a student may not be given credit or a final grade for a class unless the student is in attendance 90% of the days the class is offered. All absences count, whether excused or unexcused, in determining whether the student has attended the requisite number of days to receive class credit or a final grade.
- The 90% rule is based on the number of days available to attend in a semester, per course. Duncanville HS is on a modified block schedule and the days will vary. While we understand situations happen, your goal should be to attend school daily, on-time, to every class.
- Regardless of academic performance, students have to attend class at least 90% of the time to earn course credit.
- You will receive a specific letter with detailed information about your days.
- Thursday school is from 3:15 pm - 6:15 pm and Saturday school is from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. Thursday and Saturday school is in the DHS East Cafeteria. You will enter the building at the “fishbowl,” or main entrance on the 10-12 grade side of the campus.
Clear Backpack Distribution
Just a reminder, beginning on Monday, January 8, 2024, clear backpacks will be required on all campuses for students in Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade. Panther safety is our number one priority and clear backpacks will allow us to see, stop, and protect. Staff will be able to quickly and easily SEE what is being brought into our schools. This will allow us to STOP any unsafe items at the door and will allow us to further PROTECT our students and staff. Clear backpacks are not intended to be a complete safety solution but they will add a valuable layer to our comprehensive safety plan. #SeeStopProtect
We have created a comprehensive website to provide you with further information about this new requirement at http://www.duncanvilleisd.org/clearbackpacks. #SafeDvilleSchools
Better FAFSA
Today, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) released new details on the redesigned and streamlined Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. The new FAFSA will make it easier than ever for students to get financial aid for college and help 610,000 more students from low-income backgrounds receive Pell Grants. In total, it will allow 1.5 million more students access to the maximum Pell Grant award, bringing the total number of students eligible for the maximum Pell Grant to over 5.2 million.
Students who complete the form will receive a confirmation and see their estimated student aid eligibility. The new FAFSA will allow students and families to use federal tax data transferred directly and securely from the Internal Revenue Service. Once the application is complete, students will receive a confirmation email including their estimated Student Aid Index and Pell Grant eligibility. Students and families will also be able to complete paper forms by downloading a PDF form and mailing it to the Department of Education.
Senior Events
- Saturday, May 18, 2024
- 7:00 pm
- Waxahachie Civic Center
DHS and DHS Collegiate Academy Graduation
- Friday, May 31, 2024
- 6:00 pm
- Globe Life Field Arlington
UTA Blaze Forward Program
This is a phenomenal opportunity for our seniors who want to attend the University of Texas at Arlington.
The Blaze Forward Program at University at Arlington provides students meeting all eligibility requirements with funding that will cover 100% of their tuition and course fees for the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters. The Blaze Forward Program may be renewed for up to 4 years (8 long semesters), or upon graduation if sooner than the 4-year renewal window. The deadline to be considered for the Blaze Forward Program for the 2024-25 aid year will be April 1, 2024.
Meet all the following eligibility criteria:
*Be a Texas resident
*Apply for FASFA
*Have a yearly family income of $85,000 or less
*Apply and enroll as a full-time student at UTA (minimum of 12 undergraduate hours each long semester) for the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters.
Submit Admissions Documents:
New freshmen students - all admission documents must be received by the UTA Office of Admissions by April 1, 2024.
New transfer students with an Associate’s degree from a Texas college - all admission documents must be received by the UTA Office of Admissions by April 1, 2024.
Dallas County Promise Important Dates
Dallas County Promise Partners
School Calendars
DHS Bell Schedule
Dallas College Mountain View Transportation Schedule
Mountain View College Check In and Out Procedures
Parents/guardians are kindly requested to notify the Collegiate MVC staff a minimum of 2 hours prior to any early pick-up arrangements. To facilitate this process, parents/guardians should send an email to the Collegiate MVC staff indicating the scholar's name, student's Duncanville ISD ID number, date, and time of the intended early pick-up or late arrival.
For cases of early pick-up, it is essential to attach a scanned copy of the parent/guardian's photo ID to the email.
Before departing the campus premises, the scholar is required to complete the check-out procedure at the designated MVC location (W 171) in the presence of the Collegiate MVC staff.
To ensure a smooth transition, a Collegiate MVC staff member will be assigned to accompany the student and oversee their departure for pick-up.
Counselor Corner
Collegiate Counseling with Ms. Dewberry
We encourage both parents and students to bookmark the calendar link for easy reference throughout the year. It's our aim to provide comprehensive support and guidance to ensure a successful collegiate experience.
If you have any questions or require additional information, please feel free to contact our Collegiate Counseling team at rdewberry@duncanvilleisd.org
Second Semester Schedule Changes
As we close out semester one of the 2023-2024 school year, Ms. Dewberry is beginning to work on semester two. Please take the time to log into your Skyward account and to view your semester two schedule.
In the rare event that a schedule change is needed, a schedule change request form must be submitted to the Counseling Department using the Schedule Change Request Form. This form will open on Monday, December 11 at 8am and will close on Friday, December 15 at 3pm. No request may be made through personal meetings, phone calls, or emails. Once the proper form is completed the student records will be reviewed and a decision will be made regarding the request. Please do not submit this form more than once. We will delete any duplicate requests. You are limited to one submission.
We will only honor schedule changes for the following:
- Schedule Error (BASED ON SPRING REQUEST UNLESS THE COURSE IS FULL)
- Failed course needed as prerequisite
- Physical Condition (DOCUMENTED)
- Athletic/Extracurricular (COACH/TEACHER APPROVAL REQUIRED)
- Course Needed for Graduation (SENIORS ONLY)
- Add Senior Late Arrival/Senior Out (SENIORS ONLY, IF SCHEDULE ALLOWS)
- Class taken and passed in Wintermester
READ THE ITEMS LISTED BELOW CAREFULLY
- All requests for a schedule change must have all required signatures and a detailed reason for the change should be included.
- The deadline for turning in a schedule change request form is Friday, December 15 at 3pm .
- No late request form will be accepted.
- Schedule changes are subject to class availability and are not guaranteed. Since some changes require the shifting of other classes, it may not be possible to grant the request due to conflicts and/or class size.
- Students will follow the schedule they have been given until notified by their counselor that a change has been made. Failure to follow this procedure will result in the student being counted absent in the scheduled classes.
Ms. Dewberry will do her best to place students into their choices; however, space is limited in each course. Once the form is submitted, the counselor will review your submission and decide if a schedule change is possible. Not all schedule change requests will be approved. After December 15 at 3pm we will not accept any further schedule change request. Once the schedule change has been approved and the student schedule has been updated, the student will receive an electronic copy of their new schedule. If your schedule change is denied you will also be notified by email as well. Please know that the decision your counselor makes is final. We will not accept emails, pop-up visits or phone calls to explain why your change request was denied.
Community Service
The Duncanville High School Collegiate Academy is committed to strengthening the relationship between the school and the community through student involvement and volunteerism. Involvement in community service allows our scholars to develop important skills such as citizenship, collaboration, public relations, and real-world experience. Scholars are encouraged to complete a minimum of 320 hours of community service over four years (80 hours per year), with at least 160 hours completed in the city of Duncanville. While volunteer hours are no longer a graduation requirement, scholars who complete 40 or more hours during their four years in high school receive a special cord to wear on their graduation robes..
All community service work is done on a voluntary basis, and the scholars cannot be paid for their work in any manner. No hours can be completed during the regular school day. Volunteer hours are completed ONLY for non-profit organizations, and the voluntary work must benefit the entire community. The opportunities for community service vary from scholar to scholar.
Duncanville High School Collegiate Academy’s partnership with parents and the community is an essential element of our success. To that end, parents are encouraged to complete 3 hours of community service, per semester, with Duncanville High School Collegiate Academy.
Record keeping for community service hours is done by a company called X2VOL. Each student creates an account in X2VOL.com and is responsible for inputting his/her work hours. This requires the date on which the work was done, the number of hours completed, a description of the work done, and the name of the person who can verify that the student actually did the work. In addition, a telephone number and email address must be provided for the person who can verify the work hours. The person who verified the work must work for the organization for which the work was done. On completion of community service work, scholars have 90 days during which they must put the information in X2VOL. The date for completing all community service work for Seniors for the 2023-2024 school year is May 1st.
The Duncanville High School Collegiate Academy partnership with the City of Duncanville provides community service opportunities specifically for Collegiate Academy scholars. Additional opportunities are available for all Duncanville High School and Duncanville High School Collegiate Academy scholars via the Community Service Corner.
Skyward Family Access, Dallas College eConnect and Brightspace
As we gear up for an enriching and successful year of learning, we want to emphasize the importance of partnership and communication between parents, scholars, and educators.
One of the key tools we use to facilitate this partnership is Skyward Family Access. We kindly request your cooperation in ensuring that you have access to this platform. Skyward Family Access provides a convenient and secure way for parents to monitor their scholar's academic progress, grades, and attendance. By staying connected through this platform, you can stay informed about your child's academic journey and actively support their success.
For Duncanville High School Collegiate Academy courses, you can utilize Skyward Family Access to check your scholar's grades, upcoming assignments, and any important announcements. This will enable you to have real-time insights into their academic performance, allowing you to celebrate their achievements and address any areas where additional support may be needed.
For Dallas College Mountain View courses, we encourage you to utilize eConnect and Brightspace. These platform will provide you with valuable information about your scholar's college coursework, deadlines, and progress. By staying engaged with eConnect and Brightspace, you can ensure that your child is on track with their college studies and support their seamless transition into higher education.
Please note that DHS Collegiate Academy staff do not have access to your scholar's eConnect and Brightspace accounts. College coursework grades will not be accessible in Skyward until the end of each semester.
By working together and staying connected through these platforms, we can create a powerful support system for our scholars. Your involvement and active participation will undoubtedly contribute to their academic growth and success.
Should you encounter any challenges or require assistance with accessing these platforms, our dedicated team is ready to help. Please don't hesitate to reach out to our school staff, who will be more than willing to guide you through the process.
Here are a few helpful tools for your reference:
Skyward Family Access Account Settings
How to Use Skyward Family Access
Checking Grades in Skyward Family Access Video
Scholar Guide to Accessing their Brightspace Courses Video
How do I login to Brightspace?
- From the Dallas College website, click Online Tools
- Click on Brightspace in the top right corner. You can also access D2L Brightspace directly at dallascollege.brightspace.com.
How do I check my grades in Brightspace?
- Click on the link for your course in Brightspace.
- Click on Grades in the blue navbar to see your current grades and feedback from faculty.
DHS Collegiate Academy
Duncanville High School Collegiate Academy
Email: tstaats@duncanvilleisd.org
Website: duncanvilleisd.org/dhscollegiate
Location: 900 West Camp Wisdom Road, Duncanville, TX, USA
Phone: (972) 708-3885
Facebook: facebook.com/dhscollegiate
Twitter: @dhscollegiate