Da Vinci Science

Highlights from the Week:

DVS Class of 2030 Escape Room during GLT!

Members of the Yarn Over club learning how to crochet for the first time

Revolutionaries’ Roundtable! The sophomores debated the intricacies of modern examples of democracy while representing famous people in history in their homemade paper costumes

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Week 10 Schedule

Posted on October 16, 2026 by Grace Long

It was great to see families on campus during SLC week! Thank you for your participation and for partnering with us to ensure our students have a positive and successful experience at DVS.

SAT/PSAT School Day is coming up next week. Please try to get a good night of sleep and eat a healthy breakfast this day (and everyday).

This Week’s Schedule:

This Week’s Announcements

Da Vinci Schools Student & Family Surveys: A personalized survey link has been sent to students and families directly from Kelvin Education. Please take a few minutes to click on the link and take the survey before Sunday, 11/1. Your honest input helps us celebrate what’s working and identify areas where we can improve.
CLD Day #2 is coming up Friday, October 10th. Students received Career Learning Day #2 workshop request form on their Canvas page this past Wednesday. If they have not done so already, check out the amazing list of on campus workshops and guest presenters available for CLD Day #2.
Fall Dance on October 30th: Da Vinci Schools high school students are invited to the 2026 Fall Dance, “Tropical Nights and Bayou Lights,” on Friday, October 30th from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM (doors open at 5:30 PM) in the West Plaza at 201 N. Douglas Street. Early Bird tickets are on sale at this MySchoolBucks link for $25 through October 25th, after which General Admission tickets will be $30 through the day of the event. Students can look forward to photo booths with free prints and complimentary water, with local food trucks on site for dinner purchases!

College Rep Visits for Week 10: All visits take place at lunchtime in Mr. Perez’s classroom. All grade levels are welcome!

- Wednesday, October 21: Syracuse University
- Friday, October 23: The New School

Parent Association:

- Chipotle Fundraiser: Take a night off from cooking on Wednesday, 10/21, to support a great cause! Our restaurant fundraiser will be at Chipotle on Rosecrans Ave. in Hawthorne. We’re also holding the October DVS Parent Association meeting there at 6:00pm. You don’t need to “join,” just come meet your fellow DVS parents and talk all things DVS!
- DVSPA Merch: Zip-up hoodies, Pullover hoodies, and T-shirts are now available to order at this MySchoolBucks link!
- Join the DVS Parents’ online community, a private Facebook group monitored by the DVS Parent Association. Search for “DaVinci Science Parents” with the green banner and answer a few required questions to join.
- Would you like to get DVSPA info and updates? Click this link to sign up for more info or to ask any questions.

Important Upcoming Dates:

Wednesday, 10/21 SAT/PSAT School Day
Wednesday, 10/21 Parent Association Meeting 6pm at Chipotle Fundraiser
Friday, 10/23 UCLA Blood Drive
Friday, 10/30 Career Learning Day #2
Friday, 10/30 Fall Dance 6pm
Friday – Sunday, 10/30 – 11/1 FRC Beach Blitz
Friday – Monday, 10/30 – 11/2 Youth & Government @ Camp Roberts
Monday, 11/2 Professional Development Day – No School
Wednesday, 11/4 Grade Updates & Progress Reports
Wednesday, 11/4 Coffee w/ Admin
Thursday, 11/5 Community Dialogue #5

Helpful Links:

Highlights from the Week:

Successful SLC Week!

Open Mic with talented DVS students

Loma Linda Cadaver Lab Field Trip for Bio Med Pathway Students

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We hope students had an enjoyable PD Day Friday. The staff utilized the day for professional development with a focus on understanding the physical and mental health of teenagers, advisory planning, academic interventions, and grading.

DVS would also like to wish the community a Happy Hispanic Heritage month. We honor the rich histories, cultures, and invaluable contributions of Hispanic Latino/a communities. Our school wide Hispanic Heritage month celebration will be held at our next CD, 11/5.

This week, we look forward to seeing families at SLCs! (Please note that 9th graders are on different schedule due to CHYA presentations throughout the week).

This Week’s Schedule:

This Week’s Announcements

Student-Led Conferences: Fall 2026 Student-Led Conferences (SLCs) are next week Monday-Thursday, 10/12-10/16! The schedule as well as specific instructions for SLCs have been shared by grade-level teachers, and will be updated in this Fall 2026 SLC Info for Families document. During SLC week, students will be dismissed early at 2:25pm every day.
9th Grade CHYA Presentations: Dr. Emily Green and Nurse Titsyana Lucero will be presenting the health & sexual education curriculum (“CHYA”, or “California Healthy Youth Act”) to 9th grade students during the week of Tuesday – Friday, October 13th – 17th. Click this link to read the notification letter from Dr. Green. If you have any questions about the content that will be covered, please email Dr. Green at egreen@davincischools.org. Parents/guardians have the right to “opt-out” of this presentation for their child. If you wish to do so, please email Saya Wai, DVS Assistant Principal, at swai@davincischools.org.
Honors Commitment Deadline is Friday, October 16th by the end of the school day (2:25pm)! If students submitted their signed honors contract for a course by the due date on 9/18, they have until Friday, October 16th to notify their teacher in writing if they do NOT want to continue with honors in that class. Email is preferred for record-keeping purposes, and it is best practice to verbally confirm with their teacher. If students submitted their signed honors contract and are continuing with honors in the course, nothing more is needed (except to keep doing honors work and assignments).
Parent Advisory Committee: DVS’ first Parent Advisory Committee Meeting will be held next Wednesday, 10/14/26 from 4:15-5:15 using this Zoom link.
Da Vinci Schools Student & Family Surveys: A personalized survey link has been sent to students and families directly from Kelvin Education. Please take a few minutes to click on the link and take the survey before Sunday, 11/1. Your honest input helps us celebrate what’s working and identify areas where we can improve.
Great California Shakeout: The Da Vinci Schools 201 N. Douglas Street campus will be participating in the Great California Shakeout Earthquake Drill on Thursday, October 15th at 10:15am. By practicing these procedures in advance, we help ensure that everyone knows what to do in order to respond calmly and effectively in the unlikely event of a real emergency. As you know, preparation is key to minimizing fear, confusion, and risks. For more information on earthquake preparedness, visit ShakeOut.org for simple tips to help you and your family stay safe.
Fall Dance on October 30th: Da Vinci Schools high school students are invited to the 2026 Fall Dance, “Tropical Nights and Bayou Lights,” on Friday, October 30th from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM (doors open at 5:30 PM) in the West Plaza at 201 N. Douglas Street. Early Bird tickets are on sale at this MySchoolBucks link for $25 through October 25th, after which General Admission tickets will be $30 through the day of the event. Students can look forward to photo booths with free prints and complimentary water, with local food trucks on site for dinner purchases!

College Counseling:

- College Rep Visits for Week 9: All visits take place at lunchtime in Mr. Perez’s classroom. All grade levels are welcome!
- Monday, October 12: Stanford University and UC Santa Barbara
- Thursday, October 15: Simmons University
- Friday, October 16: UC Riverside

- College Planning Information Sessions: Thank you to all the families who attended their grade level College Planning Information Sessions. Resources and information were emailed out to parents and student the week of their grade level meeting via School Messenger. Please reach out to Ms. Marquez for questions related to college and career planning, your grade-level counselor with any questions on academics and wellness, and Mr. Perez for senior parents who have questions on the college application process facilitated in our course College, Career and Life.

- Ms. Marquez, College & Career Counselor (all grade levels): fmarquez@davincischools.org

- Mrs. Valle, Academic and Wellness Counselor for the class of 2028 and 2030: cvalle@davincischools.org

- Ms. Ruiz, Academic and Wellness Counselor for the class of 2027 and 2029: cruiz@davincischools.org
- Mr. Perez, Teacher College, Career and Life (seniors only): rperez@davincischools.org

Parent Association:

- DVS Merch: Zip-up hoodies are now available to order at this MySchoolBucks link!
- Save the Date for a fundraiser: Wed, 10/21, at Chipotle on Rosecrans Ave. in Hawthorne. We’re also holding the Oct DVSPA meeting there at 6:00pm. You don’t need to “join,” just come meet your fellow DVS parents and talk all things DVS!
- Join the DVS Parents’ online community, a private Facebook group monitored by the DVS Parent Association.Search for “DaVinci Science Parents” with the green banner and answer a few required questions to join.
- Would you like to get DVSPA info and updates? Click this link to sign up for more info or to ask any questions.

Important Upcoming Dates:

Monday – Thursday, 10/12-10/15 Student-Led Conferences
Tuesday – Friday, 10/13-10/16 9th Grade CHYA Presentations
Wednesday, 10/14 Parent Advisory Council Meeting #1 4:15pm via Zoom
Thursday, 10/15 Great California ShakeOut Earthquake Drill
Friday, 10/16 Honors Commitment Deadline
Wednesday, 10/21 SAT/PSAT School Day
Wednesday, 10/21 Parent Association Meeting 6pm at Chipotle Fundraiser
Friday, 10/30 CLD Day #2

Helpful Links:

Highlights from the Week:

In honor of Hispanic Heritage month, Spanish 2 students learned about the history of piñatas. Here they are making their own paper version and showing off their craft skills.

Ivan Lopez represented Da Vinci Schools as a student panelist in Belkin’s Hispanic Heritage Month Juntos event alongside Andrea Campos, NYT Bestselling author, illustrator, and speaker, and Yesi Ortiz, 94.7FM The Wave radio host and co-founder of The Rehearsal.

Arch & Design Walking Strand Tour

Posted in Uncategorized

Week 8 Schedule

Posted on October 2, 2026 by Grace Long

Thank you to all students and staff who participated in Spirit Week. It was fun to see staff and students join in the fun with creative and fun outfits throughout the week! We have a 4-day week coming up with PD Day on Friday.

This Week’s Schedule:

This Week’s Announcements:

Coffee w/ Admin: Parents, guardians, and students can drop in to ask administration and staff questions and receive updates on school happenings next Wednesday, October 7 from 4:15-5:15 at this Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/3108950461. This week’s topic: Master Based Grading, and we will continue to hold these opportunities every first Wednesday of the month.
Student-Led Conferences: Fall 2026 Student-Led Conferences (SLCs) are coming up Monday-Thursday, 10/12-10/16! SLCs provide a time for conversations between the student and their parent(s)/guardian(s) about their academic progress, areas of strength and growth, their goals moving forward and their specific plans for achieving their goals. The schedule as well as specific instructions for SLCs have been shared by grade-level teachers, and will be updated in this Fall 2026 SLC Info for Families document. During SLC week, students will be dismissed early at 2:25pm every day.
9th Grade CHYA Presentations: Dr. Emily Green and Nurse Titsyana Lucero will be presenting the health & sexual education curriculum (“CHYA”, or “California Healthy Youth Act”) to 9th grade students during the week of Tuesday – Friday, October 13th – 17th. Click this link to read the notification letter from Dr. Green. If you have any questions about the content that will be covered, please email Dr. Green at egreen@davincischools.org. Parents/guardians have the right to “opt-out” of this presentation for their child. If you wish to do so, please email Saya Wai, DVS Assistant Principal, at swai@davincischools.org.
Parent Advisory Committee: DVS’ first Parent Advisory Committee Meeting will be held next Wednesday, 10/14/26 from 4:15-5:15 using this Zoom link.
Da Vinci Schools Student & Family Surveys: Starting Monday, October 5th, a personalized survey link will be sent to students and families directly from Kelvin Education. Please take a few minutes to click on the link and take the survey before Sunday, 11/1. Your honest input helps us celebrate what’s working and identify areas where we can improve.
College Counseling Announcements:
- College Rep Visits are held during lunch in Galileo room. All grade levels are welcome!
  - Tuesday, October 6: Chapman University
  - Thursday, October 8: Embry Riddle Aeronautical University- Prescott
  - Monday, October 12: Stanford University
College Planning Information Sessions: Thank you to all the families who attended their grade level College Planning Information Sessions. Meetings conclude next week as we welcome our freshman families to learn about graduation requirements, DVS pathways, college admission requirements, college and career options, financial aid, scholarships, and more. Please RSVP here!
9th Grade: Tuesday, October 6 | 5:30–6:30 p.m. (Zoom Link)
Parent Association:

- DVSPA Merch: Zip-up hoodies are now available to order at this MySchoolBucks link!
- Save the Date for a fundraiser: Wed, 10/21, at Chipotle on Rosecrans Ave. in Hawthorne. We’re also holding the Oct DVSPA meeting there at 6:00pm. You don’t need to “join,” just come meet your fellow DVS parents and talk all things DVS!
- Join the DVS Parents’ online community, a private Facebook group monitored by the DVS Parent Association.Search for “DaVinci Science Parents” with the green banner and answer a few required questions to join.
- Would you like to get DVSPA info and updates? Click this link to sign up for more info or to ask any questions.

Important Upcoming Dates:

Tuesday, 10/6 9th Grade College Planning Meeting 5:30pm via Zoom
Wednesday, 10/7 Coffee w/ Admin 4:15pm via Zoom
Friday, 10/9 Professional Development Day – No School
Monday – Thursday, 10/12-10/15 Student-Led Conferences
Tuesday – Friday, 10/13-10/16 9th Grade CHYA Presentations
Wednesday, 10/14 Parent Advisory Council Meeting #1 4:15pm via Zoom
Thursday, 10/15 Great California ShakeOut Earthquake Drill
Friday, 10/16 Honors Commitment Deadline
Wednesday, 10/21 SAT/PSAT School Day
Wednesday, 10/21 Parent Association Meeting 6pm at Chipotle Fundraiser

Helpful Links:

Highlights from the Week:

Spirit Week

Adam Sandler Day, Demin Day, 2016 Millennials Day, Twin Day, Emo Day

Adv Physics “Westy’s World” Playground Engineering Survey

First DemocraSHE Club Meeting

Posted in Uncategorized

Week 7 Schedule

Posted on September 25, 2026 by Grace Long

DVS had our first Community Dialogue (CD) this week. It was a great time where all the Advisories gathered to have some competition & fun together as a school. Thank you and great job, Leadership Students!

We are back to our “typical” 5-day week.

This Week’s Schedule:

This Week’s Announcements

Spirit Week: 9/28-10/2
Upcoming Emergency Drills: The next planned 201 N. Douglas Street campus emergency drill will be the Lockdown Drill on Wednesday, September 30th. By practicing these procedures in advance, we help ensure that everyone knows what to do in order to respond calmly and effectively in the unlikely event of a real emergency. As you know, preparation is key to minimizing fear, confusion, and risks. We will be reviewing emergency procedures during Tuesday announcements for the next couple of weeks, but we also encourage you to talk to your students as well.
Coffee w/ Admin: Every first Wednesday of the month, we have “Coffee w/Admin” where parents, guardians, and students can drop in to ask administration and staff questions and receive updates on school happenings. There will also be various topics for discussion as requested by parents. For the month of October, Coffee w/Admin will be held on Wednesday, 10/7, from 4:15-5:15 using this Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/3108950461. This week’s topic: Mastery Based Grading
Student-Led Conferences: Fall 2026 Student-Led Conferences (SLCs) are coming up in a couple of weeks! They will take place from Monday-Thursday, 10/12-10/16. SLCs provide a time for conversations between the student and their parent(s)/guardian(s) about their academic progress, areas of strength and growth, their goals moving forward and their specific plans for achieving their goals. The schedule as well as specific instructions for SLCs will be shared by grade-level teachers, and will be updated in this Fall 2026 SLC Info for Families document. During SLC week, students will be dismissed early at 2:25pm every day.
9th Grade CHYA Presentations: Dr. Emily Green and Nurse Titsyana Lucero will be presenting the health & sexual education curriculum (“CHYA”, or “California Healthy Youth Act”) to 9th grade students during the week of SLCs Tuesday – Friday, October 13th – 17th. Click this link to read the notification letter from Dr. Green. If you have any questions about the content that will be covered, please email Dr. Green at egreen@davincischools.org. Parents/guardians have the right to “opt-out” of this presentation for their child. If you wish to do so, please email Saya Wai, DVS Assistant Principal, at swai@davincischools.org.
College Counseling:
- College Rep Visits for Week 7: All visits take place at lunchtime in Mr. Perez’s classroom. All grade levels are welcome!

- Monday, Sept 28th: Soka University of America
- Tuesday, Sept 29th: USC
- Wednesday, Sept 30th: Mount St. Mary’s University
- Friday, Oct 2nd: Arizona State University- Polytechnic

College Planning Information Sessions: College Planning Information Sessions are continuing! Students and families are invited to learn about graduation requirements, DVS pathways, college admission requirements, college and career options, financial aid, scholarships, and more. Sessions will be recorded and shared, along with helpful resources, by the end of the week. Questions? Contact Ms. Marquez at fmarquez@davincischools.org Please RSVP here for Upcoming Sessions:
- 10th Grade: Tuesday, September 29 | 5:30–6:30 p.m. (Zoom Link)
- 9th Grade: Tuesday, October 6 | 5:30–6:30 p.m. (Zoom Link)

South Bay College Fair: Hosted by Vistamar School: Over 80 colleges and universities will attend, which include public and private institutions from across the country, plus a handful of international universities. The fair is free and open to all students and families in Los Angeles and surrounding areas. There is no requirement to be affiliated with Vistamar, and students in every grade are welcome. Register here

When: THIS Sunday, September 27, from 2:00PM to 4:00 PM
Where: Vistamar School: 737 Hawaii Street, El Segundo, CA 90245
Cost: Free and ample parking is available

Parent Association

- DVSPA Merch: Zip-up hoodies are now available to order at this MySchoolBucks link!
- Save the Date for a fundraiser: Wed, 10/21, at Chipotle on Rosecrans Ave. in Hawthorne. We’re also holding the Oct DVSPA meeting there at 6:00pm. You don’t need to “join,” just come meet your fellow DVS parents and talk all things DVS!
- Join the DVS Parents’ online community, a private Facebook group monitored by the DVS Parent Association.Search for “DaVinci Science Parents” with the green banner and answer a few required questions to join.
- Would you like to get DVSPA info and updates? Click this link to sign up for more info or to ask any questions.

Important Upcoming Dates:

Tuesday, 9/29 10th Grade College Planning Meeting 5:30pm via Zoom
Wednesday, 9/30 Lockdown Drill
Tuesday, 10/6 9th Grade College Planning Meeting 5:30pm via Zoom
Wednesday, 10/7 Coffee w/ Admin 4:15pm via Zoom
Friday, 10/9 Professional Development Day – No School
Monday – Thursday, 10/12-10/15 Student-Led Conferences
Tuesday – Friday, 10/13-10/16 9th Grade CHYA Presentations

Helpful Links:

Highlights from the Week:

ESPN Science of Sports AcceleRACEtion lab 40 yard dash

Advanced Arch & Eng: Rancho Los Alamitos visit with Russell Kehl

Community Dialogue – WDV Cheer Performance and Pajama Day fun

Posted in Uncategorized

Week 6 Schedule

Posted on September 18, 2026 by Grace Long

We had a very busy yet fun-filled week of learning, Advisory activities, field trips, college rep. visits, 12th grade parent college workshops, and DVS Parent Association meeting, to name a few. Thank you for your continued engagement and support of all the things we do here at DVS! Speaking of all the things we do here…

Students will also have their first Career Learning Day (CLD) this coming Monday, 9/21.

This Week’s Schedule:

This Week’s Announcements

CLD Day #1: Career Learning Day #1 is coming this Monday, 9/21. Families should have received an email w/ information and details. Students have either signed up for an on-campus workshop listed here or have turned in a signed permission slip to learn from home that day. On campus workshops will be from 8:30am-12:30pm.Please note all students, whether attending online workshops or at home, must fill out Learning Logs to earn attendance credit for that day. Learning Logs are located on the CLD Canvas page. Students will be given time to fill out Learning Logs during Targeted Support. Students who do not have the Learning Log turned in will be marked absent that day.
Parent Advisory Committee – We are still looking for PAC Committee Members! The Parent Advisory Committee, previously known as the School Site Council (SSC), is an opportunity for parents, students, and staff to work collaboratively to review the school program, analyze data, identify needs, and make recommendations for the Local Control and Accountability Plan. If you are a parent or guardian interested in joining our Parent Advisory Committee (PAC), please fill out the Parent Advisory Committee PAC Interest Form by Monday, September 22nd. PAC meetings will be held on the following Wednesdays: 10/14, 12/9, 2/3, 4/14, and 5/19 from 4:15-5:15 on Zoom.
College and Career Counseling:
- College Rep Visits for Week 6:
  - Thursday, Sept 24th: UC San Diego
  - Friday, Sept 25th: UC Berkeley

College Planning Information Sessions: The DVS Counseling Team has been holding planning info. sessions.Come learn about graduation requirements, DVS pathways, college admission criteria, types of colleges and career options, financial aid/scholarships and more! All DVS students and families are invited to attend! Please RSVP here for upcoming meetings:
- 9th grade: Tuesday, October 6th from 5:30pm-6:30 pm via ZOOM
- 10th grade: Tuesday, September 29th from 5:30pm-6:30 pm via ZOOM
- 11th grade: Tuesday, September 22nd from 5:30pm-6:30 pm via ZOOM
UC Berkeley Wednesday Workshops (Seniors are the Target Audience): This Fall, join the UC Berkeley LA-Based Admissions Team for ‘Wednesday Workshops’ – our new virtual series covering all the topics to help get you ready to apply to UC Berkeley! From academics, to student life, and mastering your UC Application, hear from the admissions officers in your backyard about all you need to know in advance of the application deadline! All workshops take place live on Zoom from 6-7pm PT. Students can sign up for the individual sessions that you’re most interested in or register for the whole series! Workshop dates and workshop topics can be found here.
SAT/PSAT School Day: Wednesday, October 21st is the SAT/PSAT School Day at Da Vinci Science. 9th grade will be taking the PSAT 8/9, 10th and 11th grade will be taking the PSAT/NMSQT, and 11th and 12th graders have the option of opting in to take the SAT if they sign up at this link by Friday, September 25th (DV account required). Please note that the 11th grade PSAT/NMSQT is the test where students may qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program. DVS had three students noted as National Merit Scholarship Commended Students this year!
FREE Practice SAT/PSAT & Results Seminars: PJ Test prep is offering FREE SAT/ACT Practice Test & Results Seminars via Zoom on September 26th and November 27th . PJ Test Prep is a small, boutique SAT/ACT prep and tutoring company based here in the South Bay and West LA that has been providing support to DVS students during Test Prep Seminar for several years. Sign up for the seminars at this link.
American Mathematical Competition: DVS will be administering the American Mathematics Competition (AMC) 10 and 12 on Friday, November 13th, 2025, from 2:30pm-4:00pm after school to those who sign up.The AMC 10/12 is the first in a series of competitions that may eventually lead to the International Mathematical Olympiad. Find out more at this link. Interested students should sign up via this form by Friday, September 25th (DV account required).

Parent Association

- DVSPA Merch: Zip-up hoodies are now available to order at this MySchoolBucks link!
- Save the Date for a fundraiser: Wed, 10/21, at Chipotle on Rosecrans Ave. in Hawthorne. We’re also holding the Oct DVSPA meeting there at 6:00pm. You don’t need to “join,” just come meet your fellow DVS parents and talk all things DVS!
- Join the DVS Parents’ online community, a private Facebook group monitored by the DVS Parent Association.Search for “DaVinci Science Parents” with the green banner and answer a few required questions to join.
- Would you like to get DVSPA info and updates? Click this link to sign up for more info or to ask any questions.

Important Upcoming Dates:

Monday, 9/21 Career Learning Day #1
Tuesday, 9/22 11th Grade College Planning Meeting 5:30pm via Zoom
Wednesday, 9/23 Long Advisory
Thursday, 9/24 Community Dialogue #1
Tuesday, 9/29 10th Grade College Planning Meeting 5:30pm via Zoom
Wednesday, 9/30 Lockdown Drill
Tuesday, 10/6 9th Grade College Planning Meeting 5:30pm via Zoom
Wednesday, 10/7 Parent Coffee 4:15pm via Zoom
Friday, 10/9 Professional Development Day – No School
Monday – Thursday, 10/12-10/15 Student-Led Conferences
Tuesday – Friday, 10/13-10/16 9th Grade CHYA Presentations

Helpful Links:

Highlights from the Week:

DVS and DVD at the 13th Annual Latino College Expo; College Rep Visit from University of San Francisco

Sleuth Lab seminar students solving a murder mystery escape room challenge

Advisory fun

Posted in Uncategorized

Week 5 Schedule

Posted on September 11, 2026 by Grace Long

We hope students had a great PD day at home. The staff had a productive day of planning and collaborating on project-based learning and sharing ideas across all the DV schools. We also had a great Club Fair last week. Students are excited to get involved and get their clubs going. Thank you, teachers for advising so many Clubs on campus so our students can pursue their interests and passions.

We have a full week next week and back to our typical schedule:

This Week’s Schedule:

This Week’s Announcements

Honors Contracts due Friday, September 18th: Specific honors requirements for each course can be found in this Honors Programs & Contracts doc. Honors Contracts due on Friday, September 18th, 2026.
Parent Advisory Committee – We are still looking for PAC Committee Members! The Parent Advisory Committee, previously known as the School Site Council (SSC), is an opportunity for parents, students, and staff to work collaboratively to review the school program, analyze data, identify needs, and make recommendations for the Local Control and Accountability Plan. If you are a parent or guardian interested in joining our Parent Advisory Committee (PAC), please fill out the Parent Advisory Committee PAC Interest Form by Monday, September 22nd. PAC meetings will be held on the following Wednesdays: 10/14, 12/9, 2/3, 4/14, and 5/19 from 4:15-5:15 on Zoom.
Student Board Advisor Applications- Student Board applicants must submit their applications by Friday, September 18th, to be considered. Selections will be made by site administrators and shared by Friday, September 25th. Student Board Advisor and/or Student Board Coordinator Application Application
Club Fair was a Success! Our annual Club Fair went well this past week. You can take a look at the 2026-2027 DVS Club Website for overviews of the clubs. Thank you, club leaders and advisors, who have planned these clubs and curated communities for students to share mutual interests, build community, and learn new skills.
College Rep Visits for Week 5: All visits take place at lunchtime in Mr. Perez’s classroom. All grade levels are welcome!
- Monday, Sept 14th: CSU Dominguez Hills
- Wednesday, Sept 16th: College for Creative Studies
- Friday, Sept 18th: University of San Francisco
College Planning Information Sessions: The DVS Counseling Team will be holding college planning info. sessions. Come learn about graduation requirements, DVS pathways, college admission criteria, types of colleges and career options, financial aid/scholarships and more! All DVS students and families are invited to attend! Please RSVP here.
- 9th grade: Tuesday, October 6th from 5:30pm-6:30 pm via ZOOM
- 10th grade: Tuesday, September 29th from 5:30pm-6:30 pm via ZOOM
- 11th grade: Tuesday, September 22nd from 5:30pm-6:30 pm via ZOOM
- 12th grade: Tuesday, September 15th from 5:30pm-6:30 pm held in-person at DVS
UC Berkeley Wednesday Workshops (Seniors are the Target Audience): This Fall, join the UC Berkeley LA-Based Admissions Team for ‘Wednesday Workshops’ – our new virtual series covering all the topics to help get you ready to apply to UC Berkeley! From academics, to student life, and mastering your UC Application, hear from the admissions officers in your backyard about all you need to know in advance of the application deadline! All workshops take place live on Zoom from 6-7pm PT. Students can sign up for the individual sessions that you’re most interested in or register for the whole series! Workshop dates and workshop topics can be found here.
Cal Grant Opt Out (For Seniors Families Only) The Cal Grant is funding for college that students do not pay back. The Cal Grant can be used at any University of California (UC), California State University (CSU) or California Community College, as well as qualifying independent (private) and career colleges or technical schools in California. To qualify, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) by March 2, 2027 and meet the eligibility and financial requirements as well as any minimum GPA requirements. Learn more about the Cal Grant here. Da Vinci Science High School is required to submit students’ verified GPA to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC). By law, families can “opt out” of this process if you do not want DVS to submit your student’s verified GPA. If you choose to “opt out”, this means your student will not be eligible to receive a Cal Grant. In order to “opt-out”, please complete this form (in Spanish) and return to Ms. Marquez via email no later than September 18, 2026. If you do not return the “opt-out” form, Da Vinci Science will submit your student’s verified GPA to the CSAC to determine your student’s Cal Grant eligibility.
SAT/PSAT School Day: Wednesday, October 21st is the SAT/PSAT School Day at Da Vinci Science. Testing on this day is paid for by the school and free for DVS students. Both PSATs and the SAT are digitally administered. Students will be using school Chromebooks. 9th grade will be taking the PSAT 8/9, 10th and 11th grade will be taking the PSAT/NMSQT, and 11th and 12th graders have the option of opting in to take the SAT if they sign up at this link by Friday, September 25th (DV account required). Please note that 11th grade students opting to take the SAT means they would not be taking the PSAT/NMSQT, which is the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship, and there will be another SAT School Day in the spring for 10th and 11th grade students, but participation will be fully opt-in and require a fee. Date and details TBD.

FREE Practice SAT/PSAT & Results Seminars: PJ Test prep is offering FREE SAT/ACT Practice Test & Results Seminars via Zoom on September 26th and November 27th . PJ Test Prep is a small, boutique SAT/ACT prep and tutoring company based here in the South Bay and West LA that has been providing support to DVS students during Test Prep Seminar for several years. Sign up for the seminars at this link.

American Mathematical Competition: DVS will be administering the American Mathematics Competition (AMC) 10 and 12 on Friday, November 13th, 2025, from 2:30pm-4:00pm after school to those who sign up.The AMC 10/12 is the first in a series of competitions that may eventually lead to the International Mathematical Olympiad. Find out more at this link. Interested students should sign up via this form by Friday, September 25th (DV account required).

Parent Association

- DVSPA Merch: Zip-up hoodies are now available to order at this MySchoolBucks link!
- Save the Date: DVSPA meeting Wed, 9/16 in the Galileo room at DVS. You don’t need to “join,” just come meet your fellow DVS parents and talk all things DVS!
- Join the DVS Parents’ online community, a private Facebook group monitored by the DVS Parent Association.Search for “DaVinci Science Parents” with the green banner and answer a few required questions to join.
- Would you like to get DVSPA info and updates? Click this link to sign up for more info or to ask any questions.

Important Upcoming Dates:

Saturday, 9/12 Latino College Expo
Tuesday, 9/15 12th Grade College Planning Meeting 5:30pm @ DVS
Wednesday, 9/16 Grade Checks
Wednesday, 9/16 Parent Association Meeting 6:00pm @ DVS
Friday, 9/18 Honors Contracts due
Monday, 9/21 Career Learning Day #1
Tuesday, 9/22 11th Grade College Planning Meeting 5:30pm via Zoom
Tuesday, 9/29 10th Grade College Planning Meeting 5:30pm via Zoom

Helpful Links:

Highlights from the Week:

Club Fair

Llama Advisory Dinner at Gen Korean BBQ

Posted in Uncategorized

Week 4 Schedule

Posted on September 4, 2026 by Grace Long

Thank you for a great Back-to-School Night! We enjoyed seeing parents & guardians on campus and appreciate you all taking the time to get to know your student’s teacher and coursework. Hopefully you got a small taste of what your student’s day-to-day looks like. We look forward to getting to know our new parents & families this year!

This Week’s Schedule is a 3-day week! There is no school on September 7th and 11th due to the Labor Day Holiday on Monday and a Professional Development Day for staff on Friday.

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

This Week’s Announcements

Honors: Most honors courses at DVS are not a separate period but are integrated into the regular coursework. This week, teachers shared what honors will look like in their courses for this school year. Specific honors requirements for each course can be found in this Honors Programs & Contracts doc. Contract links will continue to be updated as they are available. Below is the timeline for the 2026-2027 school year:
- Honors Contracts due: Friday, September 18th, 2026
- Honors Commitment Deadline: Friday, October 16th, 2026

Club Fair: Our annual Club Fair is happening next Thursday, 9/10 during Advisory and lunch, and we would love your support in encouraging your student to explore the many ways to get involved! All club applications have been processed, and our official club website —featuring the full list of active clubs—will also go live on Canvas and the DVS website next week!
College Counseling:
- Latino College Expo: DVS is excited to participate in the 13th Annual Latino College Expo on Saturday, September 12, from 9:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. at the University of La Verne! Students of all grade levels are welcome to attend, and students do not need to identify as Latino/Latinx to participate. The Expo will feature representatives from more than 75 colleges and universities. We will depart from DVS promptly at 9:00 a.m. and are expected to return by 2:30 p.m. Students should bring their own lunch or money to purchase food on campus. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Students interested in attending should pick up a field trip permission slip from Ms. Marquez. Permission slips are due by Wednesday, September 9 at 3:30 p.m. to Ms. Marquez, or until all available spots are filled.
- UC Merced College Rep Visit will be on Wednesday, September 9th. All college rep visits take place at lunchtime in Mr. Perez’s classroom. All grade levels are welcome!
- College Planning Information Sessions: The DVS Counseling Team will be holding college planning info. sessions. Come learn about graduation requirements, DVS pathways, college admission criteria, types of colleges and career options, financial aid/scholarships and more! 9th grade- 11th grade sessions will be held via Zoom (link will be posted closer to date) and the 12th grade session will be held in-person on the DVS campus. All DVS students and families are invited to attend. You may RSVP here.
  - 9th grade: Tuesday, October 6th 5:30pm-6:30 pm via ZOOM
  - 10th grade: Tuesday, October 29th 5:30pm-6:30 pm via ZOOM
  - 11th grade: Tuesday, September 22nd 5:30pm-6:30 pm via ZOOM
  - 12th grade: Tuesday, September 15th from 5:30pm-6:30 pm held in-person on the DVS Campus
- Parent Advisory Committee – The Parent Advisory Committee, previously known as the School Site Council (SSC), is an opportunity for parents, students, and staff to work collaboratively to review the school program, analyze data, identify needs, and make recommendations for the Local Control and Accountability Plan. If you are a parent or guardian interested in joining our Parent Advisory Committee (PAC), please fill out the Parent Advisory Committee PAC Interest Form by Monday, September 22nd. PAC meetings will be held on the following Wednesdays: 10/14, 12/9, 2/3, 4/14, and 5/19 from 4:15-5:15 on Zoom.

Parent Association

- DVSPA Merch: Parents, it’s time to rep your Da Vinci Science pride! We’re now taking orders for T-shirts and classic hoodies, with hopes of adding a zip-up hoodie option in early September. And the best part? Every purchase gives back! Order your T-Shirts and Hoodies TODAY!
- Save the Date: DVSPA meeting Wed, 9/16. All DVS parents/guardians welcome. You don’t need to “join,” just come meet your fellow DVS parents and talk all things DVS. In the Galileo room at 6pm (on the DVS floor).
- Join the DVS Parents’ online community, a private Facebook group monitored by the DVS Parent Association. Ask questions to other DVS Parents/Guardians, get updates on DVSPA service projects and more. Search for “DaVinci Science Parents” with the green banner and answer a few required questions to join.
- Would you like to get DVSPA info and updates? Click this link to sign up for more info or to ask any questions.

SAT/PSAT School Day: Wednesday, October 21st is the SAT/PSAT School Day at Da Vinci Science. Testing on this day is paid for by the school and free for DVS students. Some information to note about SAT/PSAT School Day:
- See below for which test will be administered to each grade level.
- 9th Grade: PSAT 8/9
- 10th Grade: PSAT/NMSQT
- 11th Grade: PSAT/NMSQT (option to opt-in to SAT)
- 12th Grade: SAT (opt-in)
- Both PSATs and the SAT are digitally administered. Students will be using school Chromebooks.

SAT for 11th and 12th Grade: DVS 11th and 12th grade students will have the option to opt-in to take the SAT during the DVS SAT/PSAT School Day on Monday, October 13th, free of charge to the student, by signing up on this Fall 2026 DVS Opt-in SAT School Day Interest Form (DV account required) by Friday, September 12th. Please note that 11th grade students opting to take the SAT means they would not be taking the PSAT/NMSQT, which is the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship.
- There will be another SAT School Day in the spring for 10th and 11th grade students, but participation will be fully opt-in and require a fee. Date and details TBD.
- More info about the day (schedule, etc.) will be released closer to the date. Questions should be directed to Saya, DVS Assistant Principal (swai@davincischools.org).

- FREE Practice SAT/PSAT & Results Seminars: PJ Test prep is offering FREE SAT/ACT Practice Test & Results Seminars via Zoom on September 26th and November 27th . PJ Test Prep is a small, boutique SAT/ACT prep and tutoring company based here in the South Bay and West LA that has been providing support to DVS students during Test Prep Seminar for several years. Sign up for the seminars at this link.

American Mathematical Competition: DVS will be administering the American Mathematics Competition (AMC) 10 and 12 on Friday, November 13th, 2025, from 2:30pm-4:00pm after school to those who sign up.The AMC 10/12 is the first in a series of competitions that may eventually lead to the International Mathematical Olympiad. Find out more at this link. Interested students should sign up via this form by Friday, September 25th (DV account required).
Student Board Advisor Applications: Student Board applicants must submit their applications by Friday, September 18th, to be considered. Selections will be made by site administrators and shared by Friday, September 25th. Student Board Advisor and/or Student Board Coordinator Application Application

Important Upcoming Dates:

Monday, 9/7 Labor Day Holiday – No School
Wednesday, 9/9 Lunch Open Mic
Thursday, 9/10 Club Fair
Friday, 9/11 Professional Development Day – No School
Saturday, 9/12 Latino College Expo
Wednesday, 9/16 Grade Checks
Wednesday, 9/16 Parent Association Meeting 6:00pm @ DVS
Friday, 9/18 Honors Contracts due
Monday, 9/21 Career Learning Day #1

Helpful Links:

Highlights from the Week:

Great to see parents and families at Back to School Night!

Posted in Uncategorized

Week 3 Schedule

Posted on August 29, 2026 by Grace Long

It’s been a busy and fun-filled first two weeks of school! Last week ended with DVS’s annual signature practice of the Freshmen Overnighter. 9th graders and Advisory Leaders had a great time at the Overnighter. The theme was “FIFA: It takes Teamwork to be the best that we can be; you can lean on and trust your teammates.” The students did a great job participating and engaging in this special time to plunge into DVS school culture. For those who remained on campus, students still had a great week of learning, with hopefully a bit more quiet and space during passing periods.

Week 3 will also be a busy week. We will be launching Seminars and we have Back to School Night on Thursday, September 3rd. Looking forward to seeing parents & guardians on campus this week at BTSN!

This Week’s Schedule:

This Week’s Announcements

Back to School Night: DVS BTSN will be Thursday, September 3rd, 2026 from 5:30pm-7:30pm. Parents/guardians will receive an email with their student’s schedule to visit each class.

Class of 2030 Senior Portrait Make-Up Dates are October 3rd and October 4th! If your student is a current senior, and they missed the chance to take their senior portraits during the summer, you can sign up here: https://book.usesession.com/i/BVNtg0TnF
Seminars: Students completed their seminar requests this week. Those requests will be used to build seminar schedules, then seminars will begin on Monday, August 31st. Schedules will be passed out that day during an earlier class period. There will be an opportunity after seminars begin to request a seminar change.
Benchmark Testing: Students in all grade levels will continue to complete ELA and math standardized benchmark assessments (NWEA MAP) during August and September. These benchmark assessments provide valuable information on student levels and growth to inform our classroom practice and supports. We encourage students to get plenty of rest, have a healthy breakfast, and to do their best!
Student Board Applications: Student Board applicants must submit their applications by Friday, September 18th, to be considered. Selections will be made by site administrators and shared by Friday, September 25th. Student Board Advisor and/or Student Board Coordinator Application Application
College Representative Visits will begin next week and continue throughout the fall semester! These visits provide students with a valuable opportunity to learn more about colleges and universities directly from admissions representatives. Students are encouraged to attend and learn more about each university’s academic programs, majors, student services, and campus opportunities. Students from all grade levels are welcome! Please reach out to Ms. Marquez, College and Career Counselor, if you have questions.Next week, DVS will welcome the following two college representatives in Mr. Perez’s room during lunch.
- Tuesday, September 1: Cal Poly Humboldt
- Friday, September 4: University of Arizona

Latino College Expo: DVS is excited to participate in the 13th Annual Latino College Expo on Saturday, September 12, from 9:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. at the University of La Verne! Students of all grade levels are welcome to attend, and students do not need to identify as Latino/Latinx to participate. The Expo will feature representatives from more than 75 colleges and universities, including public and private institutions, independent colleges, military programs, and trade schools. Students will have the opportunity to:

- Connect with college admissions representatives
- Learn about academic programs, career pathways, and college resources
- Attend informative seminars, including “Booming Careers,” “Preparing for College,” “Benefits of Going Away to College,” “411 for Student Athletes,” and more
- Explore opportunities for on-the-spot admission, application fee waivers, and scholarships at participating colleges

We will depart from DVS promptly at 9:00 a.m. and are expected to return by 2:30 p.m. Students should bring their own lunch or money to purchase food on campus. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Students interested in attending should pick up a field trip permission slip from Ms. Marquez. Permission slips are due by Wednesday, September 9 at 3:30 p.m. to Ms. Marquez, or until all available spots are filled.

Parent Association

- DVSPA Merch: Parents, it’s time to rep your Da Vinci Science pride! We’re now taking orders for T-shirts and classic hoodies, with hopes of adding a zip-up hoodie option in early September. And the best part? Every purchase gives back! Order your T-Shirts and Hoodies TODAY!
- Save the Date: DVSPA meeting Wed, 9/16. All DVS parents/guardians welcome. You don’t need to “join,” just come meet your fellow DVS parents and talk all things DVS. In the Galileo room at 6pm (on the DVS floor).
- Join the DVS Parents’ online community, a private Facebook group monitored by the DVS Parent Association. Ask questions to other DVS Parents/Guardians, get updates on DVSPA service projects and more. Search for “DaVinci Science Parents” with the green banner and answer a few questions to join.
Freshmen Overnighter pictures can be found here on the Da Vinci Photos Gallery.

Important Upcoming Dates:

Monday, 8/31 First Day of Seminars for Fall 2026
Thursday, 9/3 Back-to-School-Night
Monday, 9/7 Labor Day (no school)
Thursday, 9/10 Club Fair
Friday, 9/11 PD Day (no school for students)

Helpful Links: