Archive for Author Samantha Navarro

Week 10 Heading Our Way at DVD

Design Family, Welcome to Week 10! We have a lot happening! 

Before we get to Week 10, we need to share some pictures from Senior Sunrise 2025!

Senior Sunrise 2025!

Seniors got up early to spend some time together and see the sun come up! More memories to add to your year, Class of 2025!

SAT/PSAT School Day: The DVD SAT/PSAT School Day is on Thursday, October 23rd! All PSAT and SAT tests will be digitally administered. It is crucial that students arrive at school on time. Per College Board rules, students will not be able to participate if testing has already begun. Questions should be directed to Mrs. Pailin, DVD Assistant Principal (kpailin@davincischools.org).
    • 9th Grade: PSAT 8/9
    • 10th Grade: PSAT/NMSQT
    • 11th Grade: PSAT/NMSQT
    • 12th Grade: SAT (opt-in registration deadline has passed)

 

Da Vinci School Surveys via KELVIN

We invite you to take a few moments to complete the Da Vinci Schools Family Survey. Your feedback plays a vital role in shaping the learning environment at your child’s school and across our entire organization.

The KELVIN survey will be sent via email on Monday October 20th.

Your honest input helps us celebrate what’s working and identify areas where we can improve.

Thank you for being a valued part of the Da Vinci community!

 

Parent Advisory Committee (PAC)

We’re looking for parents and guardians who want to lend their voice and ideas to help make Da Vinci Design the best it can be! Our Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) meets throughout the year to provide feedback, share perspectives, and partner with our school team on initiatives that support all students.

If you’re interested in joining or learning more, please reach out to Samantha Navarro, DVD Principal, at snavarro@davincischools.org. Your input truly shapes our community — together, we can continue to strengthen the Da Vinci experience for every student.

Gatsby Gala Fall Dance
Prices Go Up Monday!
Our Fall Dance — the Gatsby Gala — is coming up soon on Friday, October 24th!
Tickets are on sale now, but prices increase on Monday (10/20), so be sure to grab your tickets early!
Purchase Tickets Here: MySchoolBucks Link
Event Details
Date: Friday, October 24, 2025
Time: 6:00–9:00 PM (Doors open at 5:30 PM)
Location: West Plaza, 201 N Douglas St, El Segundo, CA 90245
Ticket Prices
  • Early Bird: $25 through Sunday, 10/19
  • General Admission: $30 from 10/20–10/24
Additional Info
  • Semi-formal attire encouraged
  • Water will be provided
The Fall Dance is one of Da Vinci’s biggest fundraisers of the year, helping to offset the costs of end-of-year senior activities. Thank you for supporting our students and making this event a success!
Spooktacular: We are now mobilizing volunteers for Spooktacular on Oct. 24. In addition, Spooktacular is seeking volunteers on Oct. 25 for clean up and support.
This year’s Spooktacular will feature an expanded haunted house on both Oct 24 & 25, geared toward middle school students.
Direct sign-up link:
Announcement slide (includes link):
WMS is seeking 200+ volunteers to make this event a success.
Schedule for Week 10

 

Week 8 Highlights & Week 9 Preview

Design Families!

Next week is SLC week at Da Vinci Design October 13th-16th, and we are excited to have you on campus with us! SLCs are an important time when parents and teachers come together for a meeting led by the student. It is a time to highlight a student’s strengths and hard work, to encourage students to set new goals, and to ask guiding questions so students can take ownership of their learning. Every student is expected to participate in leading an SLC with a parent/guardian present this semester. SLCs will happen in-person. See below for SLC schedules and details presented by each grade level teaching team.

Reminders for families arriving for SLCs:

  • Families can find parking anywhere in the lot north of 201 N. Douglas St.
  • Please check-in on the 1st floor upon arriving to get a name tag and find which classroom to report to
  • Please arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled time to allow time to check-in

Student Led Conferences (SLCs): Grade Level Resources

9th Grade Team Resource:Grade 9 SLC Overview Fall 2025

10th Grade Team Resource: Grade 10 SLC Overview Fall 25

11th Grade Team Resource:Grade 11 SLC Overview Fall 25

12th Grade Team Resource: Grade 12 SLC Overview Fall 25

 

Multicultural Food Fest Friday and Feeling Well Friday

It was wonderful celebrating both our Multicultural Food Fest Friday and Feeling Well Friday with the seniors today! It was a joyful time to embrace senior life, share meaningful dishes, and simply enjoy time together. Shoutout to Mr. Myles for organizing the Food Fest and the 12 grade teachers for pitching in!!

 

Week 9 Schedule

Upcoming Dates:

October 13th-16th: Student Led Conferences

October 16th: Great Shakeout Earthquake Drill

October 23rd: PSAT/SAT Test Day

October 24th: PD Day (No Students)

October 24th: Fall Dance 6pm-9pm, Doors Open at 5:30pm; Pre-Order QR Code on Da Vinci’s Social Media

 

Designers! Thank you for a great week! On to the next!

 

Student Led Conferences Next Week October 13th-16th!

Design Families!

Next week is SLC week at Da Vinci Design October 13th-16th, and we are excited to have you on campus with us! SLCs are an important time when parents and teachers come together for a meeting led by the student. It is a time to highlight a student’s strengths and hard work, to encourage students to set new goals, and to ask guiding questions so students can take ownership of their learning. Every student is expected to participate in leading an SLC with a parent/guardian present this semester. SLCs will happen in-person. See below for SLC schedules and details presented by each grade level teaching team.

Reminders for families arriving for SLCs:

  • Families can find parking anywhere in the lot north of 201 N. Douglas St.
  • Please check-in on the 1st floor upon arriving to get a name tag and find which classroom to report to
  • Please arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled time to allow time to check-in

Student Led Conferences (SLCs): Grade Level Resources

9th Grade Team Resource:Grade 9 SLC Overview Fall 2025

10th Grade Team Resource: Grade 10 SLC Overview Fall 25

11th Grade Team Resource:Grade 11 SLC Overview Fall 25

12th Grade Team Resource: Grade 12 SLC Overview Fall 25

Please use the above resources to look at the sign up information. We are excited to see you next week!

Week 7 Wrap Up Along with SLC and Week 8 Preview

Dear Da Vinci Design Families,

We wrapped up another exciting week at DVD!

LSU Spirit Week & Community Dialogue
Our LSU Spirit Week and Community Dialogue were a huge success—thank you to everyone who joined in building school pride and student participation.

Coffee with Admin
We loved connecting with families at Coffee with Admin this week. It was such a great turnout, and we’re looking forward to seeing you again at our next Coffee on Wednesday, November 5th.

Upcoming: Student-Led Conferences (SLCs)
Beginning the week of October 13th, we will be hosting our Fall Student-Led Conferences (SLCs). We are excited to welcome families on campus for these important conversations.

SLCs are a powerful opportunity for students to reflect on their learning, highlight their strengths, set goals, and take ownership of their growth. Each student is expected to lead an SLC with a parent/guardian present this semester. All conferences will take place in person.

Please see the Parent SLC Letter SLC Parent Letter.docx

Thank you, as always, for your partnership in supporting our Designers. We can’t wait to see you on campus during SLC week October 13th-16th

Week 8 Bell Schedule:

Senior Parent Circle Up Tonight! October 2nd 7pm-8pm VIA Zoom

Attention DVD Senior Parents!

Da Vinci Design and Magdalena Garcia of Circles and Bridges invite you to a Senior Parent Circle Up! Come join fellow DVD senior parents as you navigate this exciting final year! Get the support you need to help your student and yourself to the finish line!

Meeting ID: 825 4219 2828
Passcode: seniors

Coffee with Admin Wednesday October 1st

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!

Meeting ID: 975 2267 5911
Passcode: 0Ipx71

Week 6 Wrap Up and Week 7 Anticipation

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

  • Coffee with Admin October 1st 8am & 5pm Via Zoom – Please join us on Wednesday for an informal gathering with the administrative team. This is a great opportunity to connect, ask questions, and hear updates.
  • 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.

  • LSU Spirit Week & CD Friday October 3rd
  • 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!

Preview for Week 6 at DVD

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:

  • Tuesday September 23rd CLD Day
  • Friday, Sept. 26th: Progress Reports Mailed Home
  • Friday, Sept. 26th: DV Club & Service Learning Fair
  • Wednesday, Oct. 1st: Coffee w/ Admin @8am and @5pm via Zoom
  • Thursday, Oct. 2nd: NO SCHOOL

Our next blog post will feature highlights from our first CD of the year that took place Friday September 19th!

Back to School Night at DVD Thursday 9/18

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!

 

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