Da Vinci Design

Hey Design Family!

It’s another busy and important week here at DVD! Juniors will be starting the 2nd week of CAASPP State Testing, so our schedule will look a bit different midweek. Please be sure to check the updated schedule, which will also be shared on our social media platforms.

As we head into the second week of testing, we want to remind our Juniors that this is an opportunity to show what you know and how much you’ve grown. These assessments matter, they help us understand your progress and how we can continue to support you. Set yourself up for success: get a good night’s sleep, fuel your body, and come in ready to give your best effort. You’ve put in the work all year—now is your time to show it. We believe in you! Please see the schedule below!

Teacher Appreciation Week Soon!!!!

The week of May 4th is Teacher Appreciation Week! We have had a couple families ask if they could help out and bring treats to celebrate! If you would like to please use the link below to sign up! Let’s celebrate our DVD staff and ALL they do! It’s all about them and sharing the love and gratitude for them!

Design Families: DVD Teacher Appreciation Week Sign-Up (2026)

Hey Design Family!

It’s a busy and important week here at DVD! Students will be participating in both MAP Growth (MAPS) testing and CAASPP State Testing, so our schedule will look a bit different midweek. Please be sure to check the updated schedule, which will also be shared on our social media platforms.

As we head into testing, we want to remind our students that this is an opportunity to show what you know and how much you’ve grown. These assessments matter—they help us understand your progress and how we can continue to support you. Set yourself up for success: get a good night’s sleep, fuel your body, and come in ready to give your best effort. You’ve put in the work all year—now is your time to show it. We believe in you!

We also want to take a moment to celebrate last Friday’s Community Dialogue. A huge thank you to our Diversity Council for the time, care, and intention you put into planning such a meaningful experience. The message was clear and powerful: there is No Place for Hate. From the poetry to the music to the games, each element created space for reflection, connection, and community. We are proud of the voice you continue to bring to DVD.

Upcoming Events:

Monday April 20th: PAC Meeting 5pm

Tuesday April 21st: 11th Grade Getty Field Trip

Wednesday & Thursday April 22nd, 23rd: CAASPP Testing English

Thursday April 23rd: 9th/10th Grade Family College Planning Meeting 5pm

Friday April 24th: CLD

Wednesday & Thursday April 29th, 30th: CAASPP Testing Math

Friday May 1st: Professional Development Day (No Students)

Friday May 1st: Prom

Wednesday May 6th: Coffee with Admin

Let’s Go Design! Here’s to another week!!

• Pam Baker: Last names A-GL
• Nicole Tafoya: Last names Go-O
• Omar Sanchez: Last names P-Z

What an incredible moment for Da Vinci Design!

This past week/weekend, our talented Fine Arts students, alongside our amazing staff, including Mr. Kartez, traveled to Houston, Texas to participate in the world-renowned Houston Art Car Parade and Awards Ceremony. For those who may not be familiar, the Houston Art Car Parade is the largest event of its kind in the world, celebrating creativity, innovation, and artistic expression through fully transformed, moving works of art.

Artists from across the country bring their vision to life by turning everyday vehicles into bold, imaginative masterpieces, and this year, Da Vinci Design was right in the mix.

Our students didn’t just participate…they made history.

Da Vinci Design took home FIRST PLACE!!

Let that sink in.

This achievement is a true reflection of the creativity, dedication, and collaborative spirit of our students and staff. From the early design concepts to the countless hours of building, refining, and problem-solving, this project embodied what we believe in at DVD: learning that is hands-on, meaningful, and rooted in real-world application.

This wasn’t just an art project. It was engineering, storytelling, teamwork, and perseverance all rolled into one incredible experience.

We are beyond proud of our students for representing Da Vinci Design on a national stage and showing what it means to think boldly and create fearlessly. A huge thank you to Mr. Kartez, Steve Wallis, Bryan Benedict, and our Fine Arts students for leading this work and seeing the efforts through to take first place.

We couldn’t be more proud.

Design Family!

Welcome to Week 30! It is also Diversity Council Spirit Week! Please see the schedule below and the upcoming events. Have a great week, Designers!

Also make sure you follow DVD events on our Instagram: dvdig

Upcoming Events:

Monday April 13th: Diversity Council Spirit Week

Friday April 17th: Diversity Council CD

Friday April 17th: Progress Reports mailed home

Monday April 20th: PAC Meeting 5pm

Wednesday & Thursday April 22nd, 23rd: CAASPP Testing English

Friday April 24th: CLD

Wednesday & Thursday April 29th, 30th: CAASPP Testing Math

Friday May 1st: Professional Development Day (No Students)

Friday May 1st: Prom

Thank you to our DVD Identity Clubs for a successful Under One Sun event! It was a success thanks to the hard work of the students and staff!

Shoutout to the Entrepreneurship Pathway students and staff! They took a field trip to Little Tokyo. They visited and analyzed businesses there!

Good Morning, Design Family!

Our Week 29 begins next Tuesday April 7th. Please see the schedule below! We hope you are enjoying your Spring Break and can’t wait to see you Tuesday!

Upcoming Events:

Monday April 6th: Last Day of Spring Break

Tuesday April 7th: 1st Day Back from Spring Break

Wednesday April 8th: Art Car Designers leave for Houston, Texas

Thursday & Friday April 9th, 10th: CAST Testing

Friday April 10th: Culture Fair presented by LSU, BSU, Diversity Council, AAPISU, QSU

Monday April 13th: Diversity Council Spirit Week

Wednesday & Thursday April 22nd, 23rd: CAASPP Testing English

Wednesday & Thursday April 29th, 30th: CAASPP Testing Math

Thursday April 30th: DVD Pathway Presentations (Blackbox)

Friday May 1st: Professional Development Day (No Students)

Friday May 1st: Prom

Here’s to a new week, Designers!

What a night at Da Vinci Design.

Our Spring Exhibition was a powerful reminder of what makes our community so special. Classrooms transformed into showcases of creativity, hallways filled with conversation and curiosity, and students stepping into the spotlight to share their thinking, their process, and their growth.

This wasn’t just a presentation of projects, it was a celebration of learning in action! Congrats to our students and staff for such a successful night!