All 9th Grade Parents/Guardians we welcome and encouraged to attend!
We hope to see you Thursday on Zoom!
Questions? Please reach out to Nicole Tafoya ntafoya@davincischools.org
Archive for Author Nicole Tafoya
Senior Families! The 2026–27 FAFSA has launched!
The 2026-2027 FAFSA is now open!
The Department of Education (ED) officially launched the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2026–27 academic year a week early. The launch came after a successful beta testing period in August. Students and families can complete the form now, giving them earlier access to financial aid information. Please note that some challenges have been found for mixed-status families. The ED has not yet provided a permanent solution to identity verification issues, which continues to pose a challenge for these families when attempting to file the FAFSA and privacy concerns.
The 2026–27 CADAA opens October 1:
The California Dream Act Application (CADAA) opens on October 1. The CADAA is available to eligible undocumented Californians and mixed status families. While the CADAA provides access to state and institutional aid, students who file only the CADAA are not eligible for federal financial aid dollars.
The 2026-2027 CSS Profile opens October 1:
The CSS Profile is an online application used by mostly private colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal institutional aid. The UCs and CSUs do not use the CSS Profile. Here is list ofcolleges that use the CSS Profile.
If you have any questions please contact your/your students counselor.
Pam Baker: Last names A-GL pbaker@davincischools.org
Nicole Tafoya: Last names Go-O ntafoya@davincischools.org
Omar Sanchez: Last Names P-Z osanchez@davincischools.org
12th grade Family College and Career Planning Meeting
Attention Seniors and Families!
Please join the DVD Counseling team next week for the 12th grade Family College and Career Planning Meeting.
Please reach out to your/your student’s counselor with any questions! We hope to see you there!
Pam Baker: Last names A-GL
Nicole Tafoya: Last names Go-O
Omar Sanchez: Last names P-Z
DVD Wellness Screener
Dear DVD Families,
September is Suicide Prevention Month. In an effort to be more proactive in supporting students’ mental health, a wellness screener will be given on September 22nd to all students during advisory at Da Vinci Design HS to identify students who may need support. Results from the screener will be used by the counselors to offer students interventions such as coping skills groups, counselor check ins, and referrals for therapy.
Scores will not be shared with students or parents/guardians. Parent/guardian consent is required if a student is referred to receive counseling services delivered by Antioch or Pepperdine therapists. If you would like your student to OPT-OUT and NOT PARTICIPATE in the screener, please fill out the form by Monday, September 15th.
Be Well,
DVD Counselors
Attention All Fundamental of Design 2 and Fine Arts Students!
Receive College Credit through El Camino College for Fundamentals of Design 2, Intermediate Fine Arts and Advanced Fine Arts!
- 10th Grade
- Art 110: Drawing Fundamentals I
- 11th Grade:
- Art 130: Two Dimensional Design Fundamentals I
- 12th Grade
- Art 160: Three Dimensional Design Fundamentals I
This opportunity is open to ALL Students enrolled in Design 2, Intermediate Fine Arts, Advanced Fine Arts!
Applications will take place during class time. It is a two part process. Please provide your student with the following information to start:
Please watch this video for more information about Dual Enrollment
Understanding Dual Enrollment at El Camino College
Questions? Please Email Mr. Kartez at jkartez@davincischools.org
South Bay College Fair
Designers! You are invited to the South Bay/Los Angeles College Fair 2025 hosted by RBUSD! Use the QR or CLICK HERE to register!
allcove Beach Cities Leadership & Wellness Conference
Join young leaders from more than 30 organizations across the South Bay to connect, collaborate and uplift our voices together at our annual South Bay Leadership & Wellness Conference. This event will include conversations about advocacy, mental health, wellness and important topics facing our generation today.
You’ll also have the opportunity to share these priorities with local, state and federal leaders who will join us to kick off the event.
Picture this: young people sharing their concerns, their priorities and the ways we want to care for and support one another towards a healthier future. Through workshops and engaging wellness activities, the Conference is an opportunity to develop and expand your leadership skills and gain innovative tools to engage your peers in conversations that matter to them.
For young people ages 12-25. Free food and prizes are included! Plus, get community service hours.
Please RSVP by Sunday May 18, 2025. Please see attached flyer.
https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/331cf700fd394f719324314019772d48
South Bay Leadership & Wellness Conference
Saturday, May 31, 2025
9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
allcove Beach Cities
514 N. Prospect Ave., 4th floor
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Staff Appreciation Week
Dear DVD Families,
Teacher Appreciation Week is right around the corner — May 5th–May 9th, 2025 — and we’re excited to celebrate our incredible staff!
We’d love your help in making the week extra special by providing some treats or words of appreciation for our staff to enjoy.
If you’re interested and willing, please use the links below to support Staff Appreciation Week.
- If you are willing to write notes of appreciation Your kind words mean so much to our team!
- If you’d like to bring a treat, please sign up below to drop off goodies on select mornings during the week of May 6–10.
Please label all items “For DVD Teacher Appreciation” and deliver them to the first-floor reception area. We’ll make sure they make it up to the fourth floor for our staff to enjoy!
Here are some of our staff’s favorite treats:
- 🥯 Bagels/breads
- 🍩 Donuts
- 🍪 Cookies/Brownies/Pastries/muffins
- 🍎 Fruit
- 💧 Sparkling Waters
- ☕ Coffee
- 🍟 Chips/pretzels/popcorn
Thank you for helping us celebrate and show our staff how much they mean to our community! Your support truly makes a difference.
With appreciation,
The DVD Admin Team
Junior College & Career Planning Meeting
Hello DVD Families,
As a reminder, we invite all juniors and their families to join the DVD Counselors tomorrow Wednesday 4/23 at 5:00 p.m. for the 11th Grade College Planning Information Session. The meeting will be held on the first floor of the Da Vinci campus in the Blackbox.
We hope you there!
DVD Counselors
Scholarship Opportunity for DV Students!
Da Vinci Seniors:
The 7th annual Johnstone Scholarship application is now open and ready for Da Vinci Seniors to apply! Applications are due Friday, April 25th. No late applications will be accepted. The application link is below.
They intend to select one deserving scholarship recipient from each Da Vinci school.
About the Johnstone Scholarship:
Through the Wiseburn Education Foundation, Dr. Tom and Terry Johnstone have set up a scholarship to help five lucky Da Vinci seniors get a head start their freshman year of college. Dr. Johnstone was the superintendent in Wiseburn for many years and played a significant role helping to open the high school. With his help, Wiseburn Education Foundation is thrilled to be able to offer scholarships to our high school seniors.