Enroll Now!- Fall 2024 Da Vinci Schools/El Camino College Partnership Courses (Dual Enrollment)


Hello Designers,

Welcome back! This fall semester, Da Vinci Schools is offering 4 dual enrollment partnership courses with El Camino College. All courses are asynchronous online and start next week! Course details are listed below:

**VERY IMPORTANT**

In order to enroll in these classes, Da Vinci Schools will be hosting an application workshop in the RWL Center computer lab (1st floor) on Monday 8/26 from 3:00pm-4:30pm. Students should know their SSN# (if they have one) and whether or not their family is considered a military family when they come.

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



AJ 100- Introduction to Administration of Justice
(Asynchronous, Online) – 3 units

This course introduces students to the characteristics of the criminal justice system in the United States. Focus is placed on examining crime measurement, theoretical explanations of crime, responses to crime, components of the system, and current challenges to the system. The course examines the evolution of the principles and approaches utilized by the justice system and the evolving forces which have shaped those principles and approaches. Although justice structure and process are examined in a cross context, emphasis is placed on the United States justice system, particularly the structure and function of police, courts, and corrections. Students are introduced to the origins and development of criminal law, legal process, sentencing, and incarceration policies.

9th-12th Grade students can enroll in this course



BUS 101- Introduction to Business
(Asynchronous, Online) – 3 units

This course is a survey of organization and management factors influencing the establishment, location, and operation of businesses. This course emphasizes the functional area of accounting as well as the legal framework within which business activities are conducted. The course also emphasizes the principles of Total Quality Management (TQM) in a multicultural and globalized environment.

Only 11th and 12th Grade students can enroll in this course

 


FILM 110- Film Analysis and Appreciation
(Asynchronous, Online) – 3 units

This course provides an introduction to the art and language of film. It covers the critical analysis of film form, narrative structures, genres, and the historical development of cinema. The course explores the major elements of film, including cinematography, editing, sound, and production design, as well as the cultural, social, and ideological contexts in which films are made and received. Students will view and discuss a variety of films, developing skills in film analysis and an appreciation for the artistic and cultural significance of cinema.

Only 10th-12th Grade students can enroll in this course


HDEV 110- Strategies for Success in College and life
(Asynchronous, Online) – 3 units

HDEV 110 is designed to help students develop the skills, knowledge, and behaviors necessary for academic success and personal development. The course covers topics such as goal setting, time management, learning styles, study strategies, critical thinking, and self-awareness. Additionally, it addresses the social and emotional aspects of college life, including stress management, motivation, and interpersonal communication. The course encourages students to explore their educational and career goals while equipping them with tools to navigate the challenges of college and beyond.

Only 11th and 12th Grade students can enroll in this course

 

If you have any questions, please see have your student see their counselor.

 

Thank you!

 

Welcome Back Designers! First Day Monday, August 19th

Greetings Designers and Design Families!

Hope you all are enjoying the tail end of a fun, safe, and restful summer. We are officially just a few days away from the new school year, and we are so excited to be back! The first day of school is Monday, August 19th, 2024. Our staff has been back on campus and hard at work preparing to welcome students back for an excellent year.

For important updates and reminders for the 2024-2025 school year, click here to check out the “DVD New School Year FAQs for Families” page.

Additional important info including the 2024-2025 school calendar, the updated Student and Family Handbook, and New Family Info can also be found in the “Resources” section (to the right via computer, or at the very of this webpage via mobile phone). You can also find highlights of important upcoming dates below.

Welcome back Designers! We look forward to making this year the best one yet!

Sincerely,
Team DVD

***

First Day of School Info: Monday, August 19th

On Monday, August 19th, students will first meet outside near the bike racks, then be welcomed into the Black Box theater. Students walk through a tunnel of cheering teachers to the black box, where the whole school gathers before meeting in small groups within the classrooms. All students will begin the day in Advisory, and will receive their class schedules in Advisory. PowerSchool access is temporarily locked while we upload student schedules – but will be accessible on the first day of school. If a student believes there is an error in their school schedule, students should go to the front office during passing period after Advisory.

Remember: traffic during the first two weeks of school is busier than usual; we recommend you arrive in the parking lot at least 15 minutes before your school start time to ensure your child makes it on time. See parking lot reminders below.

Note: DVD is focused on creating comfortable, enjoyable experiences for our neurodiverse population by priming, posting, and providing. Students can expect loud volume and large crowds. Earplugs will be available near the student check-in at the bike racks. For an alternate entry or other support, please contact Asst. Principal Kirk Takeyama (ktakeyama@davincischools.org) by Sunday, 8/18.

This is the DVD Week One Bell Schedule:

For the 2023-2024 school year, the start time for Da Vinci Design will remain the same at 8:40am Monday-Thursday and the traditional “late start” for Friday is 9:45am. The end time for the school day in 3:45pm each day.

Key Dates and Upcoming Events:

  • Mon, Aug. 19th: First Day of School!
  • Wed, Aug. 21st: 12th & 11th graders sign-up for seminars
  • Thurs, Aug. 22nd: 10th & 9th graders sign-up for seminars
  • Wed, Aug. 28th: 9th graders leave for Overnighter @ 8:40am
  • Thurs, Aug. 29th: 9th graders return from Overnighter @ approx. 2:30pm
  • Mon, Sept. 2nd: NO SCHOOL – LABOR DAY HOLIDAY
  • Week of Mon, Sept. 2nd: Seminars (P7 & P8) Begin
  • Wed, Sept. 4th & Thurs, Sept. 5th: Picture Day (during English classes)
  • Wed, Sept. 4th: Coffee w/ Admin @8am and @5pm via Zoom
  • Tues, Sept. 10th: Back to School Night @ 5:30pm
  • Fri, Sept. 13th: No School – Professional Development Day
  • Thurs, Sept. 19th: DV Club & Service Learning Fair

Parking Lot Details and Reminders

  • Please drive safely and patiently in the parking lot; this means entering and exiting through the properly marked areas, dropping students off only in marked areas, and following the directions of our grounds supervision crew
  • Drop off areas are located 1) at 201 N. Douglas AND at 2) [East] Grand Avenue. Do NOT stop in traffic to drop off students across the street or anywhere along Duley Road.
  • Remind your students to please stay on the designated pedestrian pathways in order to help maintain their safety as they enter the school campus.
  • Remember: you don’t have to wait to get to the front of line of the drop off area to have your students exit the vehicle.  They should exit as soon as the vehicle has come to a safe, complete stop. This will help to make sure the drop off area is used as efficiently as possible.
  • Students will not be allowed to enter or leave school through the gym or the pool deck at any time.

For updates every week, keep checking back here at the DVD blog!

DVD New Families Resources: Webinar and Slides

Greetings Incoming DVD Students and Families,

Once again, welcome to Da Vinci Design! It was a pleasure sharing a bit of what DVD is all about during our New Families Welcome webinar. If you would like to review any of the information shared from Mr. Takeyama, Ms. B or myself, or if you were not able to watch the webinar live, see the links below for a recording of the webinar and to see the slides that we shared:

After the webinar, there was a Q&A session where we answered clarifying questions. Please check out the “DVD Updates and FAQs for New Families” document here for additional information covered.

Looking forward to meeting you all in the new school year!

Russell Stoll
DVD Principal

Happy Summer Designers!

Greetings Designers and Design Families!

From all of the faculty and staff at Da Vinci Design, we wish you a wonderful summer break! Monday, August 19th is the first day of school for students in the 2024-25 school year. We will see you in August!

Congratulations to the graduating Class of 2024! It was an honor and pleasure watching you walk the stage yesterday. Graduation photos from yesterday have been uploaded for families here – you may access and download them for FREE thanks to our incredible photographer Stacee:

Report cards: have been put into the mail today and will be arriving next week. If you have any questions or concerns, reach out to the Da Vinci Design Front Office and ask for Assistant Principal, or send an email to ktakeyama@davincischools.org for any questions regarding work permits, enrollment, summer dates, etc. The DVD Front Office is open Monday-Friday (except for holidays) from 8am to noon.

June 11th: Summer Session 1 begins (by referral from counselors)
Summer school forms were distributed to students last week. If your student received a summer school form, you must register for summer school. Please reach out to your child’s counselor for more information.

Please stay tuned over the summer! We will be making announcements for new families AND returning families here on the blog. See you in August!

Week 38 Updates – Last Week of School!

Greetings Designers and Design Families,

Can you believe it? Next week is the LAST WEEK of the school year. And this week – students have been doing a phenomenal job with POLs. Presentations of Learning (POLs) wrap up on 6/3 and 6/4 for POLs in Period 5 and 6. POLs are performance based assessments which give students the opportunity to develop their speaking and presentation skills, and they give students space to reflect publicly on their learning.

Because these are formal presentations, students are expected to wear formal attire. Any student in need of formal attire, please contact the front office and we will be happy to accommodate.

Graduation Ceremony Info for 12th Grade Parents/Guardians and Families:

As graduation nears, we wanted to provide you with specific information regarding the day of the Graduation Ceremony. In order to accommodate everyone for this large gathering and celebration, please review this key information, and click here for more info:

DVD Graduation Parent Information (Spring 2024)

  • DVD Graduation Ceremony Start Time: June 6th, 2024 at 1:00PM
  • Guests Arrive and Doors Open: 12:00PM
  • *All Graduates MUST arrive at 12:00PM*
  • Address: 201 N. Douglas St. El Segundo, CA 90245
  • Parking Main lot: 201 N. Douglas St. El Segundo, CA 90245 (passes required)
    • Graduates and families dropping off graduates will be allowed to drop-off graduates at noon; all other visitors are permitted to enter at 12:15pm.
  • Parking Overflow Lot: 550 Continental, El Segundo, CA 90245
  • Live Stream Link:  https://youtube.com/live/Vtq6_2HJy2Q

Here is the Week 38 Bell Schedule:

10th Grade Design Pathways Selection Resources

Leading up to POLs, 10th grade students have been receiving information in their Fundamentals of Design 2 class with Mr. Kartez about the CTE Pathway Selection process. During POLs, Sophomores will complete a survey selecting their preferences for whether they want to be in the Architecture, Graphic Design, Entrepreneurship, or Fine Arts pathway. This pathway course selection will dictate their schedule for 11th and 12th grade year.
Please look at the resource posted here so that you can help discuss this important decision as a family: Class of 2026 Pathways Selection Slides For Families
The final decision will be made in their Sophomore design class as part of their POLs. ALL Sophomores must complete the Pathways Selection Survey in order to have their preference considered for their 11th grade courses.
For questions, please reach out to your counselor.

Key Dates and Upcoming Events

  • Mon, June 3rd – Tues, June 4th: Presentations of Learning (POLs)
    • Minimum day schedules – school out at 1:45pm
    • Students in professional dress
  • Wed, June 5th: Last Day of Classes for 2023-24 School Year
  • Thurs, June 6th at 1pm: DVD Graduation Ceremony
    • 12pm: Call time for all graduates
    • Location: Gym @ 201 N. Douglas, tickets required
  • Fri, June 7th: Report Cards Mailed Home
    • Please note: PowerSchool access is locked for students and parents through summer for end of semester report card preparation, and in order to prepare schedules for the Fall 2024 semester. If you have questions regarding Spring 2024 report cards or grades, reach out to your counselor via email, and you will receive a reply when school staff return in August.
  • Mon, June 10th: First Day of Summer Session 1

Week 36 & End of Year Updates

Greetings Designers and Design Families,

This week was the last week of regular classes at DVD! And, we had so much to celebrate as we wrap up what has been a great year at DVD. We marked our Seniors’ final exhibition with the annual Senior Showcase event on Wednesday night. Then, our Queer Student Union hosted a community dialogue in honor of Pride Month on Friday morning. Finally, we are ending the week by dancing it out with “Banda Night” hosted by our Latinx Student Union. See below for photos from the 12th grade Senior Showcase event!

Presentations of Learning (POLs) are happening NEXT WEEK (5/28 – 6/4). POLs are performance based assessments which give students the opportunity to develop their speaking and presentation skills, and they give students space to reflect publicly on their learning.

Please note: PowerSchool access is locked for students and parents starting 5/28 and through summer for end of semester report card preparation, and in order to prepare schedules for the Fall 2024 semester. If you have questions regarding Spring 2024 report cards or grades, reach out to your counselor via email, and you will receive a reply when school staff return in August.

Because these are formal presentations, students are expected to wear formal attire. Any student in need of formal attire, please contact the front office and we will be happy to accommodate.

Here is the Week 37 + 38 Bell Schedule:

Graduation Ceremony Info for 12th Grade Parents/Guardians and Families:

As graduation nears, we wanted to provide you with specific information regarding the day of the Graduation Ceremony. In order to accommodate everyone for this large gathering and celebration, please review this key information, and click here for more info:

DVD Graduation Parent Information (Spring 2024)

  • DVD Graduation Ceremony Start Time: June 6th, 2024 at 1:00PM
  • Guests Arrive and Doors Open: 12:00PM 
  • *All Graduates MUST arrive at 12:00PM*
  • Address: 201 N. Douglas St. El Segundo, CA 90245
  • Parking Main lot: 201 N. Douglas St. El Segundo, CA 90245 (passes required)
  • Parking Overflow Lot: 550 Continental, El Segundo, CA 90245
  • Live Stream Link:  https://youtube.com/live/Vtq6_2HJy2Q

10th Grade Design Pathways Selection Resources

Leading up to POLs, 10th grade students have been receiving information in their Fundamentals of Design 2 class with Mr. Kartez about the CTE Pathway Selection process. During POLs, Sophomores will complete a survey selecting their preferences for whether they want to be in the Architecture, Graphic Design, Entrepreneurship, or Fine Arts pathway. This pathway course selection will dictate their  schedule for 11th and 12th grade year.
Please look at the resource posted here so that you can help discuss this important decision as a family: Class of 2026 Pathways Selection Slides For Families
The final decision will be made in their Sophomore design class as part of their POLs. ALL Sophomores must complete the Pathways Selection Survey in order to have their preference considered for their 11th grade courses.
For questions, please reach out to your counselor.

Key Dates and Upcoming Events

  • Mon, May 27: NO SCHOOL – MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY
  • Tues, May 28th – Tues, June 4th: Presentations of Learning (POLs)
    • Minimum day schedules – school out at 1:45pm
    • *NOTE: School starts at 8:40am on Friday, 5/31 (not 9:45am) due to POL schedule
  • Wed, June 5th: Last Day of Classes for 2023-24 School Year
  • Thurs, June 6th at 1pm: DVD Graduation Ceremony
    • 12pm: Call time for all graduates
    • Location: Gym @ 201 N. Douglas, tickets required
  • Fri, June 7th: Report Cards Mailed Home
  • Mon, June 10th: First Day of Summer Session 1

Week 36 Campus Highlights: 12th Grade Exhibition – Senior Showcase:

Week 36 Preview: POLs Around the Corner!

Greetings Designers and Design Families,

There have been so many great event happening at DVD this past week! On Saturday, 5/11, our 10th Grade Honors Art students participated in an Art Show called “Camp Kitsch” @ Indivisible Arts in Hermosa Beach. Students displayed paintings, sculptures, and multimedia work in a professional gallery space with live music. Then, on Wednesday 5/15, we celebrated Decision Day and Senior Awards Night with our Class of 2024! Seniors declared their post-high school plans, wore swag for the colleges they will attend, and were surprised by their parents and families with a celebratory potluck in the BlackBox. We wrapped up the week with a Career Day presentation in our 9th and 10th grade classrooms! Organized by a group of 12th grade students for their Senior Project, we had representatives from design industries present personal career experiences. See below for photos from the 10th grade Honors art show and 12th grade Decision Day!

Presentations of Learning (POLs) are happening from 5/28-6/4! POLs are performance based assessments which give students the opportunity to develop their speaking and presentation skills, and they give students space to reflect publicly on their learning. Because these are formal presentations, students are expected to wear formal attire. Any student in need of formal attire, please contact the front office and we will be happy to accommodate. 

Week 36 DVD Bell Schedule:

Key Dates and Upcoming Events

  • Wed, May 22nd: Senior Showcase Exhibition (5:30 to 7:30 PM @ WWOO Concrete Outdoor Kitchen)
  • Thurs, May 23rd: Parent Advisory Committee Meeting #5
    • *5pm via Zoom*
    • Agenda: 1) Public Comment, 2) 23-24 School Data Review, 3) Final LCAO Feedback Review, 4) Meeting Reflections
    • Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/8331212069
  • Mon, May 27: NO SCHOOL – MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY
  • Tues, May 28th – Tues, June 4th: Presentations of Learning (POLs)
    • Minimum day schedules – school out at 1:45pm
    • *NOTE: School starts at 8:40am on Friday, 5/31 (not 9:45am) due to POL schedule
  • Wed, June 5th: Last Day of Classes for 2023-24 School Year

Week 35 Campus Highlights: 10th Grade Honors Art Show @ Indivisible Arts in Hermosa Beach and Class of 2024 Decision Day:

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Our community partner, South Bay Families Connected, offers our families a variety of youth wellness resources. For Mental Health Awareness Month, we feature their resource pages covering trending youth wellness topics on the minds of parents and caregivers:

 

Visit our own Da Vinci Families Connected page for more youth wellness resources from Da Vinci Schools and SBFC.

10th Grade Parent/Guardian Community Group

Dear 10th Grade Parents/Guardians,

You are invited to the final session of DVD’s 10th Grade Parent/Guardian Community Group, Thursday May 16th from 7:00-8:00 p.m. on zoom. No prior attendance is required! All 10th grade parents/guardians are invited and encouraged to attend.

More information and RSVP QR code are below.

We hope to see you there!

 

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