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!
Designers! What A Week! Thank you to all Design student leaders, Design staff, and 9th grade Designers! Your energy was noticed and appreciated!
This week, our 9th grader Designers took part in the annual Freshmen Overnighter! It was a fantastic opportunity for students, staff, and student leaders to build connections and enjoy time together in the great outdoors.
Throughout the camp, students engaged in a variety of fun activities, team-building games, and meaningful conversations — all designed to help them make new friends and ease the transition into high school.
Check out some highlights from the 2025 Overnighter Camp below!
Designers, here is the schedule for Week 5:
Friendly Reminder!
Back to School Night Thursday September 18th! The blog will post the schedule soon!
What an incredible week at Da Vinci Design! Our Wolf Pack continues to impress with their focus, energy, and commitment to living out what it means to be a true Designer. Here’s a quick look back and what’s on the horizon:
Highlights from This Week
MAP Testing: Students showed great effort as they tackled MAP assessments. This valuable data helps us set goals, track progress, and support every learner’s growth.
Coffee with Administration: Thank you to the families who joined us! Your questions, ideas, and feedback are essential as we grow together.
Looking Ahead
9th Grade Overnighter: We are thrilled to host our annual Overnighter next week! This special event is all about bonding, team-building, and welcoming our newest Designers into the Wolf Pack. Please check the weather! It will be on the cooler side while we are there! Sweatshirts, jackets, and beanies are a great idea!!
Advisory Focus: Advisory continues to build strong community connections and practice our Designer habits of success.
Back to School Night Thursday September 18th!
Student Life: Fall sports, clubs, and activities are in full swing—be sure to stay connected and encourage your student to get involved.
Upcoming Dates: Keep an eye out for announcements on college visits, family events, and student celebrations later this month.
Reminders
Please encourage your student to fully engage in Advisory—it sets the tone for academic and social success.
Cell phone policy is going strong—thank you for helping us maintain a focused and respectful learning environment.
We are so proud of the drive and positivity our students are bringing to the year. Thank you, families, for being an essential part of our Wolf Pack. Together, we are building a strong, supportive, and joyful Designer community.
September is Suicide Prevention Month. In an effort to be more proactive in supporting students’ mental health, a wellness screener will be given on September 22nd to all students during advisory at Da Vinci Design HS to identify students who may need support. Results from the screener will be used by the counselors to offer students interventions such as coping skills groups, counselor check ins, and referrals for therapy.
Scores will not be shared with students or parents/guardians. Parent/guardian consent is required if a student is referred to receive counseling services delivered by Antioch or Pepperdine therapists. If you would like your student to OPT-OUT and NOT PARTICIPATE in the screener, please fill out the form by Monday, September 15th.
We’ve had another fantastic week here at Da Vinci Design, full of learning, energy, and school pride!
Grade Level Meetings This week, students came together in grade-level meetings to reflect on what it means to be a Designer and how we carry ourselves on campus and in the community. We look forward to seeing the commitment the students have in building a positive, respectful culture at DVD. Designers! Let’s make this happen everyday! Each student matters!
Cell Phone Policy Our cell phone policy is continuing to go strong! We are so proud of our students for staying focused, present, and engaged in their learning. Thank you to our staff and families for supporting this important effort—it’s already making a big difference in classrooms.
Seminar Selections Students also had the chance to choose their Seminars this week. From sports and fitness to crochet, music appreciation, and academic support, there’s something for everyone! Seminars officially begin soon, and we’re excited to see students dive into their interests.
Picture Day Picture Day was a success—thank you to everyone for their cooperation and those big Designer smiles! These photos will become lasting memories in our yearbook and student IDs.
Schedule for next week, Designers!
Looking Ahead: MAP Testing & Coffee with Administration Next week, students will begin MAP Testing, an important benchmark that helps us track growth and provide tailored support. Please encourage your student to get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and bring their best focus and effort to the test.
Families are also invited to join us for Coffee with Administration on Wednesday, September 3rd at 8:00am and 5:00pm via Zoom. This is a great opportunity to connect, hear updates, and ask questions as we start the year together.
What an incredible first week back at Da Vinci Design! The energy on campus has been nothing short of inspiring—hallways filled with smiles, laughter, and the joy of reconnecting with friends after the summer.
From the very first day, our students have shown that they are serious about starting the year off right. We’ve been so impressed by the way they’ve embraced our cell phone policy, staying present in class, engaged in lessons, and focused on building strong connections with their peers and teachers. The level of attention and care students are bringing into their classrooms sets a powerful tone for the months ahead.
Families we thank you for the support with our Cell Phone Policy! Here is a brief version of what is happening at Design with the Cell Phone Policy:
Off and Away Helps Me Focus Today!
Personal devices (cell phones, headphones/earbuds, ipads, etc.) should be powered off or placed in “Do Not Disturb” mode, and put in teacher designated area in classroom during instructional time. No phones allowed at all times in bathrooms.
If a student uses a device out of accordance to DVD policy, staff will:
Confiscate the device until the end of class.
Confiscate the device and turn it over to the office/administration.
Contact parent/guardian for notification (and/or pickup of device).
Prohibit the possession of personal (and/or school) devices on campus.
Whether it’s through Advisory activities, hands-on projects, or simply the excitement of seeing their friends and teachers again, the sense of community has been evident all week long. The positive energy on campus is a reminder of what makes Da Vinci Design so special—our students’ commitment to learning, collaboration, and supporting one another.
We are so proud of this amazing start and look forward to keeping the momentum going as we dive deeper into the year!
Here is what is coming up the Week of August 25th:
Get those smiles ready—Picture Day is happening next week on Monday, August 25th and Tuesday, August 26th during students’ English classes.
Picture Day is more than just a tradition; it’s a chance to capture memories, showcase those back-to-school fits, and officially mark the start of our 2025–26 school year at Da Vinci Design. These photos will be used for student IDs and the School Yearbook.
Next week, students have the opportunity to select their Seminar classes. Seminars take place at the end of the school day and give students the chance to explore areas of interest—whether that’s a sports/fitness seminar, a creative skill-building class like crochet or music appreciation, or an academic support seminar designed for extra help and tutoring. Seminar Enrollment will officially begin on Wednesday August 27th for Seniors and Juniors and continue Thursday August 28th for Sophomores and Freshmen.
Here is the Bell Schedule for next week:
Key Dates and Upcoming Events:
Mon, Aug. 25th & Tues, Aug. 26th: Picture Day (during English classes)
Wed, Aug 27th: 12th & 11th graders sign-up for seminars
Thurs, Aug. 28th: 10th & 9th graders sign-up for seminars
Mon, Sept. 1st: NO SCHOOL – LABOR DAY HOLIDAY
Wed, Sept. 3rd: Coffee w/ Admin @8am and @5pm via Zoom
Wed, Sept. 3rd and Thurs Sept. 4th: MAPS Testing
Wed, Sept. 10th: 9th graders leave for Overnighter @ 8:40am
