kcroft

Thank you all for your continued patience and flexibility as we work to ensure the safety and health of all members of our Da Vinci RISE family. We had several follow-up questions after communicating the school closure yesterday, so we wanted to provide some answers below. Please continue to reach out with any questions you have and to communicate anything you need from us during this time.

Are RISE campuses completely closed for the next three weeks?
Both RISE sites (APCH & Hawthorne) are closed to students not only for the upcoming week (March 16 – March 20), but also during Intersession (March 23 – April 3).

The only exceptions for which students will be allowed on campus are as follows:

• Resource pick-up by assigned Arena times on Monday, March 16
  • Arena 1: 10:00am – 11:00am
  • Arena 2: 11:00am – 12:00pm
  • Arena 3: 1:00pm – 2:00pm
  • Arena 4: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
• Daily meal pick-up (grab and go) from 12:00pm – 1:00pm Monday – Friday, March 16 – April 3.

Is virtual learning mandatory over the next week?
Given the hybrid learning model at RISE, most students are familiar with navigating their online instruction via DreamSeeDo. All students have current projects that they are working on, and are encouraged to continue working on these assignments to continue making progress towards credit attainment and graduation. Further, paper packets and instructional materials will be provided in-person at resource pick-up on Monday. Teachers, Academic Coaches, and Mental Health Team members will be available virtually during their regularly-scheduled school hours next week. While virtual attendance to these office hours is voluntary, we wanted to ensure staff was available for students who do want to continue working. For seniors, in particular, we highly recommend completing work as long as you are healthy and feel well enough to do so.

Can students complete work during Intersession?
Absolutely. Students can continue working on their projects and assignments in pursuit of credit attainment during their two-week Intersession period. However, teachers and staff will not  be available virtually during this time as they will be during the March 16 – March 20 time period.

What will “resource pick-up” consist of on Monday, March 16?
Resource pick-up on Monday will allow for students to complete the following actions:

• Check out a computer and charger (if they do not already have one) for access to instruction while school is closed.
• Meet briefly with their instructors to ask clarifying questions about assignments and to pick up any necessary paper packets and supplemental instructional materials.
• Receive information from the Mental Health Team regarding community resources available during the closure (i.e. food banks, resource centers, online counseling and mental health resources, internet access, etc.)
• Ensure they are signed up to receive blog updates via email in order to remain looped in to ongoing communications.
• Pick up toiletry and hygiene kits as needed.
• Grab a lunch if desired.

Dear Da Vinci RISE Students, Families, and Staff,

As we continue to monitor the emerging Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Da Vinci RISE is taking proactive measures to support the health of our immediate community and the Greater Los Angeles area. After careful deliberation and in close contact with local health officials, beginning Monday, March 16, 2020, Da Vinci RISE campuses will be closed to students for one week, and all Intersession classes and programming will be cancelled during the March 23 – April 3 period. 

For the week of March 16 – March 20, curriculum will be delivered via a virtual on-line delivery model as offered through the Dream See Do platform and other teacher -student communication systems. Additional guidance about returning to the learning center campuses will be provided to you on or before March 20, 2020. 

Students in need of laptop devices, instructional packets, and other materials for home instruction can come to the learning sites during the following assigned times on Monday, March 16, 2020. 

• Arena 1: 10:00am – 11:00am
• Arena 2: 11:00am – 12:00pm
• Arena 3: 1:00pm – 2:00pm
• Arena 4: 2:00pm – 3:00pm

Right now, nearly all districts and charter schools  in L.A.County have suspended their regular instructional programs and are offering online instruction. Da Vinci RISE administration have partnered on the decision to dismiss students from in-person instruction at the A Place Called Home and Hawthorne Learning Sites  in the hope that these extreme efforts at social distancing will support containment efforts. 

Importantly, there are no known cases of Coronavirus on any Da Vinci RISE learning center campuses at this time.

Our dedicated staff have been working collaboratively over the past week to expand the online educational and alternate learning plans so that all students will be able to access while the move to independent study virtual learning takes place. Students and families will receive separate communication from your child’s school leader and/or teacher(s) with specific information on how to access these and other materials.

Special education teachers will provide remote supports so students may access curriculum and continue to receive specialized instructional services. Additional information will be sent to you individually through a prior written notice outlining the changes to the IEP.  Please communicate with your school leaders, Kari Croft, Principal , Erin Whalen & Rebecca Robertson, Assistant Principals for needs and/or for additional support. 

Food Service
We will have  a “grab-and-go” food program available to students at both sites.

A Place Called Home
* 12:00 – 1:00pm, Monday – Friday (March 16 – April 3)

Hawthorne
* 12:00 – 1:00pm, Monday – Friday (March 16 – April 3)

Events
All internal and external events, activities and meetings have been canceled, including afterschool programs, athletic games and practices. 

Next Steps
We appreciate your understanding, patience and partnership during these ever-evolving times. Together, we will navigate with grace to overcome the challenges we face now and ahead.

Please keep referring to our Coronavirus Updates webpage on the main Da Vinci Schools website. This page is being updated regularly. As a reminder, we will send out another update on or before Friday, March 20 with information about returning to campus. 

With gratitude,

Matthew Wunder, Ed.D.
Chief Executive Officer

Dear DV RISE Students and Families, 

It’s time for MAP testing again! On December 4th and 5th, all students of Da Vinci RISE High will take a MAP® Growth™ test from NWEA®. You can read our previous blog post about MAP Testing (linked here) to learn more about the test and the information it provides about your student’s literacy and math levels. 

It is incredibly important that students are present and prepared to participate in testing, as the outcomes provide essential information that helps teachers individualize instruction for your student.

Please ensure that your student is present at school this Wednesday & Thursday and is prepared to begin testing promptly at 9:10.  See below for recommendations on how students can prepare to be successful on the tests, and please reach out to us with any questions or concerns.

How to Prepare Before Testing: 

• Take some time to review your class notes and materials
• Ask your teachers for help on any concepts you may not understand 
• Make sure to get a good night of rest and at least 8 hours of sleep the night before each assessment.
• Make sure to eat a healthy breakfast on the morning before assessments. (Breakfast is provided at both RISE locations)
• Arrive to school early so you have adequate time to settle into your classroom and to avoid feeling rushed

Modified Class Schedule for MAP Testing
Please plan for your student to be in attendance from 9:10am – 3:00pm in order to allow adequate time for both MAP testing and regular class attendance. The modified schedule is included below:

On Tuesday, November 12, RISE held its first Family & Stakeholder Collaborative (FSC) meeting of the year. We brainstormed ways that parents and families can be more involved, discussed next steps for  School Site Council elections, and completed surveys around ideas for workshops that families would like to take part in.

If you were unable to attend, you can view the presentation deck HERE.

If you’d like to make suggestions for workshops you would like RISE to offer, please view the questionnaire linked HERE, and email your preferences to Kari Croft at kcroft@davincischools.org.

And finally, please make plans to join us at future FSC meetings! The dates are below.

• January 28
• April 14
• May 12

Dear Da Vinci RISE Students & Families,

We are excited to officially kick off our blog by informing you of upcoming MAP® testing.

From September 24 to October 3, all students of Da Vinci RISE High will take a Measures of Academic Progress (or MAP®) Growth™ test on a school computer during their Academic Support Block. MAP® Growth™ scores help teachers monitor student performance by measuring achievement and growth, specifically in reading and math skills. While these test results do not impact students’ grades, teachers use the information to tailor classroom lessons and set goals for students.

All students, regardless of course-load or weekly schedule, will complete the MAP® Growth™ testing for English and Math. This is the first of four testing periods this school year. Following each testing period, you & your student will receive a Family Report showing a summary of how your child is performing academically.

We are truly excited to focus on your student’s individual growth and achievement. For more information about MAP Growth, visit NWEA.org/familytoolkit.

Please read below for some tips on helping your student prepare for testing, and if you have any further questions, feel free to reach out to Kari or Erin!

Kari Croft, Principal (kcroft@davincischools.org)
Erin Whalen, Assistant Principal (ewhalen@davincischools.org)

How to Prepare For Testing: 

• • Take some time to review your class notes and materials.
  • Ask your teachers for help on any concepts you may not understand.
  • Make sure to get a good night of rest and at least 8 hours of sleep the night before each assessment.
  • Make sure to eat a healthy breakfast on the morning before assessments.
  • Arrive to school on time and prepared to participate in an hour-long assessment that covers reading or math.
  • Reach out to RISE staff if you’re feeling anxious or nervous about the tests!