The Pack Yearbook applications are open now!  Students, in grades 9th -12th, who are interested in cemeting memories throughout the year and holding a leadership position are encouraged to apply. There are several benefits to joining yearbook, watch the video to learn more!  Applications are due by August 21,2022. 

Join the Yearbook (video)

Application:  https://forms.gle/nVxXt4dgE3FqzzmT8

We can’t wait to hear from you!

Your Editor(s)-In-Chief :

Naeema Fontaine

Adriana Ballesteros

Kamryn Washington

For more information about applying for yearbook please complete the application and contact Ms. Thomas (Advisor).

Email:  Athomas@davincischools.org      Instagram: @Dvcyearbook

DVC 10th – 12th grade students, and the Class of 2022,  can access their Da Vinci Communications transcript using Parchment!

Students please be sure to log-in using your Da Vinci Communications email address. 

 Parchment provides you with the ability to request official transcripts online and have them sent electronically and securely to  colleges, universities, or scholarship programs that you select.  You can also send them to yourself!  After you make your request, your official high school transcript will be processed.  When your request has been processed, you will receive an email confirmation. Please click on this link to visit Parchment and request your transcripts.

Thank you,

The DVC Counseling Team

Website address:   https://www.parchment.com/log-in/

3-Steps-Poster-16×20

*National Eating Disorders Awareness Week provides an opportunity to draw attention to one of the most serious mental health conditions impacting the lives of Americans and their families today. Eating disorders—including binge-eating, bulimia nervosa, and anorexia nervosa—affect people of all backgrounds and genders. Nearly 1 in 10 Americans are expected to develop an eating disorder in their lifetime. In recent years, there has been a troubling surge in eating disorders among children, older adults, military service members, and transgender individuals. When undiagnosed or untreated, eating disorders can have serious—even fatal—consequences, which is why improving mental health services and support is so important.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been especially challenging for individuals with eating disorders. National eating disorder hotlines have seen a more than 70 percent spike in the volume of calls and chats since the pandemic started. Research shows that the number of hospitalizations for eating disorders has doubled during that same time period.

Despite the fact that eating disorders have among the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, the shame and stigmatization of eating disorders often prevent people who are suffering from seeking help. That is why it is important to make more people aware that, with early detection and medical intervention, full recovery from an eating disorder is possible.

Advice for Parents:

Prevention

• Open up lines of communication. To help prevent eating disorders, talk to your teen about eating habits and body image. It might not be easy, but it’s important.
• Encourage reasonable eating habits. Talk to your teen about how diet can affect his or her health, appearance, and energy level. Encourage your teen to eat when he or she is hungry. Make a habit of eating together as a family.
• Discuss media messages. Television programs, movies, websites, and other media might send your teen the message that only a certain body type is acceptable. Encourage your teen to talk about and question what he or she has seen or heard — especially from websites or other sources that promote anorexia as a lifestyle choice, rather than an eating disorder.
• Promote a healthy body image. Talk to your teen about his or her self-image and offer reassurance that healthy body shapes vary. Don’t allow hurtful nicknames or jokes based on a person’s physical characteristics. Avoid making comments about another person based on his or her weight or body shape.
• Foster self-esteem. Respect your teen’s accomplishments, and support his or her goals. Listen when your teen speaks. Look for positive qualities in your teen, such as curiosity, generosity, and a sense of humor. Remind your teen that your love and acceptance is unconditional — not based on his or her weight or appearance.
• Share the dangers of dieting and emotional eating. Explain that dieting can compromise your teen’s nutrition, growth, and health, as well as lead to binge-eating. Remind your teen that eating or controlling his or her diet isn’t a healthy way to cope with emotions. Instead, encourage your teen to talk to loved ones, friends, or a counselor about problems he or she might be facing.
• Use food for nourishment — not as a reward or consequence. Resist the temptation to offer food as a bribe. Similarly, don’t take away food as a punishment.
• Set a good example yourself. If you’re constantly dieting, using food to cope with your emotions or talking about losing weight, you might have a hard time encouraging your teen to eat a healthy diet or feel satisfied with his or her appearance. Instead, make conscious choices about your lifestyle and take pride in your body.
• Team up with your teen’s doctor. Your teen’s doctor can reinforce the messages you’re giving your teen at home, as well as help identify early signs of an eating disorder. For example, the doctor can look for unusual changes in your teen’s body mass index or weight percentiles during routine medical appointments. The doctor can talk to your teen about his or her eating habits, exercise routine, and body image. If necessary, he or she will refer your teen to a mental health provider.

Warning Signs of Teen Eating Disorders

Early Signs & Symptoms

• Distorted body image
• Poor eating patterns
• Frequent Weighing
• Extreme weight change
• Dizziness & weakness
• Fatigue & insomnia
• Hyperactivity & obsession with exercise
• Constipation
• Withdrawn, irritable, anxious
• Difficulty concentrating
• Skin rash or dry skin & loss of hair or nail quality
• In girls, menstrual irregularities

Later Life-Threatening Consequences

• Muscle wasting
• Thinning hair
• Bone loss
• Tooth decay
• Delayed growth and development
• Anemia
• Digestive problems
• Seizures
• Depression

Seek Help

National Eating Disorders Association Helpline: 1-800-931-2237

Hopeline Network: 1-800-442-4673

National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders: 1-630-577-1330

Crisis Textline: Text CONNECT to 741741

Overeaters Anonymous: 1-505-891-2664

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your school counselor:

Jennifer Barba (jbarba@davincischools.org)

Artia Thomas( athomas@davincischools.org)

Monique Aldrete (maldrete@davincischools.org)

*Taken from the FederalRegister.Gov and the National Eating Disorders Association

The Black College Expo is back in-person this year!

DVC is interested in transporting a selective number of students to and from the expo on Saturday, February 19, 2022 from 8:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.  If your child is interested in attending please fill out this form to reserve their spot no later than February  15^th.

https://forms.gle/64BCH5v8v2yqbbUK7

If you are interested in supervising a group of students during  the Black College Expo on the field trip, please fill out this form by February 15th:

https://forms.gle/ntAShfpTFMt1AWJw7

There is NO COST to attend this trip. However, you will need to bring lunch or money for lunch.

The Black College Expo™ is an event that highlights over 50 of the 104 historically black colleges and universities, along with other higher learning institutions and educational services. It is an interactive experience for students to get access to colleges, highlighting HBCUs, historically black colleges and universities, and other educational programs.

Students can get ACCEPTED on the SPOT! College Application FEES Waived, and get SCHOLARSHIPS on the spot.  This event will help high school juniors and seniors looking for a college home,  and college transfer students looking to transfer to a four year college.

This event also serves as a bridge to help college recruiters connect with students looking to go to college. It is also an opportunity for future high school seniors to get connected to a college and get their application fees waived.

Black College Expo is helping students with access to higher education for over 20 years. This event truly helps students connect to college, careers & beyond!  The event is produced by National College Resources Foundation (NCRF), a 501c3 nonprofit organization. NCRF has helped over 500,000 students get into college, and helped students connect with over 1 billion dollars in scholarships and grants.

If you have any questions, or concerns, please feel free to reach out to:

Ms. Artia Thomas

athomas@davincischools.org

310-725-5800 x3422

Hello DVC families!

The Pack, DVC’s yearbook committee, has been hard at work creating the 2021-2022 yearbook. As the end of the year is approaching, yearbook prices are rising! Please purchase your book before March 1st to take advantage of the 10%-off deal!

Before March 1st: $40

After March 1st: $45

Purchase your book at yearbookforvever.com!