| The D-Link
An E-Newsletter for the DASD Community
April 19, 2013 - Vol 4, Issue 16 |
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Superintendent's Update
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Guest Columnist: Pat McGlone
Director of Public Information and Development
There are several of us in the district that still call Boston home. No matter how many years we've lived in Pennsylvania, we still drive a cah and cheer on the Red Sox. If you were to ask us if we'd ever participated in the Boston Marathon as a runner or spectator, I would venture that 100% of us would say yes.
The day of the Marathon is a unique holiday for Boston and its suburbs. Schools and businesses are closed to commemorate April 19th (or the closest Monday to it), the day the British came to town in 1775. Families plan a full day of events, beginning with the reenactment of the Battle of Lexington and Concord, followed by a local parade and a trip into the city to watch the Marathon. Although some of the hundreds of thousands who line up along the 26.2 mile route have a friend or family member running the course, the majority are there to cheer on strangers and marvel at the determination it takes to complete this grueling race.
Shortly after the news broke about the bombs going off at the Boston Marathon's finish line, social media sites lit up. People across the nation were asking if their Boston friends or family members were safe and to issue words of hope and inspiration. One of the most shared quotes of the day came from a beloved former TV host. The words are Fred Rogers from his 1983 book, Mr. Rogers Talks to Parents.
"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." To this day, especially in times of "disaster," I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers - so many caring people in this world."
And it proved to be true.
So many of the Marathon participants ran to Massachusetts' General Hospital to give blood, that the hospital had to turn them away. We have all seen the photos of the law enforcement officials and civilians who rushed toward the victims to help. Although these honorable actions can't erase or ease the pain of the three who perished and the many who were injured, it is still comforting to know that there were good people out there who were willing to help.
We remind our parents that our staff is there to assist any child who is having trouble coping with Monday and Friday's events. Please don't hesitate to contact your child's school office should you need help in this area.
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College to Career
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 On April 17, 2013, the Counseling Departments of our three high schools held an informative evening focused on the next steps for students in grades 9 - 12.
College to Career - What's Your Game Plan included the opportunity to learn techniques from the Exton Region Chamber of Commerce, ask questions of college representatives, and hear from experts in the fields of resume building, interviews, and social media.
Thank you to the many local businesses that participated in this forum. Among them were Patty Cunningham Real Estate, Advanced College Planning Associates, Beneficial Bank, Unruh Turner Burke and Frees, Main Line Today, Keares Electrical Contracting, Fulton Bank and Miller's Insurance.
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Military Parking at all 15 Schools
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 | | Susan Dillman (center) with Director of K-12 Education Dr. Rob Reed and Board President Jane Bertone. |
Thanks to a creative idea brought to the district's attention by teacher Susan Dillman (who also had the energy to put it all together) military parking signs are up and being used by present and former military personnel.
The Downingtown Area School District is proud to honor those who serve our country with this small recognition. The signs were donated to the district by Fast Signs and were placed at all 15 schools by the district's facilities department.
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School Board News
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The School Board will hold a public "work session" as members begin to discuss the Redistricting Steering Committee's Recommendations for rebalancing our schools. The meeting will be held on April 24, 2013 beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Staff Development Room, Central Administration Building, 540 Trestle Place in Downingtown. The Board will not vote on the recommendations at this meeting.
Board members have received all correspondence that was sent to the district regarding redistricing. During the evening they will hear a brief review of the recommendations from consultants McKissick and Associates, ask questions and share their thoughts with members of the Redistricting Steering Committee and the Consultants. Public comment is invited at the conclusion of the meeting.
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Food Service Notification System
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We have been piloting an automated system to notify parents/guardians of students of their child's meal account balances. As a parent/guardian you may have received emails and/or phone calls recently on Sunday evenings to inform you that your child's account is below $5.00 or has a negative balance. We are working to make this system be informative and meaningful for you. From the pilot we have run so far and from feedback from parents/guardians, we have updated the system to run as follows:
- Automated calls and emails will go out to parents/guardians on Wednesday evenings @ 6 pm, rather than on Sunday evenings.
- Emails only ( no phone calls ) will be sent out for low balances ( below the $5.00 threshold but not at zero )
- Emails and phone calls will be sent out for negative balances. Please note that negative balances will be treated as any other obligation to the school.
Information in the notices will include that payment can be made in the form of cash or check sent to your student's school or through the free on-line PayForIt system. There are no fees for this on-line service which can be found at www.payforit.net .
If you would like to be removed from Food Service low balance notifications, simply reply to the email you receive from FoodServiceInformation@dasd.org and indicate that you would like to stop receiving auto-notifications about your child's cafeteria balance. Note that you will have the option of opting out of low balance notifications only. Negative balance notifications, should they occur, will continue.
We are doing our best to keep you informed and have confidence that, in working together, we feel this will be a worthwhile tool. To date, while a few parents have requested not be notified of low balances, the overwhelming majority of parents have appreciated our new notification system.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Food Service Department at 610-269-4400 x17595 or FoodServiceInformation@dasd.org.
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Safe Driving Lessons at DHS East
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In an effort to remind students to remain vigilant and safe on prom night, DHS East conducted a simulated car crash in the YMCA parking lot. Student actors and Media Theater staff served as drivers and victims of a two car crash. The scenario had one driver, a teen who had been drinking, drive through a red light and hit a second car full of passengers.
Lionville fire officials, the Uwchlan police, an evacuation helicopter, ambulances and the Chester County Coroner's van participated in the simulation and attended to the "casualties".
The simulation was a joint effort that included guests from State Farm Insurance, Paoli Hospital and the Cruisin not Boozin organization. Thank you to all who participated and to the YMCA for the use of its parking lot for this simulation.
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After School Enrichment Club Survey
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The Downingtown Community Education Foundation (DCEF), is partnering with the Downingtown Area School District, to develop three after school enrichment programs for our students in grade 3-5. Each club would run for six weeks and would be held one day a week from 3:45 to 5:45 p.m.. The clubs would be held in your child's elementary school. District teachers would write the curriculum for each club and supervise each session.
The three programs being considered are:
1. Robotics - Creating projects using Lego MindStorm Robotics kits.
2. I Can Build....Anything! Creating projects using the Engineering is Elementary concepts and materials from the Boston Science Museum.
3. World Language - Using Rosetta Stone software, students may elect to learn French, German, Spanish or Japanese.
The DCEF is seeking your input to determine whether there is community interest in establishing these programs. To participate in the DCEF survey, please click here.
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District Events
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DHS East will be holding a memorial volleyball tournament at DHS East on April 26th.
Please join us for an evening of fun at the Julia Kivlin Memorial Volleyball Tournament on April 26, 2013, from 5:30-10:00. Students of Downingtown East and STEM are permitted to play, so grab 6-10 friends, make a team, and register that team during your lunch break from April 18-24. Don't want to play volleyball?? No problem, come and watch the fun! Admission is $3 for non-players. We are also selling our beautiful beaded 'Jewels for Julia' bracelets for $10 each. If you are unable to make the tourney and you want to contribute, please mail your check payable to CHOP Foundation to:
Jan Appleby
35 Woodland Drive
Downingtown, PA 19335
by May 1, 2013.
All proceeds will go directly to CHOP for medullablastoma research. Come on out for a night of fun as we defeat cancer and remember Julia!
Shamona Creek Art Show - Wednesday, May 8 from 6 - 8 and Thursday from 4 - 6
Enjoy the musical talents of the Shamona Creek Orchestra as well as light refreshments. Fun new feature at the show. Use your QR Code Reader.
DHS East and West Lacrosse Day Food Drive for the Lord's Pantry will be held on April 23rd from 3:30-7:00 P.M. DASD Lacrosse programs supporting local food bank. Students get in free with 2 canned goods or non-perishables.
The Downingtown Indoor Drumline recently earned 1st place in the Mid Atlantic Percussion Society (MAPS) Championships at Coatesville. There were local schools as well a school from VA and schools from NJ. The Indoor Drumline will be competing in a National competition in Ohio.
Cougar Corp held a Dodgeball Tournament to raise funds for Children's Hospital of Philadelphia - Brain Tumor Research. With a generous $1,00.00 donation from Taco Bell and gift cards donated by local community establishments Cougar Corp was able to raise over $1,800.00 from this event. Cougar Corp has raised over $4,000.00 so far and hopes to reach their goal of $5,300.00 before the end of the school year. Students from Mrs. Alvarez's Entrepreneurship class have been busy all year selling products and organizing fundraising events while learning the in's and out of running a business.
Mrs. Deborah Cowherd has been chosen as the winner in the Exton, Barnes & Noble My Favorite Teacher Contest. Student Julia Tomeo submitted an entry sharing the many reasons Mrs. Cowherd is a wonderful teacher. She makes an effort to connect with each student, provides a welcome and safe environment in which students may create without fear of ridicule and insists that everyone is respectful to each other and the art.
The 4th and 5th graders from Mrs. Giunta's Art Club at West Bradford Elementary, as well as students from Mrs. Lupoli's art classes at Downingtown West, headed to Philadelphia's South Street to see Isaiah Zagar's Magic Gardens. The field trip was part of the ART-ification MOSAIC project. Students from the Art Club were thrilled to meet Isaiah Zagar in person when they visited the Magic Gardens. They toured his studio and gallery and made a lace impression tile with him. An assembly from The Magic Gardens back in January was the kick off to the ART-ification MOSAIC project. The students at WB have been learning about the mosaic process - an art form that involves fitting small pieces called tesserae together to create a pattern. Every student in the school will complete a tile that will become a permanent part of a large mosaic. This community artwork will cover over 7500 square feet of the outside entrance to the school. The mosaic will reflect Isaiah's free-spirited style. The Grand Unveiling of the mosaic will be on May 15th.
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| Around the District | |
Beaver Creek's Spring Fling Literacy Night was a hit. Stories such as the Very Hungry Caterpillar were the springboard to learning. Education students in Alpha Epsilon Alpha from West Chester University facilitated small groups of students with fun reading activities dealing with contractions, retelling, poetry, cause & effect, summarizing, compare & contrast, and sequencing. Snacks were provided via donations from Wegmans.
Bradford Heights 4th and 5th Graders had an amazing showing at the Chester County Reading Olympics on Wednesday, April 3rd. Both teams showed tremendous teamwork and cooperation to answer three rounds of 20 comprehension questions based upon the 40 books listed for the 2012-2013 Reading Olympics. Mrs. Knaster, Mrs. Mack, and Mrs. Siegel were the driving force behind the two teams that represented Bradford Heights. This group of dedicated students spent the last year reading a variety of books in order to compete. Once this school year began, the students attended monthly and weekly meetings. We are all very proud of the hard work and commitment that led to the Bulldog e-Readers and Bulldog Readers both earning blue ribbons. Congratulations for a job well done! A thank you also goes out to Miss Albero, Miss Howard, Mrs. Rooney, and Dr. Solon for helping out on the night of the Olympics. The write up is not complete without another HUGE thanks to the parents for supporting their child in this commitment.
Participating students for the Reading Bulldogs were: Team leader: Jack Guardiola, Co-Captain: Emily Clemson, Team Members: Bridget Bowser, Isabella Chiappa, Kendall Henry, Jessica Hobart, Kara Long, Ryan McNeill, Kari Schmidt, Robbie Swarter, and Shruti Velan.
Participating students for the e-Reading Bulldogs were: Team Leader: Melody Yu, Co-captain: Lili Zebluim,Team Members: Jonathan Bailey, Taylor Blankley, Anna Bowman, Gillian Christopher, Sean Herrmann, Madeleine Mailoux, Ben Meunier, Emily Panza, and Tanner Peck.
This week, fourth graders at Brandywine Wallace shared their iMovies about Pennsylvania counties. These cross curricular projects combined standards from ELA, Social Studies, and Technology. Miss Kinderman taught the students how to use this technology to present their research. In addition, fourth graders who demonstrate their best effort and their best behavior during each month have the opportunity to serve as Kindergarten Learning Assistants. Students who have completed homework, class work, and made good behavior choices throughout the previous month are rewarded with a small prize from Mrs. Leib and the chance to help in a kindergarten classroom. This monthly activity has become very popular, but we are still waiting to have every fourth grader qualify for this extra activity!! Thanks to the collaboration of our fourth grade team of Ms. DiMartin, Miss Kinderman, and Mrs. Sachs, along with our kindergarten team of Mrs. Ericson and Mrs. Martin for this worthwhile and motivating series of events.
Students in grades K-5 at East Ward planted their crops this week in our Giving Garden. Students learned about the various vegetables they planted, and how to care for them. Students will be taking turns caring for their crops until harvesting time. Additionally, our 5th graders have continued their composting efforts. It looks like they will be able to add compost to their raised beds before the school year concludes. The harvest will benefit the Lord's Pantry. 5th grade students will be filling over 100 care packages for the USO of PA. We are supporting the men and women of the armed forces by collecting donations for many items they need. This will take place on Apr. 23-24 with a junior, Cayla Williams, from STEM Academy.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN VISITS Lionville Elementary
In two school-wide assemblies, students learned all about Benjamin Franklin and his contributions in the areas of journalism, politics and science. Mr. Franklin brought his glass armonica and played a beautiful tune on the instrument (spinning glass bowls) and demonstrated electricity using the Van de Graff generator (photo on left). We are very grateful to our Home and School for paying for this wonderful program.
Reading Olympics. For the first time in the school's history, West Bradford had two well-trained teams enter the Chester County competition...and both teams earned first place standings! Mr. Matt Cibelli, Mrs. Elena Margolin and Miss Karen Steidler, fifth grade teachers, worked with our teams of fourth and fifth graders throughout the year. Congrats! WB has established ourselves as a school to be reckoned with! (with which to be reckoned?)....
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Rhea Kumar (Captain) |
Anna Bolembach (Capt) | |
Jillian Weathington (Alt. Capt) |
Rishab Peddireddy (Alt.Capt) | |
Will Connolly |
Addison Hand | |
Jules Pearson |
Colin Dougherty | |
Ryan Schlosser |
Heather Cassel | |
Caitlyn Haney |
Anne Kennedy | |
Ali Haider |
Maddie Perkins | |
Taylor Root |
Brennan Leahy | |
Mason Walker |
Bevan Watson | |
Joe Mears |
Lizzie Rinehart | |
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Heidi Beardsley |
Lionville Middle School Sra. Reitbauer and her student teacher, Srta. Montgomery, recently completed unit 5-1 with their Spanish II students. Through completing various activities, students were able to employ critical thinking skills as they compared the Spanish language and the culture of Spain with their own community. The students also connected to other academic subjects, using their knowledge of Spanish to access new information. The students learned to identify and describe ingredients, talked about food preparation and followed recipes, gave instructions and made recommendations, ordered meals in a restaurant, talked about meals and dishes and described food and service.To culminate the unit, a "Foods Day Celebration"was held . All of the students researched authentic Spanish recipes, received prior approval of their recipe choices, and prepared and brought to class their wonderful creations. As well as tasting foods such as: Patatas Bravas ,Tortilla Espaņola,CascadiaFideua,Churros,Empanadas,Pan con Tomate,and Polvorones ; the students explained the ingredients and the steps in preparing their recipes entirely in Spanish. It was a fun and valuable lesson for these novice "cocineros"/chefs.
The Theater Arts classes at DHS East will be performing "An Evening of One Acts", their annual culminating theater project, on Thursday and Friday, April 25th and 26th at 7:00pm in the West auditorium. Students have completed every phase of producing a play: choosing the play, selecting a director, and casting, as well as designing and executing all technical aspects including lights, sound, set, props, costumes and publicity. Open to the public, tickets are just $5.00 at the door.
DHS West This past weekend, the indoor drum line won the Mid Atlantic Percussion Society Championships for the second time in a row in the Scholastic A division. As a result of their performance this season they have been once again invited to compete in the 2013 World Championships in Dayton, Ohio at the University of Dayton.
The indoor drum line has been in existence since 1983 - 1999 and then reformed in 2001-2002 school year to the present.
STEM had more than two dozen students qualify to attend the 2013 FBLA State
Leadership Conference at Hershey Lodge from Sunday, April 14th through Wednesday,
April 17th. To qualify, students had to be one of the top scorers in their event at the
regional level held in December at the STEM Academy.
At this year's conference, Sharika Bamezai was elected by her peers to serve as the PA
FBLA state Secretary for the 2013/2014 school year. In order to get elected, she had to
go through an extensive process of applying, interviewing, and delivered a campaign
speech in front of over 4,000 members at the Conference's opening session. As her
adviser, Mrs. Mary Beth Tomlinson was elected to serve on the Executive Committee for
the State.
The top three competitors in each event qualify for the National Conference which will
be June 25th - July 1st in Anaheim, CA.
First Place:
Steve Vitali, Cyber Security
Second Place:
Michelle Cheng, Accounting
Jeremy Cleary, Sports Management
Third Place:
Dhananjay Ramachandran, Technology Concepts
Robotics - The FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Team 1640 (Sab-BOT-age), in alliance with teams 2729 (Storm Robotics) and 2590 (Nemesis) won the Mid-Atlantic Region Championship on April 14, 2013 at Lehigh University. Team 1640 will be going on the Championship competition in St. Louis as a result of this victory.
The team did a great job this year of building a well-balanced robot to meet the demands of the 2013 game, Ultimate Ascent. DEWBOT IX is a low, super-agile Frisbee shooter capable of climbing to the pyramid top. While designed for offense, the robot is also very capable of playing a defensive role when needed.
In addition to winning the MAR championship, 1640 received the Creativity Award sponsored by Xerox at the Hatboro-Horsham district competition for an HUD aiming system and Rockwell Automation's Innovation in Control Award at Chestnut Hill for our pyramid-climbing caterpillar drive.
Our sincerest thanks to our sponsors, mentors and alliance partners for making this success possible.
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