DCA Weekly Update
September 24, 2021
Kecia Nesmith
Kristie Burk
COORDINATOR FOR
ONLINE LEARNING
Note from Administration
The DCA is growing! We are pleased to announce two teachers that will be joining the Downingtown Cyber Academy this month. Ms. Breslin will be the new DCA Kindergarten Teacher. She currently is teaching kindergarten in the morning at West Bradford Elementary and will serve our DCA Kindergarten students in the afternoon. She will begin on Monday. Ms. Bingham will be our new 2nd-grade teacher. She recently moved to Pennsylvania from New Jersey where she taught second grade for over twenty years. She will begin in October. We are thrilled to have two experienced teachers joining our faculty. Please give them a warm welcome.
Fondly,
Kecia Nesmith, Principal
Kristie Burk, Coordinator for Online Learning
K-12 INFORMATION
Calendar Items
- 9/27 - 9/30 - LMS -Grade 7 Scoliosis Testing- Check with the School
- 9/30 - 10/1- DMS - Info Sessions for STEM for Grade 8 @ 9:30 AM at DMS
- 10/8 - DCA Coffee Talk w/Admin K-12 @ 12 pm
- 10/13 - Early Dismissal (DCA Zoom times will be adjusted)/PSATs for all 10th and 11th graders at East and West
- 10/27 - West Bradford - Fall Portraits @ WB
Does your child want to get together with peers from his/her classroom?
Complete the DCA Parent/Caretaker Liaison & Directory Interest Form by clicking on the gray box above!
Life is Disappointing...and Other Inspiring Thoughts!
6th to 9th-grade students are invited to attend a free presentation by Dr. Bellace, a psychologist and comedian(!), on dealing with disappointments in a healthy way. The event will be on Monday, September 27th at 6:30 at Downingtown West. Use the QR Code below to join!
Report to Parents: Help Grieving Students During School Transitions
Important Annoucement Regarding Schoology Messaging K-8
We do not want to lose the privilege of being able to use Schoology messages with our elementary and middle school students. Our teachers have asked the students not to abuse this functionality, but please remind them at home, too. We appreciate it!
Athletic Events
Dear Downingtown Families,
I hope this email finds you well and that you are having a great start to the school year. The purpose of this communication is to inform you of some important changes regarding spectators at all DASD athletic events.
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY: Due to several issues at our night events and a need for increased supervision of our younger students, all K-8 student spectators attending our athletic events must be accompanied by a paying adult. Students that are not accompanied by a paying adult will not be admitted.
In addition, I have included some other important information to assist you in planning to attend our athletic events. Please be reminded of the following protocol:
- Football games: All students in grades 9-12 must enter the football games at the designated student entrance
- Stadium and gymnasium events: the following items are not permitted in our stadiums or gymnasiums:
- Outside food or beverage
- Bookbags or other large bags; (small purses, etc. are subject to search by our security personnel)
- Balls, bats, sticks and other sports equipment are not permitted by spectators
- Per PIAA policy, no signs or noise makers, body/face paint; shirts must be worn
- As of 8/16/2021, masks are required in all buildings, which includes spectators at our indoor events
- Dogs and other pets are not permitted at athletic events
- Possession or use of alcoholic beverages, tobacco or other drugs is prohibited on campus at all times
Sportsmanship message:
The PIAA, District One, the Ches-Mont League and DASD promote good sportsmanship by student-athletes, coaches and spectators. We request your cooperation, by supporting the participants and officials in a positive manner. Profanity, derogatory comments, or intimidating actions directed at officials, student-athletes, coaches, or team representatives will not be tolerated and are grounds for removal from our events. We thank you in advance for your cooperation.
I would like to thank you in advance for your anticipated commitment to helping in maintaining a safe environment for our entire school community to enjoy. I hope to see you at our many athletic contests supporting our student-athletes and programs.
Sincerely,
Corey Sigle
Director of Athletics
DCA Student Council for Grades 6-12
We are thinking about considering a DCA student council. Typically, student councils help initiate and implement service projects and school events; provide a forum for student opinions and interest to be communicated to the entire student body, faculty and administration; increase school spirit; and foster leadership skills. The student council is the voice of the whole student body.
If your student is interested in joining the student council as either a member or a potential leader, please fill out this brief interest survey. They must use their DASD Google account to login.
ELEMENTARY: K-5
Assessments and Tests Policies- K-5
Middle: 6-8
Marsh Creek Center Clubs
Downingtown Middle School Clubs and Academic Help
Please contact the main office for more information.
Lionville Middle School Clubs
High: 9-12
PSATs - Attention Sophomores and Juniors!
All 10th- and 11th-grade students in the DASD have the opportunity to take the PSATs free of charge in their home schools on October 13th.
DCA students from WEST who wish to take the test should fill out this DCA PSAT Registration for Downingtown WEST.
DCA students from EAST should look for information about the PSATs in the next newsletter from Mr. Hurley.
If you have any questions about the PSATs, please reach out to the counseling office in your home building.
Parents/Guardians of Seniors
CHECK DEHS or DWHS Weekly UPDATES
Setting Up Schoology Parent Accounts
Here are the steps:
- Login to the Infinite Campus Parent Portal.
- Click on "More."
- Click on "Parent Access Code" You should see a 12 digit code. Copy that code. (If you have multiple children, you will need each of their codes.)
- If you are unable to locate your code, please contact your child's school principal.
- Go to Schoology.com.
- Click "SIGN UP" on the upper right-hand side of the browser window.
- Under the dropdown menu click "Parent."
- Enter the student access code you received.
- Click "Continue"
- Fill in the requested information on the next page.
- Click "Register."
- You should then be able to return to Schoology and login to your parent page which has access to your student’s information.
- If you need to add another child, follow the steps here.
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