Greetings DVIA Families!
Can you believe we are entering week five? There are lots of exciting things happening around campus these days. Projects are well underway, workshops are happening, the Enrichment program has launched, PERC is alive with parents collaborating, Jumpstart Day 2 is right around the corner...Thank you to everyone for making our school so dynamic and positive!
I'd like to let you know that over the past few weeks, I've toured several educators from within the Da Vinci organization through our campus and the feedback I hear time and again is: Your students are so engaged! DVIA kids are so happy at school! There are too many reasons to list for why this is the case and I appreciate being part of this amazing community. Thank you for sending us your kiddos!
Tyler's Two Cents!
In my journeys around campus, I have already made many memories that bring a smile to my face: kids dangling off the boat, high-fives during chess and students jumping out of their cars at drop-off eager to head to class. Things are already really abuzz around Da Vinci. I have been keeping busy with MAP testing across campus and planning Core 4-5 camp. By the way, final numbers are in and we will be sending 67 students to camp this year!! I can't wait to see all the relationships, stories, and memories that will develop from our time away. Regarding the school at large, Jumpstart Day 2 is right around the corner and we have been working hard to make sure that parents receive support from this valuable time. Thank you for attending! All in all, month number one is done and I eagerly await future DVIA memories to come.
Here is what you need to know this week:
Jumpstart II (the sequel) is THIS Week!
Wednesday, 9/18 | 9am - 2pm
(please note new ending time)
The second half of Jumpstart is this Wednesday. We look forward to seeing you there! Additionally, please park only in clearly marked stalls in our parking lot (no creative parking please!). Overflow parking is available at Dana Middle School behind our campus on 135th Avenue.
Morning Drop-Off
Please remember that classrooms open each morning at 9:05 and students may begin entering campus at 8:55. Because there is no supervision before this time, if you need to drop off your child before 9:00, please escort him/her into the office so that he/she can wait inside until campus opens. Thank you!
DVIA Family Directories
Family directories were emailed on Friday. When you open the excel file, please note that each core has its own page in the workbook (tabs at the bottom). If you did not receive an emailed directory, please contact Lynne in the office at [email protected].
Parent Work Journals Due This Week
Our first Parent Work Journals, Daily Engagement Forms and Student Work Samples are due this week. If you need help, please drop by the Parent Educator Resource Center on Tuesday after drop-off for a mini-workshop and problem-solving session with our Education Support Specialist, Janette Kiso. Please bring your paperwork. Thank you for collaborating on the Yahoo Group as well!
We Need Your Help To Make This Newsletter Better!
In the next week or so, we will be sending out a survey link to find out how we can make this newsletter the most helpful tool possible for families. Please start thinking about how often you'd like to receive the newsletter, what day of the week would be most convenient and what types of information would be helpful.
Heal Our School, Heal The Bay
This Saturday, September 21st is Heal The Bay's biggest volunteer day on the planet! Parent Dulce Stein is organizing an event to clean up trash on and around our campus to prevent it from ending up in the ocean. Heal the Bay is providing supplies to aid our effort. Email Dulce for more details.
Need Help With Understanding Common Core Standards?
California has joined a national movement to adopt common learning standards across the country in language arts & math. For a parent-friendly, helpful handbook describing the standards by grade level, click this link.
Science Camp Is Next Week!
Core 4 kids head out to Science Camp next week M-W and Core 5 kids head out W-F. Please have your students in the parking lot and ready to go by 8:30. Our goal is get the buses on the road by 9:00 to avoid conflicting with morning drop-off. Students should come with a disposable lunch on their first day out. For more details, check out Tyler's DP under the Camp tab.
Upcoming Workshops
Tuesday, Sept. 17th | 9:15-10:15
Work Journal Support with Janette
Tuesday, Sept 17th 2:15-3:15
Understanding MAP Test Results (and using the data) - with Janette
Wednesday, Sept. 18th | 9:00am-2:00pm
Jumpstart 2 with DVIA Staff and Parent Educators
Wednesday, Sept. 25th | 6:30-8:00pm
Fine Motor Skills and Handwriting Strategies for School-Aged Children - with Aishah Muhammed-Flissinger
News From Our Family Action Network ("FAN")
Pizza Lunch Fundraisers--
Thursday and Friday, Sept. 26th and 27th
Hello FANtastic DVIA families! Great news--we have lots of ways for you to get more involved in helping our wonderful DVIA community!
Monthly pizza lunches have always been a big hit with our students and are an easy way to bring in extra money for DVIA! Just like last year, 1 slice is $3, 2 slices are $5, and drinks are $1. We haven't always had the volunteer support that we need to host these events, so this year we're trying something new. Each month we're asking each classroom to supply parental volunteers. Please know that if we don't have enough volunteers to host, pizza lunches could be cancelled, so please help out!
Our first lunch is Thursday, 9/26 & Friday, 9/27 (we apologize to kids away at camp for this first round!). We're asking parents from Darlene's Core 3 families to volunteer as hosts. Please go to Sign-Up Genius to sign up to bring supplies or to volunteer your help.
The next lunches scheduled for:
10/31 & 11/1 (Core 4 families)
November (no lunch due to holidays)
12/19 & 12/20 (Core 5 families)
How Will You Support Our Community This Year?
FAN needs your support this year! Please answer a quick survey to tell us how you'd like to help.
Have a great week!
Your DVIA Team
