The last days of school leading up to important transitions—graduation from high school, and to high school from middle school—are always busy, with many important end-of-year activities. Dock has created web pages for both of its campuses where you can track these activities. Links to online events and other relevant information will be posted on these pages, which will be updated regularly—so check back frequently!

You can also view photos of seniors and their "Class of 2020" yard signs here!

Grades 9-12 end-of-year events page (includes photos of seniors with their yard signs!)

EC-Grade 8 end-of-year events page

Dock's annual Senior Recital is an opportunity to celebrate the arts—specifically the musical and artistic abilities of our graduating seniors. This year's recital was held on Tuesday, May 26. The archive recording is available here and on Dock's YouTube channel.

Watch the Senior Recital 

The schedule for this year's Senior Presentations has now been posted. These "senior speeches" will be delivered on two channels (see below). Presentations will be recorded and archived, with links to each student's speech available on this same schedule document.

To view your student's presentation, find their name on the attached schedule. At their designated day and time, click on the link of the corresponding channel at the top of the column ("Live Channel 1" or "Live Channel 2.") When the recording of your student's presentation has been archived, the student's name will appear as a link on this schedule document. Most recordings will be archived within 24 hours.

Senior Presentations are 20-minute public presentations in which seniors reflect on the academic, social and spiritual growth they have experienced during their years at Dock. Developed as part of the Communications class curriculum, the presentations offer a window into the classes, co-curricular events, teachers and experiences that have helped shape each student. Senior Presentations are typically given on campus, but have moved online for the 2019-20 school year.

Senior Presentation schedule

AP Exams

For the 2019-20 exam administration only, students can take an online 45-minute free-response exam at home. You will be able to take this exam on any available device - computer, tablet, or smartphone. Exams will be administered by College Board from Monday, May 11 through Friday, May 22. Find your exam day and time at https://apcoronavirusupdates.collegeboard.org/educators/taking-the-exams/ap-exam-schedule. Some courses will use portfolio submissions in place of an online exam. Students taking world language and culture exams will complete two spoken tasks. Mr. Kabakjian is available to discuss your specific situation.

SAT Information

To keep students safe, and in alignment with public health guidance and school closures, the SAT and SAT Subject Tests will not be administered on June 6, 2020. If it's safe from a public health standpoint, College Board will provide weekend SAT administrations every month through the end of the calendar year, beginning in August. This includes a new administration in September, and the previously scheduled tests on August 29, October, 3, November 7, and December 5. Students can register for these tests starting in May. Eligible students can register with a fee waiver. For each exam date, there are plans to significantly expand their capacity for students to take the SAT once schools reopen. Students already registered for June can get early access to register for August, September, and October.

Senior Surveys

Mr. Kabakjian will be surveying all seniors in May to gather post-graduation plans. Look for a Schoology message with a link to a Google Form and respond promptly, as this information is important to us!

Senior Recital

A virtual senior recital is being planned! If you have a musical selection that you would like to share with our Dock community, please create a video, paying special attention to camera angle, lighting, and background noise. Email your video to senior advisor, Mr. Dana Gehman, by Wednesday, May 13, along with your name as it should appear in the program and the title and composer of our selection. You may submit either a vocal or instrumental selection. Your piece should not exceed 7 minutes. The recital will be electronically compiled and made available to the wider Dock community.

Academic Recognitions

As we have done in the past, we will honor students at graduation with three categories:

Cum laude—Cumulative GPA of 3.70 – 3.84

Magna cum laude—Cumulative GPA of 3.85 - 3.99

Summa cum laude—Cumulative GPA of 4.00 and above

Schedules

We anticipate 2020-2021 schedules will be ready to mail to students later this month.  It is important that each student and parent look over the academic schedule for next year. Review your schedule using the Curriculum Guide for the 2020-2021 school year. The guidance counselors are available to review schedules with students.  This is particularly important for next year's juniors and seniors.  Schedules should be completed before the beginning of the new school year. All schedules need to be finalized for the year by the end of the 1^st week of school. Any exceptions will require teacher, parent, and guidance counselor approval. 

Career/Work Study

Any student who would like to be involved in the Career/Work Study Program next year must have their application submitted to Mrs. Leaman by June 1. 

Scholarship Opportunities for Seniors 

It's not too late to apply for the following scholarships! For more information and applications, go to the Scholarship page on the Guidance website.

• The Daniel J. Reinford Scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior at Dock who will be attending a Mennonite college or university. It is based on financial need, grades, and contribution to campus life. Applications must be emailed to jlswartley@dock.org by Wednesday, May 13.
• The Travis Bechtel Memorial Scholarship, sponsored by Baum, Smith & Clemens, LLP, is awarded to a graduating senior at Dock planning to major in business, excelling in academics, athletics, and business. Applications must be emailed to jlswartley@dock.org by Wednesday, May 13.
• The Skippack Lions Club Scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior residing in Skippack Township who plans to attend an accredited institution. The recipient must excel in academics and be involved in community activities. Apply online by Friday, May 15.
• The Delaware Valley MEDA Scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior planning to attend an Anabaptist school to pursue a degree in business/management. The recipient must be an active participant in a local church within the program's constituent denominations. Applications are due Tuesday, June 30, 2020

College Visits

Summer vacation is a great time for next year's juniors and seniors to begin visiting colleges. It's best to visit colleges when they are in session, however, the summer time would allow you the opportunity to do some initial investigating. Due to Covid-19, on-campus visits may not be possible or practical. Many colleges offer virtual visits on their websites, such as Verto's Open House  on Friday, May 15. You may also be able to find a virtual college fair. Strive Virtual College Exploration is happening from April 20 through May 21, offering virtual presentations for juniors to explore college opportunities. Hopefully, a second visit can happen in the fall if you are attracted to the college.  Rising juniors, it is time to gather and review colleges of interest and upcoming seniors, you should have four to six colleges selected to send applications to in the fall. 

Senior Experience

Juniors, have you started to plan for your Senior Experience? It is not too early to begin the process of making connections for your experience.  If you plan to job shadow or go on a service trip, working ahead will benefit you and your selected host. 

Emergency Information

Parents, it is important that you inform the school of any changes that affect your child's emergency information.  Your contact information and current student health-related issues need to be continually updated.  Please email Mrs. Swartley, Guidance Office Assistant, at jlswartley@dock.org with changes.

Summer Enrichment

Looking for things to do this summer? Check out the Summer Opportunities page on the Guidance website for ideas! Enrichment activities look impressive on the college resume. Contact your Guidance Counselor if you have questions.

The Dock Athletic Department announces the hiring of Mr. Kirby King as the school's head boys volleyball coach. Coach King started the school's boys volleyball program in 1996, and during his initial 11-year coaching tenure our teams won six league titles and two district championships. At that time, Dock competed at the larger school AAA level for both district and state playoffs, which made Dock's success somewhat unusual. Dock won back-to-back district titles in 2003 and 2004, and was in the state AAA rankings in the early years of that decade.

King has been Dock's boys volleyball assistant coach for the past four years, which helps in making the transition more seamless. "Coach King brings a great knowledge of what it takes to win and be successful at the high school level," said Dock Athletic Director Tim Ehst. "His knowledge of and ability to teach fundamentals and game strategies, and his calm but direct communication style, are helpful in developing players and building team success."

Visit the Dock Athletics website

Dock Mennonite Academy has received the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association's 2019-20 Sportsmanship Award. It is the 10th time in the 22-year history of the award that Dock has received the highest rating among all schools in the Bicentennial Athletic League Presidents Division.

Dock also received the 2019-20 Greg Pinelli Memorial Sportsmanship Award for both its male and female athletic programs. The awards honor not only sportsmanship by student-athletes and coaches on the field or court, but also athletic department hospitality and the sportsmanship of spectators.

"I want to first and foremost thank our coaches for their efforts in this area. They are most instrumental in getting our sportsmanship expectations off the ground, which are standards important to game environment and life beyond athletics," said Dock Athletic Director Mr. Tim Ehst. "Our student-athletes consistently do a great job of bringing positive energy to their games, as well as respect for opponents and officials. It has also been great having enthusiastic fan support from both parents and our energized student section."

Ehst also singled out game supervisors, along with coaches and the Dock campus community for doing their part in welcoming opposing teams and spectators to our campus in a courteous and respectful manner.

"Equally important is the daily work our administration and faculty do to cultivate respect, both on campus and in the classroom," Ehst said. "Our school culture, driven by our Christian faith, has had a positive impact on our sportsmanship in athletics, and has played a part in being honored with these awards."

Learn more about Dock Athletics

Dock senior Miguel Santiago has been nominated in the "Best Solo Dancer" category of the Cappies, an international program for celebrating the best of high school theater. Santiago was nominated by the Greater Philadelphia chapter for his role as Jack Kelly, the leader of the "Newsies" in their battle against media tycoons for better pay and working conditions in turn-of-the-century New York. The lead role in Dock's fall musical was a demanding one in terms of acting, singing and dancing, and we are proud of Miguel for this well-deserved nomination!

The Cappies also provides learning experiences for aspiring writers, as teams of critics write reviews for each high school production. Dock's team of theater critics and reviewers for 2019-20 included Lily Teti, Christine Hu, Braden Churches, and Ben Longacre.

...when all through the school, not a student was stirring, we were all under COVID rule! With apologies to Clement Clarke Moore, we update a holiday classic to fit this year's virtual Country Fair & Auction.

Watch "Twas the night before the Auction..."

We all wish we were welcoming you to the EC-Grade 8 Campus in Souderton, but we're going to make this event as much fun as possible in a virtual environment. Please join us tomorrow, Friday, May 15, for all the FUN, including opportunities to:

• Bid on more than 50 great online auction items, including the 4th Grade Quilt!
• Score some BBQ chicken, strawberry pies, candy and more with a donation to Dock
• Watch EC-Grade 8 Principal Mrs. Bronwyn Histand and Grades 9-12 Principal Mr. Martin Wiens take the plunge into chilly Groff Pond when we reach our fundraising goal
• Get in the spirit of Dock Rocks Giving Day by out-giving other Dock graduating classes, teams, and groups
• Listen to a concert by the Dock alumni acapella group Forty Foot Road

Join us online tomorrow, Friday, May 15, for a fun-filled day!

Visit the Virtual Country Fair & Auction web page

Visit the Dock Rocks Giving Day web page 

Visit the Dock Rocks Giving Day donation site and giving scoreboard

Register to bid on the online auction items, including the 4th Grade Quilt

The pandemic has caused us to look differently at our public events on campus, but that won't stop us from building community and raising funds for tuition assistance!

Our 59th annual Country Fair & Auction will include:

• Virtual Online Auction May 11-18

• A virtual concert by our acapella heroes, Forty Foot Road

• Dock Rocks Giving Day on May 15

Visit our Country Fair & Auction web page to learn how you can still have your Country Fair favorites like strawberry pie and BBQ chicken.

Come join the fun!

Dock announces the launch of its 6th Annual Spanish Department Food Drive. Between now and May 24, the Dock community will collect funds to purchase food for Manna on Main Street. Manna has created a dedicated link for Dock families to donate directly from the safety and comfort of their homes (see below).

Dock's Spanish Department has conducted annual food drives to help fill Manna's pantry before summer vacation begins. "This year, even more so than before, it is good for us to know that we can provide food for kids and families in need," said Grades 9-12 Spanish teacher Dr. Anabella SilverMoon. "We can ease their struggle during the summer."

Manna is grateful for partnerships like the one it has with Dock's Spanish Department. "I'm sure everyone has their own concerns, but we appreciate your care for those whom we serve," said Vince Caperelli, Jr, a spokesman for Manna on Main Street. "Even during the quarantine, Manna continues to distribute to-go meals and groceries seven days each week as we work to meet the growing needs in our community."

Financial donations are needed more than ever during the quarantine, as Manna is providing more than twice the amount of groceries to more than double the typical number of families it serves each week. Manna is distributing well over 1,000 to-go meals each week, helping feed hundreds of individuals and families who need food," Caperelli said.

The link to make donations for Dock Donates is posted below. Even just a few dollars from each of us will make a huge difference. Please join us if you can! Feel free to share this with family and friends. The link tracks our donations so that we can see how well we did together! Let's contribute and care for the world around us as we help Manna on Main Street serve our community.

Donate to the Spanish Department Food Drive