Monique Aldrete

TOMORROW: Funding the Future- 11th Grade Family Financial Aid Night

February 11, 2026 by Monique Aldrete

Hello Junior Families,

Reminder that TOMORROW from 6:00-7:30 pm, we will be hosting our 11th Grade Families Financial Aid Night on the DVC floor (3rd floor) in the Common Area.

Why Attend Now?

Many families are surprised to learn that financial aid is based on income from a specific tax year—not senior year itself.

Did you know?
Students in the Class of 2027 will use their 2025 tax return when completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) during their senior year.

That means the financial decisions you make now can directly impact how much aid your student may be eligible for later.

What You’ll Learn

Join our DVC Financial Literacy Teacher, Mr. Jackson, for an engaging and practical workshop covering:

How the FAFSA works and what it looks at
What “prior-prior year” tax information means for your family
Smart money and tax strategies to consider before filing 2025 taxes
How to maximize eligibility for grants and scholarships
Common financial aid myths—and what actually matters

This session is designed to be accessible, informative, and empowering, whether college feels far away or right around the corner.

Event Details

11th Grade Families
Thursday, February 12th
⏰ 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
DVC Common Area (3rd Floor)

Presentation will NOT be recorded but information shared during the presentation will be shared.

No registration/sign-up required.

For more information please contact Mr. Jackson (cjackson@davincischools.org)

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

DVC is going to the Black College Expo on 2/14- Sign up now!

February 3, 2026 by Monique Aldrete

Hello DVC students and families,

DVC is going to the Black College Expo again! Seniors, please bring your transcripts as schools have on-site acceptances, with scholarships! All students in grades 9-12 are welcome to attend. Please complete the google form if you are interested in attending the Black College Expo. To learn more about the Black College Expo please visit this site: Black College Expo 2026

Field Trip Details:

Date: Sat, February 14th, 2023, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: Pomona Fairplex

Tickets: Students who RSVP will be provided transportation and a ticket to the event.

Pickup will be at 9:00 am at the 201 campus and we will return to the 201 campus by 2 pm.

Students would need to bring their own lunch, or money for lunch, as lunch will not be provided.

Students who ride on the bus to the event must also leave on the bus.

Only 20 spots available!

If you are interested please complete the google form below to rsvp (Da Vinci Student login needed to access form). For any questions or concerns please email Mrs. Aldrete at maldrete@davincischools.org.

https://forms.gle/QxAnFx1YiEVs69AHA

$3.75 billion in free college money goes unclaimed every year

January 30, 2026 by Monique Aldrete

Dear Da Vinci Families,

Here’s a number that stops parents in their tracks: $3.75 billion in free college aid goes unclaimed every year.

Not because families don’t need it.
Not because they didn’t save.
But because 40% of eligible students never file the FAFSA, often assume they won’t qualify.

Even families earning over $ 100,000 frequently qualify for aid. But they never find out because they skip the application entirely. Meanwhile, 76% of students say financial aid is the #1 factor in choosing which college to attend. Research shows that just $5,000 in additional aid is enough to prompt nearly half of students to switch schools.

That’s not chump change. But most families leave it on the table. Not because they lack intelligence. Not because they’re lazy. But because they lack a strategy. Most families treat college planning like an emergency, scrambling when acceptance letters arrive, reacting to financial aid offers they don’t understand, and hoping it all works out.

But what if you could approach your family’s financial future the way a CFO approaches a business plan? Strategic. Proactive. In control.

Introducing: The Da Vinci Family CFO Training Series

I invite you to a FREE, 6-workshop series designed to help you shift from financial stress to financial clarity. Whether you have a kindergartner or a senior, this series will provide you with the frameworks, tools, and confidence to make smarter decisions about retirement, college savings, investing, and long-term wealth.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

Workshop 1 (Feb 5): Money Story & CFO Mindset: Identify limiting beliefs and adopt a strategic decision-making framework
Workshop 2 (Feb 26): Retirement Planning Essentials: Secure your oxygen mask first (401k, IRA, Roth strategies)
Workshop 3 (March 19): 529 Mastery: Maximize tax advantages and avoid costly mistakes
Workshop 4 (April 16): Balancing Priorities: Navigate competing goals with the CFO Decision Filter
Workshop 5 (May 7): Investment Fundamentals: Demystify investing and match strategies to your timeline
Workshop 6 (May 21): Personal Financial Roadmap: Create your customized action plan

Why This Series?

This isn’t theory. This isn’t a sales pitch. This is practical, actionable training you can use immediately.

You’ll walk away with:

A clear financial roadmap tailored to your family
Confidence to make smarter money decisions
Community with other Da Vinci families on the same journey
Peace of mind that you’re setting your kids up for success

Workshop Details:

Dates: Every 3 weeks, Thursdays from Feb-May 2026
Time: 6:00-7:30 PM
Location: Da Vinci Schools Campus/3rd floor, room 3203 (in-person)
Cost: FREE

Seats are limited.

This series is designed for any Da Vinci parent who wants to take control of their family’s financial future, whether you’re just starting to save or already investing. You don’t need to attend all 6 workshops (though I recommend it for maximum impact). Each one builds on the last, but you can join where it makes sense for your family.

I’ve worked with over 1000 families on college planning, FAFSA strategy, and financial literacy. I’ve seen firsthand how the right information at the right time can save families tens (or hundreds) of thousands of dollars.

My goal? Help 1 million families think like CFOs, starting with ours here at Da Vinci.

Let’s do this together.

See you on February 5th.

Christopher Jackson
College & Career Readiness Teacher, Da Vinci Communications
Founder, FinLit Garden
cjackson@davincischools.org
cjackson@finlitgarden.co

Funding the Future: Financial Aid Nights for DVC 10th & 11th Grade Families

January 29, 2026 by Monique Aldrete

Hello DVC Families,

This semester, we’re excited to host Funding the Future: Financial Aid Nights, an interactive workshop designed specifically for 10th and 11th grade families who want to better understand how financial aid works and how to prepare before senior year.

Why Attend Now?

Many families are surprised to learn that financial aid is based on income from a specific tax year—not senior year itself.

Did you know?
Students in the Class of 2027 will use their 2025 tax return when completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) during their senior year. Class of 2028 will use their 2026 tax return

That means the financial decisions you make now can directly impact how much aid your student may be eligible for later.

What You’ll Learn

Join our DVC Financial Literacy Teacher, Mr. Jackson, for an engaging and practical workshop covering:

How the FAFSA works and what it looks at
What “prior-prior year” tax information means for your family
Smart money and tax strategies to consider before filing 2025 taxes
How to maximize eligibility for grants and scholarships
Common financial aid myths—and what actually matters

This session is designed to be accessible, informative, and empowering, whether college feels far away or right around the corner.

Event Details

11th Grade Families
Thursday, February 12th
⏰ 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
DVC Common Area (3rd Floor)

10th Grade Families
Thursday, February 19th
⏰ 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
DVC Common Area (3rd Floor)

Presentation will NOT be recorded but information shared during the presentation will be shared.

No registration/sign-up required.

For more information please contact Mr. Jackson (cjackson@davincischools.org)

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Spring 2026 Da Vinci/El Camino Course Offerings

January 13, 2026 by Monique Aldrete

Good afternoon DVC students and parents,

Happy new year and welcome back! This spring semester, Da Vinci Schools is offering 4 dual enrollment partnership courses with El Camino College and will start on February 16th, 2026. HDEV 110, FILM 110, COMS 100 are open to 9th-12th grade students, while ENG C1000 is only open to 12th grade students.

Da Vinci Schools will be assisting with sign-ups by hosting an application workshop in the RWL Center computer lab this Thursday, January 15th from 3:00pm-5:00 pm. Students should know their SSN# (if they have one) and whether or not their family is considered a military family when they come.

If interested in signing up for the following classes, you can attend the application workshop OR schedule an appointment with Ms. Aldrete via Calendly before Thursday, February 5th in order to submit the Spring 2026 application on time:

https://calendly.com/aldretedvc

To be eligible to take a dual enrollment class, the student will need to be passing all their academic classes and have no credit recovery for a-g classes. Space is limited and we are accepting forms on a first come first serve basis!

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

For more information click on the following links:

Applying to El Camino College

Do I Need to Apply Again?

Application for Admission Help