Hello Da Vinci Connect Families,

We are so excited to welcome you back to campus on Tuesday 1/16/24 for second semester! We hope that your Winter Break has been restful, adventurous, and full of all the things that bring you joy, and that you cherish the last few days before returning to routine ;)

We have spent the last week preparing for our return and teachers have sent out notifications on Canvas with project documents--be sure to check out the awesome projects awaiting your students! If you aren't currently in the habit of checking your student's Canvas weekly, it is crucial that you do so. Hot tip: download the app to your phone and turn on notifications!

We also want to correct a mistake in our previous newsletter--Monday 1/16 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, NOT President's Day. While we take the day to honor Dr. King's work and legacy, these resources from Learning for Justice are available! Another beautiful way to continue the work of Dr. King is to engage in community service--you can locate local opportunities here!

Finally, we want to highlight a free resource for families from our partners at Roots ConnectED! They are offering on-demand videos to directly support families, and we want to share them with you! They are highlighting two videos currently that focus on "how to talk about differences with grace and wonder" and how to engage in critical literacy with students. Check them out!

We can't wait to see you!

Kaitlin (she/her) and Robin (she/her)

Professional Development Day

Friday 12/22

No school or homeschool

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Monday 1/16

No School or Homeschool

Beach Cities Health District Presents: Youth Substance Abuse and Fentanyl

Wednesday 1/17 6:00pm-7:30pm

Hermosa Valley School--1645 Valley Dr. Hermosa Beach, CA

Please see this flyer for additional information on this community event to educate families on youth substance abuse and the dangers of fentanyl.

Support Meetings with Theresa and Nancy!

9:30 am on Tues 1/23 and Thurs 1/25

Nancy and Theresa are providing parent educators the opportunity to ask specific questions regarding Learning Logs and DV Connect supplemental curriculum tools. Please be sure to check your child’s teacher’s Canvas site to review the Supplemental Curriculum available to you this year. Too, please bring a device to make our time together as productive as possible. We will meet on the back patio. We hope to see you there!

Coffee with Kaitlin and Robin

Monday 1/22 and Friday 1/26 after morning drop off

Join Kaitlin and Robin for a morning of connection--bring questions, ideas, or just enjoy spending some time together! We will also share an update on our WASC work so far this year and how we will plan for our WASC visit in May

Parent Educator Conference #3!

Wednesday 2/7 9:00am-12:00pm + lunch options after

Join us for our third Parent Educator Conference of the year, where we will focus on shared learning around engaging students as mathematicians! If you are seeking closer connection to teachers and staff, more opportunities to connect with other parents, and the opportunity to learn important strategies as a parent educator, Parent Educator Conferences are the event for you! While note mandatory, we HIGHLY encourage families to make space to attend.

Lunch signups, schedule of events, and childcare sign ups coming soon!

FAN Annual Rhythm Event: Speaker's Jam!

Save the Date: 2/14/23

The next Annual Rhythm Event "Speaker's Jam" is happening on the afternoon of February 7, 2024. This is a wonderful community building event and opportunity for families to come together and be inspired by our young poets, spoken word artists, storytellers, songwriters, and literary giants. This event is Connect's Signature 'Open Mic' celebration where both students and parents are encouraged to SPEAK and be heard! Families can participate by reading a poem, an ode, a sonnet, an inspiring passage, sharing a creative writing, or demonstrating the oral tradition of spoken word!

Attention Core 1 | Student's and Parents

If you are interested in helping to plan this event 

please contact: Activities Coordinator Jahmal Durham 

jdurham@davincischools.org 

Learn more about our Connect K8 Activities HERE!

Donations and Volunteers for new outdoor projects on campus!

Volunteers and items still needed!

In relation to the playground/body break/ athletics conversations we have been having with students, staff, and families, we working on adding new additions and transforming spaces on campus to continue to meet student needs!

We are hoping for donations of the following items:



• Bags of sandbox sand for a new sandbox coming to the blacktop/garden space
• Outdoor rug, outdoor plants/decor for a new relaxation space we are building for older students

We are hoping for volunteers to assemble the following items:

• an outdoor play kitchen



If you are able to donate any of these items or can volunteer, please contact Kaitlin directly! Thank You!