DaVinci Connection-February 27, 2020
School Links
Important Dates
(subject to change-see online calendar)
3/11 School Development Committee Meeting, 3:30 pm
3/11 Finance Committee Meeting, 4:30 pm
3/12 Last Day of Tri 2
3/13-20 No School
3/13 Policy Committee Meeting, 3:30 pm
3/23-30 CEAP Food Drive
3/24 Talent Show Auditions, 3:00-4:30 pm
3/26 PTO Meeting, 6:30 pm
3/28 March Madness, 11:00 am
4/7 3rd Grade Music Concert, 5:30 pm
4/7 4th Grade Music Concert, 6:45 pm
4/9-13 No School
4/9 Parent Teacher Conferences and Spring Pictures
4/30 Talent Show, 6:00 pm
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 your child 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 child will be absent
- First and last name of your child
- 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
2020-21 Academic Calendar
The Board of Directors has approved the calendar for next year. Please note the first day of school is August 11, for grades first through eighth, and August 13 for Kindergarten.
2020 Board Elections Results 
To all DaVinci Academy families and staff,
Coronavirus Concerns
To DaVinci Academy Staff, Students and Families:
The Coronavirus has been a topic of discussion both locally and nationally. We want to assure you that if the Coronavirus begins to impact Minnesota or specifically, DaVinci Academy, that we will follow the guidance of the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Minnesota Department of Health, and Minnesota Department of Education.
At this point, the recommendations are similar to other respiratory infectious viruses such as influenza:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid close contact with sick people.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Stay home if you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with your elbow or a tissue and throw the tissue in the trash.
In the event that Coronavirus becomes an issue that impacts the school day, we will notify you. DaVinci Academy is prepared to take action to protect the safety of students and staff in the scenario that action needs to be taken.
Please reach out if you have any additional questions or concerns.
Thank you,
Ahava Silkey-Jones
Executive Director
NICE TO KNOW
Yearbook order forms will be sent home soon. Order forms are due back by Friday, March 27. If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Falkowski.
Online Payments for School Expenses Now Accessible
Families can now make online payments for lunch accounts and activity fees through their parent campus on Infinite Campus. If you have not setup your parent campus account, please contact Brandee Palmer for assistance.
Charges for events like field trips or extra curricular activities will still be assigned to your child’s Infinite Campus account. The new feature will include a button to add those charges to a cart and pay for them online.
Why parents need access to their parent campus account:
- Update family information
- Update emergency contacts
- Fee payments
- Food service payments
- Check grades, assignments and missing assignments (This is very important for middle school.)
- Apply for Educational Benefits
- View your child’s schedule
2020-21 Show Choir Tryouts
Show Choir is a music ensemble where students sing and dance. Tryouts are an opportunity to showcase their ability and no prior experience is required.
Auditions:
*You only need to attend one.
Monday, March 30, from 3:15-4:15 p.m.
Thursday, April 2, from 3:15-4:15 p.m.
*Students attending must update their Silent Dismissal setting for the chosen try out day.
*Students also must prepare for a ride home.
Location:
Performing Arts Center (PAC)
Who Can Audition?
Students entering 6th, 7th or 8th grade in the 2020-21 school year.
For audition material, please go to:
www.tinyurl.com/yx3vpmry
If you have any questions, please contact the director, Mr. Hanson, BJHanson@davincicharterschool.org
Congratulations to the five DaVinci Academy teams advancing to the next round. Good luck at the zoo!
The SSR Sphere: Allison K., Madeline S., and Kaila K
Layers of the Rainforest: Isabelle W., Brynlee F., and Josie K.
Redesign of the nocturnal Hallway: Cassidy C., Addy W., Sydney W., and Eleanore J
Call of the Rainforest: Maya Z., Ruchira P., and Ari H.
Rainforest Reimagined: Emily K., Amelia S., Kaylin W., and Josie M.
Smile.Amazon.Com – Easy Fundraiser for the School!
If you place your Amazon orders through Smile.Amazon.Com and note DaVinci Academy as your charity, we will receive donations from Amazon with every eligible purchase made. Setting this up is as easy as 1,2,3:
- Visit smile.amazon.com. (Bookmark the site for easier access in the future.)
- Log in with your existing account. (You can create an account if you don’t have one.)
- Search for “Davinci Academy of Arts and Science” and select it as your charity.
Outside Attire 
- 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.
Spring Concerts 
Spring Music Concert – Tuesday, April 7, 5:30-7:30 pm
3rd Grade: 5:30 pm, report to school at 5:10 pm
4th Grade: 6:45 pm, report to school at 6:25 pm
Concert Attire: dress clothes
Middle School Choir – Thursday, May 14, 5:30-7:30 pm
5th/6th Grade: 5:30 pm, report to school at 5:10 pm
Chamber Choir + 7th/8th Grade: 6:30 pm, report to school at 6:10 pm
Concert Attire: White dress shirt, black bottoms, black socks and black shoes.
Band/Orchestra Concerts
5th-8th Grade Band Concert – Tuesday, May 5, 5:30-7:00 pm
5th-8th Grade Orchestra Concert – Thursday, May 7, 5:30-7:00 pm
Concert Attire: White dress shirt, black bottoms, black socks and black shoes.
2020 Summer Cooking Camp catalog is now open for early registration. Register before March 14 and save $30/student per camp. It’s the lowest price of the season.
- All camps are Monday–Thursday, from 9:00 am–4:00 pm.
- Students going into 5th grade through 12th grade for the 2020/21 school year may register.
- Early registration ends March 14, cost will increase from $349/wk to $379/wk.
- NEW LOCATION! Village Shops in Circle Pines, 307 Village Parkway, Circles Pines, 55014. (Next to McDonald’s and Ace Hardware on the corner of Lexington & Lake)**Note: Gingerbread House Bootcamp is hosted at the Norway House in Minneapolis, not in Circle Pines.
We will be adding more classes if we are able to hire more staff, but these will be the only full-week camps.
ONGOING
After School Reminder
All extracurricular activities end at 4:30 pm. Only students enrolled for an extracurricular activity can stay after school. Unattended siblings are not permitted to remain at school and wait until 4:30 pm to be picked up. Teachers, coaches and activity teachers are not available to supervise non-participating siblings. Please do not request that they do so. If you have any questions or concerns about this, please contact the office.
Help Wanted
Employment Opportunities
- Long-Term Substitute-coverage periods:
- April-June
- On-Call Substitute Teacher
Non-Licensed Positions:
- On Call Substitute-Special Education Paraprofessional
- Lunch/Recess Monitor (substitute)
PTO News
Read-a-thon Results
Total Minutes to date: 62,796 – That’s over 10,000 hours of reading!
Total Donations to date: $10,220.20 – We will receive $ 7, 665.15
Thank you to all the student who participated and to all those who donated. The PTO is donating 25% of the proceeds to the school library!
PTO Meeting
The next public meeting is the April 30. Key items for discussion will be:
- Teacher Appreciation week – May 4-8
- Carnival – June 5
- Elections – May
Third Annual March Food Drive
We have once again partnered with CEAP, our local food shelf as a collection site for non-perishable goods to help our community. March is Minnesota Food Share month.
Last year, we were able to collect 454 pounds of food. That’s 378 dinner plates of food! This year, we will be trying to fill 2 pallets and are hoping to reach 750 lbs of food!
Send your non-perishables March 20-30 and help us serve our community!
Top Needed Items:
Flour & Sugar
Oil (vegetable, olive, etc.)
Instant Potatoes
Pasta & Rice
Spaghetti Sauce
Macaroni & Cheese
Dried Beans
Masa
Harina
Powdered Milk
Peanut Butter & Jelly
Cereal
Baby Food & Formula
Canned Meats
Canned Fruits
Canned Vegetables
Canned Meals
