May 3, 2021
From Your Administrative Team
Greetings Connect K8 Families,

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! We are honored and full of gratitude to share this unique and incredible partnership in your child(ren)'s educational journey. We recognize how hard it is to parent, homeschool, and navigate so many different aspects of life, and you all do it beautifully....even through a pandemic...even through the stumbles and fumbles...and especially when it feels overwhelming. You have given your child(ren) such a beautiful gift in choosing this path, and we are so happy to be walking alongside you. We appreciate you!

We want to share a HUGE Thank You to our FAN families Lori, Michelle, Cindy, and our Activities Coordinator Jahmal, for organizing our incredible Talent Showcase on Friday! We also want to thank our Emcees, Julia, Ava, and Amelia, as well as DJ Henry for running a very lively, smooth, and entertaining event! Finally, thank you to ALL of our student talents who shared their gifts with us virtually! We can't wait for next year!

As we prepare for another transition tomorrow, please make sure to best prepare by reading the schedule and updates in our last two newsletters and e-mails from our children's teachers. We also have a few reminders/updates below:

FREE lunch and breakfast are available to ALL students, regardless of Free/Reduced Meal program status! You can pick up breakfast through our drive-by service at 201 N. Douglas. Hot lunch service at Connect resumes on campus tomorrow. We encourage all students to take advantage of this free and convenient opportunity!

Please be prepared to utilize our Facilitron check-in procedures each day. We've copied the information again for you below.

Please review our Family Handbook (esp. dress code!), our COVID Handbook, and schedules/on-campus procedures, all of which can be found on our LANDING PAGE

Finally, we want to note one specific change in our drop off and pick up procedures. In our previous communication, we shared that we would only be using the yellow map for both drop off and pick up. To ensure our smoothest and safest transition possible, we will be using the YELLOW route on the map for AM drop off, and the BLUE route on the map for PM pick up.


With Gratitude,
Kaitlin, Tami and Michelle
Facilitron Health Check Screening Process

We request that you register and complete the Health Check-In for your child as part of our COVID-19 campus screening entry procedures. The Health Check can be completed on a cell phone, desktop or tablet. You will use this same link every day that you come onto campus from April – June 2021 (we recommend you bookmark this link):


The Health Check screening should be done before you arrive on campus. The link will regenerate and be available every morning beginning at 12:01 a.m. The Health Check is valid only for the day on which it is completed. A new Health Check must be completed for each day when you are scheduled to come to school. Additional information regarding procedures for returning to campus and the use of this link to complete the Health Check can be found HERE.

Please note that Facilitron Health Check-ins are not being used for the purpose of taking attendance.

Here is the link that you will use each day you come onto campus from April-June 2021. The link is school-specific.


If you run into any problems with this link, please contact your school’s front office staff for assistance. If you are unable to complete the check-in prior to coming to campus, we have an alternative screening method. We will be here to help you! 
Kindness Movement--Book and Toy Drive to support Migrant Children!
Monday April 26-Friday May 7

Join the Kindness Movement in gathering new books and new toys (not used) for migrant children arriving at the Long Beach Convention Center. Drop off new books or toys (no textbooks please) for grade levels Kindergarten–Young Adult. Books can be in English, Spanish, or a combination of English/Spanish. Donate at pickup/drop-off or at the DV Office between Monday, April 26 and Friday, May 7! You can also drop off letters/cards for the children that we will deliver! This can be used as a great learning log sample ;)
Social Emotional Health Resources!
Check out these helpful resources on mindfulness and body autonomy made just for you by our MSW intern, Jocelyn!

Also, please check out this incredible opportunity offered by one of our former Antioch counseling interns, Jamie:
The Parent Center @ DV Connect

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS WITH ALL WORKSHOPS: LIVE VIRTUAL & ASYNCHRONOUS RECORDINGS
 
Google Classroom (Code = w3yytj2) 249 people connected so far!
·        There is so much useful content here:
o  Supplemental Curriculum offerings + links and login credentials
o  Curriculum resources like webinar/workshop recordings, quick start guides and lesson planning tools
o  Podcasts
o  Links to articles and webinars + so much more!

Office Hours for 1:1 Meetings with Theresa
·        The link to my SignUp Genius can be found near the top of the Google Classroom and is updated monthly. Here’s the LINK for April 2021! And, here’s the LINK for May 2021!
·        Remember, I am always willing to find a spot that works for your schedule if posted dates/times are not a good fit!

·        ThinkCERCA Middle School Parent + Student Jam (Meets weekly on Thursdays from 12:45-2pm)
o  Hosted by parent educator ThinkCERCA “Champions” Laura Caputo, Lena Garcia & Jahmal Durham. This will be an on-going space for parents and students to collaborate on writing using the CERCA Framework and the ThinkCERCA platform
o  Use this link to join the meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87917820269
o  Password = thinkcerca

·        Support & Hope in Community (Meets First and Third Wednesdays at 7-7:45am)
NEXT MEETING IS ON:
May 5th: “Be a Conscious Creator” w/Melissa Liebeskind & Jahmal Durham
This workshop series is a collaboration between FAN, The Kindness Committee and The Parent Center
o  This workshop series was designed to create a safe space to connect, share, listen and lift each other up. FAN members, Jahmal Durham, Grace Bader, Dominique Seeley, Beth Griffin, Da Vinci parents Johana Mytko & Melissa Liebeskind, as well as DV Connect Staff members Kene Washington and Theresa Leone will take turns offering up content that promotes conversation, exploration, reflection, hope and maybe even a call to action. No matter what, the gathering is meant to feel like home—a place where we all belong.
o  The SignUpGenius has the link to join the Zoom meeting.
Making Mistakes is GOOD! (Meets on 4/27 from 3-4pm)
·        Let’s explore why creating a culture that embraces mistakes is necessary in your homeschool classroom.
·        This workshop is based on Colleen Cruz’s book, “Risk. Fail. Rise. A Teacher’s Guide to Learning From Mistakes.”
·        Participants will read and discuss an expert from the book to learn about types of mistakes and the amount of learning that happens as a result of them. Too, attendees will participate in a model lesson that they can take home and repeat with their children.
·        Use this link to sign up https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c044ba8af2ea0f85-mistakes
o  The SignUp Genius has the link to join the Zoom meeting.
 
Parent-Student Book Club
·        A book club for Parents and Students!
Thank you to Julie and Andrew Hill for the idea and for championing this event :)

·        We will meet twice a month on Tuesday afternoons, from 1-2pm
Do this!
1)     Please get your hands on a copy of "How to Read Literature Like a Professor" and "How to Read Literature Like a Professor... For Kids"
2)     Check out the link on The Parent Center Google Classroom to see options to purchase and check out from the public library!
2) Read accordingly--the more prepared everyone is, the better our conversations will be!
3) Come ready to discuss!
 
April
4/13
4/27: Chapters 2 & 10 (both books) NEXT MEETING!

** STUDENTS AND PARENTS COME TO THE MEETING PREPARED TO SUGGEST THE NEXT TWO CHAPTERS FOR THE GROUP TO READ--WE WILL VOTE TO DECIDE AS A GROUP! ***

May
5/11
5/25: Resources, Appendices, Extras

Gizmos Math & Science Simulations (Grades 3-8) (Meets on 4/30 from 1-3pm)
·        Please join us for a Gizmos webinar to get started -- or review features -- of this amazing science and math simulation platform!
 

·        Here's how to attend the live webinar:
o  Click on Guest and log in by typing your name in the Guest Box.
·         If you are using a Chromebook, please have them select
             to enter through browser.
Audio Information: Computer audio is recommended. If unavailable, please use the following Gizmos Conference Line: 1-866-705-2554, Participant Code 524855#
PRIOR to attending the webinar, please do the following:
1. Set up your Gizmos Teacher Account - NEW USERS ONLY: Use this Reg Key and link to set up your new Gizmos account: RegKey: EA2B-GFMS
*** Returning users simply log in with your existing credentials. You can reset your password if you have forgotten it. ***
2. Watch this short video before the webinar. This video will acclimate you to basic mechanics of the website and helps them create their accounts from the registration key that you distribute. The video link is: https://kvgo.com/explorelearning/pre-gizmos
 
Project Based Learning (PBL) at Home (ALL GRADES, WE PROMISE!) (Meets on 5/12 from 2-4pm)
·        In this workshop Rita & Theresa will focus on the mindset, framework, strategies and tools you need to collaborate with your child to create a fantastic project based on your child’s passions!
·        Wednesday, May 12th from 1-3pm
·        Topics include:
o  How do I involve my child in PBL project planning at home?
o  A deep dive into what PBL IS and what is ISN’T
o  Learner agency: Why it is essential and how to cultivate it in your student and your project
o  Helping your student find their “SUPER POWER”
o  Establishing quality indicators for excellence and the tools to execute
·        Use this link to sign up https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044BA8AF2EA0F85-project
 
Safe Passage: Coping Strategies for Middle School Students and Parents (Meets on 5/19 from 6:15-7:15pm)

Please join Dr. Scott Harris, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, and Cori Rosenthal, Marriage and Family Therapist for a special presentation entitled "Safe Passage."
The goal of our time together is to take stock of this last year in a pandemic and begin to unpack the toll it has taken on families, relationships, our children and ourselves. Scott and Cori will help understand the past year through the lens of empathy and compassion as well as offer practical strategies for you and your middle school children to process and prepare for the "new normal" that is emerging as students return to some form of in-person learning.
Also, the presenters welcome your specific questions and concerns in advance of the event. Please submit content for consideration to tleone@davincischools.org Use this LINK to sign up!
Finally, special thanks to Antioch Counseling Intern Desiree Basl for making the opportunity available to Da Vinci Connect families!
New (or New-Ish) Family Chat (Meets on 6/1 from 3:30-4:15pm)
 If you have recently joined the DV Connect Community—or simply still feel new-ish—join Theresa and parent educator Jahmal Durham to connect and hopefully gain some helpful insights as you head into the end of the school year and begin to think about your plans for summer and beyond.

This is also a great opportunity to meet other parents and start building your network at Connect.
 
Have a great week!
~ Your DV Connect Team