Dragon Tales

The fourth quarter is upon us, and in many ways I'm still having a hard time wrapping my head around that fact. It feels like this year has flown by. There have been so many great memories and accomplishments achieved during the 1st three quarters of the school year. However, if you have yet to experience a fourth quarter at da Vinci...buckle up for the excitement!

We have talent shows, capstone performances, dance showcases, music performances, Oaks Park for 8th graders, a field trip to PSU for 8th graders, state testing, promotion and field day to name some of the big events! Along with all of this, comes longer and warmer days. It is important for students, and the adults around them, to pace themselves so we can finish the year with the same energy and passion we had through the 1st three quarters.

Let's finish the year strong Dragons!

As a reminder, there is no school on Monday, April 7th. This day is a teacher planning day as they prepare for the 4th quarter.

The Oregon Statewide Assessment System (OSAS) tests are designed to evaluate how well students are mastering Oregon's academic standards and to provide valuable data for schools and districts to improve instruction and ensure equitable outcomes for all students. Next week we will be starting OSAS in ELA classes.

Here is the schedule for state testing going forward:

ELA: April 8-11th

Science (8th grade only): April 15-17th

Math: April 21-22 & 24-25th

ELA: May 5-9th

This data is used as a measure of how we are doing instructing our students on grade level standards. As a school, we review this data to determine supports for students and possible adjustments to our instructional practice.

If you would not like your child to participate in state testing, please know that they will be expected to stay in their classes that are testing and have a quiet activity to do. They will not be excused to an alternative location and must not disturb the testing environment.

Testing exemption forms:

ELA/MATH opt-out form

Science 8th grade opt-out form

Our 8th graders are going to tour Portland State University this Spring to check out the college and make sure all our students have experienced a college visit!

When: Wednesday, April 30th, all school day

Who: 8th graders, volunteers and teachers

Parents and guardians we would love for you to join us as chaperones, please sign-up if you can join us! Sign up to chaperone

Come celebrate the extraordinary work of our student artists and over a decade of funding for public school arts, with arts performances and an exhibition featuring student honorees from our school!

Portland Public Schools is proud to partner with the Portland Art Museum, our host of the 2025 HeART of Portland: A PPS K-12 Arts Showcase. This premier district-wide annual event kicks off with an evening of student dance, music, and theatre performances, plus the opening of a stunning student visual art exhibition featuring over 100+ works.

da Vinci has multiple students whose work will be on display!!!

🎨 Breaking the Grid: This year's student visual arts exhibition also features a citywide collaborative student art project inspired by the Portland Art Museum exhibition Psychedelic Rock Posters and Fashion of the 1960s. Guided by visual arts educators, students designed posters in the bold, expressive style of the exhibition, reflecting their hopes and dreams for their communities.

Event Details:
📍 Portland Art Museum – Free & open to everyone! 1119 SW Park Avenue
📆 Wednesday, April 16, 2025, Opening Reception
🕔 5 – 7 PM – Free admission to all museum exhibitions (Main Museum)
🖼 6 – 8:30 PM – Student Visual Art Exhibition (Miller Gallery, 1st Floor, Mark Building)
👩🏽 6:30 PM – Superintendent’s Welcome (Kridel Ballroom, 3rd Floor, Mark Building)
🎭 6:30 – 8 PM – Student Performances (Kridel Ballroom, 3rd Floor, Mark Building)

Student Honorees by School Listed Here

Come experience the power of arts education and celebrate our incredible student artists!

Get ready to donate your blue BottleDrop bags 4/15-4/26 to the school for da Vinci to receive a 20% match! You can pick up blue bags now in the da Vinci main office. We will be collecting blue bags and passing out more bags during the contest. You can also turn them directly into your local BottleDrop 4/15-4/26

Say Cheese and order your copy of the 2024-2025 da Vinci Yearbook for your student. Not only does it contain the Photo Day pictures of all the students, it also has candid shots of the varying different events and productions that have shaped this fantastic school year! It's a favorite activity for students to sign one anothers yearbooks on the last day of school.

Your donation will help cover the costs to produce the yearbooks and to ensure every student receives one of these to treasure! Funds raised beyond the production cost will be used for Yearbook Class materials and equipment to build the program.

The suggested donation amount is $20.00. Donate more or less, however you are able.

To celebrate their time at da Vinci Arts, before moving onto their respective high schools, we hope to be able to take our 8th graders on a fun-filled day to Oaks Park on Monday, June 9th this year!!

With less funds to help cover the cost of the admission ride bracelets and buses, we are requesting a $30 fee for each student. We want all students to attend. If you are able and feel led to sponsor other students to attend the event, your generosity is greatly appreciated! If this fee request poses a hardship please reach out to Jennifer to request accommodations (jehoward@pps.net).