DaVinci Connection-May 5, 2022
School Links
Important Dates
Subject to change-see online calendar
May 6, 5:00 PM Literacy Community Event & Talent Show 6:00 PM
May 9-12, Spring Intersession **No school unless you are enrolled in a class.
May 13, No School
May 19, Kindergarten Round Up for enrolled 22-23 incoming students
May 27, Annie Jr. Performance 6:00 PM
May 28, Annie Jr. Performance 12:00 PM
May 30, No School
May 31-June 2, Science Week, More details to come
June 3, No School
June 3, 8th Grade Send Off 5:00-7:00PM
June 10, No School
June 10, Tenth Annual Golf Tournament, Majestic Oaks Golf Club
June 15, Last Day of School for Middle School
June 15, 8th Grade Celebration 6:00PM
June 16, Last Day of School
Attendance
If your student will be late or absent please call the attendance line 763-252-6130 before 9:00 a.m. Please include:
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
An Extended Absence Form is needed for more than five consecutive absences and is due four to six weeks in advance of the absence.
Recess Attire
Temperatures are getting warmer, but please remember to send your children with their winter attire. Snow bibs are needed when there is snow on the ground and boots are needed for the mud. Please send your student with appropriate (clearly labeled) attire including hats and mittens. Students go outside daily unless either the real temperature or the wind chill temperature is below 0 degrees.
GREETINGS!
To the left and right, you will find helpful links to important pages on our website.
Dear DaVinci Academy Community:
Happy spring! It is with great pleasure that we close out our spring term with an abundance of events and experiential learning opportunities for our students. In May students on our Quiz Bowl team are traveling to Chicago for a national Quiz Bowl competition. We have four students moving on to the state competition for History Day, and multiple Destination Imagination teams that competed at the state level. We also hosted our annual book fair this week! We will be hosting an arts and science week the last week of May for all students. There will be engaging learning opportunities throughout each day woven into the class schedule to help our students invest and grow in our DaVinci Academy pillars. There is such joy overflowing from our hallways!
As we enter our final weeks of the school year, Holly Fischer will be stepping into the role as Interim Executive Director. I am so excited for her leadership and know that she will keep the DaVinci Academy spirit, community, students, staff, and families at the forefront of the next phase of growth for this beloved community. Thank you again for all of your support over the last three years, it’s been an incredible journey to be on with you.
With Gratitude,
Ahava
Dollars for DaVinci
Friday is the last day to turn in your Dollars for DaVinci. We are significantly behind in our goal for this year – but congratulations to the 3rd and 4th grades classes for killing it! Please consider donating to your school today! All grade levels K-8 have the opportunity to help raise money to improve our indoor/outdoor spaces and enhance learning experiences for our students. Funds will go toward a mural that represents shared ideas from the students, PAC equipment and continued expansion of outdoor spaces.
Talent Show TONIGHT
Tonight is the night to attend DaVinci’s Got Talent! Come support your students, friends, and community members at 6:00pm in the Performing Arts Center. Admission is free. Donations are always welcome to further our arts programs. Come and see what our students have been working on.
Golf Tournament – Looking for Golfers!
REGISTRATION IS OPEN for our Tenth Annual Golf Tournament & Dinner on June 10, 2022, at Majestic Oaks Golf Club! Register TODAY for early bird pricing!
https://davincicharterschool.org/news-events/golf-tournament-2022/
The Golf Tournament is our end of year fundraiser, and a fun community building event for the DaVinci adults.
Silent Auction Donations Needed!
Please consider donating some silent auction items. Here are some ideas:
- Gift cards to local stores, restaurants, attractions (example: Target, Pizza Ranch, Sky Zone, Fun Lab, etc.)
- Merchandise and Products from businesses
- Event Tickets (example: Wild’s tickets, Twins Tickets, MN Orchestra Tickets, etc.)
- Services from businesses or companies (example: family photo shoot, lawn services, etc. )
- Get together with other families and create a gift basket
| Basket Ideas | |
| Family Night | Board games, movie tickets, fuzzy blankets, popcorn and treats |
| Minnesota Sports | Hats, tickets to a game, sports memorabilia |
| The Baker’s Basket | A wicker basket of baking mixes for cakes, brownies, pancakes, pie crust, pie fillings, rolling pin, glass pie pan, wax paper, cookie cutters, olive oil, cut cupcake liners, and a baking cookbook. Delicious motivation for getting original in the kitchen. |
| Barbeque Time Basket | Use a barbecue as the actual basket and include tools, sauces, spices, tongs, recipe books, and vouchers for meats. |
| Gourmet Coffee lovers Basket | A coffee machine, a variety of filter coffee packs, espresso coffee packs, milk frother, coffee plunger, and gourmet or rare coffees, as well as, gift certificates to Starbucks or a favorite local coffee shop. |
| Wine Lover’s Night Basket | Choose a selection of red and white wines, wine glasses, plus snacks to go with the wines, like cheese and crackers, and meats. |
| Date Night Basket | Gift cards for restaurants, movie tickets, popcorn, bowling, go-carts (or any activity that could be used for a date), and flowers, a babysitting service! |
| Weekend Getaway Basket | Voucher for a hotel, or bed and breakfast. Includes champagne, wine, cheese, and other romantic snacks. Also, toss in some vouchers for activities near the hotel such as tour guides, spa treatments, and hiking/riding/cycling. |
Thank you to those who have already donated to support our school and golf tournament! If you are able to donate or willing to volunteer time to collect donations, PLEASE reach out to school_development@davincicharterschool.org
Notes from Nurse Julie – Seeing More COVID Cases
Several COVID cases have occurred recently in the school. Common symptoms have been sore throat, congestion, runny nose, and low-grade fevers. The school still has BinaxNOW test kits available for students, so please reach out to Nurse Julie if you need one. Additionally, if you will be traveling over Intersession and would like a COVID test to take before returning to school on May 16th please reach out to CovidReporting@davincicharterschool.org.
If your child tests positive, please fill out the COVID Reporting Form and Nurse Julie will get back to you as soon as she can with the details of your student’s return to school.
Link to Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScZOfV_mBozzNrainbpQPZ61i-sGBPRbOOL-8WZ_YC4mpDM8w/viewform?usp=sf_link
Annie Jr.
Come support DaVinci Academy 5th-8th grade students as they perform Annie Jr.
Performances
Friday, May 27 @ 6:00PM
Saturday, May 28 @ 12:00PM
Admission
$8 Adults
$6 Students/Seniors
FREE children under age 5
Support Space
Happy May!!! It is Mental Health Awareness month, and this whole first week we’re celebrating Children’s Mental Health Awareness. This is a crucial time to build awareness and decrease stigma, because when we take care of our mental health, we set ourselves up for success and achieve wellness in other areas of life, too.
It is estimated that 13-20 percent of children (up to 1 out of 5) in the US experience a mental health disorder in a given year (CDC Children’s Mental Health Report). Children’s mental health affects children of all ages, genders, races, cultures, and across all regions of our country. According to the CDC, mental health disorders are chronic health conditions that may span a lifetime. However, with early diagnosis and treatment, children may experience improved relationships with others at home and school, with reduced challenges.
There are lots of fun ways to increase our knowledge and awareness. Check out this link for some virtual events and opportunities to grow your knowledge around mental health!
If you’d like to learn more about mental health, getting help and taking action, click here.
Please reach out if you have any questions, concerns or are in need of additional support. If your family is faced with new or ongoing needs and challenges throughout this time, please let us know by filling out this survey and someone from our team will reach out to further assist your family!
Mindfully Yours,
DaVinci Academy Mental Health Team
Phoenix Hathaway (K-4 Counselor) www.calendly.com/mshathaway (763)-754-6577 ext. 1204
Jaclyn MacDonald (5-8 School Counselor, Long-Term Sub) (763)-754-6577 ext.1310
Courtney Rowe (K-8 School Social Worker) www.calendly.com/msrowe (763)-754-6577 ext. 1215
In Search of…
Staff Appreciation Week
Book Fair
Thank you to all of the parents, students, and faculty who came to support this year’s book fair! We were so excited to partner with Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul, and we had an amazing turnout. The kids really enjoyed themselves and found lots of good books to bring home. Thank you to the amazing parent volunteers who were super helpful with the kids and those who donated some change for kids who needed a little extra for sales tax.
Parents have one more opportunity to shop the book fair tonight at the Literacy Community night at 5:00 PM
STEM Builders
Summer camp: June 15- August 29. Options for grades K-8. Click here: Summer Camp Information
Community Events
Lee Carlson Center
Lee Carlson is excited to offer weekly virtual parenting groups at no charge to anyone who is interested! Each week we’ll explore a new topic around parenting and you’ll learn new skills that you can apply right away to make things a little less chaotic at home. Each Thursday, we will offer three different sessions and everyone is welcome — you don’t need to have attended a previous session to join us.
No need to sign up, just click the link and join in: https://leecarlsoncenter.org/virtual-parenting-groups/
COVID-19 Updates
Minnesotans who get their COVID-19 vaccine (first, second or booster) at the Mall of America between now and May 31, 2022 are eligible to receive a Nickelodeon Universe Mystery Points Ticket.
It’s easy and convenient to get the shots your family needs through the community vaccination site at Bloomington’s Mall of America. It is open weekly, Wednesday through Friday 1–8 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. This location has Pfizer vaccines for 5- to 11-year-olds; Pfizer vaccines for people 12 and older; and Pfizer boosters for people 12 and older. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are also welcome.
Go to Community Vaccination Program–Mall of America sign-up to make an appointment for yourself or someone else in your household. On-line sign-up is available in English, Hmong, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Call 855-612-0677 to make your appointment over the phone.
Mystery Points Tickets will be distributed following vaccination while supplies lasts beginning April 13, 2022 till May 30, 2022.
For updated vaccination stats for students and staff at DaVinci Academy click HERE
‘Kids Deserve a Shot’ Vaccine Incentive Program for Minnesotans 5-11 Years Old
Vaccines are the strongest tool we have to prevent serious disease and death from COVID-19. Vaccines are now available for Minnesotans ages 5 and older at no cost. On January 11, Governor Tim Walz announced the launch of the next phase of the ‘Kids Deserve a Shot’ vaccine incentive program to encourage Minnesota families to get their kids 5- to 11-years-old fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
$100,000 Minnesota College Scholarship Drawings
Later this spring, there will be drawings for five $100,000 Minnesota college scholarship drawings for all Minnesotans 5-11 years old who are fully vaccinated. All Minnesotans 5-11 years old who completed their first and second doses at any point up to the registration deadline will be eligible to be entered for a chance to win a $100,000 college scholarship. Details on the drawings will be announced in the coming months.
How families can find a shot for their child:
- Visit gov/vaxforkids to find clinic locations near you.
- Check with their pediatrician, family medicine clinic, or local pharmacy about appointments.
- Watch for vaccination clinics being offered at schools or other community locations around Minnesota.
Boosters Recommended for People Aged 12 and Older
As a reminder, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced now recommend booster shots for those aged 12 and older five months after the completion of the primary series of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. In addition, for some immunocompromised children aged 5-11 years old, CDC also recommends an additional dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to complete the primary series – a total of three doses.
Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days.
Order your tests now so you have them when you need them.
- Walk in or schedule an appointment for a test at one of the state’s free community testing sites across Minnesota: COVID-19 Community Testing Sites.
- Order a test through the state’s free at-home COVID-19 testing program: COVID-19 Test at Home.
- Find a testing option near you through the state’s Find Testing Locations map: Find Testing Locations.
Find a COVID Vaccine: The COVID-19 vaccine is widely available. There are many options for places to get a vaccine. Here are some different
ways to find a COVID-19 vaccine:
For more on the COVID Vaccine click here:
Families must fill out this form regardless of their or their students’ vaccination status if one of more of the following is true:
1. Student or household member has tested positive for COVID-19
2. Student or household member has symptoms related to COVID-19
3. Student or household member has had close contact with someone who has tested positive for or has symptoms relating to COVID-19
Find out more about vaccine availability in Anoka County by visiting the county website: https://www.anokacounty.us/4047/COVID-19-Vaccination
Minnesotans with questions about the COVID vaccine can call the Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 Public Hotline at 1-833-431-2053. The hotline is available Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
For unique ways of talking to your kids visit The ABC’s of the Covid-19 Vaccine hosted by Sesame Street
All Minnesotans age 12 -17 are recommended to get a booster shot at least 5 months after their primary series of vaccine. To find where to get your booster shot, refer to Find Vaccine Locations.
Minnesotans looking to start the vaccination series their child can:
- Visit mn.gov/vaxforkids to find clinic locations near you.
- Check with their pediatrician, family medicine clinic or pharmacy about appointments.
- Go to a community vaccination clinic at Mall of America. For more details and to register click here: Mall of America Community Vaccination
Minnesotans with questions about the vaccine can also call the Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 Public Hotline at 1-833-431-2053. The hotline is available Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Employment
Licensed positions for 2022-2023 School Year
Non-Licensed positions for 2022-2023 School Year
DaVinci Den Assistant
Licensed positions for 2021-2022 School Year
Non-Licensed Positions for the 2021-2022 School Year
Visit DaVinci Academy’s Employment Portal to learn more about open positions and apply online.
