Mascot Madness: Can Shamona Defend its Title?

Between Monday, January 26 and Friday, February 13 students and staff will compete to become the most active school building throughout all of DASD. Shamona Creek won this friendly competition last year and Mrs. Welsh is looking for a repeat!

RULES

• All students and staff are eligible.
• Participate in physical activity or exercise for up to an hour each day.
• Log your daily results at http://www.dasd.org/mascotmadness
• Use your network ID to login.
• Do not enter more than 1 hour of activity per day.

WINNER
The most physically active building wins!

PRIZE
The winning building will receive $500 to use for their 2015-2016 wellness program and the Mascot Madness Cup!

Twice the Souper Bowls = Twice the Giving

Coincidentally, two different programs share the same name this year. They aren’t connected, but both serve worthwhile audiences and could use parental support.

Souper Bowl (#1)

On FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, the SCHSA Staff Appreciation Committee will be kicking off the weekend for our staff with a SOUPER BOWL luncheon.

We are in need of some help from our amazing Shamona Creek parents:  soup, rolls or cash donations to cover costs of paper products and other expenses.  To contribute in any of these ways, please click here to sign up.

For more information, see the embedded flyer or click here if you are unable to view it.  We are looking forward to it and thank you, in advance, for your support!

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Souper Bowl (#2)

In Mrs. Welsh’s January 14 email, she wrote that “5^th GRADE STUDENTS across the district are united to provide support to a local food bank. They will be collecting items through FEBRUARY 6. All SC families are invited to support them in their efforts to help others in need. It is called the ‘Souper Bowl,’ but any of the following items will be put to good use.”

Needed goods: Spaghetti Sauce, fruits, vegetables, tuna, ham, chicken, beans, cereal, rice, pasta.

Say ‘yes’ to NOPE…because navigating parenthood has its challenges

Here are some scary statistics provided by the school district that freak out parents:

• Average age of first use is 12 years old.
• Each day 2,000 teens try prescription drugs to get high for the first time.
• 1 in 5 teens has abused prescription drugs.
• In 2013, 24 citizens died from a heroin overdose in Chester County

Here’s one more eye-opening statistic … 100% of all teens are former elementary school-aged kids.

This Thursday, January 22, DASD will be hosting a Narcotics Overdose Prevention & Education program called, “NOPE for Parents.” All parents are welcome. The program starts at 7 pm and will take place at 540 Trestle Place, Downingtown.

Learn about issues facing our youth  with drugs, alcohol and peer pressure. Experts and family members will explain the facts regarding the issues your children are facing each day, including prescription drug abuse, drug interaction, signs of substance use, addiction, parenting strategies and where to get help.

The evening NOPE program is for parents to understand the issues facing our youth. DASD high school students will attend NOPE presentations during the day on January 20 at DHS East, January 21 at DHS West and January 28 at STEM.

To RSVP, school officials ask that you email Ginny Warihay at gwarihay@dasd.org by Jan. 21.

READ MORE >

Happening Today: Medication Collection Drop Off

The Downingtown Area School District Safe Homes volunteers will host a Medication Collection Drop Off today at the Downingtown Police Station between 10 am and 2 pm. This is the opportunity to bring your unused or expired medications for safe disposal. The featured flyer also lists a variety of locations that accept medications daily.

Safe Homes is a district-wide initiative with the goal of helping families and friends have positive conversations about difficult topics.

The Shamona Creek parent representative for Safe Homes is  Tara Haarlander.

New DASD ‘Safe Homes’ initiative encourages positive family conversations

Safe Homes is a district-wide initiative with the goal of helping families and friends have positive conversations about what can sometimes be difficult topics, including but not limited to:

• the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD)
• antisocial behaviors such as stealing, bullying, and fighting
• firearm safety
• unsafe sex or promiscuity.

Safe Homes was developed by the PA Liquor Control Board’s Alcohol Education Department and has been distributed all over the state for the last fifteen years.  This is the first year that the Downingtown Communities that Care (CTC) is implementing this program (for more info on the CTC, please see www.dtownctc.org).  The goal is to address certain high priority risk factors that have been​​ identified by the PA Youth (PAY) Survey, which is given to 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th graders every other year.  The theory is that if we can work together to send our kids clear messages about the dangers of risky behavior, we can make Downingtown a safer and more supportive place for our kids to learn and grow in.

Please look for pizza-themed handouts in your kids’ backpacks for great tips on better communication. Families who eat dinner together at least 5 times a week lower their children’s risk of engaging in hazardous behavior by 33%…so order some pizza, make a salad, turn of the TV, and Start Talking!

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UPCOMING: Used Medication Drop Off – Saturday, September 27 @ 10 am-2 pm :: Downingtown Police Station

Turn in your unused or expired medication for safe disposal. Medication Drop-off Flyer

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The Downingtown Communities that Care (CTC) also has a Facebook page.

The Shamona Creek volunteer for Safe Homes is  Tara Haarlander.

Save the Date: DASD Parent University – Math in Focus

Attention all Kindergarten through fifth-grade parents, the Downingtown Area School District (DASD) is welcoming all moms and dads back to the classroom with a elementary math refresher. Specifically, the district will be teaching Math in Focus on three occasions in September. 

During the Parent University, you will learn the Singaporean pedagogy in and out of the classroom; strategies to support your child at home; and hands-on problem solving. All three sessions will be the same; so feel free to choose the one that best fits your schedule. This is not a mandatory program.

DASD Math In Focus Parent University Flyer

Download: Math in Focus Parent University Invite

DETAILS
WHO: All Parents, Grades K-5
WHERE: DASD Administration Building, 540 Trestle Place, Downingtown
WHEN: Three sessions, all will be the same.

• Thursday, September 4 @ 1:30-3 pm
• Thursday, September 4 @ 6:30-8 pm
• Wednesday, September 24 @ 10-11:30 am

About Singamore Math: Math in Focus: Singapore Math by Marshall Cavendish, for Grades K-8, is the U.S. edition of Singapore’s most widely used curriculum, bringing Singapore’s effective approach to  mathematics to U.S. classrooms. Math in Focus is based on the curriculum and pedagogy in Singapore. Singapore Math emphasizes problem solving and positive attitudes toward mathematics, while focusing on student development of skills, concepts, process and metacognition.