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Week 10 Updates for Families

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Week 10 

DVC Families, it was a pleasure to see you at SLCs this past week!  Human connections are the core of DVC, and we appreciate your partnership in guiding your student’s academic success.  This week, students will be taking the PSAT/SAT on Wednesday, October 21st.  In order to start this test successfully, please make sure that your student is on time this Wednesday. We are also excited for the launch of our DVC Parent Association this Thursday at 6:00pm!

Restorative Time (RT) begins this week! Restorative Time is an assigned consequence for students who do not meet DVC’s rules and expectations.  Students will complete a behavior reflection sheet and, when appropriate, create a plan to repair harm caused to individuals or our school community. The most common reasons students are assigned RT are excessive tardies to class and violations of school rules.  Our goal is for students to learn from their mistakes, take responsibility for their actions, and grow as members of our school community. Students and parents will receive an email notification if a student is assigned Restorative Time.

When: Thursdays, 3:35–4:30 p.m.
Where: DVC classroom (3307)
Supervision: A DVC staff member

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Assistant Principal Elizabeth Ornelas (eornelas@davincischools.org). We appreciate your partnership in helping your child use Restorative Time as an opportunity to reflect, learn, and make positive changes.

 

DVC Parent Association & Parent Advisory Committee Meetings on October 22nd and October 29th:

  • DVC Parent Association Meeting:  We are excited to launch our first ever DVC Parent Association this year, with the goals of providing opportunities for parent involvement with school events, appreciation weeks, fundraising, and the Parent Advisory Committee at DVC.  At our first meeting on October 22nd at 6:00 P.M. in person, we will mix and mingle, have refreshments, and share plans for the DVC Parent Association. RSVP here for the first Parent Association meeting. We’re excited to partner with you to support DVC! 
  • Parent Advisory Committee: The Parent Advisory Committee (PAC), provides an opportunity for parents, students, and staff to work collaboratively to review the school program, data, needs, and recommendations for the Local Control and Accountability Plan. If you are interested in applying for this committee and attending the first PAC meeting on October 29th at 4:30 P.M. please fill out the Parent Advisory Committee Interest Form by Wednesday, October 14th.  PAC meetings will be held on the following dates: 10/29, 12/3, 2/4, 4/15, and 5/27 from 4:30-5:30 via Zoom. 

 

Fall Dance on October 30th: Da Vinci Schools high school students are invited to the 2026 Fall Dance, “Tropical Nights and Bayou Lights,” on Friday, October 30th from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM (doors open at 5:30 PM) in the West Plaza at 201 N. Douglas Street. Early Bird tickets are on sale on MySchoolBucks for $25 through October 25th, after which General Admission tickets will be $30 through the day of the event. Students can look forward to photo booths with free prints and complimentary water, with local food trucks on site for dinner purchases! 

Fall Family & Student Survey:  Our Da Vinci Fall Survey is live from October 5th until November 1st. You will receive a text and email with your personalized survey link. To take the survey, you will need to click the link from the text or email and respond to the questions. We will also have more information at SLCs if you’d like assistance.  Your feedback is valued and appreciated.

College Rep Visits: Interested in learning more about a college or university? College rep visits take place in Mr. Jackson’s room at lunchtime.  This week features:

  • Syracuse University – Wednesday, October 21st
  • University of California, Riverside – Thursday, October 22nd
  • The University of Arizona – Friday, October 23rd 

Absence Reporting Reminder: If a student is going to be absent, parents should fill out the Absence Form.  After this is filled out, students can fill out the STIS Form in order to recover and clear this absence.

Tutoring: By popular demand, Tutor Alex is returning for another year of tutoring at DVC!  Tutoring in all subject areas (except pathways and art) is offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 3:30-4:30 in room 3205 (Sandoval). 

 

Here’s what’s coming up THIS WEEK and beyond:

  • 9-11 PSAT and 12th Grade SAT – Wednesday, October 21st
  • DVC Parent Association Meeting – Thursday, October 22nd @6:00pm in person
  • DVC PAC Meeting – Thursday, October 29th @4:30 (Zoom)
  • Career Learning Day #2  – Friday, October 30th
  • Professional Development (No Students) – Monday, November 2nd
  • Veterans’ Day Holiday – Wednesday, November 11th

 

Bookmark these links for easy access to school information:

Week 9 Updates for Families

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Hello, DVC Families!  This past week was full of excitement as we had our Hispanic Heritage Month Spirit Week, where students represented countries, athletic teams, and dressed like Loteria cards, abuelos and abuelas on different spirit days.  In addition, DVC celebrated Latino culture at our Hispanic Heritage Month CD (see pics below)!  Thank you to all of our student and staff participants who have made this month feel special.  The weekly schedule (including SLCs) is below – please take note of a special schedule for 9th graders only. 

This week, we look forward to our Fall Student-Led Conferences (SLCs).  The Fall Student-Led Conferences will take place October 12th-16th from 2:30-4:00.  Please see this letter for information about SLCs.  All parents are encouraged and expected to attend SLCs.  We are excited to see you there!

 

CHYA Week:  9th Grade students will receive sexuality education as required by the California Healthy Youth Act (CHYA) the week of October 12th-16th.  For additional questions or concerns, please follow up with Ms. Ornelas (eornelas@davincischools.org).  Please take note of the following schedule for 9th Grade Students ONLY: 

Hispanic Heritage Month Events, Week of 10/12

  • Hispanic Heritage Month Lunch Performances on Thursday, 10/15 in DVC Common Area
    • Performance by DVC Folklorico Club
    • Karaoke: Latino Edition

Fall Family & Student Survey:  Our Da Vinci Fall Survey is live from October 5th until November 1st. You will receive a text and email with your personalized survey link. To take the survey, you will need to click the link from the text or email and respond to the questions. We will also have more information at SLCs if you’d like assistance.  Your feedback is valued and appreciated.

DVC Parent Association & Parent Advisory Committee Meetings on October 22nd and October 29th:

  • DVC Parent Association Meeting:  We are excited to launch our first ever DVC Parent Association this year, with the goals of providing opportunities for parent involvement with school events, appreciation weeks, fundraising, and the Parent Advisory Committee at DVC.  At our first meeting on October 22nd at 6:00 P.M. in person, we will mix and mingle, have refreshments, and share plans for the DVC Parent Association. RSVP here for the first Parent Association meeting. We’re excited to partner with you to support DVC! 

 

  • Parent Advisory Committee: The Parent Advisory Committee (PAC), provides an opportunity for parents, students, and staff to work collaboratively to review the school program, data, needs, and recommendations for the Local Control and Accountability Plan. If you are interested in applying for this committee and attending the first PAC meeting on October 29th at 4:30 P.M. please fill out the Parent Advisory Committee Interest Form by Wednesday, October 14th.  PAC meetings will be held on the following dates: 10/29, 12/3, 2/4, 4/15, and 5/27 from 4:30-5:30 via Zoom. 

 

College Rep Visits: Interested in learning more about a college or university? College rep visits take place in Mr. Jackson’s room at lunchtime.  This week features:

  • Stanford University – Monday, October 12th

Absence Reporting Reminder: If a student is going to be absent, parents should fill out the Absence Form.  After this is filled out, students can fill out the STIS Form in order to recover and clear this absence.

Tutoring: By popular demand, Tutor Alex is returning for another year of tutoring at DVC!  Tutoring in all subject areas (except pathways and art) is offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 3:30-4:30 in room 3205 (Sandoval). 

 

Here’s what’s coming up THIS WEEK and beyond:

  • Great California Shakeout – Thursday, October 15th
  • Student-Led Conferences – October 12th-16th
  • 9th Grade CHYA Presentations – October 12th-16th
  • 9-11 PSAT and 12th Grade SAT – Wednesday, October 21st
  • DVC Parent Association Meeting – Thursday, October 22nd @6:00pm in person
  • DVC PAC Meeting – Thursday, October 29th @4:30 (Zoom)
  • Career Learning Day #2  – Friday, October 30th

 

Bookmark these links for easy access to school information:

 

DVC Hispanic Heritage Month CD!

 

Week 8 Updates for Families

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Hello, DVC Families!  While it is definitely hot like August outside, October is here.  We’re excited for this week’s Hispanic Heritage Spirit Week and for our annual Hispanic Heritage Month CD on Thursday! A reminder that this Wednesday, October 7th, has a special schedule and will be a 3:30pm dismissal day, and that there is a Professional Development Day on Friday, October 9th. 

We also had a special treat for students in the Futures Plus & Futures program last week:  On Tuesday, Futures Plus teacher Sarah Taylor was recognized by the L.A. Chargers and Mazda for her work in implementing the new Futures Plus program for young adults with exceptional needs.  Ms. Sarah received $10,000 for her classroom and two tickets to a Chargers game!  Futures students had a sweet treat, as the Chargers brought football-themed donuts.  Chargers player Tuli Tuipulotu (who grew up in Lawndale) and the Chargers media team visited a few DVC classrooms and got to interact with students as well.  See below for pictures!

Student-Led Conferences (SLCs): Fall Student-Led Conferences will take place October 12th-16th from 2:30-4:00.  Please see this letter for information about SLCs and how to sign up.  All parents are encouraged and expected to attend SLCs.  

Hispanic Heritage Month Events (10/5-10/8)

  • Mon-Thurs: LSU SPIRIT WEEK 
    • Monday: Dress as your favorite Loteria Card!
    • Tuesday: Jersey Day, rep your favorite team!
    • Wednesday: Who’s got better style – Abuelos vs. Abuelas!
    • Thursday: Flag Colors, rep your heritage!
  • Tuesday: Loteria con los Directores (Loteria with the Principals)
    • Play Loteria with Mr. Daramola and Ms. Ornelas in the DVC main common area at lunchtime on Tuesday!
  • Wednesday:  Craft Club Hispanic Heritage Month Event
    • The Craft Club will be hosting a Hispanic Heritage Month themed crafting event at lunchtime in the DVC main common area!
  • Thursday: Hispanic Heritage Month CD
    • Performances, Games, fashion show, and more!

9th Grade & Transfer SLC Help Event:  We’re excited to share that our Wolfpack and Peer Mentor leaders will facilitate a Grade Student-Led Conference (SLC) workshop Wednesday, October 7th after school in Mr. Max’s room (3304) from 3:30-4:30. This workshop is designed to support our freshman and transfer students as they prepare for their SLCs, giving them the chance to learn from upperclassmen who have been through the process. Our student leaders are ready to share tips, answer questions, and help freshmen feel confident presenting their work and goals. 

DVC Parent Association & Parent Advisory Committee Meetings on October 22nd and October 29th:

  • DVC Parent Association Meeting:  We are excited to launch our first ever DVC Parent Association this year, with the goals of providing opportunities for parent involvement with school events, appreciation weeks, fundraising, and the Parent Advisory Committee at DVC.  At our first meeting on October 22nd at 6:00 P.M. in person, we will mix and mingle, have refreshments, and share plans for the DVC Parent Association. RSVP here for the first Parent Association meeting. We’re excited to partner with you to support DVC! 
  • Parent Advisory Committee: The Parent Advisory Committee (PAC), rovides an opportunity for parents, students, and staff to work collaboratively to review the school program, data, needs, and recommendations for the Local Control and Accountability Plan. If you are interested in applying for this committee and attending the first PAC meeting on October 29th at 4:30 P.M. please fill out the Parent Advisory Committee Interest Form by Wednesday, October 14th.  PAC meetings will be held on the following dates: 10/29, 12/3, 2/4, 4/15, and 5/27 from 4:30-5:30 via Zoom.

CHYA Notices:  9th Grade students will receive sexuality education as required by the California Healthy Youth Act (CHYA) the week of October 12th-16th.  Additional notification has been sent to 9th grade parents.  Parents/guardians have the option of excluding their child from sexuality education instruction. Please contact Assistant Principal, Elizabeth Ornelas (eornelas@davincischools.org) if you wish to opt your child out of this requirement.

Fall Family & Student Survey:  Our Da Vinci Fall Survey will go live on October 5th until November 1st. You will receive a text and email with your personalized survey link. To take the survey, you will need to click the link from the text or email and respond to the questions. We will also have more information at SLCs if you’d like assistance.  Your feedback is valued and appreciated.

College Rep Visits:  Interested in learning more about different colleges and post-high school options?  We have several reps who will be visiting this month to present to DVC students. All college rep visits will take place in Mr. Jackson’s room at lunchtime.

  • Chapman University – Tuesday, October 6th
  • Stanford University – Monday, October 12th
  • Syracuse University – Wednesday, October 21st
  • University of California, Riverside – Thursday, October 22nd
  • University of Arizona – Friday, October 23rd

EAT Update: The DVC Environmental Action Team (EAT) is back with a newsletter for this week about microplastics.  Check it out here! 

Absence Reporting Reminder: If a student is going to be absent, parents should fill out the Absence Form.  After this is filled out, students can fill out the STIS Form in order to recover and clear this absence.

 

Here’s what’s coming up THIS WEEK and beyond:

  • Wednesday w/a 3:30 Dismissal – Wednesday, October 7th
  • Hispanic Heritage Month CD – Thursday, October 8th
  • Professional Development Day (No Students) – Friday, October 9th
  • Great California Shakeout – Thursday, October 15th
  • Student-Led Conferences – October 12th-16th
  • 9th Grade CHYA Presentations – October 12th-16th
  • 9-11 PSAT and 12th Grade SAT – Wednesday, October 21st
  • DVC Parent Association Meeting – Thursday, October 22nd @6:00pm in person
  • DVC PAC Meeting – Thursday, October 29th @4:30 (Zoom)

 

Bookmark these links for easy access to school information:

 

Congrats to the FUTURES program!

South Bay College Fair (9/27)

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Looking at colleges and universities?  Check out the South Bay College Fair, hosted by Vistamar School this Sunday, September 27, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM on their campus in El Segundo (737 Hawaii Street, El Segundo, CA 90245). The event is completely free!

As of today, 81 colleges and universities have RSVP’d. The schools are a strong mix of public and private institutions from across the country, plus a handful of international universities. Please see which colleges are attending by clicking here.

  • The fair is free and open to all students and families in Los Angeles and surrounding areas. There is no requirement to be affiliated with Vistamar, and students in every grade are welcome.
  • Students and parents are encouraged to pre-register in advance. Pre-registered attendees receive a barcode that college representatives can scan on the spot, so there is no waiting to check in on arrival.
  • Ample parking is available.  If taking Metro, the campus is about a 10-minute walk from Douglas Station on the Metro K Line (Douglas St. just north of Rosecrans Ave.).

Week 7 Updates for Families

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Week 7 

Hello DVC Families, there was lots of energy on campus this week! Our Latino Student Union (LSU) presented on Latino culture in our advisories to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Click here to see this week’s presentation on different Latino cuisines and for the game students played. In addition, our first CLD Day happened this past Monday!  It was great to see students engaged on campus in career activities, and we know that time spent at home was valuable as well.  We will have three more of these opportunities this school year.

Career Learning Day Follow Up: In order to receive attendance credit, all students, whether attending online workshops or at home, must fill out Learning Logs on the CLD Canvas page. Students who do not have the Learning Log turned in will be marked absent for that day.  

CHYA Notices:  9th Grade students will receive sexuality education as required by the California Healthy Youth Act (CHYA) the week of October 12th-16th.  Additional notification will be sent to 9th grade parents this week.  Parents/guardians have the option of excluding their child from sexuality education instruction. Please contact Assistant Principal, Elizabeth Ornelas (eornelas@davincischools.org) if you wish to opt your child out of this requirement.

Student-Led Conferences (SLCs): Student-Led Conferences are coming up!  At DVC, students take the lead on presenting to their parents and guardians about their progress.   SLCs will take place October 12th-16th on every day except Wednesday, from 2:30-4:00.  We will have additional updates next week on signing up for your conference.

Upcoming Emergency Drill: The next planned 201 N. Douglas Street campus emergency drill will be the Lockdown Drill on Wednesday, September 30th. By practicing these procedures in advance, we help ensure that everyone knows what to do in order to respond calmly and effectively in the unlikely event of a real emergency.

Student Pickup: As a reminder, students can only be released to an approved guardian or emergency contact in PowerSchool. As we want to maintain an orderly dismissal, please also refrain from picking up students less than 15 minutes before school ends.  Thank you, and we appreciate your partnership!

PSAT & SAT: DVC 9th, 10th, and 11th graders will take the PSAT on Wednesday, October 21st.

FREE SAT Practice Test:  TJ Test Prep, a local test prep agency that DVC works with, is offering a free SAT test on September 26th & November 29th, both in-person at their Hermosa Beach site and on Zoom. Register here for these tests and other PJ Test Prep offerings. For more information on other upcoming dates (and RSVPs), please check out pjtestprep.com/rsvp.

We’re Looking for Parent Volunteers! All of our parents are an important part of what we do at DVC.  If you’d like to get even more involved, sign up for our new DVC Parent Association (interest link here), where you can volunteer for various opportunities to get involved! We’re excited to partner with you to support DVC! 

Make Up Senior Photos: Make up dates for senior portraits have been finalized. They will take place on October 3rd, October 4th and October 30th if needed. Families can sign up here: https://book.usesession.com/i/BVNtg0TnF

Absence Reporting Reminder: If a student is going to be absent, parents should fill out the Absence Form.  After this is filled out, students can fill out the STIS Form in order to recover and clear this absence.

Tutoring: By popular demand, Tutor Alex is returning for another year of tutoring at DVC!  Tutoring in all subject areas (except pathways and art) is offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 3:30-4:30 in room 3205 (Sandoval).

 

Here’s what’s coming up THIS WEEK and beyond:

  • Lockdown Drill – Wednesday, September 30th
  • Wednesday w/a 3:30 Dismissal – Wednesday, October 7th
  • Hispanic Heritage Month CD – Thursday, October 8th
  • Professional Development Day (No Students) – Friday, October 9th
  • Great California Shakeout – Thursday, October 15th
  • Student-Led Conferences – October 12th-16th
  • 9th Grade CHYA Presentations – October 12th-16th
  • 9-11 PSAT and 12th Grade SAT – Wednesday, October 21st

 

Bookmark these links for easy access to school information:

 

Da Vinci Communications

201 N. Douglas St. – Floor 3

El Segundo, CA 90245

(310) 725-5800