Blog – Page 13 – Da Vinci RISE High

Announcements from Real World Learning Director (10.17.2022)

Hello Da Vinci Scholars and Families,

Check out the new RWL opportunities below:

For students interested in sports, hospitality, and fitness:
Bay Club is offering a 12-week course that exposes students to different areas of the Bay Club business while providing valuable experience to those interested in a career in hospitality, sports, fitness, and more. The course runs from Monday, October 24-Saturday, December 31, 2022. For more information and to attend a career fair, fill out this form today.

For students interested in music:
The Music Foundation is offering virtual modules for young people who are exploring careers in the music industry. Check out their sessions here.

For students interested in exploring different careers:
Kollab Youth will be launching its Winter Cohort Virtual Workforce Development Program for Teens 13-19. This program will start January 16, 2023, and helps youth to explore different career industries every week like Technology, Entertainment, Food Science, Money Management, Mental Health, Construction, Carpentry, and more! Participating companies include Kaiser Permanente and Target. Virtual classes are held every Wednesday and Thursday at 4:15 pm. Students are eligible for field trips, jobs, and internships after they complete the 9-week program. Low-income youth are encouraged to apply. To apply, click here.

For students interested in film:
Applications are open now for the Fresh Films Weekly Filmmaking Program! Join the Film Crew and make movies every Thursday starting October 27! The program is 100% FREE and no experience is necessary! Space is limited so APPLY NOW! Registration ends October 20! Virtual options are also available. In-person classes are held at the Boys and Girls Club at Los Angeles Harbor.

For students interested in video games, art, production, music, and journalism:
Women in Games offers a free digital-only event on Discord on October 26th – 28th. Students will see industry professionals including a few well-known faces who will drop into a Discord channel to take part in roundtables. Professionals will advise students on pathways into video games, review portfolios and share insight into what they do. There will also be a series of keynote speakers, who will join a line-up of programmers, artists, producers, musicians, journalists, voice actors and many more for three days of expert advice. Students can sign-up for free right here.

By Irene Canizales|2022-10-17T22:48:25+00:00October 17th, 2022|Uncategorized|Comments Off

Marissa Crook Named as New Wiseburn Da Vinci Athletics Director

welcome new athletics director

We are excited to announce that Marissa Crook has been named Athletics Director of the Wiseburn Da Vinci Athletics program. Marissa assumed her duties last week.

For the past 12 years Marissa has worked to create and improve Physical Education and Athletic programs at the schools she has served. Marissa brings experience in building athletic teams and programs from the ground floor as an inaugural coach and athletic director. As a former high school and college athlete, Marissa has a passion for providing students with opportunities to thrive in both their academic and athletic endeavors.

Marissa’s focus is on building a positive and respectful culture of athletics whose members represent our schools and the WDV Athletics program with pride. “I am excited to be part of Da Vinci Schools and to serve in the Wolves’ Athletic Program. I hope to see many student leaders and athletes engaged in the community as exceptional ambassadors of the spirit and dedication of Da Vinci Schools and Athletics.”

Marissa is coming at an exciting time for Wiseburn Da Vinci Athletics which moved to the Pioneer League this school year. The new league benefits our student-athletes by providing a more competitive experience, more consistent game schedules, additional team levels, shorter travel times, and more.

Marissa earned her Bachelor’s in Kinesiology-Physical Education from Cal State Northridge, a teaching credential from Cal State Bakersfield, and a Master’s in Kinesiology from Fresno Pacific University.

Marissa was selected from a pool of 146 candidates. The top three candidates were interviewed by a joint Wiseburn Da Vinci Interview Panel composed of Wiseburn and Da Vinci administrators, Wiseburn community members who are parents with students attending both Wiseburn and Da Vinci schools, student-athletes, and coaches. We are deeply grateful to our panel members, as well as to Wiseburn Superintendent Dr. Blake Silvers for his athletic director expertise and for helping us through this process. We also wish to express our gratitude to Tori Grafeman, WDV Assistant Athletics Director, who did a wonderful job in her role and continues to be a highly valued member of the Da Vinci organization.

Marissa can be reached at mcrook@davincischools.org. Welcome to the pack Marissa! Go Wolves!

For the latest Athletics news and announcements, subscribe to our new WDV Athletics blog at athletics.davincischools.org.

By Irene Canizales|2022-10-17T22:24:07+00:00October 17th, 2022|News|Comments Off

Survey: Expanding our Arts and Languages Options

Dear Da Vinci Students and Families,

We are exploring adding additional language and arts offerings during Zero period (which will be approximately 7:25-8:35am) next semester. The goal is to make any additional offerings available to all high school students, regardless of school site.

Please complete the survey below by Friday, Oct. 14th to share your thoughts and ideas about what additional language and arts classes we should offer. There is also space on the survey to share any other thoughts or ideas you think we should know. There are two separate surveys — one for students and one for parents/guardians.

Student Survey Link: https://forms.gle/JypEbSfU138b1W34A

Parent/Guardian Survey Link: https://forms.gle/y6hbKrNGMfJvVcBS8

We thank you!

By Irene Canizales|2022-10-07T18:32:08+00:00October 7th, 2022|News|Comments Off

Announcements from Real World Learning Director (9.28.2022)

Hello Da Vinci Scholars and Families,

Check out the new RWL opportunities below:

For students interested in health and vision care:
Cal State LA is having a Vision Fair on October 15. Students will have an opportunity to learn about careers and majors related to vision and medicine, as well as free vision screenings. The organization Guide Dogs will also be bringing dogs who are in training to help visually impaired folks. For more information visit: https://www.visionfair.org/

For students interested in advertising:
T.E.A.M. Woo (Teens Engaged in Advertising Mentorship) is a customized mentorship program aimed to help expose students who have a passion for creativity to the possibilities of pursuing a career in a creative field! You’ll get a chance to team up with fellow creatives and work on a real-world advertising campaign for Supergoop! while being mentored by seasoned professionals along the way. You’ll also walk away with tons of knowledge on strategy, branding, conception/execution, and presentation skills. The program includes 5 sessions held over 4-6 weeks, each session being three hours (6 PM-9 PM). The program will begin on Monday, January 16th and there are 18 spots available. The deadline is October 15. Apply here.

For students interested in animation:
The deadline to sign up for Story Xperiential is fast approaching! This program starts on October 3rd. Story Xperiential is offering a 9-week online experience that takes you behind the scenes at Pixar and introduces you to world-class storytellers. You’ll follow the Pixar process to create a storyreel of your own short story. You’ll livestream with different Pixar storytellers every Monday, submit your work to a gallery and receive ongoing feedback. At the end, your work will be showcased in an online exhibition. Artistic experience is not required, the program is all about story. The program costs $25 for youth ages (13-18) and $250 for youth ages 18+. To learn more & register, click here.

By Irene Canizales|2022-09-28T22:47:29+00:00September 28th, 2022|Real World Learning|Comments Off

Announcements from Real World Learning Director (9.22.2022)

Hello Da Vinci Scholars and Families,

Check out the new RWL opportunities below:

For students interested in the environment:

SOAR Green Leadership Academy is a forward-thinking program that empowers motivated high school students to lead with an environmental mindset. With mentorship and real-world guidance from Grades of Green staff and corporate partners, these students will collaborate together to help develop and drive better environmental standards and outcomes for industries today and for generations to come. Students will emerge from the program with a broad view of global environmental issues through a corporate lens and will prepare to enter college or the workforce with diverse, sustainable, and innovative perspectives.

SOAR is taking off! Join a diverse group of eco-conscious high school peers in the Los Angeles area who can dedicate 5-10 hours per month to this academy. Discover a vast array of industries and the environmental impact they make and gain knowledge to develop and drive better environmental standards, impacts and outcomes. To learn more, click here. You must apply before September 30th.

For students interested in film:

Learn all the ins and outs of filmmaking as you produce short films, music videos, documentaries, and more! You will get hands-on experience with professional film equipment and be mentored by Hollywood pros at Sony, Paramount, Discovery Networks, Roku, and more! The program is 100% FREE and no experience is necessary! After the weekly program, you can intern with Fresh Films! Take your skills to the next level and work on set of TV shows & films (where 93 youth did that this summer!) Classes are available in person at The Boys and Girls Club of Los Angeles Harbor, as well as virtually. Space is limited so apply now. Registration ends October 20. To learn more, click here.

To see a complete list of Real World Learning opportunities, please click here.

By Irene Canizales|2022-09-22T21:12:51+00:00September 22nd, 2022|Real World Learning|Comments Off

August 29, 2022
Dear RISE community,

It is with a heavy heart that we inform you about a recent loss in our school community. On Sunday, August 15th, one of our beloved students, Joshua Montes DeOca, tragically lost his life due to gun violence. Our condolences and thoughts go out to the family and friends of Joshua during this difficult time. As a student at RISE High School, Joshua remained attentive and actively participated in our instructional program at A Place Called Home campus. Joshua joined our Da Vinci RISE community towards the end of the 21-22 school year and he brought great love and light to all those he encountered at RISE. He was kind, respectful and placed school as a top priority. This was evident even when he was absent, as he would reach out to share his absence or request assignments to complete from home. Joshua was a true representation of a responsabile and empowered citizen and inspired our RISE community.

During this time, as the school community processes these tragic news and copes with grief, we will offer counseling and bereavement services to all of our students and school personnel. We encourage you, as parents and stakeholders, to also feel free to use our resources. Death can be difficult for us to understand, especially when it is sudden. Many of us may be confronted with a variety of emotions, concerns and questions for our entire school, especially our students.

Students may have had no experience in coping with loss of a classmate or for some, this may be far too familiar. We are working to support our students through counseling by our Student Support Services Team (SSS) and our staff through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP). If you feel that your student needs to speak to a counselor or other adult, please do not hesitate to call the school and let us know. We are saddened by the loss to our school community and will make every effort to help you and your student as you need.

If you are interested in providing further support to Joshua’s family, below you can find a GoFundMe link that will collect funds to be contributed to funeral expenses and any other needs the family has at this time. We know that a sudden loss can be jolting, for this reason we want you to know of our care and support.

Joshua’s GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/95k7c-joshua?qid=c554f2caa9df2c900c4014806e2e5be3

Sincerely,

Edith M. Funes, M. Ed.
Assistant Principal
Da Vinci RISE High School

Naomi Lara
Principal
Da Vinci RISE High School

Erin Whalen
Executive Director
Da Vinci RISE High School

—

29 de agosto del 2022
Estimada comunidad de RISE,

Con gran pesar les informamos sobre una pérdida reciente en nuestra comunidad escolar. El domingo 15 de agosto, uno de nuestros queridos estudiantes, Joshua Montes DeOca, perdió trágicamente la vida debido a la violencia armada. Nuestras condolencias y pensamientos están con la familia y los amigos de Joshua durante este momento difícil. Como estudiante de RISE High School, Joshua se mantuvo atento y participó activamente en nuestro programa de instrucción en el campus de A Place Called Home. Joshua se unió a nuestra comunidad Da Vinci RISE hacia el final del año escolar 21-22 y trajo un gran amor y luz a todos los que conoció en RISE. Fue amable, respetuoso y puso la escuela como una prioridad. Esto era evidente incluso cuando estaba ausente, ya que se acercaba para compartir su ausencia o solicitar tareas para completar desde casa. Joshua fue una verdadera representación de un ciudadano responsable y empoderado e inspiró a nuestra comunidad RISE.

Durante este tiempo, mientras la comunidad escolar procesa esta trágica noticia y se enfrenta al duelo, ofreceremos servicios de consejería y duelo a todos nuestros estudiantes y personal escolar. Los alentamos, como padres y partes interesadas, a que también se sientan libres de usar nuestros recursos. La muerte puede ser difícil de entender para nosotros, especialmente cuando es repentina. Muchos de nosotros podemos enfrentarnos a una variedad de emociones, preocupaciones y preguntas para toda nuestra escuela, especialmente para nuestros estudiantes.

Es posible que los estudiantes no hayan tenido experiencia en hacer frente a la pérdida de un compañero de clase o, para algunos, esto puede ser demasiado familiar. Estamos trabajando para apoyar a nuestros estudiantes a través del asesoramiento de nuestro Equipo de Servicios de Apoyo Estudiantil (SSS) y nuestro personal a través de nuestro Programa de Asistencia al Empleado (EAP). Si cree que su estudiante necesita hablar con un consejero u otro adulto, no dude en llamar a la escuela e informarnos. Nos entristece la pérdida de nuestra comunidad escolar y haremos todo lo posible para ayudarlo a usted y a su estudiante según lo necesiten.

Si está interesado en brindar más apoyo a la familia de Joshua, a continuación puede encontrar un enlace de GoFundMe que recaudará fondos para contribuir a los gastos del funeral y cualquier otra necesidad que tenga la familia en este momento. Sabemos que una pérdida repentina puede ser una sacudida, por eso queremos que sepas de nuestro cuidado y apoyo.

GoFundMe de Joshua: https://www.gofundme.com/f/95k7c-joshua?qid=c554f2caa9df2c900c4014806e2e5be3

Sinceramente,

Edith M. Funes, M. Ed.
Subdirectora
Da Vinci RISE High School

Naomi Lara
Principal
Da Vinci RISE High School

Erin Whalen
Director Ejecutivo
Da Vinci RISE High School

By Elaine Salango|2022-09-01T17:44:21+00:00August 31st, 2022|Uncategorized|Comments Off

Announcements from Real World Learning Director (08.31.2022)

Hello Da Vinci Scholars and Families,

Check out the new real-world learning opportunities below.

For students interested in mental health:

Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation is offering The Be There Certificate. This is a free, self-paced learning experience designed to increase mental health literacy and provide you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to safely support anyone who may be struggling with their mental health. It provides a deep understanding of Be There’s 5 Golden Rules — a simple but actionable framework on how to recognize when someone might be struggling with their mental health, your role in supporting that person, and how to connect them to the help they deserve.

For students interested in animation:

Story Xperiential is offering a 9-week online experience that takes you behind the scenes at Pixar and introduces you to world-class storytellers. You’ll follow the Pixar process to create a storyreel of your own short story. You’ll livestream with different Pixar storytellers every Monday, submit your work to a gallery and receive ongoing feedback. At the end, your work will be showcased in an online exhibition. Next session begins October 3rd. Artistic experience is not required, the program is all about story. The program costs $25 for youth ages (13-18) and $250 for youth ages 18+. To learn more & register, click here.

For students interested in science or are looking for a paying job:

The California Science Center is offering temporary positions for Community Teen Interns paying $16.04 an hour. You must be a sophomore, junior or senior with a minimum 2.0 GPA available to work starting October 1, 2022. See the flyer for details. Fill out this application and email it to hr@cscmail.org to apply.

For students interested in the tech world:

Innovate<her> is offering a free 45-minute virtual course on User Experience Design (UX). Understanding UX is a beginner course for creative thinkers, problem solvers, and game changers! Learn the basics of UX Design and get to know how a designer thinks. You don’t need any prior knowledge or any materials. You only need a computer and internet access. To apply, click here.

By Irene Canizales|2022-08-31T18:41:20+00:00August 31st, 2022|Real World Learning|Comments Off

Announcements from Real World Learning Director (8.23.2022)

Hello Da Vinci Scholars and Families,

Cloud Computing is one of the fastest-growing careers in the United States! Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certified Cloud Practitioners earn on average up to $131,465 annually.

El Camino College is now accepting applications from current juniors and seniors who want to join the After-School Cloud Computing Career Pathway program, it’s FREE!

STUDENT & PARENT INFO SESSION – Online via Zoom

Wednesday, August 24th
6:00pm – 7:15pm
RSVP for Info Session

For more information, please click here.

By Irene Canizales|2022-08-23T21:49:39+00:00August 23rd, 2022|Real World Learning|Comments Off

Announcements from Real World Learning Director (8.19.2022)

Welcome Back Da Vinci Scholars! It’s nice to see you all back on campus. Please see the announcements below.

For students interested in health-related fields:

Introduction to Ophthalmology Virtual Course: Project InSight is pleased to offer an opportunity for students to participate in Introduction to Ophthalmology where they will learn about the branch of medicine concerned with the study and treatment of disorders and diseases of the eye. The course is open to 20 Los Angeles students interested in the medical field or eye health to join the 12-week virtual course this fall. This course will be taught by California Credentialled Science Teachers and will meet weekly beginning September 13 for one hour online after school on either Tuesday or Thursday. For more specific information, please use this link.

By Irene Canizales|2022-08-19T18:34:41+00:00August 19th, 2022|Uncategorized|Comments Off

Investing in Exceptional Educators is an Investment in the Future

We’re excited to welcome 50 new teachers, counselors and support staff to the Da Vinci family. We are honored that so many talented individuals have chosen to make Da Vinci their new home. For some, they are Da Vinci alumni or recent graduates of Da Vinci’s in-house teacher residency program in partnership with the Alder University Graduate School of Education. All total, Da Vinci has 25 alumni employed across our organization.

Da Vinci Schools invests significant resources into supporting new and returning educators who receive approximately 23 days of professional development (PD) each year, including two weeks of training in August at the start of the new school year.

Last week, new teachers from across Da Vinci came together for a full day of new teacher orientation and professional development support with mentor educators from Da Vinci Institute, Da Vinci’s professional learning center. New teachers played team building games, toured all schools, and were introduced to Da Vinci’s signature programs and practices.

With all new and returning educators back at their individual school sites, the focus has been on reflection and goal setting, logistics, project-based and real world learning planning, curriculum building, special education, assessment, school culture, social-emotional learning, restorative justice, addressing equity and opportunity gaps, advisory planning, dual enrollment, all grade level and job-alike planning, and much more. There’s also been plenty of time for fun community building activities and getting spaces ready for students.

This year, teachers and students are transitioning to a new learning management system known as Canvas. Canvas syncs with PowerSchool, our student information system, and is what most colleges use giving students a head-start on knowing how to access course materials and other resources.

Da Vinci is continuing to expand our pool of dedicated educators and support staff. Check out our current openings here. We are so excited to start the new school year! Together, we are preparing students to lead, innovate, and thrive in the modern world.

By Irene Canizales|2022-08-11T20:11:00+00:00August 11th, 2022|Life|Comments Off