Welcome to the 2024-25 School Year
Greetings DaVinci Academy families and welcome to a brand new school year! I am so pleased to be joining you on our journey into the 2024-2025 academic year. My first month at DaVinci has been filled with preparation and anticipation. We have successfully filled all of our leadership positions and I am excited to welcome some new faces to the leadership team including, Dr. Jessica Murphy, Dr. Rick Halley, and Katie Zehowski. The leadership team is working diligently to create systems, processes, and procedures that will support all of our students and families so learning and academic growth can be at the forefront of each student’s experience at DaVinci Academy.
The start of the school year can bring a wide range of emotions. Anxiety, excitement, anticipation, and maybe even fear can all exist within us at the same time. Know that we are here to partner with you this year and to bring a new era to DaVinci where we look forward with hope for a wonderful year of collaborative experiences. We hope to see you at our open house on Thursday, August 8th (3:00-6:00 p.m.). This will be a time where you can meet new staff, and our new school leaders, and experience the new energy in the building. If you have any questions before our open house or the start of the year, please do not hesitate to reach out. We are here to support your children and you as their families. I hope you can soak up the last rays of summer before school starts and that you find some time to connect, recharge, and spend meaningful time with your families.
Antonio Kuklok
Executive Director
Meet our new Elementary Principal – Dr. Jessica Murphy
Hello DaVinci Families,
It is with great excitement to write this letter of introduction to you as the Elementary Principal at DaVinci Academy of Arts and Science. The level of professional growth and support across this staff is inspiring. But it is the student body that brings the building to life. You have wonderful children; thank you for sharing them with us.
This will be my 22nd year in education. I began my career teaching 6th and 7th grade English Language Arts. During these years I had the opportunity to coach tennis and speech. Fun fact, I did not compete in these activities as a student myself, and wish that I had. Upon completing my K-12 reading certification program, I moved into the roles of reading interventionist, instructional coach and district equity specialist. I was involved in coordinating enrichment experiences for elementary students to attend the Young Artist Young Authors Conference, Project Earth Conference, and a middle school art collaborative that brought us to Minneapolis College of Art and Design.
My doctoral research focused on the role of equity specialists in schools. For two years, I worked as an education consultant with a number of districts across Minnesota. Though I loved working with a variety of schools, It became clear to me that I thrive best when I can invest in a school community. That is what brought me to DaVinci. I have had the pleasure of getting to know this community over the past year as an instructional coach. I look forward to working side-by-side with all staff to create spaces for students to feel valued, seen and celebrated.
On a personal note, My husband, son and I enjoy camping, watching animated movies, playing legos, and spending time with our extended family. My son is about to start preschool, so that’s the big excitement in the Murphy house. Outside of school I enjoy reading, traveling, grabbing a good cup of coffee with a friend, and dreaming about remodeling my kitchen. My mom is teaching me how to sew, and I am getting pretty good at mug mats and table runners. Short projects are all I have time for lately.
I am anticipating a fantastic school year and look forward to working with you and your children. At DaVinci Academy, we strive to create a positive and hopeful learning environment that is highly engaging, academically sound, and dedicated to continuous improvement. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions, concerns, or to share positive highlights about your child’s experience.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jessica Murphy
Meet our new Middle School Principal – Dr. Rick Halley
It is an honor to introduce myself as the new middle school principal at DVA. I look forward to being a part of this extraordinary school community. I have a passion for both the Arts and Science.
The 2024-2025 school year starts my 34th year in education. I began as a classroom teacher and have worked my way up to a coordinator, a Director of Gifted Programming, and eventually to administration. I have recently been an administrator at Community School of Excellence in St. Paul. I am a licensed K-12 Principal and have diverse experiences at all levels. My doctorate focused on bullying and the role of school counselors and school climate. This summer I am completing my superintendent internship through Winona State University.
I have directed plays, served on the MN Thespian committee, coached Destination Imagination, coached speech, and supported choir, dance and band programs. The Rock Band at my previous school has been a huge success. I have also attended sessions at the University of MN and St.Catherine so that I could assist with ballooning experiments. I worked with the Mayo Clinic to bring authentic science experiences/research to our classrooms, and helped oversee a school greenhouse. I have worked with Arts and Science-focused schools in the past.
I have an amazing daughter who graduated from the University of Minnesota with a marketing degree last year. When I am not at school, I enjoy reading, running, attending theater productions or concerts, and helping with one-act play or speech competitions. Some interesting things about me: I have been in a couple of movies as an extra, I have attended a Harvard Symposium, and I have been a foster parent to numerous children, ages 0-17.
I look forward to learning more about each of you as we work together to continue providing a positive, engaging, and rigorous learning environment. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions, suggestions or concerns.
It is going to be a tremendous year!”
Dr. Rick Halley
Back-to-School Open House
Hello DaVinci Families,
The back-to-school open house is next Thursday, August 8 from 3 pm to 6 pm. It is highly recommended that families plan to attend the open house, as back-to-school information packets will not be mailed home.
Families will receive all back-to-school information during the open house. You will meet your teachers, tour classrooms, and receive your back-to-school packet(s) and class schedule(s).
The open house is also an excellent opportunity to get information about school meals, after-school and enrichment programming, and school sports; receive help with Silent Dismissal and Infinite Campus; drop off school supplies; and most importantly, connect as a community!
Open House Information
Thursday, August 8, 2024
- 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
***Also, bring your appetite, the PTO is again hosting an assortment of food trucks during the open house, beginning at 3:00 pm.***
If you cannot attend the open house, students will receive back-to-school packets from their classroom/advisory teacher on the first day of school, August 13th (1st – 8th grade) or August 15th (Kindergarten). The student supply list and academic calendar are below and can be found on our website under the Back to School section.
2024-25 Academic Calendar
2024-25 School Supply List
We look forward to seeing you!
The DaVinci Academy Team
PTO News
The PTO encourages everyone to stop by their table at the upcoming Open House event. Come see what exciting events and fundraisers they have planned for the 24-25 school year and learn how to become a part of this amazing committee. Also, bring your appetite, the PTO is again hosting an assortment of food trucks during the open house, beginning at 3pm.
The PTO will be kicking off the school year with their first Dinner Night Out at Chipotle (Ulysses St NE, Blaine) on Tuesday, August 27th from 4-8pm. More details will be posted as the event nears.
Mark your calendars! We would LOVE for parents, teachers, and staff to join us at our first public meeting on Monday, August 26th at 4:30pm in the library. Watch for the meeting agenda to be posted on the DVA PTO homepage.
Attendance Policy Updates
Sunrise Care for Late-Start Mondays’
