Greetings Connect K-8 Families!
I shared the following message with our staff last week, and thought it appropriate to share with you, too:
Before I encroach too far into your break, I wanted to share how grateful I am for each and every one of you. We are in strange, difficult, sad…hopeful times. I couldn’t imagine navigating all of it without your collective time, energy, dedication, and heart.
We work together to create a truly magical place for our students and community. It also means that we are creating that same magical place for each other. Thank you for being part of our magic 😉
I hope your week is full of rest, re-charge, and all the comfy cozy things. If you celebrate Thanksgiving, Happy Thanksgiving! If part of your celebration includes acknowledging indigenous people, I recently learned that the indigenous group of people who originally inhabited much of Southern California and are commonly referred to as Tongva, are actually named Kizh (k-ee-ch)! You can learn more HERE and HERE!
If part of your family’s celebration includes a gratitude practice (or maybe a Thankful Turkey for those with littles?), I hope that you make it on the list much faster than I made it on to Lylah’s gratitude tree (hint hint I was last):
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Cheers to scissors, boats, and all things worth loving.
With Gratitude,
Kaitlin and the Team at Da Vinci Connect
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Please note that Thanksgiving Break is 11/23-11/27. We will see you next week! |
Da Vinci Schools Families Connected!
We realize that the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with winter days and the holiday season may be impacting our families and community in a variety of ways. If you, your family, or someone you know is struggling, please reach out for support. You can also visit the Da Vinci Families Connected tab on our Parent Resource Site (click HERE) or go to www.dvconnectresources.org (pw is DVConnect2021)>Resources from Da Vinci Connect >Da Vinci Schools Families Connected.
This partnership between Da VInci Schools and Beach Cities Health District provides a multitude of resources and support for students and their families. Feel free to share with anyone in your community who may benefit from this support.
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FAN Meeting!
Wednesday, December 2nd @ 4:00pm
Our Family Action Network (FAN) is a crucial component of what makes our community so special, and it includes all of you! We will be meeting to provide an overview of FAN, introduce some new faces, and begin discussing ideas for our community for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year! We would love to have as many families present as possible, so that we can truly plan with our entire community in mind! If you cannot attend, a survey and a recording of the meeting will be sent after.
We hope to see you there!
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Exhibition!
The week of December 7th-11th
We are so excited to end our first semester by hosting Exhibition! Exhibition is one of Da Vinci's signature practices, where students have an opportunity to "Show what they know" by presenting ideas, deliverables, and learning processes from their on-campus projects to a variety of visitors/audience members!
We know that Exhibition will look different this year than it has in the past. We are committed to holding space for each child to celebrate what they've learned with their family, friends, and teacher. Please refer to your teacher's emails regarding Exhibition for specific details for your child.
We can't wait to celebrate with you!
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Learning Log #2 Ends 12/11/20!
Make sure to submit your completed Learning Log #2 to your teacher's LL2 Google classroom no later than 11:59 pm on 12/11/20! Please reach out to your child's teacher for support if necessary.
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It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!: FAN’s DV Connect Winter Sing-a-Long, Story Time and Movie Night!❄️ 🎶 📖 ⛄️🍿
Please join us for a comfy, cozy night at home on Zoom celebrating together with some winter songs (Anyone Wanna Build a Snowman?), a special story read by our very own Principal Kaitlin, and a holiday movie/musical titled Jingle Jangle!❄️We recognize this is the last night of Hanukkah for any families who are celebrating, and would love to hear how you celebrate during our read-aloud!
This celebration will be on Friday, December 18th, and will start at 6 :00 pm in this Zoom Room:
Meeting ID: 739 1118 8084
Passcode: VT4HCF
Please sign up HERE if you and your family will be attending! Everyone who signs up by December 7th will receive a surprise in the mail to use during Movie Night!
So, grab your popcorn, your PJs, your hot cocoa, and cozy up with our DV Connect community for this celebratory night meant for the whole family!❄️❤️⛄️☕️📖🎶🍿
*You will need to sign up for Netflix teleparty on your laptop/desktop computer before our Zoom call to access the Netflix Teleparties(Netflix website is NOT accessible on our DV Connect chrome books)**
1. Install Teleparty by clicking the "Install Teleparty" button HERE and follow installation instructions
2. Pin Teleparty to Chrome Toolbar
After installing Teleparty, you should see the "Tp" button next to your address bar. If you do not see the "TP" button, click on the puzzle icon located next to the address bar and pin the "Tp" button to your Chrome toolbar. Be sure to click on that TP puzzle piece in the top right corner in order to access the chat room for the Netflix teleparty!
3. Join our DV Connect Teleparty and chat with your friends on the right side of the screen! (A DV Connect parent will be monitoring each chat room).❤️
*If you have any problems accessing the Netflix teleparties, the Zoom call will be open and you can go there for any support needed**
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DV Connect’s FAN’s Kindness Movement Partners with Sandpipers!❤🎁⛄️
Happy holidays! DV Connect’s FAN Kindness Movement is partnering with Sandpipers, an organization dedicated to serving the needs of the South Bay community through charitable and philanthropic programs for 88 years. This holiday season, there are three exciting ways (and two rounds of giving opportunities) for you and your family to help others in our community, and to also help various agencies such as Trinity Healthcare, Harbor Interfaith, Meals-on-Wheels, Project New Hope, Project Needs, Mychal’s Learning Place and many more!
1st round 11/20 to 11/30:
1. Holiday Homes Tour- A virtual tour of some beautiful South Bay homes featuring local, small businesses. This fun event makes our Holiday Basket (The Holiday Basket program gives South Bay Families in need home essentials, grocery store gift cards, personal essentials and fun gifts every holiday season. Last year 110 South Bay Families received “baskets” thanks to the generous donations of individuals (many of them DV Connect families) and businesses here in the South Bay!), and Back-to-School shopping events for kids in need possible!
How to participate: You can purchase a ticket or a South Bay Dining Card for discounts at local businesses all over the South Bay!
There is also a VIP Package that includes both the ticket, the dining card and a special charcuterie board discount from GROW Market ($10-$15 savings)
Holiday Homes Tour Ticket Presale: $30
Holiday Homes Tour Ticket Starting December 1st: $35
South Bay Dining Discount Card (locals): $30
VIP Holiday Bundle (locals): Includes Holiday Homes Tour Ticket, South Bay Dining Discount Card, and 15% off Charcuterie Board from GROW: $50
Deadlines/Links-: $30 tickets go up to $35 December 1st!
2. The Sugarplum Program
The Sandpipers' Sugarplum Program is gathering 1,500 gifts for children in foster care. These gifts, provided by the generous donations of organizations, and individuals just like you, are often the only gift that these children receive. Please click on the Amazon Wish List link to choose a toy of your choice. Please make sure to click the "shop to address" as 'Sugarplum DCFS's Gift Registry.'
Deadline: November 30, 2020
2nd round 12/12 to 12/22:
The Holiday Basket Program
Last year, Sandpipers helped 110 families have a more merry holiday season through this program. It goes beyond toys and gifts, and provides essentials like cleaning products, a coffee maker or crock pot, diapers, food, and personal care essentials. Everyone in the family receives some new clothes, shoes, pajamas, school supplies, books and of course for the kids, TOYS, as well. The thing that we love about this is that we get a dossier for the family, and we get to shop for them specifically, knowing their favorite colors, the kiddos favorite characters. We love this so much, because in many cases this is the only time of year that these adults, the parents/care givers are given any gifts or anything new for themselves. As parents, we always put our kids first, so this is a great way for them to get something for themselves.
There are three ways to participate:
1. We will have TWO families we can shop for and purchase specifically for them- this will include gift cards to Target, Game Stop, Amazon, etc- new pajamas/slippers, etc. We will have the family dossiers around 11/18 and will update specifically at that time.
2. Shop through the general wishlist to contribute items that all families will receive here
3. Make a financial donation here
Thank you so very much for participating, and for sharing the spirit of giving this holiday season! Because, giving is a gift we give ourselves, and is such a wonderful gift that we can share with our kiddos! 🎁💫❤️
*Please reach out to Kaitlin directly if your family is in need of assistance this holiday! Your DV Connect community is here to support you!❤️
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The Parent Center at Da Vinci Connect
SPECIAL EVENT
Barefoot Books Book Fair --- Holiday Pre-Sale!
- Buy beautiful Barefoot books—perfect for gift giving—while earning more for Da Vinci Connect!
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Use this link to shop!
- Save 25% off your entire order if you enter JOY25 at checkout
- Sale valid until November 30th
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After 11/30, regular Fair prices will be in effect until December 18th
- Questions or Recommendations? Please contact Community Bookseller: Ambur Gorman 310.594.8690 ambur@thebeesreads.com
MORE FROM THE PARENT CENTER @ DV CONNECT
Google Classroom (Code = w3yytj2)
- There is so much useful content for families in the GC. Please share the code again! Sections include:
- Supplemental Curriculum offerings + links and login credentials
- Curriculum resources like webinar/workshop recordings, quick start guides and lesson planning tools
- Workshop dates/times and sign-up links
- Podcasts
- Links to articles and webinars + so much more!
Office Hours for 1:1 Meetings with Theresa
Workshops
- The following workshops have been held in September & October. Recordings and/or support materials have been posted in The Parent Center Google Classroom:
- Science 4 Us (K-2)
- ThinkCERCA Onboarding + Benchmark Assessments (6-8)
- ThinkCERCA Middle School Parent + Student Jam (weekly meeting on Thursdays from 1-2) hosted by parent educator ThinkCERCA “Champions” Laura Caputo, Lena Garcia & Jahmal Durham.
- Reflex Math (2-6)
- Gizmos Science & Math Simulations (3-8) - I am waiting to receive the recording from ExploreLearning
- Beast Academy Online + Data (Grades 3-5)
- MAP Scores 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Understanding Your Child’s MAP Scores
- Guided Reading Demystified (Grades 3-5)
- Scholastic Teachables
What’s Coming Up on the Calendar?
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ThinkCERCA Middle School Parent + Student Jam (weekly meeting on Thursdays from 1-2) 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
- Use this link to attend the next meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87917820269?pwd=dmhIT3FpOWVjR0JLM1I2VEJwU3V5UT09
- Meeting ID: 879 1782 0269 and Passcode: thinkcerca
- Check out the Middle School Collaboration Padlet for details https://padlet.com/tleone8/gbrx4b6k32awqfcb
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Free E-book and Resources!
DV Connect Parent, Jessica Collaco, is generously sharing her newest children's book with our community, and it is perfect timing to support the upcoming feelings that might come up as our families navigate the holiday season during this pandemic! See details below:
"CHRISTMAS IS CANCELED!!...So is Halloween, Thanksgiving....ALL THE HOLIDAYS are CANCELED!!!
That won't stop Tick and Legs from trying to celebrate, just the two of them. But what happens when they realize that, despite their antics and fun, it's just not the same?
This hilarious duo will have young readers laughing as they aim to make the best of a challenging situation, all while showing perseverance, creativity, compassion and kindness. Christmas is Canceled also acknowledges that sometimes despite our best efforts, we feel disappointed about the results. Parents and Educators will find this to be a great book to support kids through their feelings as they navigate the holiday season.
Perfect for reading aloud, shared story time, independent reading and classroom sharing. Tick and Legs: Christmas is Canceled is great for kids ages 3-8 and grade K-3"
Bonus: You can download the E-book for free HERE, and utilize the accompanying free printables HERE!
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Wellness Wednesdays!
In celebration of Wellness Wednesdays we have two Dare to Share challenges for parents and kiddos!
Share your favorite Exercise!
Physical activities are an important part of having a healthy brain..
Show us how YOU stay healthy!
~Challenge~
Create a 90-second workout routine!
~also~
Join us on our Dare to Share 'Padlet' and ‘Flipgrid’ video link to post something special about YOU! Take an opportunity today to break away from the madness and share a personal inspiration. This is the perfect time to be kind to yourself, by sharing something special about you!
Padlet:
Flipgrid:
password:
Dare2020
*Please Join our Google Classroom for upcoming Connect activities: z4vwsju
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Receiving our Blog?
We've entered parent email addresses to our K-8 and High School blog so you should now receive blog emails periodically (we've sent out 2 to each group so far). They arrive in your inbox like an email from "Da Vinci Connect" and the subject line is "Da Vinci Connect Updates" (K-8) and "Da VInci Connect High School Updates" (HS).
If you aren't receiving them, check your spam/clutter/junkmail box and if there's nothing there, try subscribing directly on our blog site (you can check back here periodically as well). Connect HS Blog found HERE and Connect K-8 Blog found HERE. |
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