Dayspring Beacon

Updated November 25, 2025

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:

11/25/2025 – Pilgrim Day (No School for Preschool; Pre-K and Kindergartens come to school)
11/26-11/28/2025 – Thanksgiving Break
12/1/2025 – School resumes
12/5/2025 – Final collection day for NHS Food Drive
12/15/2025 – Lower School Christmas Concert daytime rehearsal
12/16/2025 – Lower School Christmas Concert, Westminster Presbyterian, 6:30 p.m.
12/17/2025 – Upper School Christmas Concert daytime rehearsal
12/18/2025 – Upper School Christmas Concert at DCA, 6:30 p.m.
12/19/2025 – Early Dismissal-Christmas Celebrations (School dismissed at 11:15 a.m.)
12/19/2025 – Homecoming Basketball Game at Columbia High School
12/22/2025 – Christmas Break Begins

A Thanksgiving Devotional, from the Headmaster

I began teaching at Dayspring in 2004, and one of my first courses was the 9th grade Rudiments of America’s Christian History and Government. One of the key studies in this course is the Pilgrims (and the accompanying Plymouth/Boston Field study). So, I was blessed to study and then teach the Pilgrim Story each year for 15+ years. There are so many lessons and applications to make from this story. One, however, has always stood out to me, and I try to remember it each year. The lesson: Do not base your understanding of or your willingness to follow God’s call on whether or not things are going well for you externally. The Pilgrims faced hardship after hardship, all for standing on their conviction to read God’s Word and follow it to the best of their ability. Here is a non-exhaustive list that follows their timeline:
-They had to meet in secret, which was illegal. Some were caught (sometimes betrayed by those they knew) and fined or even imprisoned.
-They moved to a new country (from England to Holland). They had to learn a new language, learn a new way to provide for themselves, and as a result, lived in poverty (Yet, they had freedom of religion).
-They had numerous obstacles in arranging passage to America, not the least of which was being swindled.
-They set off with two ships, twice, and eventually consolidated onto one ship because the Speedwell was leaky.
-The voyage lasted longer than expected, and they were blown off course, causing them to land in New England rather than New York.
-They had to deal with a mutiny on board the Mayflower before even choosing a place to settle.
-Half their number died from disease in the first winter. Those that were well (sometimes, only six to seven healthy people caring for the rest) had to worry about the possibility of Native American attack.

Yet, when Spring came and the Mayflower left to return to England, not a single one of them got on board. Re-read that list above and ask yourself: which one of those things would have caused me to say, “OK, I’m done.” I’m not sure how far down that list I would have lasted. So, why did they keep going? William Bradford tells us they had “A great hope…” This hope was for the propagation of the Gospel to unreached people, and for establishing a Christian society. That inward hope came from knowing God had called them to this work. Bradford said they were “stepping stones unto others for the performing of so great a work.” Wow! They literally laid their lives down so others could walk on them to get to the next place in God’s story.

From these 51 Pilgrims, we see many of America’s roots: freedom of religion, self-rule, Christian education, equal justice under the law, free market capitalism, and so much more. Also, today, approximately 10% of the current U.S. population can trace their lineage back to those that survived that first winter. What a legacy!

Thank you for partnering with us train up your children in the ways of the Lord. Happy Thanksgiving!

Lower School Pilgrim Day - Tomorrow!

On Tuesday, November 25, our Lower School students will participate in Pilgrim Day. Students will learn how the Pilgrims traveled from England to Holland and about the struggles they faced as they traveled to the new world packed on board the Mayflower. Students will participate in skits and travel to various stations playing games and watching demonstrations. At lunch time, the entire school will be treated to pumpkin pie.

Also, this is a reminder that this event is for Pre-K through Fifth Grade. Pre-K and Kindergartners come to school even though Tuesday is not their “normal” day of instruction. There is NO preschool tomorrow. Lower school students may come to school dressed as Pilgrims or Native Americans or wear their school uniforms.

NHS Food Drive

The National Honor Society is excited to host a schoolwide food drive during the first week of December, in conjunction with the Mountville Lions Club.

Each student is encouraged to bring four nonperishable food items to support families in need through the Columbia Food Bank. Once again, there will be a special dress day for any class that brings at least four items per student, and the class that donates the highest average amount per student will win a pizza party. Lower school can begin bringing items into their classroom anytime when we return from Thanksgiving break, and there will be tables set up in the auditorium on December 4 and 5 for the upper school donations.

All donations are due by December 5, so start gathering those cans now!

If you have questions, reach out to Mr. Polkinghorne or Kylie Smucker.

Lost and Found Cleanout

The Lost and Found is once again bursting with items, especially sweatshirts and fleeces. We will sort through the items and return things that are labeled with students’ names, but if you are missing items or recognize anything in the picture, come claim your items as soon as possible. There will be a Lost and Found cleanout the second week of December in order to de-clutter before Christmas break. All unlabeled, unclaimed uniform items will be donated to the Used Uniform Boutique, and other items will be donated to Community Aide or discarded.

Parents' Night Out - Senior Class Fundraiser

Need a night out to get your Christmas shopping done? Or just enjoy a relaxing evening together? Let some seniors take care of the kids while you take a well-deserved break!

Date: Friday, December 5
Time: 4:30pm-8:30pm
Location: Dayspring auditorium

*There will be a Dayspring adult on site for the duration of the event.

Lower school students can be registered and siblings who do not attend Dayspring may be registered if they are already potty-trained.

Registration cost:
*$48 for the first child
*$40 for the second child/sibling
*$36 for each additional siblingOptional meal available for purchase online when registering!Kids will enjoy fun and games, a craft, and movie time! All proceeds will go toward the Seniors’ trip to Turkey!Register today to reserve your spots; space is limited! Click here to sign up.

Old cameras, new life!

If you have a Canon Rebel EOS camera collecting dust on a shelf or in a closet, the upper school art room would love to help you remove it from your home! We are looking for gently used cameras (a battery and charger would be great too if you still have them). You can send a picture of the camera to Mrs. Vinson if you aren’t sure if the camera you have is the right type. Please contact Mrs. Vinson via email at cvinson@dayspringchristian.com with questions. Donations can be dropped off at the front desk. Thank you for supporting the arts!

Need Lower School Uniforms?

Need Lower School Uniforms?
Visit the Used Uniform Boutique on your next trip to Dayspring. There are loads of…

* Lower School polos,
* jumpers,
* navy and khaki pants, and
* navy and khaki shorts (spring will be coming, after all).

Everything is free, so help yourself to whatever fits your growing young scholar. For info, contact Karol Hasting at 717-285-2000 or khasting@dayspringchristian.com.

Land's End Uniform Sale

If you have checked the Lost and Found and the Used Uniform Boutique and still need uniform items, Land’s End is having a sale from 11/27-12/3. See the flyer below for the code or QR code to access 25 percent off your order.

Land’s End Sale Flyer

Lower School Christmas Concert Details

This year’s Lower School Christmas Concert will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2151 Oregon Pike. Student participants should report to Mrs. Armstrong and be seated in the sanctuary by 6:15 PM.

Concert Attire
Dressy “Christmas clothes” in any of the following colors: red, green, gold, white, black, purple, or dark blue (solid colors or patterns are both fine). Boys are encouraged to wear ties, and girls are encouraged to wear skirts/dresses. Shoes should be dark dress shoes. Please no tee-shirts, jeans, or sneakers.

Rehearsal
During the school day on Monday, December 15, students will be bused to the church for rehearsal. Students should bring quiet work for when they are not rehearsing, and they may bring a water bottle.

Dual Enrollment Deadline Approaching

The college-credit course dual enrollment signup deadline is approaching! Yes, students can apply to earn college credits while earning high school course credits at the same time. Dayspring’s dual enrollment courses include these honors sections: Chemistry, General Biology, English Language and Composition, British Literature, Psychology, U.S. History, Introduction to Statistics, Calculus AB and BC. Any student taking even one of these honors courses is eligible to earn college credits for it. The Cairn dual enrollment college credit signups and payment deadline is December 15. Students can find hard-copy information outside of Mrs. Hurley’s office. For information, click on the link below! To register or to ask questions, contact Mrs. Donna Hurley at dhurley@dayspringchristian.com.

1 AP-Dual Enrollment 2025-2026 Teacher_Parent_Student Talking Points

Athletics News

All families involved in a winter sport should sign up on SportsYou using the codes below to receive schedule updates and communications:
Varsity Swimming – HA93-DSNX
Varsity Bowling – PHPW-8LKD
Varsity Wrestling – YMKY-YYBV
Varsity Girls Basketball – 5U57-H2SR
Varsity Boys Basketball – 8RXM-XDXD
JV Boys Basketball – AMQN-DSJH
Middle School Girls Basketball – FH9L-43YS
Middle School Boys Basketball – MVT3-Y4UP
Lower School Basketball – 3D5M-4DVR
Lower School Cheer – 4S7D-LFD6

All Dayspring Middle School, JV, and Varsity schedules can be found on Dayspring’s website under Athletics. These are best viewed on a computer as opposed to a phone. Lower School schedules can be found on the SportsYou calendar. You can also access Hudl from Dayspring’s website to watch game film and highlight videos.

School Lunches

Reminder: No hot lunches are being offered this week.

December lunches:
Pizza – 12/1, 12/8, 12/15
Walking Tacos – 12/2, 12/9, 12/16
Chicken Nuggets – 12/3, 12/10, 12/17
Meatball Subs – 12/4, 12/11, 12/18
Hot Dogs – 12/5, 12/12

Guidance Office

For more information on the following topics, please click the “Read More” button.
– Counseling Opportunities
– Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program
– Transcript Requests
– General Questions

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.

DCA Recurrent References

Some of the 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
-2025-26 School Calendar (This reflects two calendar changes: Homecoming and the Senior Field Study)
-DCA Referral Program
-DCA Yearbook Sales
-DCA Amazon Wish List
-DCA Family Business Directory
-Spirit Day Themes

DCA 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

2025-26 School Calendar: Please note that we will announce any date changes to the calendar here. 2025-26 School Calendar

DCA 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 for first through twelfth grade, you will receive $1,000 off your family’s tuition when they successfully enroll at least one full-time student. For successful kindergarten enrollment referrals, you will receive $500 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.

DCA Yearbook Sales: 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.

DCA Amazon Wish List: Are you looking for a way to bless your child’s teacher and classroom this Thanksgiving season? 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/

Spirit Week Themes
Who will win the spirit stick this year? The reigning champs are our current sophomores. Spirit Week will run from January 5-9, and this year there are more points up for grabs than ever before! To aid you with planning your winning strategy, the special dress days are listed below:

Monday: Color Day
-12th + K: Purple
-11th + 1st: Blue
– 10th + 2nd: White
– 9th + 3rd: Black
– 8th + 4th: Green
– 7th + 5th: Pink
– 6th: Red

Tuesday: Seasons Day
– Don’t think just Fall, Winter, Spring, + Summer. Consider thinking outside the box like Hunting Season, Baseball Season, or Allergy Season, among many more!

Wednesday:
Upper School = Cuisine Day
– This is your favorite food dish
Lower School = Wacky Wednesday

Thursday: Character Day

Friday: Spirit Day

Community Events

11/28-12/24: Gift Wrapping for United Disabilities Services at Park City Mall

November Bible Memory

Therefore, I Urge You, Brothers
Romans 12:1-3
Grades K-3: Verses 1 or 2 (teachers will communicate)
Grades 4-6: Verses 1-2
Grades 7-12: Verses 1-3
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

Bold. Distinctive. Biblical.