Da Vinci Communications

Week 28 Schedule

by

Exhibition Night is less than 3 weeks away! This week we begin preparations for an engaging, project-based showcase from our 10th and 12th grade students. Please mark your calendars for Wednesday, April 9th from 5:30pm – 7:00pm. All DVC students are expected to attend, we hope to see lots of families at this awesome event.

Yearbook Information: This year’s yearbook is bigger and better than ever, with more pages, larger pictures, and increased coverage of clubs and sports to showcase our diverse school community. Don’t miss out – purchase your yearbook today at this link: Da Vinci Communications Yearbook – Purchase it here! 

The SAT Test @ DVC on Wednesday, 3/26  (11th Grade): Our 11th grade students will take the SAT on Wednesday, March 26th! DVC is covering the cost of the test for 11th grade students. Though not all 4-year colleges require SAT scores for admission, there are still many colleges and scholarships that require the submission of SAT or ACT scores. On Wednesday, students should bring the following; a snack/drink for their break, an approved calculator (phone calculators not acceptable), and pencils (No. 2 required). If you have questions about the test administration, please contact Andrew Daramola, Assistant Principal (adaramola@davincischools.org). 

Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) Meeting on Tuesday, 4/1: All are welcome to attend our Parent Advisory Committee Meetings! The agenda for the next meeting is as follows: 

  1. Public Comment
  2. WASC Follow Up
  3. LCAP: Goal 1, 2, and 3 Review
  4. Meeting Reflection (Plus / Delta)

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

  • Monday, 3/24: Photography Seminar Field Trip
  • Wednesday, 3/26: SAT (11th Grade)
  • Thursday, 3/27: Media Production Field Trip to Warner Brothers Studio (11th)
  • Friday, 3/28: CD
  • Friday, 3/28: Davincilandia Event hosted by Latino Student Union
  • Monday, 3/31: No School – Holiday – César Chávez Day
  • Tuesday, 4/1: PAC Meeting @ 5pm – 201 N. Douglas or via zoom (link here)
  • Friday, 4/4: El Camino College Trip (12th)
  • Monday, 4/7: CA Science Test (CAST) Begins (11th grade)
  • Wednesday, 4/9: Exhibition Night @ 5:30pm
  • Friday, 4/11: College Trip (9th) & Anatomy Field Trip (11th)
  • Monday, 4/14 – Friday, 4/18: Spring Break
  • Monday, 4/21: Community Learning Day

Please use these links for easy access to school information:

Week 27 Schedule

by

Last week, we welcomed a WASC Accreditation Visiting Committee of four educators from California high schools to review and evaluate Da Vinci Communications. The Visiting Committee spent three days on campus meeting with various school stakeholders as part of a comprehensive process. The committee participated in classroom observations, ran focus groups, and reviewed a written report documenting DVC’s core practices. On Wednesday during lunch, the WASC visiting committee shared their findings with the school community in a presentation linked here. They highlighted school culture and professional development amongst DVC’s highly effective practices. The chairperson of the visiting committee shared that she’d never felt more welcome at a school and that our students were excellent communicators. Thank you to our amazing school community – students, parents, and staff – for participating in this process!

11th Grade State Testing begins on Monday, 3/17 (11th Grade): Our 11th grade students will begin state testing in English-Language Arts this week. The testing will be done during their classes, with minimal disruption to the daily schedule. Please click the link for more information about each assessment. 

Summer Plans: If you’re looking for awesome summer opportunities that help promote college and career readiness, please check out these resources: Spring and Summer Opportunities  – Real World Learning. Students are invited to join a Canvas course called “Real World Learning Opportunities” where regular announcements are made about opportunities at Da Vinci and beyond. Ask students if they’ve accepted the invitation to join this course so that they see all the opportunities as they come up.

The SAT Test @ DVC on Wednesday, 3/26  (11th Grade): Our 11th grade students will take the SAT on Wednesday, March 26th! DVC is covering the cost of the test for 11th grade students. Though not all 4-year colleges require SAT scores for admission, there are still many colleges and scholarships that require the submission of SAT or ACT scores. On Wednesday, students should bring the following; a snack/drink for their break, an approved calculator (phone calculators not acceptable), and pencils (No. 2 required). If you have questions about the test administration, please contact Andrew Daramola, Assistant Principal (adaramola@davincischools.org). 

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

  • Monday, 3/17: CAASPP English-Language Arts Testing Begins (11th Grade – during English classes)
  • Wednesday, 3/19: CS Pathway Juniors and CS Freshman AR Workshop @ Snapchat
  • Wednesday, 3/19: Marketing Field Trip (11th)
  • Friday, 3/21: Media Production Field Trip (12th)
  • Friday, 3/21: Movie Night @ 4:30pm hosted by Leadership
  • Saturday, 3/22: Community Aviation Day
  • Monday, 3/24: Photography Seminar Field Trip
  • Wednesday, 3/26: SAT (11th Grade)
  • Thursday, 3/27: Media Production Field Trip (11th)
  • Friday, 3/28: CD
  • Friday, 3/28: Davincilandia Event hosted by Latino Student Union
  • Monday, 3/31: No School – Holiday – César Chávez Day
  • Friday, 4/4: El Camino College Trip (12th)
  • Monday, 4/7: CA Science Test (CAST) Begins (11th grade)
  • Wednesday, 4/9: Exhibition Night @ 5:30pm
  • Friday, 4/11: College Trip (9th)
  • Monday, 4/14 – Friday, 4/18: Spring Break
  • Monday, 4/21: Community Learning Day

Please use these links for easy access to school information:

Week 26 Schedule

by

Thank you for coming to campus for Student-Led Conferences last week! We loved meeting with you and would appreciate hearing your thoughts about the experience: SLC Feedback Form for Parents & Guardians 

WASC Accreditation Visit begins on Monday, 3/10: We are excited to welcome a visiting committee of four educators from California high schools to review and evaluate our amazing high school! Here’s a short video that students were shown during Advisory on Friday to give a basic idea of the purpose of the visit and what to expect. We welcome parents and guardians to share their experience at DVC at our Parent Advisory Committee Meeting on Tuesday, 3/11 at 5pm in-person or on zoom. The committee would love to hear from you!

11th Grade State Testing begins on Monday, 3/17 (11th Grade): Our 11th grade students will begin state testing in English-Language Arts soon. The testing will be done during their classes, with minimal disruption to the daily schedule. Please click the link for more information about each assessment. 

Summer Plans: If you’re looking for awesome summer opportunities that help promote college and career readiness, please check out these resources: Spring and Summer Opportunities  – Real World Learning. Students are invited to join a Canvas course called “Real World Learning Opportunities” where regular announcements are made about opportunities at Da Vinci and beyond. Ask students if they’ve accepted the invitation to join this course so that they see all the opportunities as they come up.

Restorative Detention: We are implementing a system for all students to take accountability for their class attendance, specifically working to reduce the number of tardies and potential classroom avoidance behaviors at DVC. Each week, we will review attendance records for students who have been tardy (unexcused) three or more times or have skipped class at least once between Monday and Friday. The data collected last week (3/3 – 3/7) will be used to inform who is assigned detention on Wednesday, 3/12. For any questions or concerns, please contact Andrew Daramola, Assistant Principal, at adaramola@davincischools.org. 

FLEX Block Attendance: This is a friendly reminder to ensure your student signs up for FLEX Block in SmartPass. FLEX Block will be held this week on Tuesday, 3/11, Wednesday, 3/12 and Thursday, 3/13. Teachers will be taking attendance, and FLEX Block attendance will be recorded in PowerSchool. It is important that students attend the session they signed up for. If a student does not sign up or is marked absent due to being in the wrong FLEX Block, an attendance notification email and call will be sent. Thank you for your support in helping your student stay on track!

Wednesday Snacks for DVC Staff: We are thankful to the families who have provided us with snacks or treats for our meetings on Wednesdays. If you have already contributed this academic year, please do not sign up again. If you haven’t done this yet but you’re willing and able to help out in this way, please sign up here: Wednesday Snack Sign Up

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

  • Monday, 3/10: WASC Visit Begins & Journalism 1 Field Trip
  • Tuesday, 3/11: PAC Meeting with WASC Visiting Team @ 5pm – 201 N. Douglas or via zoom (link here)
  • Tuesday, 3/11: Journalism 1 Field Trip
  • Friday, 3/14: No School – Professional Development
  • Monday, 3/17: CAASPP English-Language Arts Testing Begins (11th Grade – during English classes)
  • Wednesday, 3/19: CS Pathway Juniors and CS Freshman AR Workshop @ Snapchat
  • Friday, 3/21: Media Production Field Trip
  • Monday, 3/24: Photography Seminar Field Trip
  • Wednesday, 3/26: SAT (11th Grade)

Please use these links for easy access to school information:

(9th-11th Grade) UCLA Summer Sessions for HS Students

by

High school students have many options to get ahead and earn college credit at UCLA. Our summer offerings include:
  • Precollege Summer Institutes (35+ Institutes)
  • Provides motivated and driven high school students the opportunity to earn college credit in one to three weeks while advancing their academic career and abilities in an area of study of their interest. Eligible applicants who successfully submit their Institute Registration Form will be reviewed and notified via email of an admission decision within 2-3 weeks.
  • Summer College Immersion Program (SCIP, SCIP+, eSCIP)
  • Designed to emulate the undergraduate experience, SCIP provides students access to a broad range of UCLA’s academic expertise and resources through lectures, workshops, and seminars, as well as UCLA coursework. Eligible applicants who successfully submit their SCIP Registration Form will be reviewed and notified via email of an admission decision within 2-3 weeks.
  • Summer Courses (150+ courses)
  • High school students may enroll in 1-2 approved courses only (10 units max) from a multitude of subject areas and modalities that best serve their interest based on flexibility & variety. No documentation such as transcripts, SAT scores, or letter of recommendation is required; students must complete the Summer Course Registration Form to enroll in Summer Courses.
Application Checklist
How to Apply Guide

 

 UCLA Summer Sessions offers a variety of summer programs for high school students to earn UCLA college credit and experience an immersive introduction to college life. The Summer Scholars Support Program is a need- and merit-based scholarship opportunity for California 9th-11th grade high school students that helps pay for UCLA Summer Sessions.

Time is running out! Our scholarship application closes in 10 days. This is the perfect opportunity to elevate your summer by registering/enrolling in our summer offerings. Discover your passions or pave the way for a new interest, earn academic credit, and become apart of the Bruin community this summer! I will be hosting an additional webinar next week, Monday, March 10, 2025, at 4pm PST for students, parents, and counselors who have not been able to attend previously. Register here!
Access our scholarship application here!

 

The countdown is on! Apply by March 15!

Questions regarding eligibility and application requirements?

Contact Brian Moreno-Alvarez (bmoreno@summer.ucla.edu) or info@summer.ucla.edu to reach a member of the UCLA Summer Sessions team!

Negotiating Your College’s Price Workshop- Sign Up Now!

by

Good morning DVC Families,
Da Vinci is thrilled to announce a powerful, practical, and proven workshop designed to help families decode, dispute, and decrease their college costs. If you’re looking to make college more affordable, this workshop is for you!
What You’ll Learn:
  • How to analyze, assess, and adjust financial aid award letters.
  • Strategies for writing clear, compelling, and convincing financial aid appeal letters.
  • Proven methods to negotiate, navigate, and knock down your college’s cost-effectively.
Workshop Dates & Details:
Location: Room 3203, Da Vinci Communications
Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Dates:
  • Friday, March 14
  • Friday, March 21
  • Friday, April 4
  • Friday, April 11

*You only need to sign up for ONE workshop as all workshops will repeat the same information.

What to Bring:
  • Your student’s financial aid award letter(s)
  • A notepad or laptop for notes
  • Any relevant financial documents or estimates
This engaging, enlightening, and empowering workshop will give you the confidence and tools to secure the best financial outcome for college. Don’t miss this opportunity to plan, prepare, and prosper.

Da Vinci Communications

201 N. Douglas St. – Floor 3

El Segundo, CA 90245

(310) 725-5800