Head of School Update

Mr. Art Campbell, Head of School

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

The weather is continuing to keep us on our toes, and I think we will all remember the Winter of 2026. Students are reminded to make sure they are allowing enough travel time to arrive to school on time daily. School begins promptly at 8:00 am. While we continue to navigate the snow and ice that is all over outside, Mr. Campbell has been standing at door 3-2 at the Student Commons to assist with getting students into the building when the traffic line is stopped. If you see him standing there, your student can enter through that door. Please be mindful of the traffic as we are doing our very best to get everyone into the building on time and safely.

Please make it your best effort to stay on top of turning in assignments on time. Students should keep in mind that if they need help, our teachers are here to help them. They are always available during Lunch and Learn.

Upcoming Dates to Remember

February 27: Mr. STEM

March 4: CARON Foundation "Brain Drain" Presentation (9th Grade)

March 5: Career Fair (Junior Class)

March 9: No School for students/Work Collaboration Day for Staff

March 11: STEM Art Show

March 16: HSA Pi(e) Day

March 20: No School/Eid al-Fitr

March 27: DASD Unity Day: Wear Blue and Gold

New Date! March 27 and 29 Spring Play: STEM Players Troupe presents "Checking In" (due to weather days and the health of the play cast, we have decided to move the play to allow more time for our students to prepare. We hope you can attend!

It is important to all students to be prepared on a daily basis to make sure that all necessary items are taken home with them daily, should we need to implement a FID day or that any schedule changes occur. Below is a screen shot of the FID Day schedules as noted on our website and also shared previously.

Course Selection: Thank you to all of the students and families for working hard to complete the course selection process for the 26-27 school year. Going forward any changes to the courses that were selected should be changed by scanning the QR Code at the counseling office, or by clicking the link below:

[Scheduling] STEM Request Changes 26-27 School Year

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.

Attendance is important! Should your student be absent from school, or need an early dismissal, please be reminded that notes should be emailed to stemattendance@dasd.org . Should there be any questions about attendance, please email Ms. Sokso, and she will be able to further assist you.

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.

On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, Selena Morresi from the CARON Foundation will be visiting the STEM Academy and will be presenting to all students in grades 9 on the topic of “Brain Drain: Why the Teen Brain is Vulnerable”.

The CARON Foundation has helped thousands of individuals struggling with substance use disorder and their families begin to manage this chronic, treatable disease for nearly 70 years. Please take a moment to review our presenter’s bio, Selena Morresi - CARON Foundation.

If there are any questions, please contact Ms. Jennifer Stull, Prevention Specialist

As a reminder: Student drivers parking on campus must

(1) Have a valid parking permit visible;

(2) Park in designated student lots only.

In celebration of Women’s History Next Month, the Downingtown Area School District is proud to host an inspiring community event featuring former NBC10 Philadelphia News Anchor, Tracy Davidson.

📍 Downingtown East High School Auditorium
📅 Monday, March 2nd
⏰ 6:00–8:00 PM
🎟️ FREE Event

Tracy Davidson is a 15-time Emmy Award–winning anchor and investigative consumer reporter, a breast cancer survivor, and a powerful speaker and advocate. She will be sharing her personal journey and insights on resilience, perseverance, and overcoming life’s challenges.

This is a unique opportunity for students, families, and community members to hear from a nationally respected journalist and inspirational leader—live and in person.

👉 Reserve your free tickets now

The STEM Academy Art show will be taking place on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 from 6:00-8:00 pm in the STEM Academy Knowledge Commons.

Ms. Katherine Cole, Dean of Academics & Student Life

Anticipated Advisory Club Dates for 25-26SY: March 11, March 24, March 30, April 20, May 6, May 22

February 27: Mr. STEM

February 27: Class of 2026 Dine and Donate at Buffalo Wild Wings(after Mr. STEM)

February 27: Class of 2027 Honeygrow Dine and Donate (All Day)

February 27-April 5: Class of 2027 Krispy Kreme Donut Fundraiser (proceeds will help offset costs to Junior Prom)

March 11: STEM Art Show 6:00-8:00 pm

New Date! March 27 and 29 Spring Play: STEM Players Troupe presents "Checking In" (due to weather days and the health of the play cast, we have decided to move the play to allow more time for our students to prepare. We hope you can attend!

This year the Downingtown STEM Academy had 24 students compete at Pennsylvania DECA’s State Career Development Conference. We had competitors in 16 different events, and students in 10 of the events qualified to compete at the International Career Development Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Please join me in congratulating the following students. In addition, Rishabh Jain won a PA DECA scholarship and Sai Vytla was chosen as Pennsylvania DECA’s next Vice President.

submitted by Mr. Stephen DiRomualdo, Academic Team Advisor

I am happy to inform everyone that the Varsity Academic Team has once again made the county championship at the CCIU on Monday March 16th at 7pm (All welcome to attend).

STEM Wolves entered the 24 team fray sitting on Tuesday, February 24, after an assured display, in 3rd place. Loaded with a core group of seniors, STEM ranks itself as one of the more complete teams in the league this year. Defined individual areas of expertise as well as broad general knowledge garnered from the years of experience paid dividends in this playoff run.

The day began against wild card contender Devon Prep and Collegium. It was a cagey start, but STEM was able to stave off the robust history knowledge of Devon Prep finishing the first round with a score of 40 to Devon Prep’s 30 and Collegium’s 15. The next round saw a healthy offensive spell for STEM extending the lead from 10 to 40 while the third round saw some key contributions off the bench that saw off a late push from Devon Prep. The final score: STEM 145, Devon Prep 110 and Collegium 50.

The first match served as more of a warmup with a much stiffer test awaiting the Wolves. The semi-final matchup saw Wolves pitted against old rivals Great Valley and Bishop Shanahan, who have shown flashes of brilliance in our previous matchup. The first two rounds were as advertised with each team’s competitiveness, turning the match into a real see-saw affair. After round two STEM held a single question lead with the scores STEM 75, Great Valley 70 and Bishop with 60. The Wolves showed their spurtability starting the 3rd round with 5 straight toss up answers setting the tone for the rest of the round. Each member of the team contributed to the scoring and conferring in the fanfare portion. The final score was STEM Wolves 130, Great Valley 105 and Bishop Shanahan.

This represents this group’s 4th appearance in the finals in as many years. While in previous years, they’ve wilted in the pressure cooker like environment, I believe this team has all the tools to make it to the big dance in Harrisburg. Hopefully, STEM doesn’t become the Buffalo Bills of Academic Competition.

JV fights for their place at the finals on Tuesday, March 3rd.

On February 24th, students from STEM's Mock Trial Club competed at the Chester County Courthouse against Conestoga High School in the semi-final round of the Pa Bar Association's district competitions. We are proud to announce that our students won this competition, securing wins on 3 out of 3 juror ballots! They will now move on to finals to compete to be named as the top Mock Trial Club in Chester County. We are extremely proud of their dedication, hard work and commitment to improvement!!

Final Day! Cupcake War results! Thank you to everyone who participated! This event wouldn’t happen without you. We wanted to post the cupcake tallies first! Monday we will let you know how much money we raised. Congrats to the winning teams!

Wrap it Up – 554

Baking Bad – 430

Back to Batter – 420

7 Chins a Baking - 419

All proceeds from this event will be donated directly to the nonprofit Safe Harbor of Chester County.

Grab a Dozen, Support STEM! Get your Krispy Kreme donuts for events, activities, or yourself! Only $15 from Feb 23 till April 5: https://www.groupraise.com/oc/71747

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

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

Attention Class of 2026: The Senior Panoramic Portraits are finally in,and Sra. Snyder and Ms. Bradley have been reaching out to those students that ordered to please stop by the gym to pick up. If you haven't already done so....please make an effort to take care of that asap!

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

The Cap and Gown order for the graduating class has been placed. All orders will be shipped directly to the STEM Academy and will be inventoried and stored in the main office until passed out at graduation practice at the end of the school year. If you did not place the order before the extended deadlines, this will now be included as an obligation and students will not receive tickets until this obligation is fulfilled. To fulfill this obligation any time between now and June follow the steps below:

• 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.

Seniors! Local Scholarship Applications are now LIVE! Check out the full list of awards here.

Students can download applications from the STEM Academy Counseling Dept Schoology Page.

(Access Code: WN9WS-2NXFK if needed).

All completed applications are due by 11:59pm on March 30, 2026 (unless otherwise noted).

While these Local Awards are only for members of the senior class, underclassmen can log into Naviance to browse college and career exploration resources, as well as the “Scholarship List” and “National Scholarship Search” resources.

GOOD LUCK!!

Seniors...don't forget! Get you Pocono Valley permission slips signed and returned asap. Your forms & payment (online @ PaySchools) are due by Friday, March 6th. Let your Class Council know if you have any questions!

Choose from two options:

• Photo Yard Sign - This option is personalized with your graduate's name or text of your choice and includes their yearbook photo.
• Logo Yard Sign - This option is personalized with your graduate's name or text of your choice and the STEM logo instead of a photo.

Signs are 24" x 48" vinyl signs with two wire stakes.

Personalize your sign with your graduate's name or other text, such as "Name of College Bound!"

Photo Yard Signs will include the photo that graduates selected to appear in the yearbook.

Sales close on March 27!! Keep an eye on your email to approve a proof of the yard sign.

Yard Signs will be ready for pick up in late April/early May at STEM after school hours.

All proceeds go to support the STEM Post Prom.

Purchase yours HERE!

Please contact Cristin Young at cyoung1714@gmail.com with any questions!

Mr. Michael Sheehan, Dean of Currciulum and Instruction

Ms. Meghan Schell, Administrative Assistant

2025-2026 Program of Study

Attention Class of 2027: Please return your IB Declaration form to Ms. Schell as soon as possible, but no later than March 15th. I need these to complete your IB registrations. If you need

another form or have any questions just stop by Mr. Sheehan and Ms. Schell's 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.

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

This week, members of the junior class were provided the opportunity to sit in on a presentation entitled Humility: The Anticdote to Perfectionism with Ms. Jenn Stull, Prevention Specialist, and school counselors Ms. Beecroft and Mr. Stratton.

Humility, as a leadership characteristic, can help us remain present in what we are doing, encourages the intellectual risk-taking that fuels great breakthroughs, and gives us the appropriate frame of mind to consider alternative perspectives in a global society. Our Prevention Specialist, Jenn Stull, and our School Counseling Team, have developed a meaningful program to provide practical tools and practices to grow an appropriate sense of remaining humble in the face of our growth and accomplishments. This Wednesday/Thursday, February 25 and 26 during the F/G Revision Period our Junior class will be led through activities that will help them develop this crucial soft skill.

On February 26 our 12th grade students were presented with the next Adulting 101 session with "What to do when you hear sirens" (ex. what to do when you are pulled over, in an accident, emergency vehicles, when to call 911 vs. non-emergency). Officers from the East Brandywine Police Department were here to educate them on this important topic.

Did you know if you’re the parent of a STEM Sophomore, your child can graduate high school with an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts, expediting their college education and saving significant money? Read more about our Associate’s Degree in the HS Program, and please reach out to Dr. Podell with questions or concerns. If you’re interested, select the Associate’s Degree program during course requests, and apply to Delaware County Community College as a dual enrollment student.

If you’d like more information about Dual Enrollment, Internships and Partnerships, or Career Exploration programs, please reach out to Dr. Troy Podell.

As a reminder, all DCCC students will be checking in with Dr. Podell during 5th period of L days in the First Floor Mezzanine.

On Thursday, February 26 during advisory, members of the junior class watched a "Final Career Day Prep" Presentation to help them better prepare for the Career Fair that will be taking place this Thursday, March 5. The junior class has been preparing for this moment for the last few months and we are looking forward to the next step.

Students were reminded of the following during the presentation:

• Arrive to School on time: Students will be assigned a designated time to attend the Career Fair, during 2, 3 and 4 periods. The schedule will be shared with students on Tuesday, March 3.
• How to Dress: Aim for "One Level Up": You don't need a three piece suit, but you shouldn't look like you are headed to gym class. If you'd wear it to a casual hang out with friends, it's probably too casual for a career fair. Please revie
• Networking Tips: Come prepared with 3-5 copies of your completed resume. Make sure to review the Partner List ahead of time, and when you arrive during your scheduled time, be sure to visit the top 3-5 companies that peak your personal interests.
• What Happens Afterwards? Students should do the following: complete the Career Fair Interest Survey during Advisory on 3/17; student summer assignments will be shared in April; submit parent permission forms to Schoology; send introductory email and resume; and the complete internship goals in their Practicum Portfolio before attending their summer practicum.

All of the above details and more can be found by reviewing the Final Career Day Prep" Presentation.

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

College App Workshop presentation

Common Date Set Overview

US Dept. of Education College Scorecard

Course Selection: Going forward any changes to the courses that were selected should be changed by scanning the QR Code at the counseling office, or by clicking the link below:

[Scheduling] STEM Request Changes 26-27 School Year

The ASVAB will be administered at Downingtown West on March 25th at 8 am, in the library. If you are interested in taking the exam, please use the following link to register. If you have any questions please reach out to Christine Wick at cwick@dasd.org.

https://forms.gle/4bn96FL117Px2CiJA

Mrs. Hewitt (Last names A-L): https://calendly.com/staceyhewitt/60min

Mrs. Glowik (Last names M-Z): https://calendly.com/lglowik/junior-meeting-w-mrs-glowik-2026

The STEM Counseling Dept presented "IB & The College Process" at the January HSA Meeting.

Topics included an overview of the IB, leveraging IB courses for college credit, and other advanced standing opportunities.

Slide deck can be accessed on the Counseling Dept's College Resource Drive.

The DASD High School Counseling Departments hosted "Show Me the Money!", a financial aid evening for students and families that included workshops on FAFSA completion, scholarships, dual enrollment, and other savings strategies. Slide decks from the night can be accessed on the Counseling Dept's College Resource Drive.

On Thursday, Nov. 6th, our 10th and 11th grade students who took the PSAT/NMSQT on Oct. 16th will be able to access their score reports. Please note that the score release date is set by College Board and is based on the date our school gave the test.

If your student provided their mobile number on test day or during test set-up, they will receive a text message with access to the BigFuture School mobile app to view their scores. If your student didn’t provide a mobile number, or prefers to access their score report online, they can do so by logging into their College Board account (studentscores.collegeboard.org). Students will need to create an account if they don’t already have one.

The PSAT/NMSQT score can be useful to students in several ways. It gives them valuable practice for the SAT, insight into how to prepare, and opens opportunities for scholarships and recognition. You can read more about these opportunities here: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt/scores/using-your-score. College Board has also created a helpful video to walk you through accessing scores and how to use them: https://youtu.be/LJEeKZxLjpA?si=9RQXa9F9oWrnXRwG

If your student is not able to view their scores on Nov. 6th, please contact College Board directly at their customer service number (866-630-9305). The most common reason a student is not able to access their score is because they provided an incorrect name and/or birthdate, and College Board is not able to verify their identity. As counselors, we cannot correct this for the student – they need to reach out to College Board to correct the issue.

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

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.

• March 16, 2026: The next meeting will be held beginning at 7 pm in the STEM Knowledge Commons. We hope you can make it!
• April 13, 2026
• May 11, 2026

✨ You can always see the full lineup at STEMHSA.org—and trust me, you’ll want to be part

of what’s coming up next.

🌟 Join the HSA Board!

In addition to this great evening of information, we’ll also be holding elections for our

Freshman and Sophomore Parent-at-Large positions on the HSA Board.

If you’ve been thinking about getting more involved or want to help shape the programs

and direction of our Home & School Association, this is a wonderful opportunity to join

the team. We’d love to have your voice and ideas at the table!

Please visit the external STEM HSA website!

🎓 Graduation Lawn Signs

Celebrate your Class of 2026 graduate with a personalized lawn sign! Lawn signs are available for purchase now on our website.

👉 Order here: Graduation Lawn Sign

🎁 Post Prom Prize Collection Begins!

STEM Post Prom is a fun-filled, safe, and unforgettable night for our seniors—complete with food, games, music, activities, and prizes! Each student receives a prize at the end of the evening as an incentive to stay for the entire event.

We’re starting prize collection early so we can take advantage of sales and create the best prize lineup possible. As you shop, please consider adding a Post Prom prize to your cart.

You can:

• Purchase directly from our Amazon Wishlist, or

• Shop elsewhere if you find a great deal

If you purchase outside the wishlist, please email one of our prize coordinators so arrangements can be made:

• Kirsten Reeder – Kirsten.reeder@gmail.com

• Kelly Sears – Kelsears@gmail.com

Thank you for helping us create a safe, memorable celebration for our seniors—we truly could not do this without your generosity and support.
— STEM Post Prom Committee

💖 Annual Family Donation Drive

Show us your love this Valentine’s Day!! Our Family Donation Campaign for the 2025–2026 school year is still underway. If you haven’t yet donated, we kindly ask you to consider a one-time suggested gift of $100 per family.

Your tax-deductible donation directly supports the programs, activities, and events that enrich student life at STEM—and helps us minimize (or even eliminate!) additional fundraising later in the year.

👉 Make your donation here: STEMHSA.org

For more details on these events and everything happening at STEM, please visit STEMHSA.org.

With gratitude and best wishes for a wonderful February,
The Downingtown STEM Academy Home & School Association

Message from Corey Sigle, Director of Athletics to STEM Families:

It is hard to believe with all of the snow on the ground and frigid temperatures, but we are one month from the start of the 2026 Spring Sports Season. Please see the links below for information regarding registration, coaches contact, official start dates, physical requirements, and more. Please don't hesitate to reach out to the athletic training staff with registration questions or the athletic office if you need any assistance. Stay warm.

Corey Sigle

Director of Athletics

DE Athletics: Spring Sports Information

DW Athletics: Spring Sports Information

******************************************************************************************************

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

Junior Sarah Pearson made history before she even made the finals. In her opening match of the tournament, Sarah recorded her 100th career victory, becoming the first girl in Downingtown West history to reach the 100‑win milestone. It’s a testament to her relentless work ethic, her fearlessness in competition, and the standard she has helped set for the entire girls program.

The MPA is still open for local business sponsorships to help support our music programs for the 2025–2026 season.

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

East Band

• 📅 East Band Calendar

West Band

• 📅 West Band Calendar

• The profit for every purchase you make goes directly to the association and the funds are used to support the music programs in Downingtown East, Downingtown West and the STEM Academy.
• Krispy Kreme Doughnuts DSF Fundraiser - ORDER HERE
• Charleston Wrap Fundraiser - Order by Dec 8 to get everything in time for the Holidays! CLICK HERE TO ORDER
• Wawa Shorti Coupons – $5 each, never expire

• 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

• SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER

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