DaVinci Connection-May 21, 2021

DaVinci Academy

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(subject to change-see online calendar)

5/24  Board Meeting, 6 p.m.

5/31  No School, Memorial Day

6/4  No School

6/11  No School

6/17  Last Day of School

6/18  Teacher Workshop Day

6/28  Board Meeting, 6 p.m.

Parents should call the attendance line at 763-252-6130 before 9:00 a.m. of the day your child 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 child will be absent
• First and last name of your child
• 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.

Attendance Update

Please review the latest Attendance Update along with the details outlined below for using the attendance line. This update is for both distance and in-person learners.

You may view your child’s attendance record in your Campus Parent account.

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

Dear DaVinci Families,

I hope you had a great intersession break whether you were at school participating in a fun activity, having a family adventure, or taking a moment to relax. We are back and energized to end our 2021 school year. We feel very encouraged by the recent changes in our guidance regarding Covid-19 and look forward to finishing the year strong! 

We have a few key updates that impact the final few weeks of the school year.  

• Quarantine Protocol Updated: In line with recently updated MN Department of Health guidance, effective immediately, DaVinci will be following a reduced quarantine period. This means that if an individual is considered a close contact to someone who tests positive for Covid-19 and they have not been fully vaccinated, they will be required to quarantine for 10 days instead of 14 days unless they develop symptoms or the exposure is from a household contact.  

• Mask Requirement Remains: While Governor Walz announced an end to the statewide mask requirement, because our youngest Minnesotans remain ineligible for vaccines (children below the age of 12), schools must continue to follow Minnesota’s Safe Learning Plan.  This plan requires that through the end of the 2020-21 school year (last teacher contact day), masks must continue to be worn by everyone inside school buildings or on a school bus. This means any adults or students in the school building must wear masks. 

• End of Year Events Are On! In light of the new guidance issued regarding social distancing and event capacity we will be holding in person end of year events for both our kindergarten and 8th grade students. We are extraordinarily grateful to have this opportunity and more information will be coming from our middle school and elementary directors respectively regarding those events. Masks will be required inside the building for these events by all attendees. 

• Feedback is Welcome: As always, we will be sharing an end of year survey with families to share feedback on their experience at DaVinci this year. 

Please reach out if you have any questions.

My best,

Need to Know

Picnic Lunch Hosted by Student Council

SAVE THE DATE!! Next Tuesday, May 25, Student Council is hosting a lunch outside for all classes K-8. This will be held on the soccer field during normal lunch times and students will sit with their class like usual. Students have the opportunity to bring a blanket or a towel to sit on for lunch if they choose.

Please note: Student Council will NOT be providing food. Hot or alternate lunches will still be served to those students who order them, or students can bring a lunch from home.

We look forward to seeing everyone on the field! 

Thank you so much, 

Ms. Paumen, Ms. Kitt and members of the Student Council

Chromebook Returns

School issued Chromebooks are due back to the school by the end of the day on Friday, June 18, which is the day after the last day of school and a teacher workshop day. Most students will use their technology until the very last day of school; however, if your child is not using their Chromebook because they have another computer that they are able to access for school work, you are welcome to return it to school. These returned Chromebooks can then be used for MCA testing and the like. 

We are asking that parents return computers to the office with the Chromebook Return Form (provided below) attached to them. You can print one off and bring it in, or one will be provided for you in the office.   Please do not send your child to school with the Chromebook return, as we need parents to sign off on the return. If your child has already returned their Chromebook to their classroom teacher, we can confirm that return once you send the Chromebook Return Form back to the office. 

Note: Chromebooks not returned by the end of the day on Friday, June 18 will be considered lost and families will be charged a $300 replacement fee. Please contact the school office with any questions or concerns.

COVID-19 Vaccines for Children Age 12 and Older

Minnesotans age 12- through 17-years-old are now eligible to get vaccinated at state sites that have Pfizer available: Bloomington (Mall of America), Saint Paul (Roy Wilkins Auditorium), Lino Lakes, and Oakdale. 

Families in Greater Minnesota looking for a vaccine closer to home are encouraged to talk to their child’s health care provider, visit the state’s Find Vaccine Locations map, or go to Vaccines.gov to search for providers administering Pfizer vaccines.

We strongly encourage all of our students ages 12 and up to get the Pfizer vaccine as soon as possible. Getting our students vaccinated will help keep us on track for a school experience that resembles what we are used to and will help protect those who are not yet able to be vaccinated, like younger siblings.

COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in adolescents. Adolescents, like adults, may have some side effects after vaccination, which are normal signs that their body is building protection. If you have questions about COVID-19 vaccine, or any other vaccines your child may need, talk to your child’s health care provider.

A Reminder on Parental Consent:

• Parent or guardian consent is required for COVID-19 vaccination for people younger than 18 years old. Families are highly encouraged to join 12- through 17-year-olds and get vaccinated at the same time.
• For State Community Vaccination Clinics:
  • 12- to 15-year-olds must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
  • 16- and 17-year-olds must receive permission from a parent or guardian, either in person through being accompanied by a parent or guardian, or online beforehand through the appointment scheduling and registration process.
  • Families are highly encouraged to join 12- to 17-year-olds and get vaccinated at the same time.

How Minnesotans Can Get Their Shot at No Cost:

• Vaccine Connector: You can directly sign up for an appointment at one of the state Community Vaccination Program locations at VaccineConnector.mn.gov.
  • Walk-ins for Minnesotans 12+ will be accepted at state community vaccination sites administering Pfizer vaccines in Bloomington (Mall of America), Saint Paul (Roy Wilkins Auditorium), Lino Lakes and Oakdale.
  • Walk-ins and appointments for Minnesotans 18+ are accepted at all sites.
• Vaccine Locator Map: You can use the Vaccine Locator Map to search for providers who are offering COVID-19 vaccine to Minnesotans ages 12 and older at https://mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/find-vaccine/locations/index.jsp.
• Vaccine Finder: You can also find COVID-19 vaccine appointments at Vaccines.gov, which allows you to filter by vaccine manufacturer and search for only Pfizer vaccine appointments.

Health Care Provider: You can also contact your child’s primary health care provider, local public health department, or a local pharmacy.

Nice to Know

If you are a parent of a child that receives Special Education services, consider attending our DaVinci Special Education Advisory Council on Tuesday, May 25 from 5-6 p.m. virtually. Please contact Kari Peterson, Special Education Director, at kmpeterson@davincicharterschool.org if you are interested or would like more information.

“With a Difficult School Year in the Rear-View Mirror, DaVinci Academy Speech Language Pathologists Offer Families Tips for Skill-Building at Home This Better Hearing & Speech Month.”

Read the full article below!

Music Lessons Available at Hovland Conservatory

The Budding Musician Scholarship at Hovland Conservatory is back! Start lessons at the ideal time for learning, tuition-free. There is no obligation to continue following the scholarship, and you do not need an instrument at home to give lessons a try. Weekly private lessons are held at Hovland’s studio near Hwy 65 and Main Street, or online. 

Students in kindergarten receive four free 30-minute private lessons. Grades 1 and 2 receive two free 30-minute private lessons. Grades 3 and up receive a money back guarantee after two 30-minute private lessons.

Hovland Conservatory is a 501c3 nonprofit music educator providing private lessons for all ages. You can find more information about their program and the benefits of music study here. 

New Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is launching a temporary federal program, the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program, to help eligible families pay for internet service during the pandemic. Under this program, families can receive up to $50 per month, or $75 per month if on tribal lands, credited toward broadband services. Additionally, families may receive a discount of up to $100 on a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer.

Households can qualify if they participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP). Households with a child who was eligible for free or reduced price meals under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or the School Breakfast Program (SBP) in school years 2019-20 or 2020-21, including children who attended schools participating in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), are also eligible for the EBB program. For more information, please visit the new EBB website.

Shout Outs

Anna K-B Named Promising Young Writer

Eighth grader Anna K-B has been recognized as a Promising Young Writer by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). 

The Promising Young Writers Program represents NCTE’s commitment to early and continuing work in the development of writing. The school-based writing program was established in 1985 to stimulate and recognize writing talents and to emphasize the importance of writing skills among eighth-grade students. Schools in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, American schools abroad, and the Virgin Islands are eligible to nominate students.

This year, schools nominated 90 students. Of that number, 56 received the highest award, Certificates of Recognition, and 34 received Certificates of Participation. Each student submitted two pieces of writing. Two independent judges evaluated each submission holistically on content, purpose, audience, tone, word choice, organization, development, and style.

Click here for more information about the Promising Young Writers Program. 

The NCTE is the nation’s most comprehensive literacy organization, supporting more than 25,000 teachers across the preK–college spectrum. Through the expertise of its members, NCTE has served at the forefront of every major improvement in the teaching and learning of English and the language arts since 1911. 

Fundraising

Early Bird Registration Ends TODAY!

Click here to to learn more and to register!

Support Space

Mental Health Month

Hello DaVinci Community!

In honor of Mental Health Month, we wanted to share some more ideas to help support your child’s mental health. Check out these tips from Caring For Kids:

• Help kids build strong caring relationships
  • It’s important for children to have strong relationships with family and friends.
  • One way to promote caring relationships is by showing kindness. Check out this resource to make kindness fun!
• Help kids develop self-esteem so they feel good about themselves
  • Show them love and acceptance. Praise their efforts and success.
• Listen and respect their feelings
  • Remind them it’s OK to have negative feelings; encourage them to talk with you or someone else they feel comfortable with—your child’s counselor or social worker is always here to listen!
• Create a safe, positive home environment
  • You can be a role model by taking care of your own mental health and making healthy habits part of the family routine. Be aware of media use and discussing serious family issues around your children.
• Help kids solve problems in difficult situations
  • We can help kids develop problem solving skills by supporting them through the process of learning how to relax when they’re upset, and talking through solutions with them, without taking over or doing the problem-solving for them.

Read more about these tips by accessing the full article here.

If you have any questions, concerns, or are in need of additional help, please reach out for support. If your family is faced with new or ongoing needs and challenges, please let us know by filling out this survey. Someone from our team will reach out to assist your family! 

Sincerely,

Your Mental Health Team

Phoenix Hathaway (K-4 School Counselor) www.calendly.com/mshathaway (763) 200-1338

Melissa Derby (5-8 School Counselor) www.calendly.com/msderby (763) 200-1281

Courtney Rowe (K-8 School Social Worker) www.calendly.com/msrowe (763) 200- 6081

NAMI Mental Health Month: Children’s Series Webinar

Children’s Series: Resilience Building Montage
Thursday, May 27
4:30 to 5:00 PM
Celebrate Mental Health Month with the Children’s Team as they close out their series on building resilience.
Register Here

Nutritional Services

Ongoing

COVID Testing for Middle School Students

Anyone can have COVID-19 and not know it, and it is estimated that almost 50% of people with COVID-19 have no symptoms. Getting tested is the best way to know you are healthy and allows us to continue to offer in-person learning and extracurricular opportunities, especially with the increasing spread of virus variants in our state.

We’re pleased to now be able to offer COVID-19 testing, through the state of Minnesota’s partnership with Vault, to our Middle School students.

Thank you to those Middle School students who participated in testing yesterday. On Wednesday, June 3 we will distribute testing kits again throughout the Middle School classrooms to students who are interested. Each interested student can bring home a testing kit, complete the test with a parent and the help of the Vault Zoom program, and return the test to the school the next day. Student testing kits will be sent to the lab with staff testing kits that Friday. Please reach out to Holly Fischer if you have any questions about this opportunity.

For more information and testing details, please view the link below.

Please remember that if your child OR anyone in your household has one of the more common symptoms consistent with COVID, or two or more of the less common symptoms, all members of the household must remain at home until a negative COVID test or an alternate doctor’s diagnosis is received. This does not include baseline allergies but may include the same symptoms as a cold or other viruses. Please reach out to Nurse Julie if you have any questions or are unsure if your child(ren) should stay home.

More common symptoms: fever ≥ 100.4°F, new or worsening cough, difficulty breathing, loss of taste and smell.

Less common symptoms: sore throat, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, chills, muscle pain, extreme fatigue, new severe headache, or new congestion/runny nose.

Thanks for keeping our school safe!

COVID-19 Updates:

Vaccine Provider Weekly Update

Community Testing

• Testing is free, you do not need insurance or identification.
• You can get tested even if you don’t have symptoms of COVID-19.
• To avoid long lines, people are encouraged to pre-register for a time slot, using the registration link listed for each location.

COVID-19 Testing Resource for Families

MDH recommends all school-age youth returning to school, youth sports, or extracurricular activities, and their families, get tested every two weeks through the end of the school year. While it is not a requirement, regular testing complements other safety measures already in place, such as masking and social distancing. 

For more information, please visit COVID-19 Testing for Kids and Families. Getting tested every two weeks from now until the end of the school year can help keep schools open and sports operating, and ensure we are limiting the spread of COVID-19.

COVID-19 Vaccine Connector

The MN Department of Education has asked us once again to share this letter, outlining who is currently eligible to receive a Covid-19 vaccine as well as how to get registered using the Vaccine Connector. This letter is now available Hmong, Somali and Spanish, too. 

State Fair FEMA Site

Check out this State Fair FEMA vaccination site flyer to learn more about getting vaccinated through the Minnesota Community Vaccination Program.

Vaccine Tracking

Minnesota has launched a public vaccine data dashboard to detail the progress of COVID-19 vaccine allocation, distribution and administration across Minnesota. The dashboard provides a visual and user-friendly way to view key vaccination data. The dashboard includes information on the number of doses promised (allocated) to the state by the federal government; shipped to Minnesota providers; and administered to Minnesotans. Information is updated daily at 11 a.m.

View Minnesota’s dashboard for vaccine tracking

Help Wanted