The D-Link
An E-Newsletter for the DASD Community
February 22, 2013 - Vol 4, Issue12 |
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Superintendent's Update |
Greetings:
Take some time today and join me in congratulating the 68 DASD teachers listed below who have been nominated for the 2013 Citadel Heart of Learning Award. To be considered for this honor, a parent, student, colleague or community member submits a nomination letter on their behalf to the Citadel program. The Citadel Heart of Learning Program recognizes and rewards teachers in Chester County for making a big impact on students in their community.
As I noted to the nominees in my congratulatory note, it is difficult for a parent or colleague to find time to sit down and express their thoughts about the great job a teacher is doing. We all come to work each day, intent on making a difference in the life of a child and we are rewarded when that child does well under our wing. Having that work recognized through the Citadel Bank program or the Downingtown Education Foundation's Compliment a Teacher program is an added bonus for those of us in this career. If you recall, last year's County-wide Citadel Teacher of the Year Award winner for the Elementary Division was Lionville Elementary Schools 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Kelly Colquitt.
No matter how the competition shakes out from this point forward, the district is extremely pleased to recognize the achievement of these 65 teachers. Thank you to all who took the time to nominate them for this prestigious honor.
Sincerely,
Dr. Larry Mussoline Superintendent
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| Citadel Heart of Learning Nominees |
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Teacher |
School | |
Margaret Barnes |
Lionville Elementary | |
Carol Blair |
Shamona Creek | |
Nancy Blair |
West Bradford | |
Audrey Blust |
Pickering Valley | |
Scott Burns |
Downingtown Middle | |
Bonnie Cahill |
Downingtown Middle | |
Frank Chindemi |
Springton Manor | |
Stephanie Cole |
Lionville Elementary | |
Gina Conlen |
Lionville Middle School | |
Kathleen Czap |
Shamona Creek | |
Fran Daulario |
DHS West | |
Julie Dimino |
Shamona Creek | |
Nancy Drake |
Beaver Creek | |
Lauren Dunn |
Springton Manor | |
Matt Dziunycz |
Lionville Middle | |
Linda Farren |
Uwchlan Hills | |
Jennifer Gandert |
Bradford Heights | |
Catherine Gardy |
Uwchlan Hills | |
Linda Grigsby |
Beaver Creek | |
Mary Kate Herbert |
Bradford Heights | |
Janine Herd |
Lionville Elementary | |
Brenna Hildebrand |
Lionville Middle | |
Matthew Hopson |
STEM Academy | |
Andrew Hosey |
STEM Academy | |
Judy Houdeshel |
Downingtown Middle | |
Emily Howard |
Bradford Heights | |
Kirk Johnson |
DHS East | |
Rachel Freed Kass |
Beaver Creek | |
Jackie Laird |
Pickering Valley | |
Nancy Legath |
Pickering Valley | |
Tony Leon |
Lionville Middle | |
Jan Lowney |
Springton Manor | |
Elena Margolin |
West Bradford | |
Marissa Marx |
Pickering Valley | |
Chris McGeehan |
STEM Academy | |
Frieda McKay |
Lionville Elementary | |
Jennifer Merroth |
East Ward | |
Noelle Messina |
Beaver Creek | |
Pat Miller |
Shamona Creek | |
Kristin Mills |
Lionville Elementary | |
Renee Mindek |
STEM Academy | |
Susan Mousley |
Lionville Middle School | |
Anessa Musick |
STEM Academy | |
Sue Nann |
West Bradford | |
Barbara Norris |
Shamona Creek | |
Theresa O'Malley |
West Bradford | |
Kathleen Orendorff |
Brandywine Wallace | |
Tara Pellegrino |
STEM Academy | |
Kerri Petterson |
DHS East | |
Lucy Poole |
Beaver Creek | |
Doug Prescott |
East Ward | |
Stephan Pron |
Bradford Heights | |
Floyd Rawleigh |
Downingtown Middle | |
George Reigle |
West Bradford | |
Deb Rooney |
Bradford Heights | |
Leeann Rumpf |
Lionville Middle | |
Diane Scanze |
DHS West | |
Kristen Schlegel |
Lionville Middle | |
Nicole Stabilito |
West Bradford | |
Justin Staub |
STEM Academy | |
Melissa Steffy |
DHS West | |
Melanie Susi |
Lionville Elementary | |
Greg Toates |
DHS East | |
Barbara Wakefield |
West Bradford | |
Lynore Walsleben |
DHS West | |
Ashley Walton |
Lionville Elementary | |
Stephen Williams |
Lionville Elementary | |
Susan Zuraski |
Beaver Creek |
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DHS East and DHS West have been recognized by the College Board with placement on the third Annual AP District Honor Roll. This award is given to schools for simultaneously increasing access to Advanced Placement course work while increasing the percentage of students earning scores of 3 or higher on AP Exams. The College Board notes that the Honor Roll designation indicates that a school district is successfully identifying morivated, academically prepared students who are likely to benefit most from rigourous AP Course work. More than 90 percent of colleges and universities across the US offer college credit, advanced placement or both for a score of 3 or higher on an AP exam, potentially saving students and families thousands of dollars in college tuition. |
| Redistricting Steering Committee Webinar and Meetings Scheduled |
Community members are invited to view the Redistricting Steering Committee's recommended redistricting plan via a webinar beginning on Thursday, March 7, 2013. During the webinar, viewers will be able to see the recommended changes to the current elementary and secondary boundary lines.
Three public meetings have been scheduled. The first for elementary parents will be held at the DHS East auditorium on March 12, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. The second meeting is also for elementary parents and will take place in the DHS West auditorium on March 14, 2013. Middle and high school parents are invited to a secondary school meeting in the DHS West auditorium on March 21, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. The meetings have been scheduled to give our community time to review and comment on the recommended changes. Additional comments are also welcomed through our website. All comments will be given to the school board directors for their review. It is anticipated that the recommendation will go to the School Board for a vote at their April meeting. |
| Kindergarten Registration March 4 - March 8 | |
Elementary schools throughout the district are gearing up for kindergarten registration. Registration for students who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2013 will take place during the week of March 4th.
By law, all students must be up to date on required immunizations and parents must submit copies of birth certificates, proof of residency in the district (rental agreement, deed, final agreement of sale or a current DASD school tax bill), a parent driver's licence or passport and a written report of a physical exam completed by your health care provider. You must also provide immunization records showing the following:
4 properly spaced doses of Diphtheria/Tetanus vaccines (4th on or after 4th birthday).
3 properly spaced doses of Polio vaccines.
3 properly spaced doses of Hepatitis B vaccine.
2 properly spaced doses of Measles and Mumps vaccines and 1 dose of Rubella (usually given as MMR).
2 doses of Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine administered at 12 months of age or older or proof of chickenpox immunity provided by laboratory testing or a written statement of a history of chickenpox disease from a parent, guardian or physician |
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School Board Honors | |
At the February School Board meeting, the following students were honored for their accomplishments!
STEM Academy students Shashank Bhargava, Graham Lovell, and John George Armstrong competed in the University of the Sciences Social Media Marketing competition on January 20, 2013 and won the grand prize of $2,000 and a $5,000 scholarship to their Healthcare Business Program. This project was the result of their work in the Business Marketing Pathway course.
David Knapp, VSO North East Regional Manager, presented Kristen Draper with a plaque for putting together a fundraiser for "Homeless Veterans". Even though it took 3 tries to hold her event she never gave up. The weather made things very difficult for Kristen but she was determined to finish her event. Kristen offered pony rides for a donation and was able to obtain 2 business matching donations. Kristen raised $150 for the pony rides at $5 each ride and the two businesses matched that amount for a total donation of $450.00. These funds were used to help buy gifts for female veterans at the Coatesville VA Medical Facility. Kristen and her father also distributed gifts and Christmas cards over the Christmas Holiday to our veterans. "As a Vietnam Veteran and also a previously "Homeless" Veteran it was an awesome experience to have a teenager show that she cares about what happens to our Veterans. This was a great learning experience for Kristen and we thank her very much," said Mr. Knapp.
Middle School Future Cities Teams Victorious in Regional Competition
Lionville Middle School - 2nd Place Downingtown Middle School - 3rd Place

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| Good Neighbor Award | |
When West Bradford student Thomas Venzie (grey sweatshirt) suffered a siezure one morning, his friend Ayden Mack (second from left) immediately ran to get help. Because of Ayden's quick response, Thomas was able to receive immediate medical assistance and suffered no ill effects.
Downingtown Mayor Josh Maxwell heard of Ayden's quick thinking on behalf of his friend and presented Ayden with only the third "Good Neighbor" award ever presented. As you can see from the photo above, Ayden was quite surprised to receive the award during an assembly on February 15, 2013.
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| Around the District | |
Brandywine Wallace:
Language Arts and Science Connections in 2nd grade: Students gathered around the "campfire" to hear Owl Moon. They discovered the eating patterns of the barn owl as they dissected owl pellets.
Uwchlan Hills
Congressman James Gerlach accepted an invitation to read to the Uwchlan Hills first grade classes on February 19, 2013. The Congressman enjoys the outdoors so students selected Stranger in the Woods by Carl R. Sams II and Jean Stoick for him to read. He also answered questions about his job and life in Washington D.C.
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