Archives for 2023

Week 21 is a four-day week for students! There is no school on Friday, February 3rd as it is a Professional Development Day for staff. 

School Site Council: We have our School Site Council Meeting on Wednesday, February 1st at 4:30pm via Zoom  (link here). Our agenda for the School Site Council meeting is as follows:

1. Public Comment
2. School Safety Plan Approval
3. SSC Discussion – Glows and Grows of DVC

Black History Month: Wednesday, February 1st begins Black History Month! We are proud to recognize the experiences and accomplishments of the Black community during February and always. 

Here’s what’s coming up:

• DVC Weekly Schedules Year 10 (2022-2023) & DVC Year 10 Planning Calendar (2022-2023)
• Wednesday, 2/1: School SIte Council Meeting @ 4:30pm via Zoom (link here)
• Thursday, 2/2: Shelter-in-Place Drill @ 10:30am
• Friday, 2/3: No School – Professional Development Day
• Monday, 2/6: National School Counseling Week Begins
• Monday, 2/20: No School – Presidents’ Day
• Friday, 2/24: Black History Month CD

Dear DVC Students & Families,

We are working diligently this year to regularly monitor student progress in academics, socio-emotional well-being, behavior, and attendance to ensure that we are able to communicate with families, respond to concerns, and intervene with supports as quickly as possible when our students are struggling to access the educational opportunities that we provide. In particular this semester, we will be more closely monitoring attendance because research has shown that regular attendance is vital for the success of students in school. Students who are present are more likely to succeed academically, engage with others, and be better prepared for success beyond school. This semester we are increasing our communications with families when a student’s attendance falls below 90%, as that is the state threshold for students being classified as chronically absent. In addition to daily absence notification calls, every two weeks our schools will email or directly call the families of chronically absent students to keep them informed of their student’s attendance status and let them know whether or not their student’s attendance has improved over the past two weeks. Parent meetings may be held for student’s whose attendance fails to improve over the course of multiple weeks, with the goal of coming together as a team to identify the challenges and implement supports to ensure that we are doing all that we can to help get students back on track.

California law states that absences are excused only if the child is ill or there is an excuse that meets the requirements of the California Education Code Section 48205. Even excused absences that cause your child to miss significant amounts of school can cause your child to fall behind in class and can cause them to be classified as chronically absent. Our school will continue to require verification of absences due to illness or quarantine if your child has missed school for three consecutive days. Please be aware that going out of town when school is in session with your child is an unexcused absence.

We hope that all of our students will be in attendance every day, but we also understand that there are times when absences may become a challenge. As we continue our pursuit of our students’ learning and growth, we look forward to strengthening our partnership with our families to ensure that all Da Vincians have the support that they need to access their education and achieve success.

Thank you for your support,

Erin D’Souza

Principal, DVC

Founded in 1958, Distinguished Young Women is the largest and oldest national scholarship program for high school girls. It positively impacts the lives of young women by providing a transformative experience that promotes reaching your full potential, includes Life Skills Workshops (co-sponsored locally by Deloitte) and makes available over $1 Billion in scholarships every year. Distinguished Young Women strives to give every young woman the opportunity to further her education and prepare for a successful future. ONE MONTH LEFT TO APPLY- Deadline: Friday, February 17 Who is eligible? Young women from Class of 2024 who: are involved in school and/or community activities show outstanding efforts in academics, leadership, athletics or the arts are interested in earning scholarships for college There is NO COST to participate. The Distinguished Young Women of Los Angeles County Scholarship Program for the Class of 2024 will be held on Saturday, April 1, 2023. Please note the deadline to apply is Friday, February 17, 2023 and there is absolutely NO COST to participate in Distinguished Young Women. The young women selected to represent Los Angeles County will receive a cash scholarship and the opportunity to compete for up to $30,000 in cash scholarships at the Distinguished Young Women of California program in the summer of 2023. All local participants are eligible for scholarships from participating universities, just by participating in the program!  We appreciate you sharing this once in a lifetime opportunity with your talented and high achieving young women in the Class of 2024! Attached please find a flyer, web ready summary and PowerPoint to assist you in publicizing to both prospective participants as well as your fellow educators*. Interested young women can fill out the application on our website: www.distinguishedyw.org. DYW 2024 FLYER DYW 2024 OVERVIEW  DYW 2024 SUMMARY If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at losangeles@distinguishedyw.org

Sandpipers has provided financial assistance to college-bound students since 1941 and is the oldest continuing aid program in the South Bay. Supporting more than 50 students per year, the program is unique in funding our qualified recipients throughout the four continuous years of their undergraduate studies.  View our video about our Scholarship Program here:  https://www.sandpipers.org/scholarships

For the 2022-2023 school year, Sandpipers awarded more than $300,000 to 55 college students (Freshmen – Senior years). Each student received a minimum of $500 with some receiving as much as $10,000 for the school year. This amount is based on their outstanding financial need from their FAFSA report.

High school seniors living in the South Bay (both citizens and eligible non-citizens as defined by the U.S. Department of Education) are eligible to apply for a Sandpipers Scholarship for the 2023-24 school year.  Detailed eligibility requirements are stated below.

The entire Sandpipers Scholarship Application is online.  The application is now available and can be accessed at this link: https://app.smarterselect.com/programs/86862

Similar to last year, the application should be easier for students in terms of the financial information that we are asking them to provide.  This year, applicants need to provide their FAFSA that lists their Estimated Family Contribution (EFC.)  If they did not do the FAFSA, then they will need to upload their parent/guardian(s) tax return, with all social security numbers crossed off.

All applications are due on Thursday, February 2, 2023 at 5 PM, no exceptions.  

The Sandpipers Scholarship Committee conducts a rigorous review of ALL applications.  Sandpipers will select up to 20 candidates to meet with the Sandpipers Scholarship Committee for virtual interviews. From those 20 students interviewed, the Committee will select between 12-14 students as Sandpipers Scholarship recipients for 2023-24.

We base our selection of our scholarship recipients on the following:

· Students’ community and school involvement

· Academic achievement

· Leadership

· Financial need

· Personal commitment to financially contribute to their own education via work-study, part-time employment, etc.

· Note: children and grandchildren of Sandpipers’ members are not eligible.

Application Requirements and Process

High school seniors meeting all eligibility requirements below may apply for a Sandpipers Scholarship:

• U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen (as defined by the U.S. Department of Education in The Student Guide)
• Cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher
• Permanent resident of the South Bay area of Southern California (roughly bounded by the 105 and 110 freeways)
• Students residing outside the South Bay area are eligible if they attend a high school in the defined South Bay area
• Demonstrate a financial need

Again, online applications with all supporting materials uploaded (essay, transcript, letters of recommendation) need to be completed by 5 p.m. on Thursday, February 2, 2023.