Design Families!
Coffee with Admin October 1st 8:00am and 5:00pm VIA Zoom!
Please join us for an informal gathering with the administrative team. This is a great opportunity to connect, ask questions, and hear updates. Please see the link below to log on!
Dear Da Vinci Design Families,
It was another successful week here at Da Vinci Design! We are proud of the energy, engagement, and spirit our students continue to bring to campus each day.
Here’s a wrap up from Week 6!
Community Learning Day (CLD)
On Tuesday, we held our Community Learning Day (CLD). These days are designed to provide students with opportunities to either participate in meaningful learning experiences here on campus or engage in “leave to learn” activities off campus. Whether through workshops, guest speakers, or community-based experiences, CLDs allow students to connect their learning to the world around them and deepen their understanding as Designers.
Club Fair
We also had an exciting Club Fair this week! Students had the opportunity to explore a wide variety of clubs and sign up for activities that match their interests and passions. From creative outlets to service opportunities, clubs give our Designers a chance to connect with peers and grow outside of the classroom.
Looking Ahead
School Holiday Thursday October 2nd Yom Kippur – A reminder that school will be closed on Thursday. We hope everyone enjoys the extra time with family as we head into a new month.
Student-Led Conferences (SLCs) – Mark your calendars! SLCs will take place the week of October 13th. These conferences provide students the opportunity to reflect on their learning, share their growth, and set goals moving forward. More details will be shared soon.
Week 7 Schedule:
Thank you, families, for your continued support in helping us build a thriving Designer community. We look forward to another great week ahead!
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
At Da Vinci Schools, the safety and well-being of our students and staff are our top priority. We are fortunate to have a dedicated Safety Team as well as School Resource Officers (SROs) who work closely with our school communities to ensure a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment for all.
Our safety professionals are trusted partners who build positive relationships with students, staff, and families. They provide guidance, mentorship, and resources, while fostering a culture of respect and responsibility.
We invite students and families from all Da Vinci schools to join us for this special event to meet members of our Campus Safety Team and learn more about the important role they play in supporting our students every day. This is a great opportunity to get to know our team, hear about their training and responsibilities, ask questions, and learn about future campus safety initiatives.
📅 WHAT: Community Q&A with our Safety Team and School Resource Officers
🕕 WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 30 | 5:00 – 7:00 PM
📍 WHERE: The Skybox, WDV Gym, 201 N. Douglas St.
Come enjoy a coffee or cold beverage with us. We look forward to seeing you there!
Da Vinci Schools is partnering with VSP Vision to provide free eye exams and glasses to eligible Da Vinci students who have no vision insurance or face barriers to accessing vision care. The mobile eye care clinic will be on-site Oct. 9–10 at Da Vinci’s 201 N. Douglas St. campus, offering students (ages 5 and up) convenient, no-cost access to eye exams and eyewear. In most cases, glasses can be picked up the same day. Each appointment is approximately 45 minutes.
Pre-screening with our health team is required. Please email to receive more information and the sign-up link. No walk-ins allowed.
Communications, Design, Science: TLucero@davincischools.org
Connect, RISE: Egreen@davincischools.org
Design Families!
Thank you to all the Design families who showed up to Back to School Night this week. It was a great turnout and we have you to thank for it! We appreciate your involvement in your student’s education!
Next week we are kicking off our very first Community Learning Day (CLD) of the school year on Tuesday, September 23rd. This is an opportunity for students to come together for an on-campus learning experience with friends from other campuses; or to take advantage of a “leave to learn” activity off campus. All parents will be receiving a permission slip and a agreement form to sign in order to give students the option to learn off-campus that day.
Also next week, DVD is hosting our annual DVD Club Fair! At the end of the day on Friday, 9/26, student club leaders will set up booths and introduce their clubs. This is a great opportunity for students to find a club to join as well as meet other students that share their interests. This year we have a wide variety of clubs to join on a range of topics and which celebrate academics, culture, and fun hobbies. Clubs can also be great way for students to collaborate on ways to complete service learning with other students in a club setting.
Progress reports are being mailed home September 26th. The purpose of this is to give families the opportunity to have a snapshot of student progress, and to be able to have a conversation at home with students about how to stay successful in school. This information will also be used by teachers and counselors in their plans to support all students. Please follow up with your child’s teachers directly with any questions about assignments or grades.
If you do not receive a progress report in the mail by Friday, 10/3, please reach out by calling Da Vinci Design at 310-725-5800, or send an email Office Manager Maria Beltran at mbeltran@davincischools.org to request a digital progress report for your child.
Here is the Bell Schedule for Week 6 at DVD:
Upcoming Events and Key Dates:
Our next blog post will feature highlights from our first CD of the year that took place Friday September 19th!
Design Family! We have a busy week! Happy Week 5!
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!
Dear families,
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!
