Dayspring Beacon

Updated September 21, 2026

Upcoming Events

Below is a list of upcoming events. Scroll down for further details. Additional details will be added as we get closer to the date of the event.

9/21/26 – Cycle Day 6

Upcoming Events:
9/22/2026 – The Protectors, Student Assemblies
9/22/2026 – The Protectors, Parent Assembly, 6:30 p.m., DCA Auditorium
9/23/2026 – See You at the Pole, 7:15 a.m.
9/24/2026 – New Family Coffee with the Headmaster and Principals
9/25/2026 – Upper School Flex Friday
9/25/2026 – Parent Prayer, 8 a.m.
9/28/2026 – Headmaster’s Oration Finalists Assembly, Grades 10-12
9/29/2026 – Headmaster’s Oration Finalists Assembly, Grades 4-9
10/1/2026 – Fall Sub Sale Delivery Day
10/5/2026 – Oration Finalists Filming Day
10/7/2026 – PHEAA Financial Aid Webinar, 6:00-7:30 p.m.
10/9/2026 – Grandparents and Special Guests Gathering
10/12/2026 – Bring a Friend Day (Columbus Day)
10/13/2026 – PSAT Testing (10th and 11th Grade)
10/16/2026 – Women’s Giving Circle Annual Meeting, 8:30-10:30 a.m., DCA Auditorium
10/23/2026 – Last Day Quarter 1
10/23/2026 – Flex Friday
10/30/2026 – Patriots Celebration, Junction Center

Protectors Parent Program-This Tuesday!

It’s not too late to sign up! DCA and the Parent-Teacher Guild will offer the first parent informational night of the 2026-27 school year on Tuesday, Sept. 22. A faith-based anti-bullying program led by Paul Coughlin from The Protectors will be presented to Dayspring students during the school day, and Dayspring parents will have an opportunity to attend a version geared toward them in the evening at 6:30 p.m. in the DCA auditorium.

Unlike traditional anti-bullying efforts that focus primarily upon reforming children who bully and which are historically ineffective, The Protectors focuses primarily upon the potential strength, heroic desire, and rescuing capacity of Bystanders, transforming them into what they call “Alongside Standers.” Coughlin will discuss myths and misconceptions about bullying as well as explain how parents play a pivotal role in combatting bullying and provide information and tools to help create a God honoring environment for everyone.

The program is free for DCA families, but attendees must register. Please complete the Google form found here to sign up to attend the event on Sept. 22 at 6:30 p.m. Child care will be provided by Dayspring seniors for a donation toward their senior trip.

Student Government See You at the Pole

Student Government invites you to join us for the annual See You at the Pole event. It will be held at school on Wednesday Sept. 23, from 7:15 to 7:45 a.m. This gathering is a time for students and faculty to come together in prayer for our school, DCA families, and our nation. We encourage everyone to arrive early and take part in this meaningful time of worship, prayer, and fellowship. Donuts will be available as supplies last. If you have any questions, please contact Favor Johnsons or Ms. Adams.

Join the Women's Giving Circle

What is the Women’s Giving Circle?
Dayspring has created a women’s giving circle where women who are committed to Dayspring can harness the power of collective giving by pooling their donations and investing in projects that will build and strengthen Dayspring. This group is not limited to DCA moms; grandmas, aunts, and other ladies passionate about Dayspring and its students are welcome to join.

What is the Membership Fee?
Any woman can join by making a minimum annual contribution of $200 and a commitment to participate in the Giving Circle’s Lunch and Learn (April/May) and the annual meeting (October). Each year, members are invited to sign a commitment form. The application can be found below. The deadline for this year’s applications is Friday, Oct. 9.

How Will the Funds be Used?
Each year, the combined contributions of the Women’s Giving Circle membership will be used to support specific projects and services of Dayspring. The members will vote annually in October on which project(s) will benefit from the fund.

How Often Does the Women’s Giving Circle Meet?
Members will meet at least two times each year.
• Lunch and Learn (April/May) – Members get hands-on with some of the projects funded
• Fall Annual Meeting (October) – Current members vote to determine project(s) to receive funding

For More Information
For more information about this wonderful opportunity for women to make a difference at Dayspring, please contact Sarah Dillon at 717-285-2000 or by email at sdillon@dayspringchristian.com.

WGC-Membership-Application

Grandparents Day Change and Website Construction

Notice: If your grandparents are trying to register for the Grandparents and Special Guests Gathering, please be aware we are experiencing a problem with our website and are working on the issue. Please check back later this week to register. We apologize for any inconvenience.

This year’s Grandparents Day will look different than previous years. We still want to bless grandparents and provide an opportunity for them to spend time with their grandchildren at school. Invitations were mailed and are hitting mailboxes now for grandparents to join us for a reimagined grandparent event this year.

This year’s event has been reformatted into a Grandparents and Special Guests Gathering and will feature five hour-long sessions in which grandparents and their grandchildren will enjoy light refreshments and activities together in the Dayspring auditorium.

Guests may choose one time slot on Friday, October 9:
8:00-9:00 a.m.
9:15-10:15 a.m.
10:30-11:30 a.m.
11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
1:00-2:00 p.m.

Please note: Light refreshments will be offered, but there is no meal at this year’s program. Registration is NOT YET OPEN but will be by the end of the week if grandparents would like to sign up on the website before receiving the official invitation in the mail. Please wait to register until registration appears on the DCA Homepage. The registration deadline is Monday, September 28.

Questions may be directed to Erika Straubel at estraubel@dayspringchristian.com.

Grandparents Gathering Volunteers and Donations

Grandparents and Special Guest Day is quickly approaching! It takes many volunteers for this day to be a success. Because this year’s format is different due to parking constraints, please review the SignUpGenius link carefully.

We are asking that all food donations be dropped off by 8:00 a.m. Thursday, October 8. Additionally, we are looking for volunteers on Thursday to help set up the auditorium and lobby, as well as assist with food preparation; shifts are available anytime between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. On Friday October 9, you may sign up to help for one session or multiple sessions.

This is a wonderful opportunity to meet other parents and serve our school community. Thank you for your support!

Questions may be directed to Erika Straubel at estraubel@dayspringchristian.com.

Bring a Friend Day Is Back!

Bring A Friend Day is back this year! Your 4th- through 11th-graders can bring a friend to school on Monday, October 12. Seniors may also bring friends if they are juniors. Read on for details:

When: Monday, October 12. Guests can visit from 7:55-noon or 7:55 to 3:00.
Who: For children in 4th & 5th grade, visiting friends should be in the same grade level. For students in grades 6-11, visiting friends should be close in age to your child, e.g., your 9th-grader’s shadowing friend should be no younger than 8th grade and no older than 10th grade. Please help us keep our guest list to those students who have not previously attended Dayspring as students.
Why: So they can experience a day of your Dayspring life.
How: Ask your child’s friend’s parents to register by Friday, October 9. Go to Register for a Tour or Open House and choose Bring A Friend Day in the Select A Date field. Walk-in registrations cannot be accepted on Bring A Friend Day.

Important notes:
1. We treat for lunch, and it’s pizza day!
2. This is also chapel day. While your students’ visiting friends will not be in uniform (of course not!), we do ask that they uphold our special dress day standards (modest tops and jeans with no holes are acceptable, no shorts or leggings as pants, etc.).
3. Your child’s friend is not permitted to ride your public school bus (district rules). They will need to secure a ride.
4. Parents, you may let your child’s parents know that we are a “no phone school,” so all students who visit will need to drop off their phones at the main office. Their parents can still contact them by calling our school phone number!
Have questions? Reach Christine Valverde at cvalverde@dayspringchristian.com or 717-285-2000, x206.

Athletics News

Congratulations to the Varsity Volleyball team on winning the Manheim Central Baron Classic Tournament this weekend!They swept 5A and 6A teams Mechanicsburg, Cedar Crest, Daniel Boone, and Greencastle Antrim among others!

Congratulations to Middle School Cross Country runner Asa Howell, who placed 14th out of 354 runners at Saturday’s Ben Bloser Invitational! The Varsity Boys team placed 4th out of 17 schools. Noah Huxta finished 4th, and Ryan Moore was 17th out of 136 runners. Also contributing to the team win were Silas Christman, Gabe Stoltzfus, and Isaac Humbert. Asa Howell and Emery Christman earned 3rd and 5th place in their race at LCCS, Ari Knutsen placed 10th in her race, and Chase McAllister beat his personal record by over three minutes.

Congratulations to Varsity Golfers Zach Dombach, Jimmy Fannin, and Finn Landis on rounds of 43, 45, and 45, respectively, last Monday. They also added a win over Conestoga. Finn Landis led with a 40, followed by Zach Dombach’s 41, and Jimmy Fannin’s 46. They ended their week with a win over Lancaster Mennonite behind Zach Dombach’s low score of 40, followed by Finn Landis with a 42, and Jimmy Fannin’s 43. Bradley Myer also had his best score of the season.

The culture is shifting within Dayspring Athletics! Dayspring Warriors don’t give up. Dayspring Warriors fight back. Dayspring Warriors win close games! Dayspring Warriors win tournaments! The Varsity Soccer team came from behind to win over Veritas, led by Malachi Warfel’s hat trick (that’s three goals!) and Matthew Morgan’s two goals. Matthew Morgan and Bethel Obadofin also had goals at Lancaster Catholic. The Varsity Volleyball team also came back from a 0-2 deficit to win the next three sets and the match at Coventry. They added a win over previously undefeated Linville. Both the JV and Varsity Volleyball teams swept Christian School of York.

The following four student athletes represented Jesus and Dayspring well at the CCAC Rise Up Sportsmanship Conference: Hayley Mellinger, Ryan Moore, Charlotte Vinson, and Malachi Warfel.

The Middle School Soccer team dominated at Manheim Christian behind goals by JP Stone, Owen Myers, Prestyn Kreider, Brock Rohrer, Liam Romanyuk, and a hat trick by Joel Mellinger. Ian Beverlin had 5 saves, and Prestyn Kreider had 3. They also played the best game of their season so far with Ian Beverlin having ten saves in goal against Ephrata Mennonite.

Congratulations to the Middle School Volleyball B team on their sweep of Manheim Christian. Middle School Volleyball also beat Ephrata Mennonite.

Announcements:

Thank you to all of the students, families, staff and coaches who contribute to the success of the Athletic Department! Here’s just a short list of how you’ve served others already this fall: ordered subs and pretzel sandwiches, provided meals and snacks for our teams, ran clocks and scoreboards, set up and tore down equipment, organized and tallied the sub sale orders, contributed to covering the costs of livestreaming all home athletic events, purchased a refrigerator for the Athletic Department, transported teams, called volleyball lines, kept scorebooks, attended events to cheer for our student athletes, operated cameras, stepped in to help with Lower School Soccer, encouraged our coaches, prayed for our programs, sang the national anthem. These and all the other things you do are noticed and appreciated!

The long-awaited Dayspring blankets are available for purchase and will be delivered by 11/16 in time for the holidays! These 60’ x 70’ Dayspring logoed soft fleeces can be purchased for only $25 until sold out. A sample is hanging outside of the Athletic Office. Please email dvinson@dayspringchristian.com if interested.

Weekly Schedule:
9/21 – 2:30 – V Golf @ Four Seasons
9/21 – 4:00 – V Soccer @ Hope Born in Christ
9/21 – 4:00 – MS Soccer @ LCCS
9/21 – 4:00/5:00 – MSA/MSB Volleyball @ LCCS
9/21 – 5:00/6:00 – JV/V Volleyball @ Conestoga Christian
9/22 – 4:00 – V Soccer @ Hope Born in Christ
9/24 – 11:00 – V Golf @ Tanglewood (CCAC Championship)
9/24 – 5:30/6:30 – JV/V Volleyball @ Manor Middle
9/24 – 4:00/5:00 – MSA/MSB Volleyball @ Catalyst
9/24 – 4:00 – MS Soccer @ Catalyst
9/25 – 4:00 – MS Soccer @ York Country Day
9/26 – 8:00 – JV Volleyball – Cumberland Valley
9/26 – 10:00 – V Soccer @ Hope Born in Christ
9/26 – 8:30/9:05/9:40 – MS/V XC @ Downingtown West

JV and Varsity Girls Volleyball would like to announce the themes for the remaining home games. All JV games will start at 5:30, and Varsity will begin at 6:30. Fans are encouraged to show up with spirit!

9/24 vs. Catalyst Christian – White Out
9/28 vs. Harrisburg Christian – Camo Theme
10/1 vs. Covenant Christian – Jersey Night
10/8 vs. Lititz Christian – Pink Out SENIOR NIGHT
10/15 vs. West Shore – Black Out

Dayspring in the Movies

Some of you might not know or remember that back in 2016, Dayspring and the Remember America brand took a foray into the movie making business. “Carry Me Home” is a 22-minute short film created by LampHouse Films, which is a company started by two Dayspring alums (Michael Schmucker and Joshua Henry). Josh Henry wrote the movie, and another alum, Ellie Green, orchestrated the music. Recently, Angel Studios picked it up! If you have an Angel subscription, you can check it out here!

Dayspring Yearbooks

Yearbooks for the 2026-27 school year are now on sale. Our yearbook publishing company, Jostens, will handle all orders, which will simplify the process. A flyer was sent home last week with a QR code that leads to the ordering link to reserve your child’s yearbook or you can use this link. The QR code is also displayed on signage in the lobby of the school.

Please note: The cost of the yearbook will follow a staggered price system. This means if you buy early, you get the lowest price, $55. The price will increase two times as the year progresses. The next price change will go into effect after Oct. 16. This allows for better planning regarding order numbers and also lessens the stress of last-minute orders in the spring.

School Lunches

Hot lunches are available for purchase. These lunches are fundraisers for our Upper School classes to help defray the cost of their senior field study.

These offerings will be the same each week, except for Sub Day on Oct. 1.

Monday – Pizza
Tuesday – Chicken nuggets (We previously announced that chicken sandwiches would be available for Upper School, but this is not the case; nuggets will be offered for both LS and US, not sandwiches)
Wednesday – Meatball sandwiches
Thursday – Walking tacos
Friday – Hot dogs

Lunch ordering procedures are found below. Click on Read more. These lunches will be posted on the school website by the end of the week for purchase next week.

Guidance Office

For more information on the following topics, please click the “Read More” button.
– Christian College Fair
– Counseling Opportunities
– Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program
– Transcript Requests
– General Questions
– Informational Night for Parents of Juniors
– Seniors/Parents of Seniors
– Turning Point Academy Prep Year

Lancaster Area Christian College Fair – The Lancaster Area Christian College Fair will be held at Lancaster County Christian School on October 20 from 6:00–8:00 p.m. Representatives from dozens of Christian colleges and universities across North America will be at the fair, giving students and families the opportunity to learn about academics, campus life, and financial aid, gather information, and ask questions directly of college representatives.

Students are encouraged to register in advance at FindYourChristianCollege.com. During registration, students answer a few questions about what they are looking for in a college. They will then receive a barcode for the fair as well as a list of participating colleges that match their interests—a helpful starting point for their conversations at the fair.

Counseling Opportunities – As stated during our Back to School Night parent meeting, Dayspring is pleased to be able to help with an arrangement for professional Christian counselors here at school. Mrs. Dannel Wissler of Willow Oaks Counseling and Mrs. Abby Foster with Lancaster Therapy Center have agreed to be a resource for DCA students. Our goal is to provide a space during the school day for upper school students to receive counseling. Parents will work directly with Mrs. Wissler and Mrs. Foster, and DCA will make every effort to facilitate the location and time. Mrs.Wissler will provide times of availability at Dayspring on Fridays. Mrs. Foster does online sessions only, but DCA will try to work with your child’s schedule to find a private room during the school day for sessions. For more information or to make arrangements, please contact Mrs. Gainer (Guidance Director) or Mr. Lewis (Spiritual Life Director).

Another counseling opportunity available is with Sit With Me Mental Health Coaching Services with Emily Hilton. At Sit With Me Mental Health Coaching Services, our mission is to walk alongside individuals in every stage of life by offering authentic support, active listening, and purposeful guidance-helping each person thrive in alignment with who God has created them to be. One-on-one mental health coaching focused on emotional support and spiritual guidance; personalized goal setting; deep, judgment-free listening; accountability and encouragement; and growth rooted in faith and personal values are offered in a non-clinical, coaching-based model focused on growth, not diagnosis, for males ages 4-14 and females ages 4 and up. To learn more, email sitwithmecoaching@gmail.com.

Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program – This program created by Senate Republicans as part of this year’s state budget – offers grants of up to $5,000 per year for in-state students who pursue a degree or certification for an in-demand occupation. The application period for grants is open now, with funding awarded on a first come, first served basis.

To qualify for the grant, applicants must agree to live and work in Pennsylvania in that occupation after graduation. Grant recipients will be required to live and work in Pennsylvania for 12 months for each year they receive the grant. Failure to meet this requirement will result in the grant converting to a loan requiring repayment.

Courses of study that qualify for the grant include agriculture, computer science, business, education, special education, STEM education, engineering, nursing, allied health, criminal justice and other programs as approved by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA). Learn more or apply here.

Transcript Requests: If you need a transcript for any reason, please fill out a transcript request form online under the Guidance Tab. Requests will be sent out within 3 business days.

General Guidance Questions: If any student or parent has a question concerning AP (Advanced Placement) or DE (Dual Enrollment) classes, please direct those questions to Mrs. Hurley, Director of Curriculum, at dhurley@dayspringchristian.com. Any questions concerning transcripts, PSAT, SAT, or ACT, the college admission process, or other guidance related issues should come to Mrs. Gainer, Guidance Director, at kgainer@dayspringchristian.com.

Informational Night for Parents of Juniors: There will be a meeting for all parents of 11th grade students on August the 27th at 6:30 pm. This is a brief, but important, meeting to go over Apprenticeship Class and all of the events and options that will occur for your child throughout this school year. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Gainer.

Seniors / Parents of Seniors: Welcome to your senior year! This is just a notice to be on the lookout for an email in the first few weeks of school to schedule a meeting with me to discuss your student’s plans at this point for after graduation. This will be a meeting that both parents and students should attend.

Turning Point Academy Prep Year: Prep Year is a nine-month in-residence program that equips 18-20-year-olds who are looking to grow in faith, leadership, understanding of American history, philosophy, and ethics. Students live in community, learn from incredible speakers and mentors, participate in service projects, events, and more, which prepare them to be young leaders in their community. Students interested in being considered for the fall of 2026 class in either Elgin, IL, or Fort Worth, TX, should apply soon. All accepted students will be granted a $25,000 scholarship to cover the cost of housing, food, trips, events, and programming, so students can attend for only a $2,000 registration fee. Learn more at turningpointed.com/prepyear.

DCA Recurrent References

Some recurrent Beacon items will now be located under this section. Click on the “Read More” button to see details about the following:
-DCA Home Technology Guide: How to access FACTS, Google Classroom, SchoolPass App and more
-2026-27 Calendar
-DCA Amazon Wish List
-DCA Family Business Directory
– Volunteer Clearances

DCA Home Technology Guide – How to access FACTS, Google Classroom, SchoolPass App and more: DCA Home Technology Guide 2026-2027

2026-27 Calendar: From this point forward, we will note date changes in red. Please note: The 9th grade Boston trip and the Patriots Celebration dates were changed over the summer (9th grade summer letters did reflect this change). 2026-27 Calendar

DCA Amazon Wish List: Are you looking for a way to bless your child’s teacher and classroom? Visit Dayspring’s Amazon Wish List to see items our teachers have requested to enhance their classrooms—you may find the perfect way to share a special blessing! Dayspring Christian Academy’s Wish List

If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Dillon at sdillon@dayspringchristian.com or 717-285-2000 ext. 211. Thank you in advance for your generous support of our teachers and their classrooms!

DCA Family Business Directory: We are pleased to provide a directory of businesses that are owned by Dayspring families and employees. If you are in need of goods and services, we sincerely hope that you will consult the directory as needed: https://www.dayspringchristian.com/family-business-directory/

Volunteer Clearances: All parents and other family members need to have volunteer clearances to volunteer in your child’s classroom or to attend a field study. Below is a list of items you will need to provide clearances to the school. If you have gotten clearances for your church in the last 5 years, you can provide copies of those clearances to the school. Clearances expire every 5 years. If you should have any questions on clearances please feel free to contact Candace Engle at cengle@dayspringchristian.com, and she can help you with the process. If you currently have clearances on file but would like to verify their expiration date, please contact Candace.

All copies (volunteer application, residency waiver and PA State and Child Abuse clearances) must be turned in to Candace Engle for processing. The following forms can also be found on the form library section of the Dayspring website.

Items needed for processing:
Volunteer Application
Residency Waiver Form
Mandated Reporter Information
Volunteer Clearances Needed

CPYU Parent Resource

The Center for Parent/Youth Understanding (CPYU) has been working for over three decades to increase the ability of parents and churches to nurture children and teens by providing relevant and timely information, analysis, and theologically sound resources on today’s rapidly changing youth culture. To view the September parent resource, click here.

September Bible Memory

Justified by Faith, Romans 5:1-5
Grades K-2: Verse 1
Grades 3-5: Verses 1-2
Grades 6-12: Verses 1-5

1. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2. through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
3. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
4. perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Bold. Distinctive. Biblical.