Da Vinci Science

Hi DVS Rising Juniors and Seniors,

The deadline to submit dual enrollment forms for BUS 101, Introduction to Business has been extended. We ask that all Dual Enrollment forms be submitted to Ms. Valle, cvalle@davincischools.org, by Tuesday, June 14th. 

• BUS 101- Intro To Business (formally known as BUS 25)
  • T/Th  3:30-4:55 (Live Online/Synchronous)

Just a reminder, if your student enrolled for the Dual Enrollment classes with El Camino College in Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 they DO NOT need to reapply for El Camino College, they only need to submit a Dual Enrollment form. If it is your first time enrolling in Dual Enrollment classes, you do need to complete an El Camino College application as well as the Dual Enrollment form.

Also, please make sure the 7-digit ECC ID # listed on the Dual Enrollment form is all numbers and no letters. The CCC ID is not the same ID as the ECC ID.

Need help with the application process? click here. 

For the course descriptions of the classes offered in Fall 2022, click here.

Next week is the final week of Season 13! We are proud of our students for doing an excellent job on their Presentations of Learning, demonstrating their mastery of course content and reflecting on the significance of their strengths and struggles in this first year back from “Zoom School”! We have a POL schedule on Monday and Tuesday, and a modified short-day schedule on Wednesday when students will attend each of their classes and end with a student-led community dialogue and time together with advisory families.

Our school nurse, Dr. Emily green, has asked us to advise families that DVS is experiencing high numbers of COVID infections (9th-13; 10th-6; 11th-4; 12th- 9; Staff- 1) that are linked to exposures on Grad Nite and 2 other possible off campus social gatherings. We have reported 32 student cases and 1 staff case since 5/20 (within a 14-day period). The COVID Compliance team has filed a “cluster” report with LA County Dept of Public Health who are investigating and will determine if an outbreak case is warranted and further mitigation strategies. We have been sending individual notices of close contact, but overall, consider your student exposed. We are going to continue monitoring/reporting new cases.

From now until graduation, we strongly recommend indoor masking and limiting close contacts. Please continue to test if symptomatic and 3-5 days after exposures and to overall monitor symptoms and choose activities wisely given the number of cases both in our school and in the community in general right now. We want everyone to make it to graduation and summer activities!

See testing info below.

• • Rapid covid tests are available at school sites during school hours, no appt needed. Student, please pre-register for testing here. It is a rapid test and results are available 15 minutes later.

• • PCR tests available at 201 N Douglas Street every Monday/Tuesday 815-315pm. Results available approx Weds pm. Pre-​registration required https://ihd-patient.preciseq.com/davinci-schools

• • Home Tests are available at school sites during school hours, please request from health office/front office.

Please monitor your health. If you child develops illness symptoms or tests positive for COVID-19, please stay home and notify the school. Signs and symptoms include:

• • Fever or chills
  • New Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea or vomiting

For current quarantine, isolation, and other COVID FAQs please see here.

Hello Da Vinci Scholars and Families,

A reminder that students who are interested in receiving 5 academic credits for summer internships/volunteer opportunities, must fill out the Unpaid Internship Agreement and submit a timesheet that demonstrates a completion of 60 hours of service. The Agreement must be turned in before the start of the internship/volunteer opportunity. The timesheet is due August 6, 2022. Please email all documents to Ms. Rodriguez at crodriguez@davincischools.org.

Building Beats is offering a Free Music Coding In-Person and Remote Masterclass for ages 13+. Students will learn how to code beats, melodies, and song structure using Javascript block-coding! By the end of this course, you’ll create your own beat and increase your computer science skills. To sign up, you must use the form that’s at the bottom of this website.

Girls Making Games is offering a free virtual game development workshop for the next generation of girl and non-binary game developers! Sign up here.

Workshop details:

• Date: Saturday, June 4th
• Time: 3pm-5pm ET / 12pm-3pm PT
• Location: Virtual, hosted on Zoom
• Tuition: Free
• Open to girls and non-binary individuals ages 8-18

It’s not too late to sign up for an internship with The Oppti Internship Placement Program! They offer students the opportunity to intern at different companies virtually all-year-round. Students are matched with companies based on their interests which can include Social Media Marketing, Public Relations, UI-UX, and more! You can be matched to work in sports, beauty, fitness, real estate, among other fields. Apply today – Limited Space is Available.

We are excited for the beginning of Presentations of Learning this week! POLs give students the opportunity to develop important speaking and presentation skills and are an opportunity for students to reflect publicly on their learning. Because these are formal presentations, students are expected to wear formal attire. Our POL days are shortened days with a 1:45pm dismissal time. All students will be dismissed from school at 1:45pm starting on Tuesday, 5/31.

• Parents & Guardians: We encourage all parents and guardians to come and watch your student’s POL, and please note the visitor policy: Visitors to Da Vinci Schools must show proof of either a COVID vaccination or negative PCR/Antigen test (taken within the last 72 hours); masking is strongly recommended. We also know that Presentations of Learning (POLs) can be a stressful time for students and their families. The two most important things you can do to help your student during their POL is (1) assure them that it is ok to make mistakes and (2) have them practice their POL many times to as many people in your household as possible.
• Students: Please know that this presentation is a great opportunity to practice public speaking in front of a live audience. This is an important skill to develop; we ask you to do your best, but we are not expecting perfection. Please practice your presentation for your friends and family as many times as you possibly can. The more you practice, the more confident you will feel on the day of your presentations.

Please note that Powerschool access is turned off while teachers complete final evaluations of students’ grades based on all work submitted by last week’s deadline.

Sincerely,

Steve Wallis, DVS Principal

We hope you have a terrific Memorial Day Weekend and wish to extend a special word of gratitude to all those who have served or are currently serving in our country’s armed forces. We are grateful for the safety and freedom we enjoy because of your service!

Next week is the beginning of Presentations of Learning! POLs give students the opportunity to develop their speaking and presentation skills and are an opportunity for students to reflect publicly on their learning. Because these are formal presentations, students are expected to wear formal attire. Any student in need of formal attire, please contact the front office and we will do our best to accommodate.

Students have been preparing and practicing for these important year-end professional presentations, and you can learn more about them in this document: Spring POLs Details & Policies.

Students will be participating in learning activities throughout the week and are expected to attend school weeks 37 and 38 from 8:10 am – to 1:45 pm.

Dear DVS Family,

The tragic shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas has shaken all of our nation and our school family. We are deeply saddened by the horrific and heartbreaking events, as surely you are as well. Our hearts are with every family affected by this tragedy, and with the entire Uvalde community as they respond and grieve. 

For educators, parents, and students, school violence is something we all feel deeply. We encourage all students and families too to reach out to our counselors if your children are in need of support.  Here are some resources that may be helpful as you navigate your classrooms in the wake of this violence:

Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers (National Association of School Psychologists)

Helping Children Cope with Frightening News (Child Mind Institute)

Coping in the Aftermath of a Shooting (American Counseling Association)

Trauma and Disaster Mental Health (American Counseling Association)

Teaching in the Wake of Violence (Facing History and Ourselves)

I want to reassure all of you that these events, while too common, are rare, and that our school is very safe. I join you in feelings of sadness today, but am encouraged by the collective strength of our school community.

Sincerely,

Steve Wallis, DVS Principal

Hello Da Vinci Scholars and Families,

Students who are interested in receiving 5 academic credits for summer internships/volunteer opportunities, must fill out the Unpaid Internship Agreement and submit a timesheet that demonstrates the completion of 60 hours of service. The Agreement must be turned in before the start of the internship/volunteer opportunity. The timesheet is due August 6, 2022. Please email all documents to Ms. Rodriguez at crodriguez@davincischools.org.

Are you interested in pursuing a career in the medical field? Learn more about the Da Vinci Schools + Stepful Certified Medical Assistant program. The program begins on July 25th. To learn more, contact Val Green (v.green@davincischools.org) or see this flyer.

> Be job ready in 5 months
> Program includes coursework, an internship, and coaching support
> Tuition-free
> Earn a CMA certificate

Loyola Marymount University is offering a free Financial Literacy program from June 20th to August 5th. This program is ideal for students who want to learn how to make healthy financial decisions. To register, please click here.

Da Vinci Schools is thrilled to announce the long-awaited soccer field project at 201 N. Douglas Street is moving forward this summer. On March 8, 2022, the Da Vinci Schools Board of Trustees approved $1.5 million in reserve funds designated to complete the soccer field.

“Both Da Vinci Schools and Wiseburn Unified share a mutually beneficial goal and desire to complete the soccer field project for our students, families and community. It’s been four and a half years since the campus opened. As a long-term user of the facility, Da Vinci decided to assume financial responsibility for the completion of the soccer field,” said Dr. Don Brann, Da Vinci’s Board President.

A formal Facilities Use Agreement (FUA) between the Wiseburn Unified School District and Da Vinci Schools calls for the construction of playing fields at the high schools campus for the benefit of Da Vinci students, the Wiseburn District, and the Wiseburn community. With enough reserve funding on hand, the Da Vinci Schools Board of Trustees voted to fund and complete the project with the District’s cooperation.

The soccer field project is projected to begin in Summer 2022. The project scope includes removal of a large amount of existing dirt (estimated at 3,600 yards), grading, installation of new synthetic turf, bleachers and a scoreboard, among other work. The soccer field project is anticipated to be completed in time for use during the 2022-23 soccer season.

Spring POLs are coming up! Students should have already received their presentation times and are working hard this week to prepare for them. Please see this link for details: Spring POLs Details & Policies. Students will be in presentation rooms and in extended learning rooms, participating in learning activities throughout the week. All students are expected to attend school weeks 37 and 38 from 8:10 am – to 1:45 pm. Please note early dismissal at 1:45 pm for Weeks 37 and 38. We look forward to seeing and hearing students’ presentations of learning!

We are delighted to share that Dr. Steve Wallis has been selected to serve as Executive Director of the Da Vinci Institute, effective July 1, 2022.

In this role, Steve will be responsible for continuing to build out formal structures for best practice sharing to internal and external changemakers who wish to accelerate 21st century learning and excellence. Steve’s work will include developing a strategy and system to build institutional memory around Da Vinci’s signature programs and practices, developing training and coaching programs for external school leaders interested in school start-up or redesign, implementing an administrative credentialing program, and developing a “Powered by Da Vinci Schools” platform, among other responsibilities.

As a co-founder of Da Vinci Schools, Steve has been instrumental in developing Da Vinci’s signature programs and practices. He brings extensive experience in education leadership, partnership development, and building strong school cultures. Steve recently earned his MBA and doctorate degree.

Steve will officially start in his new position on July 1, 2022. He will work closely with Megan Martin, the Director of Da Vinci Institute, to ensure a smooth transition over the coming months. He also will work closely with Allegra Johnson, Executive Director of Educational Services, and Crissel Rodriguez, Director of Real World Learning, to advance our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion practices.

We are excited to work with Steve in this new capacity.