Da Vinci Communications

New Teacher Meet & Greet on Friday, April 10th!

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Hello, parents and families!  We are excited to welcome two Alder graduates to our staff next year, Manda Nguyen (Math), and Estrella Rodriguez-Beltran (Resource).  The Alder Graduate School of Education (Alder GSE) program is a one-year, residency-based teacher preparation model. Residents earn a Master’s degree and teaching credential while working four days a week with a mentor teacher at the Da Vinci Schools.  Manda and Estrella are finishing their year as student teachers and will be joining us as full-time teachers in the 2026-27 school year.

We would like to invite parents and families for a short meet and greet with our two candidates on Friday, April 10th, where you will be able to engage with them and ask questions about next year.  There will be light refreshments at this meet and greet.  We would love to see you there!  You can sign up here.

 

Week 29 Updates for Families

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DVC Families, we hope that you enjoyed your Spring Break!  We are excited to welcome our students back and resume learning in person on Tuesday, April 7th.  

State Testing: All students in 11th grade will take the CAASPP tests (also known as the SBAC) in English and Math, as well as the CAST Science test.  Students will take these tests the week of Monday, April 20th – Thursday, April 23rd.  Please see here for more information on these tests and how to support your student.

Dress Code:  As a reminder, Da Vinci Communications enforces the dress code with the purpose of providing guidance to students and parents for safe and appropriate attire for school. Students’ individualism is valued, and at the same time, the school’s principles for the dress code are based on clothing that promotes a healthy, safe, respectful, and positive learning environment.   We thank you for your cooperation and adherence to our dress code.  Please see below for specific information:

□ Wear shirts that cover midsection, chest, shoulders, and back

□ Wear jeans or pants that do not have large holes

□ Wear skirts or shorts or dresses that come down to midthigh

□ Wear pants that do not sag, covering underwear and undergarments 

□ Wear closed-toed shoes 

□ Wear shirts with appropriate content (no gang related, drugs, or sexual content)

□ Head coverings should leave face visible

□ Headphones should be kept in backpacks or pockets (when in class)

Helpful Graphic of Appropriate Dress Code

Career Day:  DVC will be hosting a Career Day on Wednesday, April 15th from 11:30 am-2:30 pm. We are looking for guest speakers to share their careers and work experiences to expose our students to a variety of careers. If interested, please reach out to Monique Aldrete (maldrete@davincischools.org).

Parent Advisory Committee Meeting: We have our fourth PAC meeting of the year on Thursday, April 23rd  @4:30pm (Zoom link) from 4:30-5:30pm.  At this meeting, we will be looking at LCAP goals 3, 4, and 5.

Community Learning Day:  The fourth (and final) Community Learning Day (CLD) of the year will take place on Friday, April 24.  As a reminder, ALL students must complete the CLD attendance quiz on Canvas.

Staff Appreciation Week: Staff Appreciation Week is May 4th-8th. More info to come on how to join in on the celebration!

E.A.T. (Environmental Action Team) Update: This issue is focused on the importance of bees. Read more here!

Tutoring: Does your student need additional academic support?  Tutoring in all subject areas (except pathways and art) is offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 3:35-4:30 in room 3205 (Sandoval).  See the flyer here for more information!

 

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

  • DVC Career Day – Wednesday, April 15th 
  • CAASPP & CAST Testing (Juniors Only) – Monday, April 20th-Thursday, April 23rd
  • Parent Advisory Committee Meeting – Thursday, April 23rd @4:30pm (Zoom)
  • Community Learning Day (CLD) #4 – Friday, April 24th 
  • Prom – Friday, May 1st
  • Graduation – Thursday, June 11th @1:00pm – more details to come!

Bookmark These Helpful Links:

 

See below for action shots from DVC’s Spring Exhibition!

Week 28 Updates for Families

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Week 28

DVC Families, thank you for attending the DVC Spring Exhibition!  We had an amazing time with the energy of our 9th-11th grade students.  We are excited to keep the momentum going and finish strong this week as we approach Spring Break.

March Madness: Throughout the month of March, each grade level will compete to see which class can have the best attendance each week. Our goal is to encourage strong attendance habits and celebrate students who show up ready to learn every day.  We encourage students to keep up their strong attendance until Spring Break – we’re almost there!

Here is how the challenge will work:

  • Weekly Raffles: Students who have perfect attendance for the week will be entered into a raffle for prizes.
    • Grade Level Competition: Each week we will track which grade level has the highest attendance rate.
    • Grand Prize: At the end of the month, the grade level with the best overall attendance will win a Class Kickback Party with snacks and beverages!

Daily attendance plays a huge role in student learning and success, and a little friendly competition makes it even more fun. We encourage you to support your child by ensuring they come to school every day and arrive on time so they can learn, participate, and help their grade level win the challenge! Thank you for partnering with us to support strong attendance and student success. 

SAT (11th Grade): Our 11th grade students will be taking the SAT this week, on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

We encourage families to help students prepare by:
• Getting good sleep the night before
• Eating breakfast the morning of the test
• Coming to school with a positive and focused mindset

If you would like more information about the SAT or college readiness, please contact our College and Career Counselor, Monique Aldrete, at madrete@davincischools.org.

Physical Fitness Test (9th Grade): Our 9th grade students will be completing the Physical Fitness Test (PFT) this week, on March 23–24, 2026 during their Computer Science class with Mr. Andy. PFT activities will take place in the gym and outside areas.

The Physical Fitness Test is a state-required assessment that measures students’ overall physical fitness and health. It evaluates areas such as aerobic capacity, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition. The goal of the test is to help students understand their current fitness level and encourage healthy, active lifestyles. 

Please encourage your child to:
• Wear comfortable clothing and appropriate shoes for physical activity
• Get a good night’s sleep before the test
• Stay hydrated and ready to participate

Please reach out to Mrs. Ornelas with any questions or concerns: eornelas@davincischools.org.

State Testing (11th Grade): All students in 11th grade will take the CAASPP tests (also known as the SBAC) in English and Math, as well as the CAST Science test.  Students will take these tests the week of Monday, April 20th – Thursday, April 23rd.  Please be on the lookout for more information soon!

DVC Career Day: DVC will be hosting a Career Day on Wednesday, April 15th from 11:30 am-2:30 pm. We are looking for guest speakers to share their careers and work experiences to expose our students to a variety of careers. If interested, please fill out this google form: Career Day Interest Form by next Friday, March 27th.

Emergency Drills: Safety drills for the 201 N. Douglas campus have been rescheduled for March. These drills give students and staff an opportunity to practice safety procedures so that everyone is better prepared to respond calmly and appropriately in the unlikely event of a real emergency. Coming up, we have a critical incident drill on 3/24. Preparation helps reduce uncertainty and risk while reinforcing a sense of readiness. We encourage families to continue conversations with their students about safety at school, at home, and within the community.

Parent Signups for Staff Meetings: One of the reasons why DVC is able to be such a wonderful learning environment is that we prioritize staff meeting and collaborative time.  If you’d be interested in providing a snack for staff members on Wednesday meetings as a pick-me-up this semester, please check out this link.  We are thankful for your generosity!

Tutoring: Does your student need additional academic support?  Tutoring in all subject areas (except pathways and art) is offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 3:35-4:30 in room 3205 (Sandoval).  See the flyer here for more information!

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

  • Physical Fitness Test (9th Grade only) – Monday, March 23rd and Tuesday, March 24th 
  • SAT (Juniors Only) – Wednesday, March 25th
  • Senior Reagan Library Field Trip – Wednesday, March 25th
  • Holiday (No School) – Monday, March 30th
  • Spring Break – Tuesday, March 31 – Monday, April 6th
  • DVC Career Day – Wednesday, April 15th 
  • CAASPP & CAST Testing (Juniors Only) – Monday, April 20th-Thursday, April 23rd
  • CLD Day – Friday, April 24th 
  • Graduation – Thursday, June 11th @1:00pm – more details to come!

Bookmark These Helpful Links:

 

We will have pictures from Exhibition soon, but here are some pictures from our DVC Alumni Reunion Event last Friday!  It was such a treat to see so many of our alums:

Volunteers Needed for DVC Career Day on 4/15!

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Greetings,

DVC will be hosting a Career Day on Wednesday, April 15th from 11:30 am-2:30 pm. We are looking for guest speakers to share their careers and work experiences to expose our students to a variety of careers. You do not need a degree and/or certificate to be a part of the DVC Career Fair. We are seeking guest speakers in the following areas:

  • Women in STEM
  • Mental Health and Athletes
  • Entrepreneur
  • College Bound- First Generation and Higher Education
  • Welding/Contractor/Electrician
  • Trucking
  • Transferring from a Community College
  • Navigating an Artist’s world (Music, Art, Dance)
  • Nursing
  • Flight Attendant/Pilot
  • Real Estate
  • Financial Literacy – How to pay for college
  • Entertainment
  • or any other careers not listed above

If interested, please fill out this google form: Career Day Interest Form by next Friday, March 27th.

 

Thank you,

DVC Counselors

Ms. Aldrete (College & Career Counselor: maldrete@davincischools.org)

Ms. Barba (9th & 11th Grade Counselor: jbarba@davincischools.org)

Ms. Almeda (10th & 12th Grade Counselor: calmeda@davincischools.org)

Da Vinci Communications

201 N. Douglas St. – Floor 3

El Segundo, CA 90245

(310) 725-5800