Student Life – Page 3

Da Vinci Schools Apparel and Merchandise Store Now Open!

November 9, 2023 by Emily Shapiro

Dear Da Vinci Students, Families, and Staff,

Da Vinci is launching a new Apparel and Merchandise store that will be open for a limited pre-order period on MySchoolBucks!

Students, families and staff can pre-order pullover or zip-up hoodies and polo shirts in youth to adult sizes with your school’s two-color, silk-screened logo. In addition, you can order limited edition 15th Anniversary ceramic mugs and water bottles, and new Da Vinci tote bags!

Place your order today through MySchoolBucks.

The pre-order period ends on Sunday, Nov. 19th at 11:59 p.m.

Once the pre-ordered items are produced, they will be delivered to each school site for distribution through your front offices.

Click HERE to order!

Da Vinci Schools Celebrates Red Ribbon Week Oct. 23-27

October 18, 2023 by Emily Shapiro

Students are getting ready for Red Ribbon Week® here at Da Vinci Communications, Design, and Science!

What Is Red Ribbon Week? It is a way for people and communities to unite and take a visible stand against drugs and celebrate healthy lifestyle choices and habits. We hope to have students show their personal commitment to a drug-free and healthy lifestyle through participation in various activities October 23 – 27th. We will have a “wear red day” and see health related content in classes and presentations.

This year’s theme is: “Be Kind To Your Mind. Live Drug Free”. We hope to strengthen anti-drug-use attitudes and norms through sharing information. Please partner with us and discuss this message at home, at the dinner table, at family outings, and with friends and extended family. Ask your child to tell you about things they hear at school about Red Ribbon Week®!

Parent Resources:
Drug Awareness Hot Topics (English/Spanish)
Vaping: Parent Guide
Fentanyl: Parent toolkit
Da Vinci Substance Use Treatment Resource Sheet

Join us Tuesday October 24, 2023 6:30-7:45p in person, or on zoom, for a parent workshop on Substance Abuse Prevention featuring LA County Dept of Public Health Substance Abuse Counselor Steve Cagle. Learn about health and social impacts of substance use, what to look for with your own child, how to intervene when you have concerns and additional resources and supports available. Located at 201 N Douglas Street in the Blackbox Theater, you will have the chance to see various vapes, devices and products. Webinar link for Tues. October 24th: https://davincischools-org.zoom.us/j/96721710993

Save the date Thursday, October 26th 3:30-6:30pm Da Vinci Schools is hosting a mobile vaccination clinic for those wanting a free Flu shot or new COVID booster! Located at 201 N Douglas Street in the Multi-Purpose Room, walk-ins are welcome. This is a community event where all staff, students, families and friends are invited! Must be at least 5 years old to participate.

One fun way to start or continue the conversation about drug prevention and healthy lifestyle choices with your children AND have a chance to win an iPad? National Family Partnership is sponsoring a photo contest. The photo contest is free, simple and you could win an iPad and $1,000 for our school!! Log onto www.redribbon.org and find out more!

2023 Summer Career Training Programs – Apply by May 22!

May 12, 2023 by Emily Shapiro

Da Vinci Families,

We are excited to announce that we will be hosting a number of Summer Career Training Programs around the trades, entrepreneurship, aviation, and space system designs. All programs will take place at our 201 N. Douglas campus, and will be free and open to all current Da Vinci high school students, including graduating seniors. Space is limited! DEADLINE TO APPLY IS MONDAY, MAY 22.

Please see the flyer for more information about each program:

L.A. Urban League’s Biz Camp Summer Program
Summer Trades Program
Summer Aviation Program
Stellar Camp

If you have any questions please contact Ms. Crissel Rodriguez, Director of Real-World Learning, at crodriguez@davincischools.org.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond Visits Da Vinci Schools

April 24, 2023 by Carla Levenson

Today, Da Vinci Schools had the honor and privilege to host State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond as he recognized Da Vinci Schools as a leader in bringing personal finance curriculum to students.

Supt. Thurmond visited 12th grade teacher Christopher Jackson’s College & Career Readiness and Financial Literacy class at Da Vinci Communications and spoke directly with students as part of his effort to tour model schools and promote making personal finance and financial literacy a high school graduation requirement. Da Vinci students take financial literacy as part of their core graduation requirements – fewer than 1% of students in California attend a school that requires them to complete one semester of financial education. Only 27 percent of California high school students attend schools that offer personal finance electives compared with 71% nationwide. Just 18 states nationwide require a financial literacy course to graduate.

“We are so inspired by Superintendent Thurmond’s leadership on expanding financial education to all California students – and also so moved by his personal story. He is authentic, caring and charismatic, and is a tremendous inspiration to our students,” said Dr. Matthew Wunder, Da Vinci’s CEO and Superintendent.

Research shows that students who have access to high-quality financial education have better financial outcomes as adults that result in less debt and a higher quality of life. The CA Department of Education is partnering with CA-based nonprofit Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF) to provide teacher training for financial literacy. DVC financial literacy teacher Christopher Jackson is one of the first 500 NGPF Distinguished Educators who has completed six certification courses. This sets him apart from the 78,000 educators in the NGPF network and in the top 1%! Chris was selected as one of 85 CA educators selected to attend NGPF’s Closing the Financial Education Gap in March where he met Supt. Thurmond. > Related article: Teacher Talk with Christopher Jackson

Supt. Thurmond recently announced $1.4 million in financial literacy grants to help deliver financial literacy and personal finance courses to students in California. Ensuring that all young Californians have exposure to financial literacy is a vital step in closing inequality gaps and providing the skills and resources to improve lives.

Supt. Thurmond was joined today by Steve Zimmer, Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction; Tim Ranzetta, Founder of Next Gen Personal Finance; Dr. Matthew Wunder, CEO and Superintendent of Da Vinci Schools; Dr. Jennifer Hawn, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Superintendent of Da Vinci Schools; Erin D’Souza, Principal of Da Vinci Communications; Andrew Daramola, Assistant Principal, Da Vinci Communications; Christopher Jackson, College & Career Readiness and Financial Literacy teacher at Da Vinci Communications; and Dr. Blake Silvers, Superintendent of the Wiseburn Unified School District.

Supt. Thurmond’s funding builds on the $3.5 billion Arts, Music, and Instructional Materials Discretionary Block Grant to county offices of education, school districts, charter schools, and the State Special Schools that can be used to expand financial literacy course offerings.

Become a Youth Board Representative for The Del Aire Neighborhood Association – Apply by 4/19!

April 13, 2023 by Emily Shapiro

Future Youth Leaders,

The Del Aire Neighborhood Association (DNA) is looking for 1-2 high-school student leaders who want to serve as YOUTH BOARD REPRESENTATIVES who can help the organization grow, plan community events, and advocate for neighborhood improvements like the Greenway! You can find the application here – apply by April 19th.

Application requirements:

Must be a Del Aire resident
Must be able to commit to serving for 2 years. (so, ideally, incoming freshmen, sophomores and Juniors should apply.

This is a great opportunity for students to participate on the Board and provide a forum to learn about local government and help shape the community.

For more information, please contact Jessica Nolan Daugherty, President of the Del Aire Neighborhood Association at 714-390-6301.