Archive for September 29, 2023

Week 7 Wrap-up & Week 8 Preview

There is always a lot happening at DVS so we thank you for reading these long blog posts and hope you find the information helpful. 

We had a great turnout for our college planning meetings. Thank you to all the students and families who came to attend, and a big shout out to our school counselors for providing such valuable information and resources. The slides from the college planning meetings are posted on the blog under resources.

Announcements for Week 8 (10/2-10/6)

  • DVS Families Coffee Time: Our second DVS Families Coffee Time is this coming Wednesday, October 4th from 4:15-5:15. This will be an in-person in the DVS Galileo Room. The purpose of this time is to build connection, community, and communication about what’s happening at DVS!  We hope to have parents and students from all grade levels.  
  • Student Led Conferences will be held Week 10, 10/16-10/19. Please be on the lookout for SLC times and information pushed out by Grade Level teachers. 
  • Parent Advisory Committee (PAC): The Parent Advisory Committee replaces the School Site Council (SSC) but serves a similar purpose. If you are interested in participating in the Parent Advisory Committee, please complete this interest form. PAC is an opportunity for parents, students, & staff to work collaboratively to:
    • review the school program,
    • review data and identify needs, &
    • make recommendations regarding the School Safety Plan & the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP). 
  • DVS Exhibition Night will be held in the Spring on March 26th for all grades, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th. This year, we are opting to have the whole school together on one night.
  • Physicists and Female Engineer Guest Speakers Wanted: The DVS Advanced Physics class and Society of Women Engineers (SWE) is looking for parents/guardians to be guest speakers. If you are a female engineer or have a career related to physics, please email Dr. Jamie Taube at jtaube@davincischools.org
  • 12th Grade College Planning Meeting: Our counselors and College Career and Life teacher will be hosting a 12th grade college planning meeting on Thursday, October 5th from 5:30-6:30pm on the DVS floor. All DVS students and families are invited to attend!
  • DVS Parent/Teacher/Student Organization (PTSO): If you are interested in being a part of the DVS PTSO, please fill out this interest form. The DVS PTSO is a newly formed parent group designed to help support a positive school culture by supporting and planning school events and supporting grade level teachers. We are looking for parent support for all grade levels, Class of 2024, Class of 2025, Class of 2026, and Class of 2027.  
  • SAT/PSAT School Day: Wednesday, October 11th is SAT/PSAT School Day at Da Vinci Science. All DVS students will be taking the PSAT or SAT on the Da Vinci Science campus on this day. Students received more information about the PSAT or SAT during Targeted Support on Wednesday, 9/27 and additional preparatory materials were posted on Canvas. 
  • Student Photos: are now available! Thank you to our amazing photographer, Stacee Lianna. Photos have been uploaded to SmugMug for families. Everything is available for purchase here: https://staceelianna.smugmug.com/DaVinciSchools/DVS-Picture-Day-2023 
  • School Dance: Phantom Formal will be held Friday, October 13th! The event will be with all DV Schools and will take place on campus. 6:00-9:00pm. Tickets can be purchased through My School Bucks here.

Week 8 Schedule (10/2-10/6):

Important Upcoming Dates:

  • Monday, 10/2: 12th Grade College Field Trip to UCLA or UC Irvine
  • Wednesday, 10/4: DVS Families Coffee Time 4:15-5:15 pm
  • Wednesday, 10/11: SAT/PSAT School Day 
  • Friday, 10/13: School Dance, Phantom Formal
  • Friday, 10/13: PD Day, No School for students
  • Monday-Thursday, 10/16-10:19: Student Led Conferences
  • Thursday, 11/9: No School for Students, PD Day
  • Friday, 11/10: No School, Veterans Day

 

Pickleball Seminar:

Fabrication Lab Seminar:

College Info. Session:

 

College Planning Information Sessions Presentation Slides

Hello DVS Families and happy Friday!

We appreciate all the students and families that attending their grade level College Planning Information Session this week. Below are the presentation slides for each grade level.

 

9th Grade Presentation Slides

10th Grade Presentation Slides

11th Grade Presentation Slides

 

Senior Families: Please join us next week, Thursday, October 5th from 5:30-6:30pm for the 12th Grade College Planning Information Session.  This meeting will be held at the DVS Campus.  Come learn about applying for federal and state financial aid/scholarships, the details of the college application process, letters of recommendation and our senior course College, Career and Life.  All seniors and their families are welcome!

 

Have a great weekend!

The DVS Counseling Team

 

Ms. Valle

Academic and Wellness Counselor (C/O 2024 and 2026)

cvalle@davincischools.org 

 

Ms. Ruiz

Academic and Wellness Counselor (C/O 2025 and 2027)

cruiz@davincischools.org

 

Ms. Marquez

College and Career  Counselor (Grades 9th-12th)

fmarquez@davincischools.org

Announcements From Real World Learning Director (9.29.2023)

10th Annual Mars Rover & Professional Society Expo
FREE STEM event for kids, students & adults!

To register, click here. Expo registration closes TODAY, Sept. 29th!
This is a free event with free Parking for all (must RSVP).

Date: Saturday, September 30, 2023
Time: 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Location: Hannon Courtyard Area at Loyola Marymont University
One LMU Drive
Westchester, CA 90045

At this event, you will:

    • Discover the latest Mars Rover Engineering & Science Results!
    • See a Rover Landing Site Scale Model, Hardware & Mockups
    • Limited STEM Focused Campus tours
    • PC-based Mars Rover & ISS Docking Simulators
    • Exhibit Tables from LA & OC Professional Societies
    • Kids activities (Rocket Contest, Robotics & More!)
    • Closing Q&A and Free Raffle (“Space related”) Prizes!

This is an LA/OC-Area-Wide Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) outreach, where kids, students & adults are welcome!

For more information about these opportunities, please contact Ms. Crissel Rodriguez, Director of Real World Learning, at crodriguez@davincischools.org.

For a list of other current Real World Learning Opportunities, please click here.

TONIGHT 9/28: 11th Grade College Planning Information Session

Hello DVS Families!  Thank you to all the freshman and sophomore families who joined us this week for their grade level college planning information session.  TONIGHT we welcome DVS junior families to join us from 5pm-6pm for their 11th Grade College Planning Information Session.

On the horizon:

12th Grade Information Session: NEXT WEEK on Thursday, October 5th from 5:30pm-6:30pm

All meetings are held on the DVS Campus. We encourage all students and parents/guardians to attend. We hope to see you there!

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

Announcements From Real World Learning Director (9.28.2023)

10th Annual Mars Rover & Professional Society Expo
FREE STEM event for kids, students & adults!

To register, click here. Expo registration closes Sept. 29th!
This is a free event with free Parking for all (must RSVP).

Date: Saturday, September 30, 2023
Time: 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Location: Hannon Courtyard Area at Loyola Marymont University
One LMU Drive
Westchester, CA 90045

At this event, you will:

    • Discover the latest Mars Rover Engineering & Science Results!
    • See a Rover Landing Site Scale Model, Hardware & Mockups
    • Limited STEM Focused Campus tours
    • PC-based Mars Rover & ISS Docking Simulators
    • Exhibit Tables from LA & OC Professional Societies
    • Kids activities (Rocket Contest, Robotics & More!)
    • Closing Q&A and Free Raffle (“Space related”) Prizes!

This is an LA/OC-Area-Wide Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) outreach, where kids, students & adults are welcome!

For more information about these opportunities, please contact Ms. Crissel Rodriguez, Director of Real World Learning, at crodriguez@davincischools.org.

For a list of other current Real World Learning Opportunities, please click here.

Cal Grant Opt Out (For Seniors Only)

Hello DVS senior families,

As you prepare for the college application process, many of you will apply for financial aid.  One of those funding options is our State Grant, called the Cal Grant.  The Cal Grant is funding for college that students do not pay back. The Cal Grant can be used at any University of California (UC), California State University (CSU) or California Community College, as well as qualifying independent (private) and career colleges or technical schools in California.

To qualify, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) by March 2, 2024 and meet the eligibility and financial requirements as well as any minimum GPA requirements.  Eligibility is based on the FAFSA or CADAA responses, your verified high school Cal Grant GPA, the type of California Colleges you list on your FAFSA or CADAA and whether you’re a recent high school graduate. To learn more about the qualifications, you may learn more about the Cal Grant here. 

Da Vinci Science High School is required to submit student’s verified GPA to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC). By law families can “opt out” of this process if you do not want DVS to submit your student’s verified GPA. If you choose to “opt out”, this means your student will not be eligible to receive a Cal Grant. In order to “opt-out”, please complete the attached form and return to Ms. Marquez via email at fmarquez@davincischools.org no later than October 4, 2023.

If you do not return the “opt-out” form, Da Vinci Science will submit your student’s verified GPA to the CSAC to determine your student’s Cal Grant eligibility.

To obtain an opt-out form click on this link for the Cal Grant Opt Out Form, which is also available in Spanish. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Ms. Marquez via email at fmarquez@davincischools.org.

TONIGHT 9/27: 10th Grade College Planning Information Session

Hello DVS Families!  Thank you to all the freshman families who joined us last night for their grade level college planning information session.  TONIGHT we welcome DVS sophomore families to join us from 5pm-6pm for their 10th Grade College Planning Information Session.

On the horizon:

11th Grade College Planning Information Session: Thursday, September 28rd from 5pm-6pm

12th Grade Information Session: NEXT WEEK on Thursday, October 5th from 5:30pm-6:30pm

All meetings are held on the DVS Campus. We encourage all students and parents/guardians to attend. We hope to see you there!

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

Fall College Planning Information Sessions Start TONIGHT!

Hello DVS Families!  Please join us THIS WEEK for the Fall Semester Grade Level College Planning Information Sessions.  All meetings are in-person on the DVS campus:

 

9th Grade: TONIGHT Tuesday, September 26th from 5pm-6pm

10th Grade: Wednesday, September 27th from 5pm-6pm

11th Grade: Thursday, September 28rd from 5pm-6pm

 

Join us NEXT WEEK for the 12th Grade Information Session on Thursday, October 5th from 5:30pm-6:30pm

Come learn about college admission criteria, types of colleges and career options, financial aid/scholarships and more!

All students and parents/guardians are welcome!  Please reach out to Ms. Marquez, College and Career Counselor, if you have questions : fmarquez@davincischools.org 

 

We hope to see you there!

Week 7: College Rep Visits

Good morning!  We hope you had a wonderful weekend.  Below are the college reps at DVS this week:

Monday, 9/25: UC Merced

Tuesday, 9/26: Wake Forest University

Thursday, 9/28, USC

Friday, 9/29: Whittier College 

Presentations will be at lunch time in Mr. Perez’s classroom.  These presentations are open to all DVS students of all grade levels (9th-12th).

If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Marquez, College and Career Counselor: fmarquez@davincischools.org

We hope to see you there!

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