Hello Families,

Welcome back! We hope you had a restful break--and enjoyed the warm weather!

We are SO excited for the STEAM Carnival THIS Wednesday 4/12! The event will now be from 3pm-5pm, and we can't wait to play and explore with all of you!

We are also excited for Exhibition next week! This is one of the most popular signature events across Da Vinci Schools, and we can't wait to celebrate the success of all our students! Please see the blurb below for additional need-to-knows about Exhibition and how to make it a successful event for all.

In the weeks following Exhibition, our 3rd-8th grade students will engage in the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). This testing is mandated by the state of California. Each student will take two language arts tests, and two math tests. Students in 5th/7th grade will also take the Physical Fitness Test, and students in 5th/8th will also take the California Science Test (CAST). Students will be given several breaks throughout each testing session--tests are untimed and students will be given additional time as needed. You can view our tentative schedule HERE. To find out more about the statewide assessments, parents can visit the CAASPP website. The state requires at least 95% student participation in these assessments to avoid specific consequences. I created video last year explaining the importance of our participation in these tests that you can watch HERE. Thank you in advance for trusting us to navigate this experience humanely with your students!

Finally, we would like to share the sad news that our beloved Tortoise, Shelly, passed away over Spring Break. Shelly has been part of our family since we opened our school, and will be greatly missed. Thank you to Ramon and Lynne who helped Shelly pass over the rainbow bridge with love and care. If you would like a resource to utilize to support with any conversations about Shelly's passing at home with your children, this list from Scholastic has great recommendations.

Take Good Care,

Kaitlin (she/her) and Sage (he/him)

PEC Resources have been uploaded!

Thank you to everyone who facilitated and attended our Parent Educator Conference on 3/29! We are looking forward to hosting similar events in the future. If you missed a workshop or are looking for the digital version of resources shared, visit Sched and click on the workshop title to find what you need! Something missing? E-mail Theresa!

STEAM Carnival!

THIS Wednesday, 4/10 from 3:00-5:00 pm

Location: the Da Vinci Connect K8 Campus Blacktop area

Please RSVP HERE !

Join us at the Da Vinci Connect K8 Campus this Wednesday April 12 from 3-5pm, for the next Annual Rhythm Event: STEAM Carnival! Event Offerings will include: the Garden Club Project, Odyssey of the Mind activities and performance, Mr. Mason's A.R.T. the Recycled Robot, a paper Airplane Challenge, build-a-catapult challenge, a Story Read Aloud station, Core 2's Silent Disco Experience, student exhibitions - and many more Learning Log Extensions! We will also have a screen-printing station as well-- so, if you want to bring something from home to screen print, you are welcome to bring a t-shirt, canvas bag, etc. We will have handkerchiefs available! Click HERE to RSVP.

For any questions, please contact Activities Coordinator Jahmal at ~ jdurham@davincischools.org

Spirit Days!

Tues 4/11 and Thurs 4/13

Dress as your favorite Scientist, Mathematician, Engineer, Artist, or other creative scientific costume to celebrate our STEAM Carnival this week! Thank you to Core 5 student, Evelyn, for the idea and for creating the flyer below!

Exhibition is next week!

Tuesday April 18 and Thursday April 20th

Two sessions: 4:30pm-5:15pm and 5:30pm-6:15pm

We are so excited for our Spring Exhibition! As a reminder, Exhibition is a signature event for all Da Vinci Schools, and is mandatory for student participation. Exhibition requires an "Exhibition Attire" dress code--professional dress that includes dress shoes, button up shirts and slacks, ties, dresses and skirts that reach no higher than two inches above the knee. We are still trying to build our Exhibition Borrowing Closet--let us know if you have Exhibition attire to donate!

Families will be assigned a presentation time within one of the two Exhibition sessions--please plan to stay during the entire session! We ask that you spend this time supporting your learner during their presentation AND visiting other classroom spaces to celebrate all learners.

Please reach out to your teacher with any Exhibition questions you might have! We look forward to celebrating our learners and their projects with our community!

Attn: 4th and 5th grade Families!

A Message from our Nurse, Emily Green:

We are pleased to inform you that your student will have the opportunity to participate in Puberty Talk, a 3 hour health education course developed by Health Connected. Da Vinci Connect will be starting an ongoing series of Health Workshops for our 4th/5th grade students offered this Spring starting 4/24-5/4

Puberty Talk complies with California Education Code (51930-51933) and meets the California Health Education Content Standards for “Growth, Development, and Sexual Health.” This course covers the following topics:

• Trusted adults and age-appropriate resources
• Gender identity, expression, and attraction
• Intro to anatomy, menstruation and conception
• Physical and emotional puberty changes
• Wellness, hygiene, and self-care
• Consent, boundaries, and personal safety
• Healthy and unhealthy friendships

If you have any questions about the topics to be covered in this course, or wish to review the curriculum materials, please contact School Nurse, Emily Green at egreen@davincischools.org. Weds 3/29/23 materials will be available at PEC for review and Nurse Green will also be on campus 11-1230 in the Pec Hub to answer any questions. 

Da Vinci Summer Camps!

Da Vinci Schools is hosting summer camps for students as young as 2nd grade! Learn more here.

Access to our photographer's Photo Gallery!

Our photographer, Stacee Lianna, has generously provided access to her photo gallery of the events she's captured for us this year, including the first day of school, our welcome back party, and Exhibition! Click THIS LINK and enter the PW photos2223 to browse and download photos of your kiddo! *Please do not share this password beyond the Connect community*

Garden Club!

Tuesday and Thursday Mornings 8:45am-9:10am

Dear Students and families, we will be meeting on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at the blacktop garden area from 8:45 to 9:10 am.  Please use the appropriate sign-in sheets located in the front office, stay in the garden club area during your visit, and be sure to exit campus before 9:15am.

Thankfully, we're making a great amount of progress and we can see the GROWING excitement from our students who visit the garden space on a regular basis. The next phase of the project includes creating opportunities for our "Student Garden Ambassadors" initiative as well as developing community service activities for our neighboring community.  If parents are interested in learning more about the project objectives or joining the Garden Club committee, we will be posting updates and other invitations to support the project in the weekly newsletter. If you are continuing with us or are a new family wanting to expand your gardening experience, please click HERE to complete a short survey. For questions and comments email jdurham@davincischools.org

Da Vinci Connect Yearbook!

It's time to purchase your yearbook and start designing your 2 FREE personalized pages with TreeRing.  Go to this link to purchase!

Share your photos with the yearbook team!  Once you've logged in, you can access the folders to different events such as Speaker's Jam, STEAM Carnival, 8^th Grade Baby Photos, The Garden Club, The Running Club, or missing portraits. We'd like to add some homeschooling adventures again this year, so upload one photo of your favorite adventure.  

Go to this link: Validate | Treering

Passcode: 1016652679074337

Parent Center at Da Vinci Connect!

•  Use this code (w3yytj2) to access all content all year!
• Check out the 2022-23 Supplemental Curriculum Grid by Grade Level, login details, Office Hours Sign Ups, and more! If you believe you need access to curriculum, please email Theresa with your specific request.
• Click this link – be sure to log in using your student’s DV Connect email address!

Office Hours for 1:1 Meetings with Theresa

• Sign up for a meeting to discuss your homeschool needs, hopes & dreams!
• March 2023 Office Hours have been posted to The Parent Center Google Classroom. 



CURRICULUM SPOTLIGHT: LEXIA

TK-5^th Grade Students Have Access to Lexia Core5

Lexia Core5 Reading is an adaptive blended learning program that supports the development of literacy skills for students of all abilities, helping them make that critical shift from learning to read to reading to learn.

6^th-8^th Grade Students Have Access to Lexia Power Up

Lexia PowerUp Literacy is a computer-based program that adapts instruction to the specific needs of adolescent learners. The activities in PowerUp support and build on your English Language Arts curriculum, focusing on developing reading skills in three areas: word study, grammar, and comprehension.

As a one-time bonus we are now able to offer every student at DV Connect access to these Lexia Learning products. Watch your email inbox for instructions on how to access your teacher and student accounts. If you have trouble, reach out to Theresa at tleone@davincischools.org

Mr. Mason's Virtual Art Classes Are Back!

Every Wednesday 2-3pm on ZOOM!

https://zoom.us/j/4722291011

Live ZOOM Art Class with Mr. Mason. Every Wednesday 2-3pm.

Supply suggestions in the Google Classroom:

https://classroom.google.com/u/0/c/NTQ5ODk5MTQzNzZa

Remember new art project videos are uploaded twice a week.

You can find over 140 pre-recorded art videos to do anytime.

Classroom.google.com > + (join code: 3vs27ai

Daily Virtual Read Alouds are back!

M-F 3:00pm

Join Nancy each day at 3:00pm on zoom for a virtual read aloud! This invitation is for all ages, regardless of cohort or program! You can join her on zoom HERE

Mental Health Support for Families!

We recognize that Winter can bring a variety of different feelings to navigate. We want to make sure that our families are connected to the resources they need. Please visit South Bay Connected to access a variety of resources to support families of all ages.