 The D-Link
An E-Newsletter for the DASD Community May 3, 2013 - Vol 4, Issue17 |
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Superintendent's Update |
 Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.
The Special Olympic Oath
In 1968, a physical education teacher in Chicago approached Eunice Kennedy Schriver with an idea for a one-time Olympic style athletic competition for people with special needs. Over 1000 athletes from across the US and Canada participated in that first event. It was such a great success that Mrs. Shriver announced the formation of the Special Olympics at the conclusion of those games. In 1971, the U.S. Olympic Committee gave the Special Olyumpics official approval to use the term "Olympics". Forty-four years later, over 4 million athletes from over 170 countries participate in some aspect of the Special Olympic Program.
On Thursday, our DASD athletes travelled to Coatesville's stadium to compete in Chester County's Special Olympics. DASD students competed in a number of track and field events, including the 25 meter walk, 50 meter dash, the long jump, tennis ball throw, shot put and javelin throw.
It was a beautiful May day for this outstanding event. Our DASD athletes enjoyed every moment, either watching their teammates or participating in the meets. The experience of competing on a professional track with hundreds of cheering friends and relatives in the stands is a moment they will long remember. Thank you to our Pupil Services Department, our teachers and aides for making this day possible. And an additional shout-out to DHS East teacher Darryl Darlak for organizing DASD's participation in this event each year.
Dr. Larry Mussoline,
Superintendent |
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 Congratulations to our Special Olympic Athletes |  Members of the Bradford Heights Team and their principal, Dr. Michael Solon. |
West Bradford Elementary's Mosaic | |
Monday was Mosaic Day at West Bradford! Community, parents, students, staff, high school art students, WCU art students joined together for a day of creating! Participants "glued on" thousands of tiles created by every member of the WB family (and then some) onto forty-eight 3'x5' panels. This has been a year long labor of love and learning integrated with grade level curricula, and is coming to the finish line soon! Panels will be attached across the front of our building and grouted. The official "unveiling" is Thursday, May 16 at 7PM! |
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WXTU's Crockett Thanks District for Honoring Military and Veterans |
 | | Military Parking Signs at the Downingtown School District |
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School Board News | |
Redistricting Vote
The School Board will be voting on the Redistricting Steering Committee's two recommendations for rebalancing the district at the May 8, 2013 School Board meeting. Click here for the recommendations. Click here for the recommendations. Click here for the recommendations.
Contract Ratified
The Downingtown Area School Board and the Downingtown Area Education Association are pleased to announce that both parties have ratified a four-year contract which will both reward teachers and help the district save on costs in a challenging economic environment.Click here for more information.
Budget
The Board will vote on Wednesday evening, May 8th for preliminary approval of a resolution adopting the 2013-2014 budget. The budget proposal includes a 1.17 percent tax increase to help bridge the budget gap for the 2013-14 year. For the average homeowner, the 1.17 percent increase will translate into a $56.43 increase in their taxes. The decreased tax increase is possible due to fuel savings of $76,000, a $73,000 reduction in elementary special education aide hours, special education tuition reductions of $72,000; and an estimated $66,000 reduction in health care. The earned income tax is also expected to generate $75,000 more than previously expected, and the real estate transfer tax $50,000 more than previously expected.
Thank You Marissa!
DHS West High School senior, Marissa Tremoglie, has been honored for her exemplary volunteer service with a state-level Certificate of Excellence from the 2013 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program and has received a scholarship to St. Joseph's University. For the last two years, she has served as the Board's DHS West School Board representative wisely and with humor. Thank you, Marissa, for your service to the Board. We wish you the all the best in college and beyond.
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After-School Elementary Enrichment Clubs | |
The Downingtown Area School District, partnering with the Downingtown Community Education Foundation, is in the initial planning stages of developing three after-school enrichment clubs for students at the elementary level. DASD administrators and curriculum leaders would develop the programs. Sessions would be taught by DASD teachers. The programs would run for two hours for 6-8 weeks. High School students, interested in the three pathways, would serve as junior counselors.
To start the ball rolling, parents in grades 2 - 4 were asked to complete a survey that measured their interest in the following three programs:
1) Robotics - Using the Lego Mindstream program
2) I Can Build ... Anything! - using the Boston Science Museum's Engineering is Elementary Program
3) World Language - Immersion in a world language via conversations and hands-on situations.
The results of the survey were overwhelmingly positive. We received over 640 positive responses with equal interest in all three clubs. Next steps are consideration of resources, teacher recruitment, partnership opportunities and a preliminary budget. The proposed project will come before the School Board for approval in June. More information will be available in the weeks to come.
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May Madness |
MAY MASCOT MADNESS -
The first ever May Mascot Madness starts today!!! Between now and May 23, 2013, students and staff will compete to see which building in the district is the most active. All students and employees are eligible. Students are encouraged to participate in a physical activity or exercise for up to an hour a day. Click here to track your activity. Or, you can visit the District website to access the Scorecard and track your activity.
The building with the highest average physical activity by staff and students wins. The winning building will receive $500 to use for their 2013-2014 wellness program and the May Mascot Madness Cup! Let the Madness begin!
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Congratulations to DHS East art teacher Terri Lee Cook on her display of bronzed animals now on display at the Historic Yellow Spings art show. Terri Lee (Morris Cook) has been a featured artist in the show for many years. The carousel of animals took her 20 years to finish! Click here on how to view her artwork.
Aidan's Heart Foundation/5K for Aidan J., a local charitable foundation, and Viropharma Incorporated, a pharmaceutical company, in partnership with The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), will provide free heart screenings for students, 5 - 19 years of age, on Saturday June 1, 2013 at Downingtown West High School. The address of school is: 445 Manor Avenue in Downingtown, PA. Click here for more information!
Congrats to the DEHS Choir and Orchestra on outstanding performances this past weekend at the New York Festival of Music: The Orchestra took home a 2nd place trophy in their division with an excellent rating. Concert Choir finished 3rd place in their division with an excellent rating. Bel Canto finished in 2nd place in their division with an excellent rating. Men's Choir finished in 1st place in their division with an excellent rating. Masterworks finished in 1st place in their division with a superior rating. They also won the award for best overall mixed choir. Women's Choir finished in 1st place in their division with a superior rating and won the award for best overall choir at the festival. Senior pianist Terry Tan won an individual award for outstanding accompanist at the Festival and Vocal Ensemble won 1st place with an excellent rating in the Show Choir category. This is the first time they've ever competed as a Show Choir instead of a Jazz/Swing Choir so this is also a special achievement.
Congratulations to our 2013 Shining Stars!
The Downingtown Area School District is pleased to announce that three students have been named a "Shining Star" in the Keystone Federal Credit Union's fifth annual Shining Star Award program. The program was created to recognize students who have shown noticeable improvement throughout the school year. The areas covered in the award could include academics, extra-curricular involvement, attendance or classroom conduct.
From January through March, teachers nominate their most improved students for the award, writing a paragraph about a student in one of their classes who they feel best embodies the spirit of this award. All nominated students receive a certificate of recognition from Keystone FCU. Finalists are selected from each of the 12 school districts in Chester County.
Shining Star winners each receive a $200 share certificate of deposit and a trophy. Nominating teachers receive a $200 gift certificate to a teacher supply store for classroom supplies.
Elementary - East Ward
Nicholas Scott
Middle School - LMS
Michael Watts
STEM Academy
Patrick Drago
 Congratulations to Team SWAT for winning the 2013 Julia Kivlin Volleyball Tournament. Team Swat members Eric Glass, Eric Hopton, Lee Ann Rumpf, Stephanie Reimers, Sonya Legere, Mike Getz, and Rob Ruch pose for the championship picture with Kevin, Tess, Justine and Helen Kivlin. Team SWAT went undefeated in the 20 team tournament with a perfect 8-0 record, defeating the defending champion "Dream Team" 25-21 in the finals. Way to go, Team SWAT! The tournament raised $5004.42 for the CHOP Foundation for Pediatric Brain Cancer Research.
BW - Our excited Envirothon team competed on Wednesday in the county-wide competition at Hibernia Park. We are proud of all that our students have learned about their environment! Thanks to Mrs. Cain, Mrs. Girard, and Mrs. Laverty for leading our team! In addition, students from Miss Elasfari's and Mrs. Blackburn's classes competed in the Special Olympics on Thursday, leaving the building to board their buses to the cheers of staff and students!
PV - On Monday, April 29th, Pickering Valley Elementary School held its Spring Concert featuring the Band, Chorus and Strings. Under the direction of Ms. Heather Siegfried, the strings performed five songs; Gaelic Castle, The Yucatan Waltz, Ballad of the Silver Spur, Jamaican Spice and Fancy Fiddles. Jamaican Spice was a Caribbean song which included the maracas and claves. Ballad of the Silver Spur made the audience feel they were touring the old west. The band, directed by Bob Carpency, performed School Spirit, Temple of Darkness, Patriotic Bits & Pieces and Traffic Jam. Students enjoyed listening to Traffic Jam which featured a whistle and bicycle horn in the percussion section. Mrs. Shannon Kamph directed the 4th and 5th grade chorus. The song, Someone's in the Kitchen, featured a Pots and Pans Ensemble, followed by the song Pasta where the students put on chef hats. Next, four soloists, Zoe Sabadish, Olivia Hahn, Ryan Johnston and Ava Vendetti- Spahr, were featured in Life's a Happy Song. The last chorus song featured hand movements, called I'd Rather be Happy. Lastly, all three ensembles performed I'm Proud to be an American. Thanks to Mr. Carpency for arranging the song for each group so they could play together. Students in the chorus held up state names during the performance.
LMS - On Friday, April 26th Lionville Middle School hosted its first Student Film Festival. Nine different movies were premiered that were all written and directed by students. Entries were submitted including music videos, animations, fantasy, comedy, foreign language and short documentaries. Live voting took place at the end of the night to select the nights best film. Maisy Meyer's animation "Forever and Always" received majority vote and took home the trophy for best film. Over forty students were involved in the event, two hundred students, family, and friends attended the premiere, and just over $1,300 was raised and donated to the American Cancer Society.
DHS West - On Friday, April 26th, Downingtown West sponsored "A Day Without Hate". Banners with positive messages were posted throughout the school and students were challenged to exhibit positive behavior. Songs were played over the PA before each period and the challenge for that period was issued. Kudos to Student Council Advisor, Brandon Mitchell, and Junior Class Advisor, Lynn Monarch, for coordinating this event.
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