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 patience earlier this week while our front door was under construction. The door has been replaced and the front door is working once again. You may notice that there is wood above the entrance door. New glass will be installed soon.

As a reminder, if you are planning to take a trip of 3 or more days, families are required to turn Request for Educational Trip Form in a trip form. Please contact stemattendance@dasd.org.

Below you will find many of the events taking place during the month of November.

November 10: Parent Teacher Conference scheduling begins at 5:00 pm. Links will be sent out to parents through Parent Square by your students' teachers. Please sign up for a time that works for your schedule during the time blocks listed below.

8:00-11:00 am

12:30 - 3:30 pm

5:00-7:00 pm

Should there be any questions, please contact individual teachers.

November 12: STEM Powderpuff Football Game: Tickets for the Powderpuff game will be on sale next week, and available at the gate for $5.00. More information about timing will be sent out early next week. The game can also be viewed through the comfort of your home through the following YouTube Link: STEM Powderpuff Game 2026

November 14: STEM Homecoming Dance @ DHSE: Tickets are on sale through November 13. See Ms.Kaylia Austin is room G24 with any questions.

November 16: Indian Heritage Event

November 20-22: STEM Player's Troup presents: Arsenic and Old Lace

• 11/20 7:00 pm - STEM Auditorium
• 11/21 7:00 pm - STEM Auditorium
• 11/22 2:00 pm STEM Auditorium

November 23: Early Dismissal/Professional Development Day for Staff

November 24: Parent Teacher conferences (information will be coming out soon to set up conferences!)

November 25: No School for students/Work Collaboration Day for Staff

November 26-27: No School/Thanksgiving Recess

The second marking period is well under way. 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.

Congratulations to Abbey Mcgettigan, for her recent trip to Dakar, Senegal, to compete with the US Junior Olympic Rugby team. The USA U18 Women's Rugby Team, of which Abbey McGettigan captained, came in 6th place at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal!

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.

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.

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.

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 Fees up to date accoriding to the due dates provided, 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.

We are excited to host an information meeting about our Modern Japan: Cars & Cuisine trip. Families can look forward to exploring Tokyo, Nagoya, and the Kansai region.

Here’s a sneak peek at what is in store:

🏙️ Ascend Tokyo Skytree

🤖 Visit the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology

🥞 Learn how to make okonomiyaki during a cooking class

Come hear more about the trip and ask your questions!

We will also be sampling Japanese snacks.

📅 Date: November 19

🕕 Time: 6:00 PM

📍 Location: STEM 1st Floor Mezzanine

RSVP here for access to enrollment information: https://rsvp.eftours.com/yyf29rk

The first 25 RSVP's will be entered into a raffle for an extra $100 off the trip!

On Monday, November 16, the annual Indian Heritage event will be taking place here at the STEM Academy. We are looking for both parent and student volunteers for this event.

Please use the appropiate link/QR code on the flier below to sign up:

Student Volunteer Sign Up: Students must check in with their teachers prior to this event.

Please use the appropiate link/QR code below to sign up:

Parent Volunteer: Parents must turn in all clearances and volunteer disclosure forms to Kstauffer@dasd.org, and bring a valid drivers' license to check in the day of the event.

Submitted by Ms. Sevi, HYPE Club Advisor

This past week at STEM, HYPE Club celebrated Red Ribbon Week as a way to bring awareness to our school promoting a DRUG FREE lifestyle. Over 100 students completed the sentence "I choose to stay drug free so I can..." .

Ms. Katherine Cole, Dean of Academics & Student Life

Ms. Naomi Choi, Admin. Asst.

Ticket sales open today and will remain open until November 13th. Get yours today! https://app.myschooldance.com/school_dances/downingtown-stem-academy-stem-homecoming

A big thank-you to our wonderful HSA parents for arriving early on October 30 and helping set up and kick off Junior Java & Juice! Our junior class enjoyed a drink of their choice, a breakfast snack, and a banana to help start their day on a delicious note.

We are so grateful to our HSA volunteers for generously giving their time and helping create these special experiences for our students. Your support makes a difference, and we truly appreciate all you do!

On November 2, Downingtown STEM Academy welcomed local veterans and military professionals for our annual Veterans in STEM Panel! Students in grades 10 and 11 had the opportunity to hear firsthand experiences from veterans representing different branches of the U.S. military and learn how their military service has shaped their professional journeys. Our panelists shared valuable insights about their careers, the skills they developed through service, and the many ways military experience can translate into opportunities in STEM fields.

Following the panel, we hosted an appreciation brunch where a select group of students had the opportunity to connect with the veterans in a more informal setting, ask additional questions, and continue learning from their experiences.

Dr. Troy Podell, Downingtown STEM Academy Internships and Partnerships

Ms. Naomi Choi, Admin. Asst.

On Tuesday, November 3, we welcomed to STEM a select group of our community partners for an afternoon of collaboration. When STEM began, the vision was in part to encourage our students to pursue careers in STEM fields in Southeastern Pennsylvania. That served as the inspiration for our STEM Pathway courses, and Practicum requirement for students to engage in career exploration with a STEM employer in the region. Our roundtable discussion with our partners provided us with valuable feedback on things we’re doing well in the Pathway courses, things we might wish to reconsider, the impact they foresee of AI in their field, and much more meaningful insights.

Submitted by Ms. Tara Woomer

As a part of the ongoing, Industry Insights Series, STEM students had the opportunity to meet with Certified Financial Planner, Jeff Hall this past week. Jeff shared his journey from graduating Downingtown High School to becoming a Certified Financial Planner, different career options in finance and personal finance tips.

Thank you Jeff!

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 STEM Counseling Dept presented "Preparing our Students for Life After STEM" at the October HSA Meeting.

Topics included college admission rates, grade-level planning benchmarks, and DASD's post-secondary planning platforms.

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

All students and families are invited to join the DASD High School Counseling Depts for our annual College Night on

Tuesday, November 17th from 6-8 PM @Downingtown EAST.

Join us as we cover the post-secondary process! RSVP below!

https://forms.gle/ass8ne97JGxXemBR7

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

• 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

  • 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!

September and October were busy months for our HSA, filled with opportunities to bring our school community together. We kicked things off with an Ice Cream Social for Freshmen and Sophomores in September, followed by the Senior Pancake Breakfast, and Fall Fest in October. We wrapped up the month with Junior’s Java & Juice, while also showing our appreciation for teachers with snacks and a Fall Breakfast.

Post Prom Prize Patrol - Black Friday Opportunities

💖 Annual Family Donation Drive

Our yearly Family Donation Campaign is underway! If you haven’t donated yet, please consider a one-time suggested gift of $100 per family. Your generosity directly funds the programs, activities, and events that enrich life at STEM—and your donation is tax deductible.

👉 Make your donation here.

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 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.

With gratitude,
The Downingtown STEM Academy Home and School Association
STEMHSA.org

• 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 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.

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

• 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

• 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