Head of School Update

Mr. Art Campbell, Head of School

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

We hope everyone had a great first week! We have enjoyed seeing all of the students walk through the hallways.

Staff Changes

We wish officially like to welcome Mr. Richard Love to our STEM Academy Math Department, as of today 8/28, for students that were scheduled with Ms. Hall/Ms. Byrne to start off the year.

There will be no school on Monday, September 7, 2026 in observance of Labor Day.

Senior Portraits: There is only one opportunity available to have Senior portraits taken here at the STEM Academy, and that will be Wednesday, Sept. 2 from 3:00-9:00 pm by appointment only. All other sessions will need to take place in a studio. If you have not signed up for a time slot, please do so asap! Visit cady.com/schedule to book your senior portrait session today!

• Student ID cards for members of the senior class are already created and will be delivered to your "A" day Advisory teacher soon.

CADY Picture Day (Grade 9-11): Thursday, September 3. Make Up Date: Wednesday, October 21.

• All students should make sure to have their pictures taken, so that they can receive an updated student ID. Student ID cards will be sent to the STEM Academy for students in grade 9-11 several weeks after picture day .

26-27 STEM Academy Back to School Night Schedule

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.

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

CADY will be on the STEM Academy Campus on Thursday, September 3, 2026 photographing students for the yearbook. These pictures will also be used to create student IDs for all students.

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Please remind your student to dress appropriately and come prepared for their portrait. Families can confirm their information and save $10 on photo packages when they pre-order before Picture Day.

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Visit cady.com/pictureday to confirm your info, explore package options and place your order. ***Packages that are ordered before picture day will receive a $10.00 discount. Please note that a shipping fee is also added, as all pictures will be mailed home.

The make up date for underclassmen portraits will be Wednesday, October 21, 2026 for those that may miss the original day.

Thank you for helping make Picture Day a success!

• 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:

• Severe OR persistent coughing

• Very congested

• Very runny nose

• Unexplained rash

The 26-27 Parking Permit application opened for the Senior Class on Monday, August 10, and for the Junior Class on Monday, August 17, 2026. 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.

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.

**Any student that purchased a parking permit that did not pick up last week, should make plans to pick up in the main office after school beginning Tuesday, August 25. Students will not be ticketed during the first two weeks of school, but should make every effort to pick up their parking permit as soon as possible. We are not able to issue a parking permit in the morning, before school begins. Thank you for understanding.

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.

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.

26/27 Student Contact Information Update: It is that time of year again, where we ask families to begin updating and confirming their contact information for the next school year.

This should be completed by visiting https://www.dasd.org/student-registration

Scroll to the middle of the page, were you will see Parent Portal. Click Existing Families or Families new to DASD to access the Parent Portal to update your information with the district (click More > Registration/Enrollment Options for DASD Families > Annual Update > 2026-2027 Next School Year (August 2026 to June 2027) Enrollment/Registration).

If you need further assistance, please enter a help ticket through the DASD Service Desk.

Ensuring that we have accurate demographic, health and contact information for your child directly impacts our ability to best serve our students. Additionally, it is an essential piece to ensuring student safety.

If there are any questions regarding this process, please contact Ms. Rockowitz in the STEM Counseling office.

• Technology related questions – Enter a ticket at https://servicedesk.dasd.org/support/home

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!

The only Senior Portrait make-up sessions in house at the STEM Academy will be September 2, from 3:00 - 9:00 pm by appointment only. All other sessions will need to be scheduled in the CADY studios.

Additional Important Reminders:

• Diploma Verification: Attention all members of the Class of 2027...the Diploma Verification form is now open! This information will be used for your diploma and ALL graduation lists and documents. We are also collecting mailing and email addresses for future correspondence after graduation. **This form must be completed by the graduating senior, using the student DASD email address and should be completed no later than October 14. Please contact kstauffer@dasd.org with any questions.

• 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.

• STEM Academy Class of 2027 Senior Class Parking Permit (As a reminder, this application must be completed by the student, using their DASD student email address. For future reference, this information can also be located on our website, under the Backpack. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. Applicants must have all obligations noted up to date before a parking permit will be issued.

• IB Fees Letter: This information was sent out to all members of the Junior Class (now Senior Class of 2027) on April 20, 2026. The IB Exam schedule as of August 7, 2026 is now available as well. Please be sure to check back for updates and changes to the Class of 2027 IB Schedule as the year progresses.

Ms. Katherine Cole, Dean of Academics & Student Life

Ms. Naomi Choi, Admin. Asst.

Information for Clubs for the 26-27 School Year will be shared in mid September. Stay tuned!

Many events for the upcoming school year have been added to the calendar on the STEM Academy Website.

Faculty Advisors for the 26-27 School Year are listed below:

9th grade - Class of 2030: Ms. Trish Strano

10th Grade - Class of 2029: Ms. Elizabeth Bradley

11th Grade - Class of 2028: Ms. Kaylia Austin

12th Grade - Class of 2027: Ms. Kirsten Snyder and Ms. Elizabeth Bradley

This fall, all 9th grade students enrolled in a World Language course will participate in the Avant STAMP 4S (Standards-based Measurement of Proficiency) assessment. This proficiency assessment measures students’ skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking in their target language (Spanish, French, or German). Students will take the assessment again in the spring to measure their growth over the course of the school year. Students in grade 10 will take the assessment once in the winter.

The Avant STAMP assessment is more than a diagnostic tool for teachers. It provides students with an opportunity to reflect on their progress, identify strengths, and set meaningful goals for continued language development. The assessment is computer adaptive. It adjusts to each student’s proficiency level and provides a more accurate picture of their current skills.

Why it matters:

• Helps students track their language growth over time.
• Builds metacognitive skills through self-assessment and reflection.
• Provides teachers with valuable information to support instruction.
• Supports college, career, and global readiness through the development of multilingual skills.
• Establishes a pathway toward earning the Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy, a distinction that can be highlighted on college applications and resumes.

We encourage families to view this assessment as an important milestone in their student’s language-learning journey. Students will prepare for and reflect on the assessment during their World Language classes, and teachers will communicate when each section will be administered.

If you have any questions, please contact your student’s World Language teacher.

Congratulations to Neil Thakkar for his participation and second place win in the inaugural American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative Innovation Challenge for their project, LungFACTS.

The full article can be found here:

Great Valley, Downingtown STEM Students Win National Prize for AI Lung Cancer Screening Tool

Dr. Troy Podell, Downingtown STEM Academy Internships and Partnerships

Ms. Naomi Choi, Admin. Asst.

Dual Enrollment

Our first STEM Academy cohort of 13 students pursuing their Associate's Degree from Delaware County Community College alongside their high school diploma are entering their Senior year. This year, they are joined by 14 Juniors beginning their journey at DCCC in pursuit of their Associate's Degree, as well as 5 Seniors participating in the Downingtown Advantage 12th Grade program. These programs save students and families significant time and money in pursuit of their postsecondary educational plans. If you're interested in learning more, book a meeting with Dr. Podell by reaching out to Naomi Choi at nchoi@dasd.org.

Career Education and STEM Practicum

As the Summer comes to a close, our rising 12th grade students are concluding the last of their STEM Practicum experiences. We want to extend a sincere note of gratitude to our over 40 participating employers in STEM fields for providing amazing experiences for our young people as they explore potential career paths. The class of 2027 impressed our partners with their enthusiasm, smarts, and soft skills.

After completing the Practicum, Seniors should answer our brief feedback survey, and complete their Practicum Portfolio.

If you have any questions about the STEM Practicum, or want your employer to get involved in this amazing opportunity to shape the regional workforce leaders of tomorrow, please reach out to Ms. Choi at nchoi@dasd.org to find out more, and book a meeting with Dr. Podell.

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

Bishop Shanahan is hosting their annual College Fair Tuesday, Sept 24, 2026 from 7-9 PM in the BSHS Gymnasium. Over 100 colleges in attendance! No registration required. More information can be found on BSHS’s College Advising Events Page.

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

  • September 14, 2026
  • 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!

We hope your school year is off to a fantastic start! Below are a few reminders for upcoming events and volunteer opportunities!

1.) Fall Spirit Wear Sale - Now through Aug 31st! You can either have your items delivered to school for pick up or to your home. Get your gear here: https://tuttlemarketing.chipply.com/STEMACADEMY/

2.) Picture Day Sept. 3rd!

3.) Back to School Night! Sept. 10th, 6-8PM

4.) 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 9th/10th grade Ice Cream Social, 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

5.) HSA Meeting! - September 14th at 7:00PM in the Atrium! Join us for an overview of the year's activities, Q&A, meet and greet with the board and a chance to get to know your STEM community.

6.) 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!

STEM Spirit Wear on sale now through August 31st!

Select from a variety of styles and colors! You can order through the link below or through our website: stemhsa.org

Orders will be delivered to the school for pick up - More details to come.

https://tuttlemarketing.chipply.com/STEMACADEMY/?apid=28843779

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.

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