DaVinci Connection-October 25, 2019

DaVinci Connection

School Links

Volunteer Information

Anti-Bullying Policy

Important Dates

(subject to change-see online calendar)

10/25 Make Up Picture Day (for any student not present the first picture day)

10/25 PTO Family Movie Night, 6:00 pm

10/28 Board Meeting, 6:00 pm

11/4 No School, Teacher Workshop Day

11/11 Finance Committee Meeting, 4:30 pm

11/13 Policy Committee Meeting, 3:30 pm

11/13 School Development Committee, 4:30 pm

11/14 Information Night, 6:00 pm

11/18 Board Meeting, 6:00 pm

11/21 Retake Picture Day

11/22 Last Day of Trimester 1

11/25-11/29 No School

12/23-1/3 No School

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.

Attendance Line: 763-252-6130

Parents should call the attendance line at 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.

Greetings!

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

NEED TO KNOW

High School Planning

As we are nearing the end of the first trimester, we know that a lot of parents of our eighth graders are starting to think about high school. Very few school districts offer open enrollment, but for those that do, the deadline to submit applications is between December 1 and January 31. This includes the application process for the CEMS program at Blaine High School. If you are interested in continuing at a charter school, there are a few options but most involve some travel time.

If you would like to know more about specific programs or schools or just want to discuss what might be best for your child, please feel free to contact either Terry Moffatt or Melissa Derby.

2020-21 Enrollment is Now Open

We are now accepting applications for the 2020-21 school year for new students who would like to attend DaVinci Academy in grades Kindergarten through 8. To complete an application for the next school year click here. Sign up through our online enrollment system and then 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, to be included in the enrollment lottery on Monday, February 10.

Our next Information Session for prospective families is Thursday, November 14, at 6:00 pm. 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.

Outside Attire

At this time of year, the temperature outside can really fluctuate. See the list below for clothing recommendations. If there is snow on the playground or field, regardless of whether students would like to play in it, they need to wear snow pants and winter boots. If they do not have snow pants and winter boots, they will still go outside but will need to stay on the sidewalk and blacktop.

Students will go outside for recess every day, as long as the temperature is 0 degrees or above and the windchill is -10 degrees or above.

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

If providing your child with winter gear is a financial burden for your family please contact the school.

3rd & 4th Grade Music Concerts

Our 3rd and 4th grade music concerts are coming up in November. We are excited to share our musical talent and knowledge with you. Please mark your calendar for the following concert(s):
3rd Grade – Thursday, November 7, 2019 at 5:30 pm
● Meet in classroom at 5:10 pm
4th Grade (and 3/4 Renaissance) – Thursday, November 7, 2019 at 6:45 pm
● Meet in classroom at 6:25 pm
It is important that all students meet in their classrooms 20 minutes before the concert to line up and get ready. Concerts will begin promptly at 5:30 pm and 6:45 pm.
Concert attire is nice dress clothing (any color) and dress shoes in which your student can walk and stand comfortably. All concerts take place in the Performing Arts Center.

See you the evening of the concert!
Mrs. Ashley Fohrman (afohrman@davincicharterschool.org)
Mr. Ben Hanson (bjhanson@davincicharterschool.org)

Costa Rica Trip during Intersession 2021

Would your student like to travel to Costa Rica for Intersession? This trip is offered to current seventh graders for next year’s intersession. Sixth grade families are welcome to join us so they can learn more about the possible opportunity they may have to travel in eighth grade.

Highlights

Canopy adventure
Cooking class
Snorkeling
Thermal Springs
La Fortuna Waterfall
Coffee Plantation

For more information, join us in the PAC Tuesday, October 29, at 5:30 pm.

School Photo Schedule

November 21: Picture Re-Take day for all students wanting a retake done.

Uniforms must be worn.

Picture Day Flyer

We will not be offering non-uniform photos during the school day this year as we have in the past. Valuable educational time was spent moving all students through the photographer’s line and the benefit to the school was limited. However, non-uniform photos through LifeTouch will be offered to families on the Spring Conference Day scheduled on April 9. If you would like to take advantage of that opportunity, you can bring your child to the school that day for pictures.

No Ski Club This Year

Due to the expense, and the abundance of logistical programming that is required, we will not be offering ski club for our students this winter. We know that there were many students who enjoyed this program, and hope that they will be able to find another way to hit the slopes.

Outdoor Learning Space

Thanks to the many hours volunteers spent fundraising, and the many families who helped raise the funds, we now have an outdoor learning space for our students. Electricians are finishing up the light and outlet installation today and picnic tables will be added under the pavilion for classes to use starting on Monday. This pond side setting will be a lovely place to enjoy nature and bring our academics outdoors.

HELP WANTED

Substitute Teachers

Babies abound at DaVinci right now and we are still seeking teachers to fill long term positions. If you know anyone who might be interested please send them to our website.

NICE TO KNOW

SEAC

It is time for our first SEAC meeting of the year. 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. Parents of students on IEPs or students going through the evaluation process are welcome to attend.

DaVinci Academy will hold its first SEAC meeting of the 2019-2020 school year on Tuesday, October 29, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. The discussion topic is “The importance of the arts for students with disabilities.”

Light refreshments will be served. If you are interested in attending or have any questions, please contact your child’s case manager.

Mr. Shields’ Corner

This month our Character focus is Empathy. We kicked off the month with an assembly where we defined empathy as thinking about how someone else feels and acting kindly toward others. We illustrated this message by walking in someone else’s shoes. A few student volunteers tried walking, skipping, and dancing in my boots. This was somewhat difficult for them since my feet are so much bigger than theirs. However, we learned that walking in someone else’s shoes might be hard, but it is necessary for us to have a healthy community. Any discussions parents can have at home with their children about showing empathy are greatly appreciated.

In November, we will focus on Thankfulness as it is fitting for the month with Thanksgiving. We’ll have our assembly to learn more about living thankful lives as well as celebrate students who earn the Empathy Character Award. This is the typical pattern we do as we kickoff the month to learn about the character trait together as well as celebrate the students that win the DaVinci Character Quality Award for the previous month.

Bus Families – We Need Your Help

Kottke’s Bus Company has asked us to address an ongoing issue. Eating and drinking on the bus is not allowed and yet every day the bus drivers are cleaning wrappers and food up off the floors of the buses. Please remind your buser that showing SPARK on the bus includes keeping it clean for the next bus riders and not leaving a food mess. Thank you for your help.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

The book fair was a huge success. We had so many wishes filled for teachers.

Our DaVinci families are the best.

ONGOING

Safe Driving Reminder

It is dangerous to make a U turn on Jefferson after leaving our parking lot and there are so many people who do it every day. We know that this has become the new option because you have been asked not to turn around in people’s driveways – but it is not safe. If you must get north on Jefferson after taking a right out of the parking lot please try taking the SECOND left on 134th Ave NE then driving around and back to Jefferson. Increased traffic in the neighborhoods surrounding a school is a given; but, it should be safe. Please make safe driving decisions so that we can be good neighbors.

Also, there has been an increase in fast driving and crabby horn honking in the morning parking lot. This is especially dangerous as the lot can be rather dark before 8:00 am. Please remember that if the parking lot is a source of frustration for you, there are 9 buses that your child could catch instead. Everyone likes to start the day off with a smile.

Family Numbers at Pick Up – You Need Them

Increasingly there are families in the pick up line who do not have a family number posted on the dash. Yelling your number out the window to the staff members does not ensure that our safety protocols are being followed. Cars without a number posted will need to park and enter the school to receive a replacement number. Contact the office if you need a new number sent home with your child.

Additionally, parents are encouraged to download the Silent Dismissal app and use it during the winter months. Teacher phones and hands often freeze up out there and families who are dismissing from cars increase the likelihood that their number will be received into the system. Contact the office in order to activate the app on your phone and you will make a teacher’s day.

Link for app on IPhones

Link for app on Androids

PTO News

Teacher/Staff Meals

Thank you so much to our DaVinci Academy families and PTO for providing the teachers and staff with a delicious meal during conferences. It was greatly appreciated.

Family Movie Night

Join us on tonight, October 25 at 6:00 pm. The winner of our Facebook poll was Secret Life of Pets 2.

A few volunteers are still needed for tonight.