STEM Head of School Update
January 27, 2023, Issue 22
From the Office of Art Campbell, Head of School
Mr. Art Campbell, Head of School
Ms. Kelly Stauffer, Admin. Asst. to the Head of School
The beginning of the 3rd marking period began yesterday, January 26, 2023. Please continue to encourage your students to keep utilizing the extra time available to meet with teachers during Lunch & Learn.
Course Selection Reminder for Current 9th and 10th Grade Students
All course selections for next year will be completed online through the Student Portal using the student login. Attached to this letter are step-by-step directions for students to make selections on their Academic Planner in Infinite Campus and how to submit individual course selection sheets. All students currently in grades 9 and 10 must complete their selections for the 2023-2024 school year between January 23, 2023 and January 29, 2023. After this time, any requests to change selections must be made through the STEM counseling office. Changes cannot be guaranteed and are based on course availability. If students are unable to login to the Student Portal please submit a ticket through Assistme.dasd.org.
February 1st – Virtual Class of 2027 Welcome Night beginning at 6:00 pm.
Community Event
- The CCIU will be providing a "Mental Health & Social Emotional Learning" opportunity for parents in the community on Monday, January 30, 2023. The training will include information on supporting students with mental health needs as well as tips to incorporate social-emotional learning into everyday practices. Registration is required. Please see the flyer below for additional details.
STEM Rooted Club
Ted Talk at the STEM Academy
STEM Counseling Department
STEM Academy Counselors:
All counselors see students in grades 9-12.
Ms. Mary Wallin: Last names A-C
Mr. David Stratton: Last names D-Kl
Ms. Kellie McGavin-Wiedlich : Last names Ko- Ra
**Ms. Stacey Hewitt will be joining the STEM Counseling Office as on January 26:(Last names Ko-Ra)
Ms. Leanne Glowik : Last names Re - Z
Ms. Stephanie Rockowitz, Counseling Secretary/Registrar
Ms. Jennifer Stull, Prevention Specialist
Guide to Districtwide Mental Health Resources
Free College Financing Webinar for Parents & Students
College-bound high schoolers and their parents are invited to join the staff at Study Point for “College Financing 101” on Wednesday, February 8th at 8:00pm ET / 5:00pm PT. This virtual discussion panel will bring together experts to help families navigate their financial aid options, maximize their merit aid awards, and make savvy decisions to lower their tuition bills. To learn more and register for the webinar, click here. A recording of the webinar will be sent to all registrants, so families who cannot attend live should still sign up. Students who are looking to get a head start on preparing for the SAT or ACT should also check out our free virtual SAT and ACT practice tests. Click here to view our practice test dates and register.
- Fantastic Leadership Summer Program Opportunity for Sophomores The HOBY State Leadership Seminar will be held June 2023. The STEM Academy will sponsor one sophomore student to attend the HOBY Leadership Conference and represent our school community. The leadership conference will be held at Neumann University from June 9th -11th.
-
HOBY State Leadership Seminars are for Sophomores Students who want to: *Recognize their leadership talents and skills* Become effective, ethical leaders in their home, school, workplace and community *Participate in hands-on leadership activities, *Meet leaders in their state, and explore their own personal leadership skills to make a positive impact in their community*
Students, our very own Mr. P is a HOBY Alumni and current Junior Max Glazer attended HOBY last summer! Reach out to Mr. P or send Max a Schoology message (or both) to learn about their HOBY experience and to get your questions answered! Students can set up an appointment with their counselor to learn more!
Deadline to complete the Google form and submit your interest and short answer essay is February 17th! Visit HOBY for more information about upcoming programs/seminars.
- STEM Academy 11th Grade College Night – After a after a three year hiatus, we are bringing back our very own college night on Wed, Feb. 15th at 6pm! This is an important event for 11th grade students and parents to learn about the college search and application process from your STEM School Counseling Department. We will discuss important topics such as timelines, application types, admissions policies, standardized testing, school “fit”, and much more! Our event starts at 6:00pm with a presentation from your Counseling Department Team. At 7:00pm, we will be hosting a panel discussion with admission counselors from several colleges. This panel will represent several different types of colleges – large, small, state and state-related, public, private, and research-based – including Penn State, Drexel, Villanova, West Chester, Quinnipiac, University of South Carolina and UC Riverside. We look forward to seeing our 11th grade families on Feb. 15th.
Additional IB Updates
Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) Updates
Senior CAS/Graduation Project Spotlight:
Vaughn Whitmire is writing a novel to build upon his interests and expand his creative writing skills. In the end, he hopes to have it published and available for sale.
Class of 2023 [Seniors]:
Students should continue to keep their CAS Portfolios up to date with reflections and evidence, being sure to address all 3 strands and seven learning outcomes, in addition to the CAS Project. Students may email Mrs. Sherlock to schedule their final CAS meeting.
IB Course Candidate students may send Mrs. Sherlock their finished Graduation Project presentations any time.
Class of 2024 [Juniors]:
Students may submit CAS Project Proposals to Mrs. Sherlock once they have a group and an idea established. Otherwise, they can continue to add CAS experiences in ManageBac.
Extended Essay (EE)
Class of 2023 [Seniors]:
Students are working on completing and polishing their Extended Essays. All information about correct formatting is available on Schoology.
RPPF #3 and Viva Voce Interview #3 Due by January 31st.
Final Extended Essays are due to BOTH ManageBac and Turnitin by February 1, 2023. The document that is uploaded to Turnitin is what will be sent to the IB for assessment.
Class of 2024 [Juniors]:
Students have until January 30th to confirm an EE Subject in ManageBac, and complete the “Narrowing Down and EE Topic” module on Schoology. Examples and guides are available on Schoology to assist.
Student Life
Ms. Katherine Cole,Dean of Academics & Student Life
Ms. Cory Butler, Admin. Asst
Reminder for those with Senior Privileges
- You MUST sign in at the main office when you arrive to school, and out prior to leaving for the day.
- You should enter through the main office.
- You must have completed the Early Dismissal/Late Arrival Permission form for Seniors
- Once approved, you will receive a message to see Ms. Sokso in the main office.
Black History Month is coming!
Spanish Honor Society at STEM put together a wall of famous Afro-Latinos in preparation for Black History month. More exhibists are being developed by other student run clubs/organizations at STEM for February. A sampling of the Spanish Honor Society display is shown below.
Student Life: Conversation Cafe
Save the date: Friday, March 3: Student Entrepeneur Expo at DHSE
DASD Athletics
All students at STEM are encouraged to participate in athletic programs offered at their home schools.
An activity bus is available for students heading to East to participate daily, and is located in the bus loop at dismissal.
To find more information about what sports are offered at your students’ homeschool, please choose one of the following that links directly to the correct Athletics page:
Downingtown East High School Athletics
Downingtown East High School Athletics Schedule
AND
STEM Academy HSA presents, the 12th Annual "Fore the Kids" Golf Outing - Registration is now open!
The 12th Annual Downingtown STEM Academy HSA
“FORE the KIDS” Golf Outing will be held Monday, April 24, 2023 at Whitford Country Club, Downingtown, PA.
Registration is now open for the 12th Annual STEM Academy “Fore the Kids” Golf Outing on Monday April 24, 2023 at the Whitford Country Club in Downingtown. We are looking for sponsors and golfers. Take advantage of our “Early Birdie” special (until 2/28) — register for a Hole Sponsorship and get one free golfer. Visit the STEM Golf Outing registration page to sign up to sponsor and/or golf. Questions? Email stemgolfouting@gmail.com.
The “FORE the KIDS” fund provides business-critical soft skills training for all STEM Academy students, delivered by the Mid-Atlantic Employers Association (MEA), scholarship funding for students in financial need to cover fees associated with the International Baccalaureate diploma and HSA Book Scholarships awarded at the Senior Awards Ceremony.
Please email Kathy Cattell for more information about sponsorship for the 2023 Golf Outing.
Home and School Association
2022-2023
STEM HSA Board
- Mark your calendars: The next HSA meeting will be held on Monday, February 13th via Zoom.
Upcoming HSA Post-Prom Fundraiser: Trivia Night @ Estrella
Home & School Faculty Appreciation Lunch: STEM Faculty SOUPer Bowl
The next Faculty Appreciation event will be taking place on Friday, February 10. Help us thank our amazing STEM Faculty by donating to a "SOUPer" Bowl Lunch! Please drop off your donations from 8:00-9:00 am at the side bus entrance. Please have all soups in crock pots, preferably with a liner, heated up and ready to be served. If you don't have time to make something, but would like to participate, please consider a monetary donation that will be put towards soup, paper products, and other misc. food items we will need to make this event happen.
For more details, and to sign up:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0849aeab2aa6f58-stem6#/
Any additional questions please contact Elena Spanfellner (484-643-6325) or email marygasser@gmail.com
Ongoing Fundraiser
A great way you can contribute to all our activities is to Shop Amazon Smile and have *free* money donated to the STEM Academy with every qualified purchase! Every little bit adds up! Amazon donates a percentage of sales back to the school if you place your order from the 'smile' page. The page looks and acts exactly the same and there is NO COST! Just free money donated to the school!
Use this link to auto-select STEM Academy Home & School as your supported organization.
https://smile.amazon.com/ch/45-2446765
If you use the Amazon App on your phone, you can turn on Amazon Smile in Settings and select ‘Stem Academy Home & School Association’ or your school. Thank you for your support!
From the Nurse
- Online Registration: Please remember to complete the Online Registration for your child(ren). This will provide me with updated health information as well as give permission for over the counter medication this school year. Go to Infinite Campus Parent Portal to complete the process.
- Medication: Students are only permitted to carry emergency medication (Epinephrine, Asthma inhalers, and diabetes medication). Any medication to be administered during the school day, should follow our current medication policy (attach board policy) and complete the authorization for medication administration
- Please contact Ms. Jennifer Mikulich with any questions or concerns.
Important Attendance information
Ms. Dana Sokso: Attendance Secretary DASD STEM Academy
Please help us in reminding your student of the following:
- Whether your student is arriving late to school, has Senior Privileges, or has a parent note to leave early, they must sign in/out of the main office for attendance.
- All attendance inquiries throughout the school year can be directed to stemattendance@dasd.org
- Students should scan the QR Codes located outside the main office, and then upload their notes for Absence, Tardiness, and Trips.
- Please review the attendance policy in the Student Code of Conduct: Upon 3 unlawful offenses a written notification will be sent to parent; upon 6 unlawful absences, a 2nd notification will be sent, and a School Attendance improvement plan meeting will be required.
- If you are planning a family trip, please be sure to turn in the Request Form for Educational and Family Trips, no less than 2 weeks prior to the request.
Downingtown STEM Academy
The Downingtown STEM Academy is the third high school in the Downingtown Area School District. The STEM Academy opened in the fall of 2011 at 335 Manor Avenue, Downingtown, PA 19335.
The Academy is an IB World School offering every student the opportunity to earn an IB Diploma. The curriculum offers Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Pathways. Students are engaged in rigorous, challenging academic work that requires a mindset of growth and effort.
Email: stinfo@dasd.org
Website: https://st.dasd.org/
Location: 335 Manor Avenue, Downingtown, PA, USA
Phone: 610-269-2420