Da Vinci Summer Career Training Programs still accepting applicants:
L.A. Urban League’s Biz Camp Summer Program
Learn how to turn ideas into successful businesses through planning, analysis, and real-world application. All entrepreneurs are encouraged to sign up. Stipends are available for participating students. To register, click here and apply for ‘Biz Camp Summer Program Session 2: Monday, July 10 – Thursday, July 27.
Da Vinci Connect Summer Gaming Opportunity
During this program, students will have the opportunity to engage in gameplay, project design, and collaboration. Students will have the opportunity to interact with AI-based mini-games, allowing them to explore their visions of the future through their creative work. They will have four hours a day over the course of 2 weeks (July 18-July 27), to build transformative experiences using emerging technology. To learn more, click here.
If you have any questions please contact Ms. Crissel Rodriguez, Director of Real World Learning, at crodriguez@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 have added some exciting internships and programs to our running list of summer opportunities. You can access them by using this link.
We also wanted to share this amazing program with you all. The Arte Youth Program is a non-profit organization that helps students learn about science, technology, engineering, art and math. They are offering a virtual course where students ages 11-17 will engage with analog astronauts and participate in activities and presentations. There will be prizes, gifts, and scholarships for selected participants. Students must have a computer to participate.
The Virtual Dates are:
June 16-18
July 28-30
The time sessions will be from 10am-4pm PST with a 30 min lunch break in the middle of the session.
You may register by clicking here. To learn more about analog missions, please see this website.
If you have any questions please contact Ms. Crissel Rodriguez, Director of Real World Learning, at crodriguez@davincischools.org.
Southern California’s Annual Youth Leadership Summit for High School Students with Disabilities
The Youth Leadership Summit is a five-day leadership program from July 16-21 for students with disabilities, held at Cal Poly Pomona University.
Attendees will learn advocacy and leadership skills from alumni and professionals with disabilities and create a “Personal Futures Plan” to help reach their future education, independent living, and career goals.
Attendees will interact with leaders with disabilities, which may include celebrities, politicians, entertainers, and other adult role models with disabilities. Participants also make lifelong friendships with other Southern California attendees and have mentorship opportunities with alumni.
There is no COST for the students to attend. They must fill out an application to be considered.
The Women’s Fire Alliance is collaborating with El Camino Fire Academy to put on a Women’s Fire Camp June 3-4. The camp is for students ages 16+ and will run for two days from 8am-5pm each day.
This is a rigorous camp. Be prepared to participate hands on with firefighter equipment, professional firefighters, and perform a Biddle Physical Ability Test. RSVP here!
If you have any questions please contact Ms. Crissel Rodriguez, Director of Real World Learning, at crodriguez@davincischools.org.
We are excited to announce that we will be hosting a number of Summer Career Training Programs around the trades, entrepreneurship, aviation, and space system designs. All programs will take place at our 201 N. Douglas campus, and will be free and open to all current Da Vinci high school students, including graduating seniors. Space is limited! DEADLINE TO APPLY IS MONDAY, MAY 22.
Please see the flyer for more information about each program:
L.A. Urban League’s Biz Camp Summer Program
Summer Trades Program
Summer Aviation Program
Stellar Camp
If you have any questions please contact Ms. Crissel Rodriguez, Director of Real-World Learning, at crodriguez@davincischools.org.
Calling all Da Vinci students who are interested in learning more about careers in the aviation industry!
We have 3 exciting opportunities coming up for Da Vinci students to learn more about the field of aviation:
Summer Aviation Careers Experience: Da Vinci is hosting a brand-new Summer Aviation Program from June 26-June 30 sponsored by Giving Kids Wings Flight Academy. This program will introduce high school students to aviation careers and teach them the basics of flying an airplane. Spaces are limited; to reserve your spot, click here.
Field trip opportunity: Kollab Youth is hosting an Air Industry Event on Monday, May 22nd. High school students are invited for a field trip with Alaska Airlines to Compton Airport where they will learn from Alaska Airlines pilots about careers in aviation, hear from the CEO of Fly Compton Aero Club, experience flight simulators, and more. Please email Steve Wallis at swallis@davincischools.org by Wednesday, May 17 if you are interested in participating in this field trip.
Private Pilot License Scholarship: Through a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration, Sling Pilot Academy is offering a full scholarship (a $16,000 value) to up to 4 Da Vinci Students to complete their private pilot’s license. To qualify, students must be at least 17 years old, be able to start flying soon and finish their training before March 1, 2024. To learn more about this opportunity, please email Steve Wallis at swallis@davincischools.org by Wednesday, May 10.
The Del Aire Neighborhood Association (DNA) is looking for 1-2 high school student leaders who want to serve as YOUTH BOARD REPRESENTATIVES who can help the organization grow, plan community events, and advocate for neighborhood improvements like the Greenway!
This is a great opportunity for youth in Del Aire can learn about local government and help shape their community. Click HERE to apply.
Applicants must:
Be Del Aire residents
Be able to commit to serving for 2 years- ideally, incoming freshmen, sophomores and juniors should apply
We are happy to announce that we will be hosting a number of Career Training Programs this summer around the trades, entrepreneurship, aviation, and space system designs at our 201 N. Douglas campus. To see our flyer with more information, please click here. The deadline to apply is Monday, May 22.
We also invite you to also take a look at the Google document with all of the ongoing volunteer and internship experiences students can apply for. This week we have new experiences listed under Arts, Media and Entertainment, Engineering and Architecture, Health Sciences, and Information, Gaming, & Communication Technologies. The document can be accessed here.
For a second year, Otis College of Art and Design and Snap are partnering on Snap Lens Lab @ Otis College, a groundbreaking two-week, fully funded, Augmented Reality (AR) workshop. Otis and Snap are teaming up to bring high school students in LA County from underserved communities an exciting hands-on learning lab, giving them the chance to combine the power of AR, 2D and 3D industry-standard design tools, and their own creativity to develop dynamic interactive experiences. Students will also connect with industry professionals to learn about potential careers in art and design that focus on these new technologies.
FIND OUT MORE TONIGHT! A Virtual Info Session on Zoom is being held on Tuesday, April 25th from 6:00 – 7:15 p.m. PDT. Interested students, their families, art educators, and counselors are invited to join our team, including a representative from Snap, Otis College faculty, and me, to learn program details and ask questions. RSVP here.
Quick Facts
This Snap x Otis program is geared toward high school students in LA County from underserved communities, and 15 full scholarships are available.
This simple application is due on May 15, so don’t delay! No portfolio required, but be sure to think thoughtfully about the questions, so we get a true sense of the student. Students can submit their application to be considered here.
No prior experience or skills are required to participate in this program!
Where: LADWP Truesdale Training Center
11760 Truesdale Street,
Sun Valley, CA 91352
At LADWP, we embrace diversity, support wellness,
and offer you the chance to live out your values in the
workplace. Come and learn about where a career with
LADWP can take you, and much more.
At the Expo, you’ll have access to:
Information about skilled craft and professional
careers in construction, electrical, engineering,
fleet, IT, facilities, security, and water
Demos and hands-on activities
Exercise workouts, meal prep demos
and healthcare info
