Da Vinci Science

Happy Summer, DVS! 

From all of us at Da Vinci Science, we wish all of you a wonderful and safe summer break! Thank you for a wonderful school year, we are so proud of all of our students. 

It was a joy and honor to celebrate the Class of 2023 at yesterday’s Graduation. Congratulations to our DVS Class of 2023 Graduates! We wish you all the best in your next adventure in life. You are always welcome to come back “HOME” and visit! Graduation photos from yesterday have been uploaded for families here – you may access and download them for FREE thanks to our incredible photographer Stacee: https://staceelianna.smugmug.com/DaVinciSchools/Da-Vinci-Science/

Report Cards: will be sent out through mail early next week. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to the front office manager, Liz Valle:  ediaz@davincischools.org.

Summer School: (for credit recovery): Session 1: June 13-June 30, Session 2: July 11-July 27. Please contact Summer School Coordinator Jessi: jsnyder@davincischool.org

Monday, August 14th is the first day of school for students in the 2023-24 school year. We will see you in August!

We are excited to celebrate the Class of 2023! DVS Class of 2023 Graduation will be held on Thursday, June 8th, at 5:00. Please see this document for DVS Graduation Ceremony Information, which was emailed to all senior families last week.

This is a ticketed event; only registered guests are permitted to attend. However, everyone can watch the graduation ceremony live at the following link:

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6Q2Yz9dNE8

We hope you enjoy the celebration of the amazing accomplishments of the DVS Class of 2023!

We are almost there! The students have been doing an excellent job with their POLs. It has been a joy to see students engage in reflection and articulate their learning. We couldn’t be more proud of all of our students for all of their hard work and engaged learning this week and this entire school year.

Grad Night was also a huge success! We had a great time celebrating together at Disneyland. It was a fun and exhausting day, evening, and early morning together. Hopefully, seniors and staff chaperones recovered and caught up with sleep the rest of the weekend.

We have three more days of school remaining! Please note the early dismissal time of 2:35 pm this week. It will be an eventful week and we look forward to finishing well!

• Senior Breakfast and Graduation Rehearsal– We are getting ready for the big day! Tomorrow, Monday, 6/5, staff will be providing breakfast for Seniors at 8:50 am and graduation rehearsal will be at 10:00 in the West Plaza. Graduation rehearsal is required for graduating seniors. Graduation day parking passes and congratulatory lawn signs will be gifted to seniors tomorrow
• Parent Coffee (In person)- We have enjoyed seeing parents at our bi-weekly zoom sessions throughout the year. We will have our last “Parent Office Hours” in person this Tuesday afternoon, 6/7, from 2:45-3:45 pm in Galileo Room. This will serve as a casual time for parents to talk with the principal and for parents to chat with one another. We will summarize and close out Season 14 and discuss thoughts and ideas for the next school year. Coffee and light refreshments will be served. Hope to see you there!
  

• Course Selections for 2023-2024 School Year – Request forms were due last week. Requests were made electronically through this form: 23-24 Course Request Form. Please reference this DVS Career Pathways document for course options. If you have questions regarding course scheduling, please contact your counselor. Corinne Valle (9th and 11th) cvalle@davincischools.org or Carolyn Ruiz cruiz@davincischools.org (10th, 12th). 
• Presentations of Learning- continue this week! Click here for an information sheet for families with details about presentations of learning. Attendance is expected for all days through the last day of school, which is Wednesday, June 8th.
• Extended Learning Rooms: Thank you for your continued attendance and engagement during POL week. Extended learning rooms have been going very well. Students have been learning a lot from guest speakers from various industries and colleges, as well as learning valuable leadership skills for DVS culture.

• Graduation Ceremony Information – DVS Class of 2023 Graduation will be held on June 8th, at 5:00. Please see this document for DVS Graduation Ceremony Information, which was emailed to all senior families last week.

Week 38 schedule:

Important Upcoming Dates

• Tuesday, 6/6: 9th Grade Del Aire Park Field Trip
• Thursday, 6/8: DVS Graduation at 5:00pm
• Summer School (for credit recovery): Session 1: June 13-June 30, Session 2: July 11-July 27
• School Calendar Link
• First Day of School for the 2023-2024 school year will be Monday, August 14th.

POL Week Extended Learning Rooms:

Junior students planning how they will lead the school in DVS culture as Seniors.

An admissions representative from UCLA provided valuable information about the UC application and admissions process.

Guest speaker, Tarek, from Smoky Hollow Coffee Roasters shared his experience finding his career path and passion for coffee and food as the director of his company.

Seniors and 12th grade staff had a wonderful time at Grad Night 2023 at Disneyland Park.

We had a successful last week of core classes! The students have worked very hard this year and we are so proud of them. It was particularly fun to see lab dissections, students designing and making their own headphones during the BEATS competition, and students learning about the chemistry of coffee making and engaging in a taste-testing competition. 

In honor of Memorial Day, there will be no school on Monday, May 29th. Enjoy the three-day weekend! We are looking forward to POL week next week where we continue to celebrate, culminate, and present student learning. 

• Spring 2023 Da Vinci Schools Experience Surveys: Your feedback is valuable to us. Please take a moment to complete this semester’s experience surveys if you have not done so already.
• • • Link for Parents/Guardians: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QLM5T2G
    • Link for Students: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/K9CRCP3

• Course Selections for 2023-2024 School Year – 9th grade and 11th grade were provided course selection forms for their class requests for next school year (10th grade will get theirs this week). Requests are made electronically through this form: 23-24 Course Request Form. Please reference this DVS Career Pathways document for course options. If you have questions or need guidance regarding course selections, please see your counselor. Corinne Valle (9th and 11th) cvalle@davincischools.org or Carolyn Ruiz cruiz@davincischools.org (10th, 12th)
• Grade Finalizations: As teachers are grading and finalizing grades, PowerSchool will be turned off this weekend until grades are finalized.

• Presentations of Learning: “POL” preparation begins next week since POLs will begin the week of May 30th! Click here for an information sheet for families with details about presentations of learning. Attendance is expected for all days through the last day of school, which is Wednesday, June 8th. We have lots of meaningful learning activities planned for POL week!

• Extended Learning Rooms: When not presenting or watching presentations during POL week, students will be augmenting their learning in Extended Learning Rooms. 

• • 9th and 10th grade students will be spending most of their time completing standardized (MAP) testing in English and math. This will be valuable information in order to prepare and support them more effectively next year and beyond. In addition, they will have sessions to explore their interests and careers with the Da Vinci Institute staff as well as resources for mental health with guest speakers from Pepperdine.
  • 11th grade students will be in a series of sessions pertaining to career-related guest speakers, college admissions information, and leadership development activities in preparation for their last year in high school.
  • 12th grade students will be ramping up their preparation for graduation, which includes fun, celebratory activities (cap decorating, lei making, photo signing, etc.) as well as sexual and drug awareness education. We believe that this information is essential for seniors as they embark on the next steps in their lives.
    • CHYA Presentations: Dr. Green and Nurse Lucero will be presenting the health & sexual education curriculum (“CHYA”, or “California Healthy Youth Act”) to seniors on May 31st and June 1st. Click this link to read the notification letter from Dr. Green. If you have any questions about the content that will be covered, please email Dr. Green at egreen@davincischools.org. Parents have the right to “opt-out” of this presentation for their child; if you wish to do so, please email Saya Wai, DVS Dean of Students, at swai@davincischools.org. 
    • Drug Awareness and Prevention: Da Vinci Schools is aware and concerned about an increase of substance use and risky behavior in our communities. This mirrors trends that are being recognized across Los Angeles County and the nation. As part of our ongoing efforts to keep the health and well-being of your child and our school community a top priority, seniors will be participating in Drug Awareness and Prevention education on May 31st and June 1st.
    • Graduation Ceremony Information – DVS Class of 2023 Graduation will be held on June 8th, at 5:00. Please see this document for DVS Graduation Ceremony Information.

Week 37 Schedule:

Important Upcoming Dates

• Monday, 5/29: Memorial Day Holiday, no school
• Tuesday, 5/30: 11th Grade Del Aire Park Field Trip, 9th Grade Ice Skating Field Trip
• Tuesday, 6/6: 9th Grade Del Aire Park Field Trip
• Thursday, 6/8: DVS Graduation at 5:00 pm
• Summer School (for credit recovery): Session 1: June 13-June 30, Session 2: July 11-July 27
• School Calendar Link
• First Day of School for the 2023-2024 school year will be Monday, August 14th. 

Hello Junior Families!

I want to share an excited opportunity with you about the Posse Foundation Scholarship. Every year, The Posse Foundation works closely with high schools, like Da Vinci Science, to recruit students who demonstrate leadership and academic potential to become a Posse Scholars. If selected, a Posse Scholar wins a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to attend one of Posse’s partner colleges or universities (Bucknell University, Dickinson College, Hobart & Williams Smith Colleges, Kalamazoo College, Middlebury College, Northwestern University, Pepperdine University, Tulane University, University of Wisconsin- Madison).  Below are informational materials on the Posse Foundation:

Posse Foundation Information Guide

Posse Foundation Scholarship: Parent FAQ 

If you would like DVS to consider you as a nominee for the Posse Scholarship and you demonstrate leadership and academic potential, please complete the Posse Foundation Scholarship Nomination Request form by Wednesday, June 7th at 4pm.

Also, the Posse Foundation is hosting an informational session via Zoom on May 30^th from 5pm-6pm PT.  Please use the following link to join the information session.

https://possefoundation.zoom.us/j/88907406613?pwd=NVBmSDZrUlJSOFlnRDkyT1Q0cTdQQT09#success

Please reach out if you have additional questions!

Ms. Marquez, College Counselor

fmarquez@davincischools.org

We are almost at the finish line for this school year! It has been a busy week, and we continue to be grateful for all of our students, families, and staff. We have been working hard and will continue to work hard to finish this year well. Please be assured that Da Vinci Science will continue to thrive, service, and love our students to the best of our abilities. We truly enjoy seeing and being with our students every day. 

Two and a half weeks to go… and we are looking forward to graduating and celebrating the Class of 2023! More details about Graduation specifics to follow.

• Spring 2023 Da Vinci Schools Experience Surveys: Your feedback is valuable to us. Please take a moment to complete this semester’s experience surveys if you have not done so already.
  • • Link for Parents/Guardians: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QLM5T2G
    • Link for Students: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/K9CRCP3

• Course Selections for 2023-2024 School Year – 9th grade and 11th grade were provided course selection forms for their class requests for next school year (10th grade will get theirs this week). Requests are made electronically through this form: 23-24 Course Request Form. Please reference this DVS Career Pathways document for course options. If you have questions or need guidance regarding course selections, please see your counselor. Corinne Valle (9th and 11th) cvalle@davincischools.org or Carolyn Ruiz cruiz@davincischools.org (10th, 12th).

• Presentations of Learning: “POL” preparation begins next week since POLs will begin the week of May 30th! Click here for an information sheet for families with details about presentations of learning. Attendance is expected for all days through the last day of school, which is Wednesday, June 8th. We have lots of meaningful learning activities planned for POL week!

• Extended Learning Rooms: When not presenting or watching presentations during POL week, students will be augmenting their learning in Extended Learning Rooms. 

• • 9th and 10th grade students will be spending most of their time completing standardized (MAP) testing in English and math. This will be valuable information in order to prepare and support them more effectively next year and beyond. In addition, they will have sessions to explore their interests and careers with the Da Vinci Institute staff as well as resources for mental health with guest speakers from Pepperdine.
  • 11th grade students will be in a series of sessions pertaining to career-related guest speakers, college admissions information, and leadership development activities in preparation for their last year in high school.
  • 12th grade students will be ramping up their preparation for graduation, which includes fun, celebratory activities (cap decorating, lei making, photo signing, etc.) as well as sexual and drug awareness education. We believe that this information is essential for seniors as they embark on the next steps in their lives.
    • CHYA Presentations: Dr. Green and Nurse Lucero will be presenting the health & sexual education curriculum (“CHYA”, or “California Healthy Youth Act”) to seniors on May 31st and June 1st. Click this link to read the notification letter from Dr. Green. If you have any questions about the content that will be covered, please email Dr. Green at egreen@davincischools.org. Parents have the right to “opt-out” of this presentation for their child; if you wish to do so, please email Saya Wai, DVS Dean of Students, at swai@davincischools.org. 
    • Drug Awareness and Prevention: Da Vinci Schools is aware and concerned about an increase in substance use and risky behavior in our communities. This mirrors trends that are being recognized across Los Angeles County and the nation. As part of our ongoing efforts to keep the health and well-being of your child and our school community a top priority, seniors will be participating in Drug Awareness and Prevention education on May 31st and June 1st. 

Week 36 Schedule:

Advisory Friday!

Important Upcoming Dates

• Monday, 5/29: Memorial Day Holiday, no School
• Tuesday, 5/30: 11th Grade Del Aire Park Field Trip, 9th Grade Ice Skating Field Trip
• Tuesday, 6/6: 9th Grade Del Aire Park Field Trip
• Thursday, 6/8: DVS Graduation at 5:00pm
• Summer School (for credit recovery): Session 1: June 13-June 30, Session 2: July 11-July 27
• School Calendar Link
• First Day of School for the 2023-2024 school year will be Monday, August 14th. 

5/12/23

The word to describe this week– is beautiful! It was beautiful to see all the love and appreciation from DVS students and families to our Teachers and Staff. Thank you to all of you for feeding us all week with notes, gifts, treats, snacks, and lots and lots of food! You really made teachers and staff feel like VIPs! Thank you! 

We also had our Senior Awards Night, it was beautiful to celebrate the many accomplishments and achievements of students in the class of 2023. It was a great evening of story-telling and celebrating students for all their hard work and contributions to our school and community. 

We also had a most memorable Community Dialogue celebrating AAPI month with beautiful dances representing Tonga, Tahiti, the Philippines, and Hawaii. Our students and staff did an amazing job representing and sharing their talent and culture with the whole school. 

Last, we would like to wish every mom out there a beautiful and Happy Mother’s Day! 

Week 35 Schedule:

Important Upcoming Dates

• Thursday, 5/18: School Site Council Meeting #4, 4:30-5:30pm using this Zoom Link.  
• Monday, 5/29: Memorial Day Holiday, no school
• Thursday, 6/8: DVS Graduation at 5:00pm
• Summer School (for credit recovery): Session 1: June 13-June 30, Session 2: July 11-July 27
• School Calendar Link
• First Day of School for the 2023-2024 school year will be Monday, August 14th. 

This was an exciting week for seniors as Monday was National Decision Day! We celebrated their achievements and post-high school plans with cheers, speeches, donuts, and a photo booth in the Black Box. Although knowing we only have a few more weeks with them is bittersweet, we are so proud of our seniors!

• Prom is today, May 5th at 6:00 at the Proud Bird. Contact kramos@davincischools.org with any questions.
• The 10th grade Ocho de Mayo Fiesta is next Monday, May 8th! 10th grade teachers have been communicating with students and families to contribute to the morning potluck festivities.
• May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Our DVS counselors kicked off the month with a photo booth, music, and giveaways at lunch this week. Students, check out the Forum whiteboard next week for more!
• Individual Post-DVS Planning Meeting for 11th grade students begin next week with Ms. Marquez (fmarquez@davincischools.org), the DVS College Counselor. Every Junior is expected to schedule a meeting and have at least one parent/guardian present. If you still need to schedule a meeting, please do so using this link.
• “Ghosted” Kaiser Play and Workshop: This week, 9th grade students participated in a two-part mental health and resilience program provided through Kaiser Permanente’s Thriving School Resilience in Schools Environment (RISE) initiative. Find out more about “Ghosted” and RISE here.
• National Teacher Appreciation Week is May 8-12th. If you are interested in coordinating or helping out with providing breakfast or lunch for staff, please use this SignUpGenius link to sign up or let Liz know at ediaz@davincischools.org. If you are able, we are also grateful for any gift card donations to be used as prizes and purchasing of supplies for staff appreciation week (no obligation, completely voluntary). You can make ecard donations to dvsappreciation@gmail.com or drop off gift card donations to the front office. Thank you in advance for your support! We also encourage students to show appreciation for your teachers, counselors, and staff in the following ways:
  • Monday, May 8th: Fan Mail– Shower your teachers with fan mail! Write a note or card with written words of why you are a fan of them.
  • Tuesday, May 9th:  Selfie and Autographs Day- ask your teachers for their autographs and get a selfie with them. Email the pic to that person. 
  • Wednesday, May 10th: Sweet Movie Treats- Offer a sweet treat for a teacher (boxed candies like at the movies, red vines, etc).
  • Thursday, May 11th: Salty Movie Snacks – Bring a salty snack for a teacher (their favorite popcorn, chips, etc.)
  • Friday, May 12th: Oscar Awards– Award your teacher with something that you enjoy and share with them why you enjoy it! 

Important Upcoming Dates

• Monday, 5/8: 10th grade Ocho de Mayo Fiesta
• Thursday, 5/11: Senior Awards Night 6:00pm (by invitation)
• Thursday, 5/18: School Site Council Meeting #4
• Thursday, 6/8: DVS Graduation at 5:00pm
• Summer School (for credit recovery): Session 1: June 13-June 30, Session 2: July 11-July 27
• School Calendar Link
• First Day of School for the 2023-2024 school year will be Monday, August 14th. 

Pictures Highlights

National Decision Day Celebration

PC: Kai Golston

Mental Health Awareness Month Photo Booth

PC: Kai Golston

Our community partner, South Bay Families Connected, offers our families a variety of youth wellness resources. For Mental Health Awareness Month, we feature their resource pages covering trending youth wellness topics on the minds of parents and caregivers:

• Supporting healthy social media and screen time management
• Recognizing and supporting mental health challenges
• Understanding and managing stress and anxiety
• Helping youth build healthy relationships and foster empathy and compassion
• Practicing mindful parenting

Visit our own Da Vinci Families Connected page for more youth wellness resources from Da Vinci Schools and SBFC