DaVinci Connection-December 6, 2019

DaVinci Connection

School Links

Volunteer Information

Anti-Bullying Policy

Important Dates

(subject to change-see online calendar)

12/6 Fall Play: Law and Order: Fairy Tale Unit, 6:00 pm

12/7 Fall Play: Law and Order: Fairy Tale Unit, 12:00 pm

12/10 6-8 Band Concert, 6:00-7:30 pm

12/11 Finance Committee Meeting, 3:30 pm

12/11 School Development Meeting, 3:30 pm

12/12 6-8 Orchestra Concert, 6:00-7:30 pm

12/16 Board Meeting, 6:00 pm

12/17 5th & 6th Grade Choir Concert, 5:30-6:00 pm

12/17 7/8 Choir Concert, 6:30-7:00 pm

12/17 Pizza Delivery Day, 4:00-7:00 pm

12/19 Dance Recital, 6:00 pm

12/23-1/3 No School

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.

Attendance Line: 763-252-6130

Parents should call the attendance line at 763-252-6130 before 9:00 a.m. of the day a student will be absent. This phone number is available 24 hours a day to leave a message. Please leave the following information on the recording:

Date your student will be absent
First and last name of your student
Reason for the absence
Name of the parent/guardian who is calling

If you know your child(ren) will be gone more than three consecutive days, you will need to fill out an extended absence form four to six weeks in advance. Please send the Extended Absence Form to Ms. Moffatt.

Greetings!

To the left, you will find helpful links to important pages on our website.

NEED TO KNOW

Be the “I” in Kind!

This past month the Student Success Team has promoted kindness at DaVinci Academy through the “Kindness Campaign”, with our 4th grade classrooms to help the students understand the importance of how they treat others directly affects how they will be treated by others. As a shared effort, the student success team and the staff at DaVinci Academy, guide students in understanding their responsibility in maintaining a positive culture in their classrooms and our school. We are grateful for Ms. Dix, Ms. Derby, Ms. Rowe, and Mr. Pavelka in leading this effort. The image accompanying this paragraph shows a mural the 4th grade students helped create so students could see that they can be the “I” in Kind.

December Music Concerts

6th-8th Grade Bands: Tuesday, December 10, 6:00-7:00 pm. Students should arrive by 5:30 pm.

6th-8th Grade Orchestras: Thursday, December 12, 6:00-7:00 pm. Students should arrive by 5:30 pm.

5th & 6th Grade Choirs: Tuesday, December 17, 5:30 pm. Students should arrive by 5:10 pm.

7th & 8th Grade Choirs: Tuesday, December 17, 6:30 pm. Students should arrive by 6:10 pm.

Concert attire is the same for all ensembles: white on top, black on bottom, with black socks and black dress shoes.

Winter Has Arrived

Remember to give yourself extra time to get to school and through morning drop off when the roads conditions are not great. Even on the snowy winter mornings students are expected to be in class and ready to learn at 8:00 am. Students have three limited excused tardies per school year for traffic/road conditions. After three tardies due to traffic/weather have been exhausted, tardies due to traffic or road conditions will be unexcused.

Bus Safety is for Everyone

All of our DaVinci students will ride the school buses at some point in the year for field trips as well as our many students that use bus transportation to get to and from school. Therefore, we did an additional bus safety training this week with all of our students. Students were reminded of the importance of being safe on the bus and making sure the bus driver can keep their attention on the road rather than on behaviors happening on the bus. Points of emphasis are below, and we would appreciate you reviewing these with your child. Riding the bus is a privilege, and we want to work together to keep our students safe on the bus.

Stay out of the bus danger zones or blind spots for the driver.
Remain seated and keep the aisles clear during the bus ride.
Keep the noise level at a 1 or 2 and only use appropriate language.
Do not eat or drink on the bus, as we want to be mindful of allergies of others.
While at the bus stop, practice good behavior that is safe for everyone.

Winter Break

Reminder, there is no school December 23 through January 3. School will resume Monday, January 6, 2020.

Have a safe and joyful winter break.

Need Ideas for the Kids Over Winter Break?

Check out Jam Hops, Camptastic. They have camps at both campuses during school release days and during summer break.

Open gym at Conquer Ninja Warrior in Blaine.

Calling All Dancers!

Have you ever wanted to perform? Learn new dance moves? DaVinci Academy Dance is looking for dancers to join the team!

Never danced? No problem, no experience necessary. We will find the best fit class for your child’s skill set. Come join the team – all genders welcome.

The spring dance fee is $125 and includes a t-shirt, dance training, and opportunities to perform at a half time game (March Madness) and assemblies.

K-8 Spring Season Dance Dates:

January; 7, 14, 21, 28

February; 4, 11, 25

March; 3, 10, 24, 31

April; 7, 14, 21, 28

Please register on time as late registrations will not be accepted. All outstanding activity fees must be paid in full in order for children to be able to participate in activities and clubs.

NOTE: DaVinci Academy DOES NOT offer bus transportation after clubs and activities. All children must be picked up from school promptly after the activity or club has ended.

NICE TO KNOW

RECESS TIME REMINDERS

It is that time of the year again where you need to be sending your child to school with the proper outdoor attire. We will be going outside each day for recess if the windchill factor is at 0 or above. If your child is not dressed appropriately, they may not be able to fully participate in the snow fun!

EVERY DAY YOUR CHILD SHOULD HAVE THE FOLLOWING (PREFERABLY LABELED):

Snow Pants
Boots
Gloves/mittens
Hat

Northwestern University Midwest Academic Talent Search (NUMATS)

We are pleased to share that we are a testing site for the Northwestern University Midwest Academic Talent Search (NUMATS). NUMATS is an above-grade level assessment intended for advanced learners currently in grades 3^rd– 6^th. Our test site will be at DaVinci Academy of Arts and Science on the following date(s):

1/18/2020
2/8/2020
2/9/2020

NUMATS Flyer

ONGOING

2020-21 Enrollment is Now Open

We are now accepting applications for the 2020-21 school year for new students who would like to attend DaVinci Academy in grades Kindergarten through 8. To complete an application for the next school year click here. Sign up through our online enrollment system and then complete and submit the application.

All new students who are interested and not currently enrolled at DaVinci Academy, including siblings, must complete an application. Applications are due by January 31, to be included in the enrollment lottery taking place Monday, February 10.

Our next Information Session for prospective families is Thursday, January 23, at 6:00 pm. Information Sessions are for those who may be interested in attending DaVinci Academy. Please feel free to share this information with your family or friends.

High School Planning

As we are nearing the end of the first trimester, we know that a lot of parents of our eighth graders are starting to think about high school. Very few school districts offer open enrollment, but for those that do, the deadline to submit applications is between December 1 and January 31. This includes the application process for the CEMS program at Blaine High School. If you are interested in continuing at a charter school, there are a few options but most involve some travel time.

If you would like to know more about specific programs or schools or just want to discuss what might be best for your child, please feel free to contact either Terry Moffatt or Melissa Derby.

Closings/ Weather Or Emergency

Emergency school closings due to severe weather, or any other reason, are posted on the school’s website, major news station websites and emergency postings, and announced via School Messenger texts and/or phone calls. The decision to close school will usually be made before 6:00 a.m. on the day in question. PLEASE NOTE that our schedule is SEPARATE from Anoka-Hennepin ISD or any other school district.

Help Wanted

Full or Part time School Nurse Needed – IMMEDIATE OPENING

We are in need of a school nurse. This has previously been a full time position, but it could be shared with another person as a part time position. If you know of any nurses who would be a good fit for our students, please ask them to check out our employment page.

PTO News

Book Donations Needed

The PTO is hosting a Family Bingo Night Friday, February 7. Since February is love to read month, we thought it would be a great idea for books to be part of the bingo prizes. If you would like to donate new or gently used books, please make arrangements with Nicole Hartfield to drop them off at school by Friday, January 24.