Da Vinci Design

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

Greetings Designers and Design Families,

 

• September Coffee with R&S (Fall 2021)

Our next Coffee with Admin Session will be on Thursday, 10/7.

Our first School Site Council meeting will be on Wednesday, Sept. 15th via Zoom at 4:30pm. Meetings are open to the public.

• https://zoom.us/j/98776424079

DVD SSC #1 Agenda Items: Introductions, reviewing goals, and preparing feedback for the Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund deadline.

Dear Parents/Guardians and Students of Da Vinci Communications, Design, Science and Connect High Schools:

Earlier this week we became aware of a threat based on postings on social media that warned of a possible shooting at our campus on Wednesday, September 8th. We immediately contacted our School Resource Officers from the El Segundo Police Department (ESPD) who initiated an immediate investigation into the matter, in collaboration with Da Vinci Schools. Thanks in large part to the volume of information received from parents, students, staff, and community members, both DV and ESPD were able to successfully investigate and identify the students involved in the incident. We followed up with communication early Wednesday morning to inform all DVC, DVD, DVS and Connect High families that our schools would be open on Wednesday after having verified that the threat was deemed not to be credible.

Here are a few updates that we would like to share with you based on follow-up questions that we have received from families after the last notification went out:

– School has continued this week safely and without any further interruptions

– ESPD and DV continue to investigate the incident in order to ensure that all the issues that came to our attention this week are fully addressed

– ESPD has continued to provide their assistance as a resource to our schools

– Students at DVC, DVD, and DVS who were present on Wednesday participated in an activity that morning provided by DVC Principal Erin D’Souza that gave the students an opportunity to discuss the incident and address it in a focused and healthy manner. Connect HS students will also have this resource available to them. > School Safety Update

– All Counselors and mental health staff have been made available to students and staff to assist in any way possible to help with any anxiety, stress, and trauma generated by this incident

– Our Critical Incident Drill which was being planned for late September/early October will be moved up to be conducted as soon as possible in collaboration with ESPD and the El Segundo Fire Department

– We will continue to review and improve our critical incident communication and procedures. Thank you to the many people who have submitted suggestions and recommendations.

Lastly, many questions were posed regarding specific information about the students involved. This type of information is referred to as Personally Identifiable Information (PII) as defined in Title 34 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 99.3. and also relates to the type of information that is categorized as a student record. Both at the state level (California Education Code 49061(b), 49076, and Title 5 California Code of Regulations 430 (b)), and the federal level through the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 34 CFR 99.31, student records are protected as confidential records and can only be accessed as provided in law.

Thank you for your support. We will continue to provide updates as needed. Our goal remains to provide the highest level of safety possible for our students and staff.

Be well and be safe,

Vicente Bravo

Chief Administrative Officer
Da Vinci Schools
201 N. Douglas Street
Office – #1308-Musician
El Segundo, CA 90245

(424) 290-3244 direct
(310) 725-5800, Ext. 1308 main
vbravo@davincischools.org

Hello DVD Parents and Family Members,

Coffee with Admin #1: Tomorrow, 9/9/21 at 8am and 5pm via Zoom.

Ms. Acuña and I would like to invite you to join us for virtual coffee tomorrow, Thursday Sept. 9th! This will be the first “Coffee with Admin” session for the 2021-2022 school year. There will be two sessions held: one at 8am and one at 5pm. Both sessions will be held via zoom using this link:

• Zoom Link: Coffee with Admin (DVD – Sept 9th)

This month, we will be talking about: a) Introductions, b) Emergency Procedures and Preparedness, and c) Resources on DVD Website. ALL members of the DVD learning community are welcome, but these meetings are specifically dedicated to parents and guardians.

School Site Council: Voting Open

Voting for our School Site Council is open and will remain open until 4pm on Friday, 9/10. Click here to vote on parent representatives for the School Site Council.

Dear Parents/Guardians and Students of Da Vinci Communications, Design, Science and Connect High Schools:

Last night some of you may have received texts, emails and/or calls from students, parents and community members about a threat to our schools posted on a social media platform that was then further disseminated on other social media sites.

After having received the initial notification about the threat, the El Segundo Police Department (ESPD) was contacted and they immediately launched an investigation in collaboration with Da Vinci Schools regarding this matter. They were provided with all necessary information including information that we received last night from students, parents, and DV staff members. Thanks to everyone’s assistance and cooperation, the individual(s) involved were identified and the matter has been dealt with safely.

Having verified that the threat was deemed not to be credible, has been neutralized, and that those involved have been dealt with, the affected schools, DV Communications, Design, Science and Connect high schools will be open and in session today, Wednesday, September 8, 2021.

All of our safety measures will be in place as always and we will make sure to do everything possible to continue to provide a safe learning environment for our students and staff. In an abundance of caution, ESPD will have officers present on site throughout the day.

If you have any questions or further concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

Be well and be safe,

Vicente Bravo
Chief Administrative Officer
Da Vinci Schools
201 N. Douglas Street
Office – #1308-Musician
El Segundo, CA 90245
(424) 290-3244 direct
(310) 725-5800, Ext. 1308 main
vbravo@davincischools.org

Hello Seniors,

Spelman College is a private, historically black, all female, liberal arts college located in Atlanta, Georgia.  Spelman was founded in 1881 and a most highly competitive college.

They are having a preview session here in Los Angeles.

Please see the flyer below for more information.

Hello Designers and Design Families,

PowerSchool access should now be restored for all DVD parents/guardians and students.

• If you are a parent/guardian who did not receive your PowerSchool log in information, please send an email to Maria Beltran at mbeltran@davincischools.org
• If you are a student who needs access, please ask your English teacher for your login info.

The School Site Council is an opportunity for parents, students, & staff to work collaboratively to review the school program, review data and identify needs, make recommendations for the Local Control and Accountability Plan, and approve the Single/School Plan for Student Achievement. School Site Council meets quarterly to do this important work.

• If you are a parent who is interested in joining the DVD School Site Council, please fill out this School Site Council Parent interest form before Wednesday 9/8.
• If you are a student who is interested in joining the DVD School Site Council, please fill out this School Site Council Student interest form before Wednesday 9/8.

All submissions will be added to a voting form that will go out to the DVD parent community on September 9. School Site Council members will be notified on Friday September 10, and the first School Site Council meeting will be held via Zoom on Wednesday, September 15. If you have any questions, feel free to send them to me at rstoll@davincischools.org.