Archives for 2022

I am thrilled to share with you that all of our 9th grade students are scheduled to spend all day Tuesday, May 17th in Running Springs, California (near Big Bear Lake)! This special trip will include a variety of recreational and team-building games and activities including a zipline, a giant swing, a soccer field, basketball courts, and a skate park. This is a not-to-be-missed trip – one that is sure to be talked about from now until high school graduation and beyond! We want to make sure every 9th grader is able to join in the experience, so if you have questions or concerns, please reach out and I would be happy to talk with you about your concerns.

In order to make the most of our day-trip, we are asking all students to arrive at DVC by 8:00am on Tuesday morning. We will be returning to DVC around 9:00pm that evening. Please see information about what to bring (and what not to bring) at this link: DVC Retreat Information for Students and Families

All students are required to have completed these permission forms and submit them to their Period 1B teacher by this Friday, May 13th. The forms include a Da Vinci Permission Slip (page 1) and a Camp Pondo Permission Slip (page 2) and a Fulcrum Permission slip (for fun activities scheduled on Wednesday, 5/18). Da Vinci and Camp Pondo and Fulcrum require separate forms. We will be printing copies and giving them out to students on Wednesday, May 11th, and students who do not have a completed form submitted by 8am on Tuesday, May 17th will not be able to board the buses.

For an overview of the timeline, please see below:

Wednesday, May 11th: Permission Slips Distributed

• Students are given paper copies of these permission forms: DVC 9th Grade Permission Forms

Friday, May 13th: Permission Slips Due

• Students turn in their permission forms to Period 1B Teachers

Tuesday, May 17th: All-Day Field Trip to Running Springs

• Students arrive no later than 8:00am for departure to Running Springs
• Students arrive back to school around 9:00pm for pick-up by families

Wednesday, May 18th: Late Start & Special Schedule

• Students arrive to school no later than 9:30am (late start for 9th grade only)
• Students follow a special schedule designed to continue the team-building established on the field trip

Important Medical Information: We are happy to let you know that our Da Vinci School Nurse will be attending the trip with DVC on Tuesday, May 17th. All students requiring any medication (prescription or over the counter) for Camp Pondo will need to have a School Medication Authorization completed or the student will not be allowed to bring the medication. We encourage students who are prescribed inhalers and/or allergy medication to consider bringing since an outdoor camp field trip often leads to the need for medications/inhalers even if you haven’t needed it at school. School Medication Authorization Forms can be submitted in person or you can have your physician submit directly to the school nurse Emily Green (egreen@davincischools.org). Fax: 1-310-356-3224

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me by replying to this email. I will be on the trip with the 9th graders and I am really looking forward to it!

Sincerely,

Erin D’Souza, Principal

All Da Vinci Seniors and their families are cordially invited to learn more about how only Da Vinci Seniors can receive FREE COLLEGE and support in their first year of college and beyond.

Da Vinci Extension (DVX) partners with El Camino College, UCLA Extension and Southern New Hampshire University to bring a supportive and unique college experience that includes Career Building and Exploration as well Life Development Skills including Financial Literacy along with earning their College Credits and College Degrees.

If you are planning to attend El Camino College in the Fall or are undecided about your college future, you don’t want to miss this opportunity!

Please join us on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at 7:30pm on the DVX Campus located at 550 Continental Blvd El Segundo CA, 90245 or you can join us via our live stream on Zoom.  Please see the link below.

Zoom link: https://bit.ly/3LrVGF6
Meeting ID: 986 0974 8426

Hope to see you there!

Sincerely the DVX Team

**

Noches de Información sobre DVX para Estudiantes y Familiares

Todos los Seniors de Da Vinci y sus familiares están invitados cordialmente a hallar de cómo los Seniors de Da Vinci podrían recibir crédito universitario SIN COSTO y apoyo con su primer año de colegio y más.

Da Vinci Extension (DVX) se asocia con El Camino College, UCLA Extension y Southern New Hampshire University para provocar una experiencia única y con apoyo que incluye la exploración y el desarrollo de carrera y además el desarrollo de habilidades de vida, incluso las habilidades financieras mientras obtienen sus créditos universitarios y/o diplomado o título.

Si piensan en asistir a El Camino College en el otoño o estás indeciso/a acerca de su futuro académico, ¡no deben perder esta oportunidad!

Por favor, acompáñennos este miércoles, 11 de mayo a las 7:30 de la noche en el campus de DVX ubicado a 550 Continental Blvd. El Segundo, CA 90245 o pueden participar en línea por nuestra transmición en vivo en Zoom. Por favor vean el link abajo.

Zoom link: https://bit.ly/3LrVGF6
Meeting ID: 986 0974 8426

¡Esperamos que los veamos!

Saludos,

El Equipo de DVX

Hello Da Vinci Scholars and Families,

There are NEW opportunities that have been added to the Summer Opportunities Blog in the fields of activism, film, and education.

The Youth Over Violence Leadership Institute is offering an in-person internship in Downtown LA for youth ages 14-19 who are committed to building and making powerful social change through awareness, advocacy and violence prevention strategies. You will be learning about healthy relationships, promoting awareness of teen dating violence, and enhancing community organizing skills. Apply here. 

Queer 26’s Filmmaker Club is a free 6-month program for queer, trans, black, indigenous, and other people of color (QTBIPOC ages 18-24.. This program teaches the basics of filmmaking and photography. Filmmaker Club participants will attend workshops, work on personal projects, and get hands-on experience working with shots. Apply Here.

Rooted Friends Project is a startup nonprofit in the Hawthorne area whose mission is to support young kids with sports and fitness, nutrition, childcare services, visual and performing arts programs, and more. Interns will be supporting different programs and coordinating an event with Angel City sports and USA Paralympic Athletes. If interested, please send a paragraph to crodriguez@davincischools.org stating why you are interested in this opportunity and what you hope to learn.

Pass It Forward is an organization dedicated to serving youth through the art of sports in Inglewood. La Tijera Avery, the organization’s founder, is a Paralympics Coach who is committed to also serving young athletes with disabilities. Interns would be supporting the sports (basketball, track and field), health, wellness, nutrition, and community projects and shadowing the organization’s directors. Interns would be working at Darby Park in Inglewood as well as other local Inglewood schools. There are 8 positions available. If interested, please send a paragraph to crodriguez@davincischools.org stating why you are interested in this opportunity and what you hope to learn.

Venice Art’s Center for Creative Workforce Equity (CCWE) is offering video editing and production training for low-income youth, residing in LA county, ages 18-24. To learn more, apply here.

Saturday, May 21st is Super CPR Saturday! Super CPR Saturday offers free CPR classes to the community. Participants receive a Red Cross CPR 2-year certification. The class is free to all attendees, designed for all age ranges, and includes lectures, videos, and hands-on CPR. Classes are offered at 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and 11:00 a.m. All participants must register before May 21st. Sign up here!

Da Vinci Schools is seeking a talented professional to fill an open Board of Trustees seat that is soon to be vacant. Only applicants who reside within the boundaries of the Wiseburn Unified School District are eligible to apply. >> See District Boundaries

Candidates should have the time, commitment, strategic leadership capabilities, and business acumen to contribute to the work of the Board and Da Vinci Schools.

The Da Vinci Schools Board of Trustees is comprised of seven distinguished leaders who share the governance and fiduciary responsibility for Da Vinci Schools. Board Trustees serve on a volunteer basis and are required to:

* Complete the entire 3-year term.
* Commit to at least one Board meeting per month, three joint Board meetings per year, and one Retreat per year.
* Participate in Board subcommittee work as needed.
* Read reports and other memorandum outside of these meetings in order to serve the Vision and Mission.

Da Vinci Board Members and Wiseburn Board Members will screen all applications. The Panel’s recommendation of the best match will be forwarded to both full Boards for ratification.

If you’re interested in this opportunity, we welcome you to apply at:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/dv-board-trustee

The application is open through May 22, 2022 at 11:59PM.

Thank you for your interest in serving on the Da Vinci Schools Board of Trustees.

Thank you so much for all the DVC families who decorated doors on Sunday, brought snacks throughout the week, and donated gift cards during Staff Appreciation Week! We felt well-celebrated this week, and we are grateful for your ongoing generosity and support. Please follow us @dvchighschool on Instagram to watch DVC staff competing in funny challenges for gift cards yesterday!

The DV Prom was last night and we enjoyed seeing our students dressed up in such fancy attire! We hope that everyone who attended had a fun and safe experience.

College Acceptances: Our seniors got accepted to 176 different colleges this year (check out the list here!) and we are thrilled to celebrate their accomplishments and commitments next week! Our counseling team has put together a Senior Spirit Week with a special College Signing Day on Wednesday, 5/11! Click the links for details. This is another new event for us that we hope to make an annual tradition. The Senior Spirit Week plans are as follows:

Monday, 5/9: All Seniors Wear Purple

Tuesday, 5/10: Throwback (Dress up like you did in your freshman, sophomore, or junior year)

Wednesday, 5/11: Rep your Future (Wear college, career, or military colors)

Thursday, 5/12: Dress up as your favorite teacher or someone who helped you get where you are today

Friday, 5/13: Inside Out Day (dress as the emotions you’re feeling about graduating or college)

School Site Council: On Wednesday, May 11 at 5pm, we have our final School Site Council Meeting over Zoom (link here). The agenda is as follows:

1. Public Comment
2. LCAP: Thoughts for 22-23 School Year
3. Farewell to Outgoing SSC Members
4. Plans for SSC for 22-23 School Year 

Here’s a list of upcoming events, but please also consult these two resources: DVC Year 9 Planning Calendar (2021-2022) and the DVC Weekly Schedules for the most up to date information. We update this calendar regularly and make changes as needed. 

• Monday, 5/9: Computer Science Principles Test
• Wednesday, 5/11: College Signing Day (8:30 – 12:10) & School Site Council Meeting @ 5pm (link)
• Tuesday, 5/17: 9th Grade Retreat at Camp Pondo in Running Springs, CA
• Friday, 5/27: Last Day for Seniors to Complete Coursework Required for Graduation
• Tuesday, 5/31: POL Schedule Begins: Minimum Days – students dismissed at 1:40pm

Wishing all the mothers a Happy Mothers’ Day on Sunday,

Erin