Head of School Update

Mr. Art Campbell, Head of School

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

As a reminder, there will be no school on Monday, October 12, as this will be a Professional Development Day for all DASD staff.

For those that are attending the East/West game this evening, please have a great time.

Underclassmen Picture Make Up Day: Wednesday, October 21, 2026 from 8:00 am - 10:30 am. All students that did not have their pictures taken earlier this year should make sure to have their photo taken. If you would like your photo retaken, please bring the picture that was sent to you in the mail for retake day. Report to the auditorium when an announcement is made.

The first marking period officially ends on October 29, 2026. Please remind your students to use their time wisely during lunch and learn, and to reach out to their teachers with any questions, or if they need help. Most importantly, please make sure your students are turning in their assigments on time.

Grade 10 and 11: PSAT/NMSQT

On Friday, Oct. 16th all 10th and 11th grade students will take PSAT/NMSQT. The PSAT/NMSQT is a standardized test given to high school students that serves as a "practice run" for the SAT and can qualify 11th grade students for the National Merit Scholarship Program. It is important to note that PSAT/NMSQT scores are not used as part of the college admissions process. In other words, students will not submit PSAT/NMSQT scores as part of their college applications.

Last week, students completed a digital readiness check to make sure Bluebook is downloaded on their computer and verify their personal information. Bluebook is the software application used by College Board to deliver the test. Students can use Bluebook to preview the test and/or take full-length adaptive tests.

For a comprehensive overview of the exam, how to prepare, and next steps, please review the Fall 2026 PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/psat-nmsqt-student-guide.pdf

On Thursday, October 15, Chelsea Klein from the CARON Foundation will be visiting the STEM Academy and will be presenting to all students in grades 10 and 11 during advisory, on the topic of “Living with Integrity.”

Please take a moment to review the information about our presenter:

Chelsea Klein is an Education Alliance Specialist with Caron Treatment Centers, specializing in substance use prevention and behavioral health support in schools. For more than 35 years, Caron’s Education Alliance department has provided substance use prevention, intervention programs and behavioral health support services to students, educators, and communities.

In this presentation, Chelsea will introduce The Character Effect™ (TCE), a research-based social-emotional learning curriculum designed to support students’ personal growth, learning, and college and career readiness. TCE recognizes that strong social-emotional skills are foundational not only for success in the classroom, but also for navigating life’s challenges and opportunities.

Through the Living with Integrity lesson, students will explore what it means to demonstrate honesty and integrity in their everyday lives. They will also learn how to use their character strengths of Judgment and Perspective to make thoughtful decisions, consider different viewpoints, and develop a personal understanding of what it means to live with integrity.

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

Ms. Sokso is our attendance assistant. All attendance inquiries can be directed to stemattendance@dasd.org. If you have any questions or concerns about attendance please reach out to Ms. Sokso.

Below are a few helpful tips to make this process easier for families and our attendance office:

Email: Send all attendance inquiries, tardy notes, early dismissal requests, and absence excuses to stemattendance@dasd.org (handled by Ms. Sokso).

• Required Email Information: Student’s full name, grade, reason for absence/tardy/dismissal, and date of occurrence.
• Processing Time: Updates may take 1–2 days to reflect in Infinite Campus.

Absences & Family Trips

• Absence Notes: Must be submitted within 3 days following the student's return to school.
• Educational/Family Trips: Requires a completed request form submitted ahead of time. Absences for family trips are capped at a maximum of 10 accumulated days.
• College Visits: Students are required to provide a thank you letter from the college verifying their visit after it takes place.

Early Dismissal Steps

• Email Ahead: Parents email stemattendance@dasd.org with the necessary details.
• Morning Slip: The student visits the main office first thing in the morning to pick up an early dismissal slip.
• Class Dismissal: At the scheduled time, the student shows the slip to their teacher, checks out at the main office, and exits.

• Pickup Location: Parents park on the side of the building leading back out to Manor Ave to meet their student (parents do not need to enter the building).

Tardy / Late Arrival Steps

• Students report directly to the front office upon arrival to get a late slip.
• Parents do not need to walk students inside, but a physical note must accompany the student or an email must be sent ahead of time to stemattendance@dasd.org.

We hope these tips help! Should there be any further questions, please contact stemattendance@dasd.org

Traffic Reminder: Expect heavy traffic during the first few days of school. Please plan ahead and allow extra time for morning drop-off. Please review the student pick up and drop off procedures located under School Day on our Website

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.

Please take a moment to review the DASD calendar for the full year's schedule. 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. Below are some additional important dates to remember during the month of September.

The application for the STEM Academy Class of 2031 for the 27-28 school year is now open and will close on October 20, 2026.

STEM Academy Class of 2031 Application

Application Requirements and Criteria for Admissions can be found on our website: Applying to the Academy Please review the updated residency policy which was amended as of March 31, 2026: Board Policy No. 141-AG Residency Additional questions should be directed to stinfo@dasd.org

• Medication: If your child requires medication this school year, please remember to complete the Authorization for Medication form, completed by the health care provider and signed by a parent/guardian. Your child may only self-carry emergency medication (epinephrine auto injector, asthma inhaler, diabetes medication/supplies, and glucagon).

• 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.

Flu season is approaching! Please pay close attention on when to keep your child home from school due to illness. This helps to protect students and staff who are immunocompromised.

• Fever and vomiting should have subsided for at least 24 hours to prevent the spread of infection.

More specific guidance for Fevers:

• A child running a fever of 100 degrees or higher should stay home.
• A child running a fever of 99+ degrees may have trouble keeping up with normal activities and may become sick before the day is over.
• A child with a low-grade fever (99+ degrees) combined with other symptoms and discomfort should stay home.
• The rule of thumb is: “Fever free for 24 hours without medication.
• Other reasons to keep a child home may include the following: Severe OR persistent coughing, very congested, very runny nose, unexplained rash

STEM Academy Class of 2027 Reminders: Cap and Gown Ordering now available!

Class of 2027 Cap and Gown Fliers/Directions for Ordering
Click the link to Herff Jones;
Then Cap and Gown Grad Packs (second tab);
and select the Basic Cap, Gown, Tassel and Stole Package (all students are required to have a cap, gown and IB stole);
Additional items are available for purchase. The cap, gown and stole will be shipped directly to the school later in the spring, and stored until Graduation Practice #1 at the end of the school year.
Should there be any problems with ordering, please contact sbgerhart@herffjones.com
Should there be any other questions, please contact kstauffer@dasd.org.

STEM Academy Class of 2027 Senior Portraits: If you have not yet scheduled an appointment with CADY Studios for senior portraits, please make sure to do so as soon as possible.

Visit cady.com/schedule to book your senior portrait session today!

Senior Early Dismissal/Late Arrival Form (Senior Privileges) 26-27: This form is for Early Dismissal/Late Arrival permission for Senior Class students. Students will be responsible for printing out this form and obtaining all signatures. Mr. Campbell will sign off after all other signatures have been obtained. After final approval, students will receive a notice to come to the office to see Ms. Sokso.

Act 10 Military Letter: Please review this letter and return to Ms. Stephanie Rockowitz in the STEM Counseling office by October 9, 2026 if you wish to be excluded as noted in the letter.

The Class of 2027 Senior Mantle Design Contest is officially underway. Seniors should follow the instructions and submit their entry by October 19, 2026. Email Ms. Romano with any questions.

Submit an entry: Class of 2027 Senior Mantle Design Contest

Members of the Junior and Senior Class that have a valid parking permit should make sure they have applied for a parking permit. Please review the information on our website that went out to both classes in August. If you have paid for a parking permit and have not yet picked up, please do so as soon as possible to avoid being ticketed. All obligations must be up to date in order to receive a parking permit. Please stop by the main office with any questions.

Permit Pickup Requirements for both Junior and Senior Class Applicants:

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

• Seniors: Must have IB Fee 1 and 2 cleared and must have completed their Diploma Verification.

• All outstanding physical forms must be turned in to Ms. Mikulich.

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

Student Parking: Students are only permitted to park in designated areas on the DASD campus. Parking anywhere other than the designated district provided parking areas could result in being towed or fined.

• Only members of the Junior and Senior Class are eligible to apply for a Parking Permit. Students that have already applied, and have all obligations fulfilled, may pick up their parking permit after school between 2:40-3:00 pm in the main office. We are not able to provide parking permits before school hours.

The collection box is located outside the main office.

Ms. Katherine Cole, Dean of Academics & Student Life

Ms. Naomi Choi, Admin. Asst.

A huge thank-you to all the students who participated in this year’s Downingtown Spirit Pumpkin guessing contest! We received 267 guesses in just ONE week!

Congratulations to Arha & Nihanth! Both guessed 95 pounds, coming closest to our pumpkin’s actual weight of 95.8 pounds without going over!

As our contest winners, they each received tickets to the Downingtown East vs. Downingtown West football game!

Veteran's Day Panel

Date: Monday, November 2, 2026

Panel Discussion: 9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

Location: Downingtown STEM Academy

Appreciation Brunch: Immediately following the panel

As part of our upcoming Veterans Day recognition activities, the Downingtown STEM Academy is excited to bring back our Veterans in STEM Panel on Monday, November 2, 2026.

Held every other year, this event gives our Sophomores and Juniors the opportunity to hear directly from military veterans who have transitioned into careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and related STEM fields.

We are reaching out to our STEM Academy families and community partners to identify veterans who may be interested in serving as panelists. We welcome parents, guardians, family members, alumni, and community professionals who have military experience and currently work in a STEM-related field, own a STEM-focused business, or work with one of our valued partner organizations.

Panelists will share their experiences with military service, transitioning to civilian life, and building a career in STEM. The discussion will also highlight how skills developed through military service, such as leadership, teamwork, perseverance, and problem-solving can contribute to success in a variety of professional settings.

If you are currently serving in the military, have previously served, or know someone with military experience who currently works in a STEM-related field and may be interested in participating, please complete the Veterans in STEM Interest Form .

If there are any other questions or concerns, please reach out to Katherine Cole, kcole@dasd.org, or Naomi Choi, nchoi@dasd.org, for more information and help.

We are grateful for the experience and expertise within our STEM community and look forward to honoring our veterans while inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders.

Dr. Troy Podell, Downingtown STEM Academy Internships and Partnerships

Ms. Naomi Choi, Admin. Asst.

During Lunch and Learn once per cycle a local professional in a career field student's indicated they wanted to learn more about comes to visit. They share life experience, a day in the life, and career advice for the students looking to break in.

Our next guest is going to be Jeff Hall from Legacy Solutions to discuss the world of Financial Planning, and his service on the Board of the Downingtown Area Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Michael Sheehan, Director of Curriculum and Instruction

Ms. Meghan Schell, Administrative Assistant

2026-2027 Program of Study

STEM Academy Class of 2027 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.

STEM Class of 2027 IB Exam Schedule as of August 7 2026 : Please be sure to check for updates throughout the year, as the schedule changes from time to time.

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 your student is in need of immediate assistance please contact Ms. Stephanie Rockowitz and she will connect you with someone that can assist you. If you are in need of a work permit, please find the application location 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

The 2027-28 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is now open! This is the first step for current seniors to apply for federal, state, and college-based financial aid. Families are encouraged to start their application early to ensure all deadlines are met.

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

Searching for Scholarships Registration

Get Ready for FAFSA Registration

College Application Season has begun! The STEM Counseling Department hosted College Application Boot Camp on August 4th and 11th for the Class of 2027. Slides and information from the presentation are available on the STEM College Resource Drive.

The Common Application is open for the Class of 2027!

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, be diligent, and pay attention to deadlines. Please do not sacrifice the last remaining month of summer break, vacations, and spending time with friends/family in order to submit applications that will not be due until late fall. For an overview of rolling admissions timelines, take a look at this article: https://blog.prepscholar.com/colleges-with-rolling-admissions

Lastly, we wanted to re-share some of the resources we provided back in early June. Attached is our 11th Grade Wrap-Up presentation where we discussed:

• Summer timeline to prep for college application season

• Standardized testing and test-optional admissions

• The Common Application

  • The Common App essay

  • Supplemental college essays

• Letters of Recommendation (and how to request them)

• Transcript Submission and Self-Reporting Grades

We cannot wait to work alongside your Senior during this exciting time!
Mrs. Hewitt and Mrs. Glowik

• Co - Presidents: Kelly Sears and Meredith Roddy
• Co - Vice Presidents: Jennifer Zori and Anne Arpa
• Co - Secretaries - Sara Czubaroff and Jeanne Czubaroff
• Co - Treasurers - Kousalya Alapati and Eva Lennon
• Parents at Large: Meghan Mullaney and Jen Rumsey

For general questions, please email us at info@stemhsa.org

Meetings will be held throughout the school year, on the dates designated below each month in the STEM Academy Atrium(new location for this school year) at 7:00 pm, unless otherwise noted.

• 2026-2027 HSA Meeting Schedule

  • October 19, 2026
  • November 16, 2026
  • January 11, 2027
  • February 8, 2027
  • March 15, 2027
  • April 12, 2027
  • May 10, 2027

Please visit the external STEM HSA website!

• Volunteer Opportunities! - Be sure to check out our updated webpage to stay in the loop about volunteer opportunities! We currently have sign ups open for the Senior Pancake Breakfast, Fall Fest, and Post Prom. Make sure you have your clearances and annual volunteer disclosure form submitted to Kelly Stauffer! You can find all current sign ups here: www.stemhsa.org.
• Post Prom Planning Meeting! - Sept. 17 at 6:30 PM in the Atrium! If you are looking for a way to get involved, this is a great opportunity for flexible volunteering and meeting new friends! Come on out and see what it's all about!

The DHS-MPA is made up of parents and guardians of students involved in any of the Downingtown High School music programs, including Marching Bands, Concert Band, Symphonic Band and ensembles, String Orchestra and ensembles, Vocal Choirs and ensembles, Indoor Drumline, and Color Guard. Our mission is to provide program support to maintain the existence and the integrity of the music programs at all of the Downingtown High Schools, including the Downingtown East Campus, the Downingtown West Campus and the STEM Academy. In the 2024-2025 year we supported over 650 music students!

East Band

• 📅 East Band Calendar

West Band

• 📅 West Band Calendar

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Mr. Corey Sigle, Director of Athletics

Michelle Goss, Athletics Secretary Downingtown West High School

Renee Harty, Athletics Secretary, Downingtown East High School

Please review the DASD Athletics: 2026-2027 Spectator Information for information on purchasing tickets, All-Sports Flex Passes, and other information to assist you in visiting our venues and being part of the atmosphere that makes this community such a great place.

Contact Coach Breese breese@breesecontracting.com or downingtownwrestling@gmail.com with any questions.

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

• 2026-2027 School Year

  The DASD 2026-2027 was board approved onJanuary 14 2026. Please review the school start times as shared on the district website and noted below:

  • Elementary (Grades K-6): 9:00 a.m.-3:35 p.m.
  • Secondary (Grades 7-12): 8:00 a.m.-2:45 p.m.

  
  

  
  

• Cellphones and Personal Electronic Devices: School Board Policy 237 (Electronic Devices

• Attendance: As a reminder, Ms. Sokso is our attendance assistant. All attendance inquiries can be directed to stemattendance@dasd.org. If you have any questions or concerns about attendance please reach out to Ms. Sokso. All Tardy, early dismissal and absence notes must be emailed to stemattendance@dasd.org; If your student is absent you must send in an excuse note within three days after the absence. 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. Please note that students will not be permitted more than ten accumulated days for educational and family trips.

• 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.

• Free & Reduced Meal Plan: Information can be found on the Food Services website

• 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 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