Dragon Tales
April 4th- April 7th, 2022
Spoiler Alert: School-wide Fun, No School, Statewide Testing, Dragon's Fire, Fundraisers and Volunteer Opportunities...
Happy day, da Vinci Families!
I hope this past week has been wonderful for you.
We made it through April Fool’s Day without a bunch of pranks - in fact, we only one prank (a student printing April Fool’s issue). No TikTok challenges (thank goodness!) and for the most part the day was pretty awesome (our week was too).
As mentioned in previous emails, da Vinci is adding a few more teaching positions (due to our 7 period day). Thus, we are hiring for a few different positions to support our Drama, Arts and Instructional Practices Departments. We went through the district’s first phase in the hiring process. We have recommended candidates for all three positions and waiting for the completion of the process to announce teacher new additions. Once we are in a place to share about our new teachers joining our community, we will be sure to introduce them via this newsletter.
Finally, we closed out Women’s History Month with our WHM poster designing contest. Our submissions were all really awesome. We decided to display all posters in our art gallery. I get to honor our participating artists by enjoying lunch with them this week.
Da Vinci at Amalfi’s
Ticket selling is LIVE for da Vinci @ Amalfi’s! Join the da Vinci community on April 16th from noon - 3 pm for live music and food. This will be a fun outdoor fundraiser with live music from Grateful Dead cover band Big Foot Country, featuring da Vinci alumni Tage Gavin (class of 2018).
Please remember, Friday, April 8th, is a non student day, as it is Teacher Planning/Grading Day.
Take great care and enjoy the extended weekend,
Principal Davis
It's a PARTY!!
Partying like it's 1999...or 2022
PTSA Corner
Da Vinci at Amalfi’s
There are only 12 tickets remaining for da Vinci at Amalfi’s! If you haven't purchased your tickets to our very fun event at Amalfi's, you can do so here (be patient, sometimes the page loads a little slow). By purchasing your tickets you are doing more than eating delicious Italian food. You are:
Supporting our students and arts programs at da Vinci
Getting out of the house and connecting with other da Vinci families and staff, while enjoying good company, food and a live band (featuring one of da Vinci's alumni)
Supporting a local Black owned business that has successfully planted roots in the Alameda District for so many years.
Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week
May 2 - 6
We are cooking up a week filled with gratitude for our teachers and staff and we need your support! There are still a few opportunities available here.
Da Vinci Auction
Bidding begins on May 20th but the online auction website is up and running now!
View the catalog here (new items added daily).
We are still accepting donation items from individuals and businesses. If you or someone you know has an item, service, gift card, etc to donate it can now be completed directly through the website here.
Spring Plant Sale
Thinking about spring flowers, hanging baskets and herbs? Our annual Spring Plant Sale kicks off next week. Look for the link in the Dragon Tales!
Outdoor School
Save the NEW Dates - 6th Grade Outdoor School- May 2 and 3!
In May our 6th-grade students will be attending 2 days of onsite outdoor school. We are still working on the details and will provide more information the week of April 4.
Parent Q&A Sessions (from our site director)
Monday, April 18, 2022
5-6 pm
https://multnomahesd-org.zoom.us/j/89251969344
Ms. Stevens will be sending a more detailed email to you the week of April 4 with our specific da Vinci schedule.
State-wide Testing
Math State Testing Starts April 11th. OPT out forms were due Feb 4th (this form is for ELA and Math only). We will accept testing opt-out forms until April 8th and no later.
Students who are not testing, will silently read in their Math and ELA classes. Science has a different opt out on process, which is listed on the PPS Website.
Please note: Students are required to put cell phones in their backpacks or turn them in to their teacher (if the teacher requires students to do so). We expect all students to adhere to this expectations, as having a cell phone is out during the testing time, will cause the entire class' tests to be eliminated.
Calendar Highlights
April 7th, Last day of Quarter 3
April 8th, No school for students, teacher grading/planning day
April 8 and 9, All-City Honor Band, invitation
April 16th, da Vinci @ Amalfi's fundraiser
April 26th, Black and Brown Family Night
April 27th, PPS Choir Festival
April 28th, Site Council, 4:00 PM
May 2-6, Teacher Appreciation Week
May 2 and 3, Outdoor School Day Trips for 6th Graders (revised dates)
May 19 and 20, Spring Dance Concert
May 30, Memorial Day Holiday
June 7th, 8th Grade Field Trip @ Oaks Park
June 9th, 8th Grade Promotion, 6:00 at Grant HS (new date and location)
June 8th, Portland Jr. Rose Festival Parade, Band students
June 10, Last Day of School
Calling Writers for Dragon's Fire Literary Magazine
The Dragon’s Fire Literary Review is seeking submissions for our Spring 2022 issue!
We’re looking for poetry, fiction, nonfiction, comics, and everything in between --and outside the lines. You may submit up to five of your best pieces.
Work will be chosen based on creativity, coherence, and writing conventions.
To submit your work, use this Google Form.
Submissions must be your own original work, include your name and a title, and should be well-edited. The deadline is April 29.
If you have questions, email Ms. Conner: emconner@pps.net.
Summer Photography Workshop at Sitka Center for Art and Ecology with Kelda Van Patten
Attendance Reporting Reminder
COVID-19 Updates and Links
HERE is a Q & A form with our current guidelines.
OHSU Screening is available for all students unless they have tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 90 days. Students can opt in or out at any time. A kit will be sent home on Monday this week for Tuesday. Remember to label the bag and the sample. Each week we have at least one sample that is unlabeled!
To opt-in, we need the OHSU form and the general consent form with the third box on the back page checked.
Sample collection instructions
Link for OHSU weekly screening
Link for General Consent Form We need this form on file if you want your student tested in the event they become ill at school.
Safe Oregon
SafeOregon is a program created for Oregon students, parents, school staff, community members and law enforcement officers to report and respond to student safety threats. Please see this brochure for information about how to share information.
PPS Sponsored Family Resources
Multnomah Youth Commission accepting applications (flier) (FAQ)
VIBE of Portland Art Camps, Classes, No-School Workshops
VIBE of Portland Winter 2022 No-School Workshops and Camps (updated 2/23)
VIBE of Portland East Winds Summer Camp
OSU Discover the Scientist Within February Workshop (English) (Spanish)
Multnomah Early Childhood Program: (English) (Spanish) (Vietnamese)
Portland Parks & Recreation Preschool 2022-2023 Registration
OSU STEM Academy AWSEM Club (includes Spanish flyer)