Dragon Tales
March 14 - 18, 2022
Spoiler Alert: New Mask Guidelines, Counselor Corner, PTSA Meeting this week, Outdoor School, Spring Break ahead ...
Dear da Vinci Families,
Last week was quite eventful! Our students ended their 3 day run of the musical, As For The Last Two Years... A Musical Revue. If you weren't able to attend, needless to say, we missed you and you missed a really good show! I found myself swaying to the music and tapping my feet a few times - it was the sweetest! With so much heartbreak going on in our world and community, it was truly special to be in the presence of our students engaging in such a positive way and doing what they love - performing.
Speaking of heartbreak, I would like to take a moment, to remind families to talk with their children, please. With the most recent tragedies of youth dying by overdosing, I encourage you to take a moment and ask your kids how they are doing, talk with them about the dangers of vaping, drugs/pills, etc. Our counselors shared a lesson last week with teachers, as well as a few other resources. You can also scroll down to the, "Counselor Corner" section of this newsletter for more resources.
This week is our final week before spring break; spring fever is definitely here! After Spring break da Vinci students and staff will do a reset of expectations - this will help to keep our students on track and the momentum going for the last few months of the year.
We haven't much response for Site Council participants; however, we are moving forward with regularly scheduled meetings. Site council will be scheduled on the last Thursday of each month. Please join us on March 31, 2022 at 4p via this link. During this meeting, we will take time to establish our norms, format and team.
Masking updates
As announced, starting this week, masks indoors will be optional for staff and students in all PPS buildings. Here is the announcement if you did not yet see it. As stated, we will continue with our OHSU screening program and provide rapid testing for school-based cases if students are symptomatic. We will continue to use air filters and have windows open to promote airflow. And we will notify the community if someone is positive for Covid-19 during their contagious period on-site. If your student is ill, please keep them home.
Finally, please check out the PTSA section. We have several events coming up and ways for you to get involved. We need you!
Have a lovely week,
Principal Davis
Bravo and Volunteer Shout Out
Thank you also to the parent volunteers who helped out; Christine Gray and Tayler Kim for going on the band trip, and Abby Isles, Ellen Bialecki, Clint Chiavarini, Shelda Holmes, Monica Donohue, Ana Simantel, Jenn Lauder, and Andrea Thoits for helping with the musical. We truly appreciate your support.
Backstage warmups
Reviewing notes before the show
Stage Manager Lucy and Ms. Sprecher are ready to go!
Women's History Month Spotlight
Source:
Calendar Highlights
March 13, Daylight Savings Time Begins, set your clocks forward one hour
March 14, OBOB Pullout 5th and 6th periods for team reading battle in Library
March 16th, PTSA Meeting, see below for link
March 18, Spring Talent Show, Special Schedule
March 23rd, Dine for da Vinci at Ankeny Tap and Table
March 21-25, Spring Break!
March 31st, Site Council (every last Thursday)
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
May 2-6, Teacher Appreciation Week
May 18 and 19, Outdoor School Day Trips for 6th Graders
May 30, Memorial Day Holiday
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
Counselor Corner
Hello,
It's hard to believe that we are 3 weeks away from the start of the 4th quarter of the school year. So much has already happened this year and we are continually amazed at the resilience and flexibility that students, families, and staff have shown.
We wanted to acknowledge the tragedy that occurred this past weekend within the McDaniel community, where 2 students tragically lost their lives due to an accidental overdose of fentanyl-laced pills. In response to this very serious issue, we have created a page on our counselor's website dedicated to the dangers of fentanyl. You can find that page linked here. While we have no reports of da Vinci students using, we believe that prevention and education are primary pieces in curbing future drug use. Please reach out to your student's school counselor if you have any concerns or need support with your students.
Be well
Counselor Heather & Ms Shannon
PTSA Corner
March Meeting, 3-16-22, 6:00 PM https://pps-net.zoom.us/j/84506436915
The PTSA invites you to join us for our monthly meeting this week on Wednesday at 6:00 PM on Zoom. Hear updates from Ms. Davis and the leadership group and bring your questions and ideas to the online forum. If you have a topic for the agenda, email davinciptsa@gmail.com.
There are two great ways to build community and support da Vinci in the weeks to come.
- Dine for da Vinci
On March 23rd Ankeny Tap and Table will be donating 10% of their total profits to da Vinci. Take out or eat in from 4 pm - 8 pm and support a local restaurant and our school!
- 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).
Da Vinci Auction
The PTSA is planning for an online auction and we need your help!
Do you or someone you know own a service-based business, retail store, or restaurant in town that would be willing to donate a gift card or package to support da Vinci Arts Middle School? Or how about a vacation home or cabin in Oregon or elsewhere that you or a friend would be willing to donate as an auction item?
Please email davinciptsa@gmail.com with donations or leads. Volunteers are still needed to make this event a success. Interested in volunteering to reach out to local businesses and secure donations? Sign up HERE.
Girls Can Run
Girls on the Run participant registration is now open! Girls on the Run is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that focuses on empowering youth through research-based activity and physical activity. An after-school program like no other they seek to provide safe, empowering spaces for the children in our community. Register your child today for 8 Weeks of fun, habit-building curriculum! The season starts March 28th and ends May 21st with a 5K celebration. Follow this link to learn more: https://www.gotroregon.org/Program-Registration.
Cellphones, Earbuds & Headphones, Lost and Found and other Housekeeping Topics
Among the heap of Lost and Found are several single AirPods, two pairs of glasses, a few keys, and a number of nice water bottles. Small items are kept in the office. Coats, lunch boxes and other clothing left on the lost and found table will get donated after Wednesday this week.
We continue to go through a large number of small cups for quick drinks of water throughout the day. We want students to be hydrated and healthy but going through so many disposable cups is wasteful. It also leads to time out of class and occasionally, disruptive activity in the halls. We strongly recommend that students bring a small water bottle they can keep in their bag and refill as needed through the day for quick drinks. Make sure the bottle has a secure lid to prevent damage to computers.
Thank you!
Canned Food Drive
Thank you to everyone that has sent in cans of food so far! Our goal is to reach 1500 cans (which is about 3.5 cans a student). Collection boxes are located in 1st Period classrooms. The Drive will last until March 15th.
Outdoor School
Coming up - 6th Grade Outdoor School!
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.
Basic information:
Outdoor school dates are May 18 & 19. These are NOT overnights, da Vinci students will bus to Camp Namanu for 2 days of outdoor school programming. Please put these dates on your calendars.
Parent Q&A Sessions (from our site director)
*Please note that information could change between what you are told on March 14 and what is finalized by April 18, our suggestion is to wait until the April 18 meeting to attend so you have finalized plans from da Vinci first.
Monday, March 14, 2022
4:30-5:30 pm
https://multnomahesd-org.zoom.us/j/89801566670
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.
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.
OHSU Screening and Covid Testing at School
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. If your student needs a kit for this week, have them stop by the office. 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.