DaVinci Connection-October 9, 2018

DaVinci Connection

School Links

Volunteer Information

Anti-Bullying Policy

Important Dates

(subject to change – see online calendar)

10/12 Last Day of Session Extracurricular Activities

10/15 – 10/19 No School

10/15 Parent Teachers Conferences, 12:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

10/15 Curriculum/Technology Committee Meeting, 3:30 p.m.

10/16 Parent Teacher Conferences, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

10/26 Family Movie Night, 6:00 p.m.

10/29 Finance Committee Meeting, 6:00 p.m.

10/29 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 = $0.40;
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

Color Run

On behalf of the Color Run Committee, I want to extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation to all the families who participated in the Second Annual DaVinci Academy Color Run. Your efforts and energy will have a tremendous impact on our students.

One of the many things that makes DaVinci Academy such an incredible place is our community. As I peered across the field on Saturday and saw all of our families bouncing around in the cold together – smiling, laughing, covered in color and enjoying every second of it, I felt so privileged to be part of the DaVinci Academy family.

Please feel free to download your color run pictures using this link.

Thanks again and see you next year,

Robyn Creary

Alumni student running through the finish line at the school's color run.

Students running through a balloon arch during the school's color run.

DVA Faculty members running during the school's color run

Elementary students throwing color packets during the school's color run.

Students and parent being splashed with color during the school's color run

Counselor’s Corner

Hi Parents!

My name is Melissa Derby, and I’m the school counselor at DaVinci Academy. I recently re-introduced myself and my role to your children, and I would like to take this opportunity to do the same with you. I am one of the student support staff and my role includes helping kids with their academic, college and career, and social-emotional development. I provide counseling services, and I help all students improve their self-awareness, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills among other things.

Throughout the year, I will work with students in classroom lessons, individually, and in small groups to develop positive social-emotional skills and identify areas for personal growth and positive change. I will be in contact with parents and teachers as I work with kids and hope to collaborate on the best ways to support all of our students’ growth.

2019-2020 Enrollment is Now Open

We are now accepting applications for the 2019-20 school year for students who would like to attend DaVinci Academy for grades Kindergarten through 8th grade. To complete an application for the next school year click here and click “Online Enrollment”. Sign up through our new online enrollment system to 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, 2019, to be included in the enrollment lottery for the 2019-2020 school year.

Our next Information Session for prospective families is Tuesday, October 23, 6:00 p.m. 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.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Conferences will be Monday, October 15 from 12:00-8:00 p.m. and Tuesday, October 16 from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Kindergarten – 5th grade families will be able to sign up for a 15 minute conference time via Bloomz.

Middle School teachers will host drop-in conferences from Monday, 12:00-7:00 p.m. and Tuesday, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., and will be contacting parents directly to schedule group conferences.

Mark Your Calendars!

(Rachel Brown)
The Book Fair will be here in a flutter of a fairy’s wings! It will be open during conferences on Monday, October 15 from 12:00-8:00 p.m. and on Tuesday, October 16 from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

There will be a very special offer this year. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Meltdown will be available for pre-order for $8.99 plus tax with free shipping to the school. The book will be delivered to your child’s classroom.

The Book Fair is an important fundraiser for DaVinci’s Library, allowing us to update books for our students. Teachers have wish lists for their classrooms as well. There will be a “wish table” set up for children to use magic wands and grant a wish for their classroom by purchasing a book.

Mrs. Brown is looking for a few volunteers to help during the book fair. Click here to sign up.

Healthy Snacks

Classroom Snacks are a great way for our students to stay energized and full throughout their day. We are starting to see more and more unhealthy snack choices that do not fit our Wellness Policy. Chips, Cookies, Candy, and Takis are examples of snacks that should not be in the classroom.

Please make sure your child is bringing healthy snack options that will fuel not only their bodies, but their minds. To see a list of Healthy snack ideas, please click on the link. Healthy Snack Ideas

Music Performances and Informances

The DaVinci Academy Music Department is excited to share our 2018-2019 school year performance dates. This year, performances fall into two categories: evening concerts and daytime informances, both of which families are invited to watch. An informance gives students the opportunity to demonstrate the foundations of music by covering multiple state standards and showcases how music connects to other subjects. Along with evening concerts, informances will give students a well-rounded and meaningful learning experience.

Kindergarten

Penguin Party – Wednesday, December 19, 2018 time TBA (during the school day)
Graduation – Wednesday, June 19, 2019 time TBA (during the school day)

1st Grade

Winter Concert – Thursday, January 17, 2019 at 5:30 p.m.
Informance at the Fiesta – Tuesday, June 18, 2019 time TBA (during the school day)

2nd Grade

Winter Concert – Thursday, January 17, 2019 at 6:45 p.m.
Olympic Event – more information coming soon (during the school day)

3rd Grade

Fall Concert – Thursday, November 8, 2018 at 5:30 p.m.
Spring Concert – Thursday, April 11, 2019 at 5:30 p.m.

4th Grade (along with 5th Grade Choir)

Fall Concert – Thursday, November 8, 2018 at 6:45 p.m.
Spring Concert – Thursday, April 11, 2019 at 6:4 5 p.m.

Middle School Ensembles – Winter

6-8 Band Winter Concert – Tuesday, December 4, 2018 at 6:00 p.m.
5th Band Informance – Wednesday, December 5, 2018 from 10:27-11:12 a.m.
5th Orchestra Informance – Thursday, December 6, 2018 from 10:27-11:12 a.m.
6-8 Orchestra Winter Concert – Thursday, December 6, 2018 at 6:00 p.m.
6-8 Choir Winter Concert – Thursday, December 13, 2018 at 6:00 p.m.

Sincerely, DaVinci Academy Music Department

Mrs. Ashley Fohrman – afohrman@davincicharterschool.org K-4 General Music
Mr. Ben Hanson – bjhanson@davincicharterschool.org K-8 General and Choir
Mr. Zack Sorenson – zsorenson@davincicharterschool.org 5-8 Instrumental Music

HELP WANTED

Skilled Laborers

Pavilion planning and outdoor space designs are underway and we are looking for DaVinci Academy parents who may have expertise in certain areas. If you are interested in helping with some outdoor projects and have any of these skills, we would love to talk with you.

* Cement experience (pouring footings or concrete slabs)

* Construction experience (framing)

* Landscaping experience (a bobcat and bobcat operator is needed to help with drainage issues on the playground)

* Access to materials like pea gravel and mulch

* A vehicle to carry pea gravel or mulch

* Project manager type experience in this field

* Access to a company that makes or sells school quality picnic tables

Please contact Holly Fischer ASAP if any of this is up your alley.

Landscaping – Going Out For Bids

If you have a landscaping company and would be interested in maintaining our grounds, we are looking for interested vendors. Please email or call Holly Fischer for more details.

Community Representative Wanted

DaVinci Academy is looking for a community representative, who is not a DaVinci Academy employee, to serve on our Continuing Education Committee for teacher relicensure. This committee meets 2-3 times/year with minimal prep work. If you are interested or know someone who may be interested, please contact Jenelle Moehn by Monday, October 15, 2018.

NICE TO KNOW

PTO Providing Teacher/Staff Meals During Conferences

If you are available and willing to help provide a meal for the teachers and staff during Parent-Teacher Conferences, please sign up using the link below. Let’s keep our teachers well fed!

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0d44aba823a3f58-fall2

Uniform Donations

The PTO will have a uniform donation table at the conferences for anyone in need of uniforms. Donations of gently used uniforms could be dropped off at school any day before, October 15 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Please do not donate uniforms with holes or stains.

Box Tops Contest-Ends Friday!

PTO is hosting their annual box top contest Monday, October 1-Friday, October 12.

When you turn in your box tops, please remember the following:

label the bag/sheet with your teacher’s name
check the expiration date
place box tops in the box tops drawer in the mezzanine by the library drawer (do not turn them into the office)

The top 3 classes will receive a popcorn party courtesy of the PTO!

Free Family Movie Night

The PTO is hosting a movie night Friday, October 26 at 6:00 p.m. There is no charge for the movie, only a small fee for concessions.

During intermission we will raffle off 2 family movie night prize buckets with copies of the movie and snacks for your family to enjoy at home. Come enjoy a fun night with your family and meet some other DaVinci families!! We will be showing Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation in the gym and will be serving:

Pepperoni, Sausage or Cheese Pizza: $1/slice or $6/pizza
50¢ Popcorn
50¢ Goldfish packs
25¢ Fruit snacks
50¢ Candy bars
25¢ Mini water bottles

Bring blankets and pillows to snuggle on. (We will be in the gym using bleachers and the floor.) Get your pj’s and slippers ready for a fun family night out.

**All children must have an adult present to be allowed into the movie night. Please no outside snacks or beverages, other than personal water bottles.

Outdoor Attire

At this time of year, the temperature outside can really fluctuate making dressing appropriately for recess challenging. Please check the weather before sending your child(ren) to school.

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

This is also the beginning of the lost and found season. Please label everything your child wears to school.

SEAC

Do you have a child on an IEP or a child getting evaluated for special education services? If so, we would love for you to attend our semi-annual SEAC meeting for parents.

A SEAC (pronounced seek) is an acronym for Special Education Advisory Council, which is a group that provides input on special education issues to its local school district. Its purpose is to advise and advocate, not to decide policy.

DaVinci Academy will hold its first SEAC meeting of the 2018-2019 school year on Thursday, November 1, 4:30-5:30 p.m. The discussion topic at the SEAC this time will be “How to support your child with their executive functioning”. There will be light refreshments served.

If you are interested in attending, please RSVP by emailing your child’s case manager and letting them know. Feel free to direct any questions about this or future SEAC meetings to your child’s case manager.

ONGOING

Silent Dismissal – New, Earlier Deadline for Changes

To ensure that any middle school student transportation changes get to your child by the beginning of their last class, any same day changes must be made earlier than previous years. From either the Silent Dismissal site or the app, you may make changes to your child’s dismissal method for the current day until 1:30 p.m. After that time, changes will not be accepted into the system. Please call the office with any changes after 1:30 p.m.

Birthday Treats

Sweets are not allowed as birthday treats. Consider alternatives such as donating a book to your classroom, bringing in bookmarks for classmates, coming to read to the class, or joining your child for lunch.

If you’re considering a healthy snack, please contact your child’s teacher regarding food allergies in the classroom.