"I love this house."

That was the reaction of one student in Mrs. Rose Lambright's Housing & Design class on Tuesday when her daughter, Dock alum Beth Lambright ('08) gave a virtual tour of a model home that her company, Toll Brothers, is now offering nearby in Eagleville, PA.

Toll Brothers is the nation's 11^th largest homebuilder, with communities in 24 states coast to coast. Lambright received a marketing degree at Saint Joseph's University and has now worked in sales at Toll Brothers for five years. She also worked four years at Ryan Homes, another large homebuilder.

Lambright walked students through the process of customizing a home, from selecting floor plan options to a discussion of financing and commissions. Students took a virtual tour of a model home and answered questions about what they had seen. They also presented details of homes they had designed for the class.

She also said that the homebuilding industry has struggled with the same supply chain issues as the rest of the economy. As an example, she said that the metal forms used to pour concrete for foundations and basements are held together with small pins—and the inability to source those pins can hold up a home's construction.

Lambright was asked which courses she took in school had been helpful in her career. Naturally, Housing & Design was on the list, but so were art and business classes. Even psychology courses come in handy in terms of understanding buyer behavior, she said.

See more photos

Mrs. Jane Roth's 4th grade students experienced some hands-on learning on how to design a food truck recently when Downtown Scoop owner, Mr. Kevin Hange, brought his trailer to campus. In addition to learning the design process, students received tours of the trailer and enjoyed a small scoop of ice cream as well! These future entrepreneurs created their own food truck ideas and designed their own food trucks as part of a unit on area and perimeter. #youngentrepreneurs #dockstrong

 

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Do you want to know more about the college admission process, financial aid, and scholarship opportunities? Dock is hosting a College Information Night for students and parents on Tuesday, October 19 at 7:00 pm in the Theater. Admission counselors from our Mennonite colleges will present valuable information on these topics, and more! If you plan to attend, please RSVP by October 18 to the Guidance Office at 215-362-2675, ext. 601 or jlswartley@dock.org

Our first Admissions Open House of the 2021-22 school year will be held on the Grades 9-12 Campus on Saturday, October 9, from 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. Prospective high school students (grades 8 to 12) and their families can tour Dock's beautiful campus, meet our faculty and coaches, and learn about academics, athletics, art, music, and other opportunities that help create an extraordinary Dock experience.

No RSVP is necessary, though you are welcome to contact Director of Admissions Doug Hackman or submit an inquiry for more information.

Mennonite College Day

The Mennonite Colleges and Universities will be on campus for an in-person visit this year! Dock's annual Mennonite College Day is Wednesday, October 20. Representatives from the Mennonite colleges and universities will be on campus to spend the day with Dock students. They will lead chapel and be available to meet with students individually. Students are encouraged to stop by their tables throughout the day or during lunch to interact with the college representatives. To learn more about their schools, please check them out online or plan to visit them soon.

Parents, join us for an information session hosted by the Admission Representatives Tuesday evening at 7:00 in the Theater. Following a presentation, you will have the opportunity to ask questions and meet individually with the representatives.

College                      E-mail addresses            Websites                         Phone numbers

Bluffton University  admissions@bluffton.edu     http://www.bluffton.edu/    1-800-488-3257

Eastern Mennonite Univ.   admiss@emu.edu     http://www.emu.edu/         1-800-368-2665

Goshen College     admissions@goshen.edu     http://www.goshen.edu/    1-800-348-7422

Hesston College    admissions@hesston.edu     http://www.hesston.edu/   1-800-995-2757

Bethel College      admissions@bethelks.edu     http://www.bethelks.edu/   1-800-522-1887

Fall College Fairs

Virtual and in-person college fairs allow you to explore your options and begin the application process. This is an opportunity to chat with admissions representatives, take a virtual tour, and learn more about the college. Here are a few options:

Christian College Fairs

ChristianCollegeFairs.com

Delaware County Christian School

Wednesday, October 20, 6:30-8:30 pm

Virtual Fair, November 1-19

VirtualChristianCollegeFairs.com

NACAC Virtual National College Fairs

nacacfairs.org

PACAC Virtual Keystone College Fairs

pacac.org

More college fair and open house options are posted on the kiosk outside the Guidance Office.

College & Career Representatives

During the Fall months, approximately 12-15 college and career representatives will visit Dock. They will have information available in the cafeteria foyer during the lunch period.

Daily announcements will inform students which schools/business are visiting, and a flyer is posted on the kiosk outside the Guidance Office.

AP Test Registration Reminder

Students currently enrolled in an AP class received a registration form from their AP teacher with payment instructions. Please turn it in to the Guidance Office, along with payment in the form of a check, by October 11^th.  If you are enrolled in an AP class that begins second semester, such as AP Government, payment will be due at a later date.

Seniors: College Application Process

Mr. Kabakjian visited the Senior English classes to review the application process and how to use SCOIR. He encourages seniors to see him directly for additional support. A few reminders: 1) Make sure you add the colleges you are applying to on SCOIR. 2) Invite your teachers through SCOIR to write letters of recommendation. 3) Your transcript will be sent through SCOIR to the colleges you apply to. AFTER YOU APPLY TO A COLLEGE, GO INTO SCOIR AND MOVE THAT COLLEGE TO "APPLIED". This will let us know to send out your letters of recommendation and transcript.

Juniors: Plan Your Education

While all four years in high school are important, the most pivotal year for academic and career decisions is a student's junior year. During their junior year, students take a more comprehensive look at their future beyond high school. Mrs. Leaman visited Juniors in their English classes to review college and career information and familiarize them with SCOIR, a college planning system to assist in exploring careers and applying to colleges. Students and their parents are also invited to make an appointment to talk with Mrs. Leaman about college and career options.

Testing Information

Juniors and Sophomores: The PSAT is scheduled for Wednesday, October 13.  All juniors on campus will report to the cafeteria at 7:45 a.m. to take this exam This is the first step in entering the scholarship programs conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Sophomores who have registered and paid for the PSAT will take the exam at the same time. Sophomores do not qualify for scholarships, but it is good practice for their junior year. All students taking this exam will need two #2 pencils and an approved calculator.

SAT Information

Test Date                           Registration Deadline

November 6, 2021              October 8, 2021

December 4, 2021              November 4, 2021

March 12, 2022                  February 11, 2022

May 7, 2022                        April 8, 2022

June 4, 2022                       May 5, 2022

The easiest way to register for the SAT is online at www.Collegeboard.com. Students should set up an account with College Board. This will give them access to many tools that are available to support SAT preparation and the college search. There are also helps for parents. This is a recommended site for college bound students and their parents.

Report Cards

Quarter One ends on Friday, October 22, and report cards will be issued to students on Friday, November 5^th at the end of the school day. A students' report card may be held for a variety of reasons such as overdue books, failure to return a sport uniform, etc. The teacher who holds the report card will issue it when the student has handled their responsibilities to them. If you have questions or concerns, don't hesitate to call the Guidance Office. 

National Honor Society News

The annual induction program to celebrate our new NHS members will be held on Tuesday, October 12, at 7:00 pm in the Auditorium. Parents and guardians are invited to attend!

Next Friday, October 8, Dock's Fall Concert will be presented along with our Alumni of the Year Awards. There are two exciting elements of this concert that make it a "can't miss" event for your calendar.

First, one of our instrumental selections is a piece composed by James Barnes and arranged by our Band Director, Mr. Alan Shughart, to accommodate both our band and string ensembles. 

Second, Dock Concert Choir Director Mrs. Michelle Sensenig is also excited to share that we have two guest musicians joining the choir pieces: Gi Downing and Marcus Barnett. Gi Downing is the aunt of Dock senior Tomir Johnson and the mother of R&B/Soul singer Pink Sweat$. 

Tomir’s extended family share a rich history of gospel singing and have been singing together in churches for many years. In this sweet 3-minute Pink Family Video, we see the family (including Gi and Tomir!) coming together to make music. 

Gi has graciously agreed to lead two gospel choir workshops with the Dock choirs and will be leading/performing in portions of our concert. Her piano accompanist Marcus Barnett will be joining us on stage. 

This web page will take you to photos and videos from our first gospel workshop. Jay Gordon was there to capture some great footage, and he wrote a blog post about his experience. Our second session is scheduled for this Wednesday, October 6. The choir members LOVED working and singing with Gi! 

We invite you all to experience what promises to be an unforgettable concert on Friday, October 8, 7:00 pm in Clemens Auditorium.

There are nine of them on the calendar at various times throughout the school year—faculty in-service days. But what are they? What are they for? What happens on those days?

We tagged along last Friday, September 24, for the third Faculty In-Service Day of the year, to give you a behind the scenes look. In-service days are for all faculty, but the location varies; this one was held on the Grades 9-12 Campus.

The first thing you should know is that, while there are fun, community-building activities built into almost every in-service day, these are not vacation days for teachers. Last Friday's agenda was fairly typical. The day began with breakfast together followed by devotions led by Superintendent Dr. Conrad Swartzentruber (did you know he is an ordained pastor too?). Then there were workshops and training sessions that all faculty (EC - Grade 12) participate in together, followed by breakout sessions by grade level (Kindergarten, Discover, for example) and by department (English, Social Studies, Math, etc.).

The day ended with a Goosechase where faculty teams competed in a campus-wide scavenger hunt and a worship service and communion, led by Pastor Mark Wenger and Helen Eastburn of Franconia Mennonite Church.

The best way to summarize in-service days? They are professional days where teachers and administrators come together to think and learn about how to be better educators, build relationships with each other, plan for the future, and worship God as a community.

Scenes from an in-service day

Have you ever wondered how you can get involved at Dock? Watch for some tips and advice about how you and your family can make the most of your Dock experience!

Get involved at Dock

2021-22 Guidance Counselors

For the 2021-2022 school year, Mr. Ken Kabakjian (kdkabakjian@dock.org,) is the counselor for grades 10 and 12 and Mrs. Lori Leaman (ldleaman@dock.org) is the counselor for grades 9 and 11. The counselors invite you to email or call them if you have questions or concerns. 

Schedule Changes

All schedule changes for the year should have been completed by Thursday, September 2. Changes made after this date will need approval of parents, teachers, and guidance counselor. From time to time, students may need to drop a class they are enrolled in. Dropping a class they have started will be reflected on their permanent transcript with a WP (Withdraw Passing) or a WF (Withdraw Failing). Please contact your guidance counselor with any questions.

Student Elections

Elections for class leaders were held on Wednesday, September 1. We appreciate the willingness and dedication of these students to serve our school community as class officers and senators.

Testing Information

Juniors and Sophomores: The PSAT is scheduled for Wednesday, October 13.  All juniors will report to the cafeteria at 7:45 a.m. to take this exam. This is the first step in entering the scholarship programs conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. There is no charge for Juniors. PSAT informational booklets will be distributed when they become available.

The Guidance Office also invites sophomores to take the PSAT; however, there is a $20 fee. Sophomores can register in the Guidance Office on or before Monday, October 4th. A check made out to Dock Mennonite Academy is due when the student registers. Mr. Kabakjian will be visiting sophomore classes to give students more information.  Sophomores do not qualify for scholarships, but it is good practice for their junior year.

SAT Information
Test Date                           Registration Deadline

October 2, 2021                  September 21, 2021 (Late Registration)

November 6,2021               October 8, 2021

December 4, 2021              November 4, 2021

March 12, 2022                  February 11, 2022

May 7, 2022                       April 8, 2022

June 4, 2022                      May 5, 2022

The easiest way to register for the SAT is online at www.Collegeboard.com. Students should set up an account with College Board. This will give them access to many tools that are available to support SAT preparation and the college search. There are also helps for parents. This is a recommended site for college bound students and their parents.

College Planning

Seniors: Mr. Kabakjian will be visiting senior English classes this month to go over the college application process. All seniors should have an active SCOIR account. SCOIR is a college and career planning system that can help you discover colleges that match your personal as well as academic interests. We encourage students at Dock to use it to navigate through the college selection and application process.

Mennonite College Day

The Mennonite Colleges and Universities will be on campus for an in-person visit this year! Dock's annual Mennonite College Day is Wednesday, October 20. Representatives from the Mennonite colleges and universities will be on campus to spend the day with Dock students. They will lead chapel and be available to meet with students individually. Students are encouraged to stop by their tables throughout the day or during lunch to interact with the college representatives. To learn more about their schools, please check them out online or plan to visit them soon.

Parents, join us for an information session hosted by the Admission Representatives Tuesday evening at 7:00. Following a presentation, you will have the opportunity to ask questions and meet individually with the representatives.

Student Support Team (SST)

For the 2021-22 school year, the Student Support Team (SST) will be: Mr. Gehman and Dr. SilverMoon, Faculty; Caleb Benner, Campus Pastor; Mrs. Leaman, 9^th and 11^th grade Guidance Counselor, Mr. Kabakjian 10^th and 12^th grade Guidance Counselor; and Mr. Doug Hackman, Principal.

Parents or students, are you aware of a student that is struggling with an issue? Are you concerned about a behavior of a specific group or individual student attending Dock? You may bring your concern to SST. Speak to any of the members listed above or write out your concern and bring it to the Guidance Office. It may be done anonymously if you prefer. 

Academic Support Service Offered

The Montgomery County Intermediate Unit, in conjunction with the Guidance Office, offers academic support services at Dock. Students experiencing difficulties may be referred to the MCIU reading specialist for temporary, focused instruction in reading comprehension, organizational skills, and writing. The sessions will help students improve basic academic skills and bridge the gap between their skills and grade-level material. The service is available to all students on an as-needed basis. For more information, please contact Lori Leaman or Ken Kabakjian in the Guidance Office at 215-362-2675, ext. 601.

Save the Date!

Back to School Night will be held on Thursday, September 23. After several Dock updates, parents will be invited to follow your child’s daily schedule to meet teachers. Please note: This is an event for parents only.

Dock Mennonite Academy Superintendent Dr. Conrad Swartzentruber has written a letter to Dock students and their families, another in a series of pandemic-related communications the school has shared over the course of the past 18 months. In his September 1, 2021 Superintendent's Letter, Dr. Swartzentruber announces a change in the school's COVID protocols.

Read the full text of the letter here