Da Vinci Design

Dear Da Vinci Families,

We are excited to welcome students back next week. The health and safety of our students and staff are our top priority, and Da Vinci Schools has implemented an extensive set of measures to promote a safe environment on our school campuses.

I am writing to share with you an update regarding the Da Vinci “Overnighter” events planned for 9th and 10th grade students attending Da Vinci Design, Da Vinci Communications, and Da Vinci Science. In order to ensure the health and safety of our Da Vinci students, I have made the difficult decision in consultation with our Da Vinci Schools trustees to delay the Overnighter events until COVID case rates improve to a level that lowers the risk of the highly transmissible COVID Delta variant.

We have been tracking case rates in Los Angeles County, with current case rates increasing to the high levels that Los Angeles County experienced earlier this year. Very recent information has become available regarding COVID outbreaks, including risks associated with activities that place students in close contact with each other and staff. Da Vinci Schools continues to follow state and local requirements to keep our students safe at school; however, the Overnighters require groups of students to sleep in close proximity in the same cabins, increasing the risk of transmission. For this reason, we have opted to delay the Overnighters at this time.

The Overnighter is a very special signature practice at Da Vinci Schools that alumni look back on as one of the most important events of their high school experience. Like our approach to the 2020 graduation when we postponed and then later held an in-person ceremony, we will make good on this promise to hold the Overnighters again as soon as possible.

Thank you for your understanding and support. Should you have any further questions or concerns, please contact me at mwunder@davincischools.org.

Stay well,

Matt

—

Matthew Wunder, Ed.D.

CEO/Superintendent

Important Updates Regarding Grade Change and Retention Requests

 

Governor Newsom recently signed Assembly Bill 104 into law, and we’d like to provide you with important information on how this legislation may relate to your student. AB 104 provides new options to address student learning loss due to COVID-19 school closures and distance learning.  

 

Grade Change Requests – Grades 9-12

Assembly Bill 104 was passed and amended Education Code 49066.5 to provide a parent, guardian (or Educational Rights Holder), or student (if 18 years old) the ability to petition their high school student’s school to change D and F grades received during the 2020-21 school year to Pass or No Pass. The changes apply only to high school students for the 2020-2021 school year. 

 

The following link provides more information, an application to request a grade change, and a list of postsecondary institutions that will accept Pass/No Pass without prejudice. Please be aware that some colleges and universities may not accept Pass/No Pass grades as valid credit. 

 

Grade Change Application Form & Additional Information  

 

The deadline for submitting a grade change request is August 14, 2021. 

 

Retention Consultation Request – Grades K-11

Per Assembly Bill 104, parents of eligible students can request retention in their child’s 2020-21 grade for the 2021-22 school year. Students in grades K-11, who received a D, F, or No Credit grade in at least half of their courses during the 2020-21 school year are eligible. Per AB 104, 12th grade students during the 2020-21 school year are not eligible for retention. If you would like to request a retention consultation meeting, please email your child’s principal and a meeting will be held within 30 calendar days. You can find a list of all Da Vinci principals on the Da Vinci Schools website here . 

 

More info on Retention Requests  

 

The AB 104 notifications and forms above can also be found on our Public Notices webpage. 

 

Greetings DVD Families!

We are officially one week away from the new school year, and we are so excited to be back! Our staff is back on campus and hard at work preparing to welcome students back for an excellent year. Please break out your calendars and take note of the following dates below. I am grateful and humbled to be starting my 12th season with Da Vinci Design this year, and I look forward to making this the best one yet with all of you!

Russell Stoll
DVD Principal

(Note: updated info about the 2021-2022 calendar, our new weekly schedule, and New Family Info can also be found in the “Resources” section to the right.)

The first day of school is Monday, August 16th, 2021. Students will meet their teachers outdoors, begin the day in Advisory, and will receive their class schedules in Advisory. PowerSchool access is temporarily locked while we upload student schedules. This is the DVD Week One Bell Schedule:

For the Fall 2021 semester, the high schools at 201 N. Douglas are adopting new start times in order to stagger entrance to and from campus. This is one of the many measures we are taking to ensure the health and safety of all of our students as we return to campus from distance learning. The start time for Da Vinci Design is 8:55am Monday-Thursday and the traditional “late start” for Friday is 9:25am. The end time for the school day will remain 3:55pm each day.

DVD’s new family orientation meetings are happening this week! To RSVP for one of the new family orientations happening this week, please use this link to access the New DVD Families FAQs page.

Class of 2022 Cap & Gown photos are 8/12 & 10/15. To reserve a time to take your cap and gown photos, click here. 

DVD plans to host Back-to-School Night on the third week of school on Thursday September 2nd. More details to follow.

As with most things, these events are subject to change based upon evolving COVID health guidelines and policies. We will keep you updated each week!

Update: Per the announcement from CEO/Superintendent on August 14th, 2021, the Overnighter event for 9th and 10th graders has been postponed. See blog post on August 15th for full message and further details.

Dear DVD Class of 2022 Families,

We are excited to announce that we have set up dates with our photographer for Seniors to take their “Cap & Gown” photos! You can sign up for your slot now at this Signup Genius link on a first-come, first-serve basis: DVD Senior Cap & Gown Photos 2021

Caps & Gowns will be provided at the photo appointment, and Da Vinci Schools is covering the cost of the “sitting fee” so families only need to pay for photos if they wish to purchase them after seeing them.

Spaces will go quickly, so we encourage all seniors to sign up for their slot as soon as possible! Please contact Maria Beltran at our front office with any questions:
mbeltran@davincischools.org .