DCA Back to School Information
August 16, 2021
Kecia Nesmith
Kristie Burk
COORDINATOR FOR
ONLINE LEARNING
Note from Administration
Welcome to the 2021-2022 school year! We are excited to welcome you to the Downingtown Cyber Academy (DCA) and are elated that you have chosen this program to engage in authentic and meaningful learning online! Our teachers are preparing their courses to ensure students have a dynamic and enjoyable learning experience.
The DCA Update will be sent out every week. It is divided into sections for K-12, Elementary, Middle, and High school levels. Feel free to scroll to your child(ren)'s section(s) for relevant information. ***Please be advised that you will receive this communication if your child is enrolled in the DCA full-time or part-time (enrolled in at least one online course).
We look forward to working together to ensure all students engage in rigorous learning and develop student agency. Looking forward to a fantastic school year!
Fondly,
Kecia Nesmith, Principal
Kristie Burk, Coordinator for Online Learning
K-12 INFORMATION
Calendar Items
- 8/16 - Parent & Student Access to Infinite Campus & Schoology Opens
- 8/25 - Back to School Night-Grades K-6 -6:30-8:00 PM
- 8/30 - First Day of School for Students K-12
- 9/2 - Back to School Night-Grades 7-12-6:30-8:00 PM
- 9/6 - No School - Labor Day
- 9/15 - Two-Hour Early Dismissal K-12
- 9/16 - No School - Yom Kippur
Free Breakfast and Lunch for DASD Students
DASD Food Service is excited to announce that breakfast and lunch meals will be FREE again for students during the 21-22 school year! Here’s an overview of what you need to know:
- Each student is eligible for a free breakfast and free lunch during each school day, due to a USDA waiver that allows this capability for the upcoming school year.
- If you are not present-in-person in a DASD school building during a meal period, you are still eligible for the free meals you missed! If you’re interested in receiving these, email us at the address below and we’ll coordinate on an individual basis.
- A lunch meal includes an entrée, a fruit and/or vegetable, and a milk.
- A breakfast meal includes an entrée, a fruit/juice, and a milk.
- We will be using our POS this year to track student meals, so we encourage students to remember their PIN to use when checking out in the lunchline when present in a school building for meal service.
Link to Website with More Information:
https://www.dasd.org/Page/1680
Questions Related to Food Service:
Infinite Campus Toggling
Please note: If your child is a DCA Part-Time student, DCA courses will only show up under the 21-22 Downingtown Cyber 6-12 tab and courses in the home school will show up under that school's tab.
DCA Personalized Learning Plans
At the Downingtown Cyber Academy, we believe in a personalized approach to learning versus a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. Beginning in the 21-22 school year, we will offer personalized learning plans for students regarding synchronous learning (Zooms). Students in the DCA and their parents/guardians will have two plans from which to choose:
Plan 1 (default option): Zoom meetings are required, and students must attend. Attendance will be taken for each Zoom class by the teacher. Students MUST have their cameras on and be visibly present during the class.
Plan 2: Students and parents can sign an agreement with the DCA Administrative team that allows students to optionally attend Zooms as long as they maintain good standing in all of their classes. Students can still attend Zooms if they wish. Students and parents who are interested in this plan should complete the Downingtown Cyber Academy - Personalized Learning Plan Agreement -SY 2021-2022 FORM. (Must be completed separately for each student.)
All Zoom meetings will be recorded.
Note: Zoom meetings will be required until the DCA Administrative team has approved the application.
Additionally, students will develop student agency by creating academic, social-emotional, and personal goals for the school year. This will enable students to take more ownership of their learning.
Elementary: K - 5
Elementary K-5 Back to School Information
Welcome to the DCA! Please see the information and/or select the links below to access information for the start of the school year. Questions can be emailed to cyberacademy@dasd.org.
- Device and Materials Pick Up
- DCA Suggested Supplies
DCA Elementary Schedules-The students’ first Synchronous (Zoom) meeting will be held on Monday, August 30th at 9:00 am. You can find the Zoom links in the student’s class in Schoology. The teachers will also individually email you the link for the first meeting by Sunday, August 29th. Zoom meetings are optional and will be recorded.
During this first meeting, teachers will introduce themselves and help the class get to know each other. They will also show the students how to navigate around the Schoology course. You may also want to join them for the first session! Zoom meetings are required. See Personalized Learning Plans in the DCA Elementary Handbook for other options.
DCA Elementary Handbook-NOTE SECTIONS: Online Instructional Model, Personalized Learning Plans, Online Class Requirements & Attendance
- Student Accounts- All DASD students should have received NEW USERNAMES to log onto DASD systems (such as Class Link, Infinite Campus, Schoology) from the Technology Department. If you have not received your child's new login information, please contact the Technology Department via phone at the Service Desk and they can assist if you are having difficulty logging in (610-269-8460 x81811).
- Teachers will send a welcome email/letter to students by August 24th. You can also log into Infinite Campus to find out who your child's teacher is.
- Information previously sent-DCA Summer Update for Families Letter 7.21.2021
- Back to School Night Information is below.
Back to School Night for Grades K-5 (Parents and Students)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://dasd-org.zoom.us/j/91983486006
Meeting ID: 919 8348 6006\
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,91983486006# US (Washington DC)
Wednesday, Aug 25, 2021, 06:30 PM
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RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Middle: 6 - 8
Middle School 6-8 Back to School Information
Welcome to the DCA! Please see the information and/or select the links below to access information for the start of the school year. Questions can be emailed to cyberacademy@dasd.org.
- Device and Materials Pick Up
- DCA Suggested Supplies
- Schedules-Check Infinite Campus (See Graphic below to learn how to Toggle between the DCA and Homeschool.)
- DCA Middle School Handbook-NOTE SECTIONS: Online Instructional Model, Personalized Learning Plans, Online Class Requirements & Attendance
- Student Accounts- All DASD students should have received NEW USERNAMES to log onto DASD systems (such as Class Link, Infinite Campus, Schoology) from the Technology Department. If you have not received your child's new login information, please contact the Technology Department via phone at the Service Desk and they can assist if you are having difficulty logging in (610-269-8460 x81811).
- Core subject teachers will send a welcome email/letter to students by August 24th. You can also log into Infinite Campus to find out who is your child's teacher.
- Information previously sent-DCA Summer Update for Families Letter 7.21.2021
- Back to School Night Information is below.
Back to School Night Grade 6 (Parents and students)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://dasd-org.zoom.us/j/91983486006
Meeting ID: 919 8348 6006
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,91983486006# US (Washington DC)
Wednesday, Aug 25, 2021, 06:30 PM
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RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Back to School Night Grades 7-8 (Parents)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://dasd-org.zoom.us/j/92356481200
Meeting ID: 923 5648 1200
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,92356481200# US (New York)
Thursday, Sep 2, 2021, 06:30 PM
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RSVPs are enabled for this event.
MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT ORIENTATION
High: 9-12
High School 9-12 Back to School Information
Welcome to the DCA! Please see the information and/or select the links below to access information for the start of the school year. Questions can be emailed to cyberacademy@dasd.org.
- Device and Materials Pick Up
- Schedules-Check Infinite Campus (See Graphic below to learn how to Toggle between the DCA and Homeschool.)
- DCA High School Handbook-NOTE SECTIONS: Online Instructional Model, Personalized Learning Plans, Online Class Requirements & Attendance
- Student Accounts- All DASD students should have received NEW USERNAMES to log onto DASD systems (such as Class Link, Infinite Campus, Schoology) from the Technology Department. If you have not received your child's new login information, please contact the Technology Department via phone at the Service Desk and they can assist if you are having difficulty logging in (610-269-8460 x81811).
- Information previously sent-DCA Summer Update for Families Letter 7.21.2021
- Back to School Night Information is below.
Back to School Night Grades 9-12 (Parents)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://dasd-org.zoom.us/j/92356481200
Meeting ID: 923 5648 1200
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,92356481200# US (New York)
Thursday, Sep 2, 2021, 06:30 PM
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RSVPs are enabled for this event.
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ORIENTATION
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