DaVinci Connection-November 8, 2019

DaVinci Connection

School Links

Volunteer Information

Anti-Bullying Policy

Important Dates

(subject to change-see online calendar)

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

11/19 PTO Meeting, 6:30 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:

Date your student will be absent
First and last name of your student
Reason for the absence
Name of the parent/guardian who is calling

If you know your child(ren) will be gone more than three 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

This is What it’s All About!

Thank you to our coaches who have volunteered their time to coach basketball this year. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to our students!

School-Based Mental Health Services at DaVinci Academy

DaVinci Academy is excited to announce a new partnership with the Lee Carlson Center for Mental Health and Well-Being. Lee Carlson Center’s School-Based Mental Health Program will provide onsite mental health services at DaVinci Academy beginning in November with Lindsey Moe, MA, LPCC. Lindsey will provide outpatient therapy to students and families as well as mental health education to school staff. School-Based Mental Health reduces barriers to mental health treatment by providing therapy onsite. Benefits of the program include collaboration between school staff and student’s therapist, reduced time spent out of school for appointments and year-round therapy services.
Families also have access to a wide variety of other mental health services offered by the Lee Carlson Center. School-Based Mental Health Programming is available to all students who may be struggling with behavioral or emotional needs. To learn more about how to refer your child to this program please talk to Melissa Derby or Courtney Rowe. To learn more about Lee Carlson Center’s School-Based Mental Health Program go to www.leecarlsoncenter.org.

Lindsey Moe
Lindsey Moe is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). Lindsey has experience working with children in residential treatment who struggled with issues regulating their emotions. Lindsey is trained in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) which focuses on teaching and implementing healthy coping skills. She also works with adults facilitating a DBT Skills group and doing individual therapy. She enjoys being interactive in sessions and believes in engaging clients using their strengths and interests.

Lindsey Moe, MS LPCC

School-linked Mental Health Therapist through Lee Carlson Center for Mental Health and Well-Being

DaVinci Academy Office: 763-252-6130 ex. 1166
lmoe@davincicharterschool.org
Lee Carlson Center Office: 763-783-3859
lmoe@leecarlsoncenter.org

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 go north on Jefferson after taking a right out of the parking lot, please try taking the SECOND left on 134th Ave NE and then drive 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.

Fragrance Free School

A reminder that we are a fragrance-free school. Please remind your children not to put on fragrances before coming to school as this impacts our learning environment, in particular for our community members with allergies.

Extracurricular Activities

Registration for 2019-20 session 2 of extracurricular clubs and activities is now OPEN. Classes fill up quickly…sign up now!

The deadline to register is Wednesday, November 20. Please register on time as late registrations will not be accepted. All outstanding activity fees must be paid in full in order for children to be able to participate in activities and clubs.

Activities end at 4:30 pm and, unless otherwise noted, will last the entire trimester, December 2 – March 12. There will not be classes on Dec. 23-Jan. 3, Jan. 17-20, Feb. 14-18.

NOTE: DaVinci Academy DOES NOT offer bus transportation after clubs and activities. All children must be picked up from school promptly after their activity or club has ended.

Closings/ Weather Or Emergency

Emergency school closings due to severe weather, or any other reason, are posted on the school’s website, major news station websites and emergency postings, and announced via School Messenger texts and/or phone calls. The decision to close school will usually be made before 6:00 a.m. on the day in question. PLEASE NOTE that our schedule is SEPARATE from Anoka-Hennepin ISD or any other school district.

FUNDRAISING

Give to the Max Day

This year, funds raised from Give to the Max Day will go towards paving the walkway around our pond and for the exercise stations that will be placed along the path.

Bonuses on Give to the Max Day: Each hour on November 15, one Golden Ticket of $1,000 will be awarded through a random drawing of all donations transacted during the previous hour. Be sure to visit our page and donate that day.

Heggies Pizza Fundraiser

Order forms for Heggies Pizza will be sent home with your student(s) on Friday, November 15. Order forms are due back Monday, December 2. The pizza delivery date is set for Tuesday, December 17.

This year’s pizza sale funds will be put towards paving the walkway around our pond and for the exercise stations that will be placed along the path.

HELP WANTED

Substitute Teachers

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

NICE TO KNOW

Northwestern University Midwest Academic Talent Search (NUMATS)

We are pleased to share that we are a testing site for the Northwestern University Midwest Academic Talent Search (NUMATS). NUMATS is an above-grade level assessment intended for advanced learners currently in grades 3^rd– 6^th. Our test site will be at DaVinci Academy of Arts and Science on the following date(s):

1/18/2020
2/8/2020
2/9/2020

NUMATS Flyer

School Payment Portal

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.

Picture Retake Day

Retake day is Thursday, November 21. All students who missed picture day or would like retakes will have their pictures taken. If you have any questions, contact Kathy Falkowski.

Applied Labels

Please remember to label your child’s belongings. Applied labels are a great way to label belongings and 20% goes back to our school.

Please remind your child to check the lost and found for his/her belongings. The lost and found will be donated Friday, November 22.

Mr. Shields’ Corner

The character trait theme for November is Thankfulness. Research shows that as we focus on being thankful our body chemistry changes so that we are happier, have more energy, live longer, and can even offset some of the negative effects of depression. During our character assembly, we discussed these things, watched a video of Kid President talking about the importance of being thankful, and I shared with the students 25 things I am thankful for. I challenged the students to write out things they were thankful for, and if they got 25 they could bring in what they wrote to show me. Each day this week since the assembly I’ve been bombarded by students showing me what they are thankful for. This has made my week wonderful, and I hope they are also showing you so that you can see things they are thinking about. It is my hope that as we come upon the Thanksgiving holiday our students are well aware of things they should be thankful for and sharing those things with others.

ONGOING

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 taking place 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.

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.

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.

PTO News

PTO Meeting

Please join us for our next meeting on Tuesday, November 19, at 6:30 pm.

Congratulations to Ms. Neis’ and Ms. Palecek’s classes for being the top earning classes for the Box Top contest.