DaVinci Connection-April 26, 2019
School Links
Important Dates
(subject to change – see online calendar)
4/29 Board Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
5/2 School Development Committee Meeting, 4:30 p.m.
5/2 Seussical Jr Performance, 6:00 p.m.
5/3 Seussical Jr Performance, 6:00 p.m.
5/9 6-8 Grade Choir Concert, 6:00 p.m.
5/10 Talent Show, 6:00 p.m.
5/13 Finance Committee Meeting, 4:30 p.m.
5/14 Spring Pictures
5/14 5/6 Band Concert, 5:30 p.m.
5/14 7/8 Band Concert, 6:30 p.m.
5/16 5/6 Orchestra Concert, 5:30 p.m.
5/16 7/8 Orchestra Concert, 6:30 p.m.
5/20 Board Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
5/20-5/23 Intersession
5/24-5/28 No School
6/6 School Development Committee Meeting, 4:30 p.m.
6/7 Spring Carnival, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
6/10 Finance Committee Meeting, 4:30 p.m.
6/14 Golf Tournament
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
Golf Tournament Registration is Now Open-Early Bird Registration Ends May 3!
Department of Education Recognizes DaVinci Academy of Arts and Science as a 2019 High Quality Charter School
DaVinci Academy has been recognized by the Minnesota Department of Education as a High Quality Charter School for 2019. This is the sixth year that we have been honored. The school has received the award every year since 2014, which was the first year that the honor was given. This designation was the qualification that allowed us to expand our school, purchase land, and build our new campus. The High Quality Charter School designation factors in fiscal responsibility, quality of management, overall test scores, and closing the achievement gap. This year, DaVinci Academy is one of 29 schools to be recognized.
Mr. Shield’s Corner
Away for the Day
We just implemented a new cell phone practice in our middle school. We call it “Away for the Day”. Students put their phones in their backpacks in their lockers when they get to school. They may take them out of the locker when they leave at 2:55 pm. Our goal is to give freedom to the students. When we say freedom, we mean we want them to be free from the constant buzzing of notifications they receive from students at other schools and our own. Our previous practice was to allow the students to keep their phones on themselves, but they weren’t to look at them throughout the day. We decided on the change so that students and teachers would be able to focus and stay engaged in learning.
Now we would like to encourage our parents to consider putting their phones away when they are with their children. Students shared that they were annoyed when a parent was on their phone at the dinner table—I know I can be guilty of that one quite often. Also, we do see parents on phones during carpool line. That has become a safety issue, so we encourage you to put them away while driving in the school parking lot. Together, we can model the expectations we set for our children.
Classroom Placement Reminder
It is school policy that we do not accept parent requests for particular teachers or classmates. Teachers work very diligently to place all students in a classroom which will be beneficial to their needs and learning styles.
The staff regards the annual assignment of students to classrooms to be a very important process and task. Many hours are spent weighing and considering a number of factors
to create a classroom where each student can learn and thrive. Factors considered in recommending a classroom include:
- a balance of boys and girls
- a range of academic abilities
- special needs
- social and emotional development
- learning styles
Final approval of class lists rests with the Academic Director. Parents/students are informed who their child(ren)’s new teacher(s) will be at the annual Open House on Thursday, August 8.
Children’s Book Week Event
Thursday, May 2
As part of the longest-running national celebration of books for young people and the joy of reading, over 1300 schools, libraries, and bookstores will celebrate Children’s Book Week from April 29 to May 5 from coast to coast in all 50 states.
This May marks the 100th anniversary of Children’s Book Week. The theme for this year’s celebration is Read Now ✦ Read Forever. All kids and teens at Book Week events will receive a free 2019 Children’s Book Week activity poster designed by Yuvi Morales.
We are proud to be hosting the following event:
Celebrate Reading Night
Thursday, May 2
DaVinci Academy of Arts and Science
5:00 PM-7:00 PM
Join us to celebrate reading. Guest readers, crafts, games, books and Follett Book Fair! Healthy snacks and refreshments will be provided beginning at 5:00. To volunteer to provide healthy snacks, please sign up here.
Don’t forget that Seussical the Musical is being performed that night at 6:00 as well. You can join us for both events!
SEAC
Teacher Appreciation Week is Coming Soon, May 6-10
Please join us as we celebrate our exceptional educators. During the week of May 6-10, our community will be joining together to show our teachers how much we appreciate their hard work and dedication toward our students. We invite all families to participate in creatively showing appreciation toward our DaVinci teachers. Teachers love to receive notes of gratitude from students. Below is a template, if your family is interested in sending your teacher a letter. Thanks for making this an enjoyable week for our teachers!
Book Fair
- April 29 3:00-6:00 p.m.
- April 30 3:00-6:00 p.m.
- May 1 3:00-6:00 p.m.
- May 2 5:00-7:30 p.m.
- May 3 5:00-7:30 p.m.
Yearbook Order Forms
Today is the last day to order yearbooks. Please return order forms to the front office.
Nurse’s Desk
As we approach the last couple months of school year, I want to communicate two important health offices reminders:
- Summer is a great time for youth check-ups/sport physicals but make your appointments soon. It’s not uncommon for some practitioners to be booked out weeks to months Remember students that will be starting Kindergarten and 7th grade in the 2019-2020 school year have immunizations to be updated. Here are the links to information regarding immunization schedule and immunization forms:
https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/immunize/basics/readykidswhento.pdf
https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/immunize/basics/imzform.pdf
- Student’s with medication in the nurse’s office will be returned or disposed of at the end of school year. Parent’s please look for communication regarding end of year medication pick-up in early June.
NICE TO KNOW
Volunteer Opportunity
Do You Like Gardening?
The science that is going to happen on this property is going to be amazing to experience! The Maker Space students will be constructing 2 container gardens for the school, and Ms. Arboleda’s class is planting a pollinator garden. Although it’s a short summer we can’t expect that a new garden will survive through July without some tending. So, we will be looking for families who live in the area to sign up to water and weed, so that classes coming back in August have something to study when they return. If you are interested in signing, up watch your future newsletters for more information from Profe Lenny.
AM Drop Off – How To Video
How To Do AM Drop Off at DaVinci
ISO Piano
Our upright piano has outlived its usefulness with us, and we are seeking a replacement. If you know someone who is looking for a place to donate a piano, please have them contact Ben Hanson. Ideally, we’d like an upright that has a shorter upper panel, so that teachers can see their class as they are playing.
Shout out to the families who brought in food for our wonderful teachers! Thank you to the PTO for organizing this event. The teachers and staff really appreciate it.
Please pick up your dishes as soon as you can.
Blaine Sports and Summer Opportunities
ONGOING
Busing Feedback Requested 
If you have taken advantage of the busing system this year please take some time to share feedback on what your experience has been with our shorter routes and new bus stops. We use this feedback to make sure we are optimizing our program for the coming school year so we appreciate your information. Thank you.
Parent Survey – Transportation 2019
Lunch Account Balances
Want to stay up to date on what your child is purchasing in the cafeteria? Log onto SchoolPaymentPortal.com to create an account. There you can view all transactions and add money into your child’s lunch account. Please check your child’s account weekly to ensure your child has a positive balance. If you have any questions, please contact Cassandra Anderson.
DVA Spirit Wear-Available Now
