Upcoming Calendar Highlights

September 13, Arts Fair, first team meeting, 9:00 am, conference room at da Vinci, new folks welcome!

September 15, Picture day

September 20, PPS 2 hour late opening, school starts at 10:45 am

September 20, PTSA General Meeting, 7 pm in the Library, all welcome, vote on budget for year

September 26, Back to School night, 6 - 8 pm

October 6, Run for the Arts, 2 pm, all students run or walk, pledge information coming soon

October 11 and 12, Locker painting

October 13, Statewide inservice day, no school

October 18, PPS 2 hour late opening

From Alicia McMillen, Assistant Principal

Families, THANK YOU for always partnering with us to support our children in meeting our 3 School Rules: Be Safe. Be Fair. Be Friendly!

This Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, our 6 and 7th grade students experienced our annual Fall Expectation Station Rotation where adults, with awesome Leo Leader support, shared location-specific behavior expectations that fit under that big 3-rule umbrella and help us to keep everyone as happy and safe as possible at our home-away-from-home. At the same time, our 8th graders met with Arts Dept. staff to review role-model Leadership Expectations and also connect with their capstone experience teachers. If your student missed school Wednesday or Thursday afternoon, we ask that you please review with them the 6/7G station talks and/or 8G Leadership pages that they missed. These are also posted on our Climate pages on our school website. We also practiced safety procedures during our first monthly Fire/Evacuation Drill on Friday and will be engaging in a Lock-Down drill before the end of September. Please encourage your kiddos to take these drills seriously so that we are building muscle memory to remain calm and helpful in any emergency situation.

Picture Day is September 15

All students will have their portraits done this coming Friday. These photos are used for the complimentary student ID and loaded in Synergy. A purchase is optional. Packets were sent home in the opening packet and more are available in the office. You can send in cash or a check on Picture Day (students give the form directly to the photographers) or order online. We have one volunteer to assist during the morning of the 15th, but could use a couple more to get students through the process. Please contact Sheli in the office if you can help.

Back to School Night, September 26, 6 - 8 pm

Parents and guardians are invited to attend the program on September 26th from 6 pm - 8 pm. We will start in the Auditorium, then you will follow your student’s schedule and visit all their classes. This is an opportunity to learn more about what your students will be doing this year, expectations, and how you can support them. Due to limited space, we ask that if you are able to do so, please make arrangements for childcare.

Verification forms

Please review the verification forms that should have come home last week. Make any changes necessary, then sign and return the forms to the office as soon as possible. If your address has changed, please send in two forms of proof of current address. It is essential that we have an accurate address and current emergency contact information for students. Make sure the emergency contact section is updated and provide one contact who does not live in the immediate area. Contact the main office if you have questions at 503-916-5356.

The da Vinci Library needs volunteers!

We have a ton of new library books and lit circle books that need processing asap. There is a host of other jobs that you can do in the library as well – dusting, stamping, repairing books, etc. We can accommodate your schedule so please contact Lori Lieberman in the library or call the office and ask for the library.

Dragon bench restoration in progress

The visual arts and some of the science classes are working toward restoring the playground dragon with concrete and mosaic! If you have any tiles, broken plates, or broken pottery that could be used for mosaic, please save and bring to the office. It is helpful if you could break it up into mosaic pieces yourself, before bringing it in.

Dancescape after school dance class registration open now

Classes are open on a first come, first served basis. If your student is interested in taking advantage of this special opportunity, please click this online registration link: Registration Now Open

For the past 17 years, Dancescape After School Dance Program has had the pleasure of offering after school jazz and tap classes at da Vinci Arts Middle School. The classes have a specific goal of increasing the knowledge base, technique and overall passion and execution in each student. Currently, tap is open to all students, although it is strongly encouraged that students have a minimum of one year experience before enrolling, and the teacher decides on final level placement. If you have a student interested in jazz, please email to set up an audition time for your student to be assessed for placement.

If you would like additional information, please don’t hesitate to contact Éowyn Barrett the Dancescape After School Dance Program Director.

Chinook Books

This year we have a new easy way for you to support da Vinci: purchase a mobile subscription to Chinook Book using our special fundraising link! Tap the link from your phone to purchase your $15 Chinook Book app subscription and you’ll enjoy a whole year of savings at local, sustainable places you love like Staccato Gelato, Pizzicato, Cha Cha Cha, Laughing Planet, Hot Lips, Whole Foods, OMSI, Hollywood Theater, and so much more. Your subscription will continue to benefit our fundraiser year after year as long as we continue to fundraise with Chinook Book. Tap here from your phone to purchase your Chinook Book mobile app subscription. Don’t Wait! Purchase a subscription by October 15th and Chinook Book will contribute a full 60% of the subscription fee toward our fundraising goal. P.S. If you would prefer to purchase a print book or app gift card you can send order and payment to the office with your student or buy in-person on Fridays in September. Questions?  email maggievera29@gmail.com.

da Vinci Arts Fair- Save the date for December 2nd, 2017

The planning team is holding their first meeting September 13th at 9:00 am in the conference room. The application site will be up soon for artists to apply to this juried show and important community and fundraising event. Anyone interested in helping out is invited!

Thank you, Starbucks and Community Care Volunteers

Thanks to our community volunteers and the staffers from Starbucks who came to help out with Project Community Care. Starbucks also provided coffee for this event and for several of our first days for teachers and the welcome events in the library.

Kaiser Volunteer Grant

Are there any Kaiser employees in our community who would be interested in pursuing this grant? Contact Alicia McMillen if so!

KAISER PERMANENTE GIVES - VOLUNTEER GRANT PROGRAM $5000-$15,000

Kaiser Permanente Gives - Volunteer Grant Program is available to schools who have Kaiser Permanente employees who volunteer for 25+ hours at your school.  Eligible schools may apply for a $5,000 to $15,000 grant. Projects should focus on supporting youth, families, and community with ways to eliminate barriers and support successful efforts to promote educational attainment. Deadlines: October 13, February 17, July 21.