Da Vinci Communications

Applications for The Hidden Genius Project are Now Open!

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Applications for The Hidden Genius Project are Now Open!

The Hidden Genius Project Pre-Application Presentation
Monday, February 9 · 6:00 – 7:45pm
Time zone: America/Los_Angeles
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/ykh-qscj-zvp

We invite you to join us for a virtual information session to learn more about The Hidden Genius Project and our award-winning Intensive Immersion Program.

This FREE, 15-month, cohort-based program provides Black male high school students with over 800 hours of holistic, trauma- and healing-informed mentorship and intensive training. Through high-touch support, participants develop leadership, coding, and entrepreneurial skills while learning to design tech-enabled solutions to address society’s most pressing challenges.

Join our virtual presentation to discover how The Hidden Genius Project trains and mentors Black male youth in technology creation, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills to transform their lives and communities.

DVC is going to the Black College Expo on 2/14- Sign up now!

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Hello DVC students and families,

DVC is going to the Black College Expo again! Seniors, please bring your transcripts as schools have on-site acceptances, with scholarships! All students in grades 9-12 are welcome to attend. Please complete the google form if you are interested in attending the Black College Expo. To learn more about the Black College Expo please visit this site: Black College Expo 2026

Field Trip Details:
Date: Sat, February 14th, 2023, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: Pomona Fairplex
Tickets: Students who RSVP will be provided transportation and a ticket to the event.

Pickup will be at 9:00 am at the 201 campus and we will return to the  201 campus by 2 pm.

Students would need to bring their own lunch, or money for lunch, as lunch will not be provided. 

 Students who ride on the bus to the event must also leave on the bus.

Only 20 spots available!

If you are interested please complete the google form below to rsvp (Da Vinci Student login needed to access form). For any questions or concerns please email Mrs. Aldrete at maldrete@davincischools.org.

https://forms.gle/QxAnFx1YiEVs69AHA

Week 21 Updates for Families

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Week 21

We had an amazing week with our Neurodiversity Week celebrations!  Our Neurodiversity club and their advisors did an amazing job with engaging students and staff about the importance of celebrating and honoring neurodiversity.  Please see the photos below, as well as additional photos from our Computer Science pathway’s Mobile App Showcase!

In addition, Happy Black History Month!  During this month, we celebrate the culture and contributions of Black Americans to the United States.  We are excited for our upcoming Black History Month CD and the work of our Black Student Union to promote this important month!

Community Learning Day

The third Community Learning Day (CLD) of the year will take place on Friday, February 13. Students who wish to request an on-campus workshop or indicate that they will be learning off campus that day must complete the 2/13 Community Learning Day Workshop Request Form (DV account is required) by February 4.

 

FREE Cardiac Screening for Youth & Young Adults

Da Vinci Schools, in partnership with Saving Hearts Foundation and UCLA, invites families and community members ages 12-35 to a FREE cardiac screening event on Saturday, February 7, 2026 in the Da Vinci Schools Blackbox Theater. Pre-registration is encouraged (appointments are seen first), but walk-ins are welcome. See more information on this Instagram post.

 

10th & 11th Grade Financial Aid Nights

Join our DVC Financial Literacy Teacher, Mr. Jackson, for an engaging and practical workshop covering:

  • How the FAFSA works and what it looks at
  • What “prior-prior year” tax information means for your family
  • Smart money and tax strategies to consider before filing 2025 taxes
  • How to maximize eligibility for grants and scholarships
  • Common financial aid myths—and what actually matters

This session is designed to be accessible, informative, and empowering, whether college feels far away or right around the corner.

11th Grade Families
Thursday, February 12th
⏰ 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
DVC Common Area (3rd Floor)

10th Grade Families
Thursday, February 19th
⏰ 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
DVC Common Area (3rd Floor)

 

Black College Expo

DVC is headed to the Black College Expo this year!  This year’s Black College Expo is on Saturday, February 14th at the Pomona Fairplex.  All students are welcomed to attend this event.  DVC is sponsoring students’ admission and will provide transportation to the event, leaving DVC at 9am and leaving the fairplex from 1:45pm.  We will have sign up information soon!

 

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

  • Professional Development (No Students) – Friday, February 6th
  • Parent Advisory Committee Meeting – Thursday, February 12th @4:30pm (Zoom)
  • 11th Grade Financial Aid Night – Thursday, February 12th @6:00pm
  • Community Learning Day – Friday, February 13th
  • 10th Grade Financial Aid Night – Thursday, February 19th @6:00pm

Bookmark These Helpful Links:

 

Scenes from Neurodiversity Week!

 

Mobile App Showcase

$3.75 billion in free college money goes unclaimed every year

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Dear Da Vinci Families,
Here’s a number that stops parents in their tracks: $3.75 billion in free college aid goes unclaimed every year.
  • Not because families don’t need it.
  • Not because they didn’t save.
  • But because 40% of eligible students never file the FAFSA, often assume they won’t qualify.
Even families earning over $ 100,000 frequently qualify for aid. But they never find out because they skip the application entirely. Meanwhile, 76% of students say financial aid is the #1 factor in choosing which college to attend. Research shows that just $5,000 in additional aid is enough to prompt nearly half of students to switch schools.
That’s not chump change. But most families leave it on the table. Not because they lack intelligence. Not because they’re lazy. But because they lack a strategy. Most families treat college planning like an emergency, scrambling when acceptance letters arrive, reacting to financial aid offers they don’t understand, and hoping it all works out.
But what if you could approach your family’s financial future the way a CFO approaches a business plan? Strategic. Proactive. In control.
Introducing: The Da Vinci Family CFO Training Series
I invite you to a FREE, 6-workshop series designed to help you shift from financial stress to financial clarity. Whether you have a kindergartner or a senior, this series will provide you with the frameworks, tools, and confidence to make smarter decisions about retirement, college savings, investing, and long-term wealth.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
  • Workshop 1 (Feb 5): Money Story & CFO Mindset: Identify limiting beliefs and adopt a strategic decision-making framework
  • Workshop 2 (Feb 26): Retirement Planning Essentials: Secure your oxygen mask first (401k, IRA, Roth strategies)
  • Workshop 3 (March 19): 529 Mastery: Maximize tax advantages and avoid costly mistakes
  • Workshop 4 (April 16): Balancing Priorities: Navigate competing goals with the CFO Decision Filter
  • Workshop 5 (May 7): Investment Fundamentals: Demystify investing and match strategies to your timeline
  • Workshop 6 (May 21): Personal Financial Roadmap: Create your customized action plan
Why This Series?
This isn’t theory. This isn’t a sales pitch. This is practical, actionable training you can use immediately.
You’ll walk away with:
  • A clear financial roadmap tailored to your family
  • Confidence to make smarter money decisions
  • Community with other Da Vinci families on the same journey
  • Peace of mind that you’re setting your kids up for success
Workshop Details:
  • Dates: Every 3 weeks, Thursdays from Feb-May 2026
  • Time: 6:00-7:30 PM
  • Location: Da Vinci Schools Campus/3rd floor, room 3203 (in-person)
  • Cost: FREE
Seats are limited.
Register today. Click HERE to secure your spot.
This series is designed for any Da Vinci parent who wants to take control of their family’s financial future, whether you’re just starting to save or already investing. You don’t need to attend all 6 workshops (though I recommend it for maximum impact). Each one builds on the last, but you can join where it makes sense for your family.
I’ve worked with over 1000 families on college planning, FAFSA strategy, and financial literacy. I’ve seen firsthand how the right information at the right time can save families tens (or hundreds) of thousands of dollars.
My goal? Help 1 million families think like CFOs, starting with ours here at Da Vinci.
Let’s do this together.
See you on February 5th.
Christopher Jackson
College & Career Readiness Teacher, Da Vinci Communications
Founder, FinLit Garden
cjackson@davincischools.org
cjackson@finlitgarden.co

Funding the Future: Financial Aid Nights for DVC 10th & 11th Grade Families

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Hello DVC Families,

This semester, we’re excited to host Funding the Future: Financial Aid Nights, an interactive workshop designed specifically for 10th and 11th grade families who want to better understand how financial aid works and how to prepare before senior year.

Why Attend Now?

Many families are surprised to learn that financial aid is based on income from a specific tax year—not senior year itself.

Did you know?
Students in the Class of 2027 will use their 2025 tax return when completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) during their senior year. Class of 2028 will use their 2026 tax return

That means the financial decisions you make now can directly impact how much aid your student may be eligible for later.

What You’ll Learn

Join our DVC Financial Literacy Teacher, Mr. Jackson, for an engaging and practical workshop covering:

  • How the FAFSA works and what it looks at

  • What “prior-prior year” tax information means for your family

  • Smart money and tax strategies to consider before filing 2025 taxes

  • How to maximize eligibility for grants and scholarships

  • Common financial aid myths—and what actually matters

This session is designed to be accessible, informative, and empowering, whether college feels far away or right around the corner.

Event Details

11th Grade Families
Thursday, February 12th
⏰ 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
DVC Common Area (3rd Floor)

10th Grade Families
Thursday, February 19th
⏰ 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
DVC Common Area (3rd Floor)

Presentation will NOT be recorded but information shared during the presentation will be shared.

No registration/sign-up required.

For more information please contact Mr. Jackson (cjackson@davincischools.org)

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Da Vinci Communications

201 N. Douglas St. – Floor 3

El Segundo, CA 90245

(310) 725-5800