Da Vinci Science

We had a very eventful week that started with 11th-grade SBAC (State Testing). The juniors did a great job taking the tests seriously and doing their best. Thank you to the parents and families who donated snacks to keep the juniors going throughout their week of testing.

The week ended with Davincella! The students had a wonderful time being outdoors, representing their clubs, and showcasing their musical talents. Thank you, Leadership, for doing such a great job putting that event together so the whole school had the opportunity to destress and connect in such a fun and meaningful way.

We hope all students had a productive CLD Day today. We will be ensuring that all students fill out the CLD attendance form to receive credit for the day. Next week will be another four-day week, with a Professional Development (PD) Day and Prom Night on Friday, May 1st. We also wish the Vitruvian Bots well as they head off to Houston this week for World Championships!

This Week’s Schedule

This Week’s Announcements

• Course Selection for 2026-2027 school year: Students received information about the course selection process for next school year. See 26-27 Course Planning Document to see course listings. Students will select their classes through a Google form starting April 29th and will also select courses through Powerschool in Targeted Support class on May 6th. More information on 26-27 Course Selection can be found on the Student Hub Canvas page. 
• Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week is May 4th-8th! Please see the SIGN UP for ways to celebrate all the staff that help create our beautiful DVS community. E-gift cards to Costco can be emailed to DVSappreciation@gmail.com and cash or physical gift cards can be dropped off to Liz at the front desk.  For other ways to donate funds toward DVSPA sponsored lunch, breakfast or other appreciation activities, contact Lori at lj.bowk@gmail.com.
• 11th & 12th Grade Student Directory Request Opt-Out Option: A message was sent to all 11th and 12th-grade families from Da Vinci Schools on Friday, 4/17 regarding a request from the U.S. Marine Corps for student directory information. While federal law requires schools to provide this information to military recruiters, we want to ensure our families have the opportunity to make the decision that feels right for them. If you would like to opt out of sharing your student’s name, address, or phone number, please complete the opt-out form in SchoolMint by Friday, May 1st. If you have completed the form already or are comfortable with this information being shared, no further action is required on your part.
• 11th College Planning Meetings: Our College and Career Counselor, Ms. Marquez is hosting Individual Post-DVS Planning Meetings with juniors and their parent/guardian. Every Junior is expected to schedule a meeting and have at least one parent/guardian present. Please sign up here and see an overview of the meeting here.
• Community Learning Day #4 Learning Logs: Today was our last CLD of the year! We will be completing Learning Logs together during Advisory next week as they are essential for students’ attendance records and to keep CLDs going strong!
• Yearbook 2025-2026: Grab your Da Vinci Science student’s yearbook today and keep this year’s highlights alive forever. Reserve Your Piece of DVS History Here. “Enter Da Vinci Site code 19656.”
• Prom: Is this Friday, May 1st at Skirball Center 7:00-11:00 pm. More details on Canvas and Instagram. All students in attendance must be in good academic standing and maintain positive attendance.
• Parent Coffee– Every first Wednesday of the month, we have “Coffee with the Principal,” where parents, guardians, and students can drop in to ask administration and staff questions and receive updates on school happenings. DVS Parent Coffee Time is next Wednesday,5/6, from 4:30-5:30 on Zoom using this Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/3108950461. This week’s topic: “26-27 Course Selection and Updates”

Important Upcoming Dates: 

• Monday, 4/27 Opt-in SAT School Day
• Wednesday, 4/29 MTSS Team Meeting @ 7:45am in Berger
• Wednesday – Sunday, 4/29-5/3 FRC World Championships in Houston
• Wednesday, 4/29 Biomed Aquarium Field Trip
• Wednesday, 4/29 Lunch Open Mic
• Thursday, 4/30 Community Dialogue #5
• Friday, 5/1 Professional Development Day – No School
• Friday, 5/1 Prom at Skirball Museum 7:00-11:00 pm 
• Monday, 5/4 10th Grade Cinco de Mayo Potluck
• Wednesday,5/6Parent Coffee 4:30-5:30 on Zoom
• Wednesday, 5/20 PAC Meeting #4
• DVS Class of 2026 Graduation: Thursday, June 11th @ 5:00 pm (more info to come)

Helpful Links:

DV/Wiseburn Athletics  

DVS Planning Calendar 25-26

DVS News YouTube Channel

DVS Announcements Slide Deck

Da Vinci Photos Gallery

Highlights from the Week:

CLD Day #4, on campus workshops included volleyball, yoga, CPR training and 3D modeling

AltaSea at the Port of LA- students had the opportunity to test solar panels using multimeters, touch sea creatures, drive underwater robots, and show off their Climate Catalyst projects.

Davincella 2026

Da Vinci Science California Distinguished School Award 2026 recipient. Congratulations, DVS!

Spring is in full swing! On Monday, seniors spent a memorable day at the park and sophomores explored the Cal Poly Pomona campus. Juniors also refreshed their knowledge through CHYA presentations in biology this week.

Next week will be quite eventful with a long Advisory on Wednesday, Davinchella on Thursday (see below for details), and our last Community Learning Day of the school year on Friday. We are looking forward to all the lively fun and community spirit that these days will bring!

This Week’s Schedule

This Week’s Announcements

• Course Selection for 2026-2027 school year: In the next few weeks, students will be hearing about the course selection process for next school year. See 26-27 Course Planning Document to see course listings. Students will select their classes through a Google form starting April 29th and will also select courses through Powerschool in Targeted Support class on May 6th.
• 11th Grade Statewide Testing: All 11th grade students will be taking the SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium) in the areas of English Language Arts and Mathematics as well as the CAST (California Science Test) on Monday and Tuesday, April 20th and 21st during school hours. State Testing Parent Notification Letter
• Snack Donations Wanted! The DVS Front Office is collecting any donations of individually wrapped, healthy snacks (no nuts please) to provide for 11th grade students during state testing breaks. Suggested Items: granola bars, protein bars, pretzels, crackers, fruit snacks, dried fruit, string cheese, beef jerky, small water bottles
• Davinchella is next Thursday, 4/23 from 2:35–3:55 PM! This outdoor event for DVS students during school hours is a collaboration between DVS Leadership and our student clubs to highlight student initiative and bring our student body together. Students will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities to build community and foster engagement including free games, a soccer tournament, and an inflatable obstacle course (waiver required). 
  • Tickets: Students can also support our DVS student-led clubs by purchasing food and drinks at a variety of booths using tickets. Tickets are $1 each and can be purchased at designated booths using cash, card, or mobile (tap) pay. 
  • Waivers: The inflatable obstacle course (free) and Animal Rescue Club’s puppy booth (paid) require the completion of a waiver for participation. Waivers were distributed in Advisory on 4/14 (digital version here) and MUST be returned by 4/21 at 4:00 PM to the Front Office or Brooke’s room (2406). No late waivers will be accepted.
  • Prep & Clean-Up: If your student is running a club booth, they may ask for your support leading up to the event. We appreciate your time and effort in helping them succeed! Please also note that student leaders may stay up to 20 minutes after school for clean-up.

• • PEP: 

• • • Preview: Davinchella is an 80-minute, outdoor, large gathering of the entire student body for students to play games, visit club booths, and hang out with the school community. Students will head outside to the West Plaza after taking attendance in advisory.
    • Experience: Loud environment due to student performances and large crowd >550; Overlapping conversations, noise and movement; Participation includes participants voluntarily participating in games and going up to club booths and activities.
    • Provided: Area further from noise (signage will be posted for location); earplugs available at the NDSC booth
• DVS Parent Association: 
  • May 4th – 8th is Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week: Please see the SIGN UP for ways to celebrate all the staff that help create our beautiful DVS community. E-gift cards to Costco can be emailed to DVSappreciation@gmail.com and cash or physical gift cards can be dropped off to Liz at the front desk.  For other ways to donate funds toward DVSPA sponsored lunch, breakfast or other appreciation activities, contact Lori at lj.bowk@gmail.com. 
  • Join DVS Parents at the DVSPA meeting Wednesday, April 22nd at 5:30pm, on campus. We will be prepping for Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week and more.  
• 11th College Planning Meetings: Our College and Career Counselor, Ms. Marquez is hosting Individual Post-DVS Planning Meetings with juniors and their parent/guardian. Every Junior is expected to schedule a meeting and have at least one parent/guardian present. Please sign up here and see an overview of the meeting here.
• Community Learning Day #4: Next CLD Day is 4/24. All students should be engaged in activities that foster meaningful learning, on or off campus. See CLD On campus workshop Descriptions. Information and QR code to sign up for workshops is posted on students’ CLD Canvas page. 
• Yearbook 2025-2026: Grab your Da Vinci Science student’s yearbook today and keep this year’s highlights alive forever. Reserve Your Piece of DVS History Here. “Enter Da Vinci Site code 19656.”

Important Upcoming Dates: 

• Monday – Tuesday, 4/20 – 4/21 11th Grade State Testing
• Wednesday, 4/22 Long Advisory
• Wednesday, 4/22 Parent Association Meeting @ 5:30pm
• Thursday, 4/23 SWE/Physics Honors AltaSea Field Trip
• Thursday, 4/23 Davinchella
• Thursday, 4/23 CollegeWise Workshop for 9th and 10th Grade @ 5:30pm
• Friday, 4/24 Community Learning Day #4
• DVS Class of 2026 Graduation: Thursday, June 11th @ 5:00 pm (more info to come)

Helpful Links:

DV/Wiseburn Athletics  

DVS Planning Calendar 25-26

DVS News YouTube Channel

DVS Announcements Slide Deck

Da Vinci Photos Gallery

Highlights from the Week:

Senior Park Day!

 

10th grade trip to Cal Poly Pomona featuring DVS alumni!

 

DVS Science teachers expanding their knowledge and skills as NSTA conference where Mark Rober was the keynote speaker

We are back in full swing! We hope our students enjoyed their Spring Break and are ready to tackle the remainder of the semester. It will be a busy few months ahead, filled with engaging learning activities, projects, and field trips. We continue to encourage consistent attendance to ensure students can take full advantage of all the opportunities DVS has to offer.

Da Vinci’s Robotics Team, Team 4201 the Vitruvian Bots, continues to excel in division competitions; they are currently ranked 6th out of 151 SoCal teams. We wish them well at this weekend’s SoCal District Championship! Livestream links and more info can be found at the Event Website. Go Vitruvian Bots!

This Week’s Schedule

This Week’s Announcements

• Parent Advisory Committee: PAC Meeting #4 is scheduled for Wednesday, 4/15, 4:30-5:30. Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/3108950461. On the agenda: LCAP Goals 3, 4, and 5.
• 11th Grade Statewide Testing: All 11th grade students will be taking the SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium) in the areas of English Language Arts and Mathematics as well as the CAST (California Science Test) on Monday and Tuesday, April 20th and 21st during school hours. State Testing Parent Notification Letter

• Snack Donations Wanted! The DVS Front Office is collecting any donations of individually wrapped, healthy snacks (no nuts please) to provide for 11th grade students during state testing breaks. Suggested Items: granola bars, protein bars, pretzels, crackers, fruit snacks, dried fruit, string cheese, beef jerky, small water bottles
• 11th College Planning Meetings: Our College and Career Counselor, Ms. Marquez is hosting Individual Post-DVS Planning Meetings with juniors and their parent/guardian. Every Junior is expected to schedule a meeting and have at least one parent/guardian present. Please sign up here and see an overview of the meeting here.
• 11th Grade CHYA Refresh Presentations: Dr. Emily Green will be presenting a refresh of the health & sexual education curriculum (“CHYA”, or “California Healthy Youth Act”) during 11th grade biology classes Monday-Wednesday, April 13th-15th. Notification Letter from Dr. Green. Parents 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. 
• CLD Day #4: Next CLD Day is 4/24. See CLD On campus workshop Descriptions. Information and QR code to sign up for workshops is posted on students’ CLD Canvas page. 

• Course Selection for 2026-2027 school year: In the next few weeks, students will be hearing about the course selection process for next school year. See 26-27 Course Planning Document to see course listings. Students will select their classes through a Google form starting April 29th and will also select courses through Powerschool during Targeted Support class on May 6th. 

• DVS Parent Association: 
  • Spring Mech Sale is happening NOW! PREORDER DVSPA MERCH HERE for pick up in approximately 3-4 weeks. Proceeds support DVS Advisories! 
  • Next DVSPA meeting will be held on campus, Wednesday April 22nd at 5:30pm. 
  • Save the dates – Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week is May 4-8th. Watch for the sign up and more details in the next blog and on the DVS Parents FB group.
• Yearbook 2025-2026: Grab your Da Vinci Science student’s yearbook today and keep this year’s highlights alive forever. Reserve Your Piece of DVS History Here. “Enter Da Vinci Site code 19656.”

Important Upcoming Dates: 

• Monday, 4/13 Senior Park Day
• Monday, 4/13 10th Grade Cal Poly Pomona Field Trip
• Monday – Wednesday, 4/13 – 4/15 11th Grade CHYA Refresh in Biology
• Thursday, 4/16 CollegeWise Workshop for 11th Grade @ 5:30pm
• Friday, 4/17 12th Grade Field Trip to El Camino College
• Monday – Tuesday, 4/20 – 4/21 11th Grade State Testing
• Wednesday, 4/22 Long Advisory
• Wednesday, 4/22 Parent Association Meeting @ 5:30pm
• Thursday, 4/23 SWE/Physics Honors AltaSea Field Trip
• Thursday, 4/23 Davincella
• Thursday, 4/23 CollegeWise Workshop for 9th and 10th Grade @ 5:30pm
• Friday, 4/24 Community Learning Day #4
• DVS Class of 2026 Graduation: Thursday, June 11th @ 5:00 pm (more info to come)

Helpful Links:

DV/Wiseburn Athletics  

DVS Planning Calendar 25-26

DVS News YouTube Channel

DVS Announcements Slide Deck

Da Vinci Photos Gallery

Highlights from the Week:

Beats by DVS speaker/headphone dissections – thanks to everyone who donated!

SWE guest speaker Sanam Tahan – founder of The Well Society – nutritionist/dietitian sharing best practices/healthy habits to start early; Adv Physics mobile project in progress – learning about rotational equilibrium and torque

DVS at the HOSA Student Leadership Conference 2026 in Ontario, CA!

We had a very eventful week before Spring Break! SWE field trip to Belkin, Engineering field trip to Data Center, HOSA Leadership Conference an Exhibition Night to name a few! Last week, Team 4201, the Vitruvian Bots, hosted the LA Division Regionals right here on campus. We achieved great success, finishing as FRC Finalists in the FRC LA District Competition and winning the most prestigious Impact Award for being a “True STEAM hub for the community.” Congratulations to Team 4201 on winning this incredible FRC award!

We extend a big thank you to all the students, families, and community members who joined us for DVS Exhibition Night! Our students enjoyed showcasing their projects and bringing others into their learning experiences here at DVS. We hope you enjoyed Exhibition Night as much as we did.

As the week concludes, we want to wish all our students and families a wonderful and much-deserved Spring Break! Whether you’re planning a vacation, catching up on rest, or simply spending quality time with loved ones, we wish you a happy and safe break. School will resume on Tuesday, April 7th.

This Week’s Schedule

This Week’s Announcements

• 11th Grade Statewide Testing: All 11th grade students will be taking the SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium) in the areas of English Language Arts and Mathematics as well as the CAST (California Science Test) on Monday and Tuesday, April 20th and 21st during school hours. Please see this State Testing Parent Notification Letter for more information.
• Snack Donations Wanted! We want to make sure our 11th grade students have the energy and focus during testing so they can do their best! We would appreciate any donations of individually wrapped, healthy snacks (no nuts please) to provide for students during testing breaks. We will begin collecting donations immediately after Spring Break at the DVS Front Office. Thank you for supporting our juniors! Suggested Items: granola bars, protein bars, pretzels, crackers, fruit snacks, dried fruit, string cheese, beef jerky, small water bottles
• 11th Grade CHYA Refresh Presentations: Dr. Emily Green will be presenting a refresh of the health & sexual education curriculum (“CHYA”, or “California Healthy Youth Act”) during 11th grade biology classes Monday-Wednesday, April 13th-15th. 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 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.
• 11th College Planning Meetings: Our College and Career Counselor, Ms. Marquez will begin to host the Individual Post-DVS Planning Meetings with juniors and their parent/guardian starting mid-April through POL week. Please sign up here. Every Junior is expected to schedule a meeting and have at least one parent/guardian present. An overview of the meeting can be found here. If you have any questions about the Individual Junior College Planning Meeting, please reach out to Ms. Marquez, College and Career Counselor, directly (fmarquez@davincischools.org). If you have questions about your transcript, please reach out to Ms. Ruiz, Academic and Wellness Counselor for the Class of 2027(cruiz@davincischools.org ).
• Collegewise Workshops: Come hear from leading professionals in college admissions. Typically, these services require a fee, however, these workshops are at no cost for DVS students. Collegewise Workshops will be held on campus in Galileo Room.
  • Thursday, April 16th at 5:30pm: Juniors! How to Get Ahead on a College Application for 11th graders. Please register here.
  • Thursday, April 23rd at 5:30pm: Building an Impressive Application Profile in High School for 9th and 10th graders. Please register here.
• Parent Advisory Committee: PAC Meeting #4 is scheduled for Wednesday, 4/15, 4:30-5:30. Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/3108950461. On the agenda: LCAP Goals 3, 4, and 5.
• DVS Parent Association: 
  • Spring Mech Sale is happening NOW! PREORDER DVSPA MERCH HERE for pick up in approx 3-4 weeks. Proceeds support DVS Advisories! 
  • Next DVSPA meeting will be held on campus, Wednesday April 22nd at 5:30pm. 

• Yearbook 2025-2026: Grab your Da Vinci Science student’s yearbook today and keep this year’s highlights alive forever. Reserve Your Piece of DVS History Here. “Enter Da Vinci Site code 19656.”

Important Upcoming Dates: 

• Monday, 3/30 Holiday – No School
• Tuesday-Friday and Monday, 3/31-4/6-Spring Break
• Wednesday, 4/8 DVS Families Coffee Time @ 4:30pm
• Monday, 4/20 and Tuesday, 4/21 11th Grade State Testing 
• Friday, 4/24 Community Learning Day #4
• DVS Class of 2026 Graduation: Thursday, June 11th @ 5:00 pm (more info to come)

Helpful Links:

DV/Wiseburn Athletics  

DVS Planning Calendar 25-26

DVS News YouTube Channel

DVS Announcements Slide Deck

Da Vinci Photos Gallery

Highlights from the Week:

SWE does Belkin Women’s History Month! Our very own Ellyse Legaspi spoke on the panel about her experience as the only girl on the electrical team for robotics.

HOSA Leadership Conference

Climate Catalyst Innovation Challenge

Vitruvian Bots- Finalists and Impact Award

DVS Exhibition Night 2026

We hope all students enjoyed the PD day. DVS staff were still hard at work learning and collaborating with industry partners, learning best instructional practices from one another, and catching up with grading. 

Students have begun Exhibition Prep and are looking forward to showcasing their work on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 from 5:30–7:30 PM. Please join us for an evening celebrating the incredible work of our students and the power of project-based learning! This event is open to DVS families, partners, and community members. You can also stop by the DVSPA table to meet other DVS Parents and learn about our upcoming service projects.

We also wish Da Vinci’s  FRC Team 4201: The Vitruvian Bots well as they compete this weekend at the CA District Los Angeles Event. Da Vinci is hosting the tournament in our gym, all are welcome to come cheer on our students! The hours are 10:30 am to 7:15 pm on Saturday 3/21 and 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on Sunday 3/22. You can find more info at the official event website. The event is also viewable through livestream: TheBlueAlliance.com/team/4201.

This Week’s Schedule

This Week’s Announcements

• 11th Grade Statewide Testing: All 11th grade students will be taking the SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium) in the areas of English Language Arts and Mathematics as well as the CAST (California Science Test) on Monday and Tuesday, April 20th and 21st during school hours. Please see this State Testing Parent Notification Letter for more information.
• Upcoming Emergency Drills: Safety drills were rescheduled for the month of March for the 201 N. Douglas Street campus. The last drill is a critical incident drill on 3/24, where we will focus on hiding and locking down classrooms. As you know, preparation is key to minimizing fear, confusion, and risks. We encourage you to talk to your students about safety on campus, at home, and in their community.
• DVS Merchandise: DVS Parent Association Spring Merch Sale is happening NOW! PREORDER DVSPA MERCH HERE for pick up in approx 3-4 weeks. Proceeds support DVS Advisories!  
• Summer Opportunities: Summer is fast approaching, and it’s the perfect time for students to build new skills, gain hands-on experience, and explore their passions! All students should be enrolled in the Real World Learning Canvas course, where updates and opportunities are posted regularly. Within the Canvas page, you’ll find a link to the Spring and Summer Opportunities Document — a curated and vetted list of programs, internships, and workshops organized by category. Don’t wait! Many summer programs applications are due soon.
• FREE SAT/PSAT and College App/Essay Seminars: PJ Test prep is offering FREE SAT/ACT Practice Test & Results Seminars and FREE College Essay & App Seminars via Zoom in April, May, and July. 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.
• Speakers and Headphones Needed: Do you have any unwanted/old/broken speakers or over-ear headphones collecting dust? We would love to take them off your hands for the 9th grade physics classes’ speaker dissections! Drop them off with the DVS front desk or Dr. Taube through Spring Break.
• Spring Opt-in SAT School Day: In order to secure their spot for the Monday, April 27th SAT at DVS, 10th and 11th grade students must do BOTH of the following by Friday, March 27th: 1) Sign-up using this form (Da Vinci Google account required) and 2) Pay $60 at this MySchoolBucks link. Financial aid and waivers are available to qualifying students (email Saya at swai@davincischools.org).
• Yearbook 2025-2026: Grab your Da Vinci Science student’s yearbook today and keep this year’s highlights alive forever. Reserve Your Piece of DVS History Here. “Enter Da Vinci Site code 19656.”
• Exhibition Night PEP description for sensory sensitivity: 

• • Preview: Exhibition Night is a whole-school event in which each classroom and space will be decorated for presentations and experiences to showcase student work and projects. All classrooms on the DVS floor will be used as well as the atrium 1st floor space where snacks will be available for purchase.
  • Experience: Constant background noise; Large Group >500; Some unpredictability; Voluntary participation; Crowds moving and mingling on the DVS floor; Different levels of sound and music in each room; Varying lighting effects in each room
  • Provided: Quiet Space available in room 2302 in the Math Hub; earplugs available at front desk

Important Upcoming Dates: 

• Friday – Sunday, 3/20-3/22 FRC Los Angeles District Competition
• Tuesday, 3/24 Critical Incident Drill
• Wednesday, 3/25 DVS Exhibition Night
• Thursday – Friday, 3/26-3/27 HOSA Conference
• Monday, 3/30 Local Holiday – No School
• Tuesday-Friday and Monday, 3/31-4/6-Spring Break
• Wednesday, 4/8 DVS Families Coffee Time @ 4:30pm
• Monday, 4/20 and Tuesday, 4/21 11th Grade State Testing 
• Friday, 4/24 CLD Day #4
• DVS Class of 2026 Graduation: Thursday, June 11th @ 5:00 pm (more info. to come)

Helpful Links:

DV/Wiseburn Athletics  

DVS Planning Calendar 25-26

DVS News YouTube Channel

DVS Announcements Slide Deck

Da Vinci Photos Gallery

Highlights from the Week:

Sophomores teach Freshmen all types of factoring!

We are two weeks away from Spring Break, which means Exhibition Night is fast approaching! Please save the date for Wednesday, March 25, 2026 from 5:30–7:30 PM for an evening celebrating the incredible work of our students and the power of project-based learning! This event is open to DVS families, partners, and community members. Bring your family, invite your friends, and come celebrate the amazing work happening at DVS. We can’t wait to see you there!

This Week’s Schedule

This Week’s Announcements

• Attendance Reminder: Daily attendance is vital for student success and school funding, so if your student is absent, please notify the DVS front office via our Absence Reporting Form, phone (310-725-5800), or email to mmunoz@davincischools.org. To recover attendance credit for learning that occurred off-campus, students should complete the DVS 25–26 Short-Term IS Attendance Form using their school Google account. This process can be used for up to 15 days per year (including our 4 Community Learning Days) to protect their attendance record and support school ADA. Please note that this is a supplement for short-term absences and not a substitute for regular in-person attendance.
• Upcoming Emergency Drills: Safety drills have been rescheduled for the month of March for the 201 N. Douglas Street campus. We had our earthquake drill this week and have scheduled a fire drill on 3/16 and a critical incident drill on 3/24. 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 encourage you to talk to your students about safety on campus, at home, and in their community.
• DVS Parent Association Meeting: Please note the updated location of the March DVSPA meeting NEXT WED. Hope to see you there – Next Wed March 18th, 5:30pm at Second Wind Eatery – 747 N Douglas St. Come enjoy the company of other DVS parents while we plan our presence at Exhibition and begin working on Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week.
• Summer Opportunities: Summer is fast approaching, and it’s the perfect time for students to build new skills, gain hands-on experience, and explore their passions! All students should be enrolled in the Real World Learning Canvas course, where updates and opportunities are posted regularly. Within the Canvas page, you’ll find a link to the Spring and Summer Opportunities Document — a curated and vetted list of programs, internships, and workshops organized by category. Don’t wait! Many summer programs applications are due soon.
• Speakers and Headphones Needed: Do you have any unwanted/old/broken speakers or over-ear headphones collecting dust? We would love to take them off your hands for the 9th grade physics classes’ speaker dissections! Drop them off with the DVS front desk or Dr. Taube through Spring Break.
• Spring Opt-in SAT School Day: In order to secure their spot for the Monday, April 27th SAT at DVS, 10th and 11th grade students must do BOTH of the following by Friday, March 27th: 1) Sign-up using this form (Da Vinci Google account required) and 2) Pay $60 at this MySchoolBucks link. Financial aid and waivers are available to qualifying students (email Saya at swai@davincischools.org).
• Yearbook 2025-2026: Grab your Da Vinci Science student’s yearbook today and keep this year’s highlights alive forever. Reserve Your Piece of DVS History Here. “Enter Da Vinci Site code 19656.”

Important Upcoming Dates: 

• Monday, 3/16 Fire Drill
• Wednesday, 3/18 DVS Parent Association Meeting @ 5:30pm at Second Wind Eatery
• Friday, 3/20 PD Day – No school for students
• Friday – Sunday, 3/20-3/22 FRC Los Angeles District Competition
• Tuesday, 3/24 Critical Incident Drill
• Wednesday, 3/25 DVS Exhibition Night
• Thursday – Friday, 3/26-3/27 HOSA Conference
• Monday, 3/30 Cesar Chavez Day Holiday – No School
• Tuesday-Friday and Monday, 3/31-4/6-Spring Break
• Wednesday, 4/8 DVS Families Coffee Time @ 4:30pm
• DVS Class of 2026 Graduation: Thursday, June 11th @ 5:00 pm (more info. to come)

Helpful Links:

DV/Wiseburn Athletics  

DVS Planning Calendar 25-26

DVS News YouTube Channel

DVS Announcements Slide Deck

Da Vinci Photos Gallery

Highlights from the Week:

Wiseburn Da Vinci Performing Arts Into the Woods musical had their last showing on Sunday, 3/8 

PLTW Digital Electronics class field trip to Universal Technical Institute

12th Grade Fulcrum field trip complete with hiking, teambuilding, and ropes courses!

9th Grade University of California, Irvine field trip

10th grade PLTW Principles of Biomedical Science class practicing their micropipetting skills by creating a rainbow and putting it into practice in gel electrophoresis to test a family for disease

Day 1 & 2 of March Madness Basketball Tournament hosted by DVS Leadership

9th grade Physics students learning about simple motors

Society of Women Engineers (SWE) learning from landscape architect Kristen Franz

Advanced Physics students finding the location of a phone’s accelerometer

 

Algebra 2 students teaching Algebra 1 students factoring

Thank you for a great SLC week! We always value the chance to connect with students and families. Whether in person or on Zoom, we appreciated the time spent reflecting on progress and setting goals for the rest of the semester. Whether they express it or not, our students do appreciate having their parents on campus to hear and see all the great work they are doing. Thank you for partnering with us to support every student’s success. 

We will resume with our regular schedule next week.

This Week’s Schedule

 

 

This Week’s Announcements

• Upcoming Emergency Drills: Safety drills have been rescheduled for the month of March for the 201 N. Douglas Street campus. 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 encourage you to talk to your students about safety on campus, at home, and in their community.
• DVS Family Coffee Time: Every first Wednesday of the month, we have “Coffee with the Principal,” where parents, guardians, and students can drop in to ask administration and staff questions and receive updates on school happenings. This week’s DVS Families Coffee Time is this Wednesday, 3/11/26, from 4:30-5:30 using this Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/3108950461. This week’s topic: School Discipline

• DVS Parent Association Meeting: Join fellow DVS Parents at the March DVSPA meeting, Wednesday, March 18th, 5:30pm in the Galileo Room. We will be making plans for a DVS Parents table at Exhibition and Teacher Appreciation Week in early May.
• Speakers and Headphones Needed: Do you have any unwanted/old/broken speakers or over-ear headphones collecting dust? We would love to take them off your hands for the 9th grade physics classes’ speaker dissections! Drop them off with the DVS front desk or Dr. Taube through Spring Break.
• Spring Opt-in SAT School Day: DVS 10th and 11th grade students have the opportunity to take the SAT on campus for a $60 payment on Monday, April 27th, 2026 during the school day. In order to secure their spot, students must do BOTH of the following by Friday, March 27th: 1) Sign-up using this form (Da Vinci Google account required) and 2) Pay $60 at this MySchoolBucks link. Financial aid and waivers are available to qualifying students (email Saya at swai@davincischools.org).
• Yearbook 2025-2026: The months are flying by, and while the school year eventually ends, the memories shouldn’t have to. From the memorable Community Dialogues and Advisory laughs to the energy of spirit days and our DVS sports teams, these are the moments your student will want to look back on years from now. Our 2025-2026 yearbook captures it all—the academics, the friendships, and the unique Da Vinci spirit. Time is running out to secure your copy! Grab your Da Vinci Science student’s yearbook today and keep this year’s highlights alive forever. Reserve Your Piece of DVS History Here. “Enter Da Vinci Site code 19656.”

Important Upcoming Dates: 

• Monday, 3/9 12th Grade Fulcrum Field Trip 
• Monday, 3/9 9th Grade College Field Trip to UC Irvine
• Monday, 3/9 Digital Electronics Field Trip to Universal Technical Institute
• Wednesday, 3/11 DVS Family Coffee (with the principal) 4:30-5:30 Topic: School Discipline
• Thursday, 3/12 Prospective Senior Trip to Santa Monica College
• Wednesday, 3/18 DVS Parent Association Meeting @ 5:30pm in the DVS Galileo Room
• Friday, 3/20 PD Day – No school for students
• Wednesday, 3/25 DVS Exhibition Night
• Monday, 3/30 Cesar Chavez Day Holiday – No School
• Tuesday-Friday and Monday, 3/31-4/6-Spring Break
• DVS Class of 2026 Graduation: Thursday, June 11th @ 5:00 pm (more info. to come)

Helpful Links:

DV/Wiseburn Athletics  

DVS Planning Calendar 25-26

DVS News YouTube Channel

DVS Announcements Slide Deck

Da Vinci Photos Gallery

Highlights from the Week:

Thank you for a great SLC week

Freshmen Physicists learning about electromagnets

Advanced Physics – Flying PIGquiry circular motion lab

We had quite an eventful week! 9th graders had Physical Fitness Testing, 11th graders went on college visits, students and staff had fun with Spirit Week, and the whole school enjoyed celebrating Black History Month together at our CD at the gym. Thank you, Leadership, BSU, and NSBE for doing an amazing job putting together a wonderful CD and giving the whole school an opportunity to honor and celebrate Black history and culture together.  

Next week is SLC week! Please note next week’s early dismissal times: Monday-Thursday at 2:30 pm and Friday at 2:25 pm. SLC week is a great opportunity for students, parents, and staff to connect and to ensure effective planning and goal-setting for the remainder of the semester. We look forward to seeing you there! 

This Week’s Schedule

This Week’s Announcements

• Student-Led Conferences: Spring 2026 Student-Led Conferences (SLCs) are next week, Monday-Thursday, 3/2 – 3/5. The schedule as well as specific instructions for SLCs are shared by grade-level teachers, and are available in this Spring 2026 SLC Plans for Families document. During SLC week, students will be dismissed early at 2:25pm every day.
• Speakers and Headphones Needed: Do you have any unwanted/old/broken speakers or over-ear headphones collecting dust? We would love to take them off your hands for the 9th grade physics classes’ speaker dissections! Drop them off with the DVS front desk or Dr. Taube through Spring Break.
• Community Aviation Day is Saturday, February 28th, 2026 9am-12pm at our 201 N. Douglas Street campus. Meet professionals from aviation and aerospace companies, flight schools, and government and military agencies! There will also be hands-on experiments and crafts for all ages. For more information, visit the website at this link.
• Into the Woods: Spend a few hours in our forest (Blackbox) filled with magic, mystery, and moral twists as we bring this clever, complex, humorous, and moving Tony-Award-winning Broadway Musical with music and lyrics by the celebrated, Stephen Sondheim, and a book by the brilliant, James Lapine, to life. TIX AVAILABLE HERE
• Spring Opt-in SAT School Day: DVS 10th and 11th grade students have the opportunity to take the SAT on campus for a $60 payment on Monday, April 27th, 2026 during the school day. In order to secure their spot, students must do BOTH of the following by Friday, March 27th: 1) Sign-up using this form (Da Vinci Google account required) and 2) Pay $60 at this MySchoolBucks link. Financial aid and waivers are available to qualifying students (email Saya at swai@davincischools.org).
• DVS Parent Association Meeting: Save the Date – Next DVSPA Meeting is Wednesday, March 18th, 5:30pm on campus.
• Yearbook 2025-2026: The months are flying by, and while the school year eventually ends, the memories shouldn’t have to. From the memorable Community Dialogues and Advisory laughs to the energy of spirit days and our DVS sports teams, these are the moments your student will want to look back on years from now. Our 2025-2026 yearbook captures it all—the academics, the friendships, and the unique Da Vinci spirit. Time is running out to secure your copy! Grab your Da Vinci Science student’s yearbook today and keep this year’s highlights alive forever. Reserve Your Piece of DVS History Here. “Enter Da Vinci Site code 19656.”

Important Upcoming Dates: 

• Monday – Thursday, 3/2 – 3/5: Student-Led Conferences
• Wednesday, 3/11 DVS Family Coffee (with the principal) 4:30-5:30 Topic: School Discipline
• Wednesday, 3/18 DVS Parent Association Meeting @ 5:30pm in the DVS Galileo Room
• Friday, 3/20 PD Day – No school for students
• Wednesday, 3/25 DVS Exhibition Night
• Monday, 3/30 Cesar Chavez Day Holiday – No School
• Tuesday-Friday and Monday, 3/31-4/6-Spring Break
• DVS Class of 2026 Graduation: Thursday, June 11th @ 5:00 pm (more info. to come)

Helpful Links:

DV/Wiseburn Athletics  

DVS Planning Calendar 25-26

DVS News YouTube Channel

DVS Announcements Slide Deck

Da Vinci Photos Lin

Highlights from the Week:

Black History Month CD

Last week, DVS Youth and Government Delegation represented at the Sacramento Conference

11th-Grade College visit to Loyola Marymount University

11th-Grade college visit to Pepperdine University

Sophomores having fun learning the chemistry of making slime!

We hope students were able to stay warm during this rainy and chilly week. As we head into a full five-day week next week, we wanted to let you know of a staffing update at our DVS Front Office. Ms. Brittany Alvarez, has a new position and will no longer be at DVS. We will miss Brittany and we are grateful for her service and for her time here time with DVS students and families. We wish her the best in her next chapter!

Ms. Summer Munoz will be stepping into the Front Office Attendance Manage  role, effective Monday, 3/2/2026. Students, parents, and families should now report student absences to Summer (Melissa Munoz): mmunoz@davincischools.org. Summer has been an integral part of our school community and all of our students already know and love her. She is well-positioned for this new role. Thank you, Summer! 

This Week’s Schedule

This Week’s Announcements

• Spirit Week is next week 2/23-27! We are excited to see students and staff participate and show their school spirit. Please remember that all outfits must still follow the school dress code. 
  • • Monday – Country vs. Country Club
    • Tuesday – Rhyme without a Reason
    • Wednesday – Teacher Student Swap
    • Thursday – Black Out (for Black History Month CD)
    • Friday – Wrong Occasion Day
    • Student-Led Conferences: Spring 2026 Student-Led Conferences (SLCs) are Monday-Thursday, 3/2 – 3/5. The schedule as well as specific instructions for SLCs are shared by grade-level teachers, and are available in this Spring 2026 SLC Plans for Families document. During SLC week, students will be dismissed early at 2:25pm every day.
• Speakers and Headphones Needed: Do you have any unwanted/old/broken speakers or over-ear headphones collecting dust? We would love to take them off your hands for the 9th grade physics classes’ speaker dissections! Drop them off with the DVS front desk or Dr. Taube through Spring Break.
• DVS Parent Association
  • Bingo Night: THIS SUNDAY 2/22/26 is DVS Parents Bingo Night – Come finish out the weekend relaxing with other DVS Parents at Five Point Five Brewery playing Bingo and a chance to win VIP reserved parking at DVS Exhibition in March 2026.  Buy your ticket at the door – $10 gets you two bingo cards to play all night.  Hope to see you there!
  • Meeting: Save the Date – Next DVSPA Meeting is Wednesday, March 18th, 5:30pm on campus.

• 9th Grade Physical Fitness Testing: All 9th graders will be taking the PFT on Monday, Feb. 23rd. Please have students come in comfortable clothing and athletic shoes. Please see this PFT letter for more information.  
• Into the Woods: Spend a few hours in our forest (Blackbox) filled with magic, mystery, and moral twists as we bring this clever, complex, humorous, and moving Tony-Award-winning Broadway Musical with music and lyrics by the celebrated, Stephen Sondheim, and a book by the brilliant, James Lapine, to life. TIX AVAILABLE HERE
• Community Aviation Day is Saturday, February 28th, 2026 9am-12pm at our 201 N. Douglas Street campus. Meet professionals from aviation and aerospace companies, flight schools, and government and military agencies! There will also be hands-on experiments and crafts for all ages. For more information, visit the website at this link.
• Spring Opt-in SAT School Day: DVS 10th and 11th grade students have the opportunity to take the SAT on campus for a $60 payment on Monday, April 27th, 2026 during the school day. In order to secure their spot, students must do BOTH of the following by Friday, March 27th: 1) Sign-up using this form (Da Vinci Google account required) and 2) Pay $60 at this MySchoolBucks link. Financial aid and waivers are available to qualifying students (email Saya at swai@davincischools.org).
• Yearbook 2025-2026: The months are flying by, and while the school year eventually ends, the memories shouldn’t have to. From the memorable Community Dialogues and Advisory laughs to the energy of spirit days and our DVS sports teams, these are the moments your student will want to look back on years from now. Our 2025-2026 yearbook captures it all—the academics, the friendships, and the unique Da Vinci spirit. Time is running out to secure your copy! Grab your Da Vinci Science student’s yearbook today and keep this year’s highlights alive forever. Reserve Your Piece of DVS History Here. Enter Da Vinci Site code 19656.

Important Upcoming Dates: 

• Sunday, 2/22 DVS Parent Association Bingo Night @ 5:00pm at Five Point Five Brewery
• Monday – Thursday, 3/2 – 3/5 Student-Led Conferences
• Wednesday, 3/11 DVS Family Coffee (with the principal) 4:30-5:30 Topic: School Discipline
• Wednesday, 3/18 DVS Parent Association Meeting @ 5:30pm in the DVS Galileo Room
• Wednesday, 3/25 DVS Exhibition Night
• DVS Class of 2026 Graduation: Thursday, June 11th @ 5:00 pm (more info. to come)

Helpful Links:

DV/Wiseburn Athletics  

DVS Planning Calendar 25-26

DVS News YouTube Channel

DVS Announcements Slide Deck

Da Vinci Photos Lin

Highlights from the Week:

Water Youth Summit at Metropolitan Water District. Two teams from the CEA pathway (10-12th) – one team focused on public perception and the other team focused on engineering solutions.

Physics class welcomes back. Dr Taube as they begin their “Wind Some and Lose Some” unit on renewable energy