DaVinci Connection – July 22, 2022
School Links
Important Dates
Subject to change-see online calendar
July 25 – School Board Meeting (6:00pm)
July 26-29 – New Staff Workshop Days
August 1-5 – All Staff Workshop Days
August 4 – Back-to-School Open House
August 9 – First Day of School (Grade 1-8)
August 11 – First Day of School (Kindergarten)
August 29 – School Board Meeting (6:00pm)
September 2 – No School
September 5 – No School, Office Closed
Back-to-School Hub
Download the 2022-23 School Year Calendar
View and download the calendar.
Download the 2022-23 School Supply Lists
GREETINGS!
Check out the important information below regarding back-to-school. To the left, you will find helpful links to important pages on our website.
Welcome Back!
Dear DaVinci Families,
I am so excited to welcome you to the 22-23 school year. Fifteen years ago this fall DaVinci opened its doors to families. Our entire student body fit into our half gym at the Blaine location and we began our first day with an all school assembly to learn about Leonardo DaVinci, our namesake. We have grown as a school every year since then and are beginning this school year with just under 1,000 scholars.
One of the amazing things about being a larger school is that our families bring so many diverse gifts and talents to the community. We know that the pandemic has forced us to be more isolated for the past few years, but we are renewing our commitment to our mission and reminding all families that DaVinci Academy was founded on the belief in a home/school partnership. Students excel when we are all working together, so we have created a “Parent Engagement Coordinator” position specifically to provide opportunities for families to volunteer and share their gifts.
We encourage you to visit the volunteer display at our back to school open house and find out more about all of the opportunities there are for you to get involved and partner with us.
I look forward to seeing you all on August 4th.
Holly
Open House – Save the Date
We are very excited to welcome families back on Thursday, August 4th for our Back to School Open House. It is highly recommended that families plan to attend the open house, as back to school information packets will not be mailed home. Families will receive all back-to-school information during the open house. You will meet your teachers, tour classrooms, receive your class schedule(s), as well as your back-to-school packet(s).
The open house is also a great opportunity to get information about school meals, after school programming and sports, receive help with Silent Dismissal and Infinite Campus, drop off school supplies, and most importantly, connect as a community!
Open House Information
Thursday August 4, 2022
- 3:00 – 4:00 pm | New Families
- (There will be a presentation beginning at 3:15)
- 4:00 – 7:00 pm | All Families
We look forward to seeing you!
Open House Parking – READ ME!
To help ease parking congestion during the open house, overflow parking and shuttle transportation will be available. Overflow parking will be located at Majestic Oaks Golf Club, which is just east of DaVinci Academy. A shuttle bus will transport families to-and-from the school.
Please click here, or tap the image above for additional overflow parking details. The route to overflow parking is highlighted in yellow. Please do not park in the parking lots closest to the Majestic Oaks club house. Shuttle buses will not be running to these lots.
Application for Educational Benefits
Your child(ren) may qualify for free or reduced-price school meals. To see if you qualify, or apply, complete the linked Application for Educational Benefits following the instructions. A new application must be submitted each year. At public schools, your application also helps the school qualify for education funds and discounts.
Please be sure to review DaVinci’s School Uniform Policy as you plan your child’s wardrobe for this school year. Please note that our K-5 students wear red polos and our middle school students wear navy polos. We have very specific considerations around the pants students may wear. You will notice that students may not wear jeans, joggers, jeggings, or leggings. Some of our students get cold in the building, and they are allowed to wear a white, black, or red cardigan, sweater, or crew sweatshirt with no logos. The Uniform Policy outlines all of the details
We have a limited supply of “hand me down” uniforms that will be available to parents at the Open House.
Save Back-to-School Receipts
If you are buying school supplies for your child(ren) in kindergarten through 12th grade, you may qualify for one or more tax relief programs available through the Minnesota Department of Revenue.
The Minnesota Department of Revenue has two tax relief programs for families with children in kindergarten through 12th grade: the K-12 Education Subtraction and the K-12 Education Credit. Both programs help lower taxes and may provide a larger refund when you file Form M1, Individual Income Tax. Click on the link below to learn more.
Middle School ELC Trips are Back!
We are excited to announce the return of our Middle School Environmental Learning Center trips scheduled for September of 2022. We have seen these trips benefit our students’ understanding of science and nature as well as the amazing camaraderie built both student to student and student to teacher. The relationship building that takes place carries over to make for a very successful school year.
Each grade level trip is to a separate location.
- The 8th grade students will spend three days and two nights at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in Finland, MN, on September 19-21
- Our 7th grade students will spend three days and two nights at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center in Lanesboro, MN on September 19-21.
- Our 6th grade students will spend two days and one night at Long Lake Conservation Center in Palisade, MN on September 20-21. On September 19, our 6th grade students will have a special day of learning and growing closer here at school.
Middle school families should refer to the email Mr. Shields sent on July 19 for more information.
Kindergarten Family Conferences
Our amazing Kindergarten teachers will be contacting all families to schedule in-person conferences which will take place August 9 & 10. Families and students will have a chance to see the classroom, drop off school supplies and meet with their teacher to discuss the upcoming year.
Thanks!
School Supply Drive
We will be hosting a School Supply Drive at the Open House! If you are able, we would be so grateful for any donations towards this cause. All donated items will be used to support our DaVinci Students this school year! Refer to the flyer link below for details regarding the most needed school supply items.
Thank you in advance for your support!
If your student is in need of support with school supplies, uniforms, or any other things please stop by the School Social Worker’s table at our Open House and she will help ensure that your child has the necessary items to start the school year off with success!
Thanks!
Volunteer as an Interpreter!
Do you speak Arabic, Oromo, Amharic, Urdu, or Tibetan – and fluent in English? If so, we would love your help during our open house to assist families where English is a second language. We are looking for individuals to help from 3:00 – 7:00pm
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Dan Rhinhart at drhinhart@davincicharterschool.org.
Does Your Child Need Health Insurance?
Does your child have health insurance? If not, help may be available.
Minnesota Health Care Programs have free and low-cost health insurance for children and families who qualify. Check out the link below for more information.
Thank You!
A huge THANK YOU to Veronica, Helena and Ingrid for creating beautiful bulletin boards to welcome our students back to school. We look forward to an amazing year of volunteers utilizing their creativity and skills to help DaVinci be as successful as possible.
