 The D-Link
An E-Newsletter for the DASD Community
October 12, 2012- Vol 5, Issue 4 |
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| Superintendent's Update | |
Uwchlan Hills is celebrating its 40th birthday this year. The school opened its doors to students in 1972, the same year those of us who were old enough to drive paid $.55 a gallon for gas. 1972 was a monumental year, President Nixon paid a visit to China, Watergate and the Munich Olympics filled the headlines and the Oakland Athletics, formerly the Philadelphia Athletics, won the World Series. It was also a time when the open space school design was popular.
Uwchlan Hills is the only district elementary school that was built with the experimental open space design. The concept was to build pods with no interior walls within a school. Each pod would contain six or more classrooms. Educational benefits included giving teachers the opportunity to confer and plan together and moved the process of learning from teacher-oriented to child-centered. The large hallways offered additional space for small learning instruction. For those on the School Board during the costly energy crisis of the 1970's, building an open space school reduced school construction, maintenance, and school heating costs.
The open space concepts declined by the mid-1970's due to concerns about noise and a desire to return to a more traditional approach to learning. However, the pendulum has swung back once again and the concepts of team teaching, differentiated instruction and project based learning are still used today. While many open space schools closed or were refitted with interior walls, Uwchlan Hills retains the pod-like open space feeling.
With or without walls, the administration and staff of Uwchlan Hills continues to provide students with a top-notch education. Schooldigger.com's 2012 rankings of schools lists Uwchlan Hills as 21st out of 1906 elementary schools in Pennsylvania based on PSSA test scores . (Downingtown is ranked #20 out of 553 school districts) The school is also known for its generosity, ranking in the top tier of schools donating to the American Heart Association during Jump Rope for Heart season.
Congratulations to Principal Bob Giering, his staff and students on their school's 40th
Dr. Larry Mussoline,
Superintendent
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| Happy 40th Uwchlan Hills | |
As part of the 40th birthday celebration for Uwchlan Hills, art teacher Krissy Krygiel Evans invited UH students to draw on the sidewalks in front of the school. Ms Evans showed them the work of Wayne Thiebaud, an American pop artist famous for his paintings of cakes, cupcakes and pies, then urged the students to go ouside to draw birthday cakes and balloons in honor of Uwchlan Hill's 40th birthday.
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| Pretty Little Liars Author Returns to her High School | 
Sara Shepard is a world famous author of two best-selling book series that are featured on the cable channel, ABC Family. She is also a graduate of Downingtown High School. On Thursday, October 12th, Sara spoke to the community at the 11th Annual Author Series held in DHS West. On Friday, the district's 9th grade students had the opportunity to hear of her climb from Whippet to Author. Click here to read more about Sara's return.
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National Merit Commended Named |
Twenty-One DASD Students Have Been Named "Commended"
The Downingtown Area School District is pleased to announce that twenty-one students have been named a Commended Student in the 2012-2013 National Merit Scholarship Program. A letter of commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation will be presented to these scholastically talented students.
Approximately 34,000 students are named "Commended" throughout the nation for their exceptional academic promise. Commended students place in the top 5 percent of more than 1.5 million students who enter the 2012 competition by taking the 2010 PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).
DHS West
Erin Barton
Asa Bull
Bryan Brussee
Giulia DiSanto
Rhiannon Miller
Doug Moyer
Amanda Patton
Nicole Trepanowski
Yajnesh Vedanaparti
Jacquelyn Westermark
DHS East
Katelyn D. Callaghan
Thomas R. Doelp
Emily K. Geoghegan
Brooke Lillis
Jason A. Lipow
Mathew I. Lipow
Matthew V. Marshall
Suraj S. Pillai
Megan Rodriguez
Lauren K. Salig
Terry Tan
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| Elementary Updates | |
 Beaver Creek
Beaver Creek is excited to announce that with the help of the Chester County Food Bank we built nine raised bed gardens last week. Two of the beds will be tended by the girl scouts while the other seven beds will be taken care of by students in grades kindergarten through third grade. We have already planted seeds and can't wait for our fall crop of spinach and radishes to grow for harvesting and to be donated to the Lord's Pantry in Downingtown. What a great way to learn where our food comes from. It also teaches children the importance of helping others in need. A big thank you to the community volunteers and parents who helped everything run smoothly. Click here for more Beaver Creek News.
Bradford Heights
Bradford Heights Home and School had another successful Outgrown Sale on Saturday, Oct. 6th. Mrs. Reed, Mrs. Cline, and Mrs. Tai worked very long and hard to make this a community event. The number of vendors has increased tremendously over the years. Along with Mrs. Reed and Mrs. Tai many people spent hours on Friday night working hard to make set up the items for the opening on Saturday morning. On Saturday, October 13th Bradford Heights families will have opportunity to have their "family" pictures taken. Miss Howard, our Art Teacher, is starting an Art Club at Bradford Heights for 4th and 5th graders. She has had such an overwhelming response to her club and is very excited for it to begin. We are looking forward to the amazing artwork that these 4th and 5th grade students will create.
Brandywine Wallace
 As part of our Wellness activities this year, students were "Caught Eating Healthy" in the cafeteria. Thanks to Mrs. Trethewey for capturing our healthy eaters. Look for more news on our website.
East Ward
The fifth grade Social Studies curriculum on European Explorers lined up nicely with Columbus Day this year! Students learned facts about his voyages to the Americas, and identified the .effects that they had on life at that time. The unit will culminate in a student selected project on Explorers. Look for more news on our website.
Pickering Valley
Mrs. Madarang's 2nd grade class had two community helpers visit this week. One parent came in to speak about her job and her volunteer position on the West Pikeland Emergency Management Committee. Another parent did a presentation about her company and how it makes rods to help people's spines-including infants and young children. The students were fascinated by both! Look for more news on our website.
Shamona Creek
October 11th was a special day at Shamona Creek. In recognition of Fire Prevention Week, the Lionville Fire Company presented important lessons about fire safety to our kindergarten children. The students had the opportunity to see the fire equipment up close and ask questions of our brave volunteer firemen. As always, the sounding of the fire siren was the favorite part of the presentation!
Sprinton Manor
 Springton Manor Elementary School celebrated Fire Prevention Month with a visit from the Glenmoore Fire Company on Tuesday, October 9th. The Fire Company brought trucks, equipment and the firefighters for a full day of visits. Each classroom had the opportunity to visit the trucks and listen to a presentation from the firefighters.
Uwchlan Hills
 With the support of the Chester County Food Bank and the help of our 5th grade classes, Uwchlan Hills Elementary built two Gleaning Garden beds and planted our first crop on the morning of Friday, October 5th. The desire is to have a yearly three season harvest that will allow for fresh produce to be returned to local food banks, to help UH families in need, and to support hands-on Science opportunities. The long term goal of this project is to have all classes participating in the managing of the gardens to allow for the experience of community service and learning opportunities.
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Middle School Updates |
 Lionville Middle School
LMS parents were invited to have breakfast with the principal this Thursday. There was a very brief agenda to this meeting, so that parents could bring up topics of their own choosing. Principal and parents discussed the middle school lunch menu and changing federal nutrition guidelines, recent changes in our 6th grade math programming, the present and forecasted Keystone Exams, high school choices and the details of our advisory period known as REACH. Click here to read more news about LMS. LMS 10.12 |
| High School Updates |
 DHS East and DHS West
Downingtown East and DHS West were named to the Philadelphia Magazine's top 100 public schools in the Delaware Valley and New Jersey suburbs. DHS East is ranked #18 and DHS West is ranked 29th. Congratulations to our students and staff!
DHS East and DHS West
The Downingtown West band participated in the New Holland Farmers Day Association Parade on October 3rd. They were awarded the Best Overall Band and 1st place in The Class A division. Katie Bates was named Best Twirler.
DHS West
 Homecoming 2012
We would like to thank all of the students who participated in this year's Homecoming celebration. Congratulations to Sarah Bartels who was crowned Homecoming Queen 2012. Congratulations to Sarah and to the entire Court for their fine representation of Downingtown High School West. For more news about DHS West, click here.
STEM Academy
 Students in Jocelyn Long's Engineering 1 class designed some alternative ways to make a golf ball soar down the fairway. Using wood, PVC pipe, rubber bands and a multitude of other supplies, the students gave their engineering designs a work-out on Thursday.
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Paws vs. Claws FanFest
Sponsored by Lamb McErlane, Firecreek Restaurant and the Downingtown Community Education Foundation
 | | Paws vs. Claws FanFest |
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The Paws vs. Claws FanFest At the East/West Football Game
Friday, October 19, 2012 - Tent Opens at 5:00 p.m.
$50.00 per ticket
($5.00 discount for parent of football players, band members and cheerleaders)
Ticket price Includes:
Reserved Seat at the East/West Football Game. Your choice of East or West side. Seats are on
the 45/50 yd. line. Arrive when you want to and know you will have a great seat waiting for you. (199 seats on both sides have been reserved. Unreserved seats in these sections at regular price remain available) Your tickets and seat locations will be mailed to you.
Music and refreshments provided by Firecreek Restaurant in the Lamb McErlane PC Tailgating Tent. Includes their famous pulled pork sandwiches. (5:00 to 6:45)
Free Lifetouch Photo taken with the Whippet or Cougar
Seat Cushion with DHS East or DHS West Logo
Tax Deductible Donation to DCEF (less fair market value of items received). Proceeds will fund innovative classroom projects proposed by our DASD teachers.
Return the bottom portion to FanFest, 540 Trestle Place, Downingtown, PA 19335 or reserve online
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By Mail: Please fill out and return to the address. Checks or credit cards are welcomed.
Name_______________________________________________________________________
Address_____________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip_______________________________________________________________
Phone_______________________________________________
Email_______________________________________________
No. of Tickets Requested______________
Side of Stadium you wish to sit on (East or West) _______________
Total Enclosed________________ (Team, Band or Cheerleader Discount $5.00)
Please tell us your Athlete, Band Member or Cheerleader's Name___________________________________
Credit Card Number________________________________________Exp. Date___________
CSV Number(Security Code) ______________ |
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| Sponsors Sought |
If you are interested in being a D-Link sponsor, please contact Pat McGlone at pmcglone@dasd.org or call 610-269-8460, ext. 6113. |
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