DHS Collegiate Academy Newsletter
September 3, 2023
Howdy Collegiate Academy Family
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to each of you for attending our recent Meet the Teacher event. Your presence and engagement play a significant role in fostering a strong partnership between our school and your family.
It brings me immense joy to share that we've just concluded another successful week at DHS Collegiate. Our students have been actively involved in their studies, extracurricular activities, and have contributed positively to the overall atmosphere of learning and growth on campus.
As we head into the upcoming weekend, I want to extend my wishes for a fantastic and restful 3-day break. This time offers a wonderful opportunity to recharge and spend quality moments with your loved ones.
Thank you once again for your continuous support. We look forward to the continued journey of learning and achievement together.
Academic Champions of the Week
Reese Carter truly deserves the title of Academic Champion of the Week. In an impressive display of skills, Reese not only crafted a meticulously structured argument but also acquired the valuable ability to advocate for herself effectively. Reese's well-articulated argument showcased her dedication to thoughtful analysis and persuasive communication. Additionally, her commitment to self-advocacy highlights not only personal growth but also a vital life skill that will undoubtedly serve her well in the future. Kudos to Reese for her remarkable achievements!
9th grade - Landon Hanes
Landon Hanes is undeniably the rightful recipient of the Academic Champion of the Week title. Landon's excellence isn't solely confined to his academic achievements; he is also making remarkable contributions to fostering a community of learners within our educational environment. Beyond excelling academically, Landon has taken an inspiring initiative to facilitate a study group dedicated to enhancing understanding of complex Algebra 2 concepts. This self-driven endeavor showcases his commitment to both his own growth and that of his peers. By proactively facilitating this study group, Landon is cultivating an environment where students collaborate and uplift one another, transcending the boundaries of individual success to collectively excel. It's evident that Landon's impact goes beyond the classroom, resonating positively within our entire learning community. A hearty commendation to Landon for his exceptional academic accomplishments and his dedication to nurturing a culture of shared learning.
National Honor Society
On Thursday, Aug. 24th, National Honor Society held its Mandatory Parent Meeting, and we had over 100 parents & students in attendance to receive the 23-24 Membership Contract & review expectations for the school year. Any senior, who was inducted in May 2023 to the Duncanville High School Chapter of NHS, should've attended this meeting with their parent/guardian. Parents/guardians of inducted seniors, if you were unable to attend the meeting, please email Mrs. Stephanie Her at sher@duncanvilleisd.org to receive a copy of the 2023-2024 NHS Membership Contract & Expectations.
In order to become an official NHS member, seniors, who were inducted in May 2023 need to turn in the NHS Membership Contract & $20 Membership Dues by Tues, Sept. 12th to Mrs. Her in B102 or Mrs. Valles in B123.
Within the next 2 weeks, eligible seniors for the Fall 2023 NHS Induction, who have a minimum 3.0 GPA, will receive a letter with details of how to submit the Candidate Information Form, 20 approved & verified Volunteer Hours in X2VOL, and 2 Teacher Recommendation Forms. All documentation must be turned in for review & selection by the NHS Faculty Council by Fri, Sept. 29th at 11:59PM.
Congratulations to this year's NHS Officers, two of which are DHS Collegiate Academy scholars: Julianna Acuna, Isabel Vazquez, Allison McGary, Aidan Bravo-Cortes, Esmeralda Rios, & Crystal Zamora

Week-at-a-Glance
- NO SCHOOL at BOTH DHS COLLEGIATE & DALLAS COLLEGE
Tuesday, September 5
- B Day
Wednesday, September 6
- A Day
- Progress Report 1 Grades are posted to Skyward Family Access
Thursday, September 7
- B Day
Friday, September 8
- A Day
November 2023 Bond Election
November 2023 Bond Election FAQs
Duncanville ISD will have a school bond election on the November 7 ballot, and we encourage all our families and neighbors to be informed and make a plan to vote. You can find more information at duncanvilleisd.org/bond2023 and learn more by reviewing the Frequently Asked Questions below.
What is a bond?
A bond is similar to a home mortgage or home improvement loan, an agreement to re-pay borrowed money for big-ticket items. School districts hold bond elections to pay for things like school renovations, additions, technology, buses, etc. All school districts are required to ask voters for permission to sell bonds before they can fund these major projects.
What does the bond proposal include?
With voter approval, the November 2023 bond would fund updates for safety and security, refresh aging buildings, and address the new grade-level configuration. It would also fund new buses, construction of a new Career and Technical Education (CTE) wing at the high school, address campus accessibility, and replace air conditioning systems that are at the end of their life. Technology infrastructure, network upgrades, and new instructional technology are also included in this bond proposal.
There will be two bond propositions for Duncanville ISD voters to consider. Proposition A is for renovations and capital improvements, the CTE addition, new buses, and technology infrastructure. Proposition B is to upgrade instructional technology throughout the district.
When can I vote?
Early Voting is October 23 through November 3. Election Day is Tuesday, November 7.
Watch this video to learn more. https://vimeo.com/847182034/c72e69cfa3
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.
School Calendars


DHS Bell Schedule

Dallas College Mountain View Transportation Schedule

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:
- Wednesday, October 4, 3:15 pm - 6:00 pm in the DHS G101 Library Computer Lab
- Wednesday, October 18, 3:15 pm - 6:00 pm in the DHS G101 Library Computer Lab
- Saturday, October 28, 8:00 am - 12:00 pm in the DHS G101 Library Computer Lab
- Wednesday, November 1, 3:15 pm - 6:00 pm in the DHS G101 Library Computer Lab
- Wednesday, November 15, 3:15 pm - 6:00 pm in the DHS G101 Library Computer Lab
- Saturday, November 18, 8:00 am - 12:00 pm in the DHS G101 Library Computer Lab
- Wednesday, December 6, 3:15 pm - 6:00 pm in the DHS G101 Library Computer Lab
- Saturday, December 16, 8:00 am - 12:00 pm in the DHS G101 Library Computer Lab
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
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
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.
Clear or Mesh Backpack - Spring Semester

Senior Cap & Gown, Tux, & Drape Photos
The time is near to prepare for your Cap & Gown AND Tux/Drape Senior photos! Prestige Portraits will be on campus August 28 through September 1st to take pictures. Collegiate Seniors will take pictures on FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1. Please see the flyer for details on what to wear for the pictures and the cost of the sitting fee.
Please know that you will be taking BOTH your cap and gown AND your Tux/Drape photos on this one day. Please see the schedule of classes to determine which day your English class will come for pictures.
As of right now, these are the ONLY dates Prestige Portraits will be on campus. Make every effort to take your pictures during these dates. You may also schedule a session at one of Prestige’s local studios by going to local.prestigeportraits.com.
If you have any additional questions, please see Ms. Lydia Reddic, our picture coordinator, in room J104 for assistance or reach out to LReddic@duncanvilleisd.org

DHS Collegiate Academy

