Archive for April 30, 2023

Week 33 Schedule

We had a great, busy, and fun week last week. Juniors buckled down to take part in state testing on Tuesday and Wednesday, then refreshed with team and character-building activities with Fulcrum on Thursday, and then many students went on field trips to consider post-high school plans. We visited El Camino College, Cal Poly (SLO), and NACAC to learn about possibilities and to have career pathway experiences. 

Week 33 is a short week with Friday, 5/5 being a PD Day (students no school), and in the evening, Prom at the Proud Bird! 

  • Monday, May 1st is Decision Day! We will be celebrating seniors and their post-high school plans. Students are encouraged to wear college or career gear that represents their post-high school plans or goals. We will be celebrating the seniors in the Black Box during 1st period.
  • National Teacher Appreciation Week is May 8-12th. If you are interested in coordinating or helping out with providing breakfast or lunch for staff this week, please let Liz know at ediaz@davincischools.org. If you are able, we are also grateful for any gift cards to be used as prizes and purchasing of supplies for staff appreciation week (no obligation, completely voluntary). You can give e-card gifts to dvsappreciation@gmail.com or drop off gift cards at the front office. Thank you in advance for your support! We are going to celebrate our teachers with a Movie Theme — and our teachers are the stars of the show! Here are some ideas to give our teachers and staff the “royal treatment” this week:  
    • Monday, May 8th: Fan Mail– Shower your teachers with fan mail! Write a note or card with written words of why you are a fan of them.
    • Tuesday, May 9th:  Selfie and Autographs Day- ask your teachers for their autographs and get a selfie with them. Email the pic to that person. 
    • Wednesday, May 10th: Sweet Movie Treats- Offer a sweet treat for a teacher (boxed candies like at the movies, red vines, etc).
    • Thursday, May 11th: Salty Movie Snacks – Bring a salty snack for a teacher (their favorite popcorn, chips, etc.)
    • Friday, May 12th: Oscar Awards– Award your teacher with something that you enjoy and share with them why you enjoy it! 
  • “Ghosted” Kaiser Play and Workshop: 9th grade students will be participating in a two-part mental health and resilience program provided through Kaiser Permanente’s Thriving School Resilience in Schools Environment (RISE) initiative. They will be audience members for a play called “Ghosted” on Wednesday, May 3rd and will participate in a virtual workshop on Thursday, May 4th. Find out more about “Ghosted” and RISE here.
  • Parent Office Hours: We will have parent office hours on Thursday, 5/4 at 4:30 pm at this zoom link. Please join us for any questions or updates, or just to chat! 
  • Prom is this Friday, May 5th at 6:00 at the Proud Bird. Contact Kat Ramos at kramos@davincischools.org. We look forward to having a fun and safe evening event.

Week 33 Schedule

Da Vinci Science students were greeted by Cal Pol President Armstrong

El Camino College Visit 

Important Upcoming Dates:

  • Wednesday, 5/3: “Ghosted” Kaiser Play for 9th grade
  • Thursday, 5/4: Kaiser Virtual Workshop for 9th grade
  • Thursday, 5/4: Parent Office Hours on Zoom at this link at 4:30pm
  • Friday, 5/5: PD Day, Prom at 6:00pm
  • Thursday, 5/11: Senior Awards Night
  • Thursday, 5/18: School Site Council Meeting #4
  • Thursday, 6/8: DVS Graduation at 5:00pm
  • Summer School (for credit recovery): Session 1: June 13-June 30, Session 2: July 11-July 27
  • School Calendar Link
  • First Day of School for 23-24 school year will be August, 14th. 

 

 

TIME SENSITIVE: Snap Lens Lab @ Otis College – Summer Scholarship

For a second year, Otis College of Art and Design and Snap are partnering on Snap Lens Lab @ Otis College, a groundbreaking two-week, fully funded, Augmented Reality (AR) workshop. Otis and Snap are teaming up to bring high school students in LA County from underserved communities an exciting hands-on learning lab, giving them the chance to combine the power of AR, 2D and 3D industry-standard design tools, and their own creativity to develop dynamic interactive experiences. Students will also connect with industry professionals to learn about potential careers in art and design that focus on these new technologies.

FIND OUT MORE TONIGHT! A Virtual Info Session on Zoom is being held on Tuesday, April 25th from 6:00 – 7:15 p.m. PDT. Interested students, their families, art educators, and counselors are invited to join our team, including a representative from Snap, Otis College faculty, and me, to learn program details and ask questions. RSVP here.

Quick Facts 

  • This Snap x Otis program is geared toward high school students in LA County from underserved communities, and 15 full scholarships are available.
  • Snap Lens Lab @ Otis College runs Monday through Friday, July 17th-28th, 2023 from 9am-4pm.
  • This simple application is due on May 15, so don’t delay! No portfolio required, but be sure to think thoughtfully about the questions, so we get a true sense of the student. Students can submit their application to be considered here.
  • No prior experience or skills are required to participate in this program!

More information about the program can be found at: https://www.otis.edu/snap-lens-lab-otis-college

Have questions? Please contact Crissel Rodriguez, Director of Real World Learning, at crodriguez@davincischools.org.

Click here to see other Real World Learning opportunities.

Week 32 Schedule

We had another great week here at DVS! Time is flying by as we are already heading into week 32! We are very proud of our students for still learning well. They are engaged in heart dissections, moot court debates, fashion shows in Spanish, and more! We also wish our Robotics team well in Houston. They are having a great time at the FRC World Championships in Houston. Team 4201 is doing very well and is currently ranked 9th. “Takeoff” (the name of the Robot) looks smooth and zippy out there! Here’s the link to the competition if you would like to keep up with the action this weekend: https://www.thebluealliance.com/team/4201.

  •  FYI this Welcome Incoming Families email was sent out to new families – welcome to DVS Class of 2027!
  • Administrative Professionals Day is Wednesday, April 26th. We are grateful for our front office staff, Liz Diaz, Brittany Alvarez, and Summer Munoz.
  • National Teacher Appreciation Week is May 8-12th. If you are interested in coordinating or helping out with providing breakfast or lunch for staff this week, please let Liz know at ediaz@davincischools.org. If you are able, we are also grateful for any gift card donations to be used as prizes and purchasing of supplies for staff appreciation week (no obligation, completely voluntary). You can make ecard donations to dvsappreciation@gmail.com or drop off gift card donations to the front office. Thank you in advance for your support! 
  • A message from the Wiseburn Education Foundation: Wiseburn Education Foundation’s Rock Around the Block, coming up on April 29th at Dana Middle School. Did you know that WEF runs a Rock Around the Block silent auction, which is live right now? You can log on to WEF’s auction website at bit.ly/RABAuction2023 to view and bid on items such as restaurant gift cards, summer camps, museum tickets, and more! You also will not want to miss the “School Packages” category, which has items such as front-row seats for graduations and end-of-the-year concerts, principal for a day, and special experiences with your student’s favorite teachers. Bidding on items in this auction is an easy way to support WEF, because 100% of winning bids will go right back to our schools, teachers, and students. The auction ends on Saturday, April 29th at 9pm, so don’t miss out!
  • 11th grade- next week is a busy week, especially for our juniors! 11th-grade students have state testing followed by a team-building Fulcrum Day and then a field trip to Cal Poly SLO College Visit or National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). We hope these experiences will be positive and helpful to their learning journey

Week 32 Schedule

Important Upcoming Dates:

  • FRC Robotics World Championships in Houston: 4/19-4/23
  • Tuesday and Wednesday, 4/25 and 4/26: 11th Grade State (SBAC) Testing
  • Thursday, 4/27: 11th Grade Fulcrum Day
  • Friday, 4/28: 11th Grade NACAC Field Trip, Cal Poly SLO Pathways Fieldtrip
  • Friday, 5/5: PD Day, Prom at 6:00pm
  • Thursday, 5/11: Senior Awards Night 
  • DVS Graduation: Thursday, June 8th at 5:00pm
  • Summer School (for credit recovery): Session 1: June 13-June 30, Session 2: July 11-July 27
  • School Calendar Link

Have a wonderful weekend!

11th Grade: Individual Post-DVS Planning Meeting with Parent/Guardian Sign-ups

Hello Junior Families,

I hope you had a fantastic weekend!  The Individual Post-DVS Planning Meeting for Juniors and their parent/guardian will begin May 9th and run through POL Week. The purpose of these meeting to discuss next year’s plan; including the college application process, career selection and post-high school plans.  Every Junior is expected to schedule a meeting and have at least one parent/guardian present. This meeting can be in person or via Zoom.  These meetings can also be conducted in Spanish if needed.  Mrs. Valle, Academic Counselor for the 11th grade, and I will provide classroom presentations on 4/24/23 to prepare students for this meeting. I will post a video and slide of that  presentation on Canvas for those of you who are not at school that day.

 

Please sign up for your meeting here 

Here is a short video with an overview of the meeting agenda.

If you have any questions, please reach out to me directly.  I look forward to meeting with each of you to discuss your Post-DVS Plans!

 

Ms. Marquez

fmarquez@davincischools.org

College Counselor

LADWP Women’s Career & Wellness Expo – Saturday, May 6, 2023

LADWP Women’s Career & Wellness Expo

When: Saturday, May 6, 2023
10am to 2pm

Where: LADWP Truesdale Training Center
11760 Truesdale Street,
Sun Valley, CA 91352

At LADWP, we embrace diversity, support wellness,
and offer you the chance to live out your values in the
workplace. Come and learn about where a career with
LADWP can take you, and much more.

At the Expo, you’ll have access to:

  • Information about skilled craft and professional
    careers in construction, electrical, engineering,
    fleet, IT, facilities, security, and water
  • Demos and hands-on activities
  • Exercise workouts, meal prep demos
    and healthcare info
  • Free food and beverages
  • Free giveaways

Week 31 Schedule

It was great to welcome everyone back from Spring Break this week!

10th-grade students started off their week with fun, team-building activities led by Fulcrum staff. The day culminated with a boat build and race in the pool. Many memorable moments were captured (PC: Stacee Liana)!

  • Wiseburn Education Foundation’s Rock Around the Block is April 29th (9:30am-2:30pm)! Get a jump ahead by purchasing your food and tickets for the day. While you are planning your day, please consider volunteering for a shift. There is something for everyone! We all know that volunteers help an event run smoothly and we all want to ensure the best possible day for everyone. The links to presale tickets and volunteer sign-up can be found at www.bit.ly/WEF2023RAB.
  • Since April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, we will be reviewing and reiterating the importance of consent and how to be an active bystander in next Friday’s Advisory class (4/21). Students will also be provided with resources to access support for themselves or for another student. Please feel free to reach out to Saya Wai, DVS Dean of Students, at swai@davincischools.org with questions or concerns.
  • Parent Office Hours: We will have parent office hours on Thursday, 4/20 at 4:30 pm at this zoom link.
  • The Reaction Research Society has invited Da Vinci Students to their 80th Anniversary Rocket and Space Symposium that is held Saturday, April 15th from 8:00-5:00. See flyer for details. Here is the link for free tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rrs-80th-anniversary-rocket-and-space-symposium-2023-tickets-573646280467 
  • State Testing is fast approaching for 11th-grade students. Please see this SBAC notification to parents
  • Senior Activities Fundraising– we are continuing our efforts to support our seniors in their senior activities. If you are able to support this, please do so through MySchoolBucks. 

 

10th Grade Fulcrum Day:

 

Important Upcoming Dates:

  • Monday, 4/17: Senior Beach Day
  • FRC Robotics World Championships in Houston
  • Tuesday and Wednesday, 4/25 and 4/26: 11th Grade State (SBAC) Testing
  • Thursday, 4/27: 11th Grade Fulcrum Day
  • Friday, 4/28: 11th Grade NACAC Field Trip, Cal Poly SLO Pathways Fieldtrip
  • Friday, 5/5: PD Day, Prom at 6:00pm
  • Thursday, 5/11: Senior Awards Night 
  • DVS Graduation: Thursday, June 8th at 5:00pm
  • Summer School (for credit recovery): Session 1: June 13-June 30, Session 2: July 11-July 27
  • School Calendar Link

Da Vinci Extension Information Session – Thursday, April 20 at 6:30PM

Dear Da Vinci 12th Grade Families,

We wish to invite you to an information session next week to learn more about changes to our Da Vinci Extension (DVX) program and an exciting new partnership with Rivet School.

As many of you know, DVX has evolved considerably since it was established in 2015. Each year, we’ve iterated programming based on a variety of factors, but always with students at the center of our decision making. Over the last few months, we have been actively exploring what the next evolution of our DVX program should be. After much discussion and engagement at all levels, from teachers and staff to counselors and leadership, we have decided to focus our efforts on a more streamlined, single program offering with Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) and our new partners at Rivet School. Click here for more info.

WEF’s Annual Rock Around the Block – April 29th

Mark your calendars for April 29th, 9:30am-2:30pm, because WEF’s Rock Around the Block is almost here! Get a jump on our community’s most anticipated event by already purchasing your food and tickets for the day. While you are planning your day, please consider volunteering for a shift. There is something for everyone!

This is a family event to fundraise for arts education, healthy lifestyle programs, teacher grants, and STEM activities in the Wiseburn Unified School District. This fun-filled day includes amusement rides, games, giveaways, a silent auction, prize booths, and musical performances by the Wiseburn and Da Vinci music programs. The links to presale tickets and food can be found here here.

For more information, contact Michelle Legaspi, Community Relations of Wiseburn Education Foundation, at michelle@wiseburnedfoundation.org.

Johnstone Scholarship Application for Class of 2023!

Hello Seniors! The 5th annual Johnstone Scholarship application is now open for Da Vinci seniors to apply!   Through the Wiseburn Education Foundation, Dr. Tom and Terry Johnstone have established a scholarship to help five Da Vinci seniors (one from each DV school site) get a little head start with their freshman year of college. Dr. Johnstone was the superintendent in Wiseburn for many years and played a significant role in envisioning and actualizing the high school.  With his support, Wiseburn Education Foundation is honored to be able to offer scholarships to high school seniors.

Applications are due Thursday April 28th, by midnight. The application link is below.

bit.ly/JohnstoneScholarship2023

Become a Youth Board Representative for The Del Aire Neighborhood Association – Apply by 4/19!

Future Youth Leaders,

The Del Aire Neighborhood Association (DNA)  is looking for 1-2 high-school student leaders who want to serve as YOUTH BOARD REPRESENTATIVES who can help the organization grow, plan community events, and advocate for neighborhood improvements like the Greenway! You can find the application here – apply by April 19th.

Application requirements:

  • Must be a Del Aire resident
  • Must be able to commit to serving for 2 years. (so, ideally, incoming  freshmen,  sophomores and Juniors should apply.

This is a great opportunity for students to participate on the Board and provide a forum to learn about local government and help shape the community.

For more information, please contact Jessica Nolan Daugherty, President of the Del Aire Neighborhood Association at 714-390-6301.

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