Da Vinci Science

Thank you for a great Back to School Night! We enjoyed seeing parents and guardians on campus and hope families enjoyed getting to know your student’s teachers and getting a little taste of what your student’s day looks like. Parents and Guardians are pertinent to the work that we do. Thank you for partnering with us. It was great to see families at our monthly Parent Coffees as well, hope to see you at the next one! 

This week, the 11th graders also had a positive experience at NACAC. Students had the opportunity to hear from a variety of colleges and attend college readiness workshops. All students also participated in our annual Club Fair; see our DVS Club Fair Site for the complete list of clubs. We also hope students had an enjoyable PD Day while teachers spent the time collaborating and planning with grade-level teams and job-alike teams. Next week is a whole 5-day week with the regular schedule.

This Week’s Schedule: 

This Week’s Announcements:

• Parent Advisory Committee – The Parent Advisory Committee, previously known as the School Site Council (SSC), is an opportunity for parents, students, and staff to work collaboratively to review the school program, analyze data, identify needs, and make recommendations for the Local Control and Accountability Plan. If you are a parent or guardian interested in joining our Parent Advisory Committee (PAC), please fill out the Parent Advisory Committee PAC Interest Form by Monday, September 22nd. PAC meetings will be held on the following dates: 10/08, 12/17, 2/11, 4/15, and 5/20 from 4:30-5:30 via Zoom. 
• Grade Updates– grade updates can be expected on the Tuesday following PD Days. Next grade update will be on Tuesday, 9/16. Grades can be found on Canvas or Powerschool. 

• CLD Day – Our first CLD Day is coming up on September 23rd. Students received an email from Da Vinci Schools to sign up for an On-Campus Learning Workshop or to indicate that they will be learning from home that day. Here is the CLD Survey to Sign-Up for CLD Day 9/23 (need Da Vinci email address to access). Here is the List of On-Campus Workshops available on 9/23. Please note that students will need to have a CLD stay-at-home permission slip if they wish to learn from home that day. 

• Honors – Honors contracts were provided in class and are due to teachers this Friday, 9/19. 

• American Mathematical Competition: DVS will be administering the American Mathematics Competition (AMC) 10 and 12 on Thursday, November 13th, 2025, from 3pm-5pm (during seminar and after school) to those who sign up.The AMC 10/12 is the first in a series of competitions that may eventually lead to the International Mathematical Olympiad. Find out more at this link: https://maa.org/student-programs/amc/. Interested students should sign up via this form by Friday, September 19th (DV account required). 
• FREE Metro GoPass for DVS Students: Da Vinci Schools is participating in LA Metro’s GoPass Program again this year! This means each DVS student can receive a FREE metro card that, once activated, can allow them to ride on the Metro for FREE until June 30, 2027. Students should drop by the front desk (not during class time) and ask Liz to pick up a card and instructions to activate their card (one card per student). Find more information on the GoPass Program here.
• College Planning Information Sessions: Counselors will be holding college planning info. Sessions. Come learn about graduation requirements, DVS pathways, college admission criteria, types of colleges and career options, financial aid/scholarships and more! 9th grade- 11th grade sessions will be held via Zoom (link will be posted closer to date) and the 12th grade session will be held in-person on the DVS campus. All DVS students and families are invited to attend!  Schedule is:

• • 9th grade: Tuesday, September 16th from 5:30pm-6:30 pm via ZOOM
  • 10th grade: Thursday, September 25th from 5:30pm-6:30 pm via ZOOM
  • 11th grade: Wednesday, October 1st from 5:30pm-6:30 pm via ZOOM
  • 12th grade: Wednesday, October 8th from 5:30pm-6:30 pm held in-person on the DVS Campus                          
  • You may RSVP here . We hope you can join us!

• DVSPA– DVS Parent Association (DVSPA) is a fun way to build community with other DVS parents while supporting staff and students. The first DVSPA is coming up this week! First DVSPA meeting for 2025-26 is Wed, Sept 17th, 5:30pm on campus. All DVS parents/guardians are welcome to join in supporting DVS staff through our projects (no membership or anything to do to sign up, just show up).  Come get to know other DVS Parents and see how we’ll be supporting DVS this year.  
  • DVSPA Merch is available for pre-order.  Show your school spirit and support DVS with your T-shirt and Hoodie orders.  Samples are available to view at Back to School Night at the DVSPA table, before and after class rotations.  Place your ORDER HERE (make sure you’re logged into your MySchoolBucks DaVinci Schools account if you also have a Wiseburn account).  Images and more details HERE.  

Important Upcoming Dates: 

• Tuesday, 9/16 Make-Up Picture Day
• Wednesday, 9/17 DVSPA (DVS Parent Association) meeting; 5:30 on campus
• Tuesday, 9/23 Community Learning Day
• Thursday, 10/2 Local Holiday 
• Thursday, 10/9 UCLA Blood Drive 
• Friday, 10/10 Honors Commitment Deadline 
• Monday, 10/13 SAT/PSAT School Day
• Monday-Thursday, 10/13-10/16 SLC Week

Helpful Links:

DV/Wiseburn Athletics  

DVS Planning Calendar

DVS News YouTube Channel

DVS Announcements Slide Deck

Da Vinci Photos Link

Some Highlights from the Week:

11th Grade at NACAC College Fair in Pasadena

Back to School Night

Club Fair

El Segundo Physics Network (ESPN) Science of Sports project launch! Looking forward to connecting concepts of kinematics, forces, and energy to sports scenarios.

We had a great time at the Overnighter! Freshmen and Advisory Leaders did a great job engaging in time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. This year’s theme was “You’re Golden” –with a focus on being our best, authentic selves; even with our imperfections, we are loved, valued, and accepted. Campers enjoyed the mountains and spent quality time with one another while students on campus continued with their learning, enjoying the calm and quiet campus. 

We have another four-day week next week with PD day on Friday. 

Week 4 Schedule 

This Week’s Announcements:

• Back-to-School Night: We are excited to invite parents and guardians to Back-to-School Night on Thursday, September 11th from 5:30pm-7:30pm! Please note that this is an evening designed for parents and guardians to be in their children’s classrooms and learn about the courses they are taking. Students are not required to attend. An email with specific schedules and information will be sent out soon.
• 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 will be held on Wednesday, 9/10, from 4:30-5:30 using this Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/3108950461. This week’s topic: Parent Involvement in High School   
• Club Fair: Students will participate in our Club Fair this Thursday, 9/11 during Advisory time. Clubs are student led and a great way to be involved with school activities. Clubs are student run and supervised by staff. We are grateful for all our staff advisors for clubs.
• Opt-in SAT School Day for 11th and 12th Grade: DVS 11th and 12th grade students will have the option to opt-in to take the SAT during the DVS SAT/PSAT School Day on Monday, October 13th, free of charge to the student , by signing up on this Fall 2025 DVS Opt-in SAT School Day Interest Form (DV account required) by Monday, September 12th. Please note that 11th grade students opting to take the SAT means they would not be taking the PSAT/NMSQT, which is the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship. 
• American Mathematical Competition: DVS will be administering the American Mathematics Competition (AMC) 10 and 12 on Thursday, November 13th, 2025 from 3pm-5pm (during seminar and after school) to those who sign up.The AMC 10/12 is the first in a series of competitions that eventually lead all the way to the International Mathematical Olympiad. Find out more at this link: https://maa.org/student-programs/amc/. Interested students should sign up via this form by Friday, September 19th (DV account required). 
• FREE Metro GoPass for DVS Students: Da Vinci Schools is participating in LA Metro’s GoPass Program again this year! This means each DVS student can receive a FREE metro card that, once activated, can allow them to ride on the Metro for FREE until June 30, 2027. Students should drop by the front desk (not during class time) and ask Liz to pick up a card and instructions to activate their card (one card per student). Find more information on the GoPass Program here.
• Class of 2026 Senior Portraits: There are two more dates in September (9/13 and 9/14) for seniors to take their portraits with Stacee Lianna! See more information in this flyer, and sign up for a session at this link.
• South Bay / Los Angeles College Fair: The Redondo Beach Unified School District (RBUSD), in proud partnership with the Western Association for College Admission Counseling (WACAC) and the Redondo Beach Council PTA, is hosting the 2025 South Bay/Los Angeles College Fair. This event is free and open to the public and will take place on Sunday, September 7, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Redondo Union High School. This dynamic annual fair will bring together 100 colleges and universities from across the country, offering students a one-stop opportunity to explore diverse post-secondary pathways. Representatives from public and private universities, community colleges, and military academies will be available to share insights, answer questions, and help students envision their future. For more information, please visit this WACAC page or contact Dr. Anthony Taranto, Executive Director of Career Pathways, at ataranto@rbusd.org. Please RSVP at this link.
• Latino College Expo: DVS is excited to participate in the 12th annual Latino College Expo on Saturday, September 13th from 9am-2:30pm at the University of La Verne. Students of any grade level can attend and do not have to be Latino/Latinx identified. The Expo will host over 75 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! Additionally, the expo will offer workshops on topics including college application strategies, financial aid, scholarships, career planning, and more! We will depart from 201 N. Douglas promptly at 9:00 am and we expect to arrive back by 2:30 PM. Students must bring their own lunch or bring money to purchase food on campus. We only have a limited number of spots available and spots are on a first-come, first serve basis. If interested in attending, please pick up a field trip permission slip from Ms. Marquez. Permission slips are due by Wednesday, September 10th at 3:30pm to Ms. Marquez or until all spots are filled. 
• College Planning Information Sessions: Counselors will be holding college planning info. Sessions. Come learn about graduation requirements, DVS pathways, college admission criteria, types of colleges and career options, financial aid/scholarships and more! 9th grade- 11th grade sessions will be held via Zoom (link will be posted closer to date) and the 12th grade session will be held in-person on the DVS campus. All DVS students and families are invited to attend!
• • 9th grade: Tuesday, September 16th from 5:30pm-6:30 pm via ZOOM
  • 10th grade: Thursday, September 25th from 5:30pm-6:30 pm via ZOOM
  • 11th grade: Wednesday, October 1st from 5:30pm-6:30 pm via ZOOM
  • 12th grade: Wednesday, October 8th from 5:30pm-6:30 pm held in-person on the DVS Campus
  • You may RSVP here . We hope you can join us!

• DVSPA– Announcements from DVS Parent Association:

• • Save the Date – First DVSPA meeting for 2025-26 is Wed, Sept 17th, 5:30pm on campus. All DVS parents/guardians are welcome to join in supporting DVS staff through our projects (no membership or anything to do to sign up, just show up).  Come get to know other DVS Parents and see how we’ll be supporting DVS this year.  

• • DVSPA Merch is available for pre-order.  Show your school spirit and support DVS with your T-shirt and Hoodie orders.  Samples are available to view at Back to School Night at the DVSPA table, before and after class rotations.  Place your ORDER HERE (make sure you’re logged into your MySchoolBucks DaVinci Schools account if you also have a Wiseburn account).  Images and more details HERE.  

Important Upcoming Dates: 

• Monday, 9/1 Labor Day Holiday – No School
• Tuesday, 9/2 Critical Incident Drill
• Thursday, 9/4 – Friday, 9/5 Class of 2029 Overnighter
• Tuesday, 9/9 11th Grade NACAC Field Trip
• Thursday, 9/11 Club Fair during Advisory and lunch
• Thursday, 9/11 Back-to-School Night 5:30pm-7:30pm
• Friday, 9/12 Professional Development Day – No School
• Tuesday, 9/16 Make-Up Picture Day
• Wednesday, 9/17 DVSPA (DVS Parent Association) meeting; 5:30 on campus
• Tuesday, 9/23 Community Learning Day

Helpful Links:

DV/Wiseburn Athletics  

DVS Planning Calendar

DVS News YouTube Channel

DVS Announcements Slide Deck

Da Vinci Photos Link

Some Highlights from the Week: 

DVS Overnighter:

School is in full swing, and this week marked the start of Seminars. We have amazing Seminar choices including Soccer, Pickleball, Sewing, Collegiate Mathematical Thinking, Intro. to Sign Language, Makerspace, Chess, Acting, and many more.  Check out the full Seminar List below. Week 3 will be busy with Shelter in Place Drill, Honors roll out, and Freshmen Overnighter–all after a Happy Labor Day Weekend! 

Week 3 Schedule: 

Week 3 Announcements: 

• • Shelter-in-Place Drill: The Da Vinci high schools located at the 201 N. Douglas location (including DVS) will be participating in a Shelter-in-Place Drill on Tuesday, September 2nd. Shelter-in-Place drills are designed to educate students and staff and to provide practice opportunities for what to initially do in the event of an on-campus or nearby emergency that requires a lockdown. Drill expectations and procedures were reviewed during announcements this week.
  • Freshmen Overnighter: Freshmen overnighter will take place from 9/4-9/5. Advisory Leaders leave 9/3. All Overnighter permission slips and Medical Release forms should have been sent home. Please return ASAP. The Overnighter info document can be found here.
  • Back-to-School Night: We are excited to invite parents and guardians to Back-to-School Night on Thursday, September 11th from 5:30pm-7:30pm! Please note that this is an evening designed for parents and guardians to be in their children’s classrooms and learn about the courses they are taking. Students are not required to attend. An email with specific schedules and information will be sent soon.

• • Seminars: Students can request a seminar change through this Seminar Change Request Form (DV account required) until 2:30pm next Friday, September 5th. Requests for schedule changes will not be accepted after the deadline (certain exceptions apply). See this Seminar Descriptions & Statuses document for  options. Please allow counselors at least two full school days to process your request, and note that although we will do our best, not all requests can be accommodated.
  • Opt-in SAT School Day for 11th and 12th Grade: DVS 11th and 12th grade students will have the option to opt-in to take the SAT during the DVS SAT/PSAT School Day on Monday, October 13th, free of charge to the student , by signing up on this Fall 2025 DVS Opt-in SAT School Day Interest Form (DV account required) by Monday, September 12th. Please note that 11th grade students opting to take the SAT means they would not be taking the PSAT/NMSQT, which is the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship. 
  • American Mathematical Competition: DVS will be administering the American Mathematics Competition (AMC) 10 and 12 on Thursday, November 13th, 2025 from 3pm-5pm (during seminar and after school) to those who sign up.The AMC 10/12 is the first in a series of competitions that eventually lead all the way to the International Mathematical Olympiad. Find out more at this link: https://maa.org/student-programs/amc/. Interested students should sign up via this form by Friday, September 19th (DV account required). 
  • FREE Metro GoPass for DVS Students: Da Vinci Schools is participating in LA Metro’s GoPass Program again this year! This means each DVS student can receive a FREE metro card that, once activated, can allow them to ride on the Metro for FREE until June 30, 2027. Students should drop by the front desk (not during class time) and ask Liz to pick up a card and instructions to activate their card (one card per student). Find more information on the GoPass Program here.
  • Class of 2026 Senior Portraits: There are two more dates in September (9/13 and 9/14) for seniors to take their portraits with Stacee Lianna! See more information in this flyer, and sign up for a session at this link.
  • South Bay / Los Angeles College Fair: The Redondo Beach Unified School District (RBUSD), in proud partnership with the Western Association for College Admission Counseling (WACAC) and the Redondo Beach Council PTA, is hosting the 2025 South Bay/Los Angeles College Fair. This event is free and open to the public and will take place on Sunday, September 7, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Redondo Union High School. This dynamic annual fair will bring together 100 colleges and universities from across the country, offering students a one-stop opportunity to explore diverse post-secondary pathways. Representatives from public and private universities, community colleges, and military academies will be available to share insights, answer questions, and help students envision their future. For more information, please visit this WACAC page or contact Dr. Anthony Taranto, Executive Director of Career Pathways, at ataranto@rbusd.org. Please RSVP at this link.
  • Latino College Expo: DVS is excited to participate in the 12th annual Latino College Expo on Saturday, September 13th from 9am-2:30pm at the University of La Verne. Students of any grade level can attend and do not have to be Latino/Latinx identified. The Expo will host over 75 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! Additionally, the expo will offer workshops on topics including college application strategies, financial aid, scholarships, career planning, and more! We will depart from 201 N. Douglas promptly at 9:00 am and we expect to arrive back by 2:30 PM. Students must bring their own lunch or bring money to purchase food on campus. We only have a limited number of spots available and spots are on a first-come, first serve basis. If interested in attending, please pick up a field trip permission slip from Ms. Marquez. Permission slips are due by Wednesday, September 10th at 3:30pm to Ms. Marquez or until all spots are filled. Please reach out to Ms. Marquez (fmarquez@davincischools.org), College and Career Counselor, with any questions. 
  • UCLA Blood Drive: The DVS Red Cross Club is partnering with the UCLA Blood and Platelet Center for another blood drive on Thursday October 9, 2025!  This blood drive is taking place in the DV Black Box Theater. Donating blood saves lives; every unit donated can save three lives! Every donor will receive a $10 Gift Card redeemable at AMC/Regal Theaters, Chipotle, Amazon, Starbucks, Panda Express, Shake Shack, Subway, McDonald’s, or Target! Schedule your appointment at this link. Note: Donors must be at least 16 years old and weigh a minimum of 110 lbs. at the time of donation. 16-year-old donors must present a signed Parental Consent Form that can be obtained from Mr Besina.
  • Parent Association:
    • Save the Date – First DVSPA meeting for 2025-26 is Wed, Sept 17th, 5:30pm on campus. All DVS parents/guardians are welcome to join in supporting DVS staff through our projects (no membership or anything to do to sign up, just show up).  Come get to know other DVS Parents and see how we’ll be supporting DVS this year.  
    • DVSPA Merch is available for pre-order. Show your school spirit and support DVS with your T-shirt and Hoodie orders.  Place your ORDER HERE (make sure you’re logged into your MySchoolBucks DaVinci Schools account if you also have a Wiseburn account). Images and more details HERE.  Questions to DVS parent Lori, lj.bowk@gmail.com.

Important Upcoming Dates: 

• Monday, 9/1 Labor Day Holiday – No School
• Tuesday, 9/2 Critical Incident Drill
• Thursday, 9/4 – Friday, 9/5 Class of 2029 Overnighter
• Tuesday, 9/9 11th Grade NACAC Field Trip
• Thursday, 9/11 Club Fair during Advisory and lunch
• Thursday, 9/11 Back-to-School Night 5:30pm-7:30pm
• Friday, 9/12 Professional Development Day – No School

Helpful Links:

DV/Wiseburn Athletics  

DVS Planning Calendar

DVS News YouTube Channel

DVS Announcements Slide Deck

Da Vinci Photos Link

Some Highlights from the Week:

9th physicists collecting data for their DYOE(design your own experiment) projects!

Sophomores exploring the thermochemistry of ice cream!

Design Challenge in CEA and Gensler Kickoff in CEA Honors

We had a great first week of school! We hit the ground running and it was a busy, but fun week. Thank you for your patience as students get their schedules, make adjustments, and settle in. Hopefully the students will sleep well this weekend and be ready for Week 2! 

Week 2 Announcements: 

• • Schedule Change Requests are open until Friday, August 29th at 2:30pm. If students need to make a change to their schedule, they should fill out this Fall 2025 Schedule Change Request form and allow counselors 1-2 school days to process the request. Note that not all requests can be accommodated.
  • FREE Metro GoPass for DVS Students: Da Vinci Schools is participating in LA Metro’s GoPass Program again this year! This means each DVS student can receive a FREE metro card that, once activated, can allow them to ride on the Metro for FREE until June 30, 2027. Students should drop by the front desk (not during class time) and ask Liz to pick up a card and instructions to activate their card (one card per student). Find more information on the GoPass Program here.
  • PowerSchool Access: PowerSchool access will be disabled for the next several days as seminar schedules are being finalized. Students will receive their seminar schedules before seminars begin on Wednesday, 8/27. There will also be an opportunity to request seminar changes after seminars begin.
  • Class of 2026 Senior Portraits: There are two more dates in September (9/13 and 9/14) for seniors to take their portraits with Stacee Lianna! See more information in this flyer, and sign up for a session at this link.
  • Free College Rep Panel hosted by PJ Test Prep: PJ Test Prep has been providing instructors for DVS’s Test Prep Seminar for years, and they are hosting a free College Rep Panel on Sunday, August 24th at 4pm. Reps from a full variety of schools (big/medium/small, public/private, West Coast/Midwest/East Coast) will be present to give tips from insiders on applications and framing yourself as a strong candidate for admissions and scholarships! Please see the list of schools (still being updated) and RSVP at pjtestprep.com/rsvp.
  • South Bay / Los Angeles College Fair: The Redondo Beach Unified School District (RBUSD), in proud partnership with the Western Association for College Admission Counseling (WACAC) and the Redondo Beach Council PTA, is hosting the 2025 South Bay/Los Angeles College Fair. This event is free and open to the public and will take place on Sunday, September 7, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Redondo Union High School. This dynamic annual fair will bring together 100 colleges and universities from across the country, offering students a one-stop opportunity to explore diverse post-secondary pathways. Representatives from public and private universities, community colleges, and military academies will be available to share insights, answer questions, and help students envision their future. For more information, please visit this WACAC page or contact Dr. Anthony Taranto, Executive Director of Career Pathways, at ataranto@rbusd.org. Please RSVP at this link.

• Parent Association Announcements

• • Family Beach Day: Join other DVS families at a casual social gathering Sat 8/23, at El Segundo Beach 12:30-3:30pm! See details in this flyer.
  • DVSPA Merch is available for pre-order. Show your school spirit and support DVS with your T-shirt and Hoodie orders.  Place your ORDER HERE (make sure you’re logged into your MySchoolBucks DaVinci Schools account if you also have a Wiseburn account). Images and more details HERE.  Questions to DVS parent Lori, lj.bowk@gmail.com.
• UCLA Blood Drive: The DVS Red Cross Club is partnering with the UCLA Blood and Platelet Center for another blood drive on Thursday October 9, 2025!  This blood drive is taking place in the DV Black Box Theater. Donating blood saves lives; every unit donated can save three lives! Every donor will receive a $10 Gift Card redeemable at AMC/Regal Theaters, Chipotle, Amazon, Starbucks, Panda Express, Shake Shack, Subway, McDonald’s, or Target! Schedule your appointment at this link. Note: Donors must be at least 16 years old and weigh a minimum of 110 lbs. at the time of donation. 16-year-old donors must present a signed Parental Consent Form that can be obtained from Mr Besina.
• Freshman Overnighter: Freshman overnighter will take place from 9/4-9/5. Advisory Leaders leave 9/3. All Overnighter permission slips and Medical Release forms have been sent home and are due. The Overnighter Info. document can be found here.

Important Upcoming Dates: 

• Wednesday, 8/27 Seminars begin
• Monday, 9/1 Labor Day Holiday – No School
• Thursday, 9/4 – Friday, 9/5 Class of 2029 Overnighter
• Tuesday, 9/9 11th Grade NACAC Field Trip
• Thursday, 9/11 Club Fair during Advisory and lunch
• Thursday, 9/11 Back-to-School Night 5:30pm-7:30pm
• Friday, 9/12 Professional Development Day – No School

Helpful Links:

DV/Wiseburn Athletics  

DVS Planning Calendar

DVS News YouTube Channel

DVS Announcements Slide Deck

Da Vinci Photos Link

Some Highlights from the Week:

Happy First Day of School!

10th Graders collaborating together to speed assemble puzzles during Tuesday Grade-Level Time

Welcome Back, DVS Families! We hope you had a fantastic summer!

Thank you for coming to our Welcome Orientation last night. We enjoyed reconnecting with returning families and meeting new families. 

For those of you who were unable to attend last night’s welcome orientation, the slide deck is available here: Welcome Orientation 2025 Slide Deck

Our First Day of School is this Monday, August 18th! 

School start time is at 8:50am and dismissal is at 3:55pm. In the morning, students will meet at the backyard/lunch area until 8:50am. We will begin our day at 8:50 with an all-school gathering outside before students head upstairs with their advisory teachers (students, be sure to stay with DVS as other schools will be going inside). A copy of students’ schedules will be given during Advisory at the beginning of the day. 

Week 1 Schedule:

Schedule Change Requests are now open. If you would like to make a change to your schedule, please fill out this Fall 2025 Schedule Change Request form. Please allow your hard-working counselors 1-2 school days to process your request. Note that not all requests can be accommodated, but we will do the best we can. All course requests must be submitted by Friday, August 29th 2:30pm.

Announcements from our amazing DVS Parent Association:

• Welcome Back Teachers Breakfast– The parent association will be welcoming DVS teachers and staff back to school with coffee and breakfast on the first day of school.  For more info on how to support DVS in this way, check out the sign up HERE
• Family Beach Day – Join other DVS families at a casual social gathering Sat 8/23, at El Segundo beach 12:30-3:30pm, details here  

Have a great weekend, and we will see you on Monday, August 18th! 

PEP: As one of Da Vinci’s neurodiversity-affirming practices, whenever possible, we strive to provide clear information in advance of events (Preview), outline the sensory environment (Experience), and list available accommodations and resources, such as earplugs (Provided). Our goal is to reduce uncertainty, honor sensory differences, and promote accessibility for all participants. 

First Day of School PEP

Preview: Students walk through a tunnel of cheering teachers to the West Plaza/lunch area, where the whole school gathers. Faculty introductions are made with loud music before students break into small groups in their classrooms.

Experience: Loud environment, very large crowd, overlapping conversations, noise and movement

Provided: Space to step away from the crowd, alternate entry to avoid the tunnel

DVS Staff is looking forward to a wonderful 2025-2026 school year with you! 

 

Hello Da Vinci Science Families! 

We hope you are having an enjoyable summer. We are excited to invite you to the DVS Welcome Orientation on Thursday, August 14th! 

This will be a time for families (students and guardians) to come to campus by grade level to hear pertinent school information, receive student schedules, and walk around campus for a self-guided tour to locate classrooms. Some staff and student leaders will be on campus to greet and help you.

If students are unable to attend this event, they will receive their schedules on the first day of school, Monday, August 18th, 2025.  

Da Vinci Science’s Welcome Orientation will follow the schedule below:

9th Grade

5:00-5:45 9th Grade Presentation in the Black Box Theatre

5:45-6:15 Schedule Pick-up, Self-Guided Tour of the DVS floor

10th Grade

5:45-6:15 10th Grade Presentation in the Black Box Theatre

6:15-6:45 Schedule Pick-up, Self-Guided Tour of the DVS floor

11th Grade

6:15-6:45 11th Grade Presentation in the Black Box Theatre

6:45-7:15 Schedule Pick-up, Self-Guided Tour of the DVS floor

12th Grade

6:45-7:15 12th Grade Presentation in the Black Box Theatre

7:15-7:30 Schedule Pick-up, Self-Guided Tour of the DVS floor

We hope to see you there, but if not, we are excited to welcome students back for the Fall 2025 semester on Monday, August 18th, 2025 at 8:50am!

PEP: As one of Da Vinci’s neurodiversity-affirming practices, whenever possible, we strive to provide clear information in advance of events (Preview), outline the sensory environment (Experience), and list available accommodations and resources, such as earplugs (Provided). Our goal is to reduce uncertainty, honor sensory differences, and promote accessibility for all participants. 

Please see the PEP below for the Welcome Orientation on Thursday, August 14th:

Preview: The Welcome Orientation is a presentation in the Black Box by grade-level for incoming and returning students and their families followed by an optional self-guided tour of the DVS floor; Informative presentation and multiple speakers; 50-250 audience members

Experience: Constant background noise; Large Group >100; Some unpredictability; Voluntary participation; Crowds moving and mingling on the DVS floor

Provided: Dimmed lighting and earplugs available in the Black Box; Presentation slideshow will be posted on blog afterwards; Student schedules will be passed out but also available on the first day of school

Helpful Links:

DVS Website/Blog

DVS 2025-2026 Planning Calendar

DV/Wiseburn Athletics  

DVS News YouTube Channel

Da Vinci Photos Link

And that’s a wrap for the 2024-2025 school year! We had a great last day of school on Wednesday and a celebratory Graduation ceremony yesterday-Congratulations to the Class of 2025! The staff had our last professional development day today. As we reflected upon this school year, we are proud of all that our students have accomplished and grateful for our families support along the way. We had very busy and successful school year, thank you! For our Graduates that are now Alumni, we will see you when you come back H.O.M.E to visit. And for our new and returning students, we’ll see you in the Fall! 

On behalf of the Da Vinci Science Staff, we wish all DVS families a wonderful summer!

 

Announcements:

• DVS 2025-2026 Planning Calendar–this is a draft of the DVS Calendar for your planning purposes; events may be added or subject to change throughout the school year.
  • Welcome Orientation Day for the 2025-2026 school year is Thursday, August 14th, time TBD (in the afternoon).
  • The first day of school for the 2025-2026 school year is Monday, August 18th.
• Summer Essay Writing Workshop: Want to take your college essay to the next level? Join Collegewise experts to deep dive into how to make your essay stand out. You will gain further insight and feedback on your essay. Two dates available, you may register for one date below:
  • Tuesday, June 17th: 10:45am- 2:25pm
  • Wednesday, August 13th: 10:45am- 2:25 pm
  • Questions? Please contact Ms. Marquez, College and Career Counselor, fmarquez@davincischools.org 

• Summer College Counseling and Academic Counseling: We are excited to announce that DVS families will have access to FREE college counseling and academic counseling this summer through our partners at Collegewise. These 15 minute appointments are available to all grade-levels and are tailored to answer questions specific to your post-secondary planning.  Book your appointment using the links below:
  • June 18 – July 18 with Kate Strzelecki
  • July 21 – August 12 with Ian Parker
• Class of 2026 Senior Portraits: Senior portraits will be taken on campus over the summer this year by Stacee Lianna! See more information in this flyer, and sign up for a session at this link.
• 2025-2026 Calendar: Posted on Da Vinci Schools Website

Helpful Links:

DV/Wiseburn Athletics  

DVS Planning Calendar

DVS News YouTube Channel

DVS Announcements Slide Deck

Da Vinci Photos Link

Some Highlights from the Week:

Congratulations, Class of 2025!

We are excited for our last day of school tomorrow, Wednesday, June 11th! 

Students, please note that we will start tomorrow morning in the West Plaza (lunch area). We’ll kick off the day with some fun and final announcements out there before heading into the rest of our schedule (below). Don’t miss it!

 

In addition, we are proud to celebrate the Class of 2025 for their Graduation Ceremony on Thursday, June 12th at 1pm. Information about the Graduation Ceremony has been emailed to graduates and their families, and seating information will be emailed tomorrow.

You can also celebrate the Class of 2025 by tuning in to the livestream link: https://www.youtube.com/live/rfLBS4TU03k?si=m4PhjVMUEynJJaC0

Let’s finish the year strong together!

And just like that, it’s the last week of school! The end of the year is here, and the general sentient from staff and students is that this year went by quickly. The students have been ending the year well with their final projects, some amazing Field Trips including 11th Grade Fulcrum Day in Downtown LA and Biomedical Pathway Field Trip to Cedar Sinai Simulation Center, and enjoying their last few days in POL and Extended Learning Rooms which include sessions on school culture, interview skills, Collegewise Workshops, POL pups to destress, and feedback groups to name a few. 

We look forward to our last few days of school together. Please note early dismissal at 2:25 each day this week, Monday-Wednesday. Have a great last week of school, we are almost there! 

Week 38 Schedule: 

Week 38 Announcements:  

• Attendance Matters: We are grateful to our families, students, and staff who support and emphasize the importance of daily school attendance. Students are expected to be in attendance at school from 8:50 am to dismissal every day through the last day of the 2025-2026 school year on Wednesday, June 11th. Every day of school is an important opportunity for students to learn as well as connect with their peers and teachers. Please continue to take steps to schedule vacations and appointments around school hours, and send your students to school unless they are truly sick.
• Class of 2025 Graduation Ceremony: Information about this year’s graduation ceremony, taking place next Thursday, June 12th at 1pm, has been emailed to seniors and their families. Seating arrangements will be emailed one day prior and parking permits will be distributed during graduation rehearsal on Tuesday, 6/10. Please refer to the emails sent on 5/16 and 5/27 for more details.

• Presentations of Learning: Presentations of Learning (POLs) continue week 38 (6/3-6/10). 
  • Click here for an information sheet for families with details about presentations of learning. Families are invited and encouraged to attend their student’s POL.
  • When not presenting or watching presentations during POL week, students are augmenting their learning in Extended Learning Rooms. Seniors will participate in activities to prepare for graduation, juniors will explore career options and attend FREE essay writing workshops from Collegewise (more info below), sophomores will build their resumes in a resume workshop and test their interview skills in an interview workshop, and freshmen will review their TruMotivate Top 5 Motivators and discuss the components that contribute to healthy communication and relationships.
• College Essay Workshops for Juniors: We are excited to offer support to juniors in their personal statement and PIQ writing process through our partnership with Collegewise. We will offer a series of free workshops for juniors to work on their college essays:
  • POL Extended Learning Room: Juniors will attend two workshops where they will learn tips and tricks for mastering the art of college essay writing. They will leave the workshop with an essay outline. No sign-up needed as all juniors will be scheduled into an Extended Learning Room during POL Week.
  • Summer Essay Writing Workshop: Want to take your college essay to the next level? Join Collegewise experts to deep dive into how to make your essay stand out. You will gain further insight and feedback on your essay. Two dates available, you may register for one date below:
    • Tuesday, June 17th: 10:45am- 2:25pm
    • Wednesday, August 13th: 10:45am- 2:25 pm
  • Questions? Please contact Ms. Marquez, College and Career Counselor, fmarquez@davincischools.org 
• Da Vinci Science Parents Facebook Group: Consider joining the DVS parent online community space facilitated by DVS parents. Search for the private Facebook Group, “DaVinci Science Parents” with a green “This is HOME” banner. This online space is for current DVS parents and families to connect, ask questions and build community with each other. 
• Class of 2026 Senior Portraits: Senior portraits will be taken on campus over the summer this year by Stacee Lianna! See more information in this flyer, and sign up for a session at this link.
• 2025-2026 Calendar: Posted on Da Vinci Schools Website

Important Upcoming Dates:

• Tuesday, 6/10 Senior Breakfast & Grad Rehearsal
• Wednesday, 6/11 Last Day of the 2024-2025 School Year
• Thursday, 6/12 Class of 2025 Graduation at 1:00pm
• 2025-2026 School Year: First Day of School, Monday, August 18th

Helpful Links:

DV/Wiseburn Athletics  

DVS Planning Calendar

DVS News YouTube Channel

DVS Announcements Slide Deck

Da Vinci Photos Link

Some Highlights from the Week: 

Biomed Seniors presented their prototypes and posters for their Capstone Projects

Cedars Sinai Simulation Center- students got to perform ultrasound and detect veins and arteries, learn basic and advanced life support, and use a Da Vinci machine to perform Laparoscopy

11th Grade Fulcrum Day- team building while doing a scavenger hunt in Downtown LA

POL Pup’s Day: Students got to destress with furry friends

 

The countdown has begun! 8 more days of school. The students did a great job this week, as many classes had final presentations, assessments, and projects due. We still have a lot of learning to do, presentations to give, and fun to be had. We look forward to seeing all our students finish the year strong, with high engagement and attendance. 

Please note this week’s schedule change. School dismissal is the normally scheduled time at 3:55 on Monday, 6/2, and Tuesday, 6/3. Early dismissal time of 2:25 pm on Wednesday-Friday, 6/4-6/6.

Week 37 Schedule: 

Week 37 Announcements:  

• Attendance Matters: As the end of the school year approaches, we are grateful to our families, students, and staff who support and emphasize the importance of daily school attendance. Although school will be dismissed at 2:25pm starting Wednesday, June 4th, students are expected to be in attendance at school from 8:50am to dismissal every day through the last day of the 2025-2026 school year on Wednesday, June 11th. Every day of school is an important opportunity for students to learn as well as connect with their peers and teachers. Please continue to take steps to schedule vacations and appointments around school hours, and send your students to school unless they are truly sick. Daily routines are essential for reducing stress and creating a sense of security for students and adults. If your family or your child needs support, please reach out to your child’s counsel
• Presentations of Learning: Presentations of Learning (POLs) for all students will take place during Weeks 37 and 38 (6/3-6/10). 
  • Click here for an information sheet for families with details about presentations of learning. Families are invited and encouraged to attend their student’s POL.
  • When not presenting or watching presentations during POL week, students will be augmenting their learning in Extended Learning Rooms. Seniors will participate in activities to prepare for graduation, juniors will explore career options and attend FREE essay writing workshops from Collegewise (more info below), sophomores will build their resumes in a resume workshop and test their interview skills in an interview workshop, and freshmen will review their TruMotivate Top 5 Motivators and discuss the components that contribute to healthy communication and relationships.
  • College Essay Workshops for Juniors: We are excited to offer support to juniors in their personal statement and PIQ writing process through our partnership with Collegewise. We will offer a series of free workshops for juniors to work on their college essays:
  • POL Extended Learning Room: Juniors will attend two workshops where they will learn tips and tricks for mastering the art of college essay writing. They will leave the workshop with an essay outline. No sign-up needed as all juniors will be scheduled into an Extended Learning Room during POL Week.
• Summer Essay Writing Workshop: Want to take your college essay to the next level? Join Collegewise experts to deep dive into how to make your essay stand out. You will gain further insight and feedback on your essay. Two dates available, you may register for one date below:
  • Tuesday, June 17th: 10:45am- 2:25pm
  • Wednesday, August 13th: 10:45am- 2:25 pm
  • Questions? Please contact Ms. Marquez, College and Career Counselor, fmarquez@davincischools.org 
• Class of 2025 Chipotle Fundraiser: Please join the Class of 2025 and DVS Leadership for our last fundraiser of the year at Chipotle! See you at 307 N Pacific Coast Hwy, El Segundo, CA 90245 on Tuesday, June 3rd from 4-8pm. You can order online for pickup using the code 4DNMPDX or show this flyer in the restaurant.
• Da Vinci Science Parents Facebook Group: Consider joining the DVS parent online community space facilitated by DVS parents. Search for the private Facebook Group, “DaVinci Science Parents” with a green “This is HOME” banner. This online space is for current DVS parents and families to connect, ask questions and build community with each other. 
• Class of 2026 Senior Portraits: Senior portraits will be taken on campus over the summer this year by Stacee Lianna! See more information in this flyer, and sign up for a session at this link.
• 2025 DVS Yearbook: The 2025 yearbook is ready to purchase at the school yearbook at Varsity Press. Click here for link. Prices start at $55 and are soon to change.
• 2025-2026 Calendar: Posted on Da Vinci Schools Website

• Spring into SWE: Come to SWE’s night of medicine and engineering to have fun while doing hands-on STEM activities on Friday, June 6th! This event is FREE for 3rd-5th graders hosted by our Da Vinci Science High School Society of Women Engineers members at Da Vinci Science High School (201 N. Douglas Street, 2nd Floor). Dinner will be provided. Questions? Contact SWE President Jayleen jayleen_mclaurin@student.davincischools.org or SWE Outreach Coordinator Elizabeth elizabeth_bowker@student.davincischools.org. 

Important Upcoming Dates:

• Tuesday, 6/3 9th Grade POLs Begin
• Wednesday, 6/4 10th Grade POLs and 12th Grade SRPs Begin
• Thursday, 6/5 11th Grade POLs Begin
• Friday, 6/6 Disneyland Grad Nite
• Tuesday, 6/10 Senior Breakfast & Grad Rehearsal
• Wednesday, 6/11 Last Day of the 2024-2025 School Year
• Thursday, 6/12 Class of 2025 Graduation at 1:00pm
• 2025-2026 School Year: First Day of School, Monday, August 18th

Helpful Links:

DV/Wiseburn Athletics  

DVS Planning Calendar

DVS News YouTube Channel

DVS Announcements Slide Deck

Da Vinci Photos Link

Some Highlights from the Week: 

Honors Civil Engineering Water to Wilderness: Seniors designed structures that they walked from the beach to Hopkins Wilderness Park and spent the night in/on them!

 

Counselors organized various Mental Health Awareness Month lunch activities including yoga led by Dr. Taube and a dance party.

Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Swelebration potluck!

Advanced Physics students built baryons and mesons using quark puzzle pieces.

9th grade Physics students culminated their project by inviting staff, families, and community members to the Beats by DVS Museum to showcase headphones they designed and built.

Leadership culminated their seminar time together with an End of the Year Celebration and recognized Senior Buddies who mentored underclassmen throughout the year.

10th grade Chemistry students finished out their coffee unit with the DV Baristas event. We hope everyone enjoyed their freshly brewed coffee!