DaVinci Connection-January 18, 2019

DaVinci Connection

School Links

Volunteer Information

Anti-Bullying Policy

Important Dates

(subject to change – see online calendar)

1/18 4th Grade Field Trip

1/18 Ski Club

1/21-1/22 No School

1/24 Information Night, 6:00 p.m.

1/25 Ski Club

1/25 Movie Night, 6:00 p.m.

1/28 School Board Meeting, 6:00 p.m., Candidate Forum, 6:30 p.m.

1/30 1st Grade Field Trip

2/1 3rd Grade Field Trip

2/4 Curriculum/Technology Committee Meeting, 3:30 p.m.

2/11 Enrollment Lottery, 5:00 p.m.

2/11 Finance Committee Meeting, 6:00 p.m.

2/13 Policy Committee Meeting, 3:30 p.m.

2/14 Capital Campaign Meeting, 5:00 p.m.

2/18 & 19 No School

2/25 Annual School 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 = $0.00;
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.

Greetings!

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

NEED TO KNOW

Message from Executive Director, Debra Lach

DaVinci Academy of Arts and Science Community,

I want to take this opportunity to inform you that this will be my last school year as the Executive Director of DaVinci Academy of Arts and Science. Making this decision was not easy, and it took months to determine if it was the right one. But I know that change brings new opportunity, and this community is primed to seize opportunities.

The School Board has a succession plan in place and you will soon receive information on how you may participate in the search and recruitment process as we work together to hire and transition in a successor. I invite you to participate in this process and I know the School Board will welcome you.

Leading this school community through its many phases of development has been an honor and a privilege. Working with you to build success for students and expand the school and its programs has been a highlight of my career in education.

I have full confidence in our administrative team, professional educators, staff, and students as well as in our curriculum, program, policies and procedures – in our entire community. I will work diligently to help support a successful transition as DaVinci Academy of Arts and Science continues to build on our many successes.

With sincerest gratitude,

Debra Lach
Executive Director

Executive Director Search Committee Information

The School Board will be conducting a search for a new Executive Director. The formation of the Executive Director Search Committee, made up of board members, parents, teachers and administration, will be discussed at the January 28th board meeting. The Executive Director Search Committee will be responsible for implementation and execution of the candidate search and interview process.

Key Dates:

Early February – Post position for potential candidates
April 1, 2019 – Interviews begin
Mid-late April – Offer extended
July 1, 2019 – New Executive Director in place

If you are interested in serving on this committee, please complete the nomination form and return it by January 24th.

Ready to Learn at 8:00 a.m.

Tardy Slips

There has been some confusion about when a child receives a tardy slip and when they don’t, so let’s clear that up. School starts at 8:00 a.m. That means a child is in the classroom and ready to learn, not walking through the east door before it gets closed. If parents are entering the parking lot at 7:57 a.m., it is virtually impossible for a child to get to the locker, unpack gear and get into the classroom by the 8:00 a.m. bell. A busy parking lot is not an excused tardy, so please plan ahead and do what you can to make sure your child gets delivered to school in plenty of time to make it to class.

These children are ready to learn at 8:00 a.m.

Parking Lot Etiquette and Routines

We need a refresher for the morning drop off because it’s unlikely the honks heard each day are a friendly beep and a wave. Come early to avoid the added frustration of being rushed.

frustrated lady driving a car, she looks frustrated.

Remember to be a good example for your children and show SPARK while driving.

Student standing in the East Hallway waiting for the 7:40 am bell to ring.

Students can be dropped off at school as early as 7:30 am to wait in the east hall with friends and can go to their lockers at 7:40 am. The parking lot is busiest from 7:45-7:55 am. Feel free to take advantage of the less busy parking lot earlier.

Cars waiting in the parking lot during dismissal time at school.

All cars travel in the same direction. If you are head to head with another car someone is going the wrong way – Is it you?

a map showing the direction of how traffic should be going in the school parking lot.

If you are using the drop off lane you must stay in your car and make sure your child is ready to exit quickly.

Just because the cones aren’t there every day doesn’t mean it’s OK to take a left again – Don’t do it.

Stop means Stop – Watch for this on Jefferson St. about 7:50 a.m.

Do not use the Bunker Blvd parking lot entrance 7:35-8:00 a.m. This entrance is for school buses only!

Map with directions for traffic flow during busy times of day.

If you want to avoid the aggravation of waiting for cars to pop in and out of parking spots, use the first lane (In Yellow) and stay in line to the drop off lane.

DVA students at the red ballon book store

These precious children are the reason we have so many procedures in place. We want everyone to make it safely to school. Thank you for your help.

Auditions for the Spring Musical

Who: Grades 4-8

When: February 4 or 6 from 3:15-4:15 p.m.

Where: PAC

The performances will run Thursday, May 2 and Friday, May 3, 2019, with a preview on Wednesday, May 1 for teachers/staff in the Performing Arts Center. Performance times are TBA.

Click here to sign up for auditions so we know which day to expect your child.

Family Movie Night

The PTO is hosting a movie night Friday, January 25, 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 Smallfoot in the gym and concessions will include:

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

We will only be using the East Door entrance. 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.

Volunteers are needed to help the movie night be a success and to minimize the concession lines! Click here to volunteer.

Thank you to Drs. Justin & Angela Musland from 20/20 Eyecare & Optics for providing free vision screenings to our 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th graders and any other students teachers have requested to be tested.

NICE TO KNOW

Here are some release day ideas for next week.

Conquer Ninja

Jam Hops-Camptastic

Jam Hops is another option for school release days and summer break. Check out their Camptastic page.

Camptastic dates for the rest of the school year:

January 21, 22
February 18, 19
March 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
April 18, 19, 22
May 24, 28

Art Supplies Needed – Can you save and donate to Ms. Gordhammer?

– 100 Paper towel tubes

– 100 Toilet Paper Tubes

– Plastic Produce Containers (Looking for clear and frosted – the kind that lettuce tends to come in. The art classes will be cutting 2″ circles from the flat panels, so they will need MANY)

Lost & Found-It’s time for parents to look through the mix

We see kids diligently looking for lost items every day, but nothing seems to be getting claimed as the collections has now mushroomed to 8 additional bins + 2 tables. If your child is missing anything please take some time to come in to the school and go through the collection yourself. Each grade K-5 also has lost and found bins in their pods, so be sure to check there as well. We may need to empty the lost and found monthly instead of by the trimester if we continue to collect this many items. Thank you for your help.

Ski Club

Four female student posing for a picture at Trollhaugen during ski club. It’s not too late to sign up!

Students in grades 6-8 are invited to participate in Ski Club on Friday nights. Fifth grade students may join as well with the participation of a parent. Open the attachment to find out more.

Ski Club Details

DVA Spirit Wear-Available Now

DaVinci Academy spirit wear is available in a variety of sizes in the ticket room, see the front desk for help with purchasing.

DVA Spirit Wear Order Form

ONGOING

Report Card Update-We’re Going Paperless!

The report card you receive in March, at the end of Trimester 2, will be the last report card to be mailed. We currently give parents the opportunity to read mailed paper grades and view grades through the parent portal on Infinite Campus. Trimester 3 grades will only be able to be accessed online. Parents will need to log in to the parent portal > select a student > then “Grades” on the menu on the left side of the screen.

If you have not set up your parent portal account, please call the office to receive your activation key.

2019-2020 Enrollment is Closing Soon-Applications are due by January 31, 2019

Do you have an upcoming kindergartener?

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. Click here to apply.

Our next Information Session for prospective families is Thursday, January 24, at 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.

Ever Wonder if your Silent Dismissal Number was Entered into the System at the End of the Day?

The teachers who assist your children at the end of the day in car line would

greatly appreciate if everyone who picked children up would use the Silent Dismissal app. We often have trouble with phones freezing as teachers are entering numbers on cold days, and parents can easily dismiss their children from the warmth of the car using the app. If you are able, please contact the office to get set up with the Silent Dismissal app. Thank you!