The D-Link
An E-Newsletter for the DASD Community November 28, 2013 - Vol 5, Issue 8 |
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Superintendent's Update |
Greetings!
Today is Thanksgiving Day and I for one cannot wait to sit down with my family to share a good meal and quiet conversation. I'm going to peel the potatoes, watch some of the morning parades, catch an afternoon football game (or two), and eat more than I should.
I asked some of the staff in the Central Office how they spent their 2012 Thanksgiving Day, I learned from one how he was stuck for hours on rt. 95 - but his waiting family kept the food warm and they all ate together when he arrived. Another staff member forgot to turn on the oven - but put the bird in to cook anyway. They discovered the mistake hours later when the house wasn't filling with the smell of a roasting turkey. Another administrator drove for an hour looking for a store that still had heavy cream on the shelves - because who can eat pumpkin pie without whipped cream? As each related their story to me, they were smiling. Although none had a perfect "Norman Rockwell" type Thanksgiving - each one had a memory to share at future family gatherings.
Most of us understand that strong family ties are necessary in this hectic, busy life we lead. Research shows that children are much less likely to drink alcohol, experiment with drugs, become sexually active, or pursue other "risky" behaviors when they know they can depend on their family for grounding. Providing love and support and setting appropriate boundaries helps a child develop self-confidence, compassion and a respect for others.
While families will always remain the primary influence for successful youth development, schools and community organizations both make great contributions to the success of children and youth both directly and through family strengthening activities. That said, I would like to take this opportunity to thank "Communities that Cares" (CTC) a local organization that uses a community-wide approach to reducing juvenile behavior problems. CTC hosted three Town Hall meetings across the district this month to review the annual Pennsylvania Youth Survey on drug and alcohol consumption. This organization continues to support our students, our families and our communities with a variety of helpful and educational programs.
In closing, I wish you all a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving Day. Jot down a few of the "memories" you'll make this year. Share a laugh and stay warm!
Dr. Larry Mussoline
Superintendent
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| DASD Book Group Discusses The Global Fourth Way, By Jennifer Saksa | |
On November 19, 2013 over 80 excited DASD educators hunkered down over dinner to discuss the world's most effective educational systems in our annual book study. Participants read the new book, The Global Fourth Way. In it Boston College professors and internationally-recognized researchers Andy Hargreaves and Dennis Shirley reveal the most effective educational changes from around the world.
Lively discussions centered on the "fourth way" of educational reform: one that embraces inclusivity, personalized learning, highly qualified professional staff, community focused networks, responsive teaching, and public engagement. Highlights included Finland's recruitment of top graduates to become teachers who spend more time in professional development than they do in front of students; Singapore's centralized system's use of innovation and intense professional interactions to transform into a top education system that is able to live in paradox; two Canadian provinces' focus on collective autonomy to improve student performance; California's professional association's focus on moving forward as change-makers, and one English system's development of a vision based on what the community valued, and its subsequent transformation into one of the nation's top-performing schools.
Small group discussions included key points and important questions, allowing teachers from all 15 DASD schools and central administrators to interact and share ideas.
The evening provided a terrific opportunity to collaborate with colleagues. One teacher's remarks echoed those of many when she said, "I enjoyed the opportunity to read an enlightening book, discuss with colleagues that I don't usually see, and hear Dr. Mussoline's vision for our district. I look forward to it every year! |
| Thank you to our DASD Community | |
On this Thanksgiving morning, the D-Link would like to thank the staff, students, parents and community members of our district who are helping those less fortunate. Here is just a partial list of some of the service activities that our schools participated in 2012-2013. (Information for DHS East and STEM was not available at press time)
BC- At Beaver Creek donations were collected to support 35 of our Beaver Creek Families in need at the holidays. Each family received Wal-mart and Giant gift cards relative to the number of younger children in the family. We also received donation fund matching from Barclay Cards and we received brand new coats for the children in these families thanks to the donations from The Ashbridge Aquatics organization. A donation was made to UNICEF and we're about to send a donation to Red Cross for Hurricane Sandy.
BH-Bradford Heights has provided gifts to 15 families through the assistance of our HAS Helping Hands. Taylor Schorn (5th Grader) collected new Teddy Bears to be shared with children in the hospital. Three students, Serena Valvardi (grade 6), Alexis Nush (grade 6) and John Valvardi (grade 2) collected supplies for La Mancha Animal Rescue.
BW-Our community (staff and parents) provided Thanksgiving dinners for 6 families and we are providing holiday gifts for 7 BW families.
LE-We support 18 Lionville Elementary families in need. Our Caring and Sharing Program run jointly by Home and School and LE staff conducts fundraisers to purchase gift cards. Families donate turkeys and Stouffers' Lasagna to provide to each family in addition to the gift cards. We also did this at Thanksgiving time.
PV-Cares Committees, toys for Tommy gifts were collected and donated toys in his memory to the victims of Hurricane Sandy. Turkey Drive for the Lord's pantry
SC-In addition to the recycled toys program, SC parents and staff raised nearly $650 to help students and their families for the holidays. (Gift cards were purchased and distributed.) SC helped 5 families with gift cards and some smaller items.
SM-At Springton Manor Elem, we had a "Giving Tree" with gift tags for parents & staff to select, purchase the item on the tag, and return the wrapped gift to the school with the tag taped to the top. Gift tags were filled out by our H & S Community Services committee to reflect items from "wish lists" from 3 families in our school that were interested in some help for the holidays, along with tags of items for victims of Hurricane Sandy in Ocean Side, New Jersey. Our morning Broadcast Club made announcements about the "Giving Tree." We posted flyers and had the H & S promote it with their weekly "Mustang Minute" email list, and also an online version of all gift tags that were still available. We also collected non perishable food items and a frozen turkey for each family and have Gift Cards for all of them. There were a number of Gift Cards and larger cash donations that the Home & School will use to purchase items from remaining gift tags on the "Giving Tree." Deliveries of food, gifts & Gift Cards will be made at the end of this week. This year was the most successful gift drive ever for Springton Manor.
UH- The Oak Tree Program at Uwchlan Hills has continued this holiday season to coordinate donations from staff and UH families of toys, gift cards, holiday dinners, clothing, and more. Several of our families benefit from the efforts of this amazing program.
WB- Collected toys for 8 WB families. Totaling 28 children! Each family will also receive a box of dry goods (veggies, fruits, cake mix, stuffing etc). As a faculty we are also making donations to Sandy Hook Elementary School Support Fund.
DMS-DMS is running its annual holiday gift drive again this year. Through the generosity of a local church and its parishioners and that of our very own students and staff, DMS is able to support 47 families this holiday season. Families in need are provided with toys, clothes, gift cards, generous food donations from DAEA and more in an effort to make their holidays brighter. Proceeds collected from various events such as our 6th grade Halloween Dance and the Breakfast with the Turkey helped supplement the purchase of several grocery gift cards that were included with the gift bundles.
In addition, Student Council orchestrates a huge gift drive to secure gifts for 265, 3 - 5 year olds at three Head Start locations in Chester County. Gifts are distributed by our own DMS Santa and Student Council elves.
LMS-Staff collect gifts and gift cards for over 25 needy families at LMS. The gifts collected are also used to allow students from these families to holiday shop for their families. Staff wrap each gift and volunteers deliver packages to the home in need.
DHS WEST is assisting close to ten West families through HSA Helping Hands fund and National Honor Society Giving Tree.
Central Office- Collected plastic toys for the recycling toy drive, and with information from the Guidance department, CO was able to collect a variety of gifts and multiple gift cards for four DASD families in need this holiday season.
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A Student's View by Emilie Gazzerro, senior, DHS West |
 As graduation steadily approaches and we count down the days we have left with our peers, we need not forget this is a countdown of days left with our families, as well.
We currently see our parents, siblings or other family members everyday, but this time, which is usually taken for granted, will be greatly anticipated once we depart for college, service, or other endeavors. While I often take my parent's constant presense for granted, I know I will long for my mother's impeccable baking and father's silly jokes not long after I move out of the house and into a dorm.
Hopefully every student, not just the seniors, will spend some quality time this Thanksgiving break with their families. While it is extrememly tempting to spend our days off at the movies or out with our friends, we cannot forget to enjoy the company of our loved ones at home while we have the chance.
With the enticing aroma of Thanksgiving meal in the air, the chilly weather outisde, and our families and loved ones beside us, let us remember to truly give thanks for the blessings in our lives. Happy Thanksgiving! |
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What's Happening in the District? | |
Students in the Springton Manor student council have been working to make the holidays brighter for area families. The students, under the direction of teacher Ellen Donohue and Guidance Counselor Lauren Magill, invited their fellow classmates to bring in canned goods, stuffing and other non-perishables. The drive lasted for three weeks, ending on November 22, 2013, and as you can see from the photo above, dozens of donations rolled in from Springton Manor families. The classroom that had the most donations received a free kid's meal for each student, courtesy of the Chick-Fil-A in Lionville. All donations were donated to the Lord's Pantry in Downingtown.
Lionville Middle School Turkey Trot
 Students at Lionville Middle School held the school's annual Turkey Trot on Tuesday. At 9:15 am, students began taking multiple trips around the school. A short time later, the teams broke up into groups and paraded their handmade floats passed the judges - Board members Jane Bertone, Jamie Mehler and Suzanne Simonelli. The floats were all very creative and included a Liberty Bell with Abe and Mary Lincoln, one made with materials gathered from the school grounds and multiple versions that included a turkey or a lion.
Holiday Gift Cards
It's the most wonderful time of the year... for greeting cards!
For the 28th year, DASD high school student artists have created holiday greeting cards for our community to enjoy.
The Downingtown Community Education Foundation is offering you a chance to purchase these cards to send to your loved ones and friends. All proceeds from the sale of these cards will go to support the art program in the Downingtown Area School District.
You may purchase a 6 pack of assorted holiday greeting cards (two of each) for $6.00, or a 12 pack of assorted holiday greeting cards (four of each card) for $11.00, or a six pack or a twelve pack of holiday cards by a specific artist. To view all the cards, including a set of student designed greeting cards for all occassions, click here.
Attack Counter Measures Training
Security experts Alon Stivi, the head of ACT CERT and Bill Latorre, president of Latorre Consulting were in the district on Wednesday to administrators and staff in the district's 15 schools how to protect themselves from an active shooter. Stivi is a Counter Terrorism Specialist while Latorre is a former Pennsylvania State trooper. The District is the first in Pennsylvania to learn Stivi's ACT program - Attack Counter Measures Training - methods to use should an active shooter enter the building.
Channel 10's Harry Hairston was present during the training and shared this report with his viewers.
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