Archives for February 2014

The Priority Application Deadline for new K-12 families who wish to apply to Da Vinci Schools for the 2014-2015 school year is today at 4 pm. Interested families may complete an online application at: https://davincischools.org/enroll/application.php.

Students applying for grades 10-12 must submit a transcript as part of the application process. Transcripts are used for grade level determination, not for admissions purposes. 9th grade applicants do not need to submit a transcript.

Questions?  Please contact the Enrollment Office at 310-331-8097 or enrollment@davincischools.org.

The first event in the brand-new Da Vinci Speaker Series will be held in a few weeks.  Each month,  we will host a parent education night focusing on parent education topics and philosophies, specifically with the Da Vinci student in mind.  It is designed to provide opportunities for parents and the community at large to practice life-long learning.

Here is all the info for the first event:

“Stress Management and Your Teen”

Presented by South Bay Mellow Comprehensive Psychological Services

Tuesday, March 11^th

6-7pm

Da Vinci Design

I’ve attached the flyer for the event. Parents will also get service hours for their attendance.

Speaker Series 1 flyer – Stress Management

“Our product is unlike any other!” was a remark heard many times this morning from freshmen students at Da Vinci Communications who pitched their business ideas Shark Tank-style in front of a panel of industry professionals.

Working in groups of four, the students developed marketable products using sustainable energy and/or eco-friendly materials. During their development they used the Design Process to plan, create, and execute their ideas. Some of the pitches included solar paneled cell phone cases to charge dead batteries, wifi bracelets, recycled post-it papier-mache sculptures, and a remote-controlled solar powered car made from recycled materials just to name a few.

With their products and business plans created, the students pitched their ideas for a total of 15 minutes to  industry experts consisting of Debra Bronow (The Bronow Group), Becky Dawson-Marble (Literacy Specialist), Lourdes Del Rio Valdes (DRV Public Relations), Davion Lewis (California Charter Schools Association), Julie Weitz (Carol Mendelsohn Productions), and Sean Williams (DVD Your Memories). At the end of the presentations, each panel member asked probing questions and offered suggestions to the students on how to further their products.

Job well done to all our future entrepreneurs and thank you very much to all our panel members for your time and constructive feedback!! A special thank you also to Sean Williams, Roel Uleners of XPLANE , and Russel Wohlwerth of External View Consulting Group for providing inspiring business challenges and advertising strategies to help students initiate their projects.  Weitz, Williams and Uleners also serve on Da Vinci Schools’ Board of Regents. Each of them has extensive experience evaluating business pitches and projects in their respective fields.

(Editor’s Note:  Kassandra Castellanos is a 2013 graduate of Da Vinci Science. She works part-time in the enrollment, communications and development office while pursuing her bachelor’s degree at Cal State Dominguez Hills.) 

Sorry all for the delays in posting –

Annual Giving Campaign – As you know, all donations and pledges made by Feb. 28 will be matched (doubled) by Chevron, Northrop and Belkin. Families have until June 1 to make payments on their pledges.

Hope you all had a great 4 day weekend. I know all students are furiously working on their projects and will have a full spring.

Our next Family Association Meeting will be tomorrow, Tuesday 2/18 at 6pm in Kim’s room.

See the sports tab for sports information

WE NEED YOUR HELP – DaVinci Talent Show is coming up QUICKLY and need parent assistance! Also, Thomas Curry is looking for someone to take over next year – take a look and let me/him know ASAP if you can help!

Notices and sign-ups for the talent showcase were posted and Thursday was the last day for sign-ups. 

This Thursday, 2/20 we start rehearsals at DVS 4:30 – 6:30 in the Forum, with following rehearsals; 2/27 and 3/6 (same time and location). 

The show is scheduled for 3/7 at Dana Middle Schools MPR, time: 6:00 – 8/8:30. 

We have access to the MPR from 4:00pm – 9:00pm, so I need the following parent volunteers;

Rehearsals: Time Keepers, Listen for profanity in lyrics, maintaining room control support (2 people)

Show Time:  Set up crew 4:00pm – 6:00pm (3 to 4 people)

Door Handlers: Collect money/stamp hands/hand out programs 5:30 – 8/8:00 (3 people)

Crowd Control: Maintain control of the audience, keep things positive, help find seats/give directions if needed 5:30 – 8:30 (2 to 4 people)·        

Post Show:  Clean-up crew 8/8:30 – 9:00 (as many as possible)

Please email Coach Curry and me so we can ensure we have enough support.

Also, due to a tighter work load and schedule, this will be my last show. I would love to see it continue, so if there’s a parent that wants to take over, please advise and have them contact me.

Thank you

Thomas W. Curry

Da Vinci Schools Athletic Director / Safety & Traffic Control

(310) 725-5800 ext.2903 (310) 350-7339 cell

tcurry@davincischools.org

Hi Families –

Pretty quiet week this week but want to say a great big THANK YOU to all who joined the Family Meal Night at Panda! It is always great to see our families get together

The hiring symposiums are beginning. We are interviewing teachers for 10th grade positions. We value and seek out parent input. If any parent is interested in participating in the interview process, email Nathan

Presidents’ Day, no school Feb 14 and Feb 17

Remember to check the SPORTS link for any updates

Annual Giving Campaign is still in flight – please make your pledges

Check the Volunteer tab for Service Hour opportunities

As always, feel free to reach out with any questions, comments or concerns