Da Vinci Science

Hello senior families! Our last workshop in the “FAFSA Fridays Workshop Series” is THIS, Friday, February 7th from 6:00pm-7:30pm at Da Vinci Communications (DVC) in Room 3203 . Please see flyer below for details.  Please use the QR Code to register or you can register here for upcoming workshops. We hope to see you there!

We had a successful and wonderful  Neurodiversity Week! We are especially grateful to our Neurodiversity Student Committee and staff, who have planned, organized, and presented valuable information to the whole school. We are proud of our students for sharing their experiences and being articulate, honest, and knowledgeable about their identities and abilities. We have all gained a deeper understanding and appreciation for Neurodiversity.

Today, we also enjoyed having El Camino College professor and Dean Emeritus of Engineering visit our school to deepen our partnership. In addition, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo professors and students came on campus to provide guidance and hands-on learning with student projects in the Mechanical Engineering Pathway! 

Next week will be a four-day week. Friday, 2/7, is a PD day. However, there will be a Spring Dance that evening at 6:00. See details below!

Week 21 Schedule:

Week 21 Announcements:

• CLD day: The next CLD day is coming up Monday, February 10th! All students should have filled out the CLD survey to let us know where they will be and what workshops students signed up for. All students will need to fill  this Community Learning Day Attendance Form on 2/10 to receive attendance credit.
• DVS Families Coffee: This Wednesday, 2/5. NEW TIME 5:00-6:00 at this Zoom link. Topic: Internship and Volunteering Opportunites from Real World Learning Director, Crissel Rodriguez 
• Honors: work is available for many courses at DVS. Most honors courses are not a separate period but are integrated into the regular coursework. This could look like additional assignments and projects or the requirement to demonstrate higher levels of mastery and understanding. Below is the timeline for the Spring 2025 semester:

• • Honors Launch Week: Week 20 (1/27-1/31)
  • Honors Contracts due: Week 22 – Friday, 2/14
  • Honors Commitment Deadline: Week 27 – Friday, 3/21
  • Specific honors requirements for each course can be found in this Honors Programs & Contracts doc. Contract links will be updated after the Honors Launch week. 

• UCLA Blood Drive: Did you know that every unit of blood saves 3 lives? Sign up at this link to donate at our next Blood Drive on Friday, February 14th! Students who are 16 years old can participate, but will need to have a Parent Consent Form completed. They can get this from Mr. Besina.
• From DVS – Parent Association (DVS-PA): Next DVS PA meeting Wednesday, 2/19 at 6:30 on campus. We hope to see you there!
  • Advisory Fundraiser: We are still sponsoring our fundraiser for Advisory with hopes of distributing gift cards to Advisory teachers mid semester. Please consider donating a gift card in any amount to places like Target, Amazon, Trader Joes, etc. by sending it to DVSappreciation@gmail.com.  You can make a tax deductible monetary donation at https://davincischools.networkforgood.com/ Select 07 – DaVinci Science AND write “DVS PA Advisory Fundraiser” as the “Note for Donor Scroll.”  Learn more about Advisory and why DVS-PA is fundraising for Advisory Teachers HERE.
  • SAVE THE DATE – DVS-PA will be sponsoring our first community building event Sunday, March 23rd from 5-8pm for DVS Parents only.  More details to come soon.  
• Da Vinci Science Parents Facebook Group: Join this family-facilitated Facebook group by searching “Da Vinci Science Parents” and look for a green This is Home banner to join.

• DV’s Spring Dance: “The Cupid Shuffle” Don’t miss out on a fun-filled night of music, dancing, and memories! Get your tickets early to save, and we’ll see you on the dance floor!
  • When: Friday, March 7th, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, with a sensory-friendly hour from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
  • Where: Da Vinci West Plaza (201 Campus)
  • Ticket Information:

• • Presale: $25 (available through MySchoolBucks)
  • Deadline for Online Purchase: Thursday, February 6th, at 11:59 PM
  • At-the-Door Price: $30 (Friday, February 7th)
  • Dress Code: Semi-formal (dress up a little, but keep it comfortable!)
  • Who Can Attend: Only currently enrolled Da Vinci students (grades 9-12) – no outside guests permitted

• • We are using MySchoolBucks for the purchase of dance tickets and other school activities. Here are some resources you can use to set up your account, if you’ve never used it:

• • • Slides explaining MySchoolBucks
    • Video Tutorial explaining MySchoolBucks
    • Food Trucks will be at the event. Students are encouraged to bring money to purchase a meal from the food trucks. [Check out the event flyer here.]

Important Upcoming Dates:

• Wednesday, 2/5: DVS Families Coffee Time @ 5:00pm at this Zoom link
• Friday, 2/7: No School – Professional Development
• Friday, 2/7: Spring Dance
• Monday, 2/10: Community Learning Day 
• Wednesday, 2/12: Parent Advisory Committee Meeting #4 at 4:15 at this Zoom link
• Friday, 2/14 Honors Contracts due
• Monday, 2/17: President’s Day Holiday, No school
• Wednesday, 2/19: DVS Parent Association Meeting 6:30 pm on campus
• Friday, 3/14: PD Day, No School 
• Friday-Sunday, 3/14-3/16 FRC Los Angeles Regionals @ Da Vinci
• Monday-Thursday, 3/17-3/20: SLC week

Highlights From the Week:

Neurodiversity Week

Honors Physics-Breaking News presentation about climate change

Teletaube winners of Neurodiversity Kahoot!

El Camino Professor of Engineering and Emeritus Dean of Engineering visit Da Vinci Science for continued partnership and collaboration

Cal Poly SLO fourth-year students work with our Mechanical Engineering students on their projects

 

Helpful Links:

DV/Wiseburn Athletics  

DVS Planning Calendar

DVS News YouTube Channel

DVS Announcements Slide Deck

Da Vinci Photos Link

It was a very busy four-day week as students started their first week of Semester 2 Seminars. Hopefully, students are getting back into the swing of things with their full schedules. Week 20 is a full, five-day week with a “normal” schedule.

We are also looking forward to our Neurodiversity Celebration Week! The purpose of Neurodiversity Celebration Week is to celebrate how unique and diverse our brains can be. Everyone’s brain works in its special way, and there’s no one correct way to think, learn, or experience the world. We’re celebrating all the different ways people experience life, focusing on understanding disabilities like ADHD, autism, dyslexia, Tourette Syndrome, and more. A special thank you to our Speech Pathologist, Lori Barrett, counselors, and the Neurodiversity Student Committee for planning this special week for our school.

Week 20 Schedule:

 

Week 20 Announcements:  

• Parent Advisory Committee: PAC meeting #3 will be this Wednesday, 1/29 at 4:15 at this Zoom link (Topic: School Safety Plan)
• UCLA Blood Drive: Did you know that every unit of blood saves 3 lives? Sign up at this link to donate at our next Blood Drive on Friday, February 14th! Students who are 16 years old can participate, but will need to have a Parent Consent Form completed. They can get this from Mr. Besina.
• Black College Expo. DVS is going to the Black College Expo! All students are welcome! Space is limited so please see Ms. Marquez ASAP for permission slip.
  When: Saturday February 1st.
  Time: Leaving DVS at 9am, returning 1:45pm
  Location: SoFi Stadium
  Cost: Transportation provided
• Da Vinci Schools Surveys: Parents/guardians and students, you should have received an email from Kelvin Education during the first week of November with a survey link to provide feedback. Please look in your inbox for “Kelvin Education” to fill out the survey. Surveys close on January 31st.

• Honors work is available for many courses at DVS. Most honors courses are not a separate period but are integrated into the regular coursework. This could look like additional assignments and projects or the requirement to demonstrate higher levels of mastery and understanding. Below is the timeline for the Spring 2025 semester:

• • Launch Week: Week 20 (1/27-1/31)
  • Contracts due: Week 22 – Friday, 2/14
  • Commitment Deadline: Week 27 – Friday, 3/21
  • Specific honors requirements for each course can be found in this Honors Programs & Contracts doc. Contract links will be updated after the Honors Launch week. 

• Da Vinci Science Parents Facebook Group: Join this family-facilitated Facebook group by searching “Da Vinci Science Parents” and look for a green This is Home banner to join.
• From DVS – Parent Association (DVS-PA): Thank you to those who came out to our DVS PA meeting this week, it was to spend some quality time with fellow DVS Parents. We covered a lot at the DVS-PA meeting. You can find meeting notes HERE.   
  • Advisory Fundraiser: We are still sponsoring our fundraiser for Advisory with hopes of distributing gift cards to Advisory teachers mid semester. Please consider donating a gift card in any amount to places like Target, Amazon, Trader Joes, etc. by sending it to DVSappreciation@gmail.com.  You can make a tax-deductible monetary donation at https://davincischools.networkforgood.com/. Select 07 – DaVinci Science AND write “DVS PA Advisory Fundraiser” as the “Note for Donor Scroll.”  Learn more about Advisory and why DVS-PA is fundraising for Advisory Teachers HERE.
  • SAVE THE DATE – DVS-PA will be sponsoring our first community building event Sunday, March 23rd from 5-8pm for DVS Parents only.  More details to come soon.  

Important Upcoming Dates:

• Wednesday, 2/5: DVS Families Coffee Time @ 5:00pm at this Zoom link
• Friday, 2/7: No School – Professional Development
• Friday, 2/7: Spring Dance
• Monday, 2/10: Community Learning Day 
• Wednesday, 2/12: Parent Advisory Committee Meeting #4 at 4:15 at this Zoom link
• Friday, 2/14 Honors Contracts due
• Monday, 2/17: President’s Day Holiday, 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:

TeleBees Musical Madness and Advanced Physics collecting data for Things Rampin Up! Energy Lab

Advanced Physics Energy Escape Room

It’s hard to believe that this was only our first week back from break, but the students did a great job jumping back into the swing of things with full schedules, new learnings, and positive Advisory and Grade Level time. This week was also a special opportunity for our DV community to come together and support victims impacted by the LA fires. Together, 2,012 lunches, water bottles, snacks, and household items were provided to those in need. Many thanks to our students and families who have come together to support wildfire relief! 

There is no school on Monday, January 20th, in honor of Martin Luther King Holiday. We are grateful for his pivotal role in the civil rights movement and his legacy for equality, justice, and nonviolence. 

Week 19 Schedule:

Week 19 Announcements:  

• Parent Association: We’re excited to have our January meeting in person and on campus at 6:30 pm this coming Wed, Jan 22nd.  Join us to reconnect or connect for the first time and make some decisions about our projects for this semester, including our first community-building event coming up in March! 

• Da Vinci Schools Surveys: We value your voice and input. Parents/guardians and students, you should have received an email from Kelvin Education during the first week of November with a survey link to provide feedback. Please look in your inbox for “Kelvin Education” to complete the survey. Students will see a dog icon on their DV Google accounts in the Chrome browser when the surveys are ready to be taken. Thank you for taking the time to provide this valuable feedback. Surveys close on January 31st.

• Seminars: Students had the opportunity to select their seminars for semester 2 this week. Seminars will begin next week on Tuesday, 1/21, and students will receive their printed schedules in advisory that afternoon. 
• Neurodiversity Celebration Week: 1/27-1/31

 

Important Upcoming Dates: 

• Monday, 1/20: No School – MLK Jr. Day
• Wednesday, 1/22: DVS Parent Association meeting at 6:30
• Wednesday, 1/29: Parent Advisory Committee meeting at 4:15
• Friday, 2/7: No School – Professional Development
• Friday, 2/7: Spring Dance
• Monday, 2/10: Community Learning Day 
• Monday, 2/17: President’s Day Holiday, No school

 

Some Highlights from the Week:

Team 12 gave awards during Grade Level Time this week. Congrats and great job to our award winners!

Sy Surfers joined the Da Vinci community efforts to make lunches for workers and victims of LA fires

Calculus students take data on a ball rolling down a ramp to experiment with instantaneous velocity

World History students renegotiating the terms of the Berlin Conference in an intro activity for Imperialism Project

 

 

Helpful Links:

DV/Wiseburn Athletics  

DVS Planning Calendar

DVS News YouTube Channel

DVS Announcements Slide Deck

Da Vinci Photos Link

Rivet School invites you to join our virtual information session on Wednesday, January 22nd at 6:00 pm.

 

Date: Wednesday, January 22nd at 6:00 pm

Location: Virtual Session (details provided upon RSVP)

Link to RSVP: HERE

 

In partnership with Da Vinci Schools, our Rivet School Bridge Program offers a supportive and free college and career experience. Da Vinci Seniors who choose to pursue their bachelor’s degree through Rivet School will enroll at no cost to the student or their family.

 

Why Rivet School?

• 1:1 Support: We understand the unique needs of students and provide flexibility with structured accountability.
• Affordable College Pathway: Students partnering with Rivet School through DaVinci Schools enjoy a cost-free college experience.
• Designed for Success: Our program is crafted to guide students seamlessly toward graduation and future career success.

 

Curious if Rivet School is the right fit for your student? RSVP for our upcoming info session to meet our Rivet School College Coach, and discover more about the program and how it can shape a brighter future for your senior.

 

Happy New Year, DVS Families,

We hope that the new year finds you healthy and safe. We are excited to welcome our students back to campus on Monday, 1/13! Classes begin at 8:50am. Students will start the day in their Advisory classes. 

Our hearts go out to all of those in our community who have been affected by the ongoing wildfires in LA. We are committed to helping our community navigate this challenging time. Please see this Resources Regarding Wildfires document for resources to support those affected by the wildfires and preparedness resources. 

Please also note the Central Office email regarding the PowerSchool Cyber security incident. This email was sent Friday, January 10, at approx. 3:35 pm. PowerSchool is working earnestly to protect student and staff data.

Week 18 Schedule:

 

Week 18 announcements:

• DVS Family Coffee Time: This month’s DVS Families Coffee Time will be held on Wednesday, January 15th, from 4:15-5:15. Topic: Teenage Mental Health & Wellness. Join us in-person at DVS or use this Zoom link.

• Seminars: Students will be asked to select Semester 2 seminars on Monday, 1/13, during Advisory. Students have the opportunity to request a seminar change or pick a new seminar if their seminar is not yearlong.

• FAFSA Friday Workshop Series for Senior Families are held on the DV Communications (DVC) floor in Room 3203 and is open to all Da Vinci Schools senior families. Participants should register here for ONE of the following dates as all workshops will cover the same material. See more information on this post on our blog. There are two more workshop dates:

• Friday, January 17th, 2025 (6-7:30 p.m.)
• Friday, February 7th, 2025 (6-7:30 p.m.)

 

Important Upcoming Dates:

• Monday, 1/13: School Resumes & Semester 2 Begins
• Wednesday, 1/15: DVS Families Coffee  Time 4:15. Topic: Teenage Mental Health & Wellness
• Monday, 1/20: No School – MLK Jr. Day
• Wednesday, 1/22: DVS Parent Association meeting 6:30-7:30, DVS Campus
• Wednesday, 1/29: Parent Advisory Committee meeting at 4:15
• Friday, 2/7: No School – Professional Development
• Friday, 2/7: Spring Dance
• Monday, 2/10: Community Learning Day 

 

Helpful Links:

DV/Wiseburn Athletics  

DVS Planning Calendar

DVS News YouTube Channel

DVS Announcements Slide Deck

Da Vinci Photos Link

Winter Break has begun! From our Family to Yours, “Happy Holidays From DVS!” We sincerely hope our students and families have a wonderful Winter Break– filled with laughter, fun, love, rest, and quality time with loved ones.

Winter Break Recap & Announcements: 

• We had a successful POL week- Our students did a terrific job articulating their learning and thinking through a formal presentation, and seniors survived a week of Finals! We also had Extended Learning Rooms, including guest speakers from The Lakers Training Facility, Paws for Pets visit, and Whole Human Wellness. Thank you to those who were in attendance all week. Students in attendance every day during the last week of school were entered into to win a Free Jersey Mike’s Coupon! 

• Report Cards: Semester 1 Report Cards will be mailed home at the end of next week; we will restore PowerSchool access at that time as well. 
• DVS Front Office: The DVS front office will be closed for break from Friday, 12/20 through Monday, 1/6. However, our front office will be available by phone on 12/27. Our office opens again on Tuesday, 1/7.
• First Day of Semester 2: The Spring 2025 semester begins for students on Monday, 1/13. Students will start the day with their Advisory family.
• DVS Parent Association: DVSpa is supporting our Advisory Teachers through the Advisory Fundraiser again this year.  You can make a year end tax deductible donation right now through the DaVinci Schools “Give” tab (https://davincischools.networkforgood.com/) and Select 07 – DaVinci Science AND add DVS PA Advisory Fundraiser as the “Note for Donor Scroll.” You may also donate a gift card in any amount to places like Target, Amazon, Trader Joes, etc. by sending it to DVSappreciation@gmail.com.  Learn more about Advisory and why DVSpa is fundraising for Advisory Teachers HERE.
• FAFSA Friday Workshop Series for Senior Families are held on the DV Communications (DVC) floor in Room 3203 and is open to all Da Vinci Schools senior families. Participants should register here for ONE of the following dates as all workshops will cover the same material. See more information on this post on our blog. There are two more workshop dates:

• Friday, January 17th, 2025 (6-7:30 p.m.)
• Friday, February 7th, 2025 (6-7:30 p.m.)

Important Upcoming Dates: 

• Winter Break 12/23-1/10
• Monday, 1/13 First Day of 2nd Semester
• Wednesday, 1/15 DVS Families Coffee Time @ 4:15
• Tuesday, 1/21 First Day of Seminars for 2nd Semester

 

Great week of POLs!

Students with perfect attendance during POL week were recognized and eligible for free Jersey Mike’s!

9th Grade Candy Cane Casino to wind down after POLs

PAWS to share to de-stress after a long semester!

 

Last Day of the Semester Community Dialogue

 

 

 

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:

 

Today was the day of regular classes for the semester! Students were busy (and still busy) finishing final projects, assessments, and deliverables. With POLs next week, the light is at the end of the tunnel for Semester 1. We encourage all students to do continue to do their best and finish the semester well, and then they will be more than ready to enjoy their three-week winter break!  

Week 17 Announcements:

• Attendance Matters: As Winter Break and the end of the semester approach, we are grateful to our families, students, and staff who support and emphasize the importance of daily school attendance. The last day of semester 1 is Thursday, 12/19, and although every day next week (12/16-12/19) ends at 2:25pm, students are expected to be in attendance at school from 8:50am-2:25pm. 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 counselor.

• Presentations of Learning: Presentations of Learning (POLs) for our 9th-11th grade students are next week 12/16-12/19 (Week 17), while 12th grade students will be taking finals. Click here for an information sheet for families with details about presentations of learning, including schoolwide policies. We encourage 9th, 10th, and 11th parents and guardians to attend your student’s POL.

• • 9th Grade POLs
    • 9th Grade Fall 2024 POL Schedule
    • 9th Grade POL Instructions: English, Spanish, Spanish Native, PLTW/Physics, Math
  • 10th Grade POLs
    • 10th Grade Fall 2024 POL Schedule
    • 10th Grade Fall 2024 POL Directions (DV account required to access)
  • 11th Grade POLs
    • 11th Grade Fall 2024 POL Schedule (DV account required to access)
    • 11th Grade Fall 2024 POL Directions, Info Recording (DV account required to access)
  • 12th Grade Fall 2024 Final Exam Schedule
    • Mon: Government & Medical Interventions
    • Tue: Advanced Calculus, Calculus, Advanced Statistics, & Cognitive Neuroscience/Psychology
    • Wed: English & Advanced Physics
• Grades and Report Cards: PowerSchool access has been disabled during final grade processing. Teachers will be working on final grades until Friday, December 20th. We appreciate your patience. Access will be returned, and report cards will be mailed home once grades are finalized for the Fall 2024 semester. 
• DVS Parent Association: DVSpa is supporting our Advisory Teachers through the Advisory Fundraiser again this year.  You can make a year end tax deductible donation right now through the DaVinci Schools “Give” tab (https://davincischools.networkforgood.com/) and Select 07 – DaVinci Science AND add DVS PA Advisory Fundraiser as the “Note for Donor Scroll.” You may also donate a gift card in any amount to places like Target, Amazon, Trader Joes, etc. by sending it to DVSappreciation@gmail.com.  Learn more about Advisory and why DVSpa is fundraising for Advisory Teachers HERE.
• FAFSA Friday Workshop Series for Senior Families are held on the DV Communications (DVC) floor in Room 3203 and is open to all Da Vinci Schools senior families. Participants should register here for ONE of the following dates as all workshops will cover the same material. See more information on this post on our blog. There are two more workshop dates:

• Friday, January 17th, 2025 (6-7:30 p.m.)
• Friday, February 7th, 2025 (6-7:30 p.m.)

• College Rep Visit– The session will be held in Mr. Perez’s Room during lunchtime. Students from all grade levels (9-12) are welcome!
  • Monday, December 16th:Yale University

Week 17 Schedule: 

 

Important Upcoming Dates: 

• Monday-Friday, 12/16-12/19 Presentations of Learning / Senior Finals
• Thursday, 12/19 Last Day of Semester 1 & Community Dialogue
• Friday, 12/20 PD Day
• Winter Break 12/23-1/10
• Monday, 1/13 First Day of 2nd Semester
• Wednesday, 1/15 DVS Families Coffee Time @ 4:15
• Friday, 1/17 FAFSA Fridays Workshop Series #3
• Monday, 1/20 MLK Jr. Day Holiday – No School
• Tuesday, 1/21 First Day of Seminars for 2nd Semester

 

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 Annual Griffith Observatory Field Trip! Congrats and great job to all award winners.

12th Grade Advanced Physics presenting Westy’s World projects

Folklorico Club did an amazing job dancing and hosting the “Posada” tonight, with a special guest from Santa!

We have two more weeks left of the semester! Students returned from break rested and refreshed and seemed ready to make the final push to the end of the semester. We also had our last week of seminars for Semester 1. Thank you, staff and students, for a fun and meaningful semester of seminars. Seminars provide students with varied learning opportunities and engagement with activities beyond core academic subject areas. We look forward to next semester’s seminar choices.

We also had a nice DVS Family Coffee Time this past Wednesday with the topic of Mastery Based Grading, Canvas, and PowerSchool. If you missed this month’s coffee, we hope to see you at the next Parent Association social gathering on Dec. 11th and/or the next DVS Families Coffee on Jan. 17th. 

This week and next will be busy with end-of-semester assignments, projects, assessments, finals, and POL planning. We will then head into POL week to end the semester on Dec. 19th. We encourage students to continue doing their best to finish the semester well.

Week 16 Announcements:

• Presentations of Learning: Presentations of Learning (POLs) for our 9th-11th grade students will be 12/16-12/19 (Week 17), while 12th grade students will be taking finals. Click here for an information sheet for families with details about presentations of learning. We encourage 9th, 10th, and 11th parents and guardians to attend your student’s POL
• Math Tutoring: There will be free peer math tutoring Monday-Thursday at lunch this week in the Math Hub. Tutoring in all subjects is also available after school with our Academic Coaches every Monday-Thursday after school.
• DVS Parent Association will have our Wednesday, December 11th meeting/social at Five Point Five Brewing Co, 137 Nevada St. in El Segundo, from 7 – 8:30pm.  Come join and connect with other DVS parents as we celebrate the season and share ideas to celebrate our Advisories.  Feel free to come and go as you need at this open house style gathering. 
  • If you are interested in being a part of the parent association, please see this  Parent Advisory Email for more information and sign-ups. Parent Association is still looking for at least two parent representatives from each Advisory- this could be you! 
• Da Vinci Science Parents Facebook Group: Join this family-facilitated Facebook group by searching “Da Vinci Science Parents” and look for a green This is Home banner to join.
• Free Executive Functioning Webinar: All Da Vinci parents/guardians and staff are invited to Whole Human Wellness’s Executive Functioning Webinar on Tuesday, December 10th from 6:30pm-7:30pm. This webinar is created for parents of pre teens, teens, and young adults, and is hosted by Nikki Wendel, who is the Whole Human Wellness Educational Consultant. You can read more about Nikki’s services here. RSVP at this link. We hope to see you all there!

• FAFSA Friday Workshop Series for Senior Families are held on the DV Communications (DVC) floor in Room 3203 and is open to all Da Vinci Schools senior families. Participants should register here for ONE of the following dates as all workshops will cover the same material. See more information on this post on our blog. The next FAFSA info. Night will be:
  • Friday, January 17th, 2025 (6-7:30 p.m.)
  • Friday, February 7th, 2025 (6-7:30 p.m.)
• DV Performing Arts Program: 
  • WDVPA Seminar Night: Come celebrate with all of our Performing Arts seminar classes as they put on their final end-of-semester showcases to highlight everything they have been working on since September. Drum Ensemble, Stagecraft, Music Production, and Acting (Stage and On-Camera) will be in the Blackbox on Tue, 12/10 at 6pm. Admission is FREE—with a $5 suggested donation.
  • Studio Orchestra Winter Concert: Join us for a winter celebration of instrumental music, featuring student Bands, WDV Studio Orchestra, and WUSD Symphonic Band! The Studio Orchestra WInter Concert will take place in the Blackbox on Wed, 12/11 at 6pm. Admission is FREE—with a $5 suggested donation.
  • WDVPA Winter Showcase: You are invited to the Wiseburn Da Vinci Performing Arts Winter Showcase, a heartwarming evening of music and theatre featuring performances by the TK-8 Choir and Theatre groups, the Voices of Da Vinci Choir, and the high school Musical Theatre cast of “GREASE”. The WDVPA Winter Showcase will take place at the El Segundo Performing Arts Center on Fri, 12/13 at 6:30pm. Admission is FREE—with a $5 suggested donation.

Week 16 Schedule: 

Important Upcoming Dates: 

• Wednesday, 12/11 DVS Parent Association Meeting/Social @ 7:00 pm at Five Point Brewery
• Friday, 12/13 11th Grade Griffith Park & Observatory Field Trip
• Monday-Friday, 12/16-12/19 Presentations of Learning / Senior Finals
• Thursday, 12/19 Last Day of Semester 1 & Community Dialogue
• Monday, 1/16 Semester 2 begins 

 

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: 

ESPN (El Segundo Physics Network) Science of Sports Exhibition! Students did an excellent job presenting the physics behind their favorite sports!

ASL Seminar finished with students signing along to Christmas songs in ASL!

10th grade college visits to CSULB, Cal State Dominguez Hills, and Cal Poly Pomona. Students were guided by DVS Alumni who are now successfully attending those colleges!

 

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving! We had an eventful and full week of learning, safety, fun, and gratitude. We love and appreciate all the thoughtfulness, generosity, and time that went into gifting DVS staff with beautiful gratitude baskets. Thank you to our DVS Parent Association for organizing these beautiful baskets. Thank you to our Parent Advisory Council for meeting this week and providing valuable feedback for our school. When our staff is asked why they love working here, the response is the joy of getting to know your students and having them in class every day. Thank you for all of your support and trust in our DVS staff! 

On behalf of the DVS Staff, we wish all of our students and families a Happy Thanksgiving!

Announcements & Reminders for Week 15:

• DVS Front Office Holiday Hours: DVS office will be open on Monday, 11/25 and Tuesday, 11/26 from 9:00am-12:00pm by phone. 
• Presentations of Learning: Presentations of Learning (POLs) for our 9th-11th grade students will be 12/16-12/19 (Week 17), while 12th grade students will be taking finals. All POLs and senior finals will be scheduled between Monday 12/16 and Thursday 12/19. Specific information about the format, requirements, and preparation process for POLs and finals will continue to be shared to students via Canvas, during Targeted Support, and in individual classes. Click here for an information sheet for families with details about presentations of learning. We encourage 9th, 10th, and 11th parents and guardians to attend your student’s POL. 
• DVS Parent Association: The DVS Parent Association is still looking to grow its parent community. We are looking for at least two parents from Advisory. If you want to participate in the parent association, please see this  Parent Advisory Email for more information and sign-ups. Once again, thank you for your engagement and support! 

• Da Vinci Science Parents Facebook Group: The Da Vinci Science parent/guardian group on Facebook is meant for current Da Vinci Science parents/guardians to connect, ask questions, and build community with each other. Please note that this is a family-facilitated group, and anything posted is not directly sponsored by DVS or its staff. Search “Da Vinci Science Parents” and look for a green This is Home banner to join.

•  FAFSA Friday Workshop Series for Senior Families: Da Vinci Schools is excited to offer practical, hands-on FAFSA workshops to our senior families. See more information about the workshop in this post on our blog. This will be held on the DV Communications (DVC) floor in Room 3203 and is open to all Da Vinci Schools senior families. Participants should register here for ONE of the following dates as all workshops will cover the same material.
  • Friday, November 22nd, 2024 (6-7:30 p.m.)
  • Friday, December 6th, 2024 (6-7:30 p.m.) *Ayuda en Español*
  • Friday, January 17th, 2025 (6-7:30 p.m.)
  • Friday, February 7th, 2025 (6-7:30 p.m.)
• Da Vinci Schools Fall Surveys: Parents/guardians and students should have received an email from Kelvin Education with a survey link to provide feedback. We appreciate your time and value your feedback. Parent surveys will close 12/6
• DV Performing Arts Program Announcements: 
  • The Da Vinci Schools Song Contest: Submissions close 12/1, winners announced on 12/15. Please click here for submissions and full contest rules + regulations.
  • The “Voices of Da Vinci” Choir present: “Fam Jam”: Join the “Voices of Da Vinci” Choir for their first-ever winter concert: “Fam Jam” in the Blackbox on Thu, 12/5 at 6pm. Admission is FREE—with a $5 suggested donation.
  • Studio Orchestra Winter Concert: Please join us for a winter celebration of instrumental music, featuring student Bands, WDV Studio Orchestra, and WUSD Symphonic Band! The Studio Orchestra Winter Concert will take place in the Blackbox on Wed, 12/11, at 6pm. Admission is FREE—with a $5 suggested donation.
  • WDVPA Winter Showcase: You are invited to the Wiseburn Da Vinci Performing Arts Winter Showcase, a heartwarming evening of music and theatre featuring performances by the TK-8 Choir and Theatre groups, the Voices of Da Vinci Choir, and the high school Musical Theatre cast of “GREASE”. The WDVPA Winter Showcase will occur at the El Segundo Performing Arts Center on Fri, 12/13 at 6:30pm. Admission is FREE—with a $5 suggested donation.
• Family Communication Workshop Resources: Thank you to the families who attended the first Family Communication Workshop run by therapists from Whole Human Wellness this week! Even if you could not attend, Whole Human Wellness is graciously sharing these helpful tips and information discussed in the workshop with the Da Vinci community: Parent Resources & Tips (Spanish version), Teen Reflection Activity. Stay tuned-More workshops are in the works for second semester!

 

Week 15 Schedule (12/2-12/6):

Important Upcoming Dates: 

• Monday – Friday, 11/25 – 11/29 Thanksgiving Break
• Monday, 12/02 10th Grade College Field Trip
• Wednesday, 12/04 DVS Families Coffee Time @ 4:15 in-person or on Zoom
• Friday, 12/06 FAFSA Fridays Workshop Series #2 @ 6pm in DVC Room 3203
• Wednesday, 12/11 DVS Parent Association Meeting/Social @ 5:30pm
• Friday, 12/13 11th Grade Griffith Park & Observatory Field Trip
• Monday-Friday, 12/16-12/19 Presentations of Learning / Senior Finals
• Thursday, 12/19 Last Day of Semester 1 & Community Dialogue

 

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:

Advisory Fun! Candy Sushi, Mafia, Pringles Challenge, and Gratitude Pumpkins

We are so proud of DV’s Youth & Government. They did a great job at their 9th annual Bill Hearing Night. Each delegate represented their bill articulately and eloquently.

We are looking forward to improved Healthcare legislation led by our Y&G delegates.