Head of School Update
December 23, 2025: Issue #18
Mr. Art Campbell, Head of School
Ms. Kelly Stauffer, Admin. Asst. to the Head of School
Winter break begins at the close of the school day today, Tuesday, December 23. We would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday and we look forward to the new year and look forward to seeing everyone when we return on Monday, January 5, 2026. With the everchanging weather, please make sure students are prepared to pivot in the event of a weather related closure resulting in a FID day.
Taking a Family Trip? With the winter break quickly approaching, we wanted to remind everyone that may be planning a family trip to complete the Request Form for Educational and Family Trips. Once the form is received in the office and approved by Mr. Campbell, attendance will mark accordingly in Infinite Campus.
- December 24-January 4: Winter Recess: Please note the following cycle day changes that will occur before and after the break to allow appropriate instructional time with students. These changes have also been reflected on the calendar on our website. December 22 (E); December 23 (H); January 5 (G); January 6 (F); January 7 (I)
- January 20: The STEM Counseling Department is excited to host our annual Junior College Planning Night for students and families of the Class of 2027 from 6:30-8:30 pm.. Join us for an evening devoted to all things college prep.
- January 22: Save the date! A virtual course selection presentation for families of current students in grade 9 and 10 will be held form 6:00-8:00 pm. Details will be shared after we return from the break.
Attention Class of 2026 and 2027: The IB is now requiring an email address to log in and access your test results in July. You will lose access to your school email prior to the results being issued. I need to register you with an email address you will have access to after you graduate.
Students must fill out the form below that correlates to your graduating class as soon as possible so Ms. Schell can complete your IB registration. If you have any questions, please email Ms. Schell.
Post-Graduation Email Address: Class of 2026
Post-Graduation Email Address: Class of 2027
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.
Downingtown STEM Academy Celebrating Student Success through Habits of Mind: December 2025
At the Downingtown STEM Academy, we are proud to recognize and foster our core Habits of Mind as the foundation of student success. In ninth grade, all students are introduced to these guiding principles in their physics class, where they learn how each habit contributes to personal growth and academic achievement. This year, teachers have nominated students for the months of November and December who exemplify these values, and we are excited to celebrate their accomplishments.
The STEM Academy Habits of Mind include:
Responsibility: Our students show a strong sense of school spirit, active engagement in school activities, and commitment to the community. They are dedicated to contributing to the positive atmosphere of our school, supporting their peers, and embodying pride in being part of the STEM Academy.
Respect: Fundamental to our school’s character, respect is demonstrated through integrity, honesty, and high ethical standards. Students are dedicated to upholding these values, respecting others' work and ideas, and building a foundation of trust and dignity with their peers and teachers alike.
Compassionate Participation: Understanding the importance of teamwork and collaboration, our students show kindness, compassion, and inclusivity. They actively support their classmates, create an environment where everyone feels valued, and recognize the unique strengths that each individual brings to the community.
Effort: STEM Academy challenges require resilience, courage, and determination. Our students meet these challenges by persevering through setbacks, advocating for fairness, and understanding that growth often requires persistence and learning from failures.
Engagement: With a thirst for knowledge and a spirit of inquiry, our students are driven by curiosity and a willingness to explore innovative ideas. They are eager to question, investigate, and push the boundaries of conventional thought in their pursuit of understanding.
Congratulations to our nominated students who embody these habits and inspire our school community! We will continue to recognize students as the school year continues. Thank you to all families for your support.
(Not pictured: Krisha Ashokkumar, Siena James, Jackson Kline, Emma Smith )
Have commencement questions or any questions with regards to any of the information below? Please contact Kelly Stauffer.
If you have not yet placed the Cap and Gown Order for your Class of 2026 graduate, please do so asap. While the month of June seems so far away, it will be here before we know it!
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 click 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.
Merry "Lit" mas Food Drive to Benefit the Lord's Pantry
Submitted by Ms. Megan Dunn
We are excited to announce the results from the Lit Mas food drive! We were blown away by the amount of donations - two cars full! 1,000 items donated to The Chester County Food Bank! Thank you so much!
The winner of Lit Mas -
Ms. Flickinger with 254 items!
Second place - Ms. Dunn - 166
Third place - Mr. Kalbach - 156
Fourth place - Ms. Stumm - 147
Ms. Musick - 127
Mr. Patton - 67!
Mr. Namerow - 39
Ms. Davenport - 28
Ms. Bartling - 8
Ms. Yates - 8
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
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