DaVinci Connection-April 9, 2021
School Links
Important Dates
(subject to change-see online calendar)
4/14 Student Development Committee Meeting, 3:30 p.m.
4/20 PTO Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
4/26 Board Meeting, 6 p.m.
5/10-5/13 Intersession
5/14 No School
5/24 Board Meeting, 6 p.m.
5/31 No School, Memorial Day
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.
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.
You may view your child’s attendance record in your Campus Parent account.
Greetings!
To the left, you will find helpful links to important pages on our website.
Need to Know
Who: All grade levels K-8 will have the opportunity to help raise money to improve our outdoor spaces and enhance learning experiences on our amazing 20-acre campus. From gardens to equipment to paved paths, we’d love your help creating new opportunities for our students! Please note, this is absolutely not required.
What: An envelope for students’ “Dollars for DaVinci” was sent home today. Distance learning families can pick up their envelopes at material pick up on Monday, April 12. It is our goal that each grade will raise $2,000 and become a Topgolf Bay sponsor during our spring fundraiser event! (example: Bay 5 is sponsored by ___ Grade). In 2019, Dollars for DaVinci raised over $20,000! Our goal this year is $18,000!
Where: Please have your child bring their money in the envelope provided and give it to their teacher or donate electronically through paypal on our Davinci Website Donation Link. If you are using additional envelopes, please write “Dollars for DaVinci” on the outside, and include your child’s name on the envelope, along with their grade level and their teacher’s name. You may remain anonymous, but please write your child’s grade level and “Dollars for DaVinci” at a minimum. The office will send home receipts for checks or individual donations larger than $20.
We will track what each grade has collected with posters at the front of the school. Each grade will set goals with rewards—the grade that meets the grade level goal of $2,000 and raises the most money will earn a pizza party!
When: Your child may turn in envelopes anytime between now and May 3, 2021. Distance learning families can return donation envelopes during supply pick up on May 3.
How: Get the kids involved! Ideas to help kids earn money:
* Doing extra chores around the house
* Asking family, friends and neighbors for donations
* Helping neighbors or family members with their household chores
Online Donations Link: https://davincicharterschool.org/our-school/donate/
DaVinci Online Talent Show
Attention 4th-8th Grade Families!
The DaVinci Online Talent Show is back for one more year! As we continue to avoid meeting in large groups, we still want to see the amazing talent this school has to offer.
For those interested, please record yourself doing something amazing. These videos will be compiled into our Online Talent Show playlist and shared with the DaVinci community.
Please send your videos to Anders Lundahl at alundahl@davincicharterschool.org by Monday, April 26. Watch for future messages about how to watch the Talent Show premiere on May 6.
Reminders for submitting videos:
- These will be shared with the DaVinci community, so please don’t submit anything you don’t want teachers/students/families to be able to see.
- Make sure your clothing, background, and language are all appropriate for a school event.
- If you are performing a song, dance, etc. – please include what the name of the song/artist/etc. is so we can give credit where credit is due.
Excited to see all of your amazingness! Get practicing!
The DaVinci Academy Book Fair is Now Online
Our onsite book fair will be held at school April 26-30. Students will be able to bring money and shop the fair those days. But, families can also shop the fair online by following this link. Items purchased online will be shipped to the school and passed out to students 7-10 days after April 30 when our onsite fair closes. Distance learning families should be able to pick up their items on May 24 which is our last scheduled packet pick up day. Check it out!
Specialists Update
We are excited to share that we are planning to transition several of our in-person elementary specialist classes back to their regular classroom spaces. Some of our art and music classes will begin to be held in the art and music rooms starting Monday, April 12.
Students will continue to follow our normal health and safety protocols as they move into these new spaces. Student schedules and specialist teacher assignments will not change, groups of students will not be mixing with one another, and distance learning classes will not be impacted by this change. Students will not be singing in music classes and teachers will sanitize tables and materials between uses.
We are excited to get to welcome students into the music and art rooms for the first time this year!
Intersession 2021—Register Now!
Intersession is an optional, fee-based opportunity for students and staff to focus on subject areas that they are passionate about. Any students not registered for intersession have the week of May 10 off from school. Learn more about intersession here.
Registration for intersession is now open! The deadline to register is Friday, April 16 and no late registrations will be accepted. See the classes we are offering for intersession here.
We will continue to use the School Store in Infinite Campus to accept intersession registrations. Fees are due at the time of registration. In order to be approved for a fee reduction, families must have an approved Educational Benefits application on file with the school. Access the application for Educational Benefits in Infinite Campus if you do not already have one on file. (You need to complete and submit a new application each school year.)
If an intersession class becomes full, you will not be able to register for it. To join the waitlist for a class, contact Julie Kresh.
*DaVinci Academy DOES NOT offer bus transportation during intersession, as these are not school days.
*DaVinci Academy DOES NOT offer school lunches during intersession, as these are not school days.
Nice to Know
Online Library Search
Are you curious about what books are in our DaVinci library? Want to find out? Would you like to do it from the comfort of your own home or classroom? Well, Ms. Brown, our wonderful librarian, has just the thing for you!
Click the link: https://dva.follettdestiny.com/. From there, click on DaVinci Academy Library. It will bring you to our catalog and library search page.
If you find a book you would like to check out, simply email the title and author to Ms. Brown at rbrown@davincicharterschool.org to make your request. If the book is still available, she will deliver it to your classroom or have it ready for pick-up for our distance learning friends.
Happy searching!
If you are a parent of a child that receives Special Education services, consider attending our DaVinci Special Education Advisory Council on Tuesday, April 13 from 5-6 p.m. virtually.
Please contact Kari Peterson, Special Education Director, at kmpeterson@davincicharterschool.org if you are interested or would like more information.
Covid-19 Vaccine Connector
The MN Department of Education has asked us to share the following letter with families in our community. It outlines who is currently eligible to receive a Covid-19 vaccine, including caregivers, as well as how to get registered using the Vaccine Connector. If you have any questions, please call the vaccine hotline at 833-431-2053.
Donors Choose Project
In early March, Donors Choose announced a match offer for book projects. Our goal was to fill gaps for the middle grade level readers and add a few young adult books to the classroom shelves as well. Sixty-two new books have arrived and are waiting to be cataloged, labeled, and finally checked out by our students. We are humbled by the generosity of our community and can’t wait to get these books into students’ hands and hearts.
Shout Outs
DaVinci Safety Patrols
A HUGE thank you to all of the students who applied for safety patrol this year! We had way more applications than we could accept. If you were not chosen this year, please apply again next year.
Congratulations to the following students who have been chosen as safety patrols! Their duties started on April 7 and we appreciate the time and dedication it takes to keep everyone at school safe.
4th Grade
Aashirya N. Andrew K. Asher S. Brynlee W. Charleigh L. Imani K. Isabella S. Israa S. Jaxon S. Landon K. Lucy V. Mohamed S. Waleed S. |
5th Grade
Allie S. Arianna M. Hailey P. Hayden B. Mariam A. Miriam H. Molly Z. Mya G. Mya H. Pal T. Wyatt B.
|
Read-a-thon Top Readers
A shout out to our top readers from our recent read-a-thon! Way to go! These students will each receive a free book from Ms. Brown in the library during the book fair.
Grade | Student | Teacher | Minutes of Reading |
K | Mya C. | Ms. Behning | 625 |
1 | Sharon I. | Ms. Neis | 1515 |
2 | Ethan I. | Ms. Marta | 1751 |
3 | Milkessa M. | Ms. Luke | 8265 (K-5 top reader!) |
4 | Presley N. | Ms. Rischmiller | 2797 |
5 | Alexei R. | Ms. Walters | 1308 |
Renaissance | Blake F. | Ms. Arboleda | 2401 |
History Day State Qualifiers
Twenty History Day projects were selected from the DaVinci History Day Competition to move on to the Regional Competition which was held virtually during the month of March. During the Regional Competition, DaVinci projects competed against projects from area schools; fifteen projects were selected as State Qualifiers at the Regional Competition! State Qualifiers will compete with students from all over Minnesota in their category. Congratulations to all the students for their hard work! State History Day results will be announced Sunday, May 2.
Students advancing to State History Day:
Websites:
Nahum Y. – Montgomery Bus Boycott
Seno O. – Rwandan Genocide of 1994
Issy H. and Lizzy W.-P. – Geneva Convention
Josie K. and Izze W. – Aaron Douglas’ Effect During the Harlem Renaissance
Reeha I. and Ruchira P. – Coco Chanel
Exhibits:
Ava S. – The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
Brynn L. – The Creation and Changes of the Pledge of Allegiance
Valerie P. – Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I have a Dream” Speech
Nathan A. – The Emancipation Proclamation
Saivya S. – The Great Chicago Fire
Eleanore J. and Isabella C. – Keating–Owen Child Labor Act of 1916
Nico B. and Ryan B. – Christmas Truce of 1914
Addy W. and Sydney W. – 1920s Flappers
Hank K. and Zion M. – WWI: Carrier Pigeons
Documentary:
Echo N. and Ari H. – Anime and Japanese Culture
MBDA Virtual Honor Band
Congratulations to 7th grader Ava S., who was chosen for the Minnesota Band Directors Association (MBDA) virtual honor band this year taking place on April 17. This is truly a great honor as there were 261 applicants and only two trombonists selected, where she was chosen to be 1st chair. Many congratulations for being selected for this ensemble and representing DaVinci Academy! Thank you to Mr. Sandor Miko for working with Ava.
Support Space
Child Abuse Prevention Month
Hello DaVinci Community!
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Like most parents, you may know it’s important to talk with your child about how to stay safe, but may not be sure how to approach the topic of abuse. Here’s a really helpful site to equip you for these conversations,
https://www.cfchildren.org/resources/child-abuse-prevention/. This Committee for Children resource includes a how-to guide of helpful language to use in conversations around this topic, including “what to say at every age” and “know the signs”.
Talking about child abuse is the best way to prevent it. You can build these conversations into everyday moments to create trust, warmth and comfort around a serious topic. Just like any safety topic you discuss at home, you can teach your child age-appropriate body safety rules.
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
Meal pick up days for the month of April will be on the following days from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the main entrance:
- Monday, April 12
- Monday, April 19
- Monday, April 26
Curbside assistance will depend on staff availability.
Please note: Students participating in in-person learning no longer have access to the distance learning meal program as they 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.
P-EBT Hotline and Help Form for Families
The P-EBT Hotline is available for families Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m., to answer questions about P-EBT benefits. Families may call 651-431-4608 or 1-833-454-0153, or submit questions through the P-EBT Help Form, which is available in multiple languages.
Ongoing
Please remember that if your child OR anyone in your household has one of the more common symptoms consistent with COVID, or two or more of the less common symptoms, all members of the household must remain at home until a negative COVID test or an alternate doctor’s diagnosis is received. This does not include baseline allergies but may include the same symptoms as a cold or other viruses. Please reach out to Nurse Julie if you have any questions or are unsure if your child(ren) should stay home.
More common symptoms: fever ≥ 100.4°F, new or worsening cough, difficulty breathing, loss of taste and smell.
Less common symptoms: sore throat, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, chills, muscle pain, extreme fatigue, new severe headache, or new congestion/runny nose.
Thanks for keeping our school safe!
COVID-19 Updates:
Minnesota Department of Health—March 25, 2021 Bulletin
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.
Vaccine Tracking
Minnesota has launched a public vaccine data dashboard to detail the progress of COVID-19 vaccine allocation, distribution and administration across Minnesota. The dashboard provides a visual and user-friendly way to view key vaccination data. The dashboard includes information on the number of doses promised (allocated) to the state by the federal government; shipped to Minnesota providers; and administered to Minnesotans. Information is updated daily at 11 a.m.
View Minnesota’s dashboard for vaccine tracking
COVID-19 Testing Resource for Families
MDH recommends all school-age youth returning to school, youth sports, or extracurricular activities, and their families, get tested every two weeks through the end of the school year. While it is not a requirement, regular testing complements other safety measures already in place, such as masking and social distancing.
For more information, please visit COVID-19 Testing for Kids and Families. Getting tested every two weeks from now until the end of the school year can help keep schools open and sports operating, and ensure we are limiting the spread of COVID-19.