Monday, February 26, 2018

Upcoming Calendar Highlights
February 27 - March 1- 7th Grade Maker Experience Field Trips
March 2 - Spring Fling student dance 6:30 - 8 pm, volunteers needed
March 2 - Lottery closes at 5 pm.
March 2  - Ashland applications due- must be complete and on time
March 5 - Info session #5, final session after lottery window closes, 4 - 6 pm- applicants must apply before the March 2, 5 pm deadline to be considered
March 8, 9, 10 & 15, 16, 17 - Spring Musical, Once Upon a Mattress
March 24 - April 1- Spring Break
April 13 - Planning day, no school
April 15 - da Vinci Annual Auction- Save the Date!  
April 26 - da Vinci day at the PPS/PTA Clothing Center 9:30 am - 1:30 pm, volunteers needed
April 27 & 28 - Spring Dance Showcase
May 6-11 - Outdoor School for all 6th graders
May 9-11 - Ashland Trip with Shannon Wasson, Applications available February 16, due on March 2.
JUNE 7 - 8th Grade Promotion at Madison High School 5 pm
JUNE 8-   NEWLY ANNOUNCED- LAST DAY OF SCHOOL


7th Grade Maker Experience Field Trips, February 27, 28 & March 1
Buses will leave around 9:15 and return around 2 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week. Please remember to report student absences before 8:45 am to help with group organization each day (email Sheli or call the main office line, 503-916-5356). Students need to bring their lunch unless they pre-ordered a school lunch.

We still need a couple volunteers to chaperone. 
If you can go, contact SheliHere is a short video about the program. You need to have a current volunteer background check. Even if you can go for just one day, it would be helpful.

Spring Fling Student Dance, March 2, 6:30 to 8 pm
All students are welcome to attend the Spring Fling Dance after school on March 2 from 6:30 - 8:00 pm. Tickets will be $3. Please, no students from other schools. Students should leave campus after school and return in time for the event. Adult volunteers, please sign up on this Signup Genius site if you can help.

Once Upon a Mattress opens March 8
Tickets are now available online at SchoolPay and the volunteer sign up is posted, outlining needs to ensure this production runs smoothly. Please sign up if you can help out with house management or supervising students backstage. All seats are general admission, $10. Don’t miss the show!

da Vinci 3D art students Make Bowls for the Empty Bowls Project
On February 23rd, a representative from Neighborhood House visited da Vinci to talk to the kids about the program and get them excited about donating their bowl. There will be a soup dinner fundraiser for the emergency food box program on Friday, April 6, from 5pm to 7pm at Multnomah Arts Center - 7688 SW Capitol HWY

$10 - $30 gets you a beautiful handcrafted bowl and a delicious soup dinner. Hope to see you there!  www.swhope.org

3D Art needs "SCRAP" (recyclable materials) for creative reuse.
If each family brings in one grocery bag full of found objects, that would be amazing! Please do not go out and buy anything! Hoping we can all work together to recycle/reuse. Objects needed include wood scraps, plastic lids, plastic parts, small plastic objects and/or small toys or dolls/action figures that you no longer need, old clothing, fabric, legos or lincoln logs, string, building blocks, bottle caps, corks, saran wrap, wigs or fake Easter egg grass, sequins, beads, metal parts/objects, buttons, tire tubes, aluminum foil, straws, toothpicks, wooden skewers, etc, etc, etc. Objects need to be clean and nothing too sharp. If you can, please deliver to the 3D art Studio, or ask your student to deliver.Dropping off donations to the office is okay if it's easier.

Are you an artist or do you have a crafty skill to share?
Do you knit or crochet? Are you a ceramic artist, sculptor, or woodworker? 3D Art and Textiles is looking for volunteer visiting artists who would like to come in for a day (or longer) to teach kids a new skill and/or talk to them about your experience as a maker/artist. If you have a skill and are interested in sharing it with kids, please let Kelda know. 

Rose Garden caretakers needed
The rose garden beds in front of the school have been lovingly cared for by a neighbor for many years. Now in her 70s and with some physical limitations, Ruth is hoping to scale back on the physical caretaking duties and get some help from current families. Though the last week was snowy and cold, spring really is around the corner and it will soon be time to prune and do annual maintenance. If this is something you can do, please contact Sheli

Ashland Trip
Seventh and eighth graders are wanted for this year's Ashland Trip! This season we'll see: Othello, Oklahoma, and Destiny of Desire, the plays' prologues, and participate in an actors' workshop. The trip dates are May 9-11, 2018. In order to attend this memorable trip, you will need to maintain a "B"/PR grade point average, have stellar behavior and effort in your classes, and turn the application in on time. Applications will be available in the main office beginning Friday, Feb. 16. Applications are now available in the office and are due back by March 2nd. Be sure to read the application VERY carefully. No late or incomplete applications will be accepted. See Ms. Wasson's website for very specific details and dates.

Auction Volunteer Signup Join the Team!
The da Vinci Auction is April 15 but the time is NOW for these items:


Hedda  BIDDING ENDS MARCH 9!
Performances are March 15-17, 2018
Sarah Slipper’s distinctly dark, theatrical, and vivid choreography takes on Henrik Ibsen’s incomparable 19th-century play, Hedda Gabler, a classic of realism and world drama, with an original score by Owen Belton, and a striking set by Luis Crespo.
Fo) r the first time since his US choreographic debut with NW Dance Project in 2007, world-renowned choreographer Cayetano Soto, Ballet BC Resident Choreographer, makes his way back to unveil a gripping new dance work.


Chess Club
Chess Club is back! Thanks to Sarah Van Buskirk, Chess Club will run again on Wednesdays after school from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm in the cafeteria. The club is free. Interested students can drop in on Wednesday or you can contact Sarah for more information.

Spanish Class after school to resume April 16
Registration is now open for the spring term through Kids Like Languages. The form is on the da Vinci website and should be sent directly to Kids Like Languages. Depending on enrollment/interest, they will offer Spanish or ASL on Mondays from 3:20 pm to 4:10 through the end of the year.

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

February 19- Holiday, no school
February 20- 7th Grade Maker Experience Field Trip Forms DUE ASAP!
February 20- PTSA Meeting, 9 am, conference room, all welcome
February 21- Late opening, 10:45 start
February 21- Immunization Exclusion date
February 22, 23- Masters Drama Showcase, 7 - 9 pm, $5 suggested donation at door
February 27 - March 1- 7th Grade Maker Experience Field Trips
March 2- Spring Fling student dance 6:30 - 8 pm, volunteers needed
March 2- Lottery closes at 5 pm.
March 2 - Ashland applications due- must be complete and on time
March 5- Info session #5, final session after lottery window closes, 4 - 6 pm- applicants must apply before the March 2, 5 pm deadline to be considered
March 8, 9, 10 & 15, 16, 17- Spring Musical, Once Upon a Mattress
March 24 - April 1- Spring Break
April 13- Planning day, no school
April 15- da Vinci Annual Auction- Save the Date!  
April 26- da Vinci day at the PPS/PTA Clothing Center 9:30 am - 1:30 pm
April 27 & 28- Spring Dance Showcase  2
May 6-11- Outdoor School for all 6th graders
May 9-11- Ashland Trip with Shannon Wasson, Applications available February 16, due on March 2.
JUNE 7- 8th Grade Promotion at Madison High School 5 pm
JUNE 8-  NEWLY ANNOUNCED- LAST DAY OF SCHOOL


7th Grade Maker Experience Field Trips, February 27, 28 & March 1
Last week permission forms and information were handed out to all 7th grade students. PLEASE, get these forms signed and back to the office on Tuesday or ASAP. A couple of adult volunteers are needed to accompany students. If you can chaperone, contact Sheli.
Here is a short video about the program. Volunteers would need to be at da Vinci at 9:00 and the trips return around 2:30. You need to have a current volunteer background check in.  If you need to complete a background check please see the PPS Security Services website

Students will be going to these locations:

Hedron- Welding
Students will design a sculptural (polyhedral) lamp and build it. Students will learn welding and metal fabrication workflow and skills, the basics of which can be learned in minutes. To finish their lamp they will grind it, paint it, attach lampshade materials such as rice paper, and install a light bulb and socket.

OMSI
The Complex Contraptions - Fantastic Machine Challenge is inspired by Rube Goldberg, an American inventor, who designed machines to complete simple tasks and solve problems in the most complicated way possible. During this challenge, student teams employ creativity and determination as they use the iterative design process to plan and build their own complex machine to solve a chance-derived problem.

Each team is provided a large empty framework box, multi-use supplies, tools, and an OMSI staff or volunteer mentor. The result is a unique, student-driven creation that demonstrates student creativity, critical thinking, teamwork, and resourcefulness. At the end of the third day, teams will showcase their own solution and try other teams’ machines. Teams that finish construction early will take on additional challenges to hone their skills and polish their project. Challenges can include: adding machine aesthetics, fine-tuning user guides, training peers on newly acquired skills, sorting materials, and digital documentation.

24 Knots Class Description
Companimation Global is an open-ended scenario driven experience where students simulate the role of robot technicians.  These technicians build and test “Companimates” (Tamiya Mechanical Tigers). Building the Companimate will challenge them to assemble a gearbox, a motor mount, an electrical switch and several mechanical linkages using basic hand tools.  The students will then modify their Companimates to overcome one or more challenges in six different competitions. Students can iterate their Companimate designs until the end of the experience. At the conclusion of the experience, each student will take home their Companimate to continue the exploration at home or at school.

TEK Center
To Every KId will work with students to explore one of four experiences:  1. Audio Architect-Make their own digital music.  2. Rescue Bots-build and customize their own wired remote controlled robot.  3.  Light Racer-make a light controlled robot directed by a flashlight. 4. Retro Gamepad-working with the Arduino Microcontroller make a handheld “old school” gaming device.


PTSA Meeting, Tuesday morning, conference room 9:00 am
Interested in what the PTSA does at da Vinci and available for a morning meeting time? The board will meet this Tuesday in the conference room, next to the office, to cover monthly business and plans for the rest of the year. If you have ideas for Teacher Appreciation week in May or other family education/engagement program ideas, come on in!

High School Forecasting Update
Cleveland High School will be coming to da Vinci to share forecasting information on March 5th. Forms should come home for discussion/review/signature by an adult at home. Please get these forms back to the office or Katie the Counselor as soon as possible. If your student is not planning to attend their neighborhood High School, have them update Katie on their plans.  

Ashland Trip
Seventh and eighth graders are wanted for this year's Ashland Trip! This season we'll see: Othello, Oklahoma, and Destiny of Desire, the plays' prologues, and participate in an actors' workshop. The trip dates are May 9-11, 2018. In order to attend this memorable trip, you will need to maintain a "B"/PR grade point average, have stellar behavior and effort in your classes, and turn the application in on time. Applications will be available in the main office beginning Friday, Feb. 16. Applications are now available in the office and are due back by March 2nd. Be sure to read the application VERY carefully. No late or incomplete applications will be accepted. See Ms. Wasson's website for very specific details and dates on the trip at.

The da Vinci Auction is April 15 but the time is NOW for these items:


BIDDING ENDS MARCH 9!  Performances:  March 15-17, 2018
Sarah Slipper’s distinctly dark, theatrical, and vivid choreography takes on Henrik Ibsen’s incomparable 19th-century play, Hedda Gabler, a classic of realism and world drama, with an original score by Owen Belton, and a striking set by Luis Crespo.

For the first time since his US choreographic debut with NW Dance Project in 2007, world-renowned choreographer Cayetano Soto, Ballet BC Resident Choreographer, makes his way back to unveil a gripping new dance work.

Auction Volunteer Signup Join the Team


Chess Club
Chess Club is back! Thanks to Sarah VanBuskirk, Chess Club will run again on Wednesdays after school from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm in the cafeteria. The club is free. Interested students can drop in on Wednesday or you can contact Sarah for more information.

Buckman Alumni/Student Artists wanted for Buckman Art Show and Sale
Buckman Alumni Artist signups are open now. Former Buckman students currently in middle or high school are encouraged to apply. You must pre-register to get artist stickers. Save the dates for March 10 and 11. http://buckmanartshow.weebly.com/student-and-alumni-artist.html

Spring Sports
Spring Track through PIL will be starting soon. Students interested in track and field participate with their neighborhood high school cluster as determined by the map linked on the PIL site. For contacts and more information, please visit that site. Franklin and Cleveland have shared forms/packets with our da Vinci office which can be given to students.

Spanish Class after school to resume April 16
Registration is now open for the spring term through Kids Like Languages. The form is on the da Vinci website and should be sent directly to Kids Like Languages. Depending on enrollment/interest, they will offer Spanish or ASL on Mondays from 3:20 pm to 4:10 through the end of the year.

Spring Fling Student Dance
Student leaders are planning a Spring Dance after school on March 2 from 6:30 - 8:00 pm. Tickets will be $3. Adult volunteers will be needed. Please sign up on this Signup Genius site if you can help.


Monday, February 12, 2018

Upcoming Calendar Highlights

February 13 - Open house for prospective families 4 - 5 pm and info session #4, 5:15 - 6:30 pm
February 13 - Jazz in the Schools event, 11:00 am - 8:00 pm, details below
February 15 & 16, 22 & 23 - Masters Drama Showcase, 7 - 9 pm, $5 suggested donation at door
February 19 - Holiday, no school
February 20 - PTSA Meeting, 9 am, conference room, all welcome
February 21 - Late opening, 10:45 start
February 21 - Exclusion date- required immunizations/documentation due
March 2 - Spring Fling student dance 6:30 - 8 pm, volunteers needed
March 2 - Lottery closes at 5 pm.
March 5 - Info session #5, final session after lottery window closes, 4 - 6 pm. Applicants must apply before the March 2, 5 pm deadline to be considered
March 8 - 10 & 15 - 17- Spring Musical, Once Upon a Mattress
March 24 - April 1- Spring Break
April 13 - Planning day, no school
April 15 - da Vinci Annual Auction- Save the Date!  
April 27 & 28 - Spring Dance Showcase
May 6-11 - Outdoor School for all 6th graders
May 9-11 - Ashland Trip with Shannon Wasson, Applications available February 16!


Helpers Needed for Info Session
Tuesday, 2/13, from 4-5 pm, we will have hundreds of visitors for the Open House for enrollment next year. We need students and a few adults to guide traffic and help out in classrooms answering questions from prospective families. Let Sheli know if you can help. The Information Session is the required step as part of the application process and will follow the Open House from 5:15 - 6:30. We will not do tours after this session. Students helping during the Open House will be done at 5:00 pm.


February 21 Immunization Exclusion Date
If your student is missing required immunizations, you should have received a final letter and calls from our nursing staff (we still have a short list). Until immunizations are received or proper documents provided to opt out, students will not be able to attend school effective on this date.


APEX - Is Your Student Enrolled in APEX? Are they keeping up?
If your 7th or 8th-grade student is not taking at least one-quarter of Dance, they need to be enrolled in APEX to meet alternative physical education requirements. Several students have not yet completed any of the assignments and are not on track. This email was sent this week from Andrea Thompson, If you are not receiving APEX communications and feel you should be, let Sheli know.
“Hello students and parents of APEX. Good job to all of those who have been turning in assignments. I have not received assignments from several students. If you have not submitted your assignments yet, please do so as soon as possible. Here is the link to the APEX website where you will find assignments and the blog where you can post your work:  https://apexdavinci1718.weebly.com/ Some of you have been posting here. Some have been submitting via email, and some have been turning in a hard copy to the office. All of these options are acceptable. Also, if you need a paper copy of the list of assignments, they are in the office. Or you can come by the dance office on Wednesday or Thursday (the only days I am at da Vinci) to get a copy from me. I have loved reading assignments turned in so far. During the first week of the last quarter, I will post all grades for the assignments turned in at that point in time. I will also be updating the site today for those of you who like to work ahead :)
Good job, and keep up the great work!
Andrea Thompson”

Donation Request
The counseling department needs 5-7 white lab coats for our ongoing  Organizational Labs. Thanks!


QSA Will Meet for Lunch Next Wednesday
Students are invited to socialize, eat and learn about an upcoming opportunity to attend a free show from the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus on 3/16 from 5:30-7pm at Reed College.  We need one parent helper for the event, too. Contact Erin Savage for information.


High School Forecasting
Forecasting forms for Madison HS went home Friday and are due on Monday, 2/12. Several Franklin forms were returned without the address verification forms. We must provide the address verification forms to Franklin with the forecasting forms. Forecasting is very important for High Schools to determine their staffing and course offerings for the following year. Please get these in as soon as possible to the office or Katie the Counselor. If your student is not planning to attend their neighborhood High School, have them update Katie on their plans.  


Like Your Trips With a Little Drama?
Seventh and eighth graders are wanted for this year's Ashland Trip! This season we'll see: Othello, Oklahoma, and Destiny of Desire, the plays' prologues, and participate in an actors' workshop. The trip dates are May 9-11, 2018. In order to attend this memorable trip, you will need to maintain a "B"/PR grade point average, have stellar behavior and effort in your classes, and turn that all important application in on time. Applications will be available in the main office beginning Friday, Feb. 16. APPLICATIONS ARE DUE FRIDAY, MARCH 2, BY 3:30. Be sure to read the application VERY carefully. NO LATE OR INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED - NO EXCEPTIONS. See Ms. Wasson's website for very specific details and dates on the trip.

The da Vinci Auction is Coming Soon!
Can you or your company sponsor the event? We are looking for donations ranging from $250 to $1000 to help cover our costs. Or, let us know of a company or organization we should ask. We are happy to do all the work if you simply supply a name. Contact Lara for donations and ideas.

Auction Volunteer Signup - Join the Team

Auction Website Catalog - Check out the items up for sale now and for bid at the event.


After School Music Opportunities

Jazz band will resume rehearsals on Wednesday, February 14th from 3:30 - 4:45 pm. All interested students should show up to the first rehearsal. Students should have at least one year of experience with their instrument and be able to read music. If you have any questions talk to Mr. Gerolami.

Trogdor Auditions! Auditions for the spring iteration of Trogdor will be on Thursday, February 15th immediately after school in the music room. Any interested students should show up then with a prepared audition piece.



Textiles and 3-D Art Requests

Do you have woodworking skills? The da Vinci textiles program needs a volunteer who can create a few basic wooden loom parts. Solid woodworking skills needed and your own shop. Email Kelda if interested.

Please save your old newspapers and drop off at the office or 3D studio. The 3D art students will reuse & transform into paper mache sculptures. Thank you!


Spring Fling Student Dance
Student leaders are planning a Spring Dance after school on March 2 from 6:30 - 8:00 pm. Tickets will be $3. Adult volunteers will be needed. Please sign up on this Signup Genius site if you can help.


Jazz in the Schools Gallery Event
Portland Art Museum - Fred & Suzanne Fields Ballroom
Tuesday, February 13 from 11:00 am - 8:00 pm  Free | Open to the Public

This year, Jazz In The Schools was presented to over 2,000 students in 14 schools from diverse community neighborhoods.  Throughout the duration of the program, the students listened to jazz music in their classroom while creating their own artistic interpretation of what jazz “looks like” on a 12” x 12” space, which is the size of a record album cover. This has resulted in many wonderful artistic contributions from our students, the best of which – approximately 250 amazing pieces!

This will be a major event involving Portland area schools, their students, and families, as well as supporters of PDX Jazz, business and community leaders, and Portland’s creative community.

Throughout the day, local student musicians will be performing jazz music at the venue. Additionally, celebrated Portland pianist Dan Gaynor will be performing from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Created by PDX Jazz, “Jazz in the Schools” is supported by US Bank and OPB
and presented in conjunction with our PDX Jazz Festival.


Lost and Found - Please Help
Thanks to Amy Gannon for help again this past week. The number of coats and lunch-related items is still ridiculous. We need families to come to the cafeteria and help claim items left behind by students. If you can help wash items to be donated, let Sheli know.

Still in office: a collection of keys and jewelry, a TriMet Hop pass on a lanyard and a couple of coin purses. We also have 3 padlocks for lockers. If your student reports having lost their lock or bus pass, remind them to go look in the office, or come on in and take a look!