Dear Seniors & Parents,

A Cal Grant is money for college you don’t have to pay back. Cal Grants can be used at any University of California, California State University or California Community College, as well as qualifying independent (private) and career colleges or technical schools in California.

To qualify, you must apply for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) by April 2, 2024 and meet the eligibility and financial requirements as well as any minimum GPA requirements. There are three kinds of Cal Grants (A, B and C) but you don’t have to figure out which one to apply for. Your eligibility will be based on your FAFSA or CADAA responses, your verified high school Cal Grant GPA, the type of California colleges you list on your FAFSA and whether you’re a recent high school graduate. To learn more about the qualifications, please visit www.calgrants.org.

Da Vinci Communications is required to submit your student’s verified GPA. By law you have the option to “opt out” of this process if you do not want Da Vinci Communications 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 Ms. Aldrete via email at maldrete@davincischools.org no later than September 27th, 2023.

If you do not return the “opt-out” form, Da Vinci Communications will submit your student’s verified GPA to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) to determine your student’s Cal Grant eligibility.

To obtain an opt-out form click on this link Cal Grant Opt Out Form

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Ms. Aldrete via email at maldrete@davincischools.org.

Student-led conferences begin next week! Parents & guardians are expected to attend their student’s conference during the week of October 2nd. Students will be dismissed early (at 1:50pm) on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday to accommodate the conferences. Wednesday dismissal will remain at 2:30pm. Please be on the lookout for an email with sign-up information. You can also find grade-level information at the following links:

• 9th Grade SLC Information
• 10th Grade SLC Information
• 11th Grade SLC Information
• 12th Grade SLC Information

School Photos: Student photos are ready and available for purchase! You can access your student’s photo by knowing the last name of their Advisory teacher. Photos can be purchased at this link: https://staceelianna.smugmug.com/DaVinciSchools/DVC-Picture-Day-2023 

Yearbook: Purchase your 23-24 yearbook now before prices increase! You can buy the yearbook at yearbookforever.com by searching for Da Vinci Communications or clicking on this link. 

DECA Fundraiser: Please consider supporting DVC DECA at their Ice Skating Fundraiser at the Toyota Sports Center on Wednesday, September 27th from 2:45pm – 5:00pm. Tickets are $22 and can be purchased on myschoolbucks.com. 

Group Counseling Sessions: Our counseling intern, Ms. Giselle Arellano, is leading a group counseling session on self-esteem. Interested students should sign up here: Group Counseling Session: Self-Esteem 

College Field Trip to Occidental and La Verne: If you are in 11th or 12th grade and you are interested in going to visit Occidental College and the University of La Verne on Tuesday, October 10th, please attend an informational meeting on Monday, 9/25 in Kristina’s room (3105) during lunch. Spots are limited for this trip.

PSAT: All 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students will be taking the PSAT on Wednesday, 10/4. This test is paid for by the school and free for DVC students. 

Here’s what’s coming up:

• Wednesday, 9/27: DECA Fundraiser @ Toyota Sports Center
• Monday, 10/2: Student-Led Conferences – 1:50pm dismissal
• Tuesday, 10/3: Student-Led Conferences – 1:50pm dismissal
• Wednesday, 10/4: PSAT Day (9th, 10th, and 11th grades) – 2:30pm dismissal
• Thursday, 10/5: Student-Led Conferences – 1:50pm dismissal
• Friday, 10/6: Student-Led Conferences – 1:50pm dismissal
• Tuesday, 10/10: College Trip to University of La Verne & Occidental (selected 11th & 12th graders)
• Thursday, 10/12: Latinx Heritage Month CD
• Friday, 10/13: No School – Professional Development Day
• Wednesday, 10/18: 10th Grade College Field Trip

Bookmark these links:

• DVC Monthly Calendar: tinyurl.com/DVCcalendar23-24
• DVC Weekly Schedules: tinyurl.com/weekly-schedules23-24
• Canvas Login Page: davincischools.instructure.com
• Canvas Help Website: tinyurl.com/dv-parent-canvas-help

Hope you have a great week!

Erin D’Souza, Principal

Happy Sunday DVC,

Here are the list of college/career reps that will be visiting DVC during lunch this upcoming week:

• Wednesday, September 27th @ 11:15 am: U.S. Marine Corps
• Thursday, September 28th @ 11:45 am: California State University, Dominguez Hills
• Friday, September 29th @ 11:45 am: University of California, Santa Cruz

Besides the USC Rep Visit, all other college rep visits will take place in Mr. Jackson’s room (3203), and no sign-ups are required to attend. Students are able to grab lunch after the presentation as I will give out excuse slips to extend their lunch time.

DVC Students of all grade levels (9-12) can attend these rep visits unless specified above.

If you have any more questions, please feel free to email me or stop by my office,

Ms. Aldrete

maldrete@davincischools.org

College & Career Counselor

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are excited to share with you the latest updates and information about the Wolf Pack Counselor program brought to you by the Super Peer Counseling Program at Da Vinci Communications High School. As we embark on this year of this invaluable initiative, we want to keep you informed about the impact it has on our students and the positive changes it brings to our school community.

What is the Wolf Pack Counseling Program?

The Wolf Pack Counseling Program is a student-led initiative aimed at fostering a supportive and empathetic school environment. Through this program, trained peer counselors provide a safe and confidential space for their peers to discuss various concerns, ranging from academic stress to personal issues. This initiative not only offers a listening ear but also promotes emotional well-being and resilience among our students.

What to Expect This Year

This year, we have plans for the Wolf Pack Counseling Program:

1. Increased Peer Support: The program will expand its reach to successfully reach more students, ensuring that no one feels alone or unheard during challenging times.
2. Resources: Peer counselors provides resources on stress management, time management, and mental health awareness, equipping students with essential life skills.
3. Mental Health Awareness: We will continue to focus on promoting mental health awareness throughout the school, reducing the stigma surrounding mental health, and providing resources for students.

We believe that the Wolf Pack Counseling Program is an essential component of our school community, and together, we can make a positive difference in the lives of our students.

Thank you for your ongoing support, and let’s make this year’s Wolf Pack Counseling Program the best one yet!

Sincerely,

The DVC Counseling Team