DaVinci Connection-November 5, 2021
Bed
School Links
Important Dates
Subject to change-see online calendar
November 18, Last Day of Trimester 1
November 19, Grading Day, No School
November 22-26, No School
November 29, No School Day, Staff Development **Note, this information is different than what is reflected on your school magnet and we apologize for the error. Please see the 21-22 schedule for the most accurate information.
Attendance
If your student will be late or absent please call the attendance line 763-252-6130 before 9:00 a.m. Please include:
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
An Extended Absence Form is needed for more than five consecutive absences and is due four to six weeks in advance of the absence.
Recess Attire
Temperatures are getting lower and lower. Please send your student with appropriate (clearly labeled) attire including hats and mittens. We do go outside daily and don’t want them to be chilly.
GREETINGS!
To the left and right, you will find helpful links to important pages on our website.
DOWNLOAD THE SILENT DISMISSAL APP TODAY!
New Bus Routes Are Here!
As you are well aware, there has been quite a strain put on the reliability and consistency of our DaVinci bus routes this year because of the bus driver shortage. We are committed to providing transportation to our families as we know that it is essential for many in order to attend school. To address the challenges we have had in a sustainable way, we have consolidated our bus routes to reduce the number of drivers needed. These changes have resulted in an elimination of 3 buses. We are hopeful that this change will allow us to provide more consistency in transportation for all of our families that rely on this important service.
In order for us to consolidate our bus routes we had to make the following changes:
- Fourteen of our bus stops have switched to different routes. So if you are assigned a different route, this is why.
- In turn, most bus stop times have changed. Some of our bus routes are much longer as a result. Ideally we would have bus routes be approximately 30 minutes. This year they will be closer to 45 min-1 hour.
- Almost all of the buses are full to capacity.
We recognize and apologize for the challenges caused for some families due to these changes.
We hope that by making these fundamental changes, we will be in a better position to maintain more regular bus routes as the winter driving season (and cold and flu seasons) approach.
These new routes will begin when we return from Thanksgiving break on Tuesday, November 30th. The office staff will work over the next couple of weeks to change everyone’s Silent Dismissal bus authorizations, so that by Monday, November 29th (which is a non-school day), families will be able to set dismissal plans for the week. You may receive notifications from your Silent Dismissal account if you have this feature turned on, so this is just a heads up that we are working behind the scene on those settings. Current bus settings for the next 2 weeks will not be changed.
Thank you for your patience. If there are particular problems with these new routes causing your family a hardship, please reach out to Holly Fischer, Operations Director at hfischer@davincicharterschool.org.
K-5 Students Dismissal to Pickup Line at 2:55
Just a quick update on afternoon parking lot procedures. Thank you to the families who made minor changes in their pick up routine at the end of the day to accommodate the 2:55 dismissal for the K-5 students. This small adjustment has made a great impact on the amount of families trying to get in to the parking lot at the same time. Remarkably, for 2 days in a row we had 0 lines of cars stopped on Jefferson waiting to enter the parking lot.
Merging Traffic
We have had a rash of drivers traveling south on Jefferson who scoot past parents waiting in the turn lane to enter the school and turn in to the new middle entrance. This middle entrance was designed so that parents traveling north can enter the parking lot at the same time as southbound cars. If you are waiting at the stop light on Bunker Lake, please merge in to turning traffic so that you can enter the lot in the northernmost lane entrance. Parents will need to yield to each other at that corner so that traffic flow is not impeded. Please show SPARK to your fellow DaVinci drivers and allow cars to merge.
COVID-19 Impacts on Food Service
Schools are starting to experience nationwide supply chain and product availability shortages. Disruptions are due to a lack of availability of raw ingredients and labor to produce, unload, and transfer food products. Some food and/or beverage products normally provided to students may not be available or arrive as scheduled. Due to unforeseen circumstances, last-minute menu changes and product substitutions may occur. Be assured meals will remain balanced, healthy, and plentiful. We ask for patience and understanding as we do our best to meet the needs of your children.
Menus and nutritional information are always posted on our district website.
Immunization Forms Needed
If you have received an email or phone call about needed immunizations, please complete the required vaccinations or exemption form, and return the record to Nurse Julie or the front office. MN law requires written proof that vaccinations have been completed or to have a medical or conscientious exemption form on file with the school, or the student will be unenrolled. To view the required list of vaccinations click read more below.
The required vaccinations are:
Age 5-11 years (Entering grades K-6):
DTaP/DT: 5 doses
Polio (IPV/OPV): 4 doses
Hep B: 3 doses
MMR: 2 doses
Varicella (Chicken Pox): 2 doses
Age 12+ (Entering 7th and 8th grade):
All of the above vaccinations
Tdap
Meningococcal
Due to the ongoing pandemic and its challenges, the deadline to complete the vaccinations or exemptions has been extended to December 31st. Please contact Julie Swanson at jswanson@davincicharterschool.org or (763)754-6577, ext. 1110 if you have any questions.
Student Council Event
The Students Council is putting together a Toys For Tots drive this year starting on November 5, 2021. Families who would like to participate should bring new and unwrapped toys for donations. The Student Council is making posters and getting boxes ready for each floor as there will be a grade grouping competition. The floor that brings in the most toys will earn a sweatshirt day. All toys will need to be collected by December 7th, 2021. If families would like to donate money instead of buying a toy, please make checks payable to Marine Toys For Tots Foundation and give the check to the front office. The Student Council thanks you in advance for your generosity.
Luige’s Pizza and Wooden Spoon Cookie Dough Fundraiser
The School Development Committee is proud to bring back the 5th installation of our schoolwide Pizza Fundraiser. Enjoy pizza and help us raise money for the school. Order forms will be collected November 1 – November 17. More information will come home with your students next week.
After-School Activities Registration
Registration for session 2 after-school activities is open. Session 2 activities will begin on November 30 and last until February 17. Register early… activities fill up FAST! Click here to check them out! Registration closes on November 12.
Fall Play Performances
Directed by Profe Lenny and Mr. Mans
School Performances
- Thursday, November 11
- Friday, November 12
Community Performances
- Friday, November 12 @ 6:00PM
- Saturday, November 13 @ 5:00PM
Cost: $5 adults, $3 K-12 students, free under 5 years old
Winter Choir Concert
We are excited to announce the return of our in person concerts!
Our winter choir concert, titled
“Cold Hands, Warm Hearts” will take place on Tuesday, December 14, 2021
5th & 6th Grade – 6:00 p.m.
*students arrive at 5:40
7th & 8th Grade – 7:00 p.m.
*students arrive at 6:40
All students will wear a white dress top, black dress bottom, and black shoes. Dresses are fine as well. Students must also wear a mask (ideally black)
*Masks will be required for everyone regardless of vaccination status.
Any questions, please reach out to Mr. Hanson
Middle School Instrumental Concerts
Our Middle School instrumental concerts are fast approaching! We look forward to being able to present our performances in person.
The Middle School Orchestra Winter Concert will be December 9th at 6PM
The Middle School Band Winter Concert will be December 7th at 6PM
Students should arrive to the instrumental music room by 5:40 PM wearing a white dress top, black dress bottom, and black shoes. Each concert will last about half an hour. Please direct any questions to Mr. Miko at smiko@davincicharterschool.org
Dance Residency at DaVinci
DaVinci students have been thrilled for the past two weeks to work with dance instructor Mike Jones. Mike is joining us for a month-long dance residency where he will work with classes on choreography. With some classes, this work will result in performances, and in other cases this has been a fun outlet for energy and an opportunity to learn something new. Teachers have the option to bring their classes to our beautiful Performing Arts Center for lessons at select times. Students are getting exposure to dance terminology and it’s not unusual to see them doing a “pa de bourree” down the hall or breaking out in choreography, which they are all learning. Thank you to Mr. Jones for sharing your artistry and passion with our students!
If you are interested in learning more about Mike Jones’ body of work you can reference this page.
Additional Community Events
Minnesota Historical Society
Sixth graders can go to any MNHS location for FREE! It’s a great way for children to explore history during non-school hours.
Any child who is in 6th grade during the 2021-2022 school year is eligible for this pass. The pass provides free admittance for the 6th grader (not parents or siblings) to Minnesota Historical Society sites and museums through August 31, 2022. Not valid for field trips, paid programs or specially priced exhibits.
Enrichment Program
Artificial Intelligence, Humanities and Ethics Program Taught by Yale Graduates: Winter ’21
Inspirit AI is a 25-hour enrichment program that introduces middle and high school students to fundamental artificial intelligence concepts in order to work through socially impactful projects in areas including art, healthcare, education, law, and more. Developed and taught by our team of graduate students from Stanford and MIT, students receive a personalized, interdisciplinary learning experience with a student-instructor ratio of 5:1, and custom curriculum appropriate for complete beginners to more advanced students. Applications for our programs are now open and due October 15th. For our middle school programs, you can find our flyer here and our MS application here.
COVID Task Force
Following an extensive clinical trial and final recommendations from CDC for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 5-11 year-olds, Governor Tim Walz announced that Minnesota will begin vaccination children this week. To aid families, the state has launched a new webpage (mn.gov/vaxforkids) to help parents and guardians find 5-11 year-old children a vaccine and answer questions they may have about the vaccine.
The state has mobilized a diverse network of providers around the state – hospitals, clinics, local public health, Tribal health agencies, pharmacies, school located clinics and state-run community clinics – to administer vaccines to our children as quickly as possible.
Minnesota providers have ordered as many doses as possible from the federal government. Doses will arrive in waves this week, with most providers receiving their vaccines by this weekend. The state’s main goal is to ensure that the vaccine is widely, equitably and efficiently available to all Minnesotans age 5-11.
How Minnesotans ages 5 and older can get their free shot:
Minnesotans looking to vaccinate their child can:
- Visit mn.gov/vaxforkids to find clinic locations near you.
- Check with their pediatrician, family medicine clinic or pharmacy about appointments.
- Go to a community vaccination clinic at Mall of America. For more details and to register click here: Mall of America Community Vaccination
Before you go, make sure the vaccine location provides the Pfizer vaccine to 5-11-year-olds. Not all Pfizer vaccine providers will have the vials specifically packaged for 5-11 year old doses in their supply.
Minnesotans with questions about the vaccine can also call the Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 Public Hotline at 1-833-431-2053. The hotline is available Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
For unique ways of talking to your kids visit The ABC’s of the Covid-19 Vaccine hosted by Sesame Street
Kids Deserve a Shot!
Minnesotans 12-17 years old who start and complete their two-dose COVID-19 vaccine series between October 18 and November 30 are eligible to receive a $200 Visa gift card through the ‘Kids Deserve a Shot’ vaccine incentives program.
In order to be eligible, Minnesotans 12-17 must receive their first dose between October 18 and November 9 and receive their second dose by November 30.
Minnesotans must be
- at least 12 years old at the time of one or both shots
- and 17 or younger at the time of their first shot.
The reward registration form will open at 8:00 a.m. on November 9, 2021. The registration form will stop accepting requests for $200 Visa gift cards at 11:59 p.m. on November 30. Gift card requests will be fulfilled beginning on November 30, 2021 and throughout the month of December 2021. Please allow up to six weeks after November 30, 2021 to receive your Visa card in the mail.
For more information click here: Kids Deserve a Shot
Local COVID Testing: There are many COVID-19 testing options available to Minnesotans. Please visit COVID-19 Testing – Minnesota Dept. of Health (state.mn.us) for more information on Minnesota’s free community testing sites, no-cost COVID-19 test at home , or locations at a local pharmacy, clinic or hospital. Local options include https://gslabstesting.
Find a COVID Vaccine: The COVID-19 vaccine is widely available. There are many options for places to get a vaccine. Here are some different
ways to find a COVID-19 vaccine:
For more on the COVID Vaccine click here:
The DaVinci Academy Task Force is continuing to evaluate mitigation efforts that prioritize in-person learning. This month the Task Force is evaluating Test and Stay as an alternative to school-issued quarantines. The Task Force will also be re-evaluating the Covid-19 Mitigation Matrix following the release of vaccines for children ages 5-11.
