DaVinci Connection-April 17, 2020
School Links
Important Dates
(subject to change-see online calendar)
All in-person spring events at DaVinci Academy have been canceled. Select events have been moved to virtual platforms. Check the calendar for specific details on how to participate in those events remotely.
4/27 Board Meeting, 6:00 pm
4/30 Online PTO Meeting, 6:30 pm
4/30 Online 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
A Message From Our Executive Director
Dear DaVinci Academy Families:
We hope this newsletter finds you well. We are missing your young people and appreciate your continued commitment to connecting through our distance learning program. If you haven’t yet filled out our parent survey that went out this week, please take a moment to fill it out here. We look forward to addressing your concerns and hearing your celebrations. We anticipate rolling out changes in the coming weeks based on your feedback to ensure the program is sustainable and effective for all.
I am anticipating the arrival of my second child this week, and look forward to sharing my family’s joy with my DaVinci Academy family. I will be going on maternity leave once our bundle of joy arrives, however, given our current distance-learning format and ever-changing emergency response to COVID-19 I will continue to be engaged. If you have specific needs in the coming weeks please continue to reach out to our phenomenal administrative team, teachers, and staff for support.
K-5: Terry Moffatt tmoffatt@davincicharterschool.org
6-8: Jack Shields jshields@davincicharterschool.org
Operations: Holly Fischer hfischer@davincicharterschool.org
Special Education: Amanda Wilmot awilmot@davincicharterschool.org
Human Resources: Jenny Kopecky jkopecky@davincicharterschool.org
As you embark on the weekend, please enjoy this video created by our DaVinci Academy staff sharing their joy with you!
My very best,
Ahava
Ahava Silkey-Jones
Executive Director
DaVinci Academy of Arts and Science
https://davincicharterschool.org/
763.754.6577
Mr. Shields’ Corner
Setting up Virtual Playdates for your Kids
A highlight of each live lesson taught by our teachers is seeing students. And, we know students are missing one another. This article bit.ly/3eyrZm7 shares ideas on how to set up playdates and possible technology you can use that is age appropriate. Apps like Caribu, Marco Polo, and Google Meet allow for students to see each other and interact. Pogo is a site that allows people to play board games together, and letsplayuno.com does just that. I encourage you to look for ways to connect your child with other classmates during our Stay at Home order.
Support Space
HELLO DAVINCI ACADEMY COMMUNITY!
We hope you had a fantastic long weekend and are ready to dive into another week of Distance Learning!
In speaking with many families within the community, many are looking for fun ways to engage the whole family while we’re all staying home and safe! Below is a FAMILY BINGO that will bring your entire family together and create TONS of fun for all ages!
We also wanted to pass along a free online workshop hosted by Girls Leadership with guest speaker Rachel Simmons about “Pandemic Parenting.” They will share practical tools to respond to stress- your own and your children’s. It is this Sunday, April 19, at 7:00 pm. You can find more information and sign up here.
We hope you have an incredible week ahead! Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions, concerns or need further support.
Ms. Rowe (School Social Worker) www.calendly.com/msrowe
Ms. Derby (School Counselor) www.calendly.com/msderby
Courtney Rowe + Melissa Derby
Free Meals For Students
If your family is in need of breakfast or lunch, we are providing meals. In order for us to have an accurate meal count, to avoid waste and make sure all families get fed, please fill out the provided form.
Grab and Go breakfast and lunch pickups are available on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00 am-12:30 pm.
The YMCA is also a site that is providing free meals to anyone in need. Find out more information here.
NICE TO KNOW
Field Trips
Field trips for DaVinci Academy classrooms have been canceled for the remainder of the school year. Payments that have already been made towards cancelled trips will be credited to your student’s account and applied towards any outstanding fee in their account. If there is not an outstanding fee in your student’s account, you may request a refund or keep the credit in the account to be applied to a field trip during the next school year. Refund requests can be sent to Brenda Gerard, bgerard@davincicharterschool.
Boom Appetit 
2020-21 Show Choir Try-outs
Show Choir is a music ensemble where students sing and dance. Tryouts are an opportunity to showcase their ability with no prior experience required.
Auditions:
Auditions will now be digital.
- If your child is already in show choir, they do not need to audition.
- Auditions are due by Monday, April 20.
- If you have any questions, please let me know.
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.
Help Wanted
The Bowser family could really use some love and support right now. Carmen passed away on March 17, after a six year battle with cancer. A meal train has been set up for the family. Please do what you can to help the family and share the link with family and friends. Thank you in advance. Your help is greatly appreciated.
Employment Opportunities 
- Physical Education Teacher (K-3)
- Elementary Teacher (K-5)
- Elementary Gifted and Talented Teacher
- Elementary School Counselor
- Middle School Math Teacher
- Middle School Science Teacher
- Middle School Social Studies Teacher
- Special Education Teacher
Volunteer Opportunities
Do you know how to install a tile back splash? Would you be willing to volunteer your time to a small project of this kind? Please contact Holly Fischer for details.
Looking for a social distancing project that gets your family outside? The school needs to update mulch this year, and we are looking for help digging out the old mulch to make way for a fresh batch. Because of the amount of mulch beds we have on site, we could use quite a bit of help. It also could be done at your convenience instead of as a weekend project (which would, of course, be much more fun but less pandemic approved). So, if you would be interested in helping out, please let me know and I will contact you once restrictions get lifted and the world feels a bit more normal.PTO News
PTO Meeting
Please join us for our next public meeting Thursday, April 30. The meeting will be virtual and a link will be posted on the PTO website. Key items for discussion will be:
- Teacher Appreciation week – May 4-8
- Elections – May
- Carnival – June 5
Teacher Appreciation Week
Teacher Appreciation Week is May 4 through May 8. Let’s show our teachers some love and appreciation for all of the hard work they’ve done keeping the kids connected to learning. This year Teacher Appreciation Week will be a little different as our students are not at school. Below are some ideas:
- email or video messages
- e-cards or drawings
- e- gift cards
The administration and PTO are working together to provide some fun surprises throughout the week as well.
