Dragon Tales
September 27th - October 1st
Spoiler Alert: Conferences, Sign COVID Forms, Suicide Awareness Month, Student Nominations...
Dragon Families,
Our students are pretty amazing. Speaking of amazing, on Monday, our Leo Leaders will be working with our counselor, Ms. Heather on organizing our first (official) school wide virtual assembly. They also are advocating for some other school wide school spirit events like Spirit Week (they just have no clue how excited I get about dressing up for Spirit Week!). So, stay tuned in, we have some fun things in the works.
Friday was the student driven and organized National Climate Walk-out Day. Thank you, families, for connecting with us and letting us know that your student(s) would be leaving school early to exercise their activism, as they rallied around the need to make impactful changes in our lifestyles to work towards reversing the effects of climate change. As we think about climate change and continue to celebrate Latinx Month, I would like to introduce you to a Latinx/Indigenous environmental activist, Berta Caceres. Learn more about them below.
It Takes a Village,
Ms. Davis
Celebrating LatinX Heritage Month
Environmental Awareness Activist: Berta Cáceres
As a result of her passionate activism, Cáceres received death threats for years from those who refused to accept Indigenous rights, especially regarding land ownership and the environment. Cáceres died on March 3, 2016, after at least two assailants broke into her home and shot her to death. Her death sparked worldwide outrage, bringing attention to the high rates of environmentalist deaths in the country and the world.
Suicide Prevention Month
Suicide Prevention
We can all help prevent suicide. Every year, mental health organizations and individuals across the U.S. and around the world raise awareness of suicide prevention during September, National Suicide Prevention Month. At da Vinci we provide resources, awareness and pamphlets for students to get or give to a concerned one. We are encouraging communication around students not feeling alone and that millions of people experience similar feelings and thoughts. In addition, students reach out to each other or a trusted adult. We have forms for students to fill out to see a counselor on this bulletin board.
Updates from Assistant Principal Ms. Wilson
Latinx Student Union
Please sign up using this quick form if you are interested in participating as a student and parent. Students, parents and teachers can join!
Supporting a Safe, Friendly, Fair and Kind da Vinci!
Check out this message from Ms. Wilson to our students:
All Call Students and Teachers! If you witness someone doing an act of safety, fairness or friendliness, please come to Ms. Wilson's office door and nominate those students. See the nomination box in front of my office. Students, you are welcome to nominate yourself, too. Each week Ms. Wilson will draw two students' names for a small token of appreciation!
Examples:
Friendly/safe: Pick up someone else's food trash on the playground as you see them walk by it.
Safe/Friendly: You saw someone help someone else carry something as they were struggling.
Safe/Fair: Help a student with positive advice: such as referring them to a school counselor, principal or nurse. Or advice such as "maybe you should not do that, that is too risky"
Friendly: Mediate a difficult friend or student situation.
Friendly: Give a positive comment to a student who you don't know: "Great job with the paper in class, nice presentation, way to go on the performance in drama, dance, etc."
Safe: Nominate yourself if you report to an adult when you see an act of bullying or teasing. Reporting is waaaaay different than "snitching" or "tattling".
da Vinci school is awesome, a safe place to be, people are friendly, fair and kind!
TAG (Talented and Gifted) Nominations start now!
- Here is our current dV TAG Plan.
- If you want to start the nomination form, please complete this form first
In case you were not able to attend da Vinci's TAG Info Night, here is the recording.
Counselor Corner
Recipe for Good Mornings
Greetings da Vinci!
As the school year gets more underway, students may be making large adjustments from both summer and last year. One of the key ways to help students feel ready to start their day is getting adequate sleep and eating a nutritional breakfast.
Some tips on how to have better sleep:
Limit screen time at least 1 hour before bedtime
Having the bedroom quiet and dark (if the house is louder, a white noise machine or fan can help with this)
Make sure to get outside and get exercise during the day
Avoid caffeine, spicy/heavy foods, late meals, and exercise in the evening
No napping in the afternoons
Develop a relaxing bedtime routine to stick to
Breakfast ideas that will be filling:
Oatmeal
Eggs and toast
Granola and yogurt
Also remember, your student can receive FREE breakfast at da Vinci starting at 8:20 by the courtyard.
Thank you!
Counselor Heather & Ms. Shannon
Save the Date
Family/Teacher Virtual Conferences
Conferences will be held on November 22nd and 23rd.
Based on the feedback that I have received, it sounds like last year's virtual conferences were a success for families. Thus, why recreate the wheel?! We will be using the same virtual platform and format that da Vinci teachers used last year. We are working the logistical pieces out and should have an update about how to sign-up for virtual conferences very soon.
Da Vinci Fall Community Field Day is right around the corner!
Please block your calendar for Saturday October 16 from 2pm - 5pm. The goal of this event is to build community, have some safe fun and raise funds for our school. This event will be completely volunteer organized and executed so if you are looking for ways to get involved NOW IS YOUR CHANCE! We are in the greatest need for support with set up, tear down and acquiring local raffle prizes. We have also added some volunteer slots for field games and student support. Please sign up to volunteer HERE.
Important note, if we do not see an increase in the number of volunteer signups, particularly for raffle prizes, we will have to HOLD on the event until the Spring. The final decision will be made on Monday, 9/27.
Thank you to all those who have joined the PTSA, we are halfway to our goal of becoming 100 members strong. Click HERE to join us.
Questions? Please reach out to davinciptsa@gmail.com
Updates
Please send your students prepared for the day! This includes bringing their charged Chromebooks and a water bottle. We are going through a lot of cups! We do have filling stations, so they can refill bottles. Please reinforce the need to put caps firmly on bottles and use an exterior pocket on the backpack if possible to prevent the computers from getting water damaged.
Picture Day Ordering Update and Clarification
Check out your student's school pictures image online.
The link and code provided earlier was for pre-orders only! At this time, the site is not taking orders. In approximately 4 weeks they will send a proof package with a code unique to your student so you can order at that time. They will also be sending the ID cards. They are processing these at the lab for a better photo image.
Rainy Day Lunch Plan
Much needed rain is here! With the rain comes implementation of our rainy day indoor lunch plan. We have 5 identified spaces that students will enjoy their lunch: cafeteria, library, two classrooms and hallway spaces (the gym will be used as a space for students to use for recess; however, students cannot eat in our gym space). Please know we are still honoring the spacing rules; students will need to use a color coded pass to enter each of these spaces, so that we can monitor the capacity of each space. Students will not be allowed to bounce around to the different spaces - once they choose a space for the day, they will remain there. HEPA filters and windows will remain open in order to promote proper air flow.
I am also pleased to share with you that our district is investigating the use of tents and outdoor coverings. Last week I responded to a survey asking principals if they would be interested in receiving tents. da Vinci has requested that we be included in receiving tents at our site.
Volunteering Opportunities
We are ready to invite a few volunteers to help us out with lunch and recess duty. In order to volunteer, you must complete the PPS COVID-19 Vaccination survey (connect with Ms. Sheli and we will share information about how to receive your unique survey link) and be able to commit to consistent volunteer shifts throughout the week (doesn't need to be everyday but could be something like, every Tuesday, etc.). If you are interested, please email Ms. Sheli at sbryan@pps.net.
Attendance Reporting
If your student will be absent from school for any reason, please notify sbryan@pps.net with their name and the reason for the absence. If your student is ill, please keep them home. We will need to ask questions to screen for specific symptoms. You can also call the main office at 503-916-5356 but we receive a high volume of calls and email is preferred.
Traffic Pattern Reminder
Please remember to travel headed east on Everett St. in front of the school at drop-off and pick-up times. Drive safely and be courteous of our neighbors. Never block driveways or the fire hydrant zone.
Additionally, the have been reports about families blocking the bike lane on Couch. Please remember that many of our students bike to school. Please do not idle and block the bike lanes.
Drop-off/Pick-up
We understand that families have different balls to juggle. However, we ask, if possible, please be mindful of how early students arrive to school, as we have limited adult support to monitor students in the morning. The first bell rings at 8:40 AM and the late bell rings at 8:45 AM. Students who are grabbing breakfast should arrive between 8:20 AM - 8:40 AM. As a reminder, breakfast is served through the doors nearest to the courtyard and is to be eaten outside.
Thank you for helping us with discouraging students from crowding, by not having students arrive too early to school.
COVID SPECIFIC UPDATES
COVID Testing Consent Packet
Early next week students will be bringing home a packet with two separate COVID testing consent forms. Please complete both the white packet and yellow copy (the two forms look very similar but are different). If you have questions, please contact the front office.
Parents can upload their student's COVID 19 Card
The option for parents to upload their student’s Covid 19 Vaccination Card in the ParentVUE is available in the Yearly Verification screen. Instruction are below.
Northwest Children's Theater Fall 2021:
PTSA Corner
PTSA News
Save the Date
Da Vinci Fall Community Field Day is right around the corner!
Thank you to all those who have joined the PTSA, we are halfway to our goal of becoming 100 members strong. Click HERE to join us.
Questions? Please reach out to davinciptsa@gmail.com
Carpool List and Family Directory
Carpool List and Family Directory If you want to be added to the directory, fill out this form. The sheet is only shared with those families that opt-in.