Da Vinci Design

Dear DVD Students, Parents, and Guardians,

 As we approach the season of Thanksgiving, we are all grateful for the tremendous work of our school staff – from our teachers to counselors to paraeducators to custodians to front office staff. It has been a whole-school effort to return to re-engage in full in-person learning after so much change throughout the past year, and we believe the team at DVD has done a terrific job so far. To show our appreciation, we are organizing Thanksgiving baskets to deliver to our school staff on Thursday, November 18th. The idea is that each staff member will receive one basket containing treats and words of appreciation from students and parents/guardians.

 

Here is how you can contribute to the baskets of Thanksgiving:

1. Items: If you are interested and able to purchase something to show your appreciation, please consider non-perishable items such as: individually wrapped : pop corn, gummies, trail mix, chips, hot chocolate, pretzels, candy, cookies, gift cards ($5) to target, Starbucks, coffee, sparkling water, tea, and any non-perishable snacks. 

           We need donated items collected by: Tuesday November 16th. All items can be             left on the first floor front office.

1. Words of Appreciation: There is nothing that means more to school staff than words of appreciation or encouragement. Please consider handwriting a note of thanks or typing one digitally here: DVD Staff Appreciation Notes We will be printing these digital messages and including all words of appreciation in the baskets. Handwritten notes can be dropped off by Tuesday November 16. 

 

IN ADDITION:

 

It is time for us to do our bi-annual parent survey – and we need your feedback. We ask families and students to complete a survey twice each year about how things are going at DVD. Please use the link below to share your experience and thoughts with us. We continually look for ways to improve, and value your assessment of how things are going so far this year. The data collected from parent surveys like this one determines our school goals for this year, and for years to come.

 

Parent/Guardian Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RBRSKZG

 

With gratitude for your ongoing encouragement and support,

 

Russell Stoll and Santa Acuna

Principal and Assistant Principal

Thank you to all Da Vincians who joined us on Wednesday 10/28 for our Financial Aid Workshop for Senior Families. In this workshop, we provided a step-by-step explanation of the federal student financial aid process. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) was explained along with grants, federal loans and scholarships. The session was recorded and can be found HERE.

Important Reminders and Resources on Financial Aid:
• The FAFSA opened on October 1st and is due March 2nd for CSUs, UCs, and California Community Colleges. The FAFSA deadlines for private and out-of-state universities vary. Please check their respective websites for financial aid deadlines We encourage you to apply early!
• To complete and sign a FAFSA electronically, both the student and the parent need an FSA ID. You can create your FSA ID here and here is a video on creating an FSA ID
• If you are applying to a private college, you many need to complete the FAFSA and the CSS Profile. The CSS Profile is used to assess the student for institutional aid, which may include merit-based aid. Here is a list of colleges that requires the CSS Profile.
• If you are an undocumented student, you may be eligible for the state aid and institutional aid. Please complete the DREAM Act Application to apply for these funds. Please connect with your counselor if you need support with this process.
• If you are or were a foster youth, you may qualify for the CHAFEE Grant. Please connect with your counselor if you need support with this process.

As always, please reach out to your respective counselor if you have any questions.

Thank you!

The DV Counseling Team

Greetings Designers and Design Families,

Our Spirit Week is a wrap! We got “far out” and “totally rad” on Decades Day, flexed our creativity with “Anything But A Backpack Day”, and we closed out the week with a frighteningly fun Community Dialogue in our costumes today. A special congratulations goes out to our 11th grade (aka: the Junior Jack-O-Lanterns) for winning our grade-level hub design contest. See some of the photo highlights below from our spooky CD, and a photo of the winning hub design, too.

The bell schedule for Week 12 is here, with key dates and announcements below:

Key Dates & Events

• College Visit: College for Creative Studies – Tuesday, Nov. 2nd @ 12:15pm
• Senior Art Portfolio Review: Wednesday, Nov. 3rd
• Veteran’s Day Holiday (No School): Thursday, Nov. 11th

                                                  

Hello Seniors and Families,

TONIGHT, Wednesday, October 27th, 5pm – 6pm the Da Vinci Counselors from Communications, Design, and Science and Connect will be hosting a FAFSA Workshop Night. All College applicants must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to qualify for financial aid (ex. grants, loans, scholarships). The FAFSA opened on October 1st and is due March 2nd for CSUs, UCs, and Community Colleges in California. FAFSA deadlines for private and out-of-state universities vary. So please check those school’s financial aid websites and apply early!

This ZOOM webinar event will allow counselors to present the application step by step on how to fill out the FAFSA application. There will be a Q&A in the chat feature on ZOOM. Please click on the link below to join the webinar:

https://zoom.us/j/92377943554

To fully sign and submit the FAFSA during the webinar, student and parent(s) must apply for their FSA ID and have it verified.  CLICK ON THIS LINK for a helpful video that will walk you through the steps to apply for your FSA ID.

We will be recording this webinar. Hope to see you there!

The DV Counseling Team

Softball Player & Parent Meeting Nov. 3rd

Hello Designers and Design Families,

This coming week, it is Spirit Week! Spirit Week will take place from October 25th-October 29th, ending in a spooky-themed CD on Friday:

• Mon: Meme Day
• Tues: Decades Day
• Wed: Pajama Day
• Thurs: “Anything But A Backpack” Day
• Fri: Costume Day

The bell schedule for Week 11 is here, including the schedule for a CD Friday:

Week 11 College Visits:

• Loyola Marymount University: 10/25 @ 12:45pm
• Pepperdine University: 10/26 @ 12:45pm
• UC San Diego: 10/26 @ 4:30pm
• High Point University: 10/27 @ 12:35pm
• Emmanuel College: 10/28 @ 12:35pm
• Azusa Pacific University: 10/29 @ 1:20pm

Greetings Designers and DVD Families,

Today in advisory, with the help of our student Leadership team, we had a conversation about resetting our expectations around using personal devices like cell phones and headphones in classrooms. Coming back from distance learning, teachers and staff have seen an increase of students being distracted by phones and headphones in class. So, we are making a campus-wide commitment today to “hit the reset button” and be more mindful about how we use personal electronics.

We are asking students to:

• Keep devices out of sight and out of mind during class.
• Follow reminders and requests from teachers to use technology appropriately.
• Sign on to our campus-wide recommitment to all do our part.

In addition to this, teachers will be doing their part to help reset expectations by:

• Using visual cues and signs in class to tell students clearly when personal devices may or may not be allowed.
• Giving reminders at the beginning of classes.
• Holding students accountable and being consistent.

As parents, we need your help, too! Please consider the following:

• Have a conversation with your students today about the importance of avoiding distractions like phones/headphones and staying focused in class.
• Reassure students that it is okay to contact you via text or call while they are at school, but that it should happen during passing periods or lunch.
• Understand that school policy that says cell phones and headphones should not be out during class unless instructed by teachers; students who misuse personal devices after direct reminders may have the device held by the teacher/front office, and may receive a call home, per DVD Student and Family Handbook.
• As a parent/guardian, please contact the school if you need to get in touch with your child or if you are picking them up early.

If you would like to see the slides shared in Advisory class today, click here. Thank you families for your support!

Good Morning DVD Families,

Next week, we are hosting Student Led Conferences via Zoom. This means that we will have an early release schedule next week, where students will be released at 1:55pm each day, so that from 2pm-4pm teachers can meet with families over Zoom. The schedule for the next two weeks is posted below.

Please see the attached SLC letters for parents/guardians from each grade level team for more information:

• 9th Grade SLC Letter
• 10th Grade SLC Letter
• 11th Grade SLC Letter
• 12th Grade SLC Letter

Please contact grade level teachers with any questions regarding SLCs.

Good Afternoon Designers and Design Families,

Happy October! Next week, we will be having our second CD of the year to celebrate Latinx Heritage Month! A special thanks goes out to our Latinx Student Union for putting together this special event. See the Week 8 schedule below.

Also – SLCs are the following week from 10/11-10/14. SLCs are happening via Zoom this semester. Check the DVD Grade Level Google Sites and stay tuned for SLC schedules and overviews from the grade level teachers.

DVD School Photos:

You can purchase your student’s school photo by visiting this link and checking in the folder of your student’s advisory teacher. Proceeds from the purchase of your student’s photo support DVD. See pricing information below.

Make-Up Picture Days: 

For students who missed the photo day, makeup photos are scheduled for the mornings of Thursday, 9/30 and Friday, 10/1. Students will be notified ahead of time which day they will be taking their photo.

To request a make-up picture, please fill out this short Google Form:
Students must use their Da Vinci email to fill out this form.
DVD Make Up Picture Day Form