Monday, September 25, 2017

Upcoming Calendar Highlights
September 25-29, Spirit Week
September 26, Back to School night, 6 - 8 pm
September 27, QSA meeting, 3:20 - 4:20 pm, cafeteria
September 27, Arts Fair team meeting, 9:00 am, conference room
October 6, Run for the Arts
October 11 and 12, Locker painting for students, see below for advance volunteer needs
October 13, Statewide inservice day, no school
October 18, PPS 2 hour late opening
October 19, BSU meeting for students, 3:30 to 4:30 pm, room 102
October 24, Pizzicato Dough for Dollars, Laurelhurst, Dine out for Foundation
November 3, Teacher planning day, end of quarter 1, no school

It’s Spirit week at da Vinci!

  • Monday - pajama day
  • Tuesday - denim day
  • Wednesday - 8th-grade wears pink; 7th-grade blue and 6th-grade, purple
  • Thursday - twin day
  • Friday -decade day

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. A flyer should have come home with your student on Friday. If not, or if it didn’t get filled out, take a few moments to list their classes, teachers and room numbers (you can also see them listed on ParentVue). If you are not familiar with the building layout and where classrooms are located, review this map and plan your route.

Know that parking in the neighborhood is scarce. We encourage carpooling and public transportation when possible. The lot east of the school will be open and there is some parking behind the school (entering from 24th and Davis). Never block a neighbor’s driveway or the fire lane in front of the school.

We will start in the Auditorium with introductions and a presentation by the principal and counselor, then you will follow your student’s schedule and visit all their classes. This is an opportunity to learn what your student will be doing this year, expectations, and how you can support them. Classrooms will be VERY full of people, and the info is for the grown-ups, so please consider keeping kids at home. However, assistant principal Alicia McMillen is happy to spend the evening with students and younger siblings in the Cafeteria for families needing childcare and would love to know in advance who all may be coming, so please drop her a quick line at amcmillen@pps.net if this is you!

Run for the Arts Kick Off
On October 6th, all students will be participating in our Run for the Arts. This annual event raises important funds, allowing us to hire guest artists for costuming, set design and construction, choreography, lighting and more. We’re planning to buy a new kiln this year for our students taking 3-D art. Paper pledge forms were sent home on Friday. Families can use these for gathering pledges or use a very convenient and effective online platform for donations. Visit the Young Audiences website to register your runner and then share their own page with all your friends, family and folks who might support da Vinci.

We are particularly excited about this year’s event because the artwork is from an alumnus, Elizabeth Loomis. Read more about Elizabeth here. For students to earn the prize of a t-shirt with this year’s design, they need to have 30 points with the formula of laps and sponsors as described on the form and turn in funds by the deadline of October 23rd.
If you can volunteer to help with the event, sign up using this Signup Genius link.

Locker Painting coming soon, volunteer sign up now open
Next Friday students will receive a planning design sheet and information about locker painting. You can watch this presentation for an introduction if you want a sneak preview.





Locker painting requires a lot of adult support!
If you can help with priming, preparations, and painting, please sign up on this Signup Genius link.

Mosaic and Tools needed for Dragon Restoration
We are still collecting mosaic pieces for the dragon restoration project (broken dishware, marbles, glass or ceramic tiles, etc). If you donate broken dishware or tiles for this project (all tile sizes welcome), please be sure that the ceramics are high fire stoneware (and not low fire ceramic). You can test this by putting a wet finger on the unglazed side of the ceramic dish or tile. If the water is absorbed, it is low fire and it won't hold up to the outdoor elements. Thanks!

Tools and supplies needed
We would love to borrow a collection of plastering trowels (various shapes) and large plastic basins (for cement mixing and clean-up). Also helpful would be donations of work gloves, protective eye wear, and work clothing. All donations can go to the 3D studio or the office if that is easier. Thanks all!

Chinook Books
Order a Chinook Book App with your phone using our special fundraising link and for $15 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 many more. Order by October 15th and Chinook Book will contribute 60% of the subscription fee toward the da Vinci PTSA. Want the paper book AND the mobile app? Pick one up at Back to School night in the front hall. Questions?  Email maggievera29@gmail.com.

da Vinci Arts Fair- Save the date for December 2nd, 2017
The planning team is holding their next meeting September 27th at 9:00 am in the conference room. The application site is up for artists to apply to this juried show and important community and fundraising event. Anyone interested in helping out is invited! If you know of an artist who would be interested in applying, please share this application link with them.

Here is the Call for artists
The online app: ONLINE APPLICATION.  
After school Spanish and French registration open with Kids Like Languages
If there is enough enrollment, Kids Like Languages will offer Spanish and or French after school at da Vinci. Below is the flyer with information and a link to register. You can use a promo-code 10OFF and save $10. Direct questions to the organization.


Homework help and resource room now open before and after school.
The Computer Lab downstairs (Rm. 106) is now staffed by Shantel Schneider, para educator, before school each day from 8:00 to 8:30 am, and on Tuesday and Thursday from 3:15 to 4:30 AND now also has a printer for those needing to use it.

Coding Club offered on Mondays 3:30 to 5 pm
There is no cost to students and kids can just drop in. The club meets in room 106, the downstairs computer lab. For more information see his Coding Club page.

Want to lead an after school club?
In the past parents and community members have organized Chess Club, Clay Club and more. Several parents are now organizing a Black and White Photography Club. If you would be interested in running the Chess Club, a Gardening Club or whatever, let Sheli know.  Guidelines:
  • Clubs are generally free to participants (you can ask for materials donations)
  • Plan for programing is cleared by principal
  • Leaders must have a cleared background check by PPS
  • Leaders must submit the request for building use permit (there is a nominal application fee that can be covered by PTSA if needed)
  • Leaders assume responsibility for all aspects of running club and providing communications to be shared with students and families


We look forward to seeing everyone at Back to School Night on Tuesday. Stop by the office if we can help you with Parentvue or anything else.

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