Da Vinci Science

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

We hope students had a productive CLD Day. We will be reviewing CLD attendance forms on Tuesday during Advisory as it is pertinent that all students complete CLD attendance form for credit for this day.

It is a busy weekend–we wish all Y&G students well at their conference in Sacramento and all students attending the Black College Expo in Pasadena. 

Happy Presidents’ Day Holiday Weekend, we have another four-day week this week.  

This Week’s Schedule

This Week’s Announcements

• Student-Led Conferences: Spring 2026 Student-Led Conferences (SLCs) are coming up in a couple of weeks! They will take place from Monday-Thursday, 3/2 – 3/5. The schedule as well as specific instructions for SLCs will be shared by grade-level teachers, and will be updated in this Spring 2026 SLC Plans for Families document. During SLC week, students will be dismissed early at 2:25pm every day.
• Spirit Week is 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
• DVS Parent Association Bingo Night: The 2nd Annual DVS Parents Bingo Night is Sunday, February 22, 2026 from 5-8pm @ Five Point Five Brewery in El Segundo! $10 tickets get you a reservation at a table and two bingo cards for a night of fun and socializing with fellow Da Vinci parents.Bingo Prizes include Reserved VIP Parking to DVS Exhibition on March 25th, DVSPA Merch items, and more!  Proceeds from ticket sales go toward the DVS Advisory Fundraiser which supports the purchase of supplies and activities for advisory classes. Get your tickets now at this link. Send questions to DVS parent Lori at lj.bowk@gmail.com. 
• 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.

Important Upcoming Dates: 

• Monday, 2/16 Presidents’ Day Holiday – No School
• 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, 3/25 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:

Spanish 1 Fashion Show

We hope students enjoyed their PD Day. DVS staff had a productive day of planning, grading, and discussing vertical articulation. We have another four-day week with CLD Day on Friday. 

This Week’s Schedule

This Week’s Announcements

• Community Learning Day #3: The third Community Learning Day (CLD) of the year is this Friday, February 13th! Whether students are learning from home or attending a CLD on-campus workshop that day, ALL students must fill out CLD Attendance Quiz on Canvas for attendance credit. 
• Grade Update: Staff update grades on PD days so grades are up-to-date by the Tuesday of the following week. Tuesday, 2/10 will be the first grade update of the second semester. All coursework and grading information will continue to be through Canvas.
  • Student and Parent/Guardian Canvas Link: https://davincischools.instructure.com
  • Additional Canvas resources are available at the bottom of the Academics page on our blog.
• Parent Advisory Committee Meeting #3: Our third Parent Advisory Committee meeting is next Wednesday, 2/11 4:30-5:30. We will be reviewing safety data and discussing our school safety plan. All DVS families and community members are invited to attend. Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/3108950461.
• Upcoming Safety Drills: The 201 N. Douglas Street campus safety drills that were originally planned for the month of February have been postponed. We will let students and families know when new dates have been determined.
• FREE Cardiac Screening for Youth & Young Adults: Da Vinci Schools, in partnership with Saving Hearts Foundation and UCLA, invites families and community members ages 12-35 to a FREE cardiac screening event on Saturday, February 7, 2026 in the Da Vinci Schools Blackbox Theater. Pre-registration is encouraged (appointments are seen first), but walk-ins are welcome. See more information on this Instagram post.
• UCLA Blood Drive: Da Vinci Science is hosting a blood drive on Tuesday, February 10th. Every donation gets a #10 gift card redeemable at AMC/Regal Theaters, Chipotle, Amazon, Starbucks, Panda Express, Shake Shack, Subway, McDonald’s, or Target! You must be 16 years or older to donate. Please sign up at this link.
• Black College Expo: DVS is going to the Black College Expo on Saturday, February 14th at the Pomona Fairplex! All students are welcome! Space is limited. We will leave DVS at 9am and return around 1:45pm. DVS will pay for student’s entry fee and transportation. If interested in attending, please complete this field trip permission slip. Permission slips are due by Thursday, February 5th at 3:30pm to Ms. Marquez or until all spots are filled.
• DVS Parent Association Bingo Night: The 2nd Annual DVS Parents Bingo Night is Sunday, February 22, 2026 from 5-8pm @ Five Point Five Brewery in El Segundo! $10 tickets get you a reservation at a table and two bingo cards for a night of fun and socializing with fellow Da Vinci parents.Bingo Prizes include Reserved VIP Parking to DVS Exhibition on March 25th, DVSPA Merch items, and more!  Proceeds from ticket sales go toward the DVS Advisory Fundraiser which supports the purchase of supplies and activities for advisory classes. Get your tickets now at this link. Send questions to DVS parent Lori at lj.bowk@gmail.com. 
• 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

Important Upcoming Dates: 

• Tuesday, 2/10 UCLA Blood Drive
• Wednesday, 2/11 Parent Advisory Committee Meeting #3 @ 4:30pm
• Friday, 2/13 Community Learning Day
• Monday, 2/16 Presidents’ Day Holiday – No School
• 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, 3/25 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:

Llama Advisory lunch at Gen on PD Friday

Bright Life Club enjoying the sun at lunch

We had a wonderful Neurodiversity Celebration Week! Students engaged in Neurodiversity lessons during Advisory, discussed that “disability is not a bad word” and “differences are not deficits,” held lunch-and-learn activities, and shared their experiences as students with neurodiverse differences. Thank you, Neurodiversity Committee, for an amazing week of awareness, advocacy, and celebration! 

Next week is a four-day week with PD Day on Friday. 

This Week’s Schedule

This Week’s Announcements

• Community Learning Day #3: The third Community Learning Day (CLD) of the year is coming up on Friday, February 13th! In order to request an on-campus workshop or to indicate that they will be learning off-campus that day, students must use this 2/13 Community Learning Day Workshop Request Form (DV account required) by the February 4th deadline.
• FREE Cardiac Screening for Youth & Young Adults: Da Vinci Schools, in partnership with Saving Hearts Foundation and UCLA, invites families and community members ages 12-35 to a FREE cardiac screening event on Saturday, February 7, 2026 in the Da Vinci Schools Blackbox Theater. Pre-registration is encouraged (appointments are seen first), but walk-ins are welcome. See more information on this Instagram post.

• Upcoming Emergency Drills: The 201 N. Douglas Street campus will be doing a series of planned safety drills during the month of February. 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.
• UCLA Blood Drive: Da Vinci Science is hosting a blood drive on Tuesday, February 10th. Every donation gets a #10 gift card redeemable at AMC/Regal Theaters, Chipotle, Amazon, Starbucks, Panda Express, Shake Shack, Subway, McDonald’s, or Target! You must be 16 years or older to donate. Please sign up at this link.
• Black College Expo: DVS is going to the Black College Expo on Saturday, February 14th at the Pomona Fairplex! All students are welcome! Space is limited. We will leave DVS at 9am and return around 1:45pm. DVS will pay for student’s entry fee and transportation. If interested in attending, please complete this field trip permission slip. Permission slips are due by Thursday, February 5th at 3:30pm to Ms. Marquez or until all spots are filled.
• The Da Vinci Family CFO Training Series: Please join the FREE 6-workshop series hosted by DV Communication’s College Readiness teacher, Christopher Jackson, and designed to help families shift from financial stress to financial clarity. The first workshop is next Thursday, February 5th 6:00-7:00pm at 201 N. Douglas Street in room 3203 on the 3rd floor and is titled “Money Story & CFO Mindset: Identify limiting beliefs and adopt a strategic decision-making framework.” See all the workshop dates and details in this blog post and secure your spot in using this form.
• 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. There will also be various topics for discussion as requested by parents. This week’s DVS Families Coffee Time is this Wednesday, 2/4/26, from 4:30-5:30 using this Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/3108950461. This week’s topic: Teenage Mental Health Resources
• DVS Parent Association Bingo Night: The 2nd Annual DVS Parents Bingo Night is Sunday, February 22, 2026 from 5-8pm @ Five Point Five Brewery in El Segundo! $10 tickets get you a reservation at a table and two bingo cards for a night of fun and socializing with fellow Da Vinci parents.Bingo Prizes include Reserved VIP Parking to DVS Exhibition on March 25th, DVSPA Merch items, and more!  Proceeds from ticket sales go toward the DVS Advisory Fundraiser which supports the purchase of supplies and activities for advisory classes. Get your tickets now at this link. Send questions to DVS parent Lori at lj.bowk@gmail.com. 

Important Upcoming Dates: 

• Wednesday, 2/4 DVS Families Coffee Time Topic: Teenage Mental Health
• Wednesday, 2/4 Earthquake Drill
• Friday, 2/6 Professional Development Day – No School for Students
• Tuesday, 2/12 Fire Drill
• Wednesday, 2/11 Parent Advisory Committee Meeting #3
• Friday, 2/13 Community Learning Day
• Monday, 2/16 Presidents’ Day Holiday – No School
• Tuesday, 2/17 Critical Incident Drill
• Sunday, 2/22 DVS Parents Bingo Night @ 5:00pm at Five Point Five Brewery
• Monday – Thursday, 3/2 – 3/5 Student-Led Conferences
• Wednesday, 3/25 DVS Exhibition Night
• DVS Class of 2026 Graduation: Thursday, June 11th (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:

Neurodiversity Celebration Week

Asian Student Union had a mochitsuki (mochi making) evening to ring in the new year!

A message from Christopher Jackson, College and Career Readiness Teacher at DV Communications:  I am inviting DV families from all campuses to a FREE, 6-workshop series designed to help you shift from financial stress to financial clarity.

Workshop dates and details : Occuring every 3 weeks, on Thursdays from February-May 2026

• Workshop 1 (Feb 5): Money Story & CFO Mindset: Identify limiting beliefs and adopt a strategic decision-making framework
• Workshop 2 (Feb 26): Retirement Planning Essentials: Secure your oxygen mask first (401k, IRA, Roth strategies)
• Workshop 3 (March 19): 529 Mastery: Maximize tax advantages and avoid costly mistakes
• Workshop 4 (April 16): Balancing Priorities: Navigate competing goals with the CFO Decision Filter
• Workshop 5 (May 7): Investment Fundamentals: Demystify investing and match strategies to your timeline
• Workshop 6 (May 21): Personal Financial Roadmap: Create your customized action plan

Time: 6:00-7:30 PM
Location: In person” 201 N. Douglas St. Campus/DVC:3rd floor, Room 3203
Cost: FREE

This series is designed for any Da Vinci parent who wants to take control of their family’s financial future, whether you’re just starting to save or already investing.  You don’t need to attend all 6 workshops, though recommended for maximum impact. Each one builds on the last, but families can join where it makes sense for you.

Seats are limited and registration is required. Click HERE to secure your spot.

Hello DVS families,

On Saturday, February 14th, DVS will take students to the Los Angeles Black College Expo held at Pomona Fairplex.  This field trip is open to ALL DVS students! The Expo will host a variety of colleges: public, private, independent, military, and trade schools. Some colleges will accept seniors for admission, waive college application fees and give away scholarships on the spot! DVS will pay the admission fee as well as provide transportation. We will depart from 201 N. Douglas promptly at 9:00am and return at 1:45pm. Students must bring their own lunch or bring money to purchase food.

We only have a limited number of spots available and spots are on a first-come, first serve basis.

If interested in attending, please complete this field trip permission slip.  Permission slips are due by Thursday, February 5th at 3:30pm to Ms. Marquez or until all spots are filled.

Please reach out to Ms. Marquez, College and Career Counselor, if you have additional questions: fmarquez@davincischools.org 

Thank you for another great week! We truly enjoy seeing students on campus every day, ready to learn and participate. A reminder that attendance is essential for student achievement and for DVS to offer the best educational experience possible.

This Week’s Schedule

This Week’s Announcements

• Class of 2026 Seniors Activities: Senior Activities and the Senior Activities Agreement were shared during CCL class this week. We hope and expect that every senior will be able to participate in Senior Activities. In order to be eligible for Senior Activities, students must abide by the senior activities agreement and have the agreement signed by the student and parent/guardian by Friday, 1/23/26. Please turn in signed agreements to Mr. Perez. Students with chronic absences or tardies will be put on a senior contract. Again, our expectation is that seniors will finish their senior year well and enjoy these activities!
• Parent Association Meeting: The first DVS Parent Association meeting of the second semester is Tuesday, January 27th from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Galileo Room on the DVS floor! Don’t miss this opportunity to meet other DVS parents and guardians and get involved with the upcoming service projects to support your DVS community.

Important Upcoming Dates: 

• Tuesday, 1/27 Parent Association Meeting @ 5:30pm in DVS Galileo Room
• Wednesday, 2/4 DVS Families Coffee Time Topic: Teenage Mental Health
• Friday, 2/6 Professional Development Day – No School for Students
• Wednesday, 2/11 Parent Advisory Committee Meeting #3
• Friday, 2/13 Community Learning Day
• Monday, 2/16 Presidents’ Day Holiday – No School
• Sunday, 2/22 DVS Parents Bingo Night @ 5:00pm at Five Point Five Brewery
• Monday – Thursday, 3/2 – 3/5 Student-Led Conferences
• Wednesday, 3/25 DVS Exhibition Night

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:

Students in Principles of Bio Med showing their understanding of the phases of mitosis with Oreos and sprinkles

We hit the ground running with the first week of Semester 2! New projects, new units, new field trips, it will be a busy and great semester.

During this MLK Jr. holiday weekend, we remember Dr. King’s enduring commitment to equity and compassion. DVS strives to emulate that kindness here at school and in our community. Happy three-day weekend!

This Week’s Schedule 

This Week’s Announcements

• Seminars: The first day of Spring 2025 seminars is Tuesday, 1/20. Most seminars are year-long, so most students were enrolled in the same seminar they had during the fall semester by default. There are some exceptions, however, and students had the opportunity to request a seminar change this past week. There will be an opportunity for students to request seminar changes again once seminars begin. All information is posted on the DVS Student Hub Canvas.
• Honors: According to the honors contracts (see each course’s contract in this document) and schoolwide honors policies, honors is a year-long commitment as all honors programs (except Government and Economics) are designed to be year-long courses for the 2025-2026 school year. Students who opted in to honors last semester will continue with honors this semester.

Important Upcoming Dates: 

• Monday, 1/19 MLK Jr. Day Holiday – No School
• Tuesday, 1/20 1st Day of Seminars for Spring 2026
• Tuesday, 1/27 Parent Association Meeting @ 5:30pm in DVS Galileo Room
• Wednesday, 2/4 DVS Families Coffee Time Topic: Teenage Mental Health
• Friday, 2/6 Professional Development Day – No School for Students
• Wednesday, 2/11 Parent Advisory Committee Meeting #3
• Friday, 2/13 Community Learning Day
• Monday, 2/16 Presidents’ Day Holiday – No School
• Sunday, 2/22 DVS Parents Bingo Night @ 5:00pm at Five Point Five Brewery
• Monday – Thursday, 3/2 – 3/5 Student-Led Conferences
• Wednesday, 3/25 DVS Exhibition Night

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:

The Da Vinnovators and the Da Winnovators placed 5th and 11th for their league and will move on to ILTs in February!