We have our Back to School Night THIS Thursday September 18th. Back to School Night is a great opportunity to hear about classes, make connections with your students teachers, and tour classrooms at DVD. Each grade level will begin with an assembly in the Blackbox Theater from their grade-level teams, and then head up to the fourth floor to meet and greet teachers in the classrooms. Please note the presentation for the 9th and 10th grade is at 5:30pm and the presentation for the 11th and 12th grade families is at 6:00pm. See the schedule below for more information!
Also please note: DVD 12th Grade College & Career Family Information Night!!! This Thursday 9/18 at 5:00pm in the Da Vinci Skybox above the gym, the DVD Counseling Team will be discussing all things College & Career for SENIORS!!! This event is before Senior Back to School Night!
We’re thrilled to share that Da Vinci’s Atlas travel program is heading to Peru: Machu Picchu, Cusco & Lake Titicaca in Spring 2027, and we’d love for your student to join us! This opportunity is open to ALL Da Vinci high school students.
This is an incredible opportunity for students to explore new places, experience different cultures, and gain lifelong skills like independence and confidence. We’ll be sharing all the details, including what we’ll see and do, hands-on learning activities, academic opportunities, trip costs, and how to secure a spot at our informational meeting.
We’ll also open enrollment during the meeting—spots are limited, and we would love to help you secure this experience for your child.
In the meantime, please visit EF’s website to get answers to common parent questions. EF Tours is our trusted travel partner, and they have 60 years of experience helping students explore the world safely and affordably.
We hope to see you there and look forward to sharing how this trip can be a powerful and unforgettable chapter in your child’s life!
Discover the impact of the Atlas travel program in our recap of the 2025 Spring trip to Italy. Read the full story now.
Designers! What A Week! Thank you to all Design student leaders, Design staff, and 9th grade Designers! Your energy was noticed and appreciated!
This week, our 9th grader Designers took part in the annual Freshmen Overnighter! It was a fantastic opportunity for students, staff, and student leaders to build connections and enjoy time together in the great outdoors.
Throughout the camp, students engaged in a variety of fun activities, team-building games, and meaningful conversations — all designed to help them make new friends and ease the transition into high school.
Check out some highlights from the 2025 Overnighter Camp below!
Designers, here is the schedule for Week 5:
Friendly Reminder!
Back to School Night Thursday September 18th! The blog will post the schedule soon!
What an incredible week at Da Vinci Design! Our Wolf Pack continues to impress with their focus, energy, and commitment to living out what it means to be a true Designer. Here’s a quick look back and what’s on the horizon:
Highlights from This Week
MAP Testing: Students showed great effort as they tackled MAP assessments. This valuable data helps us set goals, track progress, and support every learner’s growth.
Coffee with Administration: Thank you to the families who joined us! Your questions, ideas, and feedback are essential as we grow together.
Looking Ahead
9th Grade Overnighter: We are thrilled to host our annual Overnighter next week! This special event is all about bonding, team-building, and welcoming our newest Designers into the Wolf Pack. Please check the weather! It will be on the cooler side while we are there! Sweatshirts, jackets, and beanies are a great idea!!
Advisory Focus: Advisory continues to build strong community connections and practice our Designer habits of success.
Back to School Night Thursday September 18th!
Student Life: Fall sports, clubs, and activities are in full swing—be sure to stay connected and encourage your student to get involved.
Upcoming Dates: Keep an eye out for announcements on college visits, family events, and student celebrations later this month.
Reminders
Please encourage your student to fully engage in Advisory—it sets the tone for academic and social success.
Cell phone policy is going strong—thank you for helping us maintain a focused and respectful learning environment.
We are so proud of the drive and positivity our students are bringing to the year. Thank you, families, for being an essential part of our Wolf Pack. Together, we are building a strong, supportive, and joyful Designer community.
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.
We’ve had another fantastic week here at Da Vinci Design, full of learning, energy, and school pride!
Grade Level Meetings This week, students came together in grade-level meetings to reflect on what it means to be a Designer and how we carry ourselves on campus and in the community. We look forward to seeing the commitment the students have in building a positive, respectful culture at DVD. Designers! Let’s make this happen everyday! Each student matters!
Cell Phone Policy Our cell phone policy is continuing to go strong! We are so proud of our students for staying focused, present, and engaged in their learning. Thank you to our staff and families for supporting this important effort—it’s already making a big difference in classrooms.
Seminar Selections Students also had the chance to choose their Seminars this week. From sports and fitness to crochet, music appreciation, and academic support, there’s something for everyone! Seminars officially begin soon, and we’re excited to see students dive into their interests.
Picture Day Picture Day was a success—thank you to everyone for their cooperation and those big Designer smiles! These photos will become lasting memories in our yearbook and student IDs.
Schedule for next week, Designers!
Looking Ahead: MAP Testing & Coffee with Administration Next week, students will begin MAP Testing, an important benchmark that helps us track growth and provide tailored support. Please encourage your student to get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and bring their best focus and effort to the test.
Families are also invited to join us for Coffee with Administration on Wednesday, September 3rd at 8:00am and 5:00pm via Zoom. This is a great opportunity to connect, hear updates, and ask questions as we start the year together.
Welcome! My name is Crissel Rodriguez, and I’m proud to serve as the Director of Real World Learning at Da Vinci Schools. I’m excited to share a brief update on how your child can stay informed about upcoming career-connected learning opportunities.
Your student has been invited to join a Real World Learning course on Canvas. Please note: this is not an academic course and does not include assignments. Instead, it serves as a communication hub where we share timely announcements about volunteer opportunities, internships, career events, job shadows, and more.
To ensure they don’t miss out, we encourage your child to accept the Canvas course invitation and enable notifications.
In addition, our team maintains a live Google document featuring a running list of real-world learning opportunities, organized by career sector. We regularly update this document as new experiences become available. You can view the document, by clicking here: bit.ly/44KDlPL
If you or someone you know is interested in partnering with us—whether by speaking in a classroom, hosting a company tour, or offering a student job shadow or internship experience—we’d love to connect. Please feel free to reach out to me directly at crodriguez@davincischools.org.
We’re honored to support your student on their journey of career exploration and look forward to a great year ahead!
Warm regards,
Crissel Rodriguez
Director of Real World Learning
