Dayspring Beacon

Upcoming Events

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

Upcoming Events:

10/07/2025 – Remember America Lecture Series (6:30 p.m.)
10/07/2025 – Oration Winners Filming (this is a change in date)
10/10/2025 – Grandparents and Special Guests Day
10/14/2025 – PSAT Testing 8 a.m.-12:15
10/15/2025 – Fall Open House (4:00-6:00 p.m.)
10/17/2025 – Women’s Giving Circle Annual Meeting (8:00-10:00 a.m.)
10/24/2025 – Patriots Celebration
10/24/2025 – Last Day Quarter 1
10/27/2025 – PHEAA Financial Aid Webinar (6:00-7:30 p.m.)
10/27-31/2025 – 9th Grade Boston Plymouth Trip
10/31/2025 – Flex Friday

Final Session of the Remember America Lecture Series

This final session of the Remember America Lecture Series is tomorrow, Oct. 7, at Dayspring Christian Academy from 6:30 to approximately 8:00 p.m. Attendees need not have attended the other sessions to attend. The event is free and open to the public. Reservations can be made on the DCA website by clicking here. Childcare will be provided and will be by donation to the senior trip.

Week 4: October 7, 2025: Dan Stone
The Declaration of Independence: Read, Examine, Discuss.
BONUS: The Friendship of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams

Grandparents and Special Guests Day

We are looking forward to a fun-filled day with grandparents and special guests on Friday! Those who signed up to bring egg casseroles may pick up pans at the front desk this week. There are some remaining slots open for baked goods and egg casseroles if you are able to make one.

 Click here to view the Sign-Up Genius and find a slot to volunteer or food donation that you can fulfill. Please note that most food donations are dropped off the day before the event so that we can prepare for the day, but egg casseroles arrive hot the day of the event. Thank you!

Important: Grandparents Day Parking – For the last three years, student drivers have been asked to park off-site and be shuttled to school in a Dayspring school bus. Staff, faculty, and student drivers will once again be taking a shuttle on Friday, October 10, to provide parking spaces for grandparents. Leisure Lanes has once again granted permission for student drivers and faculty and staff to park in their lot at 3440 Columbia Ave., Lancaster. Students should park at the back section of their lot, NOT the spots closest to the bowling alley. The last shuttle will depart Leisure Lanes at 7:40 a.m.

Parent Prayer Update

Because of Grandparents Day, we will not hold Parent Prayer this Friday, Oct. 10.

Headmaster's Oration Finalist Assembly

Congratulations to all of this year’s Headmaster’s Oration Assembly finalists! After many wonderful oration presentations last week, the following students were selected to present at Dayspring events this year:

Grandparents Day: Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, DCA
-Jeffrey Painter, “Be Strong and Courageous”
-Leah Gordon, “Unity in the Church”
-Lilly Mallon (absent), “A Holy Covenant: Unpacking God’s Vision for Marriage”

Patriots Celebration: Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, Lancaster Bible College Good Shepherd Chapel
-Flynn Menga, “How Can Christians Discern Between Right and Wrong?”
-Kylie Smucker, “Critical Thinking: A Critical Component of Education”
-Aubrey Yon, “Christians Should Not Compromise on Abortion”
-Providence Painter, “Reinstating Unity: A Call to Americans”
-Myla Smucker, “The Accuracy of Bibles Today”

Pastor Appreciation Day: Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, DCA
-Asher Huyard, “The Christian’s Responsibility to Help the Poor”

All School Open House: Thursday, March 12, 2026, DCA
-Caleb Stone, “People Should Use Their Tongues Wisely”

Awaken Magazine: 2025-26 edition published this fall
-Sara Liu, “Atheism or Christianity: A Matter of Life and Death”
-Lilly Ansel, “The Electoral College”

Remember America Speaker Series: Saturday, April 18, 2026, Lancaster County Convention Center
-Lilly Ansel, “The Electoral College”

2025 Patriots Celebration

We have made a significant change to the annual Patriots Celebration Dinner. It is now the Patriots Celebration and will be held this year on Friday, October 24, in the Good Shepherd Chapel at Lancaster Bible College, 901 Eden Road, Lancaster. While there is no longer a dinner as part of the event, there will be a dessert social to culminate the evening.

We are excited to present this event in a new, more interactive format. It will still be a highlight of the Principle Approach and the distinctives of a Dayspring education, including student orations, choir performances, compelling media, and dramatic historical interpretations but with some new elements as well. A special pre-event interactive experience will begin at 6:30 p.m., with the event starting at 7:00 p.m. All Headmasters Oration finalists will receive their ribbons at the event.

Tickets are now on sale, with a price of $25 per adult. Dayspring students and children are admitted for free, but registration is required. Please register and purchase tickets here.

Worship and Prayer Night

YOU are invited! Dayspring is having a worship and prayer night on Saturday, October 18, and we would love to see all upper school, lower school, staff, families and friends of Dayspring in attendance! The evening will run from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Hope to see you there!

Athletics News

Both Varsity Boys Soccer and Varsity Girls Volleyball finish their regular seasons this week. Come out tonight to the Varsity Boys Soccer game at 4:00 at Hope Born in Christ to recognize seniors Gabe Mellinger, Dylan Rabold, and Nathanael Swift. Come out to Manor Middle School on Friday at 5:00 to recognize seniors Lily Ansel, Katie Dombach, and Kylie Smucker. Congratulations to the Varsity Golf team for finishing their season with a winning record and a team average just over 200. In last week’s round against Harrisburg Christian at Deer Valley, Zach Dombach led the way with a 48, followed by Chase Bearden’s 50, and a 51 by Carter Stoltzfus. Caleb Santos finished his last round as a Dayspring golfer with an epic chip in on the last hole! Varsity Girls Tennis players Sierra Lapp, Providence Painter, and Addie Stoltzfus also finished a great season last week. Congratulations to Middle School Cross Country runners Silas and Emery Christman on their 3rd and 7th place finishes at LCCS on Tuesday. Lucy Huxta raced to an 8th place finish in the girls’ race. Congratulations to the Middle School Girls Volleyball B team on their wins over Lititz Christian and Catalyst this week. Varsity Girls Volleyball also swept Lititz Christian.

We continue Lower School soccer this Tuesday night (10/7) at Hope Born in Christ Church. The time has been adjusted to 5:30-6:30. Coach Lewis will be introducing throw-ins, free kicks, etc. Students may wear shin guards and cleats if interested, but may also simply wear sneakers. They do not need to wear their white uniform jerseys. Parents are encouraged to stay and help if able. We will also host our final Saturday morning (10/11) of games from 9:00-10:00 at HBIC.

We are looking for a Middle School Boys Basketball coach. The season runs from 11/17-2/6 (with two weeks off for Christmas break). Practices are from 3:30-5:30 four days a week (no Wednesdays). Games are played at 4:00 and 5:00. If you or someone you would recommend is interested, please contact Daryn Vinson at dvinson@dayspringchristian.com.

This week’s schedule:
10/6 – Varsity Boys Soccer – 4:00 – Conestoga Christian @ Hope Born in Christ (Senior Night)
10/7 – Varsity Boys Soccer – 4:00 – York Country Day @ Hope Born in Christ
10/7 – MS Boys Soccer – 4:00 – @ York Country Day
10/7 – JV/Varsity Girls Volleyball – 6/7:00 – @ New Covenant
10/9 – MS/Varsity Cross Country – 4:00/5:30 – @ Coventry Christian
10/9 – MS Boys Soccer – 3:30 – @ Ephrata Mennonite
10/9 – JV/Varsity Girls Volleyball – 5/6:00 – @ Conestoga Christian
10/10 – JV/Varsity Girls Volleyball – 5/6:00 – Christian School of York @ Manor Middle (Senior Night)
10/10 – MS Girls Volleyball – 4:15 – @ Veritas
10/10 – MS Boys Soccer – 4:15 – @ Veritas
10/10 – Varsity Boys Soccer – 4:15 – @ Lancaster Country Day

All sports schedules can be found on Dayspring’s website under Athletics. You can also access Hudl from Dayspring’s website to watch game film and highlight videos.

Dayspring Yearbooks

An exciting change is coming this year for the DCA yearbook. We will be working directly with our yearbook publishing company, Jostens, to handle all orders, which will simplify the process.  All families will receive a flyer 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 now follow a staggered price system. This means if you buy early, you get the lowest price, $50.  The price will increase two times as the year progresses, ending at $60. This allows for better planning regarding order numbers and also lessens the stress of last-minute orders in the spring.

The Jostens website will give you all the information you need, providing updates on sales and specials, as well as offering free payment plans for purchases of $30 or more. Please be sure to check the Beacon for yearbook sales updates.  The current sale offers yearbooks at the lowest price of the year – $50 – plus any student that adds the name stamp/imprint option to their book for $10 gets up to four free icons on that book. This offer ends on Friday, Sept. 12.  If you have any questions about yearbook updates, please email Casey Vinson at cvinson@dayspringchristian.com.

Updated Guidelines for Student Illnesses

We have clarified the Student Illness Policy in the Family-Student Handbook to give more specific information for parents to help determine when to keep students home from school due to illness.

When to Keep a Student Home
A student should remain at home if they have:
● Fever of 100.4 or higher within the past 24 hours
● Vomiting or diarrhea within the past 24 hours
● Persistent cough, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
● Undiagnosed rash, sores, or other signs of possible contagious illness
● Eye redness or discharge that may indicate infection
● Severe sore throat accompanied by fever and/or swollen glands
● Flu-like symptoms, including chills, body aches, headache, sore throat or fatigue

When Students May Return to School
A student may return to school when the following criteria are met:
● Fever-free for at least 24 hours without medication
● Free from vomiting and/or diarrhea for at least 24 hours
● For bacterial infections (e.g., strep throat, pink eye): at least 24 hours of prescribed antibiotics
and fever-free without medication.
● Rash or other possibly contagious conditions cleared by a healthcare provider, if applicable.

These guidelines are in place to reduce the spread of illness and protect the health of all students and staff. In the event of a student becoming ill while at school (as described above) a parent will be notified to pick up the student.

School Lunches

Important Note: School lunches will not be offered on the days listed below. All students will need to pack a lunch on these days. Please try and pack items that do not need to be heated as microwaves will be limited to those located in the student’s homeroom only. They will not have access to the microwaves located in the kitchen on these days.

Wednesday, 10/8: No chicken nugget lunch
Friday, 10/10: No hot dog lunch
Tuesday, 10/14: No walking taco lunch

Remaining lunches available for October:
Monday – Pizza: 10/13, 10/20, 10, 27
Tuesday – Walking Tacos: 10/7, 10/21, 10/28 (Please note there is no walking taco lunch on 10/14 due to PSAT Testing)
Wednesday – Chicken Nuggets: 10/15, 10/22, 10/29 (Please note there is no chicken lunch on 10/8)
Thursday – Meatball Subs: 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30
Friday – Hot Dogs: 10/3, 10/17, 10/24, 10/31 (Please note there is no hot dog lunch offered on 10/10 due to Grandparents Day)

Note: When packing your child’s lunch, please be sure to include any “extras” they might need, such as a paper plate, plastic utensils and condiments. These items are not provided to students who are not purchasing a lunch. The Office has a limited supply of utensils for student use.

Click the “Read More” button for instructions on ordering lunches.

Lower School Musical Digital Download

If your child participated in “The Bumble Beeattitudes” and you would like to purchase a digital download, you may do so on the Dayspring website by clicking here. The cost is $10.

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. If you own a business, please click the link and fill out the form to have your business added. Even if you have submitted your business in the past, please submit your information again this year. Please keep in mind, this is for businesses that are family owned, this is not for advertising a business you work for. The deadline to register is October 14.

The criteria to have a business included in the directory is as follows:

1. If you are a parent or custodial guardian of a Dayspring student and you own your own business, you may list that business in the Dayspring Family Business Directory. This is not for advertising a business you work for, businesses must be owned by a Dayspring parent/custodial guardian.

2. If you work at Dayspring Christian Academy and also have your own business, you may list that business in the Dayspring Family Business Directory.

Referral Program

As we seek to continue to grow our enrollment and increase the number of students who receive a Principle Approach education, we are asking you as parents for help. Word of mouth is still the best way for people to learn about Dayspring, and you can be our biggest advocates. To that end, Dayspring brought back its Referral Program. If you refer a family to Dayspring, when they successfully enroll a full time student, you will receive $1,000 off your family’s tuition. Let’s spread the word about how special our school is and get as many students into our seats as possible.

Use this form to submit a referral.

2025-2026 School Year Calendar

Below you will find a link to the 2025-2026 school calendar. Please note that there could still be changes. When changes are made, we will post the change in the Beacon as well as make the change to the calendar.

2025-26 School Calendar

Guidance Office

For more information on the following topics, please click the “Read More” button.

-Lancaster Bible College Open House Days
-Counseling Opportunities
-PHEAA Financial Aid Meeting
-Parents/Guardians of Seniors – It’s time to meet!
– September Scholarship Newsletter
– Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program
– Transcript Requests
– General Questions

Land's End Scholarship

Calling All Student Leaders! THE 8TH ANNUAL LANDS’ END SCHOOL STARBOARD SCHOLARSHIP
Land’s End is excited to announce its 2025-2026 scholarship program is open for entries. Since 2018, they have awarded 39 scholarships–a total of $265,000–to students who have shown exceptional leadership skills. Up to five $5,000 scholarships will be awarded to eligible Preferred School students
in grades 8-12. Visit landsend.com/starboard for full eligibility guidelines or click on the Starboard Scholarship Flyer.

Home Technology Guide

Attached is a technology guide which will answer many of your questions on how to set up your accounts for Google Classroom, FACTS Family Portal, and the SchoolPass App. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Adam Gregory at agregory@dayspringchristian.com.

DCA Home Technology Guide

October Bible Memory

So Then Just As You Received Christ Jesus, Colossians 2:6-10
Grades K-5 Verses 6-7
Grades 6-9 Verses 6-8
Grades 10-12 Verses 6-10

6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces[a] of this world rather than on Christ. 9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.