DALLASTOWN AREA INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL

Principal Welcome
Greetings DAIS Students and Families!
Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year. We hope you are enjoying your summer and are as excited as we are for the upcoming school year! Dallastown Area Intermediate School is a special place. Whether you are a new or returning student, we hope that every one of you will feel welcomed and accepted into the DAIS family!
As we begin 2023-2024, it is our hope to partner with students and families to achieve our district vision—Inspiring and creating pathways for student success. Your child is the most important person in your life, and we are humbled to serve and help guide them in their pathways toward their future. Teachers at DAIS provide the finest education where students have opportunities to grow socially, emotionally, and academically.
As the summer ends and you find yourself having questions about the upcoming year, please use this website to find any information you may need. Teachers will soon be reaching out to introduce themselves to families and provide important information for the 2023-2024 school year. The beginning of school is always an exciting time. Enjoy the rest of your summer, and we look forward to seeing you soon!
Denise Blackwell
Yellow Community Principal
Gary Thrush
DAIS & Red Community Principal
Dr. Ken Bricker
Blue Community Principal
Back To School Orientation
If you are new to our building, check out the video our DAIS Administrators made for incoming third graders! It is a great way to learn about DAIS! Click HERE to watch.
Topics covered include:
Administration Welcome
School Counseling
Nurse Information
Attendance
Dallastown CARES
Communication @DAISCommunity
Cafeteria
DAIS PTO/Volunteers
Bus/Van & Car Rider Drop-Off/Pick-Up
DAIS Communities: Homeroom Teacher List
School Supply Lists
School supply lists are available by accessing your child's team link below. If you are unsure of your child's team or community, you can find that information above in the Homeroom List. As a reminder, placement information, such as homeroom teachers, is listed in Skyward.
Click on the button below to navigate to your child's team website
Car Rider Information
Parents/Guardians who drive children to school or pick them up at dismissal time will use only the car rider line at the Yellow Community. Car rider drop-off is not permitted at any other location. Drop off occurs from 8:20-8:30 AM and pick-up is from 3:20-3:35 PM. In an effort to minimize congestion and provide a safe, timely dismissal, you will not be permitted to arrive prior to 8:10 AM for drop off or prior to 3:10 PM for pick-up.
Intermediate School begins promptly with students in their classrooms at 8:30 AM. If a student must be dropped off or picked up during the school day (8:30 AM - 2:50 PM), parents must park in front of their community office and accompany their child into or out of the school. Parents may not pick students up from the office after 2:50 PM.
Attendance, Absences, and Appointments
Arrival
Prompt attendance to school is very important. Students begin entering the building at 8:20 AM. During this time students are getting ready for their day, eating breakfast, exchanging books, and watching morning announcements. Students begin Period 1 at 8:40.
If you are driving your child to school, please plan on dropping off in the car rider line by 8:30 AM. A staff member will alert the community offices that the car rider line is complete and any student after that point will need to be driven to the appropriate community office and signed in by the parent/guardian. Students are considered tardy if they arrive on campus after 8:30 AM.
While we understand mornings can be very rushed for everyone, we ask that you please plan in advance to help your child get a smooth start to the school day.
Reporting an Absence or Appointment
All absences and appointments should be reported to the office before 10:00 AM. Please report your student's absence through Skyward, or by calling the office.
• Yellow Community: 717-244-4021 ext. 1178
• Red Community: 717-244-4021 ext. 1378
• Blue Community: 717-244-4021 ext. 1578
Please notify the office if your student is arriving late or leaving early due to an appointment. A doctor's note should be provided when your student returns.
Administrator Approved Absences (formerly Educational Trips) should be submitted in Skyward 10 days prior to your child’s absence.
Dismissal
If you need to change your student’s method of transportation, please notify your community office prior to 2:30 PM. This allows office staff time to notify teachers of dismissal changes. All Offices close for Student Pick-up at 2:50 pm.
Fall Picture Day
DAIS Fall Picture Day (Retake Day 10/18)
DAIS will host two days of Fall Pictures with Colleen & Company.
Tuesday, September 12 and Wednesday, September 13, 2023
The Yellow & Red Communities will have their pictures taken on Tuesday, September 12.
The Blue Community will have their pictures taken on Wednesday, September 13.
Cyber students may report to have their picture taken any time between 9 AM and 11 AM on either day. Cyber students should report to the Red Community to be buzzed in for photos. ONLY GRADE 4-6 CYBER STUDENTS should be photographed at the Intermediate School. Please do not bring students in other grade levels. Alternate grade levels should follow their building communications for picture day information.
Fall Picture Retake Day is Wednesday, October 18.
Picture packets will come home prior to picture day. You may also order online - link will be emailed
PTO Information
We encourage you to visit the DAIS PTO Kick Off S'more for important information on start of school events and activities, volunteer opportunities, and more!
DAIS CARES Expectations
DAIS Dallastown CARES Expectations will be reviewed with all students at the start of the school year. Students are expected to adhere to the expectations set forth. Families may review the expectations using the links below:
Summer Reading
Click HERE for important information from the DAIS Library and to access the Summer Reading Challenge!
REGISTER HERE: https://bit.ly/DandD23v2Registration
FAQ'S: https://bit.ly/DandD23v2FAQ
Adult Volunteers: https://bit.ly/DandD23v2AdultVolunteers
Student Volunteers: https://bit.ly/DandD23v2StudentVolunteers
Dallastown Cat Packs “Down and Dirty” - The Remix!
The Dallastown Cat Packs program supports students across the district with food and other items during times when school is not in session (ex: weekends, long breaks). As a Non-Profit Organization, Cat Packs relies on food and monetary donations from the community, as well as one large fundraiser each year, in order to provide weekly "Cat Packs" for Dallastown families in need. In the past, the Down & Dirty event took place in the spring, however, in an effort to involve as many students and staff as possible, Cat Pack's biggest fundraiser, Down & Dirty, has been moved to September! Such a good thing, we couldn't wait until Spring!
Join family and friends on Saturday, September 23rd for this fun event where teams of five compete in twelve muddy, wet, and silly challenges. All proceeds from this event will benefit Dallastown Cat Packs and allow them to continue their mission of making sure that no child in our District goes without food and other necessary items when school is not in session. Gather your team and register quickly, as there are a limited number of slots available for teams for this fun and muddy day. Registration is complete when teams have completed all forms and submitted payment. Get creative! There will be awards for the best costumes!
Want to be involved in this great community event, without the mud? Many volunteers are needed to make this event successful. Please see the links below for adult and student volunteers. All volunteers may also participate (volunteers will be given priority when selecting their event time). Please see the FAQ link for more event information.
Dallastown Cat Packs is super excited for "Volume 2" of this event, and looks forward to a day full of fun for our Dallastown Community for a great cause!