Narwhal Newsletter
April 14th, 2024
Hello Marsh Creek,
I hope that everyone is enjoying the beautiful weekend. This past week, our students had the opportunity to participate in several awesome experiences, including observing a solar eclipse, and participating in the annual Dodgeball Tournament. For those that are interested in assisting in planning our Spring Dance, this year called the Spring Fling, our Home and School Association will be meeting on Wednesday night to prepare for a special night where our students can celebrate their time together this year. Please see below for more information on how to participate in the planning meeting. As we move closer to the summer time, many of our high school sports programs have started to share their Summer Camp information with us. Please see the bottom of this newsletter for all of the programs that our athletic teams will be running throughout the summer. I hope that you and your family have an awesome week!
-Matt
This week at Marsh Creek - Week of April 14th
Wednesday - 4/17
- Home and School Planning Meeting - Spring Fling - Marsh Creek Library - 6:00-7:00p
Notable Upcoming Dates
- PSSA Testing Dates
ELA- April 23-25
Math- April 29-30
- Spring Fling - Friday, May 3rd
Autism Acceptance Month
April is Autism Acceptance Month. The theme, “Celebrate Differences,” will be running for its 5th year. Join us as we raise awareness to promote autism acceptance, to celebrate each individual’s unique differences, and to foster inclusivity and connectedness. It’s a time to renew our commitment to honor the unique perspectives of people living with autism and support children with autism and their families, helping each child reach their full potential.
National Deaf History Month
Downingtown is proud to join the nationwide celebration of National Deaf History Month, recognizing the invaluable contributions and rich culture of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. National Deaf History Month is April 1 -30th and communities across the nation come together to raise awareness and honor the achievements of the deaf and hard of hearing community.
A Day at the Creek
Solar Eclipse
Our students had the chance to witness the near total eclipse this past week! Even though we had some cloud cover, the clouds parted just enough to allow our students to have this unique experiencing together with their friends!
Dodgeball Tournament
Thank you so much to our Home and School and all of the staff and students that came out to support the Annual Dodgeball Tournament this year! The students had a blast, and we all enjoyed seeing the school come together to compete and have fun! Congratulations to Team Frankie that took home the win for the evening!
The Chester County Tobacco-Free Coalition Contest
April 1st was the Take Down Tobacco, National Day of Action; a day that exposes the tactics tobacco companies use to target young people. The Chester County Tobacco-Free Coalition honored students by awarding the top four winners of our annual anti-vaping meme contest. They received over 180 entries from 6th, 7th and 8th grade students across Chester County and had an overwhelming response from our Marsh Creek 6th grade students! Thank you to our teachers, Ms. Pontzer, Ms. Deamer, Ms. Wallin and Ms. Britton for promoting the contest for our students!
Here are our winners:
HM: Lilah Witherspoon
3rd: Gabriella Mariani
2nd: Kennedy Schmitt
1st: Diya Umesh Sarathy
Artwork Spotlight of the Month
Congratulations to Lily Broadhead, Emily Lin, Sofya Seraya, Ellie Rotoloni and Bradley Stockton! These 5 artists have had their artwork chosen to be on display at the K-12 Trestle Art Gallery for the next two years, which is in the main meeting rooms at Trestle Place Administration Building. These student artists were honored at the April 8th school board meeting this week.
POD Pride Update
Downingtown Library Community Book Sale
The Friends of the Downingtown Library have scheduled a community book sale and would greatly appreciate donations from our families and staff. A box will be placed in the main office for anyone that would like to make a book donation.
The Downingtown Library thanks you for considering this request to provide affordable reading materials to our community families while ultimately benefiting the library as well.
Aidan's Heart Foundation CPR Certification Fundraiser
HELP SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY'S YOUNG HEART HEROES!
Aidan’s Heart Foundation wants to provide FREE CPR certification classes for current Marsh Creek Narwhals! Please donate today to help make this possible!
Nearly all of our 1,100 Narwhals participated in basic CPR+AED skills training this past January with Aidan’s Heart Foundation. Recently, 30 members of the Marsh Creek Aidan's Heart Club received their official American Heart CPR certification cards. Now, the organization, in partnership with Good Fellowship Training Institute, wants to offer FREE certification classes to current Narwhals who want to take their skills to the next level. Please make a donation toward the foundation’s CPR Training programs to help provide three CPR classes this spring.
Please note, your donation helps support general AHF youth CPR training programs. It does not guarantee your child a spot in one of the upcoming certification classes at Marsh Creek. Interested students will be selected by random lottery. Information about how to register for the lottery will be coming out shortly.
Last year, we were able to certify all of the students who expressed interest, due to the generosity of the Marsh Creek school community! Please support Aidan’s Heart today!
Community and Family Support - Backpack Boost Program
This program provides supplemental nourishment for our students. Participating students receive a bag of non-perishable food items every Wednesday, which will be distributed in a discreet and caring manner by our staff. Click on the flyer below to complete the confidential form so that we can help in any way that we can.
Counselor's Corner
Greetings from the Marsh Creek Counseling Department! We will use this area to keep you in the loop with updates from our department as well as helpful resources throughout the year. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns. We are here to help!
Check out these community resources!
A great local resource! Communities That Care offers groups, blogs and podcasts to support parents and guardians in the Downingtown area.
Click here for more information.
Please encourage your child to check out the Marsh Creek Counseling Department Schoology course. It’s filled with lots of great resources including stress management strategies, study skills, directions for how to check your grades and more!
As always, reach out if you need anything!
2023-24 Yearbooks
Attention Parents and Guardians: Online yearbook sales ended on March 31st. Fortunately, we still have yearbooks available for sale. Remind your child to listen carefully to the morning announcements to learn when the yearbooks will be on sale again. (Date TBD). They will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis for $30. We cannot reserve any books at this point. Thank you for your understanding.
Any Questions? Please contact:
Mrs. Allen at lallen@dasd.org or Mrs. Leister at rleister@dasd.org.
Chromebook Care
The most frequent damage to a Chromebook is a cracked screen. Follow these tips to avoid damage.
- Always carry a Chromebook closed. Never hold a Chromebook by its screen and always use two hands to carry the device.
- If carrying the device from classroom to classroom, hold the Chromebook close to your chest much like a hug.
- Be sure to set a Chromebook on a flat surface during use and avoid slanted, uneven surfaces which could lead to the device sliding off and dropping to the floor.
For more tips about protecting your device, and information related to getting a protective case for your device, click the following link to our technology page. Thank you for your assistance!
https://www.dasd.org/departments/technology/11-technology-initiative/chromebook-care
Clubs and Intramurals
Below is a link to the Activities page on our Marsh Creek website, which has been updated with all information that students and parents will need to engage in our extracurricular programs. It contains information related to the options available this year, as well as information related to Activity Fees, and the Activity Shuttle Bus. Students can work with our teachers to pick up information and to express interest in the activities offered this year.
Cultural Connections Club
Join MC6 Cultural Connections Club!
The CCC will allow students to get together once a month for group discussions, activities, leadership opportunities, and games. It will be a fun way to make new friends while celebrating diversity and strengthening our connection to the school community.
There is still time to join MC Cultural Connections Club! Sign Up Here -
MC6 Cultural Connections Club Interest Form
“We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.” ~ Maya Angelou
Marsh Creek Home and School Association (HSA)
Thank you to our HSA for all that they have done this year to support our students and staff! We are so lucky to have a wonderful team of parents willing to help Marsh Creek. If you are interested in participating in our HSA this year, please consider joining us for future meetings. We will be meeting on Wednesday night this week, from 6:00-7:00 in the Marsh Creek library if you are interested in helping to plan for this year's Spring Fling. If you would like to contact our HSA to find other ways to support our students and school, please feel free to contact them at marshcreekhsa@gmail.com.
Inclusion in the Workplace
Join us for a groundbreaking online program: "Inclusion in the Workforce with 321 Coffee"!
Discover the inspiring journey of Michael Evans '17, a proud DASD alumnus, who co-founded 321 Coffee—a revolutionary coffee shop and roaster in Raleigh, NC. With a mission built on inclusion, 321 Coffee proudly employs over 50 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). From roasting the coffee to crafting the perfect latte, these individuals are at the heart of the operation, showcasing the power of an inclusive business model.
In this special event, Michael will share his story, from inception at North Carolina State University to the expansion of 321 Coffee to multiple locations across North Carolina. Learn firsthand about the challenges and triumphs of fostering a culture of inclusivity in the workforce.
But that's not all! Following Michael's presentation, we'll dive deeper into the topic of workforce inclusion with a panel featuring 321 Coffee baristas Logan and Megan. Gain valuable insights and perspectives as they share their experiences, challenges, and successes in their roles at 321 Coffee.
Don't miss this incredible opportunity to learn, connect, and be inspired by the transformative power of inclusion in the workforce. Mark your calendars and join us for "Inclusion in the Workforce with 321 Coffee."
Registration Link: https://downingtown-area-school-district.ticketleap.com/inclusion-in-the-workforce-with-321-coffee/details
Anxiety and Unmet Needs
Join us for an insightful virtual presentation on addressing student anxiety and unmet needs with Brendan Mahan, M.Ed., M.S.!
- Date: Tuesday, April 30th
- Time: 3:45 PM
- Location: Online via Zoom
Register Here: https://downingtown-area-school-district.ticketleap.com/anxiety--unmet-needs-with-brendan-mahan/details
In collaboration with the Downingtown Area School District, Brendan Mahan brings his expertise to shed light on crucial strategies to support our students in overcoming anxiety and reaching their full potential.
During this engaging 30-minute session, Brendan will delve into the intricacies of anxiety, exploring its impact on student behavior and performance. Drawing from his wealth of knowledge, he will introduce practical approaches rooted in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, offering valuable insights into addressing the underlying causes of anxiety.
What to Expect:
- Understanding the mechanics of anxiety and its effects on student performance.
- Exploring Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs as a framework for identifying and addressing student anxieties.
- Learning effective communication strategies to help students manage and reduce anxiety levels.
- Empowering students to navigate challenges with resilience and confidence.
This presentation is not just about understanding anxiety but equipping ourselves with actionable tools to support our students in their academic and personal growth journey.