It is that time of year, Seniors, where lots of exciting things start happening: Senior Projects, Grad Nite, Prom and Graduation are coming up before we know it. So much good stuff to look forward to!
On Monday during Advisory, Seniors will meet with DVD admin and teachers to hear about upcoming Senior Activities. Information will be handed out during that meeting, students will be able to ask questions, and a Senior Activities Contract will be distributed that all Seniors will be expected to sign. If you would like a preview of this informational handout, including dates and ticket prices, click here: DVD Senior Activities 2022
Calendar Dates for Senior Events:
Prom: Friday, May 6th, 2022
Grad Nite (@ Disneyland & CA Adventure): Saturday, May 21st, 2022
Graduation: Thursday, June 9th, 2022 (tent. 5pm ceremony start)
*For questions about Senior Activities, including Prom or Graduation, please see the handout above for the appropriate contact. Thank you!*
Parent/Guardian Info Meeting about Senior Projects on 2/17 at 6pm:
A letter went home with Seniors this week introducing Senior Projects: DVD Senior Projects 2022 Letter (2.7.22 Version). Please read the information on this letter to learn more about this important and exciting DVD signature practice!
National School Counseling Week 2022, “School Counseling: Better Together,” sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), will be celebrated from Feb. 7–11, 2022, to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems and how students are different as a result of what school counselors do. National School Counseling Week highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.
The special week honoring school counselors provides recognition for school counselors who implement comprehensive school counseling programs, a vital part of the educational process for all students as they meet the challenges of the 21st century.
All Da Vinci Schools counselors work Better Together across all campuses.
DVD counselors work Better Together with our DVD Admin.
DVD counselors work Better Together with our DVD School Psychologist.
DVD counselors work Better Together with our DVD teachers.
Tomorrow at 8am and at 5pm, Ms. Acuna and Mr. Stoll would like to welcome parents and guardians to our February Coffee w/ Admin meeting! For this meeting, we will be discussing Covid-19 updates, annual feedback survey data, an app called MySchoolBucks, and we will also be introducing you to some of our staff members who joined our Design team this semester!
This week, we had a great time reconnecting in our seminar classes! Students are gearing up for a fun and productive semester doing everything from screen printing and hand-building ceramics to chalk art and studying character design.
Next week, we have a short week, and students will not be in classes on February 4th due to a staff professional development day.
Also, on Thursday, 2/3, we are welcoming all parents and guardians to meet with DVD administrators for a “Coffee with Admin” session both before and after school. For this “Coffee with Admin” session, we will be discussing school updates and also introducing you to new members of our Da Vinci Design team. Please join us for an AM session at 8am or a PM session at 5pm. A message and a Zoom link will be sent to families via email next week.
Upcoming Key Dates & Events:
February 2nd: DVD School Site Council Meeting #2
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/92980112903
Agenda: 1) Comprehensive Site Safety Plan review, 2) Preview of A-G Improvement Grant Draft
February 3rd: Coffee w/ Admin Parent Meeting Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/98872918301
AM session: 8am, PM session: 5pm
February 4th: Staff Professional Development (No School)
Next week is a short week and so we will have a holiday Monday schedule. Please note the change in our bell schedule below for Week 19.
Here are a few other key updates:
Mon, 1/17: No school in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Tues, 1/18 – Thurs, 1/20: MAP testing will continue. Students who do not complete MAP testing by 1/20 will have the opportunity to do make up testing the following week.
Tues, 1/18 – Fri, 1/21: SEMINAR SIGN UPS will happen during the week. More details including Spring 2022 seminar offerings will be made available soon – stay tuned to the blog for more on seminars!
Wed, 2/2: DVD’s next School Site Council meeting (via Zoom – rescheduled from 1/19).
Fri, 2/4: No school – Staff Professional Development day.
Interested in playing beach volleyball? Girls beach volleyball is holding tryouts next week. If you haven’t already done so, all athletes must complete the athletic clearance process before attending tryouts. If you have any questions please contact coach Taube jtaube@davincischools.org.
Da Vinci Families: We hope this message finds you and your families healthy and well.
Return to School
As we prepare for the return to school next week, we are cognizant of the spread of COVID-19, and in particular, the Omicron variant. Today’s email update focuses on our return to school plan beginning Monday, January 10, 2022 for in-person learning. Please read this entire email for important information.
On January 1, 2022, Los Angeles County Public Health officials issued new protocols for TK-12 schools in a health order and a new exposure management plan to ensure appropriate mitigation strategies are in place during this surge in COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant. As we have done throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to carefully monitor and follow all state and local requirements, including the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health protocols for on-campus learning. We will continue to be prepared, flexible and responsive as conditions and County guidelines change.
The following new requirements have been enacted at all Da Vinci schools, effective immediately:
Masking is now required for all outdoor activities where physical distancing is not feasible, except while eating or drinking, due to the new health order from the LACDPH. Students are strongly recommended to wear masks that are well-fitting, non-cloth masks of multiple layers of non-woven material with a nose wire.
COVID-19 testing is required for all students and staff who are close contacts of a person who has tested positive for COVID due to a school-based exposure, regardless of vaccination or booster status. Affected employees and students may participate in testing at their school site (more info below)
Staff are required to wear upgraded masks (three-ply surgical masks or higher-level PPE)
COVID Testing
We strongly encourage students to secure a COVID test prior to returning to campus beginning Monday, January 10, 2022. Below are several options for testing:
Pick up an At-Home COVID Test Kit on Thursday or Friday of this week. This drive-thru event will take place at 201 N. Douglas Street and is open to families from all Da Vinci school sites:
Thursday, January 6: 3:00-6:00pm
Friday, January 7: 7:30-10:30am
Each kit contains 2 tests. The recommendation is that parents/guardians administer one test at home to their student when you receive the kit and then again on Sunday, January 9 or in the early morning of January 10, 2022.
A negative test is not required for students and staff to return to school on January 10, but in the event your child exhibits any flu-like or cold symptoms, your child should get tested and remain at home.
Additional options for obtaining a test can be found at the following:
Please note *Wiseburn school sites Tues/Thurs PCR tests previously advertised are now unavailable to the public due to capacity limitations
On-site rapid testing for students with exposure or symptoms will resume for Da Vinci students January 10, 2022 during regular testing hours 8:15am-3:45pm daily. Students are not allowed to leave class to test and must use time before school, during lunch, and after school. Students should pre-register here if this is their first time testing at school.
Once school resumes next week, please report any positive COVID results as soon as possible to the Da Vinci Schools Nurse via email at egreen@davincischools.org in order to determine isolation and return dates.
As we return from the holidays, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) has issued a number of advisories. Please be sure to review the LACDPH travel advisory and guidance.
Get Vaccinated, Get Boosted
To find out about availability of boosters for anyone age 16 and up, or to schedule vaccination appointments for anyone age 5 and up, families are encouraged to visit California’s myturn.ca.gov website. Up-to-date vaccination will provide greater opportunity for all students to remain in school and on campus. Up-to-date vaccination status refers to having received a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine when eligible or having completed a primary COVID-19 vaccine series if not yet eligible for a booster. Students are only considered up-to-date if they have received a booster (when eligible).
We will be communicating with you soon about uploading vaccination documentation. In the interim, please have your child carry either a copy or digital version of their vaccination status at school as it may be required for contact tracing.
Closing Comments
Our priorities remain to reduce transmission, keep our schools open for in-person instruction, and do so safely. We will continue to update you as new information becomes available. For additional questions about Coronavirus in Los Angeles County, please visit the LA County Department of Public Health coronavirus webpage. Thank you in advance for your efforts to ensure that our schools remain as safe as possible when students return to our campuses.
We were just notified the Wiseburn School COVID testing site(s) is now unavailable for Da Vinci students and Wiseburn community members for the foreseeable future. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. Da Vinci Schools will be sending out more information today regarding testing options prior to returning to campus Monday. Thank you and again, apologies for any confusion/inconvenience.
Who: Rising Juniors and Seniors from DVC, DVD, and DVS
What: College courses at Da Vinci, through El Camino College. Courses meet transfer requirements for all Cal State and U.C. campuses, as well as most private colleges and universities.
Why: Get a start on your college credits! It looks great on your college applications.
Cost: Free! The state of California and Da Vinci Schools pick up the costs, including textbook fees. Donations to help cover the cost of the textbooks from families that can are appreciated.
Where: Classes will be held virtually on the El Camino College student portal due to COVID-19.
If you are interested, make sure you apply to El Camino College Spring 2022 term and turn in the attached completed dual enrollment form with your student ID number and/or the application confirmation number to your school counselor by Thursday December 16th, 2021 by 12:00pm. Classes start on Tuesday February 15th, 2022. To be eligible to take a dual enrollment class, the student will need to pass all their academic classes, have no credit recovery for a-g classes, and be a rising senior or junior student. Space is limited and we are accepting forms on a first come first serve basis!
For more information click on the following links:
