From all of the faculty and staff at Da Vinci Design, we wish you a wonderful summer break! Monday, August 19th is the first day of school for students in the 2024-25 school year. We will see you in August!
Congratulations to the graduating Class of 2024! It was an honor and pleasure watching you walk the stage yesterday. Graduation photos from yesterday have been uploaded for families here – you may access and download them for FREE thanks to our incredible photographer Stacee:
Report cards: have been put into the mail today and will be arriving next week. If you have any questions or concerns, reach out to the Da Vinci Design Front Office and ask for Assistant Principal, or send an email to ktakeyama@davincischools.org for any questions regarding work permits, enrollment, summer dates, etc. The DVD Front Office is open Monday-Friday (except for holidays) from 8am to noon.
June 11th: Summer Session 1 begins (by referral from counselors) Summer school forms were distributed to students last week. If your student received a summer school form, you must register for summer school. Please reach out to your child’s counselor for more information.
Please stay tuned over the summer! We will be making announcements for new families AND returning families here on the blog. See you in August!
Can you believe it? Next week is the LAST WEEK of the school year. And this week – students have been doing a phenomenal job with POLs. Presentations of Learning (POLs) wrap up on 6/3 and 6/4 for POLs in Period 5 and 6. POLs are performance based assessments which give students the opportunity to develop their speaking and presentation skills, and they give students space to reflect publicly on their learning.
Because these are formal presentations, students are expected to wear formal attire. Any student in need of formal attire, please contact the front office and we will be happy to accommodate.
Graduation Ceremony Info for 12th Grade Parents/Guardians and Families:
As graduation nears, we wanted to provide you with specific information regarding the day of the Graduation Ceremony. In order to accommodate everyone for this large gathering and celebration, please review this key information, and click here for more info:
Leading up to POLs, 10th grade students have been receiving information in their Fundamentals of Design 2 class with Mr. Kartez about the CTE Pathway Selection process. During POLs, Sophomores will complete a survey selecting their preferences for whether they want to be in the Architecture, Graphic Design, Entrepreneurship, or Fine Arts pathway. This pathway course selection will dictate their schedule for 11th and 12th grade year.
The final decision will be made in their Sophomore design class as part of their POLs. ALL Sophomores must complete the Pathways Selection Survey in order to have their preference considered for their 11th grade courses.
For questions, please reach out to your counselor.
Key Dates and Upcoming Events
Mon, June 3rd – Tues, June 4th: Presentations of Learning (POLs)
Minimum day schedules – school out at 1:45pm
Students in professional dress
Wed, June 5th: Last Day of Classes for 2023-24 School Year
Thurs, June 6th at 1pm: DVD Graduation Ceremony
12pm: Call time for all graduates
Location: Gym @ 201 N. Douglas, tickets required
Fri, June 7th: Report Cards Mailed Home
Please note: PowerSchool access is locked for students and parents through summer for end of semester report card preparation, and in order to prepare schedules for the Fall 2024 semester. If you have questions regarding Spring 2024 report cards or grades, reach out to your counselor via email, and you will receive a reply when school staff return in August.
This week was the last week of regular classes at DVD! And, we had so much to celebrate as we wrap up what has been a great year at DVD. We marked our Seniors’ final exhibition with the annual Senior Showcase event on Wednesday night. Then, our Queer Student Union hosted a community dialogue in honor of Pride Month on Friday morning. Finally, we are ending the week by dancing it out with “Banda Night” hosted by our Latinx Student Union. See below for photos from the 12th grade Senior Showcase event!
Presentations of Learning (POLs) are happening NEXT WEEK (5/28 – 6/4). POLs are performance based assessments which give students the opportunity to develop their speaking and presentation skills, and they give students space to reflect publicly on their learning.
Please note: PowerSchool access is locked for students and parents starting 5/28 and through summer for end of semester report card preparation, and in order to prepare schedules for the Fall 2024 semester. If you have questions regarding Spring 2024 report cards or grades, reach out to your counselor via email, and you will receive a reply when school staff return in August.
Because these are formal presentations, students are expected to wear formal attire. Any student in need of formal attire, please contact the front office and we will be happy to accommodate.
Here is the Week 37 + 38 Bell Schedule:
Graduation Ceremony Info for 12th Grade Parents/Guardians and Families:
As graduation nears, we wanted to provide you with specific information regarding the day of the Graduation Ceremony. In order to accommodate everyone for this large gathering and celebration, please review this key information, and click here for more info:
Leading up to POLs, 10th grade students have been receiving information in their Fundamentals of Design 2 class with Mr. Kartez about the CTE Pathway Selection process. During POLs, Sophomores will complete a survey selecting their preferences for whether they want to be in the Architecture, Graphic Design, Entrepreneurship, or Fine Arts pathway. This pathway course selection will dictate their schedule for 11th and 12th grade year.
The final decision will be made in their Sophomore design class as part of their POLs. ALL Sophomores must complete the Pathways Selection Survey in order to have their preference considered for their 11th grade courses.
For questions, please reach out to your counselor.
Key Dates and Upcoming Events
Mon, May 27: NO SCHOOL – MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY
Tues, May 28th – Tues, June 4th: Presentations of Learning (POLs)
Minimum day schedules – school out at 1:45pm
*NOTE: School starts at 8:40am on Friday, 5/31 (not 9:45am) due to POL schedule
Wed, June 5th: Last Day of Classes for 2023-24 School Year
There have been so many great event happening at DVD this past week! On Saturday, 5/11, our 10th Grade Honors Art students participated in an Art Show called “Camp Kitsch” @ Indivisible Arts in Hermosa Beach. Students displayed paintings, sculptures, and multimedia work in a professional gallery space with live music. Then, on Wednesday 5/15, we celebrated Decision Day and Senior Awards Night with our Class of 2024! Seniors declared their post-high school plans, wore swag for the colleges they will attend, and were surprised by their parents and families with a celebratory potluck in the BlackBox. We wrapped up the week with a Career Day presentation in our 9th and 10th grade classrooms! Organized by a group of 12th grade students for their Senior Project, we had representatives from design industries present personal career experiences. See below for photos from the 10th grade Honors art show and 12th grade Decision Day!
Presentations of Learning (POLs) are happening from 5/28-6/4! POLs are performance based assessments which give students the opportunity to develop their speaking and presentation skills, and they give students space to reflect publicly on their learning. Because these are formal presentations, students are expected to wear formal attire. Any student in need of formal attire, please contact the front office and we will be happy to accommodate.
Week 36 DVD Bell Schedule:
Key Dates and Upcoming Events
Wed, May 22nd: Senior Showcase Exhibition (5:30 to 7:30 PM @ WWOO Concrete Outdoor Kitchen)
Thurs, May 23rd: Parent Advisory Committee Meeting #5
*5pm via Zoom*
Agenda: 1) Public Comment, 2) 23-24 School Data Review, 3) Final LCAO Feedback Review, 4) Meeting Reflections
Thanks for another great week at DVD! This week, we celebrated our awesome team of educators all week long in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week! Thank you to all of our amazing families for recognizing the dedicated team Da Vinci Design this week.
Then, we wrapped up the week with Community Dialogue in honor of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, hosted by DVD’s AAPISU Club. We played games, featured special performances, and had so much fun! See photos below.
Da Vinci Schools would like to remind you that it is mandatory for all vehicles parked on the 201 campus to display a valid parking permit during school hours. This includes all students who drive to school and park on campus. On Monday, May 13, 2024, we will begin enforcement of towing vehicles parked without a valid permit. Any car that has already been cited twice this year will be towed on the third offense. Thank you for your cooperation in maintaining a safe and organized parking environment on campus. For questions, please contact Lead Safety Officer Glenn Noya at gnoya@davincischools.org.
Key Dates and Upcoming Events
Sat, May 11th: DVD 10th Grade Honors Art Show
@ Indivisible Arts in Hermosa Beach
4:30pm-8pm
Art, Live Music, and Fun!
Mon, May 13th – Thurs, 16th: Last week of seminar classes!
Wed, May 15th: Class of 2024 Decision Day Celebration & Senior Awards Night
Wed, May 22nd: Senior Showcase Exhibition (5:30 to 7:30 PM @ WWOO Concrete Outdoor Kitchen)
Mon, May 27: NO SCHOOL – MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY
Tues, May 28th – Tues, June 4th: Presentations of Learning (POLs)
Minimum day schedules – school out at 1:45pm
*NOTE: School starts at 8:40am on Friday, 5/31 (not 9:45am) due to POL schedule
Wed, June 5th: Last Day of Classes for 2023-24 School Year
Week 34 Campus Highlight: Community Dialogue in honor of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month (hosted by DVD’s AAPISU Club)
Tonight is PROM NIGHT! We are excited to eat, dance and celebrate with our Class of 2024. Don’t forget that Prom was moved to a new location – here are the details:
WHAT: Senior Prom WHEN: Friday, May 3, 2024 | 6:30-10:00 PM WHERE:The Terrace, 2361 Rosecrans Ave., 2nd Floor, El Segundo – NEW LOCATION
(The Terrace is located at the corner of Rosecrans/Continental Circle; there is plenty of free parking in the parking structure)
Next week (May 6th – May 10th) is Teacher Appreciation Week! Feel free to join us in appreciating our staff by helping to provide some treats for our staff this week. Sign up below to drop off some items on the morning on select days for the week of May 6-10th.
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: Appreciation Notes. Handwritten notes can be dropped off to the office anytime during the week.
Today at 8am and 5pm, join the DVD admin team for our monthly “Coffee with Admin” chat. Simply log on via Zoom and bring any school-related questions, or just sit back, relax, and hear about school updates. This will be our last Coffee with Admin of the 2023-24 school year. Hope to see you there!
Wed, May 1st: Coffee w/ Admin
All parents and guardians welcome! Join for brief school updates and open Q&A with the DVD admin team
This week, we have to shout out the incredible work of our theater program and their spring musical, the Addams Family! We are so proud of all of our Designers in the cast and crew. And – it’s not too late to catch a performance! Click here for tickets to see the Addams Family musical this weekend – see pictures below from opening night!
With the end of the semester and POLs approaching soon, it is time for our last round of progress reports. Progressreports are being mailed home today on April 26th. The purpose of progress reports is to give families the opportunity to have a snapshot of student progress, and to be able to have a conversation at home with students about how to stay successful in school. This information will also be used by teachers and counselors in their plans to support all students. Please follow up with your child’s teachers directly with any questions about assignments or grades.
It is time for our biannual family and student surveys! Next week, you will receive an email from a survey app called Kelvin. This is not spam! Please follow the prompt to complete an online survey from Kelvin to share your feedback on Da Vinci Design. It should take less than 10 minutes to complete the survey. We appreciate your time and your feedback!
Da Vinci Schools is excited to collaborate with UCLA’s Blood and Platelet Center for a BloodDrive event! Join us on Monday, April 29th, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM in the BlackBox Theatre at our 201 Campus. This event is open to students, staff, and community members alike. See the flyer below for instructions to sign-up.
See the Week 33 Bell Schedule Here:
Key Dates and Upcoming Events
Fri, April 26th: Round 2 Progress Reports Sent Home
Mon, April 29th: UCLA Health Blood Drive
Wed, May 1st: Coffee w/ Admin
All parents and guardians welcome! Join for brief school updates and open Q&A with the DVD admin team
With the end of the semester and POLs approaching soon, it is time for our last round of progress reports. Progressreports are being mailed home next week on April 26th. The purpose of progress reports is to give families the opportunity to have a snapshot of student progress, and to be able to have a conversation at home with students about how to stay successful in school. This information will also be used by teachers and counselors in their plans to support all students. Please follow up with your child’s teachers directly with any questions about assignments or grades.
If you do not receive a progress report in the mail by Friday, May 3rd, please reach out by calling Da Vinci Design at 310-725-5800, or send an email Office Manager Maria Beltran at mbeltran@davincischools.org to request a digital progress report for your child.
We’re back and headed into the last stretch of the school year! Can you believe it? This week, we kicked off testing season with CAASPP ELA (11th grade) and MAP testing (10th/9th grades). Next week, our 9th grade will participate in Physical Fitness Testing and 11th grade will continue with CAASPP Math. Thank you families for making sure that students come to school, on time, ready for these events.
Additionally, we wrapped up this week with our sports-themed Community Dialogue in the gym and had so much fun! We played games, announced our monthly All-Star students, and we announced the winning advisory of our March Tech Madness competition. March Tech Madness was a tournament to see which advisory could consistently keep lowering their screen time on their phones, week after week, for the month of March. Congratulations to Ms. Guilkey-Santos’s advisory!
Because of CAASPP testing, 11th grade will be following a slightly modified schedule next week. Here is the Bell Schedule for Week 31:
Senior Activities: Class of 2024
As we get closer to the end of the school year, we are gearing up for Senior events that celebrate our graduating Class of 2024!
Calendar Dates for Senior Events:
Prom: Friday, May 3rd, 2024 (@ Wallis Annenberg Hall, USC)
Grad Nite: Friday, May 31st, 2024 (@ Disneyland & CA Adventure)
Graduation: Thursday, June 6th, 2024 – 1pm ceremony start (@ WDV Gym, 201 N. Douglas)
*For questions about Senior Activities, including Prom or Graduation, please see reach out to Asst. Principal Kirk Takeyama, ktakeyama@davincischools.org*
Upcoming Events and Other Key Dates:
Mon, Apr. 15th: Optional SAT Test Day (by sign up only)
