Dragon Tales

It was so fun to connect with our 6th graders when they returned from Outdoor School today. As is the case every year, they were tired, a bit dirty and returned with bags clearly packed up after a week in the woods. However, the best part was seeing their smiles as they came off the bus and connected with peers and families. The admin team had the chance to visit three of the five Outdoor School sites. Every student we connected with reported they were having a blast. Below is a picture of the daily schedule at Camp Kuratli. While the schedules look a bit different at each camp, this gives you a sense of what kids were doing each day.

On another note, with Spring weather upon us there will be some upcoming walking field trips. Students must have a signed Walking Field Trip Permission Form on file in the main office. Students can pick one up outside the main office or you can print one from this link.

Lastly, as of Monday we will only have nine weeks of school left. For years, I've shared with students that I believe Quarter 4 is the most important quarter of the year. It sets the tone for how students feel as they head into summer and how they feel when returning to school in the fall. I believe this is particularly important for our rising 9th graders. I encourage all families to check in frequently with their students about their academics, to monitor the Canvas and Synergy gradebooks, and to help them maintain healthy academic habits (plenty of sleep, healthy diet, etc). Additionally, if you find your student needing support, reach out to their teachers and counselors. Spring is a naturally busy time of year, but finishing the year with a positive academic taste is critical to future success.

The PTSA is in need of some new members on their Executive Board next year. Particularly, they will need a new President. In my first year at da Vinci, I have been so grateful for the opportunity to work with our current PTSA President, Claudia, and I look forward to the work ahead with our next PTSA President. It should be acknowledged that the work and time commitment that Claudia put in this year is not normal for a PTSA President. The goal is to spread out support, roles and responsibilities so less falls on the plate of the President. If interested in stepping into this role, or learning more about it, please reach out to Claudia, or any member of the Executive Board. Their contact information can be found through this link.

We’re excited to share news about the annual HeART of Portland: A Portland Public Schools K-12 Arts Showcase on Tuesday, April 16th at the Portland Art Museum from 6:30 - 8:00 pm. This event is meant to honor the amazing artistic talents of students from all school in PPS.

I'm excited to announce that we will have four da Vinci students with art on display (Max Powers, Jaylene Hernandez-Aranda, Brixton Fairman and Orian Rall). Honestly, I'm so impressed with our students that I believe we could have filled up the entire gallery! The event is free and we hope to have a great turnout. If you love art, this event is for you!!!

The Urban League of Portland is hosting a job fair on April 18th from 11am-3pm at the Crowne Plaza in Portland (1441 NE 2nd Ave, PDX, 97232). Childcare will be provided.

The Urban League of Portland has their 39th annual Career Fair happening next Thursday April 18th. In addition, they are looking for parents of Black children ages 0-5 for their upcoming Family Empowerment Cohort series begin May 7th.

Leap into 9th Grade prepares incoming ninth grade students to excel in high school by building a foundation for success before starting high school. Programming will take place July 1-19, 2024 from 9 am - 12:30 pm for incoming students at Franklin, Grant, Jefferson, McDaniel, and Roosevelt. Families can register online at https://bit.ly/2024leapinto9th and contact their 8th grade counselor for more information.

​​Be on the lookout for a postcard being mailed to all 7th grade families about the Benson Tech Show that is next week April 18 and 19th from 6:00 - 9:00 pm at the Marshall campus.

This is an excellent opportunity for them to meet teachers, see student projects, etc. The application deadline for the 2025-2026 school year comes up quickly (December 2024) so this is a great opportunity for families to check out Benson. They are also having a 7th grade family informational session at 7:00 pm.