DaVinci Connection-March 25, 2019
School Links
Important Dates
(subject to change – see online calendar)
3/22 Ski Club, 2:30-9:00 p.m.
3/25 Board Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
3/28 PTO Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
3/30 March Madness, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
4/4 School Development Meeting, 4:30 p.m.
4/6 New Family Orientation, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
4/8 Policy Committee Meeting, 3:30 p.m.
4/11 3rd Grade Music Concert, 5:30 p.m.
4/11 4th Grade Music & 5th Grade Choir Concert, 6:45 p.m.
4/15 Finance Committee Meeting, 4:30 p.m.
4/18 Parent Teacher Conferences
4/18 New Family Orientation, 3:00-5:00 p.m.
4/18, 22 No School
4/29 Board Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
Food Service Program
Current Lunch prices – including milk
Hot, Alt. or Emergency Lunch:
- Full Pay = $3.50;
- Free/Reduced = $0.00
Vegetarian Lunch:
- Full-pay = $4.50;
- Reduced-price = $0.00;
- Free = $0.00
A La Carte Items -charged to ALL students:
- Milk-only = $0.50;
- Emergency meals = $3.50
- Extra Entree (Grade 6-8 only) = $1.50
Current Breakfast Price:
- Full-pay = $1.75
- Kindergarten = $0.00
- Reduced-price = $0.00
- Free = $0.00
Go here to apply for free or reduced-price meals or to find out more about the food service program.
Greetings!
To the left, you will find helpful links to important pages on our website (School Links).
NEED TO KNOW
Golf Tournament Registration is Now Open – There are Early Bird Discounts!
March Madness 
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When: Saturday, March 30, 10:00 AM-2:00 PM Where: DaVinci Academy Gymnasium Who: Everyone is welcome to celebrate an amazing season of DaVinci basketball and dance at our annual March Madness! Please bring a non-perishable food item for the CEAP food drive.
**Wear your 2019 March Madness shirt to cheer on the teams and yell loud and proud for the Dance Team. See you on Saturday, March 30, from 10:00 AM-2:00 PM for your 2019 DaVinci Academy March Madness! |
Spring Music Concerts
Mr. Shield’s Corner
Kids and Cellphones
Many parents ask me when is the right time to get their child a cellphone, what type to get, and how do I protect my child from inappropriate things they can access with their phones. Those are all great questions, and each family has to weigh the pros and cons of their child having a powerful computing device in the palm of their hands. Data suggests that the longer you can wait to give your child a cell phone the better. The biggest positive of a child having a cell phone is that you can reach them when you need to, and they can reach you in an emergency. The negatives include accessing inappropriate websites and apps, social media and gaming addiction, and online bullying. A resource I regularly point parents to is https://www.commonsensemedia.
As a parent of 4 kids ages 13-22, as well as an educator for over 25 years, I’ve seen both positive and negative effects of screen use on kids. Using resources like Common Sense Media, talking with other parents, and trial and error have helped to guide my family’s cell phone use. A few suggestions for all families include setting parental controls on phones and tablets, keeping cell phones/tablets out of bedrooms so that they are only used in common areas where you can keep your child accountable, set a daily screen time limit that is age appropriate, and setting a time each evening when electronic devices must be placed in a common area for charging them overnight. Parenting is the largest responsibility we have, and I hope we can help you and your child navigate this topic. If you have questions regarding any of these issues please feel free to contact me jshields@davincicharterschool.
Jack Shields
Dean of Students
Outdoor Attire 
- 60 degrees or higher-short/long sleeve shirts
- 46 to 59 degrees-light jacket/hooded sweatshirts
- 45 degrees or lower-winter coat, hats and gloves
- Snow pants and boots required when there is snow
Please label everything your child wears to school – see info about Applied Labels.
Parent Teacher Conferences 4/18
Spring conferences will be scheduled for Thursday, April 18, from 9:00 am-5:00 pm. Teachers will contact families they are interested in meeting with and those conferences will get first priority. Parent requests for conferences may be made as well. Look for scheduling information in an upcoming teacher communication
Sneak Peek of Intersession Classes
On April 1, you will be able to register on our website for Intersession classes, and there are some amazingly fun offerings this year! If you are wondering what Intersession is, it is a 4 day week of classes that are fee based and optional for students who would like to participate instead of having days off school. Intersession is scheduled for May 20-23, this year and it will be our LAST Intersession as the schedule has changed for next year.
Here are a few more of the classes being offered to get you thinking about what your child might like to join. Watch for the FULL list of classes being offered on our website on Monday, April 1.
Wellness Camp – Grades 1-3
Minnesota Wildlife – Grades 3-5
Junior Scientists – Grades K-2
Stained Glass & Mural Art – Grades 6-8
Bugz! A Mini Musical! – Grades K-3
NICE TO KNOW
Youth 1st Team Award
Congratulations to our 4th & 5th grade girls Basketball teams for receiving the “Youth 1st Team Award” at the State Basketball Tournament. This award was voted on by the Referees and Tournament Directors, based on the positive conduct of the players, fans, and coaches.
Way to go to all involved in the DaVinci Academy Basketball program.
Zooms Projects – CONGRATULATIONS
History Day Regional Competition
I am very proud of all 10 of our students — Aidan N., Brandt B., Ayeah B.A., Elise D., Joshua N., Olive L.-O., plus the students listed above — who voluntarily elected to compete and see this project through to completion.
2nd Annual CEAP Food Drive
We have once again partnered with CEAP, our local food shelf, as a collection site for non-perishable goods to help our community. March is Minnesota Food Share month.
Last year, we were able to fill two barrels to overflowing and collect 505 pounds of food! That’s enough food for 420 meals!
This year, we will have 4 barrels and are hoping to reach 750 lbs of food!
Send your non-perishables this week until Saturday, March 30 and help us serve our community!
Looking for Summer Camp Ideas 
Does your child enjoy cooking and baking? Tiffany Cavegn, Founder and Head Chef, from The Kids Cooking School is offering a variety of camps at Oak Hill Montessori in Shoreview. DaVinci students have taken Tiffany’s classes before and really enjoyed them. Click here to register and for more information.
ONGOING
Bus Stop Monitor-Volunteer Opportunity
- Maintains safety at the bus stop
- Spot checks student bus tags to make sure children are in the right place
- Ensures that students are picked up from their afternoon stop or are allowed to walk home from the stop
- Waits with a student if a parent is late for afternoon pick up
- Maintains a contact list of all of the families who use the stop
- Communicates with the driver, Director of Operations and the front office when necessary.
Lunch 
We are seeing several children come to school with pop lately. Please remind your child that soda in NOT allowed at DaVinci Academy. Here are some other kid-friendly lunchbox drinks:
- Plain water or water flavored with fresh-squeezed lemon, lime or orange juice
- Plain, vanilla and chocolate soy milk
- V-8 100% Vegetable Juice
- 100% juice combined with seltzer
- Fresh fruit and/or vegetable juice from a home juicer
If you have any questions, please contact Cassandra Anderson.
Lunch Account Balances
Want to stay up to date on what your child is purchasing in the cafeteria? Log onto SchoolPaymentPortal.com to create an account. There you can view all transactions and add money into your child’s lunch account. Please check your child’s account weekly to ensure your child has a positive balance. If you have any questions, please contact Cassandra Anderson.
DVA Spirit Wear-Available Now
