The D-Link
An E-Newsletter for the DASD Community April 4, 2014 - Vol 5, Issue 15 |
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Superintendent's Update |
 | | Dr. Lawrence Mussoline |
Greetings from the Superintendent!
High school students in the Downingtown Area School District now have multiple options for them to consider when it comes to the high school experience. Three years ago the district opened the Downingtown STEM Academy, a magnet high school featuring STEM pathways and the International Baccalaureate Curriculum. DHS East and West seniors can now participate in the P.R.O. program (Pupils Reaching Out) and explore future careers by interning several hours a week in a local business. Next year, the district's new Ivy Academy will provide East and West students with "blended" learning opportunities - courses that combine face-to-face classroom study with independent online study.
Kristie Burk is The Ivy Academy's coordinator. I've asked Kristie to use my column to tell you a little more about this exciting program.
The Ivy Academy by Kristie Burk
The Ivy Academy, Downingtown Area School District's newest blended learning program, is pleased to announce that 453 DHS East and DHS West high school students have registered to participate in a blended class for the 2014-15 school year. What is a "blended" class? Students taking a blended class will be face-to-face with their teachers and classmates 2 or 3 times a week and be online the rest of the time. When not in class students can meet with teachers or work alone or with classmates in the library or the high school's new "cyber" cafes.
We are excited to have 24 blended classes available for next year; four classes will even have multiple sections. These include, among others, classes in Honors English, Environmental Science, Music, CAD, Architecture and Law. In addition, almost 20% of the Ivy Academy students are registered for more than one blended class. The Ivy Academy will offer a unique educational opportunity for students that is not currently offered at any other public high school in Chester County.
The Ivy Academy is BYOD (Bring Your Own Device). However, there will be laptops and iPads available to students throughout the day if they do not wish to bring a device to school.
There are a few spots still remaining in some sections of the Ivy Academy courses. If students are interested in taking a blended class, they should contact their guidance counselor as soon as possible. If you have any questions about the Ivy Academy, please contact the district's Cyber Coordinator, Kristie Burk, at KristieBurk@dasd.org.
Lawrence Mussoline, Ph.D.
Superintendent
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| DASD Citadel Heart of Learning Award Winner |  Congratulations to DHS West music teacher Matt McCloskey on being named the DASD Citadel Heart of Learning Award Winner. Matt was one of more than 100 DASD teachers nominated by parents or colleaques for their excellent work with our district children.
Matt was surprised with the announcement at the April 2nd faculty meeting. Following the presentation a short reception was held with music supplied by one of his talented choirs.
Matt is now entered into the final selection process and will be awarded $500 to use in his classroom. He will be one of 15 area teachers recognized at the Citadel's annual award dinner in May. |
| "The Experience" was a great success! |  The Winter/Spring DCEF classes after school program, "The Experience" ended on Monday, March 31, 2014. Many thanks to the 25 DASD teachers who helped kick off this new program by sharing their professionalism and expertise with over 350 DASD children.
Here are some of the comments we received from parents.
- The instructor was wonderful.
- Great programming
- My daughter thoroughly enjoyed the program and looked forward to attending every week.
- Thank you! Jimmy loved the program.
- My son has really enjoyed the class and would love to try more engineering topics!
- I can't tell you enough how much my 3rd grade son loved his Robotics course. He has not been able to stop talking about it and is very sad that it's coming to an end.
- Thank you for offering such a great program for our kids!
PV teacher Audrey Blust was an engineering instructor in the winter/spring program and put together this great video to show the progress of her engineering club from beginning through the end!
http://youtu.be/MX-Mu-Ujxfk The DCEF is considering a summer program to be offered during the week of July 14, 2014. The morning program will run from 9 - 12 noon Monday through Thursday and will take place at DHS East. Pre and post camp care can be arranged with the YMCA in Lionville. More details will be sent to parents once the teachers and programs are confirmed. |
| STEM Hosts Career Fair |
On Tuesday, April 1st, the STEM Academy had the privilege of hosting an "Occupation Day" in which professionals set up tables in the Knowledge Commons and shared information with students about their career. CTDI, a global engineering, repair and logistics company, DSM, a biomedical company who works to help broaden physician's capabilities by creating products, and Y Prime, a company that offers clinical support services and innovative software solutions to help plan and manage clinical trials, are just three of the many businesses that were present. The representatives offered free pens, pamphlets, and information about their careers. The students enjoyed exploring the various occupations and being able to ask questions to a professional in these fields. |
A Student's View by Emilie Gazzerro, senior, DHS West
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 While selecting a college is typically the most important decision made during senior year, the next step of finding a room mate can be just as daunting. This may seem like a minor detail, but after realizing you will be living and sleeping in very tight quarters with a total stranger, you begin to appreciate how comfortable and easy it has been living with your family. Many schools offer personality questionnaires to help students find a good "match", but for students attending schools that randomly select room mates (like mine), the search on social media begins.
Hundreds of incoming freshman in accepted students Facebook groups post about their music tastes, intended major, hobbies, likes and dislikes, and typically finish with "feel free to message me if you think we would make good roomies!". So, what is next step after reading a three sentence summary of a stranger and you need to decide if you could live with them for a year? Dig through their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, of course!
This brings me to the purpose of my article. Every photo, status, and tweet we barely think twice about posting is on the Internet forever. What about that embarrassing photo of me from sixth grade when I had braces and frizzy hair, or that tweet I posted last weekend? Even when deleted, it is never truly gone. Our social media networks reflect who we are, and matter even if you are not searching for a room mate. Several years down the road when students my age are looking for a job, employers can easily Google our names and dig through our pictures and posts just like I am while "on the hunt" for a room mate.
So while it seems as if these social media networks are just for fun and do not matter, try to remember the impression they will make years from now!
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Around the District | |
 Lionville Elementary was awash in colors last month as students celebrated "Roaring about the Arts Spirit Week".
Art Teacher Laura Roth used the week-long event to create awareness and appreciation that people are surrounded by art. Music Teacher Janine Weiss chose the music to accompany the art themes.
As you can see from the photograph (left) the two wore coordinating outfits geared to the theme of the day and appeared daily on the school's television station with a lesson on each theme.
The days' themes included primary and secondary colors, complementary colors, warm and cool colors and crazy patterns. Students and staff were encouraged to wear the designated themed colors each day.
Lionville's "Youth Art Month and Music in Schools" week was a featured story in the March 21, 2014 Daily Local News. Click here for the entire article.
DHS West Principal Kurt Barker took some time out of his busy schedule to help raise money for DHS West's Post Prom Party. Students paid $1.00 a throw to try to hit Mr. Barker in the face with a pie.
The DHS East Volleyball Team is hosting a volleyball tournament on april 4, 2014 from 4:30 to 10:00 p.m. in Julia Kivlin's memory. Julia would have been a senior this year, but she lost her courageous battle with brain cancer on Feb. 26, 2011, just 3 days after her 15th birthday. Come and watch the fun (asking for a donation for admission)! We will also be selling our beautiful beaded 'Jewels for Julia' bracelets for $10 each at the event. 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 April 30, 2014.
Congratulations to the Pickering Valley Staff Volleyball Team on their victory in this year's tournament play!
MARCH MASCOT MADNESS!
THE WINNER IS SHAMONA CREEK ELEMENTARY SHARKS!
Congratulations to Shamona Creek Elementary School on winning this year's March Mascot Madness challenger. Lionville Elementary, last year's winner, finished second. Amazingly,the District compiled a total of 524,895 minutes of physical activity/exercise! That is almost 8,750 hours! All of that activity was completed by 1,580 students (1,233) and staff members (347)! Everyone should be commended for their efforts and participation! A big THANK YOU to the School Health Councils and other volunteers at each school who worked hard to make this competition happen!
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