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An E-Newsletter for DASD Community 

March 27, 2013 - Vol 4, Issue14
In This Issue
6th Grade Center Principal Named
Look for Alumni
Grant Awards
Creating Healthy School Environments
March Madness at PV
Lord's Pantry Donation
Kudos
Around the District
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Superintendent's Update

 Superintendent 

Greetings:

 

Thank you to everyone who attended the three public redistricting steering committee meetings that were held this month. Approximately 200 parents attended these meetings and shared their thoughts, questions and concerns with members of the redistricting steering committee and school board.

 

As I have noted several times in this column, "change" is difficult. The Board and Administration understand that. Realigning school attendance areas is an emotional topic because it directly involves children.  During the meetings this month we heard requests from several parents to keep things as they are, but we can't. This year we added 200 students to our rolls, with most of those students moving into schools already at or near capacity. It is time to balance our schools' populations so that we can effectively serve students and maximize district resources.

 

Next steps:

*     The redistricting steering committee and school board members will receive all the comments and suggestions received since the beginning of this process.

*     The redistricting committee will reconvene on April 9, 2013. The results of that meeting will be communicated to our parents. Should changes be made to the two recommended plans, an additional public meeting will be planned.

*     The redistricting steering committee will submit its final report to the community and school board.

*     We will work with our redistricting consultants and transportation department to answer questions that were asked during all three sessions as well as those emailed to the committee via the website and info@dasd.org hotline.   Questions and answers will be placed on our website.  

*     The School Board will continue to monitor the process. Once a final redistricting steering committee report is received, a public meeting will be announced for consideration of the committee's recommendations.  

 

The district will continue to provide parents with updated information via this e-newsletter, the website, home and school meetings and through the use of the "school messenger" alert system.

 

In conclusion, as we finish up this cold, wet month of March, I hope you and your family enjoy a safe and relaxing spring break!

  

Sincerely,

 

Dr. Larry Mussoline
Superintendent
 DASD Science Fair Winners
 Congratulations to all the DASD students who participated in this year's science fairs.  The projects were all well done and provided a look into the interests of our nation's future scientists.  Below are the names of students who received honors in the CCIU Science Fair.
  
3rd Place Behavioral and Social Sciences
Megan Herrmann, DMS - Do You See What I See?
 
3rd Place Biochemistry
Sarah Codd, DMS - How do different types of milk affect mozzerella cheese
 
Best of Show - 3rd Place
Teigan Brown, Brandywine Wallace - Comparing the "Browning" Rate of Apples
  
The Richard and Patti Smith Mathematics Award
 Max Lind, Beaver Creek - Buffon's Disc
The Richard and Patti Smith Physics Award
Maggie Kelly, Beaver Creek - How Does Sound Travel?
  
Salk Science Fair
Distinguished Honors
Sean Hermann, Bradford Heights - Coloring Your Thoughts
William Liao, East Ward - Presidential Election Predictor
Mario Chegini, W. Bradford - Which Waterproof Bag Protects Your Cell Phone
Shruti Velan, Bradford Heights - Effect of Types of Antacids on Coke
Teigan Brown, Brandywine Wallace - Comparing the "Browning" Rate of Apples
Francesca Chindemi, Uwchlan Hills - Diaper Absorbancy
  
High Honors
Tessa Datte, Brandywine Wallace - Is Smiling Contagious? -
Camryn Krumbhaar, Springton Manor - What Ice Melt Solution Melts the Fastest
Caitlin Shaffer, Shamona Creek - Which H2O Makes Plants Grow?
Quinn Pendill, West Bradford - Energy Usage in Christmas Lights
Gillian Christopher, Bradford Heights - Digital Dawdling
Eric McCurdy, Shamona Creek - Hot Colors
Andrew Rowland, Bradywine Wallace - Does the Temperature of Water Affect Salt...?
Kameela Graves, Beaver Creek - Salty Shack
Max Lind, Beaver Creek - Buffon's Disc
Sophia Alfinito, Shamona Creek - Catching the Wind: Best Blade Material for a Windmill
  
Honors
Alexander Arnell, Uwchlan Hills - Making Crystals 
Isabella Harclerode, Springton Manor - One Bad Apple
Ben Corsi, Springton Manor - Solid or Liquid? 
Matthew Walter, Shamona Creek - Fly the Distance
Lucia Ugarte, Lionville - Does the Shape of an Ice Cube Affect How Quickly it Melts?
Tyler Rodriquez, Beaver Creek - Human Electrical Chain
Lili Zeblulm and Aubrey Mable, B. Heights - Put a Cork In It!  Can you hear me now?
  
Roarke Science Fair
3rd Place - Best of Show Award - Christoffer Braun, DMS
2nd Place - Science Center Award - Nicholas Hellgoth
  
1st Place, Engineering - Christoffer Braun, DMS
  
2nd prize - Chemistry - Jacob Allwin, DMS
2nd Place - Environmental Science - Nicholas Hellgoth
  
3rd prize - Behavioral and Scocial Sciences - Megan Hermann, DMS
3rd prize - Computer Science - Eric Hllahan, DMS
  
Honorable Mention - Biochemistry - Drew Spanfellner, DMS
Honorable Mention - Engineering - Zachary Kinkelaar, DMS
Where are our grads ????
 Do you know some successful graduates of our school district? In the last issue of the Rapport Card, we featured a story on DHS alumnus Scott Vosbury.  Scott was part of the Oscar winning team that created Life of Pi.   Following that story, we heard from some of you about the success stories of other alumni.  The Public Information Office would like to put together a database of alumni who have been successful in their fields.   Our thoughts are to use this information to invite successful graduates to work with our high school students as possible mentors, job-shadowing professionals and guest speakers.   
  
The district will also innaugaurate a "Hall of Fame" wall in the Central Office and will be featuring photos and stories on those who graduated from our schools.  
  
Please help us by sending us the names and stories of those you know who have matriculated and gone on to best represent the DASD tradition of excellence. Click here to participate.

  
Downingtown Community Education Foundation 

 The Downingtown Community Education Foundation is accepting innovative educational proposals from DASD staff until 3/31/13.  Funding for these teacher venture grants comes from several sources; staff payroll deductions, events, and donations from parents, the community and area corporations.   

 

In the photo on the left, teacher Kelly Colquitt and members of her 4th grade class at Lionville show off the smart board clickers that Kelly requested in her proposal that focused on the use of clickers in the classroom.  Kelly received 20 SMART board clickers.   

 Our red-headed principal

 

 

Check out this great TV news story about Uwchlan Hills!   

 Pickering Valley Holds March Madness

pvmarch 

Pickering Valley's 5th Annual March Madness Basketball Hot Shot Contest was held on Friday, March 15th at 6pm. 60 PV students in 4th and 5th grade displayed their skills on the hardwood at a chance to take home the hardware!  Click here for more of the story!

$2000 Donation to Lords Pantry

 

 

Congratulations and thank you to the members of the DAEA.  DAEA members in all 15 schools raised and donated over $2000 in gift cards to the Lords Pantry in Downingtown this month.    

Kudos

 Congratulations to Allyn Baccus, Downingtown Middle School and Jill Miller, Beaver Creek Elementary School on being named "Educators Who Make A Difference" during a ceremony in the National Libery Museum.   Allyn and Jill received the "Teacher as Hero" Award, sponsored by State Farm, on March 14, 2013.   They were two of twenty teachers from across Pennsylvania and New Jersey who were selected as "dedicated educators who give their best every day to inspire, nurture and mentor Americ'as Youn people.   Teachers are honored for

  • Providing many years of service in the field of education
  • Demonstrating exceptional creativity in the classroom,
  • Persevering despite increasing challenges
  • Dedication to the community outside of school
  • Defusing violence and bullying among students 
  • Serving as a role model to the school community.  
Around the District

Downingtown Middle School 7th Grade students enjoyed a visit to West Bradford Elementary.  Students from Mrs. Lockwood's class read to West Bradford kindergarten friends during the district's annual Read Across America event!

 

On Friday, best selling author Kenneth C. Davis toured the STEM Academy and interacted with IB History students in classrooms.  Davis's bestselling book, Don't Know Much About History, was on the York Times bestsellers list for 35 consecutive weeks in the early 1990s.  Mr. Davis spent an hour in a question and answer session with more than 100 students from 10th grade Civics and Government and 11th grade IB History. Teacher Vincent Trombetta brought students from Downingtown West to share in the experience as well.

 

 

Springton Manor held its Annual Jump Rope for Heart event on March 9th. Here is a "shout out" to all the teachers/parents/students of SME for their great support and efforts in raising over $13,500.00 this year for the fight against heart disease and stroke. That makes Springton Manor's total for 5 years more than $50,000.

 

 

Downingtown East Theatre will be presenting its spring musical, Legally Blonde, on April 11-13 at 7:30pm and on Sunday, April 14, at 2:00pm in the Downingtown East High School Auditorium. Come enjoy the acclaimed stage adaptation of this popular film in this full-length musical performance. Tickets are now available online at www.downingtowneattheatre.com.

 

 

Every third grade student in Lionville Elementary received a seedling cabbage plant to take home and grow for the Bonnie Plans (bonnieplants.com) cabbage growing contest. Several years ago, one of our LE students won the entire contest for PA. A $1000 scholarship will be awarded to each state winner.

 

 

Bradford Height's student Evan Wickersham, was chosen to represent our area in the JDRF Government Day in Washington DC!  He met with our PA representatives in the Senate and Congress on Tuesday to tell them how important it is to continue to fund the Special Diabetes Program.  This program funds research and awareness for diabetes.  Evan is one of our diabetic students at BH.  Evan took letters from his classmates to our Congressmen/women and Senators to tell them why they think it is important to find a cure for diabetes. It was a great opportunity for our students to reach out and touch the world of politics.

 

 

The Brandywine Wallace community is currently involved in a fundraiser called "Change Matters". Homerooms are collecting coins for the Where There's a Will, There's a Way organization

friendly competition will be shared in a future update.

which assists local families who are experiencing difficult times. The results of this

 
To submit an idea, or photo for the D-Link send an email to pmcglone@dasd.org