January 24, 2022
From Your Administrative Team
Greetings Connect K8 Families,

We hope you're well and are enjoying the sunny weather!

We would like to offer you an apology and a promise: last week, we were alerted to a mistake on our report cards. When we pull MAPs data onto our report card template, we work with an outside organization to format and aggregate the data correctly in our unique and customized template in Powerschool (our Student Information System). Unfortunately, something happened that caused the "Norm Score" to input incorrectly to the template, which could potentially mis-represent the accurate student score that appears on the report. We apologize for this mistake! We are working diligently to correct the error and re-issue addendums to report cards ASAP. We promise that corrected report cards will go out as soon as possible.

If you have any questions regarding this error or our work to correct it, please contact Kaitlin and Tami directly.

Take Good Care,
Kaitlin and Tami
Professional Development Day
Friday 2/4--No School or Homeschool
FAN Update!
Attention Core 1 Families!
FAN needs your support! We will be forming a committee of Core 1 parents to help plan the next Annual Rhythm Event: the "Speakers Jam" tentatively happening in early February! Students and families will have an opportunity to share inspirational writings and/or poetry, perform Spoken Word Poetry or a read-aloud, as well as share their favorite literary excerpt.
 
Please e-mail Jahmal if you're able to join the planning committee for this event!
Meal Program at Connect!
Don't forget that all families can take advantage of free breakfast and lunch on campus! Find weekly menus HERE
2021-2022 Yearbook!
Thank you to Darlene for working on creating a beautiful yearbook to memorialize this school year! Please visit THIS FLYER for information on pricing, how to order, and how to customize your child's yearbook by adding personalized pages!
Art with Mr. Mason!
Every Wednesday 2-3pm on zoom!
Live art ZOOM Art with Mr. Mason. Every Wednesday 2-3pm starting Sept. 1st.
Supply suggestions in the Google Classroom:
Remember new art videos are uploaded twice a week on Tuesday & Friday.
You can find nearly 80 pre-recorded art videos to do anytime.
Classroom.google.com > + (join code: 3vs27ai)
Daily Read A Louds with Julia!
One of our amazing teachers, Julia Rivera, will be offering a read aloud from 2:30-3:00 every weekday, M-F!! She will be reading some of her favorite picture books, that are enjoyable for students TK-8th grade. Feel free to join her at her zoom link for this wonderful way to end a school day!

The Parent Center at Da Vinci Connect!
The Parent Center @ DV Connect Google Classroom
·     Use this code (w3yytj2) to access all content all year!
·     Check out this year’s supplemental curriculum, login details and more using this link
·     Link to The Parent Center Calendar of Events
 
  • Office Hours for 1:1 Meetings with Theresa
Use this link to sign up for January Office Hours
 
  • The Scholastic Book Fair is Here!
  • Middle School Families: Social Studies Techbooks are Now Available!
 Discovery Social Studies Techbook Log-in Credentials Have Been Sent!
*** Remember, when you log into your new account with your email address you will be prompted to change your password. Once you set your new password, these will be your login credentials going forward! ***
 
 
  • Community & Connection @ DV Connect
Use this link to sign up!
This workshop series was designed to create a safe space to connect, share, listen and lift each other up in a way 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.
Location: Del Aire Park (located at 12601 S. Isis Ave, Hawthorne, CA 90251)
Due to current COVID protocols, all workshops will only be held virtually. The link to join can be found when you sign up to attend via the SignUp Genius link, above.
Time: Noon - 1pm
Dates
All dates are on a Wednesday
2/2 - Connection & Compassion
3/2 – Cultivating Joy
 
  • ThinkCERCA: Winter Benchmark Assessments (Grades 6-8)
It is time to assign Reading and Writing Benchmarks to your students in the ThinkCERCA platform. Remember, this is how we track student growth and progress, as well as inform our writing and reading instruction for the remainder of the year.
 
INSTRUCTIONS FOR ASSIGNING BENCHMARKS
HERE are directions for assigning the benchmark. The purpose of the benchmark assessment is to gain insight into student writing (and reading) abilities to plan personalized growth. It is important that students complete these independently. It is recommended that you allow approximately one hour for each assessment, on two different days, so that your student is fresh and ready.
 
It is very important that your student finishes his or her Benchmarks by the 18th of this month in order to take advantage of a fantastic series of virtual workshops hosted by our ThinkCERCA School Success Manager, Candace Walker.
 
Bonus----these are perfect activities to add to your Learning Log!
 
SAVE THE DATES & LINKS TO JOIN!

February 2, 2022 - Benchmark Data to Drive Instruction
12:30pm - 2:00pm PST
 
February 9, 2022 
Check-in 12:30pm - 1:30pm PST with Parents 
 
Please watch this 3-minute video that explains what we have in store for you! 
Passcode: @.6$TP5$
 
In addition, these Teacher Training Courses are a great introduction if you have not yet started using ThinkCERCA. They are self-paced and provide a great overview of ThinkCERCA and how to use its different components. Parents, be sure to log into your account in order to successfully access the link. 
 
IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO BEGIN USING THINKCERCA!
GET STARTED RIGHT NOW!
Use this link to access the instructions for onboarding your teacher account and beginning to assign benchmark assessments.
ThinkCERCA, it is a rigorous online writing platform that focuses on strengthening close reading and argumentative writing skills across the content areas. 
It is not too late to get started! Join this conversation to learn about what other parent educators are doing to make ThinkCERCA the centerpiece of their reading and writing instruction at home.
Use this link to sign up. 
 
  • Unsung Heroes Webinar Series:
January 26th * March 16th * May 18th
Use this link to sign up!
We are highlighting little-known and inspiring individuals whose contributions in the areas of the Arts, Creativity, Science, Literature, and Humanities have gone unrecognized. We’d like to create a forum to celebrate how those unsung heroes of multi-cultural backgrounds have contributed their talents to present-day culture, arts & sciences.
 
·     January 26th from 2:30-3:30pm = Talented Musicians We May Not Know!
o  Theresa and Jahmal: Jazz Musicians
o  We are looking for participants to present their Hero!
o  Use this Google Form to reserve your spot
Have a great week!
~ Your DV Connect Team