Announcements From Real World Learning Director (1.12.2023)

Welcome back Da Vinci students and families! I hope you all had a restful and joyful winter break. Please see the real-world learning opportunities below.

For students interested in STEM:

Cal State Dominguez Hills is having an iUrban Teen Summit on Saturday, January 21. It will be a day filled with fun and technology for middle and high school students. They will have workshops, ideation sessions, and even a parent roundtable. The event is free to attend and lunch will be provided. There will also be a raffle of cool prizes. To reserve your spot, click here.

For students interested in leadership and entrepreneurship opportunities:

Hidden Genius is offering a FREE, 15- month, training program that provides Black males in high school with upwards of 800 hours of holistic, trauma/healing-informed, high-touch mentorship and intensive training that seeks to develop youth into strong and responsible leaders equipped with coding and entrepreneurial skills, who can identify and develop tech-enabled solutions to address society’s most compelling challenges. The deadline is February 19. To apply click here.

For students interested in travel opportunities:

National Geographic is hosting a number of webinars related to their summer travel programs. Some destinations include the Canadian Arctic, Ecuador and the Galapagos, Iceland, Thailand, Tokyo, and Yellowstone! These travel experiences come at a cost and applications are now available. To learn more, click here. To learn about other opportunities currently available to students, click here.

To learn about other opportunities currently available to students, click here.

Mentoring Student Entrepreneurs at Da Vinci Design

Eleventh and 12th grade students from the Da Vinci Design Entrepreneurship pathway recently participated in a three-month mentorship program with BUILD culminating in a Diversity Design Challenge. As an entrepreneurship program for high school students, BUILD mentors work closely with high school students to help them develop their own small businesses and become the CEO of their own lives. At a recent pitch event akin to Shark Tank, Da Vinci Design students presented product solutions that would solve everyday challenges in their communities. A few of the product ideas pitched to a panel of community leaders included Sicklings, Crafts-On-The-Go, and Sunshine Inc.

The Sickling is a cute stuffed animal that demonstrates to children what various diseases or illnesses look like. Children with medical implications can use the bear to better understand their condition, mitigate their fears, and help them to feel safe.

Crafts-On-The-Go is an adjustable tray that mounts on a wheelchair to help wheelchair users comfortably perform tasks. The tray can hold various items, but was designed with the artist in mind. The tray can hold an artist’s palette, paint, and paintbrushes.

Sunshine Inc. is an alarm clock that gently awakens the user in a relaxing manner. The alarm clock uses an app to turn the light on over a period of time, which acts to mimic a sunrise. Simultaneously, the device diffuses a citrus oil that students researched to help people wake from sleep.

The panel of non-profit organizations, engineers, and other community leaders provided valuable insight and feedback. In the upcoming months, students will focus on two-to-four of the product ideas and launch them into small businesses. They will refine their products, create a business plan, and flex their marketing skills.

Thank you BUILD for your time, partnership, and mentorship!

Happy Holidays from Da Vinci Design!

Seasons Greetings Designers and Design Families!

From our staff to your families, we wish all of you a happy holiday season. We hope you travel safely, eat well, and get lots of rest!

Semester two officially begins and classes resume on Monday, January 9th. See the calendar below!

Winter Break Front Office announcements: 

  • All DVD offices will be closed for the break starting Tuesday, Dec. 20th until Tuesday, Jan. 3rd. If you need to reach us, please reach out via email and we are happy to assist.
    • For records requests (including work permits): reach out to Office Manager Maria Beltran at mbeltran@davincischools.org .
    • For attendance and student information: reach out to Admin. Support Manager Brianna Castaneda at bcastaneda@davincischools.org .
    • For all other questions or concerns, reach out to Principal Russell Stoll at rstoll@davincischools.org .
  • Report cards will be mailed to arrive the week of Dec. 19th. If you have questions about final grades, please reach out to teachers directly via email. Grade appeals must be initiated via email within 30 days of the end of the semester. For more information about final grades, see the DVD Student and Family Handbook.
  • The Da Vinci Schools reception will be open during the break on select days. Please call us at 310-725-5800 between 8am-2pm to speak to someone on campus.

Wishing all of you a safe, restful and fun holiday break!

Announcements from Real World Learning Director (12.15.2022)

For students interested in media production:

Fresh Films is now enrolling for their free weekly filmmaking program. In-person classes take place on Thursdays after school at the Boys and Girls Club of the Los Angeles Harbor. Virtual classes are also available. Registration ends December 31st. Fresh Films is also offering participants ages 16 and older are eligible to gain an on-set apprenticeship or paid internship. Click here for more information.

For students interested in mentorship opportunities:

Stanford University’s Qualia Global Scholars Summer Mentorship Program for students in grades 6-12 is now taking applicants. This program is designed to empower students to become future global leaders in the fields of liberal arts and STEM. Students are paired with Stanford mentors. Need-based financial aid is available. Click here for more information.

For students interested in travel and photography:

National Geographic is offering a China expedition to high school students in the summer. Students will be feeding pandas, photographing the Great Wall, going on an overnight camping trek and meeting photo editors at National Geographic magazine’s China Headquarters. To learn more, click here.

For students interested in leadership and social justice:

Apply to be part of Harvard’s Caring Common’s Youth Advisory Board. This board brings together a diverse group of high school students from across the country who are committed to making schools more caring respectful places. As a member you will help create solutions to some of the most pressing social challenges. To learn more, click here. For the application, please email yab@makingcaringcommon.org.

For students interested in tech:

New Earth is offering paid tech training starting in January in the areas of IT Support, Web3, content creation, entrepreneurship training, coding, marketing, and more. To sign up for more information, click here.

The Paradigm Challenge: The Paradigm Challenge, a competition based in Los Angeles, invites students aged 4 to 18 worldwide to submit an idea, invention, mobile app, or any solution that solves real-life problems presented in this year’s Paradigm Challenge. Participants with the top idea from each age division (4-8, 9-13, and 14-18) move up to the next round and compete for The Paradigm Challenge Prize of $100,000. Learn more about it here.

For students interested in entrepreneurship:

The Conrad Challenge: The Conrad Challenge is a purpose-driven innovation competition creating the next generation of entrepreneurs who will change the world. Anyone aged 13-18 is called to expand their collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and communication skills. Design an innovation, solve an important problem, and change the world through this challenge. Registration is now open so register here.

Blue Ocean Competition: Blue ocean competition calls high school students from anywhere in the world to take part in the world’s biggest virtual entrepreneurship competition. Participants need to complete the online Blue Ocean Mini Course before submitting the pitch and they can compete individually or as part of a team (max 5 students per team). Learn more about it here.

 

For more information, please contact Crissel Rodriguez, Director of Real World Learning, at crodriguez@davincischools.org.

South Bay Connected- Youth Wellness Resources

Da Vinci’s youth wellness partner, South Bay Families Connected, invites you to connect with their free and accessible online parent and guardian resources to help provide you and your children with self-care and greater connection this holiday season. Below are resources featured this month:

For resources created for students, visit the SBFC Virtual Teen Center where a wide variety of mental health and wellness topics are covered. To see more youth wellness resources provided by Da Vinci Schools and SBFC, please visit Da Vinci Schools Families Connected.

Winter Break COVID Test Kits Available for Pick-Up

Dear Students, Families and Staff,

Da Vinci has received additional at-home COVID-19 test kits. A two-pack of test kits will be available to each student and staff member and are available for pick up this week Thursday on campus. We strongly encourage students to pick up a COVID test kit for use over break as needed to test prior to crowded indoor gatherings, if celebrating with friends or family that are high risk for health complications, if symptomatic and/or prior to returning to campus in January.

A negative test is not required for students and staff to return to school after Winter Break, but in the event your child exhibits any flu-like or cold symptoms, your child should get tested and remain at home.

Please report any positive results obtained over break that are within 14 days of having been on site to TLucero@davincischools.org. 

Students who test positive must follow the LA County Isolation guidelines and may not attend school during the required isolation period. The Da Vinci Schools Nurse will follow up with return to school guidance for any positive results reported.

Additional home tests needed over the break can be picked up from 830am-1230pm at the main lobby of 201 N Douglas Street. 

  • Mon-Thurs 12/19-12/22
  • Mon-Thurs 12/26-12/29
  • Tues and Thurs 1/3 and 1/5

We thank you and wish you a safe and Happy Holiday!

Vocal Music/Choir Interest Form

Da Vinci is thrilled to announce we will be offering a new Vocal Music/Choir class on Mondays and Tuesdays from 4:00-6:00PM in the Black Box Theater at 201 N. Douglas St. beginning on January 17, 2023. This class is open to high school students from ALL Da Vinci schools. Students are expected to attend both days each week throughout the 2nd semester. No prior vocal music/choir experience required.

Da Vinci welcomes Alexi Paraschos as our new choir teacher. Alexi has more than 14 years of experience as a music teacher and choir director. Welcome, Alexi!

If you are interested in participating in Vocal Music/Choir, please complete the Interest Form HERE. We can’t wait to get started!

Fentanyl Town Hall

LACOE and the Los Angeles Department of Public Health (LACDPH) are working together to inform on substance abuse intervention and prevention strategies. LA County families are invited to join LACOE and LACDPH’s Substance Abuse Prevention and Control Division (SAPC) for a special Fentanyl Town Hall.

 

·     Fentanyl Town Hall 

·     Monday, December 12, 2022 

·     6:00-7:30 PM

·     Join Here: bit.ly/3UuU6Gp

 

Fentanyl_Townhall_12.12.2022_English

Announcements from Real World Learning Director (12.7.2022)

For students interested in leadership opportunities:

The Metaverse Leadership Learning Academy is an initiative where students from LA County ages 14 to 18 years (high school students) have an opportunity to participate in a free 6-week Metaverse course and receive a certification. The Academy will be open to only the top 100 applicants across Los Angeles. To learn more, click here.

 

For students interested in art:

Indivisible Arts, a non-profit organization dedicated to arts youth programming in Hermosa Beach, is offering scholarships for students who want to attend their programs. To apply for their scholarship, please click here.

 

For students interested in exploring career options:

Applications are now open for the Airport Police Youth Cadet Program. This program helps instill leadership, academic excellence, life skills, and discipline into its participants. The program also seeks to empower students into maximizing their personal, scholastic, and life potential as well as providing early insight into what a career in law enforcement would be like at the Los Angeles International Airport. In order to join the cadet program a person must be between the ages of 13 and 17, maintain a 2.5-grade point average, have no serious criminal record, obtain a medical examination, and complete the cadet academy. The program is free. Participants do not have to be interested in law enforcement as a career to be part of the program. To learn more and apply, click here.

For more information, please contact Crissel Rodriguez, Director of Real World Learning, at crodriguez@davincischools.org.

Week 16 Preview: Pols Begin Next Week!

Greetings Designers and Design Families,

Happy Friday! We are in the final stretch of the semester, and POLs are around the corner. POL Schedules means that we follow minimum day schedules Dec. 8th-15th. School begins at 8:40am and school ends at 1:45pm every day (INCLUDING FRIDAY 12/9).

POL Treats for Teachers: Sign Up Here

  • While our students are preparing and presenting the learning they’ve achieved over the semester, our teachers are hard at work viewing and scoring those presentations. For teachers, this also means long, 8 hour days being a part of panels.
  • One way that we show appreciation for our teachers during these long days is keeping them fed and caffeinated. And we would love your help!
  • If you would like to donate snacks, treats, and coffee to our teachers, please use the sign-up below to tell us what you will be dropping off.
  • Click here to sign up to bring a treat for teachers during POL week! Thanks!

End of Semester Announcements:

  • PowerSchool and Canvas access for students/parents will be blocked starting 12/8/22 to finalize semester grades. The last day for students to check grades before seeing a final grade on report cards will be Wednesday, 12/7.
  • POLs give students the opportunity to develop their speaking and presentation skills and are an opportunity for students to reflect publicly on their learning.
  • Because these are formal presentations, students are expected to wear formal attire. Any student with questions or needs regarding formal attire should speak to their counselor ASAP.

Key Upcoming Dates & Events:

  • 12/8-12/15: Presentations of Learning (POLs) – Minimum Day Schedule
  • Thursday, 12/15: Last Day of Semester One
  • 12/16/22 – 1/6/23: NO SCHOOL (Winter Break)
  • 1/9/23: Day One of Second Semester
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