Da Vinci Science

Hello seniors!

Here is an upcoming scholarship opportunity for you to apply to! Sandpipers has provided financial assistance to college-bound students since 1941 and is the oldest continuing aid program in the South Bay. Supporting more than 50 students per year, the program is unique in funding qualified recipients throughout the four continuous years of their undergraduate studies.  View the video about the Scholarship Program here: https://www.sandpipers.org/scholarships

High school seniors living in the South Bay (both citizens and eligible non-citizens as defined by the U.S. Department of Education) are eligible to apply for a Sandpipers Scholarship for the 2022-23 school year. Detailed eligibility requirements are stated below.

• U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen (as defined by the U.S. Department of Education in The Student Guide)
•   Cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher
• Permanent resident of the South Bay area of Southern California (roughly bounded by the 105 and 110 freeways)
• Students residing outside the South Bay area are eligible if they attend a high school in the defined South Bay area
• Demonstrate a financial need

The entire Sandpipers Scholarship Application is online and can now be accessed with this link: https://app.smarterselect.com/programs/78786-Sandpipers

All applications are due on Monday, January 31, 2022 at 5 PM, no exceptions.

Note: children and grandchildren of Sandpipers’ members are not eligible.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your counselor. 

Just a reminder, our weekly Wednesday office hours for parents and guardians is today from 4:30-5:30pm! Please feel free to drop in and say hello, ask any questions you have, and share your ideas and perspectives with us!

Here’s the link: https://tinyurl.com/SteveGraceOfficeHours (no password required)

It was another terrific week at DVS with seminars and office hours starting back up, and our students continue to do an excellent job following our COVID protocols to keep our community safe! Next week is a full 5-day week, and Zoom parent office hours will be on Wednesday at 4:30 as usual.

Have a terrific weekend!

Dear DVS Families, we hope you all are well! It has been great to see students back on campus – we are proud of the resilience of our students and staff, and we eagerly look forward to the healthy and safe return of our students who were unable to be at school this week! Next Monday is a school holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and seminars will resume on Wednesday. We will also have our next School Site Council meeting on Wednesday at 4:30pm via Zoom in place of our normal parent office hours.

We appreciate everyone’s efforts to keep school safe by complying with mask regulations and distance precautions, and for staying home if you are experiencing any COVID symptoms or not feeling well. Students can also take a free COVID test here at school during school hours.

If your student is going to be absent from school, we ask that you email Ms. Alvarez in our front office at balvarez@davincischools.org to let us know. If possible, students should continue to engage in whatever learning and work that they can so that there is less to catch up with upon returning. If a student is absent, they should do the following:
1. Check their Grade Level Tracker for assignments (Grade 9   Grade 10   Grade 11   Grade 12)
2. Check each teacher’s Google Classroom for class information, documents, and teachers’ availability for Zoom Office Hours – join teachers’ Zoom office hours if possible!
4. Check school email daily and email teachers with any specific questions or needs for additional support

We are here for you and want to be as helpful as possible in this challenging time – please don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know how we can support you!

Steve & Grace will be holding weekly “office hours” for parents this semester on Wednesdays from 4:30-5:30pm starting today! Please feel free to drop in and say hello, ask any questions you have, and share your ideas and perspectives with us!

Here’s the link: https://tinyurl.com/SteveGraceOfficeHours (no password required)

I hope your families are all healthy and well-rested from our break – we are excited to welcome students back to campus for school on Monday morning! Students will begin the day in their Advisory classes where they will receive their new class schedules and important information related to updated COVID safety protocols and practices. (Please note that students’ schedules may have changed for second semester as we balance classes.) 

For students who are unable to come to school, class information and assignments will continue to be available via Google Classroom and in grade-level assignment tracker sheets (Grade 9   Grade 10   Grade 11   Grade 12). Students can also contact their teachers about their availability for virtual office hours via Zoom. Please contact Brittany Alvarez in our office at balvarez@davincischools.org to notify us if your child is going to be absent from school.

COVID-19 Health & Safety Information

As we prepare for the return to school next week, we are cognizant of the spread of COVID-19, and in particular, the Omicron variant. We strongly encourage students to take a COVID test prior to returning to campus beginning Monday, January 10, 2022. When you complete the test, please report your test results using this link. A negative test is not required for students and staff to return to school on January 10, but in the event your child exhibits any flu-like or cold symptoms, your child should get tested and remain at home. 

The following safety measures are now in place at all Da Vinci schools:

• Staff are required to wear upgraded masks (three-ply surgical masks or higher-level PPE).
• On-site rapid testing for students with exposure or symptoms will resume for Da Vinci students January 10, 2022 during regular testing hours 8:15am-3:45pm daily. Students should pre-register here if this is their first time testing at school.
• Masking is now required for all outdoor activities where physical distancing is not feasible, except while eating or drinking, due to the new health order from the LACDPH. Students are strongly recommended to wear masks that are well-fitting, non-cloth masks of multiple layers of non-woven material with a nose wire.
• COVID-19 testing is required for all students and staff who are close contacts of a person who has tested positive for COVID due to a school-based exposure, regardless of vaccination or booster status.

We continue to monitor the new protocols for TK-12 schools in a health order and a new exposure management plan from the Los Angeles County Public Health officials to ensure appropriate mitigation strategies are in place during this surge in COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant. 

Through this challenging and uncertain time, and we appreciate your support as we work to keep DVS open safely for our kids to learn!

• Masking is now required for all outdoor activities where physical distancing is not feasible, except while eating or drinking, due to the new health order from the LACDPH. Students are strongly recommended to wear masks that are well-fitting, non-cloth masks of multiple layers of non-woven material with a nose wire.
• COVID-19 testing is required for all students and staff who are close contacts of a person who has tested positive for COVID due to a school-based exposure, regardless of vaccination or booster status. Affected employees and students may participate in testing at their school site (more info below)
• Staff are required to wear upgraded masks (three-ply surgical masks or higher-level PPE)

• Pick up an At-Home COVID Test Kit on Thursday or Friday of this week. This drive-thru event will take place at 201 N. Douglas Street and is open to families from all Da Vinci school sites:
• Thursday, January 6: 3:00-6:00pm
• Friday, January 7: 7:30-10:30am
• Each kit contains 2 tests. The recommendation is that parents/guardians administer one test at home to their student when you receive the kit and then again on Sunday, January 9 or in the early morning of January 10, 2022.
• Please report at-home test results here
• A negative test is not required for students and staff to return to school on January 10, but in the event your child exhibits any flu-like or cold symptoms, your child should get tested and remain at home.

Additional options for obtaining a test can be found at the following:

• https://covid19.lacounty.gov/testing
• https://www.heal360.com/
• https://samedayhealth.com
• https://911covidtesting.com
• Your healthcare provider
• Local CVS/pharmacy
• Some local urgent care facilities
• An at-home COVID test
• Please note *Wiseburn school sites Tues/Thurs PCR tests previously advertised are now unavailable to the public due to capacity limitations

We still have spaces available for volunteers from our community to serve as POL panel members! If you would be interested in coming and being a POL panel member for one or more POL sessions on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday of this coming week, please email me at swallis@davincischools.org and let me know when you’re available! (Parents will not be assigned to serve on the POL panel during their own child’s POL.)

Thank you for encouraging your students to prepare well for their POL and for being a “practice audience” for them as they do so!

We are proud of our students for finishing the final semester of regular instruction well and excited for Presentations of Learning next week!

1. Parents are invited and encouraged to attend their child’s POL in person! Also, we are looking for volunteers from our community to serve as POL panel members! If you would be interested in coming and being a POL panel member for one or more POL sessions, please email me at swallis@davincischools.org and let me know when you’re available. (Parents will not be assigned to serve on the POL panel during their own child’s POL.)
2. Students are expected to wear professional attire for their POL, and we are happy to help students still in need of putting together a professional outfit! Students who are in need of professional clothing can stop by our front office next week and check out the options. Thank you to all the families who donated professional dress clothes!
3.  Report cards will be mailed home on Friday, December 17th. These will include students’ overall course grades as well as their performance in each of the essential skills of the course.
4. Powerschool access has been turned off while teachers finalize grades for the semester. It will be turned on at the beginning of second semester.

Parents: We 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. If you are interested in watching your student’s POL, please contact their teachers and let them know. We would like to be sure that you don’t miss this opportunity. Also, please note the visitor policy if you plan to attend: Visitors to Da Vinci Schools must show proof of either a COVID vaccination or negative PCR/Antigen test (taken within the last 72 hours) in addition to wearing a face covering while indoors to ensure the safety of our school community.

Students: Please know that this presentation, while important, is mainly an opportunity to practice public speaking in front of a live audience. This is an important skill to develop, and teachers understand that you have not had a chance to practice many live presentations due to the pandemic. 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.

Students, we’re all cheering for you!

Registration for El Camino College Spring 2022 Dual Enrollment is NOW OPEN! Here is the class information:

Psychology 101- General Psychology
(Synchronous Class)

This course is an introduction to child development from conception through adolescence with an emphasis on the interaction between the maturational processes and environmental factors relating to physical, cognitive, and psychosocial growth. While studying developmental theory and investigative research methodologies, students will observe and interview children, evaluate individual differences and analyze characteristics of development at various stages. Also, the effect of cultural influences on development will be studied.

3 units; 3 hours lecture

Transfer CSU, UC

Tuesdays & Thursdays from 3:00pm – 4:30pm

Start Date: Tuesday February 15th, 2022

Who: Juniors and Seniors from DVC, DVD, and DVS

What: College courses at Da Vinci, through El Camino College. Courses meet transfer requirements for all Cal State and UC campuses, as well as most private colleges and universities.

Why: Get a start on your college credits! It looks great on your college applications.

Cost: Free! The state of California and Da Vinci Schools pick up the costs, including textbook fees. Donations to help cover the cost of the textbooks from families that can are appreciated.

Where: Classes will be held virtually on the El Camino College student portal.

If you are interested, make sure you apply to El Camino College Spring 2022 term and turn in the attached completed dual enrollment form with your student ID number and/or the application confirmation number to your counselor by Thursday December 16th, 2021 by 12:00pm. Classes start on Tuesday February 15th, 2022. To be eligible to take a dual enrollment class, the student will need to pass all their academic classes, have no credit recovery for a-g classes, and be a junior or senior. Space is limited and we are accepting forms on a first come first serve basis!

For more information click on the following links:

Spring 2022 DVD-DVC-DVS College Course

Applying to El Camino College

Do I Need to Apply Again?

Application for Admission Help

Dual Enrollment Application