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Archives for September 2025

Week 6 Updates for Families

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Week 6

Hello DVC families!  We are excited for this week’s Back to School Night and to see you all there, as well as our first CLD opportunity.  Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations have already begun, thanks to our Latino Student Union, and we are also looking forward to our next CD, which will feature Hispanic Heritage Month.

Back to School Night: We are excited to welcome parents and families to our Back to School Night this Thursday, September 25th from 5:15-7:30!  The event will begin in the Black Box Theater at 5:15 p.m. This is a great opportunity to meet your students’ teachers, tour our floor, and get a glimpse at DVC culture.  Students are not required to attend.  An email with more information about BTSN will be sent to all parents and guardians soon.

CLD Day: Our first CLD Day is coming up on September 23rd. Students received an email from Da Vinci Schools to sign up for an On-Campus Learning Workshop or to indicate that they will be learning from home that day. Here is the CLD Survey to Sign-Up for CLD Day 9/23 (need Da Vinci email address to access). Here is the List of On-Campus Workshops available on 9/23. Students can still show up on CLD day if they were unable to sign up for an opportunity, and will be placed into an on-campus activity.

New this year: all students should accept the invite for the CLD Canvas course.  Students will need to complete attendance via a “quiz” that will be available on Canvas on 9/23. Please note that students will need to have a CLD stay-at-home permission slip if they wish to learn from home that day.

Hispanic Heritage Month CD: Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations have kicked off at DVC! Thank you to our Latino Student Union for beautifully decorating our floor, and to all students who participated in last weekend’s Latino College Expo.  Our next CD on Friday, October 3rd will be led by the Latino Student Union. Students interested in participating should contact Ms. Noemy Carrillo (ncarrillo@davincischools.org).

Grades Updated: Grades have been updated for all classes, and can be found on Canvas or PowerSchool.  We will have info and a help desk for Canvas/PowerSchool at our Back to School Night this Thursday.

PSAT for Grades 9, 10, 11: DVC 9th, 10th, and 11th graders will take the PSAT on Wednesday, October 15th.  At DVC, we believe that it is important to have students try these practice tests and become familiar with them in advance of taking the SAT.  For 11th grade students, there is also the possibility of scholarships and recognition based on PSAT performance. Admin and counselors will be pushing into classrooms in the next few weeks to help students get prepared for the test.  If you have any initial questions or concerns about this test, please reach out to administration, your student’s grade level counselor, or their case manager, if applicable.

Opt-out SAT School Day for 12th Grade: DVC 12th grade students will have the option to opt OUT of taking the SAT during the DVC SAT School Day on Wednesday, October 15th.  Information on opting out will be sent to students this week.  Please note that any students who choose to opt out will meet with Ms. Aldrete prior to this decision being approved.

Attendance: As a friendly reminder. If your student is going to be absent from school, it’s essential to complete both the Absence Reporting Form (Completed by Parent) and the Short-Term Independent Study (STIS) Form (Completed by Student).  Submitting the Absence Form ensures your absence is properly documented, while completing the STIS Form allows your student to receive credit for the days they missed. This helps keep your student’s attendance and academic records in good standing. Be sure to fill out both forms as soon as possible.  You can find the links under the Helpful Link Tab on the Blog.  Thank you!

 

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

  • Community Learning Day – Tuesday, September 23rd
  • Back to School Night – Thursday, September 25th @ 5:15pm
  • Local Holiday (No School) – Thursday, October 2nd
  • Student Led Conferences – Monday, October 13th – Friday October 17th (1:50pm dismissal, EXCEPT Wednesday @ 2:30)
  • PSAT 9/10/11 & SAT (12) – Wednesday, October 15th

Bookmark these links for easy access to school information:

 

Sincerely,

Andrew Daramola

Principal, Da Vinci Communications 

Da Vinci Students at the Latino College Expo, 9/13/25

An unforgettable adventure awaits your child in Peru: Machu Picchu, Cusco & Lake Titicaca!

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Dear families,

We’re thrilled to share that Da Vinci’s Atlas travel program is heading to Peru: Machu Picchu, Cusco & Lake Titicaca in Spring 2027, and we’d love for your student to join us! This opportunity is open to ALL Da Vinci high school students. 

This is an incredible opportunity for students to explore new places, experience different cultures, and gain lifelong skills like independence and confidence. We’ll be sharing all the details, including what we’ll see and do, hands-on learning activities, academic opportunities, trip costs, and how to secure a spot at our informational meeting.

Meeting details:
📅 Date: September 22
🕒 Time: 6:00 PM
📍 Location: Zoom
👉 RSVP here to join us: https://rsvp.eftours.com/p244a2c

We’ll also open enrollment during the meeting—spots are limited, and we would love to help you secure this experience for your child.

In the meantime, please visit EF’s website to get answers to common parent questions. EF Tours is our trusted travel partner, and they have 60 years of experience helping students explore the world safely and affordably.

We hope to see you there and look forward to sharing how this trip can be a powerful and unforgettable chapter in your child’s life!

Discover the impact of the Atlas travel program in our recap of the 2025 Spring trip to Italy. Read the full story now.

 

DVC All Stars, September 2025!

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We had our first CD assembly of the year on Thursday, where we recognized DVC All-Stars from grades 9-12!  These students were chosen by their grade-level teachers for being outstanding examples of DVC culture.  Congratulations to all of our All-Stars!

Week 5 Updates

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Week 5

It’s already been a month of learning at Da Vinci Communications!  We have hit the ground running with our Overnighter, Club Fair, and seminars being launched.  Thank you for your positive energy, and we are excited for upcoming events like our Back to School Night (September 25th) and SLCs in October.

Welcome, Ms. Jamisyn Williams: Ms. Williams will be serving as counselor during Ms. Barba’s leave for grades 9 and 11.  Please direct any counseling inquiries to her (or drop a line of welcome) to jwilliams@davincischools.org.  Ms. Williams attended Wiseburn Schools and was thrilled to have the opportunity to work in her home community.  We’re excited to have her on our team!

Hispanic Heritage Month: Tomorrow marks the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, which takes place September 15th to October 15th every year as a time to recognize and celebrate the many contributions, diverse cultures, and extensive histories of the American Latino community. DVC students attended the Latino College Expo this weekend, and our Latino Student Union (L.S.U.) leads the recognition and celebration throughout the next four weeks. Our next CD on Friday, October 3rd will be led by the Latino Student Union. Students interested in participating should contact Ms. Noemy Carrillo (ncarrillo@davincischools.org).

Make Up Photos: All students who did not take a photo on the earlier photo days will have make up photos on Tuesday, September 16th from 8:30-9:30.  For students who would like to retake a photo, please reach out to Jackie Martinez (jmartinez@davincischools.org) to get added to the photo list.  Students will be called out of class by the front office.

CLD Day: Our first CLD Day is coming up on September 23rd. Students received an email from Da Vinci Schools to sign up for an On-Campus Learning Workshop or to indicate that they will be learning from home that day. Here is the CLD Survey to Sign-Up for CLD Day 9/23 (need Da Vinci email address to access). Here is the List of On-Campus Workshops available on 9/23. Please note that students will need to have a CLD stay-at-home permission slip if they wish to learn from home that day. 

Tutoring: By popular demand, Tutor Alex is returning for another year of tutoring at DVC!  Tutoring in all subject areas (except pathways and art) is offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 3:35-4:30 in room 3205 (Sandoval).

Wednesday Snacks 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, please check out this link.  We are thankful for your generosity!  Thank you very much to those who have already signed out.

Attendance: As a friendly reminder, If your student is going to be absent from school, it’s essential to complete both the Absence Reporting Form (Completed by Parent) and the Short-Term Independent Study (STIS) Form (Completed by Student).  Submitting the Absence Form ensures your absence is properly documented, while completing the STIS Form allows your student to receive credit for the days they missed. This helps keep your student’s attendance and academic records in good standing. Be sure to fill out both forms as soon as possible.  You can find the links under the Helpful Link Tab on the Blog.  Thank you!

Work Permits: Any student who is employed and working is legally required to have a valid work permit. If your student is currently employed or planning to begin work, please make sure they obtain one from Lolita Go (room 3206). Additionally, if students are interested in working during seminar time, they will need to be enrolled in the Work Experience Seminar. This ensures that students receive credit for their employment experience and that their schedules are aligned with school expectations. Thank you for your support in helping students balance school and work successfully. Please contact Lolita with any questions about work permits or seminar enrollment through email at lgo@davincischools.org.

Metro Passes: Da Vinci Schools is participating in LA Metro’s GoPass Program again this year! This means any DVC student can receive a free Metrocard that, once activated, will allow them to ride on the Metro at no cost until June 30th. Students can pick up a card and instructions to activate their card from Jackie Martinez (jmartinez@davincischools.org) at the DVC Front Desk. Here is more information on the GoPass Program if you are interested.

 

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

  • Make Up Photos – Tuesday, September 16th
  • Community Learning Day – Tuesday, September 23rd
  • Back to School Night – Thursday, September 25th @ 5:15pm
  • Local Holiday (No School) – Thursday, October 2nd 
  • Student Led Conferences – Monday, October 13th – Friday October 17th (1:50pm dismissal, EXCEPT Wednesday @ 2:30)
  • PSAT 9/10/11 & SAT (12) – Wednesday, October 15th

Bookmark these links for easy access to school information:

 

Sincerely,

Andrew Daramola

Principal, Da Vinci Communications

Da Vinci Communications

201 N. Douglas St. – Floor 3

El Segundo, CA 90245

(310) 725-5800