Da Vinci Communications

(Juniors) 2023 USC Bovard Scholars Application Due January 13th

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The 2023 USC Bovard Scholars application is now open!We are excited to welcome our seventh cohort of Bovard Scholars to the USC campus this summer. As I write to you, our sixth cohort is in the midst of the college application process, working with our program’s college admissions counselors to refine essays and applications. And our fifth cohort is enjoying their first year as college freshmen at top-tier universities across the country — think Harvard, Columbia, the University of Chicago, the University of California, Berkeley, and right here at USC.

We invite all high-achieving high school juniors with financial need to apply.Do you or someone you know fit these requirements?

  • Junior in high school (11th grader) at time of application
  • Currently hold a 4.0 GPA or above
  • Enrolled in Algebra II, Trigonometry or above
  • Demonstrate financial need

If so, you are eligible to apply.

If selected, each Bovard Scholar will have one full year of support through the admissions cycle and spend three weeks on the USC campus, where they will receive:

  • Personalized career exploration
  • Expert admission and financial aid support
  • Comprehensive test preparation
  • Leadership development

This year, the summer intensive runs from July 10, 2023 through July 29, 2023.We offer the program at no cost to students or families. USC will pay for transportation to and from campus for students coming from outside of Southern California.

Applications are due January 13, 2023, at 5:00 pm PST.

Apply Now!

Happy Holidays from Da Vinci Communications

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From our staff to your families, we wish all of you a happy holiday season! We are proud of our students for working so hard and our families for their ongoing support. We hope you stay healthy and enjoy the company of friends and family over the break.

Semester 2 officially begins and classes resume on Monday, January 9th. See the calendar linked here.

Winter Break Announcements: 

  • All DVC offices will be closed for the break starting Tuesday, 12/20 until Tuesday, 1/3. Emails and messages will be responded to upon our return to the office.
  • Report cards will be mailed on or before Tuesday, 12/20. Included in report card mailings are a printed calendar and PSAT scores for grades 9, 10, and 11.
  • If you have questions about final grades, please reach out to teachers directly via email when school resumes. Grade appeals must be initiated via email within 30 days of the end of the semester. For more information about final grades, see the DVC Student and Family Handbook.
  • PowerSchool access has been restored. Students and families should be able to access grades digitally at this time. (davincischools.powerschool.com) 

 

Announcements from Real World Learning Director (12.15.2022)

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For students interested in media production:

Fresh Films is now enrolling for their free weekly filmmaking program. In-person classes take place on Thursdays after school at the Boys and Girls Club of the Los Angeles Harbor. Virtual classes are also available. Registration ends December 31st. Fresh Films is also offering participants ages 16 and older are eligible to gain an on-set apprenticeship or paid internship. Click here for more information.

For students interested in mentorship opportunities:

Stanford University’s Qualia Global Scholars Summer Mentorship Program for students in grades 6-12 is now taking applicants. This program is designed to empower students to become future global leaders in the fields of liberal arts and STEM. Students are paired with Stanford mentors. Need-based financial aid is available. Click here for more information.

For students interested in travel and photography:

National Geographic is offering a China expedition to high school students in the summer. Students will be feeding pandas, photographing the Great Wall, going on an overnight camping trek and meeting photo editors at National Geographic magazine’s China Headquarters. To learn more, click here.

For students interested in leadership and social justice:

Apply to be part of Harvard’s Caring Common’s Youth Advisory Board. This board brings together a diverse group of high school students from across the country who are committed to making schools more caring respectful places. As a member you will help create solutions to some of the most pressing social challenges. To learn more, click here. For the application, please email yab@makingcaringcommon.org.

For students interested in tech:

New Earth is offering paid tech training starting in January in the areas of IT Support, Web3, content creation, entrepreneurship training, coding, marketing, and more. To sign up for more information, click here.

The Paradigm Challenge: The Paradigm Challenge, a competition based in Los Angeles, invites students aged 4 to 18 worldwide to submit an idea, invention, mobile app, or any solution that solves real-life problems presented in this year’s Paradigm Challenge. Participants with the top idea from each age division (4-8, 9-13, and 14-18) move up to the next round and compete for The Paradigm Challenge Prize of $100,000. Learn more about it here.

For students interested in entrepreneurship:

The Conrad Challenge: The Conrad Challenge is a purpose-driven innovation competition creating the next generation of entrepreneurs who will change the world. Anyone aged 13-18 is called to expand their collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and communication skills. Design an innovation, solve an important problem, and change the world through this challenge. Registration is now open so register here.

Blue Ocean Competition: Blue ocean competition calls high school students from anywhere in the world to take part in the world’s biggest virtual entrepreneurship competition. Participants need to complete the online Blue Ocean Mini Course before submitting the pitch and they can compete individually or as part of a team (max 5 students per team). Learn more about it here.

 

For more information, please contact Crissel Rodriguez, Director of Real World Learning, at crodriguez@davincischools.org.

South Bay Families Connected Resources

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Our youth wellness partner, South Bay Families Connected, invites you to connect with their free and accessible online parent and guardian resources to help provide you and your children with self-care and greater connection this holiday season. Below are resources featured this month:

For resources created for students, visit the SBFC Virtual Teen Center where a wide variety of mental health and wellness topics are covered. To see more youth wellness resources provided by Da Vinci Schools and SBFC, please visit Da Vinci Schools Families Connected.

Winter Break COVID Test Kits Available for Pick-Up

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Dear Students, Families and Staff,

Da Vinci has received additional at-home COVID-19 test kits. A two-pack of test kits will be available to each student and staff member and are available for pick up this week Thursday on campus. We strongly encourage students to pick up a COVID test kit for use over break as needed to test prior to crowded indoor gatherings, if celebrating with friends or family that are high risk for health complications, if symptomatic and/or prior to returning to campus in January.

A negative test is not required for students and staff to return to school after Winter Break, but in the event your child exhibits any flu-like or cold symptoms, your child should get tested and remain at home.

Please report any positive results obtained over break that are within 14 days of having been on site to TLucero@davincischools.org.

Students who test positive must follow the LA County Isolation guidelines and may not attend school during the required isolation period. The Da Vinci Schools Nurse will follow up with return to school guidance for any positive results reported.

Additional home tests needed over the break can be picked up from 830am-1230pm at the main lobby of 201 N Douglas Street.

  • Mon-Thurs 12/19-12/22
  • Mon-Thurs 12/26-12/29
  • Tues and Thurs 1/3 and 1/5

We thank you and wish you a safe and Happy Holiday!

Sincerely,

Emily Green, Director of Health Services, RN, PhD

Da Vinci Communications

201 N. Douglas St. – Floor 3

El Segundo, CA 90245

(310) 725-5800