Upcoming Calendar Highlights

December 13- QSA- Student meeting at lunch in room 207

December 13- BSU/Students of Color meeting in room 102, 3:15 - 4:15 pm

December 13- PTSA Meeting, 7 pm, da Vinci Library, all welcome

December 14- Winter Music Concert, 7 pm

Winter Break- December 16 - January 1, back to school on January 2

2018 Mark your calendars:

Link to PPS Calendar for 17-18

January 1- Holiday, no school

January 15- Holiday, no school

January 17- Late opening, 10:45 am start

January 29- Planning day, no school

February 1- Dance 3 & 4 Showcase

February 19- Holiday, no school

February 21- Late opening, 10:45 start

March 21- Late opening, 10:45 start

March 24 - April 1- Spring Break

April 13- Planning day, no school

April 15- da Vinci Annual Auction

April 18- Late opening, 10:45 am start

April 27 & 28- Spring Dance Showcase

We’re counting just a few days until Winter Break but each day is packed full. Remember to call the main office line, 503-916-5356 if your student will be out sick or for whatever reason missing school. On Wednesday and Friday this week we have special schedules with an assembly at the end of each day. If you plan to pick up your student early, please call ahead because we cannot easily find them in the auditorium.

PTSA Meeting Wednesday, 7 pm in the da Vinci Library

The PTSA will welcome the Oregon PTA Committee Chair of Diversity and Inclusion, Jaime Cale for a presentation as part of the general meeting. All are welcome to attend and join the discussion.

Music Concert December 14 at 7 pm, da Vinci Auditorium

All Band groups, Choir and African Drumming will be presenting their Winter Concert Thursday, December 14 at 7 pm. All are welcome. A $5 suggested donation will be collected at the door- pay what you are able with proceeds going to the Music Program. If you can help out, sign up on the Signup Genius site. The call time for students is 6:30 and they should report to the cafeteria. The doors will open around 6:30 to the auditorium.

Lost and Found and Locker Clean Out

It’s cold outside! Don’t leave your coats in the Lost and Found over the break. PLEASE COME IN AND SEARCH FOR YOUR STUFF. Just sign in in the office if you are here during the school day. There are lots of nice coats in a heap. On Friday morning, we will have scheduled time for students to clean out lockers and pack up stuff to take home. Please send a bag to transport items and talk to your student about how they are taking things home.

A Christmas Carol by Portland Playhouse and PTSA Fundraising Opportunity

If you order a regular priced ticket and see this classic at Portland Playhouse, using a code when ordering, da Vinci PTSA will earn $10 of each ticket. The play runs December 3 - 30 but the offer does not apply from December 17-24th. Look for information and tickets at www.portlandplayhouse.org or call 503-488-5822. Use the code DAVINCI when ordering.

Upcoming Calendar Highlights

December 7- da Vinci day at PTA Clothing Center, volunteers needed

December 7- Dance Showcase dress rehearsal, 3:15 and 5:00

December 8- Dance 1 & 2 Showcase, shows at 5:30 and 7 pm, see below for performances

December 13- PTSA Meeting, 7 pm, da Vinci Library, all welcome

December 14- Winter Music Concert, 7 pm

Winter Break- December 16 - January 1, back to school on January 2

2018 Mark your calendars:

Link to PPS Calendar for 17-18

January 1- Holiday, no school

January 15- Holiday, no school

January 17- Late opening, 10:45 am start

January 29- Planning day, no school

February 1- Dance 3 & 4 Showcase

February 19- Holiday, no school

February 21- Late opening, 10:45 start

March 21- Late opening, 10:45 start

March 24 - April 1- Spring Break

April 13- Planning day, no school

April 15- da Vinci Annual Auction

April 18- Late opening, 10:45 am start

April 27 & 28- Spring Dance Showcase

Arts Fair Thank You!

Many thanks to the organizing committee, artists, shoppers and all the volunteers who showed up to helpm- from baking cookies to hauling furniture back at the end of the day. The event was a great success and ran without a hitch.

PTA Clothing Center Volunteer Day Tomorrow

One person from da Vinci is going so far and they ask that the school send 5-6 volunteers twice a year to help staff the center. If you can help out tomorrow anytime between 9:30 am and 1:30 pm, let Sheli know or sign up and go for it. The Clothing Center is all-volunteer run, located at Grant High School (Marshall campus, 3905 SE 91st Ave.) and open twice a week to serve students throughout the district who need support. Volunteers help sort donations or are assigned to be a shopping assistant to families who come in for help. If there are not enough volunteers, families can get turned away. It is a fun and rewarding volunteer job and extremely valuable resource for many families in our district.

Dance Showcase this Friday da Vinci Auditorium

All dance students in levels 1 and 2 will be showcasing their classwork in an informal performance on Friday in one of two shows. The rehearsal and showcase are graded. The show is free, but donations will be accepted to offset costs- any amount appreciated.

Show A: Dance 1/Period 3 and Dance 2/Period 4

Rehearsal on Thursday, December 7 at 3:15 - 4:45 pm.

Performance time on Friday, December 8 5:30 - 6:30 pm. Call time is 5:00 pm.

Show B: Dance 1/Period 1, Dance 1/Period 6, Dance 2/Period 3

Rehearsal on Thursday, December 7 from 5:00 - 6:30 pm.

Performance on Friday, December 8 from 7 - 8:00 pm. Call time for students is 6:30. The auditorium will open after the Show A crowd exits.

Music Concert December 14 at 7 pm, da Vinci Auditorium

All Band groups, Choir and African Drumming will be presenting their Winter Concert Thursday, December 14 at 7 pm. All are welcome. A $5 suggested donation will be collected at the door- pay what you are able with proceeds going to the Music Program. If you can help out, sign up on the Signup Genius site.

P:ear Drive Continues through this week

As a service community project, our LEO Leader students are conducting a drive for the P:ear organization, collecting hats, gloves and scarves. We are aiming for 90% participation measured in 1st period classes with an incentive. Anyone who brings in a donation or $1 will count toward the goal. For more information about P:ear, see their website.

Clay Club is Coming Back

Who: 3D art students or da Vinci students who have taken at least one term of 3D art and want more time to work with clay.

When: 3:30 - 4:45 pm Mondays starting January 8 through April 23

Where: 3D art studio at da Vinci
 Middle School

Description: Da Vinci parents Anne Taylor and Alison Hardin will keep the clay studio open for up to 15 clay students interested in extending their time with clay. The prerequisite for participation is at least one term of 3D art and a letter of intent from the student.   Students should be self-driven to spend much of their clay club time working on their own clay projects.  Students will also spend several meetings working on a large collaborative sculptural peace pole project lead by Alison Hardin.  $10-$30 donations are accepted to help pay the school for clay and glazing materials that are used.

Sign Up on Sign up Genius Required by 12/14/17

Limited to 15 students with clay experience and based on Kelda's recommendation and letter of intent.

Students send letter of intent to Alison Hardin alisonbhardin@gmail.com

The letter of intent should introduce the students (grade and clay experience) and describe why they are interested in the club and the type of work they would like to explore.

Questions to Alison at 503-830-3079.

Families will be notified by 1/3/18 if their student is in clay club.

A Christmas Carol by Portland Playhouse and PTSA Fundraising Opportunity

If you order a regular priced ticket and see this classic at Portland Playhouse, using a code when ordering, da Vinci PTSA will earn $10 of each ticket. The play runs December 3 - 30 but the offer does not apply from December 17-24th. Look for information and tickets at www.portlandplayhouse.org or call 503-488-5822. Use the code DAVINCI when ordering.

Digital Detox Class

The CENTER in N Portland is offering a Winter Break DIGITAL DETOX session for students in 7th-10th grades. This is a free opportunity to spend time analyzing and understanding screen use. Space is limited. They will also be offering an ongoing, Sunday group at The CENTER on Sundays following Winter Break. Stay tuned for details on that.  

Upcoming Calendar Highlights

November 22, 23, 24 -  No school, Thanksgiving break

December 1 - Deadline for HS lottery application window

December 2 - The da Vinci Arts Fair, 10 am to 4 pm

December 7 - da Vinci day at PTA Clothing Center, volunteers needed

December 8 - Dance 1 & 2 Showcase

December 14 - Winter Music Concert

Winter Break - December 16 to January 1, back to school on January 2

2018 Mark your calendars: Link to PPS Calendar for 17-18

January 1 - Holiday, no school

January 15 - Holiday, no school

January 17 - Late opening, 10:45 am start

January 29 - Planning day, no school

February 1 - Dance 3 & 4 Showcase

February 19 - Holiday, no school

February 21 - Late opening, 10:45 start

March 21 - Late opening, 10:45 start

March 24 to April 1 - Spring Break

April 13 - Planning day, no school

April 15 - da Vinci Annual Auction, save the date!

April 18 - Late opening, 10:45 am start

April 27 & 28 - Spring Dance Showcase

Portland Playhouse and the da Vinci Drama Department present Romeo and Juliet

Don’t miss the fall show. Final two shows are Sunday at 2 pm and 7 pm. Tickets are now available online or you can pay at the door, $10 (or pay what you can).

Romeo and Juliet Volunteers Needed

There are still a few slots to fill! Please see the jobs to be filled and sign up on this Signup Genius site.

“Hanging out” at School

For the play, call time for students is 90 minutes before the show. Volunteers should report 60 minutes before each show. Please make arrangements for your student to have someplace to go between the shows. There will not be supervision for students “hanging out” at school. The show runs about one hour and fifteen minutes so students need to be picked up after the shows. The school day ends at 3:15 and unless your student is in an organized/supervised activity, they really need to be leaving the school at that time.

Arts Fair News

The Arts Fair is now TWO WEEKS AWAY! For any and all questions related to the Arts Fair, visit the team’s planning page. We have some fantastic vendors lined up so help spread the word and let’s get some shoppers there to support local artists and the PTSA.

Volunteers Needed for the Arts Fair

We still have a number of slots open on our Signup Genius site. Please take a look and find a job that suits your talents and schedule. The planning team has been working for months and they need a crew to run the event from setup to selling items in the cafe to some heavy lifting moving the Marley dance floor. This is a very fun community event to be a part of but it takes many hands to transform the school into a sale gallery for a day and back.  

School Attendance is very important!

Did you know that when children miss more than 2 days a month, or 17 days a year they are considered chronically absent? We want the very best for our students and when they are not in school, they fall behind. Each day is filled with instruction, experiential learning, and collaboration with peers that cannot be duplicated or sent home. Please make an effort to plan trips and appointments around our school calendar whenever possible. When your student will be late or absent, for whatever reason, please notify the school office by calling our main line, 503-916-5356 or send an email to Sheli. 

Upcoming Calendar Highlights

November 1 3- Final meeting for student artists participating in the Arts Fair, lunch in room 102

November 15 - QSA student meeting at lunch, room 102

November 15 - SOC/BSU meeting after school, room 102

November 15, 16, 17, 19 -  Romeo and Juliet, tickets online or pay at door

November 22, 23, 24 -  No school, Thanksgiving break

December 2 - The da Vinci Arts Fair, 10 am to 4 pm

December 8 - Dance 1 & 2 Showcase

December 14 - Winter Music Concert

Portland Playhouse and the da Vinci Drama Department present Romeo and Juliet

Don’t miss the fall show, opening this week, Wednesday, November 15 with four performances in the da Vinci Auditorium and one at the Winningstad on Friday as part of the Fall Festival of Shakespeare. Tickets are now available online for the da Vinci shows, or you can pay at the door, $10 (or pay what you can).

Romeo and Juliet Volunteers Needed

Please see the jobs to be filled and sign up on this Signup Genius site. Cast and crew families usually fill these spots but anyone is welcome to help out. Volunteers are welcome to see the show for free. If you volunteer for a backstage job, you can see the show on another night. If you can help organize concessions, please let Sheli know. Filling backstage supervision and house manager positions are the priority and if we don’t have someone to do the shopping and manage concessions, it won’t happen. Four student ushers are needed for each show. Students interested in volunteering should see Sheli in the office.

Arts Fair News

The Arts Fair is just THREE WEEKS AWAY! For any and all questions related to the Arts Fair, visit the team’s planning page. We have some fantastic vendors lined up so help spread the word and let’s get some shoppers there to support local artists and the PTSA. We have posters, postcards and lawn signs in the office if you have a good location for any of these. You can also follow the event on social media.

• Facebook
• Instagram

Volunteers Needed for the Arts Fair

Please sign up on our Signup Genius site if you can volunteer for the event. The planning team has been working for months and they need a crew to run the event from setup to selling items in the cafe to some heavy lifting moving the Marley dance floor. This is a very fun community event to be a part of and it takes many hands to transform the school into a sale gallery for a day and back.  

Student Artists Wanted

We strongly encourage all students to participate in the da Vinci Arts Fair on Saturday, December 2nd! All da Vinci students are invited to set up a booth and sell their artwork at the fair. Small gifts and greeting cards tend to sell really well and it's fun to make some money before the holidays! The fair is a wonderful opportunity to experience selling work in a supportive environment without having to pay a registration fee. This year it's only a one day event, so it's not as much of a time commitment as previous years. To participate, students just need to attend the da Vinci arts fair meeting in room 102 at lunch on Monday, November 13th and submit paperwork by the extended deadline of Tuesday, November 14th.

8th Grade Families - The PPS High School Lottery application window for Benson HS and Jefferson HS for this year is Nov.13 - Dec.1.  

For information on info sessions/tours for all PPS high schools, please see Katie’s website.

Upcoming Calendar Highlights

November 5-  Daylight Saving Time ends, remember to set your clocks back 1 hour

November 6- Second Quarter starts, new term classes start

November 7, 8, 9- Family-Teacher Conferences

November 10- No school, Veteran’s Day

November 15, 16, 17, 19-  Romeo and Juliet, tickets online or pay at door

November 22, 23, 24-  No school, Thanksgiving break

December 2- The da Vinci Arts Fair, 10 am to 4 pm

Family-Teacher Conference Times and Reminders

Tuesday, November 7th EVENING 4:15pm – 8:15pm  (after school)

Wednesday, November 8th DAYTIME 8:15am – 3:45pm (no school for students this day)

Thursday, November 9th DAY/EVE 8:15am – 8:15pm (no school for students this day)

The link to signup and information about conferences is on our website. We highly recommend reading  1718 dV Family Conference Important Info  before arriving for your conferences. Most importantly, please respect the time schedule. Conference times are scheduled every 10 minutes with no transition time. If you arrive late, you will have less time. If you miss your time, you can only reschedule if there is an open spot later. There are a few open spots now with some teachers. If you are unable to make your conference time, please delete your spot so someone else might be able to fill it. Teacher conferences are only offered for year-long classes, not the 2nd period term classes. If you are signed up for spot with a teacher who only had your student for a term class, the spot will be deleted. There are also a few teachers reporting slots filled for students they do not have. Those slots will also be deleted. You would receive an email notification for any such changes.

While you are in the building, take a look near the cafeteria for items that have ended up in the Lost and Found. After conferences, remaining items will be washed and donated. We also suggest you visit your student’s locker to clean out any food containers or other things that should go home.

Meals Sign-up for Teachers During Conferences

Our teachers work long days during these conferences. If you can contribute to morning treats or a meal on Thursday, please use this Sign-up and let us know what you can bring. They really appreciate this support and nourishment.

Chinook Books Still Available

The PTSA still has Chinook Books for sale with 50% of proceeds going to support all classrooms and programs. Stop by the office to pick one up when you come in for Conferences.

Portland Playhouse and the da Vinci Drama Department present Romeo and Juliet

Don’t miss the fall show, opening Wednesday, November 15 with four performances in the da Vinci Auditorium and one at the Winningstad as part of the Fall Festival of Shakespeare. Tickets are now available online or you can pay at the door, $10 (or pay what you can). Volunteers are needed for each show. Please see the jobs to be filled and sign up on this Signup Genius site. Cast and crew families usually fill these spots but anyone is welcome to help out. Volunteers are welcome to see the show for free. If you volunteer for a backstage job, you can see the show on another night. If you can help organize concessions, please let Sheli know.

Are you a ceramic artist?

We are seeking a 2nd parent volunteer to help lead clay club this year. The club will be meeting once/week after school. Please email Alison to let her know if you can help her lead the club.

Arts Fair News

For any and all questions related to the Arts Fair, visit the team’s planning page. They have extended the deadline for student artists to apply and are welcoming more students and alumni (high school- age). Students need to fill out an application (available in the office) and attend an informational meeting (lunch on Nov. 13th).

Thank You to Pizzicato and Diners!

The da Vinci Foundation will receive a check for $554.85 from Pizzicato as a result of our fundraiser on October 24. Thanks for supporting the da Vinci Foundation!

8th Grade Families - The PPS High School Lottery application window for Benson HS and Jefferson HS for this year is Nov.13 - Dec.1.  

For information on info sessions/tours for all PPS high schools, please see Katie’s website.

Upcoming Calendar Highlights

November 3 - No school, Teacher planning/grading day, end of quarter 1

November 7, 8, 9 - Family-Teacher Conferences

Note- Conferences are after school on the 7th and there is no school on November 8 and 9.  November 10 - No school, Veteran’s Day

November 15, 16, 17, 19 - da Vinci Drama and the Fall Festival of Shakespeare present Romeo and Juliet, tickets available at the door and online link coming soon

November 22, 23, 24 - No school, Thanksgiving break

Family-Teacher Conference times & Sign-Up

Tuesday, November 7th EVENING 4:15pm – 8:15pm  (after school)

Wednesday, November 8th DAYTIME 8:15am – 3:45pm (no school for students) Thursday, November 9th DAY/EVE 8:15am – 8:15pm (no school for students)

The link and information about conferences is on our website.  

Meals Sign-up for Teachers During Conferences

Our teachers work long days during these conferences. If you can contribute to morning treats or a meal on Thursday, please use this Sign-up and let us know what you can bring. Teachers really appreciate this support and nourishment.

Security Tip and Regarding Personal Belongings

Please make sure your student has a lock for their locker and have a conversation about the importance of keeping their belongings secured in locked lockers. Families are welcome to come in and check the lost and found for personal belongings that end up there. There are MANY jackets, water bottles, lunch boxes and a few other assorted items. Phones and other small items are regularly found and turned into the office. We currently have a found dental appliance, a few keys and assorted jewelry in the office. We would love a volunteer to help clean up and organize the lost and found area in the cafeteria.  

In Need of Clean Beanbag Chairs

Do you have beanbag chairs that you no longer need?  We are looking for 4 to 6 beanbag chairs to create a lounge workspace for students. If you have a beanbag chair in good condition to donate please drop it off in the office.

It's TAG Nomination Time!

If you would like to have your student tested for potential TAG identification, nomination forms are now available in the front hall (next to the auditorium doors) or online.  Forms are due back by November 12th and can be turned in to the office. If you have any questions, please contact Megan Young.  More information can be found on the PPS Talented and Gifted website.

PPS High School Lottery Application

8th Grade Families - The PPS High School Lottery application window for Benson HS and Jefferson is Nov.13 - Dec.1.  For information on info sessions/tours for all PPS high schools, please see Katie’s website.

13th Annual da Vinci Arts Fair

• 5 weeks to go — Dec 2nd.  Save the date! Tell your friends!
• It’s time now for student and alumni student artists to register. Forms will be in the office on Monday.
• Musicians! Help us create some ambience. Volunteer, acoustic performers wanted for 15-45 minute slots at the event. Students welcome. Email us at davinciartsfairlove@gmail.com.
• Questions?  Our Information Sheet is brimming with answers! 
• Share us, like us, follow us on social media:
• Facebook
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PTSA in search of volunteer for to help with Taxes

The deadline is coming up. As a nonprofit organization, the PTSA is required to complete taxes. Thank you to Judy Holmes for working on the audit. If you have tax preparation experience, please contact the Treasurer, Maggie Vera.