Da Vinci Science

We had another fun and eventful week at DVS! Interact Club partnered with our local Rotary Club to hold a “Pies for Polio for Challenge” to raise funds and awareness for those who may be impacted by this crippling disease. Thank you Interact Club, students, and staff for supporting this event!

Many seniors also participated in the Cal Poly SLO field trip this past Friday where students visited the campus and took tours from current SLO faculty and students. DVS students also enjoyed meeting up and seeking college advice from past DVS alumni. It was a great opportunity to learn about college life and explore possible interests for their future.

• Fall Surveys- Thank you to those who have already filled the fall survey out. If you have not done so already, please take a few minutes to provide your feedback. We’d love to hear from parents and students!

• • Fall Parent/Guardian Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/dv_parent_survey_fall22 
  • Student Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/dv_student_survey_fall22

 

• Spirit Week is this week! Hope the students enjoy and have fun promoting a safe, fun, and welcoming school culture. 

• Meal Applications– We need every family to complete a federal Meal Application by October 31st to maximize funding for ALL Da Vinci students.

• • Please fill out the application online at MySchoolApps.com. Only complete one application per family. This information will not be shared or utilized for any other purpose.
  • Based on your circumstances, your family may qualify for P-EBT food benefits, low-cost internet access, utilities assistance, fee waivers for college applications, SAT/ACT and Subject Test fee waivers, scholarships, and more
  • If you need assistance, please contact Sara at meals@davincischools.org or visit www.davincischools.org/meals

• Semi-Formal Dance- Saturday, 11/5, 6:00-9:00 pm Tickets can be purchased through myschoolbucks.com
  • Dance contract is required; submit the contract to Kat.
  • Only current DV students can attend the dance

• Parent Office Hours: Parent Office Hours with administration (Grace & Saya)  will be held every even week. Since it is Week 12, we will be meeting at this zoom link this Thursday, September 3rd from 4:30-5:30. This will be a casual time of updating, chatting, and Q&A.

Important Upcoming Dates: 

• 11/5, Seminformal Dance
• 11/11, Friday: No School – Veterans Day Holiday
• 11/10, Thursday: Exhibition Night (grades 10th, 12th, & Spanish Dept.)
• 11/21-11/25, Monday-Friday: No School – Thanksgiving Break
• 12/8-12/15, Thursday-Thursday: Presentations of Learning
• 12/15, Thursday: Last day of Semester 1
• 12/16, Friday: Professional Development Day, No School
• 12/19-1/6: Winter Break 
• School Calendar Link
  

Week 12 Schedule: 

 

Some fun memories from this week:

Hello Da Vinci Scholars and Families,

Check out the new RWL opportunities below:

For students interested in journalism, podcasting, photography, or video:
The LA Times is offering 10 weeks of intensive, hands-on internship experiences. They’re placing interns throughout the departments of the Los Angeles Times:

Metro/Local
Entertainment and Arts
Sports
Politics
Business
Features/Lifestyle (Fashion, Food, Travel, Home Design, Plants)
Foreign/National
Editorial Pages/Op-Ed
Photography
Video
Data and Graphics
Design
Digital/Engagement
Podcasting

These are paid internships and placements usually run from June to late August. They are also offering spring internships for Southern California students. The application for the 2023 Spring or Summer Internship Programs is open. The deadline to apply is November 15. Click here to apply. Applicants for spring will receive email notification of the committee’s decision by Feb 1, 2023. Summer internship applicants will be informed by March 1, 2023.

For students interested in art: 
The Vigilant Love Solidarity Arts Fellowship is a six-month program for Japanese & Muslim American young adults between ages 18 and 25 who have the desire to build meaningful & transformative relationships, experience multi-disciplinary arts & healing justice practices, and organize to resist Islamophobia & white supremacy. Fellows will gain access to facilitation, training, and mentorship from long-time, experienced leaders and artists from Muslim, Japanese, Black, Indigenous, and POC communities. All interested applicants must submit their responses by Sunday, December 4th, 2022. Click here to apply.

For students interested in science and engineering: 
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program places high school students in Department of Navy (DoN) laboratories where they take part in real Naval research for 8 weeks during the summer. SEAP is open to sophomores, juniors and seniors interested in STEM and have the opportunity to learn about Naval research and technology while receiving first-class mentoring by top scientists and engineers. SEAP is a competitive program with around 300 placements in more than 30 labs around the country. Interns are selected based upon academic achievement, personal statements, recommendations, and career and research interests. Click here to learn more. Click here to apply. Applications close November 2.

 

Da Vinci Families – We need your help!

Both the state and federal government require Da Vinci to report the number of students each year who qualify for free and reduced meals. Although meals are currently being provided to all students free of charge, Da Vinci’s percentage of students who qualify for free and reduced meals greatly impacts the amount of additional funding Da Vinci can receive.

Da Vinci is so close to qualifying for additional funding… Even a small increase in eligible forms collected results in significantly more money for ALL students.

We need every family to complete a federal Meal Application by October 31st to maximize funding for ALL Da Vinci students.

Please fill out the application online at MySchoolApps.com. Only complete one application per family. This information will not be shared or utilized for any other purpose.

Based on your circumstances, your family may qualify for P-EBT food benefits, low-cost internet access, utilities assistance, fee waivers for college applications, SAT/ACT and Subject Test fee waivers, scholarships, and more!

Don’t delay — you may be eligible for significant savings while helping Da Vinci maximize funding for ALL students.

Please complete a meal application no later than Oct. 31st at MySchoolApps.com. We thank you!

If you need assistance, please contact Sara at meals@davincischools.org or visit www.davincischools.org/meals.

Thank you, students, parents, families, and teachers for a wonderful SLC week! We always enjoy having the opportunity to communicate, connect, and celebrate students’ progress and learning. We also need collaboration and teamwork to support and guide students to success- thank you!

We resume our regular schedule for Week 11, along with college visits.

• Fall Parent Surveys– your feedback is very important to us! If you have not done so already, please complete the Parent/Guardian Survey Fall 2022:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/dv_parent_survey_fall22
• Canvas Support- if students or parents need support with Canvas, please contact IT at studentsupport@davincischools.org 
• Spirit Week is coming up Week 12: 10/31-11/4  

• Semi-formal Dance– “A Night to Remember” will be held November 5th from 6:00-9:00. Tickets are available at myschoolbucks.com

Important Upcoming Dates:

• 11/1, Friday: No School – Veterans Day Holiday
• 11/5, Seminformal Dance
• 11/10, Thursday: Exhibition Night (grades 10th, 12th, & Spanish Dept.)
• 11/21-11/25, Monday-Friday: No School – Thanksgiving Break
• 12/8-12/15, Thursday-Thursday: Presentations of Learning
• 12/15, Thursday: Last day of Semester 1
• 12/16, Friday: Professional Development Day, No School
• 12/19-1/6: Winter Break 
• School Calendar Link

Week 11 Schedule: 

Hello Da Vinci Scholars and Families,

Check out the new RWL opportunities below:

For students interested in sports, hospitality, and fitness:
Bay Club is offering a 12-week course that exposes students to different areas of the Bay Club business while providing valuable experience to those interested in a career in hospitality, sports, fitness, and more. The course runs from Monday, October 24-Saturday, December 31, 2022. For more information and to attend a career fair, fill out this form today.

For students interested in music:
The Music Foundation is offering virtual modules for young people who are exploring careers in the music industry. Check out their sessions here. 

For students interested in exploring different careers:
Kollab Youth will be launching its Winter Cohort Virtual Workforce Development Program for Teens 13-19.  This program will start January 16, 2023, and helps youth to explore different career industries every week like Technology, Entertainment, Food Science, Money Management, Mental Health, Construction, Carpentry, and more! Participating companies include Kaiser Permanente and Target.  Virtual classes are held every Wednesday and Thursday at 4:15 pm. Students are eligible for field trips, jobs, and internships after they complete the 9-week program. Low-income youth are encouraged to apply. To apply, click here.

For students interested in film:
Applications are open now for the Fresh Films Weekly Filmmaking Program! Join the Film Crew and make movies every Thursday starting October 27! The program is 100% FREE and no experience is necessary! Space is limited so APPLY NOW! Registration ends October 20! Virtual options are also available. In-person classes are held at the Boys and Girls Club at Los Angeles Harbor. 

For students interested in video games, art, production, music, and journalism:
Women in Games offers a free digital-only event on Discord on October 26th – 28th. Students will see industry professionals including a few well-known faces who will drop into a Discord channel to take part in roundtables. Professionals will advise students on pathways into video games, review portfolios and share insight into what they do. There will also be a series of keynote speakers, who will join a line-up of programmers, artists, producers, musicians, journalists, voice actors and many more for three days of expert advice. Students can sign-up for free right here.

We are excited to announce that Marissa Crook has been named Athletics Director of the Wiseburn Da Vinci Athletics program. Marissa assumed her duties last week.

For the past 12 years Marissa has worked to create and improve Physical Education and Athletic programs at the schools she has served. Marissa brings experience in building athletic teams and programs from the ground floor as an inaugural coach and athletic director. As a former high school and college athlete, Marissa has a passion for providing students with opportunities to thrive in both their academic and athletic endeavors.

Marissa’s focus is on building a positive and respectful culture of athletics whose members represent our schools and the WDV Athletics program with pride. “I am excited to be part of Da Vinci Schools and to serve in the Wolves’ Athletic Program. I hope to see many student leaders and athletes engaged in the community as exceptional ambassadors of the spirit and dedication of Da Vinci Schools and Athletics.”

Marissa is coming at an exciting time for Wiseburn Da Vinci Athletics which moved to the Pioneer League this school year. The new league benefits our student-athletes by providing a more competitive experience, more consistent game schedules, additional team levels, shorter travel times, and more.

Marissa earned her Bachelor’s in Kinesiology-Physical Education from Cal State Northridge, a teaching credential from Cal State Bakersfield, and a Master’s in Kinesiology from Fresno Pacific University.

Marissa was selected from a pool of 146 candidates. The top three candidates were interviewed by a joint Wiseburn Da Vinci Interview Panel composed of Wiseburn and Da Vinci administrators, Wiseburn community members who are parents with students attending both Wiseburn and Da Vinci schools, student-athletes, and coaches. We are deeply grateful to our panel members, as well as to Wiseburn Superintendent Dr. Blake Silvers for his athletic director expertise and for helping us through this process. We also wish to express our gratitude to Tori Grafeman, WDV Assistant Athletics Director, who did a wonderful job in her role and continues to be a highly valued member of the Da Vinci organization.

Marissa can be reached at mcrook@davincischools.org. Welcome to the pack Marissa! Go Wolves!

For the latest Athletics news and announcements, subscribe to our new WDV Athletics blog at athletics.davincischools.org.

 

Hope all students enjoyed the short week and had a nice two days off. We had two great of professional development. DVS teachers and staff attended and presented at the Transforming Learning Conference hosted by the Da Vinci Institute. There were many sessions and discussions around best, innovative practices in order to guide students to successful post-high school lives. We always appreciate learning from our industry partners!

• SLC Week is this Week 10. Oct. 17-21. During SLC week, Monday dismissal will be at 2:55, and Tuesday-Friday Dismissal will be at 2:25. Students should know their SLC times. If not, please see Grade Level communications for specific SLC times and links below:
  • 9th grade 
  • 10th grade
  • 11th grade
  • 12th grade
• Please note, due to SLC week, there will be no college visits this week. 
• Fall Survey for Parents – your feedback, thoughts, and perspective are valuable to us. Please fill out the Parent Fall Survey so we can gather this valuable data. Thank you!
• Parent Office Hours with Grace: Parent Office Hours with administration will be held every even week. Since it is Week 10, we will be meeting at this zoom link this Thursday, October 20th from 4:30-5:30. This will be a casual time of updating, chatting, and Q&A.
• Semi-formal Dance– “A Night to Remember” Will be held November 5th from 6:00-9:00. This will be an all schools event in the backyard. Ticket information to follow from the Student Leadership Team.

Upcoming Events and Important Dates:

• 10/17-10/29, Monday – Thursday: Student-Led Conferences

• 11/11, Friday: No School – Veterans Day Holiday
• 11/5, Semi-formal Dance
• 11/10, Thursday: Exhibition Night (grades 10th, 12th, & Spanish Dept.)
• 11/21-11/25, Monday-Friday: No School – Thanksgiving Break
• 12/8-12/15, Thursday-Thursday: Presentations of Learning
• 12/15, Thursday: Last day of Semester 1
• 12/16, Friday: Professional Development Day, No School
• 12/19-1/6: Winter Break 
• School Calendar Link

Week 10 Schedule: 

Seniors Families!  We encourage you to attend the Cash for College event hosted by El Camino College this Saturday, October 15 from 10am-12pm. This FREE event is for seniors and their families to receive help completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act (CADAA) and Chafee Grant for Foster Youth applications.

All students and families are welcome and you do not have to be a current or future El Camino College to attend.  See flyer below for details

 

FREE FOOD PROVIDED BY IN-N-OUT!

 

Thank you to all Da Vincians who joined us on Thursday 10/6 for our Financial Aid Workshop for Senior Families.  In this workshop, we provided a general overview and explanation of the federal student financial aid process. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) were explained along with grants, federal loans and scholarships.  The session was recorded and can be found HERE

Important Reminders and Resources on Financial Aid:

• The FAFSA opened on October 1^stand is due March 2^nd for CSUs, UCs, and California Community Colleges. The FAFSA deadlines for private and out-of-state universities vary.  Please check their respective websites for financial aid deadlines. We encourage you to apply early!  Here is a helpful overview of the FAFSA and the documents needed to complete the application. 

 

• To complete and sign a FAFSA electronically, both the student and the parent need an FSA ID.  CLICK HERE for information/a helpful video on creating an FSA ID.

 

• If you are applying to a private college, you many need to complete the FAFSA and the CSS Profile.  The CSS Profile is used to assess the student for institutional aid, which may include merit-based aid.  Here is a list of colleges that requires the CSS Profile.

 

• If you are an undocumented student, you may be eligible for the state aid and institutional aid.   Please complete the DREAM Act Applicationto apply for these funds. Please connect with your counselor if you need support with this process.

 

• If you are or were a foster youth, you may qualify for the CHAFEE Grant. Please connect with your counselor if you need support with this process.

 

If you have any questions, please connect with Ms. Marquez, College Counselor : fmarquez@davincischools.org

 

Hello DVS Family, I hope you had a great weekend and are ready for a great (short) week!  We have an addition to the College Visits (UCLA Ambassadors), scheduled for tomorrow:

Tuesday, 10/11 at 8am: UCLA Ambassadors: Come hear from a current UCLA student discuss their college experience, review general parts of the UC application, and dive into some specific details about UCLA’s admission process.  There will be time for student questions at the end.

Tuesday, 10/11 at Lunch: NewU University

Wednesday, 10/12 at Lunch (1:15pm): Simmons University

All meetings are held in Mr. Perez’s room and all grade levels are welcome.

 

Enjoy your week!