Welcome Letter 2021-2022
Posted on 08/09/2021
Da Vinci High School Logo
Hello Da Vinci High School (DVHS) students and families,

On behalf of the staff of Da Vinci Charter Academy, we are pleased to welcome you to the 2021-22 school year. After the challenges of the past two school years, we are all filled with optimism and energy as we welcome you back to a regular weekly schedule with full, in-person learning. Each of the topics below are intended to provide you with key information for a successful start to the year.

DVHS Registration & Schedule Pick-Up
Registration is distinct from enrollment. Registration is a required event for all students in order to gather and disseminate important information for the year. Here are the details:

When?
  • Friday, August 20, 2021, 9 am - 12:30 pm
    • 10th graders 9 - 10 am
    • 11th graders 10:15 - 11:15 am
    • 12th graders 11:30am - 12:30 pm
    • If the assigned grade level time frame does not work for you, drop by anytime on Monday, August 23rd from 1:00pm - 3:30pm. Please contact our office if there are special circumstances preventing you from attending any of these times.
Where?
  • Da Vinci High School Campus - Multipurpose Room (MPR)
Who?
  • All students need to be present to complete registration and pick up their schedule. Be sure your parents/guardians have signed all required forms in advance. Parents and guardians are also welcome to attend.
What do we need to do before Registration? What completed documents should I bring to Registration?
  • DVCA Tech Contract Addendum to the DJUSD Responsible Use of Technology – Required.
    • Personal laptop registration will be done Thursday 8/26. Students will get instructions from their classroom teacher.
  • University of California Eligibility in the Local Context consent form - Required 11th grade only
  • Comprehensive Sex Education Opt-out – Grade 11 only - Required if opting-out.
  • DVCA Booster forms - (optional)
  • DJUSD Dance Contract - (optional)
  • National School Lunch Program - (optional)
Other Need To Knows:
  • If there are schedule change requests, forms will be available at registration for you to request changes. Due to time constraints, adjustments may not be made during registration.
  • DVCA Boosters will have representatives on site to register new families and take membership forms and donations. These organizations are critical to our success - please join!
  • The Yearbook editor-in-chief will be on site to help you with senior ads, online ordering of the book, and show you how you can contribute to the yearbook using your smartphone.
  • The school nurse will be present to answer questions, and to review student records.
  • The Internship Specialist will be on-hand to introduce herself, answer questions, and meet with those who are signed up for an internship.
Dino Pack Orientation on Monday, August 23rd
Our Dino Pack Student Leadership Team and our Leadership Teachers, Mrs. Conners and Mrs. Sangster, invite all new Da Vinci Students to an Orientation Day on August 23rd from 1-3 pm. We look forward to meeting you as the 2021-22 school year kicks off. During the orientation, you will be paired with a student Dino Pack Leader who will introduce you to other new students and provide you with a tour of the campus. You will also have a chance to meet your teachers and ask any questions prior to the start of school on Wednesday, August 25th. Please bring your schedule with you, as this will be useful during the tour.
If you are unable to attend, or have any questions, please email teacher Kait Sangster at [email protected].

First day of School
This first day of school is Wednesday, August 25th starting at 8:15 am and it will follow the Regular 7 period Bell Schedule which can be viewed at: https://www.davincicharteracademyhs.net/resources/bell_schedule

The DVHS Staff
We are pleased to share that our full DVHS teaching and support staff is back for the 2021-22 school year. You can meet our full team on our Meet the Team Page of our website. We are also excited to share that we have hired a new Internship Specialist, Judy Wong-Chen, who brings a wealth of experience in supporting students to gain valuable workplace experience at nearby Eastside College Preparatory School and at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. You can reach Ms. Wong-Chen at [email protected] or you can contact your Counselor about the DVHS Internship Program.

School-wide Orientation Day on Thursday, August 26th
As we have done over the past several years, the DVHS staff will host an orientation day for all students on Thursday, August 26th during the regular school day. In order for students to attend all seven of the orientation sessions, all students will begin the day at 8:15 am and conclude the school day at 3:30 pm. Students without a first period, will go to the MPR at 8:15 am to begin the day. Students will be assigned to mixed grade level groupings to participate in the following sessions:
  • Book Checkout
  • Tech Support (check out school laptop or register your personal device)
  • School Pictures and School ID Cards
  • Meeting with School Administrators and Counselors
  • Citing Sources and Avoiding Plagiarism
  • Meeting with School Nurse and Internship Specialist
  • Introductions to Student Leadership Officers & Community Building
Students that are co-enrolled in DSHS classes will still need to attend those classes. Arrangements will be made to make up important items that are missed.

DVHS Construction Project
The DVHS Campus is in ‘full swing’ with our exciting construction and renovation project. You can learn about this Measure M Bond Project at the DJUSD Bond Program Webpage. While DVHS is fortunate to have incredible new facilities on the horizon, there will be some disruptions and necessary safety measures in place for the duration of the project. Each student will receive a tour and orientation to campus on Thursday, August 26th but the following are some key issues for all students and families to be aware of:
  • The DVHS Administration and Counseling Offices have been relocated to the front of the campus in the former DJUSD Preschool Offices. Parents and visitors should now park and enter campus using the main entrance on E 8th Street.
  • Students that drive to campus should park on nearby surface streets or in the parking lot located behind Symposium Restaurant on M Street and then walk to campus and enter through the passageway at the Da Vinci High School sign. No student parking is available on campus during the 2021-22 school year.
  • Students that bike to school will enter at a designated location at the front of the school immediately next to the entrance to the staff parking lot. This entrance will be separated by safety fencing. Bike racks will now be located immediately behind the new DVHS Administration building.
  • The rear entrance to campus from Colgate Drive will be closed due to construction.
Covid-19 Safety
While DJUSD is returning to full in-person learning, there are a few important safety measures that will be required. These are as follows:
  • Face coverings will be required for students and staff while indoors regardless of vaccine status, unless medically exempt
  • Students will eat outdoors as long as conditions permit
  • Students should self-screen for illness and stay home when ill
  • Students should maintain good hand-washing hygiene and cough etiquette
  • Students and staff will have the opportunity to do Covid-19 saliva testing onsite each Wednesday
  • DJUSD will continue to follow contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine protocols as described in the Healthy Campuses section of the DJUSD website
  • Covid-19 exposures must be reported to [email protected]
  • Enhanced ventilation will be present in classrooms using air purifiers and open windows/doors when possible
Thank you for your attention to all of the above matters. Our office is now open for regular business hours from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. You can also contact us by phone at (530) 757-7154 or email our administrative team at any of the addresses below: We look forward to seeing you in a few short weeks. Go Dinos!

Best regards,

Tyler Millsap
Principal, Da Vinci Charter Academy