DVD and DV Connect K-8 are working in conjunction with Big Sunday and their 13th annual Thanksgiving Stuffing Event.
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. To show our appreciation, we are organizing Thanksgiving baskets to deliver to our school staff on Friday, November 22nd. The idea is that each staff member will receive one basket containing treats and words of appreciation from students and families.
Here is how you can contribute to the baskets of Thanksgiving:
With gratitude for your ongoing encouragement and support,
Russell Stoll, Principal
Kirk Takeyama, Assistant Principal
Korina Barefield, Dean of Student Success and Culture
Good Morning Designers and Design Families,
We had a short but sweet week at Design, and ended with fun sports-themed community dialogue to celebrate our student athletes and our upcoming Winter sports season! The highlight was a staff vs student basketball where out students came out on top.
Next week on Thursday, November 21st is Fall Exhibition! Both 10th and 12th grade will be displaying work.
Here is the Bell Schedule for Week 14 at Da Vinci Design:
Collaborative Research Partnerships 2024-2025
This year, Da Vinci Design is conducting two collaborative research projects with school partners. One research project is in partnership with America Succeeds, a non-profit educational advocacy group, which selected Da Vinci Design as a partner school in its efforts to understand how educational institutions teach students “durable skills”. The other research project is in partnership with UCLA about how schools inform students’ social and academic development.
What does a research partnership look like?
Da Vinci Design will begin its first round of surveys with students in partnership with America Succeeds next week. On Wed, 11/20 and Thurs, 11/21, students will participate in a 10-minute survey during class with the goal of understanding how DVD teaches durable skills to enhance students’ learning experience and engage in career connected learning. Participation is voluntary.
OPT-OUT: If you would like your student opt-out of this survey, or if you would like more information before they participate, please send an email to Principal Russell Stoll (rstoll@davincischools.org) by Tuesday, 11/19 at 4pm. You may also call or visit the DVD Front Office to request an opt-out form.
For more information, you may also see the slides presented at our most recent “Coffee with Admin” meeting on Nov. 6th, 2024. These slides are available to families on the “DVD Parent Info Sessions & Coffee with Admin Slides” document on the DVD blog.
Staff Gratitude Baskets
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. To show our appreciation, we are organizing Thanksgiving baskets to deliver to our school staff on Friday, November 22nd. The idea is that each staff member will receive one basket containing treats and words of appreciation from students and families.
Here is how you can contribute to the baskets of Thanksgiving:
The Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) is having its first meeting of the year next week. PAC is an opportunity for parents, students, & staff to work collaboratively to review the school program, review data and identify needs, & make recommendations regarding the School Safety Plan & the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP). And this year it will be more important than ever as we gear up for our six-year WASC accreditation cycle and two exciting research partnerships. If you are interested in joining the Parent Advisory Committee, please email Russell Stoll at rstoll@davincischools.org for more information!
Upcoming Events and Key Dates:
Don’t miss out! Join us for our FREE Cardiac Screening Health Promotion Event tomorrow, November 16, 2024, from 9am – 3pm at Da Vinci Schools. In partnership with the Saving Hearts Foundation and UCLA, we invite all youth between the ages 12-25 to to get an EKG screening. If abnormalities are detected, you’ll have access to a cardiologist for immediate follow-up.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the leading cause of death on school campuses and among athletes. 1 in 300 young individuals unknowingly carries a heart condition that could lead to SCA. Don’t miss this chance to safeguard your health!
Location: Blackbox Theater, 201 N. Douglas Street, El Segundo
Details:
Register Now: Click here to RSVP.
OPEN TO ALL DA VINCI SCHOOLS SENIOR FAMILIES
WHEN:
Participants should register for ONE workshop as all workshops will cover the same material.
WHERE:
Workshop Description:
Join us for a practical, hands-on FAFSA Workshop designed specifically for parents navigating the FAFSA process for the first time. In this 1 hour and 30-minute session, you’ll learn the essentials of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), including what it is, why it matters for your family’s financial planning, and how to complete it accurately and confidently.
We’ll start by breaking down the FAFSA process, covering everything from basic eligibility requirements to deadlines, key documents, and common questions about financial aid. Then, parents will have the chance to practice filling out a sample FAFSA, with guidance from experts available to answer questions in real-time.
What You’ll Gain From This Workshop:
By the end of this workshop, you’ll feel equipped and empowered to tackle the FAFSA with confidence and ensure your student gets access to the financial resources they deserve.
REGISTRATION:
Click HERE to register. Participants should register for ONE workshop as all workshops will cover the same material.
For families who speak Spanish/prefer help in Spanish, register for the December 6th workshop.
Familias que necesitan ayuda en español, por favor regístrense para el 6 de diciembre.
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. To show our appreciation, we are organizing Thanksgiving baskets to deliver to our school staff on Friday, November 22nd. The idea is that each staff member will receive one basket containing treats and words of appreciation from students and families.
Here is how you can contribute to the baskets of Thanksgiving:
With gratitude for your ongoing encouragement and support,
Russell Stoll, Principal
Kirk Takeyama, Assistant Principal
Korina Barefield, Dean of Student Success and Culture
Greetings Designers and Design Families,
Last week, we had our second Community Learning Day (CLD) on Friday, November 8th. Students who came to campus for in-person activities got to experience workshops on manufacturing, on college applications, and service learning just to name a few! Please remind your students to complete the CLD reflection form, whether they engaged in learning on or off campus, to make sure they get credit for attendance!
Thank you to the families who joined us for our Coffee with Admin meeting last Wednesday! It is great getting the chance to meet with families, hear what is on your mind, and share the great things happening at DVD. If you did not get a chance to meet with us this week, click here for the Coffee with DVD Admin slides from November 2024. Coffee with DVD Admin happens at 8am and 5pm via Zoom on the first Wednesday of every month.
Here is the Week 13 Bell Schedule for DVD:
Upcoming Events and Key Dates:
Good Evening DVD Parents and Guardians,
Today, Wednesday Nov. 6th, 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 third Coffee with Admin of the 2024-25 school year. Hope to see you there!
Wed, Nov. 6th: Coffee w/ Admin
Greetings Designers and Design Families,
This week was Spirit Week at Da Vinci Design! We had so much fun in particular with our “Student-Teacher Swap” day, where students and staff got the chance to walk in each others’ shoes. We also held our annual Halloween costume contest on Thursday – congrats to all of our winners! We are ending the week with our fall dance, which is masquerade themed and will be a great way to round out Spirit Week. See Spirit Week photos below.
Here is the bell schedule for Week 12 at Da Vinci Design:
With the end of the semester and POLs approaching soon, it is time for our last round of progress reports. Progress reports are being mailed home next week on Nov. 8th. 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!
Upcoming Events and Key Dates:
College Rep Visits (Week 12 & 13): Seniors can sign up via Naviance
Campus Highlight: Spirit Week and Halloween Costume Contest (Week 11)
Greetings Designers and Design Families,
This week at Da Vinci Schools, we celebrated Red Ribbon Week. There were several events on campus to bring awareness to and share resources about drug prevention awareness and health. This year’s theme is: “Life is a Movie. Film Drug Free”. We hope to strengthen anti-drug-use attitudes and norms through sharing information. Especially with Halloween around the corner, we ask all of our students to be safe and make good choices as they engage in holiday festivities and social gatherings. If you would like to review any of the resources shared, please click here.
We are excited to celebrate Spirit Week on our campus next week with dress up days, leading up to our annual Halloween costume contest on Thursday. Please help remind all students that while costumes are encouraged, students are not allowed to bring prop weapons, full face masks, or excessive gore/blood. All costumes must be school appropriate, and students not in costume must adhere to dress code.
Here is the bell schedule for Week 11 at Da Vinci Design:
Upcoming Events and Key Dates:
College Rep Visits (Week 11, 12 & 13): Seniors can sign up via Naviance