Head of School Update
October 17, 2025: Issue #9
Mr. Art Campbell, Head of School
Ms. Kelly Stauffer, Admin. Asst. to the Head of School
Upcoming Events/No School Days
- No School/Diwali: Monday, October 20
- Lifetouch Picture Make up Day: October 22 (see details below)
- Minding Your Mind (Gr. 9-12): October 23
- End of 1st Marking Period: October 30
- November 3: Veteran's Day Assembly
- November 4: No School for Students/PD for staff
- November 25: No School for Students/ Parent-Teacher Conferences The sign up link will be shared in in late October/Early November.
- November 26-28: No School For Students/Thanksgiving Recess
With just about 2 weeks left of the first marking period it is imperative that students meet with their teachers to discuss any concerns they may have regarding grades and to ensure that all work is submitted. Please encourage your students to take advantage of the time they have during lunch and learn to meet with their teachers throughout the week, and to make sure all assignments are up to date.
STEM Academy Class of 2030 Application closes on Monday, October 20 at 9pm!
Attention all 8th Grade Families:
Are you thinking about Applying to the STEM Academy? The 2026-2027 Application for the Class of 2030 is now open and will close on Monday, October 20, 2025 at 9:00 pm.
The application, as well as criteria and requirements for admissions, and the recording of the virtual presentation and padlet questions can be found on our website under Applying to the Academy.
Any additional questions should be directed to stinfo@dasd.org
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).
Academic Team Results for 10/14
The STEM Wolves began their campaign at home yesterday against Phoenixville and playoff sleeper Bishop Shanahan. Shanahan drew first blood with two correct answers in the opening. STEM’s senior heavy varsity seemed to take that personally, rattling off 8 straight toss ups, ending the first round with 45 points to Phoenixville’s 10 and Shanahan’s 25. A full slate of changes saw impact sub, Chris Wolf, take over with a man of the match performance scoring 7 toss ups all by his lonesome as STEM rolled to a final score of 150, Shanahan 90 and Phoenixville 40.
The script played out similarly for JV as rookie sensation, Isaac Demos, made a statement with 7 of his 10 tossups coming in the first round. Isaac wasn’t alone, however, with every member of the team securing at least one toss up in the match. The JV’s total team performance outdid their varsity compatriots with the final score STEM 155, Shanahan 60 and Phoenixville 25.
STEM Academy attends Moravian Quiz Bowl
submitted by Ms. Megan Dunn, advisor
On Wednesday, October 15th Key Club students hosted the annual American Red Cross Blood Drive in the Knowledge Commons. A lot of students used the time to donate for the first time and now they will be able to use their experience at other blood drives. It was a successful drive because of the teamwork from Key Club executives - Lola Roberts, Ellie McNamara, Chloe Baxter, and Abbey McGettigan. They were able to collect 47 pints of blood! Thank you to everyone who volunteered and donated! 1 pint saves 3 lives!
STEM Class of 2026/LeadX
This week our 12th grade students who signed up for the University of Delaware LeadX course had their first in-person session with Mr. Campbell and Dr. Podell. When asked why they were taking advantage of the opportunity, students gave a wide variety of answers. Many are leaders for clubs at STEM, or sports teams at their home high school, and want to level up their leadership ability to help their team. Others are studying IB Psychology at STEM, and want to gain a greater understanding of group dynamics. Still more wanted to understand leadership simply because they thought the topic fascinating. Students delved deep into defining their core values that animate themselves as leaders. They gained greater perspective on the importance of self-truth, and how only through knowing ourselves well can we hope to lead with authenticity. LeadX students will continue in the coming months to gain greater understanding of leadership theory and practice, develop a 30-day Leadership Development Plan, and have the opportunity to earn 1 credit from the University of Delaware.
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
2026-2027 FAFSA Opened October 1!
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 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.
Downingtown STEM Academy
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