Da Vinci Science

We had an eventful and packed week, marked by our first CLD Day, Long Advisories, and our first Community Dialogue in the gym! When speaking with the kids, many of them enjoyed CLD Day and used their time productively. Whether students were at home catching up on homework, working on a project, or going on a college visit, or whether they participated in on-campus workshops like soccer or soap-making, they all had positive things to say about the day. As a reminder, it is pertinent that all students turn in their CLD “Quiz” on Canvas to receive attendance credit for the day. Thank you for your cooperation.

We have another four-day week coming up! 

This Week’s Schedule: 

This Week’s Announcements:

• SLC Week is coming up from 10/13 to 10/17. Be on the lookout for more information and sign-ups from Grade Level teachers.
• DVS Family Coffee Time: Every first Wednesday of the month, we have “Coffee with the Principal,” where parents, guardians, and students can drop in to ask administration and staff questions and receive updates on school happenings. There will also be various topics for discussion as requested by parents. This week’s DVS Families Coffee Time is this Wednesday, 10/1, from 4:30-5:30 using this Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/3108950461. This week’s topic: Mastery-Based Grading

• College Counseling- This Week’s College Rep Visits:
  • Monday, 9/29: High Point University
  • Tuesday: 9/30: Vanderbilt University
  • Wednesday: 10/1: El Camino College

• College Planning Information Sessions: This coming week, we welcome 11th-grade families for their College Planning Information Session on Wednesday, October 1st from 5:30pm-6:30pm via Zoom: Learn about graduation requirements, DVS pathways, college admission criteria, types of colleges and career options, financial aid/scholarships, and more!
  • 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! Zoom information: https://davincischools-org.zoom.us/j/9301907728 or use Meeting ID: 930 190 7728 (no password needed)

• Get Ready for an Adventure! The DVS Spanish Teachers are heading out on a Yucatán Adventure this coming Spring Break 2026 (March 28 – April 4, 2026)
  • Want to learn more? Join our Informational Meeting:
  • When: Wednesday, October 1st @ 6pm
  • Where: Zoom https://davincischools-org.zoom.us/j/7594747245
  • Take a sneak peek at the trip details here: explorica.com/Magana-3077
• DVSPA- DVS Parent Association (DVSPA) is a fun way to build community with other DVS parents while supporting staff and students.
  • Thank you to all the parents who attended the September DVSPA meeting.  If you couldn’t make it but would like help leading or organizing an upcoming service project, check out the meeting slides HERE.  Save the date, DVSPA October meeting Wed 10/22, time and location TBD.
  • DVSPA Merch is available for pre-order in our two original designs.  A New Student Design Contest has launched this week and the winning design will be voted on by DVS Students. More details in this Design Contest Flyer. 

Important Upcoming Dates: 

• Tuesday, 9/23 Community Learning Day
• Wednesday, 10/1 Parent Coffee (Topic: Real World Learning Program)
• Thursday, 10/2 Local Holiday 
• Wednesday, 10/8 Parent Advisory Committee Meeting
• 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
• Tuesday, 10/14 Grades Update
• Friday, 10/24 PD 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:

First CD of the year- Neon Day and a fantastic performance from our WDV Cheer Team

Advanced Physics BTS Horizontal Launch after Lunch

Teletaubes 3rd Annual Wild Wednesday

Art 3 Class – Making Oni Masks

Hello DVS Senior Families:  College application season is in full swing and we want to share important information for those families who will apply for financial aid.

The 2026-2027 FAFSA is now open!

The Department of Education (ED) officially launched the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2026–27 academic year a week early. The launch came after a successful beta testing period in August.   Students and families can complete the form now, giving them earlier access to financial aid information. Please note that some challenges have been found for mixed-status families.  The ED has not yet provided a permanent solution to identity verification issues, which continues to pose a challenge for these families when attempting to file the FAFSA and privacy concerns.

The 2026–27 CADAA opens October 1:
The California Dream Act Application (CADAA) opens on October 1. The CADAA is available to eligible undocumented Californians and mixed status families. While the CADAA provides access to state and institutional aid, students who file only the CADAA are not eligible for federal financial aid dollars.

The 2026-2027 CSS Profile opens October 1:

The CSS Profile is an online application used by mostly private colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal institutional aid.  The UCs and CSUs do not use the CSS Profile. Here is list ofcolleges that use the CSS Profile.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me Ms. Marquez, College and Career Counselor: fmarquez@davincischools.org 

Students are definitely getting deep into their learning as we head into Week 6. Seminars, Honors, and Clubs are all underway and officially launched! We have our first CLD day coming up next week and our first Community Dialogue coming up this week.

This Week’s Schedule:

This Week’s Announcements:

• CLD Day – Our first CLD Day is coming up this Tuesday, Sept. 23rd. On-campus learning workshops are from 8:30-12:30. Students check-in at the 201 Campus. Here is the List of On-Campus Workshops available on 9/23. If students did not request an on-campus workshop, they can still come and sign up on the day of any open session on campus. Students staying at home should have already turned in and uploaded the parent permission slip. Students should have joined the CLD Canvas Class. On 9/23, attendance will be taken via a “quiz” given on the Canvas Portal. Please note that it is mandatory for attendance credit; otherwise, students will be marked absent for CLD Day. 
• Parent Advisory Committee – The Parent Advisory Committee, previously known as the School Site Council (SSC), provides an opportunity for parents, students, and staff to work collaboratively in reviewing the school program, analyzing data, identifying needs, and making 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. We are still looking for a few more PAC members! 
• College Counseling:
  • 10th grade families for their College Planning Information Session this Thursday, September, 25th from 5:30pm-6:30pm via Zoom: Come learn about graduation requirements, DVS pathways, college admission criteria, types of colleges and career options, financial aid/scholarships and more!
  • 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. Zoom Link: https://davincischools-org.zoom.us/j/9301907728 or use Meeting ID: 930 190 7728
• Real World Learning: All students have received an invitation to add the RWL course. The previous course has been removed and will no longer be active. New and returning students need to accept the invitation. Students need to add the RWL course to receive announcements about internships, volunteer opportunities, and other career-related events. For questions, please contact Crissel Rodriguez, RWL Director, crodriguez@davincischools.org

Important Upcoming Dates: 

• 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
• Tuesday, 10/14 Grades Update
• Friday, 10/24 PD 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:

Sophomores calculating calories in a Cheeto in Chemistry class:

Pythons can eat! Advisory dinner and dessert at Handel’s

DVS and DVS students at the 12th annual Latino College Expo in La Verne

Physics Motion Graphs Review winners

Advanced Physicists collecting data using force sensors, measuring tapes, and motion detectors at Del Aire Park for Westy’s World project!

First DVS Parent Association Meeting, all are welcome!

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!