DaVinci Connection-August 1, 2019
School Links
Important Dates
(subject to change-see online calendar)
8/8 Back to School Night, 3:00-7:00 p.m.
8/13 First Day of School, Grades 1-8
8/15 First Day of School, Kindergarten
8/29 No School, Teacher Workshop
8/30 No School
9/2 No School
9/14 Annual Color Run
9/16-17 6th Grade ELC Trip
9/17-20 7th & 8th Grade ELC Trips
9/20 Picture Day-Uniforms must be worn
9/30 No School, Teacher Workshop
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
Back to School Packet Arriving by Mail – Action Required
The back to school packet will be mailed today. It will include the following documents:
- Directions for the 2019-20 Application for Educational Benefits
- New this year, the application can be completed on the Infinite Campus Portal.
- Silent Dismissal instructions and dashboard identification tags
- All busing preferences have been set by the office based on your submitted Busing Agreement. Parents should make sure that the information is accurate for the first week of school.
- The Silent Dismissal App now displays the buses as they are on the routes. This is a new feature that we are piloting for Silent Dismissal. To get the app follow the instructions in the packet.
- Bus tags (please put on your child’s backpack)
Watch your mailbox for more information!
Final Bus Routes
The final bus routes have been set based on the information submitted in the busing agreement. Please note that some bus stops have changed bus routes in order to keep the amount of students on each bus appropriate. Accurate information will be reflected in Silent Dismissal and on bus tags. You will also want to double check drop off and pick up times as some of them were adjusted slightly with the addition or subtraction of bus stops to the route.
Bus Tags, Bus Stop Protocol, and Parent Contact Lists
Bus tags this year are marked with a silver sticker to help bus drivers become familiar with the students who need to remain on the bus until an adult is present at the stop.
Remember, parents must wait at the door of the bus to greet the children. This will help parents to get to know drivers and will assist in a safe hand off if there is a substitute driver.
All families who agreed to share their contact information with other bus stop families should come to the transportation table at Open House night to pick up the list for your stop. Creating community at bus stops is so important and we hope that this information will assist in that goal.
Who is Your Child’s Teacher?!
This is the question of the hour. Thursday, August 8, you will be able to log on to your Infinite Campus Parent Portal and see your child’s teacher, and if you have a middle school student, your child’s schedule. Middle school schedules will be handed out by homeroom teachers at open house night and class rosters will also be posted at the main entrance and east doors.
Open House-August 8
Families are invited to join us on Thursday, August 8, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for an Open House. Among other things, you will be able to:
- Drop off school supplies
- Deliver student medication and required forms
- Pay food service and other fees-we accept cash or checks only
- Meet with available teachers
- Receive homeroom teacher assignments or class schedules
- Meet our new Executive Director, Ahava Silkey-Jones
- See the beautiful new turf that is almost done being installed on the playground thanks to amazing fundraising efforts.
Magnets are Back!
Come to the Welcome Table at the Open House to pick up your handy school schedule magnet. It includes days off and a reminder about school contact information for the office or attendance line.
Back to School Information 
If you are looking for information about next year or the open house, please go to the DaVinci Academy home page, hover over “Students and Parents” and select “Back to School 2019-20“.
At this time, you will find information about:
- Important Dates
- Supply Lists
- Food Service
- Student Medications and Immunizations
- Updated Family Handbook
- School policies which should be reviewed by all families yearly
Chaperones Needed for Middle School 
The middle school field trips to the Environmental Learning Centers are scheduled for:
- 6th Grade-September 16-17
- 7th & 8th Grade-September 18-20
Please consider applying to attend with your middle school child. The relationships built during these events are so important for student success and the adults who get to be a part of that community building are enriched by the experience.
Below is the online application for chaperoning and the background check form. School policy requires a criminal background check of all adults accompanying students on these trips. Please complete the form and return it to the office with the $10 fee.
Only a Few Weeks Left to Register! 
What: 3rd Annual Color Run
When: Saturday, September 14, 10:00 a.m.
Where: DaVinci Academy-this year the Color Run is at our school!
Register by August 30, to guarantee a race bib, color packet and a t-shirt. This is an un-timed color fun run for all.
Media Release-Opt Out Option
We no longer require families to do the Back to School Registration each year. However, if you do NOT give your permission for your child’s image to be used in the different media, both internally and externally, you will need to complete the Media Release form to opt out. This includes, but is not limited to, articles and photographs in a school newsletter, video of a student program shown in school or published to families via an online program, a news story by local media, or something on our web site. Click here for the Media Release Form.
Kindergarten Family Conferences 
Ms. Borg, Mrs. Creary, Mrs. Holle, Mrs. Metty and Mrs. Steinbruckner will contact all kindergarten families through email the beginning of August to schedule in-person conferences. The conferences will take place on Tuesday, 8/13 or Wednesday, 8/14. Families and students will have a chance to see the classroom, drop off school supplies (if not done on 8/8) and meet with their teacher to discuss the upcoming year. Around the same time teachers will invite parents to their classroom Bloomz communication page. Watch your inbox for more details.
Help Wanted
Now Hiring Lunch/Recess Monitors and a Recess Supervision Lead
Food Service Assistant Wanted
We are looking for one more person to join our fun kitchen team every school day from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. This is a part time position and a great way to get to know the kids. Please apply on our website if interested.Volunteer Needed
NICE TO KNOW
Food Service Program 
Meal prices have not increased from last year. See the Food Service web-page for details.
Uniform Donations
Have your children out grown their uniforms? If so, you could drop off your gently used uniforms at school Monday, August 5-Wednesday, August 7, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Please do not donate uniforms with holes or stains. The PTO will have a uniform donation table at the Open House for anyone in need of uniforms.
Attendance Line: 763-252-6130
Parents should call the attendance line (763-252-6130), before 9:00 a.m. of the day a student will be absent. This phone number is available 24 hours a day to leave a message. Please leave the following information on the recording:
- The date your student will be absent
- The first and last name of your student
- The reason for the absence
- The name of the parent/guardian who is calling
If you know your child(ren) will be gone more than 3 consecutive days, you will need to fill out an extended absence form four to six weeks in advance. Please send the extended absence form to Ms. Moffatt.
Volunteer Background Checks
Are you one of our awesome DaVinci Academy volunteers or would you like to be a volunteer? Has it been two years or more since you completed a background check consent form? If so, a background check consent form will need to be completed and turned into the school office along with payment of $10. As appropriate for the protection of our students, volunteers who have contact with students will be asked to submit to and successfully complete a background check every two years, at their own expense. If you cannot afford the processing fee at this time, do not let that stop you from volunteering, contact Ms. Silkey-Jones to discuss. Below you will find a copy of the criminal background check consent form. You may also find the form on the DaVinci Academy web site under the volunteering tab, pick one up at the back to school event on August 8, or at the school office at anytime. Once we have your completed form and payment, you will be able to sign into the Helpcounter computer terminal and begin volunteering!
Thank you again to our wonderful volunteers!
ONGOING
Summer Food Program
Nutritious free meals are available for children and teens 18 and younger at many locations throughout the nation throughout the summer while school is out of session. Are you a parent or guardian looking for SFSP sites near you? Find a summer site in your community with our Summer Meal Site Finder mapping tool. You can also text “Summer Meals” to 97779 or call 1-866-348-6479 to find a site near you.
