DaVinci Connection-January 22, 2021
School Links
Important Dates
(subject to change-see online calendar)
1/25 Back to in-person learning date for grades K-2
1/25 DaVinci Board Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
1/26 PTO Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
2/8 Tentative back to in-person learning date for grades 3-5
2/8 Virtual Enrollment Lottery, 5:00 p.m.
2/10 School Development Committee Meeting, 3:30 p.m.
2/10 Finance Committee Meeting, 4:30 p.m.
2/12-2/15 No School, Office closed
2/16 No School, Staff Workshop
2/22 DaVinci Board Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
2/23 PTO Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Attendance Line: 763-252-6130
Parents should call the attendance line at 763-252-6130 before 9:00 am 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.
Dear DaVinci Families:
I hope you are staying warm on this sunny frigid January day! A reminder that we start our new schedule for K-5 on Monday. We are excited to welcome our K-2 students on-site on January 25 and our 3-5 students on-site February 8. We are continuing to monitor Covid-19 case rates for Anoka County and are optimistic that after we transition our K-5 students on-site we will be able to set a transition date for our 6-8 students.
Thank you for your continued partnership.
My very best,
Ahava
Need to Know
Preparing for In-person Learning
Starting next week, grades K-2 will be back for in-person learning! I want to take a moment to share some things for you to think about or prepare for before next Monday:
- Make sure your child has their uniform ready for Monday morning.
- Have face masks clean and ready for your child to wear to school! Face masks are required at all times on the bus and in the school building. It is even a good idea to pack an extra mask or two in your child’s backpack in case the first one gets wet or dirty. We will have extra face masks on hand for students who forget theirs.
- Make sure your child knows how they will be getting home from school each day. If you have not checked your plans in Silent Dismissal, please do so.
- Plan to bring winter gear for recess, including snow pants, boots, coats, hats, and gloves/mittens. Recess will be outdoors unless there is bad weather, so have your child prepared!
- Have your child check to make sure they can put on and take off their winter gear by themselves. It saves a great deal of time in the classroom if everyone can get ready independently.
- Drinking fountains will remain turned off to slow the spread of germs. Every day, please send a clean reusable bottle, labelled with your child’s name, so they can have easy access to water throughout the day. Water bottles can be filled at school using our bottle fillers.
- Your child’s teacher will let you know if they should bring their assigned Chromebook back to school on the first day of in-person learning. They will also let you know if there are other materials that your child should return to school.
For our 3-5 graders, your turn is coming soon! Enjoy your last two weeks of distance learning and we will see you on February 8.
I cannot wait to see all of you very soon!
Ms. Halverson
K-5 Director
Silent Dismissal—Are your settings accurate?
All families returning to in-person learning should log in to their Silent Dismissal accounts to verify that their busing and transportation needs are correct. Families that signed up to use DaVinci busing should have received an email earlier this week with information regarding their child’s bus stop times and assigned seats; however, it is still each family’s responsibility to select which days of the week busing is needed for each of their children. Remember, these settings need to be accurate in order for dismissal to run smoothly and safely. Click here to log in to your Silent Dismissal account.
If you do not have a Silent Dismissal account, here is a how to video that will help you set up an account and show you how to make changes in Silent Dismissal.
If you will be picking up your child(ren) from school, please be sure you have your Silent Dismissal number displayed in your vehicle. Please stop by the office if you have misplaced your Silent Dismissal number.
PARENTS WITH THE APP: At the end of the day, you will not be able to dismiss your child(ren) from their classroom using the app. This is so we may carefully control the flow of students on the sidewalk. However, if needed, you may change your child’s settings in the app. Please note, in order for the app to work, you need to inform the school of your interest in using the app and the type of phone that you have (Apple or Android) so that we can enable the app for you.
Morning Drop Off Procedures
Welcome back to school! Here are a few important reminders about the start of the school day that all families dropping off students need to know.
- Make sure your child is ready to hop out of the car when you get to the sidewalk in the morning so that the flow of traffic keeps moving efficiently.
- Parents will still not be allowed to walk children into the school.
- 7:30 a.m.—doors open to students. Please do not drop off your child at school before that time unless they are meeting with a teacher for a special purpose.
- 8:00 a.m.— School starts; children are in their seats and ready to learn. Pulling into the parking lot at 7:58 a.m. will not allow your child enough time to get to his/her class by 8:00 a.m., so please plan accordingly.
- Left turns out of the parking lot are dangerous and should be avoided.
Here is an instructional video that outlines how our morning drop off procedure works. Please view it to refresh your memory.
Attendance Update
Please review the latest Attendance Update along with the details outlined below for using the attendance line. This update is for both distance and in-person learners.
Parents should call the attendance line at 763-252-6130 or send an email to attendance@
- 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 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.
You may view your child’s attendance record in your Campus Parent account.
Notes from Nurse Julie
With the upcoming return to in-person learning, here are some helpful reminders:
Daily Pre-screening:
Please pre-screen your children before they come to school each day. If they have one of the more common COVID symptoms (fever greater than 100.4°f, new onset of cough, difficulty breathing, new loss of taste or smell) or a combination of two of the less common symptoms (sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, muscle pain, extreme fatigue, new onset of severe headache, congestion, runny nose) they will need to stay home, and siblings must also remain at home until a negative COVID test or alternate diagnosis is obtained from a health care provider. Thank you for helping keep our school open and safe!
Masks:
Please make sure your child has several masks to use during the school day, as they tend to get soiled quickly. Cloth masks should be washed each day and paper masks should be disposed of after use. Students unable to wear a mask can have their health care provider fill out a Medical Verification for Exemption form. Please reach out to Nurse Julie if you are in need of a mask exemption form for your student’s health care provider to complete.
Medications:
If your child will need to take any medications while at school, please fill out the appropriate forms for the medications required. Health forms can be found on the DaVinci website or you can access them here. Medications must be brought to school by a parent and delivered to the nurse unless other arrangements are made.
*Over-the-counter medication forms need only a parent/guardian signature and date.
*Prescription medication forms must have BOTH a doctor’s signature and date and a parent/guardian signature and date.
*For any child with asthma or anaphylaxis. Action plan forms can be used in lieu of the prescription medication forms if all the necessary medications can be listed on the plans.
Please Note: Medication can only be accepted if it is accompanied with the correct forms, it is in its original packaging with a prescription label attached, and it is not expired.
If you have any questions, please contact Nurse Julie:
jswanson@davincicharterschool.
763-754-6577, ext. 1110
Recess Attire
Students will participate in recess every day. Please see the list below for clothing recommendations for outdoor recess. There will be outdoor recess on all weather permitted days. We’ll have indoor recess on days when it’s raining or below zero degrees Fahrenheit.
- 60°F or higher—short/long sleeve shirts
- 45-60°F—light jacket/hooded sweatshirts
- 44°F or lower—winter coat, hats, and gloves
- Snow pants and boots are required when there is snow
Spring Picture Day!
Now that we have students returning (insert cheer here) we have scheduled a spring picture day for Thursday, March 25th. This picture day is open to anyone who:
- missed the first picture day in the fall,
- submitted a picture to Scherling but would rather have a studio photo,
- is a staff member who didn’t get their photo taken yet,
- is unhappy with the first set of Scherling pictures and would like a retake.
Uniforms are required for this photo and more details will be coming.
Nice to Know
2021-22 Enrollment Will Close Soon
We are now accepting applications for the 2021-22 school year for students who would like to attend DaVinci Academy for grades Kindergarten through 8th grade. 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, 2021 to be included in the enrollment lottery for the 2021-22 school year. The virtual Enrollment Lottery will take place Monday, February 8, at 5:00 p.m. To complete an application for the next school year click here.
Please feel free to share this information with your family and friends.
Support Space
Back to School Anxiety
Hey DaVinci Community!
As we prepare for the upcoming transitions back into the school building for many students, some families have shared with us their concerns about the changes. We want to reiterate some suggestions from our last newsletter update sent out on January 8, and share upcoming webinars that might be of value to your family.
Tips on how to ease transitions:
- Give advanced warning
- Make time to answer their questions
- Keep as much the same as possible
- Expect that regression may happen
- Don’t make your anxiety theirs
Back to School Anxiety Presentations
Join NAMI Minnesota for their “Back to School Anxiety” presentation, where they will discuss ways to prepare your child for going back to in-person learning, as well as strategies for how to keep their anxiety at bay both during and after school.
The class will be offered on Zoom on 1/22, 1/25 and 1/29. It will also be recorded and available on the NAMI website after the January 22nd presentation.
Class Details:
Date and Time: Friday, January 22nd, 12:00-1:00 PM.
Date and Time: Monday, January 25th, 6:30-7:30 PM. Registration link.
Date and Time: Friday, January 29th, 12:00-1:00 PM. Registration link.
Please reach out if you have questions or concerns. If your family is faced with new or ongoing needs and challenges throughout this time, please let us know by filling out this survey and someone from our team will reach out to further assist your family!
Phoenix Hathaway (K-4 School Counselor) www.calendly.com/mshathaway (763) 200-1338
Melissa Derby (5-8 School Counselor) www.calendly.com/msderby (763) 200-1281
Courtney Rowe (K-8 School Social Worker) www.calendly.com/msrowe (763) 200- 6081
Nutritional Services
Frozen Meal Pick Up
Our next meal pick up day will be Monday, January 25, 10:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. at the main entrance. Curbside assistance will depend on staff availability.
Please note: Beginning Monday, January 25 (grades K-2), and Monday, February 8 (grades 3-5), students participating in in-person learning will no longer have access to the distance learning meal program as they will have access to free breakfast and lunch at school.
If you have children in distance learning and would like to sign up for frozen meals, please contact canderson1@
Looking for a meal site? Use these resources to find an SFSP site near you:
- Download the Free Meals for Kids app provided by Hunger Impact Partners to your phone or device.
- Call the 2-1-1 Hotline or from cell phones – Twin Cities Metro Area: 651-291-0211, Greater Minnesota: 1-800-543-7709, TTY: 651-291-8440.
- Call the Minnesota Food HelpLine at 1-888-711-1151, available from Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Central Time.
- Text “Food” to 877-877. Spanish speakers, text “comida” to 877-877.
Student Eligibility for P-EBT
Students who attend eligible schools and qualify for free or reduced-price (FRP) meals (e.g., children who are directly certified, certified by application or enrolled in a Community Eligibility Provision school) will receive P-EBT benefits based on a calculation that includes the number of distance learning and hybrid days each month. This calculation will be shared once it is approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
IMPORTANT: Households that qualify for FRP meals but have not yet submitted an Application for Educational Benefits for the 2020-21 school year should do so immediately to qualify for the most benefits. In addition, households must have a current mailing address on file with the school in order to receive the P-EBT card in the mail.
The months in which a student is eligible for P-EBT benefits depends on when the Application for Educational Benefits was submitted to the school. Applications received by February 28, 2021 will be eligible for retroactive benefits to September 2020. The table below shows the months eligible for P-EBT benefits based on the submission date of the Application for Educational Benefits.
| Submission Date of Application for Educational Benefits | Months eligible for P-EBT benefits* |
| By February 28, 2021 | September 2020 through June 2021 |
| March 1 – June 11, 2021 | March 2021 through June 2021 |
*Eligibility dates subject to change pending USDA approval
Ongoing
FREE Parenting Seminar from Love & Logic
FREE Media Resource
From Andrea Halverson, K-5 Director
One of the biggest challenges facing parents today, particularly in a year of distance learning, is keeping up with what your kids are doing and watching online. You’ve likely been confused as you’ve heard your child talk about different apps or games that sound completely foreign to you. You might even find yourself yearning for the simpler days when the only video games around were Atari and Super Mario Brothers.
You might be wondering how you can keep up with all of the changes and keep your kids safe online. Often movie and video game ratings don’t give us enough information. Two movies that are both rated PG can have very different content!
One resource I use quite frequently is called Common Sense Media. This free website reviews books, movies, apps, and games to help parents make informed decisions about what their child views.
Each review will generally list what age an item is recommended for. Even more, it will list what age the Common Sense experts recommend, what parent reviewers recommend, and what kid reviewers recommend. It will also give you information about things like language, violence, drinking or drug references and other things you may want to know about.
Each child and family is different and has different standards by which they decide what’s appropriate for them. Common Sense Media is a tool for parents to help make informed decisions for their families with just a few clicks.
Free R
eading & Math Tutoring Available Online
Let’s face it. COVID-19 has made everything challenging this year, especially learning. Reading Corps and Math Corps have launched a new initiative to help! Scholar Squad offers free one-on-one, online tutoring for Minnesota students in grades PreK-8.
Visit ScholarSquad.org to request help for your child. A literacy or math coach will set up a time to learn more about your child and conduct a short screening. If the screening shows your child could use extra help to boost their skills, you’ll be matched with a tutor who will provide one-on-one practice and support.
COVID-19-Community Testing
- Sign up for an appointment: COVID-19 Community Testing Sites. Those who are unable to sign up online or need interpretation can call 1-855-612-0677 for assistance.
- More about nasal swab and saliva tests: Types of COVID-19 Tests
- Testing is free, you do not need insurance or identification
- You can get tested even if you don’t have symptoms of COVID-19.
- To avoid long lines, people are encouraged to pre-register for a time slot, using the registration link listed for each location.
All Minnesotans are now able to order an at-home saliva test at no cost. For more information, visit COVID-19 Test at Home.
Help Wanted
Part Time Administrative Position Open
Ready to get out of the house now that the kids are going back to school? We have the perfect part time job for someone who is organized and friendly, interested in working with kids in the Nurse’s Office, and has basic technology skills. The hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. and Wednesday and Friday 11:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. This position, as it is designed currently, is a half year position which ends in June, but has the potential to become a full time position in the fall.
For more information about this opportunity, please see the Employment page of our website.
DaVinci Connection-March 5, 2021
School Links DaVinci Academy Staff Directory Food Service School Calendar School Supplies Volunteer Information Anti-Bullying Policy Important Dates (subject to change-see online calendar) 3/11 End of Trimester 2 3/12 No School, Teacher Grading Day 3/15-3/19 No School, Spring Break 3/25 Picture Day 3/29 Board Meeting, 6 p.m. 4/1 Spring Conferences, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 4/1-4/6 No [...]
DaVinci Connection-February 19, 2021
School Links DaVinci Academy Staff Directory Food Service School Calendar School Supplies Volunteer Information Anti-Bullying Policy Important Dates (subject to change-see online calendar) 2/22 Board Meeting, 6:00 p.m. 2/23 PTO Meeting, 6:30 p.m. 2/24-2/26 No school for Middle School (K-5 learning days as scheduled) 3/1 Back to in-person learning date for Middle School 3/4 Registration [...]
DaVinci Connection-February 5, 2021
School Links DaVinci Academy Staff Directory Food Service School Calendar School Supplies Volunteer Information Anti-Bullying Policy Important Dates (subject to change-see online calendar) 2/8 Back to in-person learning date for grades 3-5 2/8 Virtual Enrollment Lottery, 5:00 p.m. 2/10 School Development Committee Meeting, 3:30 p.m. 2/10 Finance Committee Meeting, 4:30 p.m. 2/12-2/15 No School, Office [...]
DaVinci Connection-January 8, 2021
School Links DaVinci Academy Staff Directory Food Service School Calendar School Supplies Volunteer Information Anti-Bullying Policy Important Dates (subject to change-see online calendar) 1/11 Annual DaVinci Board Retreat, 4:00 p.m. 1/13 School Development Committee Meeting, 3:30 p.m. 1/13 Finance Committee Meeting, 4:30 p.m. 1/18-1/19 No School, K-8 1/20-1/22 No School, K-5 1/25 Tentative back to [...]
DaVinci Connection-December 18, 2020
School Links DaVinci Academy Staff Directory Food Service School Calendar School Supplies Volunteer Information Anti-Bullying Policy Important Dates (subject to change-see online calendar) 12/21-1/1 No School-Winter Break 1/4 School Resumes 1/11 DaVinci Board Retreat, 4:00 p.m. 1/13 School Development Committee Meeting, 3:30 p.m. 1/13 Finance Committee Meeting, 4:30 p.m. 1/18-1/22 No School 1/25 Tentative back [...]
DaVinci Connection-December 4, 2020
School Links DaVinci Academy Staff Directory Food Service School Calendar School Supplies Volunteer Information Anti-Bullying Policy Important Dates (subject to change-see online calendar) 12/7 Material Pick Up Day 12/9 School Development Committee Meeting, 3:30 pm 12/9 Finance Committee Meeting, 4:30 pm 12/14 Board Meeting, 6:00 pm 12/15 Heggies Pizza Pick Up 3:30-6:00 12/16 Student Care [...]
DaVinci Connection-November 19, 2020
School Links DaVinci Academy Staff Directory Food Service School Calendar School Supplies Volunteer Information Anti-Bullying Policy Important Dates (subject to change-see online calendar) 11/16-11/30 Heggies Pizza Fundraiser 11/19 Last Day of Tri 1 11/20-11/30 No School 11/30 Board Meeting 12/9 School Development Committee Meeting, 3:30 pm 12/9 Finance Committee Meeting, 4:30 pm 12/14 Board Meeting, [...]
DaVinci Connection-November 6, 2020
School Links DaVinci Academy Staff Directory Food Service School Calendar School Supplies Volunteer Information Anti-Bullying Policy Important Dates (subject to change-see online calendar) 11/11 School Development Meeting, 3:30 pm 11/11 Finance Committee Meeting, 4:30 11/19 Last Day of Tri 1 11/20-11/30 No School 11/30 Board Meeting 12/2 Picture Retake Day + Distance Students 12/9 School [...]
DaVinci Connection-October 23, 2020
School Links DaVinci Academy Staff Directory Food Service School Calendar School Supplies Volunteer Information Anti-Bullying Policy Important Dates (subject to change-see online calendar) 10/26 Board Meeting, 6:00 pm 10/27 Picture Day, Cohort A *NOTE NEW DAY 10/29 Picture Day, Cohort B *NOTE NEW DAY 11/11 School Development Meeting, 3:30 pm 11/11 Finance Committee Meeting, 4:30 [...]
DaVinci Connection-October 9, 2020
School Links DaVinci Academy Staff Directory Food Service School Calendar School Supplies Volunteer Information Anti-Bullying Policy Important Dates (subject to change-see online calendar) 10/12-10/16 No School 10/12 Parent Teacher Conferences, 12:00 pm-8:00 pm 10/13 Parent Teacher Conferences, 12:00 pm-8:00 pm 10/15 Office Closed 10/16 Office Closed 10/26 Board Meeting, 6:00 pm 11/3 Picture Day, Cohort [...]
