This week, our 9th graders participated in our annual Freshmen Overnighter Camp! 9th grade students, student leaders and staff got to connect with each other in the great outdoors. Everyone participated in fun activities, team building games, and important discussions that help prepare our 9th graders to make new friends and to transition into high school. See some pictures from the 2023 Overnighter Camp below! More photos will also be made available to 9th grade families next week!
Next week, we have a modified bell schedule due to the holiday weekend. And, 9th graders will be participating in MAP testing on Wed 9/6 and Thurs 9/7. See the Week 4 bell schedule below for more details.
Upcoming Events and Key Dates:
Monday, 9/4: No School – Labor Day
Wednesday 9/6 & Thursday 9/7: MAP Testing for 9th Grade
Wednesday 9/13 & Thursday 9/14: MAP Testing for 9th Grade
Thursday, 9/14: Back to School Night @ 5:30pm
Friday, 9/15: No School – Professional Development Day
It was a great second week of the school year at Design. We signed up for seminars, had time to connect each morning in Advisory classes, and many of us are getting ready for the Freshmen Overnighter next week! Seminars will begin next week, as well as Flex Block.
A big reminder that Picture Day is next week on Monday (8/28) and Tuesday (8/29)! Students should be ready to take their photos on whichever day they have English class. All 9th graders will take their photos in English class on Monday.
See below for the Week 3 bell schedule and other important upcoming dates:
Upcoming Events and Key Dates:
Week of Monday, 8/28: Seminars and Flex Block Begin
Monday, 8/28 & Tuesday, 8/29: Picture Day (during English classes)
Wednesday, 8/30: 9th graders leave for Overnighter @ 8:40am
Thursday, 8/31: 9th graders return from Overnighter @ 2:30pm
Friday, 9/1: 11th grade guest speaker event with Afro News LA
Monday, 9/4: No School – Labor Day
Thursday, 9/14: Back to School Night @ 5:30pm
Friday, 9/15: No School – Professional Development Day
We hope you all stayed safe and stayed dry this weekend! As was announced over the weekend by the Da Vinci School central office, Da Vinci Design (along with all of the schools at 201 N. Douglas) will be open for classes today. Depending on weather, we will likely do a “Plan B” rainy day lunch schedule today, allowing students to eat on the 4th floor. We will confirm and announce this in Advisory for students. Please drive to campus safely today, and we will see you soon.
Each week, you can expect to see a blog post here wrapping up the previous week (often with shout-outs, highlights and photos) and announcing the upcoming week’s bell schedule along with other important dates. Last week was a great week! A great way to kick-off the new school year. Day One started as it traditionally does, with teachers cheering in students and gathering together for an assembly, and then heading off to Advisory for games and introductions. See pictures below from our First Day of School!
This week, students will have a chance to select their Seminar classes. Seminars are classes at the end of the day where students may choose a class based on their interest like a sports/fitness seminar or a fun skill-building seminar like crochet or music appreciation. Student may also be enrolled in an academic support seminar to get extra help or tutoring. If you would like to see the seminar offerings for this semester, you can click the link here to see the Fall 2023 seminar listings.
Here is the bell schedule for DVD Week Two:
Upcoming Events and Key Dates:
Wednesday, 8/23: 12th & 11th graders sign-up for seminars
Thursday, 8/24: 10th & 9th graders sign-up for seminars
Week of Monday, 8/28: Seminars and Flex Block Begin
Monday, 8/28 & Tuesday, 8/29: Picture Day (during English classes)
Wednesday, 8/30: 9th graders leave for Overnighter @ 8:40am
Wednesday, 8/31: 9th graders return from Overnighter @ 2:30pm
Monday, 9/4: No School – Labor Day
Thursday, 9/14: Back to School Night @ 5:30pm
Friday, 9/15: No School – Professional Development Day
Thursday, 9/21: DV Club Fair
Week One Campus Highlight: Day One Welcome Celebration!
Welcome back Parents and Guardians to the 2023-2024 school year!
We have some exciting news to share with you! In an effort to address the high volume of traffic that we experience during drop off and pick up of your students at the schools located at 201 N. Douglas (DV Communications, DV Science, and DV Design), the City of El Segundo along with the El Segundo Police Department Traffic Division have provided us the opportunity to test out an alternative drop off area to help in the morning – starting tomorrow! See a map and more details below. We are still working on alternatives for pick up in the afternoon and will communicate those to you as soon as we can establish them.
Remember: traffic during the first two weeks of school is busier than usual; we recommend you arrive in the parking lot at least 15 minutes before your school start time to ensure your child makes it on time.
The [East] Grand Avenue Morning Drop Off Pilot Program begins on August 14, 2023 and will run through September 22, 2023 at which time we will assess its effectiveness. Each school will be asked to only use the Grand Avenue drop off site for two weeks. In order for us to determine whether or not this will work as a long-term solution, we are asking for your cooperation during these six weeks of the Pilot Program.
Based on information provided to us by El Segundo Traffic Division and other sources, the decision was made to start with the school which has the middle start time (DVD), then the school with the earliest start time (DVC), and finally, the school with the latest start time (DVS). As such, here is the calendar of when each school is being asked to use the alternative drop off site only for their designated two weeks:
Da Vinci Design 8/14 – 8/25
Da Vinci Communications 8/28 – 9/8
Da Vinci Science 9/11 – 9/22
Drop off will be from 7:30 – 9:00 am on regular schedule days and will be available until 9:30 am on late start days. The pedestrian gate on the southwest corner of the gym will be closed at those times. Any drop offs after those times during your designated two weeks will need to be done through the existing drop off area at the front of the school.
Your cooperation and assistance in this is crucial for us to gauge whether or not this will work as a permanent solution. As such please take note of the following guidelines and requests:
Please adhere to the schedule listed above and on the map (see below).
Only enter and exit following the route outlined in blue on the map.
Only drop off your students in the designated area shown in orange on the map (white painted area on the sidewalk). Do not drop them off across the street or anywhere along Duley Road.
Remind your students to please stay on the designated pedestrian pathway in order to help maintain their safety as they enter the school campus through the pool parking area.
Remember, you don’t have to wait to get to the front of line of the drop off area to have your students exit the vehicle. They should exit as soon as the vehicle has come to a safe, complete stop. This will help to make sure the drop off area is used as efficiently as possible.
Students will not be allowed to enter or leave school through the gym or the pool deck at any time.
Thank you for your cooperation and support as we continue to look for new ways to safely improve our drop off and pick up systems at Da Vinci,
Hope you all are enjoying the tail end of a fun, safe, and restful summer. We are officially just a few days away from the new school year, and we are so excited to be back! Our staff has been back on campus and hard at work preparing to welcome students back for an excellent year.
For important updates and reminders for the 2023-2024 school year, click here to check out the “DVD New School Year FAQs for Families” page. You can also find highlights of important upcoming dates below.
Welcome back families! We look forward to making this year the best one yet!
Russell Stoll
DVD Principal
(Note: updated info including the 2023-2024 calendar, our 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 14th, 2022. Students will first meet outside near the bike racks, then be welcomed into the Black Box theater, begin the day in Advisory, and will receive their class schedules in Advisory. PowerSchool access is temporarily locked while we upload student schedules – but will be accessible next week. This is the DVD Week One Bell Schedule:
For the 2023-2024 school year, the start time for Da Vinci Design will remain the same at 8:40am Monday-Thursday and the traditional “late start” for Friday is 9:45am. The end time for the school day in 3:45pm each day.
DVD Picture Day is happening during the third week of school in English classes on August 28th and 29th.More details to come.
For updates every week, keep checking back here at the DVD blog!
From all of the faculty and staff at Da Vinci Design, we wish you a wonderful summer break! Monday, August 14th is the first day of school for students in the 2023-24 school year. We will see you in August!
Congratulations to the graduating Class of 2023! It was an honor and pleasure watching you walk the stage yesterday. Graduation photos from yesterday have been uploaded for families here – you may access and download them for FREE thanks to our incredible photographer Stacee: https://staceelianna.smugmug.com/DaVinciSchools/Da-Vinci-Design/2023-Graduation/
Happy LGBTQ Pride Month! Thank you to our DVD Pride Club for hosting an amazing CD on the last day of school that included lip sync performances, dancing, and fun games. Da Vinci Schools is proud to recognize and celebrate the LGBTQ community this month, and the many ways LGBTQ folx have contributed to our world. Pride was originally focused on securing basic rights and later confronting the AIDS epidemic. Pride continues to be about creating and affirming spaces where LGBTQIA+ people can exist freely, without persecution.
Report cards: have been put into the mail today and will be arriving next week. If you have any questions or concerns, reach out to the Da Vinci Design Front Office and ask for Office Manager Maria Beltran, or send an email to mbeltran@davincischools.org for any questions regarding work permits, enrollment, summer dates, etc. The DVD Front Office is open Monday-Friday (except for holidays) from 8am to noon.
June 13th: Summer Session 1 begins (by referral from counselors) Summer school forms were distributed to students last week. If your student received a summer school form, you must register for summer school. Click here for the summer school registration form.
Please stay tuned over the summer! We will be making announcements for new families AND returning families here on the blog. See you in August!
Tomorrow is the big day! DVD Graduation Ceremony begins promptly at 9am.
We are pleased to announce that the Class of 2023 graduation will be live streamed on June 8th starting at 9 am for those of you who have family members who want to cheer you on from home!
Please share this link so they can join the Class of 2023 graduation celebration!
If you are attending in-person tomorrow, please remember:
ARRIVAL TIME AT 8AM: Graduates MUST arrive at 8am to line up in preparation of the ceremony.
TICKETS AND SEATING: Family and guests MUST have a ticket in order to be seated at the ceremony. Seating is assigned, and maps/direction will be provided upon check in. We appreciate all guests staying in their assigned seats for the entirety of the ceremony.
WHAT TO BRING: Please remember to bring the gown, tassel, and cap provided by DVD. Students may wear flower leis or stoles over their gown.
WHAT NOT TO BRING: There will NOT be a place to store purses or bags during graduation. Graduates should travel light and leave belongings with family.
Balloons and “air horns” are not allowed – thank you for helping us to create an enjoyable environment for everyone and for ensuring everyone can see and hear the ceremony.
For last minute requests or questions, please reach out to Kirk Takeyama, Asst. Principal, via email: ktakeyama@davincischools.org .
Da Vinci’s graduating seniors are closing out the school year with final Presentations of Learning where they reflect on their learning and growth over the past four years.
At Da Vinci Design, seniors completed a six-week capstone project culminating in a Senior Showcase held at the Zimmerman Automobile Driving Museum in El Segundo on May 24th. The Senior Showcase was a special exhibition for families, friends and the entire DV community.
Da Vinci Design’s senior project is composed of four stages of the Design Process: Care, Conceptualize, Create, and Critique. Projects focused on honing students’ design skills and serving the local community, from engineering indoor gardens to supporting local animal shelters, to starting small businesses selling jewelry and crochet items, to coordinating the Senior Showcase itself!
What started as a conversation over their passion for role playing games, Anthony Roberson, Adrian Williams, Francisco Saldana, and Danica Mojonnier created a professional role playing game called MouseVale, a fantastical world beneath human’s feet where adventuring animals maneuver the dangers of modern life. The students used Natural Crit to create a 150-page MouseVale: A Player’s Guide that resembles the Dungeons and Dragons format. They also created 50 original art pieces (some shown below). In order to bring this idea to life, the students have raised over $1000 in funds through a Kickstarter campaign and cookie sales. With so much momentum growing around their game, the Design students intend to release a PDF version of the guide, then hard copies.
The Wooden Room, a community space at Da Vinci Design, was renovated into The Garden Room by seniors Eli Velasquez, Mia Gonzalez, and Renna Ady. Their goal was to create a space for learners and educators that would encourage “greater engagement and motivation toward academic pursuits”. Utilizing SketchUp software they learned in their architecture pathway course, the group first created an electronic layout of the floor plan. Once conceptualized, they created wooden wall-mount planters, raised planters, and shelves that would be placed around the room. In collaboration with Cal Terra Design, Angel Velasquez Systems, and West Coast Welding and Fabrication, the students received over 20 donated plants, lumber, tools, and consulting services to support their project. To help maintain the garden after they graduate, the seniors created a “how to” manual so others can learn how to care for the different plants in the Garden Room after they’re gone.
Without any prior experience of writing, editing, or directing short films, Ruby Yarlett, Jayla Jones, and Devin Gough created an analog horror film, Nocturnum. Sparked by Ruby’s interest in analog horror films, they reached out to Jayla and Devin and the niche analog horror community for help in bringing this idea to life. Jayla was responsible for the film’s creative animations, while Devin edited the film’s sounds and visuals.
We are so inspired and impressed by all the senior projects, and wish all Da Vinci graduates a fantastic commencement and transition into college, career and life!! We are so proud of you!!
We are only two weeks away from the end of the school year! And we know what that means… POLs are here!
*SEE BELOW FOR THE SCHEDULE AND FOR IMPORTANT POL RESOURCES BY GRADE LEVEL*
This week, we had our annual Senior Showcase! Hosted at the Zimmerman Auto Museum, our 12th graders participated in one last special exhibition for families, friends and the DV community. The auto museum was full of live music and displays on a wide range of projects. Projects are focused on honing their design skills and serving the local community: from engineering indoor gardens to supporting local animal shelters, from starting small business selling jewelry and crochet to coordinating the Senior Showcase itself! And the ice cream parlor and food trucks were a big hit, too! See below for photos from the Class of 2023 Senior Showcase!
POLs are next Week! POLs give students the opportunity to develop their speaking and presentation skills, and are an opportunity for students to reflect publicly on their learning. Because these are formal presentations, students are expected to wear formal attire. Any student in need of formal attire, please contact the front office and we will do our best to accommodate. Click the links below for grade-level specific information.
Grade 12: Hello 12th grade families, the 12th grade students will be presenting their final POL connected to their senior project on their designated time. Please see the attached schedule to help remind them. Best, 12th grade team.
Week 36-38 Bell Schedule: POLs May 30th-June 6th
Please note: On Friday, June 2nd, school begins at the normal time of 8:40am, NOT at 9:45am. Students should make sure to arrive on time and prepared for POLs on this day.
Key Dates & Upcoming Events
Monday, May 29th: NO SCHOOL (Memorial Day Holiday)
Friday, June 2nd: Senior Grad Nite (@ Disneyland)
Tues, May 30th – Tues, June 6th: Presentations of Learning (Minimum Days)
Wednesday, June 7th: Last Day of School! (Minimum Day)
Thursday, June 8th: DVD Graduation Commencement Ceremony
Time/Location: 9am at 201 N. Douglas St Campus
Week 36 Campus Highlight: Senior Showcase, Class of 2023
The DVD School Yearbook is Here and Available for Purchase!
The DVD yearbooks arrived at school on Wednesday and are available for pickup and purchase in Mr. White’s room (4205) before school, at lunch and after school.
If you pre-ordered the book, just come and pick it up. If you still need to purchase a book, there are some available. They cost $60, and you can pay cash, check (made out to Da Vinci Schools) or you can pay for it on My School Bucks. Here’s a QR code that you can use:
FOR SENIORS (or anyone else who would like to purchase one), there is also a Senior supplement that you can order that contains all of the spring Senior events that happened after the yearbook deadline: Senior Beach Day, Senior Prom, Senior Showcase, Grad Night, Graduation, and more! Supplements cost $10 (which includes shipping to your home) and can be ordered at the yearbookordercenter.com website (just enter our school code, which is 17693).
Here’s a QR code for that website:
If you have any questions, please email Mr. White (the yearbook adviser) at jwhite@davincischools.org ; thank you!
