Hello DVC Senior families,

As you prepare for the college application process, many of you will apply for financial aid.  One of those funding options is our State Grant, called the Cal Grant.  The Cal Grant is funding for college that students do not pay back. The Cal Grant can be used at any University of California (UC), California State University (CSU) or California Community College, as well as qualifying independent (private) and career colleges or technical schools in California.

To qualify, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) by March 2, 2027 and meet the eligibility and financial requirements as well as any minimum GPA requirements.  Eligibility is based on the FAFSA or CADAA responses, your verified high school Cal Grant GPA, the type of California Colleges you list on your FAFSA or CADAA and whether you’re a recent high school graduate. To learn more about the qualifications, you may learn more about the Cal Grant here. 

Da Vinci Communications High School is required to submit student’s verified GPA to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC). By law families can “opt out” of this process if you do not want DVC to submit your student’s verified GPA. If you choose to “opt out”, this means your student will not be eligible to receive a Cal Grant. In order to “opt-out”, please complete the attached form and return to your students counselor via email no later than September 24, 2026.

If you do not return the “opt-out” form, Da Vinci Design will submit your student’s verified GPA to the CSAC to determine your student’s Cal Grant eligibility.

To obtain an opt-out form click on this link for the Cal Grant Opt Out Form, which is also available in Spanish. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your/your students counselor.

Jennifer Barba: Last Name A – G                jbarba@davincischools.org

Jamisyn Williams: Last Name H – Pa        jawilliams@davincischools.org

Christine Almeda: Last Name Pb – Z         calmeda@davincischools.org

Dear DVC Families,

The College & Career Parent Information Night for 9th grade, originally scheduled for tonight via Zoom, has been cancelled.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. Our counseling team is working to reschedule this important session, and we will share the new date and Zoom information with you as soon as it is confirmed.

Thank you for your patience and continued support — we look forward to connecting with you soon to provide valuable information about college and career planning for our 9th grade students.

Warm regards,
The DVC Counseling Team

Dear Graduates and Families,

Congratulations again on your graduation! As you prepare for your next chapter—whether it’s college, career, or a gap year—we want to make sure your final transcripts are in order. Final high school transcripts are now ready to be ordered on Parchment.

To ensure everything is accurate before sending transcripts to your college or university, please follow the steps below carefully:

📄 Step-by-Step: How to Order Your Transcript

1. Log in to your Parchment account
Go to www.parchment.com and log in using your existing student account.

2. Order your transcript to be sent to yourself first

• Select “Send to Yourself”

• Choose to receive it electronically (PDF) or via mail

• Once received, review your transcript carefully to ensure all grades, credits, and your graduation status are accurate

3. If everything looks good, send your transcript to your university

• Log back into Parchment

• Select “Send to a College or University”

• Search for your school and follow the prompts to send electronically

• Make sure to confirm the school’s correct admissions office or department

🛑 Found a Mistake?

If you see any discrepancies or errors on your final transcript (missing credits, incorrect grades, etc.), please contact us before sending it to your college:

📧 Mrs. Barba – 10th and 12th Grade School Counselor
Email: jbarba@davincischools.org

📧 Mrs. Aldrete – College & Career School Counselor
Email: maldrete@davincischools.org

🌞 Enjoy Your Summer!

We’re so proud of everything you’ve accomplished. Enjoy this well-earned summer break before you begin your exciting new journey! Stay in touch, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you need help.

With care and congratulations,
Your Counseling Team

Did you know that Da Vinci Schools are included among 115 South Bay Families Connected Partner Schools? Through this partnership, our parents and staff have free access to resources and educational events addressing a wide array of youth wellness topics, from healthy tech use to substance use prevention. We invite you to attend any of their upcoming events, including screenings of the new Screenagers film and the fentanyl prevention film “Come Back Home”, as well as the monthly Families Connected Parent Chat support group. Be sure to check-out this month’s Families Connected newsletter and sign-up to gain access to new resources and events each month. For our own unique youth wellness resource page, visit Da Vinci Families Connected. Together as a community, we strive to help our youth thrive.