Head of School Update

Mr. Art Campbell, Head of School

Ms. Kelly Stauffer, Admin. Asst. to the Head of School

Upcoming Events/No School Days

• November 3: Veteran's Day Assembly for grades 10/11- "Character Matters" presented by the Travis Manion Foundation. We are excited to welcome the Travis Manion Foundation's Character Does Matter (CDM) program to the STEM Academy for a special Veteran's Day assembly. Our 10th and 11th grader students will take part in the unique CDM youth mentorship initiative where veteran, and Travis Manion Foundation representative, Jimmy White will share powerful stories, activities, and small group discussions to help our students develop their character and leadership skills. We look forward to this inspiring lesson and appreciate the initiative of the Travis Manion Foundation. Please take a moment to read Jimmy' White's Bio, and listen to his TEDx Talk.
• November 4: No School for Students/PD for staff
• November 13: STEM Academy Powderpuff Game (More information coming soon!)
• November 15: STEM Academy Homecoming Dance (held at DEast HS) - tickets will be on sale beginning Monday, November 3. See Ms. K. Austin or Mr. Brad Horstmann (Student Council Advisors, with any questions.)
• November 25: No School for Students/ Parent-Teacher Conferences: The sign up link will be shared in early November. The link to sign up will open at 3:00 pm on November 12.
• November 26-28: No School For Students/Thanksgiving Recess

Many events, including college visits for the senior class during the school day, have been added to our STEM Academy website calendar and will be updated throughout the school year.

Have commencement questions or any questions with regards to any of the information below? Please contact Kelly Stauffer.

While the month of June seems so far away, it will be here before we know it! The portal for ordering Caps and Gowns for the Class of 2026 has now opened.

Caps/Gowns and Stoles: Each graduate is responsible for purchasing a cap, gown and stole for graduation. The cost of this package is $38.00 including tax. Other items are available for sale as well through the website.

The Cap/Gown Stole orders should be placed as soon as possible to ensure we have the bulk shipment for STEM students delivered after January 1, so that items can be properly prepared for graduation. Once shipped, grad packs will remain at STEM until graduation in June.

• Online Ordering steps:Go to: Herff Jones SHOP Grad Products Website.
• Click the Cap and Gown Grad Pack tab (located next to Announcements & Accessories)
• Choose Basic Cap, Gown, Tassel and Stole Package: $35.85 +tax ($38.00 total)
• Includes Cap, Gown, Tassel and Silkscreen Stole. Be sure to enter height and weight information that is requested when you clik on the picture of the package. After that information is added, then click add to cart.

Should there be any questions, please contact sbgerhart@herffjones.com

Senior Early Dismissal/Late Arrival Form (Senior Privileges) 25-26: This form grants Early Dismissal/Late Arrival permission for Senior Class students. Students are responsible for printing out this form and obtaining all necessary signatures. Mr. Campbell will provide his signature after all others have been obtained. Once final approval is given, students will receive a notice to come to the office to see Ms. Sokso.

STEM Academy Class of 2026 Senior Class Parking Permit: As a reminder, the parking permit application for the Class of 2026 must be completed by the student using their DASD student email address. For future reference, this information can also be found on our website, under "Backpack."

College visits are being added as they are scheduled and confirmed to the STEM Calendar on our website. These visits are subject to change as colleges change availability. Visits will be scheduled during lunch and learn times, and some seminar dates. If there are any questions, students should check in with the counseling office.

STEM Class of 2026 IB Exam Schedule as of July 30, 2025: Be sure to check for updates throughout the year, as the schedule changes from time to time.

The Common Application is open for the Class of 2026!!

Remember this is just the starting line, NOT A DEADLINE! No college expects you to submit everything in the first day or week of the application season. Pace yourself and pay attention to deadlines, but do not sacrifice this last month of summer!

Use this FAQ to help in completing your apps and Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR).

Ms. Katherine Cole, Dean of Academics & Student Life

Ms. Kaitlin Brinker, Admin. Asst.

Anticipated Advisory Club Dates for 25-26SY: November 10, December 2, January 15, February 3, February 20, March 11, March 24, March 30, April 20, May 6, May 22

Additional Upcoming events:

The STEM Spirit Pumpkin is currently being transformed under the direction of Ms. Romano, STEM Art Teacher. The Spirit Pumpkin will be on display in the main hall way and students will have the opportuniy to guess the weight.

November 3: Veteran's Day Assembly (Gr. 10/11) (See info below)

November 5: Indian Heritage Event

November 13: STEM Powderpuff Football Game 6:00 pm (info coming soon....this event is also Livestreamed!)

November 15: STEM Homecoming Dance (more info to come)

Ticket sale begin today, Monday, November 3.

Students should use the following link to purchase their dance tickets: HERE! Sales close Thursday, November 13th! Order now! If you have questions or technical issues, please see Ms. Kaylia Austin in room G24.

Bringing a guest that is NOT from DASD? You will need to complete the Guest Form and return to Ms. Kaylia Austin in room G24.

In honor of Veteran's Day this year, on Monday, November 3, we are excited to welcome the Travis Manion Foundation's Character Does Matter (CDM) program to the STEM Academy for a special Veteran's Day assembly. Our 10th and 11th grader students will take part in the unique CDM youth mentorship initiative where veteran, and Travis Manion Foundation representative, Jimmy White will share powerful stories, activities, and small group discussions to help our students develop their character and leadership skills. We look forward to this inspiring lesson and appreciate the initiative of the Travis Manion Foundation.

Please take a moment to read Jimmy' White's Bio, and listen to his TEDx Talk.

Students in grades 9-12 created collaborative cyanotype images during the first two weeks of school. A selection of them are on display at the Downingtown Library during the months of October and November. Others are on display in our Knowledge Commons. Seniors, Krithika Nemala and Mae Dunleavy curated and hung the exhibition with the support of Ms. Barker of the library.

Club meetings during Advisory:

We noticed several students moving between club rooms on the first club day to find a group that fits. For next time, please plan to attend one club meeting consistently.

If you need a quiet space to work during club time, Room G24 is available. Students lingering in the mezzanines, atrium, hallways, KnowCo or StuCo area will need to either join a club or head to G24 during future advisory club days.

Please visit: https://yearbookordercenter.com/job/13813 and enter order code 13813

Any questions? Please contact Ms. Dunn or Ms. Romano.

Interested in traveling with Ms. Sokira-Smith? Our upcoming international tours are designed to support classroom learning through real-world experiences. Students will engage with history, culture, and local communities across multiple countries.

Summer 2027 tour: www.eftours.com/2931915EC.

Summer 2026 tour: www.eftours.com/2828115DT.

For more details please email Ms. Sokira-Smith.

Summer of 2026: The Netherlands, Belgium, France, England

Summer of 2027: Berlin, Prague, Krakow, and Budapest

I hope you’re getting excited for our upcoming travel info session about the Summer 2027 tour through Germany, Switzerland, and Italy! Students will explore the BMW Museum, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz Museums, and the Alfa Romeo Museum. They’ll tour a live production facility and walk the Autodromo racetrack, connecting classroom learning to real-world STEM and engineering experiences.

We’re traveling with EF Tours, and they have over 60 years of experience helping students explore the world with confidence. With 24/7 emergency support, trusted local guides, and flexible payment options, this is a secure and well-structured way for students to experience something truly life-changing. We’ll cover all of this at our info session, along with the full itinerary and how to enroll.

🗓️ Date: November 5th
🕒 Time: 6:00 PM
📍 Location: ZOOM

Don’t forget to join us: https://bit.ly/4lYcWDH
Looking forward to seeing you there!

Mr. Michael Sheehan, Dean of Currciulum and Instruction

Ms. Meghan Schell, Administrative Assistant

2025-2026 Program of Study

STEM Class of 2026 IB Exam Schedule as of July 30, 2025: Be sure to check for updates throughout the year, as the schedule changes from time to time.

STEM Academy Class of 2026 IB Fees Letter: Fees have been uploaded to all STEM Academy Senior Class members Payschools accounts. Please contact Ms. Meghan Schell or Mr. Mike Sheehan with any questions.

Ms. Alyssa Sherlock CAS/EE Supervisor

Dr. Troy Podell

Downingtown STEM Academy Internships and Partnerships
Supervisor of Teaching & Learning

Ms. Kaitlin Brinker, Admin. Asst.

As the school year continues on, many exciting things are happening in the world of dual enrollment. Here’s some of the happenings:

In the month of November, registration will go live for Immaculata University’s dual credit opportunity. You will be notified when this is live, with instructions for how to apply, register, and pay for credits. There will be a virtual information session on this opportunity in an evening in mid-November. Stay tuned for the time and date.

Also covered in this session will be further details regarding the opportunity our STEM students have to earn an Associate’s Degree alongside their high school diploma. The first cohort of students in this program is turning the corner around their first set of midterms, and are looking forward to continued success.

If you are a parent of a STEM Freshman or Sophomore, and you’d like more information about this program, please reach out to Troy Podell.

All DCCC students will be checking in with Dr. Podell during 5th period of L days in the First Floor Mezzanine.

One the primary goals of the STEM Academy, and our district, is to prepare students for a future of their choice. At STEM, we take pride in intentionally cultivating the skills, habits, and dispositions that our partners in industry inform us are integral to success. In addition to integrating this into our classes, we offer our students specific targeted training in partnership with the MidAtlantic Employers Association and this year, Dr. Troy Podell will also be presenting on a variety of topics as noted below.

Ms. Stephanie Rockowitz, Counseling Secretary/Registrar

• To schedule an appt. to visit your school counselor, please complete the following form: Counseling Appointment Request Form
• Additional Resources from the STEM Counseling Department

Ms. Jennifer Stull, Prevention Specialist

Guide to Districtwide Mental Health Resources

College Visits began September 9th! Juniors and Seniors are also encouraged to view the complete list of school-day visits in Naviance under the “Colleges” tab. College visits are also noted on the

STEM Academy Website Calendar.

If you are in need of a work permit, please find the application located in the STEM Back Pack at the bottom of the page under Work Permits. Permits can be obtained in the counseling office. Please be sure to review and provide the necessary documentation listed on the website.

Additional Resources

College App Workshop presentation

Common Date Set Overview

US Dept. of Education College Scorecard

Don't miss our upcoming college planning night and learn how to make college affordable!

• Downingtown WEST High School
• Wednesday, November 19th, 6:00-8:00 pm

All parents, guardians, and 9th-12th graders are invited to join the conversation around post-secondary financial planning!

RSVP Today

6:00 pm: Keynote Address - Auditorium Rory Sullivan – The College Funding Coach

7:00 - 8:00 pm: Workshops

• PHEAA/FAFSA 101: Need-Based Aid with Sonya MacFarlane - Auditorium
• Scholarships 101: Cash For College with Stacey Hewitt & Leanne Glowik - Library
• Discount Your College Credits! with Dr. Troy Podell - Atrium
• Smart Strategies to Save! with Rory Sullivan - Cafeteria

Meet with the military at tables in the lobby to learn how they can assist with college funding.

The 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is live! This is the first step towards applying for federal, state, and college-based financial aid. Families are encouraged to start their application in early October to ensure all deadlines are met.

See the FAFSA Tip Sheet for details about what documents you need in order to complete.

2025- 2026 STEM Academy HSA Board

Co-Presidents: Kerri Roberts and Kelly Sears

Co-Vice Presidents: Heather Steiger and Jennifer Zori

Secretary - Marcie Epstein

Treasurer - Kousalya Alapati

Post Prom planning is underway. We need YOUR help!

Can’t make it to planning meetings but still want to be involved? We’d love to have you onboard! Please contact Kate Cloyd at postprom@stemhsa.org so that you can be added to our volunteer list.

Our Annual Family Donation fundraising drive is underway. If you haven’t already donated, would you consider making a one-time suggested donation of $100 (per family)? Your donation is tax deductible and is the primary funding source for the many programs and activities we provide for our students and faculty. The generosity and support from our STEM families helps minimize, and could even help us bypass, the need for additional fundraising efforts this school year. All size donations are welcome and can be made here.

Meetings will be held throughout the school year, on the dates designated below each month in the STEM Academy Knowledge Commons at 7:00 pm, unless otherwise noted.

• September 8, 2025
• October 13, 2025
• **November 17, 2025 (This is a new meeting date...please make note of this! We hope you can attend.)
• December: No Monthly Meeting
• January 12, 2026
• February 9, 2026
• March 16, 2026
• April 13, 2026
• May 11, 2026

Please visit the external STEM HSA website!

Post Prom Trivia Night FUNdraiser!

Join us for an evening of FUN, Food, and Friends as we support the Downingtown STEM Academy Post Prom at Trivia Night! It's not just a game night - it's an opportunity to bring our community together for a great cause! Space is limited, so gather your team and secure your spot today!

WHEN: Wednesday, November 19th - Doors open at 6:00PM, Trivia at 6:30PM

WHERE: Al Pastor, Wellington Square

COST: $20 per person (Your entry fee includes a ticket for a Beverage of choice OR Chips and Salsa), up to 8 players per team.

Tickets may be purchased as a team or individually. You MUST include a team name when purchasing your ticket(s) so your table can be reserved.

You can purchase your tickets HERE!

Thank you for supporting Post Prom!

All students at STEM are encouraged to participate in athletic programs offered at their home schools.

An activity bus is available for students heading to East to participate daily, and is located in the bus loop at dismissal.

To find more information about what sports are offered at your students’ homeschool, please choose one of the following that links directly to the correct Athletics page:

Downingtown East High School Athletics

Downingtown East High School Athletics Schedule

AND

Downingtown West High School Athletics

Downingtown West High School Athletics Schedule

Attention East Swim & Dive athletes: There will be an informational meeting about the upcoming season on Monday, November 3rd at 6:30PM in the STEM Auditorium. We'll discuss the tryout process, team expectations, and our schedule for the year along with providing information about team fundraisers and dues. Please reach out to Coach Sean (swyatt@dasd.org) or Coach K (ksnyder@dasd.org) with any questions.

Attention all 9th grade Downingtown East Boys: Basketball tryouts will be held Friday-Tuesday, November 14 through November 18. Tryouts will begin promptly at 3:00 pm in the small gym at Downingtown East. Be sure to have a ride there to pick you up at 5:00 pm.

All persons interested in trying out must have a completed physical turned in before Friday, November 7, 2025. If you do not have a physical turned in, you will not be allowed to tryout or play.

If there are any questions or concerns, please email twolf@dasd.org

The MPA is still accepting local business sponsorships to help support our music programs for the 2025–2026 season. Businesses are promoted for the entire 2025-2026 School Year!

As a thank-you for your support, we’ve created a Sponsorship Benefit Program that promotes your business and services not only to our band community but to the entire school district.

🔗 Sponsorship Details

✅ Sign up as a sponsor

• MPA Hosted Event – USBands Pennsylvania State Championships

East Band

• 📅 East Band Calendar

West Band

• 📅 West Band Calendar

• Twin Valley Virtual Coffee Fundraiser - ORDER HERE

• Wawa Shorti Coupons – $5 each, never expire
  📩 Contact Cheryl Wendt (East) or Tina Ayala (West of STEM) or email DHSMPA.waysmeans@outlook.com

• Boscov's Friends Helping Friends Sale - Wednesday, October 22, 2025

  • Boscov's shopping passes are now available for purchase for $5 each. Shop in person or online on October 22 and save up to 25% off your purchases. The full $5 cost of the shopping pass benefits the MPA. It's a WIN-WIN situation!

  • Contact Cheryl Wendt at dhs.mpa.mtk@gmail.com to purchase your pass.

• Concession Stands – Sign up and join us! Training is provided by seasoned volunteers. Any student 12+yr can volunteer and earn volunteer credit hours.

  Anyone can volunteer in concessions at any game hosted by a D'town “home” high school. The best part? All of the funds go right back to support every student in every music program, no matter which school is hosting. 🎶 SIGN UP HERE

• USBands PA State Championships – Saturday, November 1 - More info coming soon!

Go to https://dhsmpa.membershiptoolkit.com/volunteer/105706 to sign up
For non-band members who want to volunteer email dhs.mpa.volunteers@gmail.com
PLEASE NOTE: Student volunteers are welcome and hours can be used toward NHS/NJHS service hours.

Traffic: Please review the student pick up and drop off procedures located under School Day on our Website. Please allow enough time for traveling to school in the morning.

School Safety: Safety and Discipline are an essential component to any school. Students and parents are required to read the bullet points below as you will be held responsible for following school and school district policies.

All students are required to follow all school and district policies and procedures.

• Student Code of Conduct Policy- please review prior to the start of school.
• Student Rights and Responsibility- please review prior to the start of school.

Student Drop Off

Please be reminded that students are to be dropped off behind the school. No students should be dropped off on Manor Ave. We appreciate your cooperation. Safety is always our first priority.

Also for the safety of all students and staff crossing back and forth during lunch time, the entrance to the STEM Academy on Campbell Drive will be closed during all lunch times for the remainder of the school year. Please use the West entrance to access the campus during that time.

Traffic:

Parents are not permitted to park, drop-off, or pick-up students from the left side of the Academy or on Manor Avenue.

• All parent pick-up vehicles must enter from Manor Avenue on the right side of the building (Campbell Drive). Parents will be directed by the traffic guard to loop around the building in order to pickup students.
• Bus pick-up for students from the Downingtown East High School attendance area will be along the fence that faces Kottmeyer Stadium. Bus pick-up for students from the Downingtown West High School attendance area will be at Downingtown West High School and Downingtown Middle School. Students will then walk to the Academy.
• Please make sure students are prepared for inclement weather. Parents are not permitted to park, drop-off, or pick-up students from the left side of the Academy or on Manor Avenue.
• For the safety of our students, it is essential that all drivers adhere to traffic patterns and regulations

Please review the student pick up and drop off procedures located under School Day on our Website.

Bus Passes are for Emergency use only. All bus rosters are full and only in the event of an emergency will a student be allowed to ride a different bus home. The request for a bus pass should come to the main office and will need approval from Mr. Campbell.

The 25-26 Parking Permit application opened for the Senior Class on Monday, August 4, and for the Junior Class on Monday, August 11. Please be reminded that students should use their DASD student email address to apply, as the permit is issued to the student driving the car on campus. Information regading parking permits can be found on our website in the Backpack. Any student that purchased a parking permit should make plans to pick up in the main office after school. Students will not be ticketed during the first two weeks of school, but should make every effort to pick up their permit as soon as possible. We are not able to issue a parking permit in the morning, before school begins. Thank you for understanding.

Permit Pickup Requirements:

• All obligations listed in Payschools must be paid and up to date.

• Seniors: Must have IB Fee 1 and 2 cleared.

• All outstanding physical forms must be turned in.

• Students should bring their valid drivers' license, car insurance and registration form when picking up the permit.

Early Dismissals, Excuse Notes and Educational Trip Forms: Emails can be sent to stemattendance@dasd.org for any student requiring an early dismissal or in the event that your student was absent for any reason. Students should report to the office in the morning to pick up their early dismissal slip to show their teacher and should check out in the main office prior to exiting the building. Students should not leave out of any door other than the main office. Excuse notes should also be emailed to stemattendance@dasd.org. If your student will be missing school for a family trip please be sure to fill out the family trip form ahead of time. Request Form for Educational and Family Trips. All notes will be processed by Ms. Sokso, attendance secretary.

If a student is sent home by Mrs. Mikulich, our school nurse, they will be dismissed through the main office as well. If a student is feeling ill they should ask their teacher if they may go to the nurse and the nurse will assist in next steps. Parents, please do not allow your student to text or call you to come get them and then pick them up and leave. Please tell them to go to the nurse and the nurse will be in contact or please call the school to let us know your child isn’t feeling well. This is extremely important for student safety and accountability. If there are any questions, please reach out to Ms. Mikulich.

Arriving at School on Time: We have a lot of work to do each day with our STEM Academy students. Therefore, it is critical for students to arrive on time whether they are riding with a family member, friend, or driving themselves to school. The school day begins promptly at 8:00 am. Students are expected to be in their classroom by 8:00 am each morning in order to maximize their experience with us. We will be lenient the first week but students driving or obtaining a ride are expected to be to school on time. If students ride the bus and their bus arrives late, they will not be marked late due to a late arrival of the bus.

Traffic: Please review the student pick up and drop off procedures located under School Day on our Website. Please allow enough time for traveling to school in the morning.

School Safety: Safety and Discipline are an essential component to any school. Students and parents are required to read the bullet points below as you will be held responsible for following school and school district policies.

All students are required to follow all school and district policies and procedures.

• Student Code of Conduct Policy- please review prior to the start of school.
• Student Rights and Responsibility- please review prior to the start of school.

Volunteers: We would like to welcome volunteers throughout the school year. Please take a moment to review the Volunteer Requirements. The Annual DASD Volunteer Disclosure Form should be completed and returned each school year. All volunteer clearances and forms can be emailed to Kstauffer@dasd.org.

• Medication: If your child requires prescription or non-prescription medication this school year, please complete the Authorization for Medication and bring in both the completed form and medication. This form can also be accessed on the DASD website. Your child’s physician may also use their own form for medication administration.

  Epinephrine Auto Injector and Nasal Epinephrine: Nasal Epinephrine/Neffy is currently only approved for licensed personnel (nurses) to administer in school and students may not self-carry/self-administer this medication in school or on field trips. Please request your child’s physician to prescribe an auto-injector for school.

  Immunizations: Please review your child's immunization information via Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Accessed via MORE > HEALTH > IMMUNIZATIONS. If your child has non-compliant immunizations, please provide updated immunization documentation or an updated immunization exemption to the school nurse at jmikulich@dasd.org

• Please contact Ms. Jennifer Mikulich with any questions or concerns.

• • 2025-2026 School Year

    The DASD 2025-2026 was board approved on Wednesday, January 2025.. Please review the school start times as shared on the district website and noted below:

    The schedule for the 2025-2026 school year is as follows:

    
    

    • Elementary (Grades K-6): 9:00 a.m.-3:35 p.m.
    • Secondary (Grades 7-12): 8:00 a.m.-2:45 p.m.
    
    
  • Infinite Campus: Student schedules, report cards, and access to updating the annual registration verification can be accessed here.
  • Payschools: All Activity, Technology and Food services fees can be paid quickly and easily in this portal. (All parking permit fees should now be showing in student accounts.)
  • Schoology: Many courses and classes are updated daily. This is a very important tool for communicating!
  • Service Desk: Technology support can be accessed here.

The Downingtown STEM Academy is the third high school in the Downingtown Area School District. The STEM Academy opened in the fall of 2011 at 335 Manor Avenue, Downingtown, PA 19335.

The Academy is an IB World School offering every student the opportunity to earn an IB Diploma. The curriculum offers Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Pathways. Students are engaged in rigorous, challenging academic work that requires a mindset of growth and effort.

Email: stinfo@dasd.org
Website: https://st.dasd.org/
Location: 335 Manor Avenue, Downingtown, PA, USA
Phone: 610-269-2420