Head of School Update

Mr. Art Campbell, Head of School

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

Thank you to everyone for your flexibility during this challenging week. As a reminder, there is no school tomorrow, Friday, March 20 in observance of Eid al-Fitr. We are also about 10 days away from Spring recess which begins Thursday, April 2 and ends Monday, April 6.

The end of the third marking period is Monday, March 30, 2026. Students are reminded to put make sure you are putting forth your best effort to stay on top of turning in assignments on time.

Keep in mind that if you need help, our teachers are here to help and it is our goal to help you be successful. Teachers are always available during Lunch and Learn.

“The Downingtown STEM Academy Players’ Troupe is proud to present Checking In, an original production written, directed, and performed entirely by our talented students. This unique, student-driven performance highlights the creativity, collaboration, and dedication of our theatre community, offering an engaging and memorable experience for older audiences.

Performances will take place on Friday, March 27 at 7:00 PM (doors open at 6:30 PM) and Sunday, March 29 at 2:00 PM (doors open at 1:30 PM). Tickets are $7 and will be available for purchase during Lunch & Learn outside of the Knowledge Commons and Recording Studio beginning Monday, March 23. Tickets will also be available at the door.

Parking Permits: There are many students that applied for a parking permit earlier this year, that have also paid for the permit but have not yet picked up. Our main office staff have reached out to students and families to have those permits picked up. Student drivers should continue to apply for a parking permit, but should know that we are now in a waitlist position for availability of parking permits. If someone has applied for and paid for a parking permit but has not picked up and no longer needs it, they should come see Ms. Sokso or Ms. Stauffer in the main office. This would free up parking permits to those that have been waitlisted. Please be reminded that if you receive a ticket, you should come to the main office.

Please be mindful of allowing enough travel time to arrive to school on time daily. School begins promptly at 8:00 am. To help alleviate the traffic entering Campbell Drive in the morning, 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.

Upcoming Dates to Remember

March 27: DASD Unity Day: Wear Blue and Gold

March 30: End of 3rd Marking Period

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!

April 2 - 6: Spring Recess/No School for students or staff

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.

From the Desk of Dr. Podell

Registration for Original Credit Summer School Courses is now live! The website for Summer School has been updated to include a registration link for Original Credit. The course offerings and fee schedule are the following:

Geometry - 1.0 Credit - $375

Spanish/French/German I - 1.0 Credit - $375

Driver Safety Education - .33 Credits - $225

The Original Credit courses will run from 6/5-7/31. The courses are designed to run asynchronously, but will feature synchronous virtual mini-lessons/office hours.

Shortly after the conclusion of the course, your final grade will appear on your DASD transcript. All Original Credit Summer School Classes are on the 4.0 grading scale.

For the World Languages, there will be a final exam during August (8/4-8/7, 8/10) that will comprise a meaningful portion of the course grade. For Geometry, students will be taking both a midterm and final exam, that together will comprise a meaningful portion of the course grade. The final will schedule the same days as World Language. The midterm will be taken in early July (7/1, 7/2, 7/6-7/8). You will sign up for exam session(s) during registration, and an email with your selection(s) will be sent to you. If you need to modify an exam session selection, please reach out to me and Heather Cioll (hcioll@dasd.org) to request a change.

Questions or concerns? Please email Dr. Podell.

As a reminder: Student drivers parking on campus must

(1) Have a valid parking permit visible;

(2) Park in designated student lots only.

Ms. Katherine Cole, Dean of Academics & Student Life

Ms. Naomi Choi, Admin. Asst.

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

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

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!

Each year on March 14th, we celebrate Pi Day for a fun and meaningful opportunity to recognize the beauty of mathematics and the importance of curiosity in learning. This year, since Pi Day fell on the weekend, we brought the celebration to Downingtown STEM on March 16th, giving our students the chance to enjoy its importance with a slice (or two) of pie!

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our incredible HSA volunteers. Your time, energy, and dedication help bring events like Pi Day to life and create lasting memories for our students. Even with a quick pivot to an early dismissal due to a weather related closure, you pulled together and got the job done. You are ALL appreciated more than you know!

Thank you for being such an essential part of what makes our school a supportive and vibrant place to learn. We appreciate all that you do!

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.

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!!

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

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. Naomi Choi, Admin. Asst.

On Thursday, April 16th all Downingtown STEM Academy Seniors will be participating in Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union's Financial Literacy Reality Fair.

This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to apply the budgeting skills necessary for success in life. Students will be provided with a real-life scenario including their monthly salary, credit score, family size and other details. The students then navigate stations to determine their monthly allocation for expenses such as housing, transportation, health insurance, utilities, and more. Likely, students will then need to make adjustments as they understand they can't have all of the things they'd want, and trade-offs must be made.

Here's where we need your help. In order to deliver the program, we need parent/guardian volunteers to staff the stations the students will visit. We ask volunteers to arrive at 7:15AM for Orientation and Prep, and the day will conclude at 2:15PM. A light breakfast and lunch will be provided.

If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out the Volunteer Interest Form.

Looking forward to an amazing Reality Fair. Thank you in advance for your help in making it a success.

On Thursday, March 5, 2026, the STEM Academy Class of 2027 attended the Career Fair. The following partner companies were on site for students to network with during their visit:

Ansys/AGI, AXA, Borough of Downingtown Police Department, Burns & McDonnell, Chester County Public Defender's Office, Chester County District Attorney's Office, Constellation, dsm-firmenich, Eisai, Elite Therapy Soluntions, GSK, iPipeline, HRG, Johnson & Johnson, KPMG LLP, Labcorp Women's Health and Genetics, Lockheed Martin - Space, Positive Wiring, Tipping Point Media, TPD, Unisys, Vanguard. These and many others will provide our students opportunities during the summer months, to complete their practicum experience.

All of the Junior Class did a wonderful job and showed up very prepared for this day. Dr. Podell shared the next steps with the Class of 2027 families following the Career Fair.

Over the coming days, here are your next steps:

1. Whatever you and your family do to celebrate achievement, or mark a meaningful moment, do it! You've earned it.

2. Continue to reflect on the experience. How did you feel interacting with the different companies you prospected? What companies felt like a fit? Which sparked greater curiosity to find out more?

3. If you're considering developing your own Practicum opportunity, and you haven't done so already, now is the time to reach out to prospective people and companies. If you'd like help developing a prospect list, or a cold call/email script, please reach out so we can meet soon.

In April, you'll reach out to your Practicum point of contact once you've been matched. Your parent/guardian will fill out our permission form, that you will submit to your Career Exploration Schoology Course. And, you'll begin crafting your Practicum Portfolio, answering planning questions to maximize the value of your time on site.

On 3/17, during Advisory, you'll respond to a Google Survey asking for your top 3 choices for a Practicum this Summer. Dr. Podell will then begin a matching process that will last through the balance of the month.

I can't communicate in strong enough terms how amazing you were. Thank you for representing so well the STEM Academy, and our whole community of Downingtown. I'm looking forward to working with you more in the months ahead toward a meaningful Practicum experience.

We would also like to recognize our STEM Alumni that are now working with several of our partnering companies and also attended the career fair to speak with our junior class today. Pictured above are Alex Baptista, Jesse Schlosser, Wade Knaster, Emily Datte, Ryan Conaghan, Brianna Hughes.

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.

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.

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

Hello STEM Academy families!

It’s almost spring and we have so much going on at STEM!

🥧 Pi(e) Day

March 16

What could be more fun than handing out pie? Eating it!

We’ll be dishing out pie to all students, faculty, and staff as we celebrate Pi Day together. This is our last all-school event of the year, so if you haven’t had a chance to help out yet, now is the perfect time!

👉 Sign up here: Pi(e) Day Signup
Questions? Email us at President@STEMHSA.org

🏓 STEM Pickleball Classic Fundraiser

April 30| 3:00–9:00 PM | Picklr Exton

We are excited to announce our STEM Pickleball Classic Fundraiser on April 30!

This double-elimination tournament promises to be a fun, competitive, and community-building event for players of all levels.

✔️ Competitive tournament play
✔️ Beginner lessons available — no experience needed!
✔️ Sponsorship opportunities for local businesses

Whether you’re ready to compete, want to learn the game, or are interested in sponsoring the event, there’s a way for everyone to get involved.

👉 Learn more & register here: Pickleball Classic

Questions? Email: fundraiser@stemhsa.org

🎓 Graduation Lawn Signs

Celebrate your Class of 2026 graduate with a personalized lawn sign!

👉 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 build an amazing prize lineup.

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 we can arrange collection:

• 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 season! Our 2025–2026 Family Donation Campaign 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,

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

New School Records

Congratulations to the following swimmers for setting new school records this year:

· Shane Martin – broke a 17-year-old school record for the 100 backstroke with a time of 50.87.

· Ellie McNamara – re-broke the school record for the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:54.87.

· Keira Carmella – broke an 8-year-old school record for the 200 IM with a time of 2:05.34.

PIAA AAA Swimming Championship

The Swim & Dive Team had 1 boy and 5 girls qualify for the state championship at Bucknell University. The girls team also placed 9th in the state with only 5 girls swimming, which was an incredible accomplishment!

· Shane Martin placed 9th in the state for the 100 backstroke with a time of 50.87 (new school record) and 14th in the state for the 200 IM with a time of 1:54.30.

· Ellie McNamara placed 4th in the state for the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:54.87 (new school record) and 6th in the state for the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:52.80.

· Morgan Harlan placed 6th in the state for the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:58.16 and 15th in the state for the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:54.69.

· Keira Carmella placed 7th in the state for the 200 IM with a time of 2:05.37 and 13th in the state for the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:06.03.

· Lily Kirk placed 9th in the state in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:57.44.

· Eden Russell placed 27th in the state in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:13.13.

Finally, the 200 medley relay (Morgan Harlan, Keira Carmella, Ellie McNamara, Eden Russell) placed 17th in the state and the 400 freestyle relay (Keira Carmella, Morgan Harlan, Lily Kirk, Ellie McNamara) placed 15th in the state.

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