Dragon Tales

This week I received my staffing numbers for the 2025-2026 school year. Unfortunately, PPS is once again facing budget cuts due to rising costs, limited revenue, and declining enrollment. The good news is that our enrollment at da Vinci has remained roughly the same, which helped mitigate some of the potential cuts I feared I might have to make. Unfortunately, we did not keep our same staffing allocations as last year and I will need to make some reductions.

On Tuesday, I shared with our amazing staff that my number one goal is to preserve the arts while also maintaining a focus on providing a rich core programing experience to ensure our students are ready for high school. These are challenging times and I encourage families to advocate for our State leaders to truly begin prioritizing education in our great state. PPS has provided this Advocacy Toolkit as a place to start. I encourage you to read through it and advocate for additional funding for education in Oregon.

On Thursday of this week, our Black Student Union put on an amazing assembly to honor and celebrate Black History Month. For weeks now, they have been hard at work preparing for this assembly. On Thursday, our student body was treated to songs, poetry, informational slides, and even a trivia game. I also want to thank Hakim Muhammad, our African Drumming teacher and BSU Advisor, for his efforts in coordinating this event. Below are a few pictures from the assembly.

We are excited to share with the community that our Spring musical production of Hadestown is only a few days away. Our performers, tech crew, and teachers have been hard at work preparing for the show. Please take a moment to read through this newsletter to learn more about purchasing tickets and volunteer opportunities. https://secure.smore.com/n/1z9va-da-vinci-presents-hadestown

We are also in need of volunteers for the musical. If you can consider helping out at one of the shows, please click here.

The district shared this message earlier in the week through Remind, but I wanted to double back and share it again. Due to school closures during inclement weather in February, there will be two make-up days added to the 2024-25 school year.

• For Students in Pre-K through Grade 11: Wednesday, June 11, 2025 and Thursday, June 12, 2025 will now be the last two days of school.

We are currently looking for some volunteers to help run and supervise this event. There will be teachers here as well, but any and all help is appreciated! Please review the available spots on the following Sign-Up Genius Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090B4FACA723A7FA7-55425184-davincis If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to our da Vinci Office Staff. Thank you!

Ms. Blair

Like last year, we have set attendance and tardy goals for students to be eligible to attend our school dance, which is on March 20th. Attending events like this are a privilege and we use incentive goals like these to encourage the behaviors that we know help students academically succeed.

In order to be able to attend the dance, students must meet the following between February 20th (last Tuesday) and March 20th (the day of the dance).

• No Stage 2-3 behavior referrals between Feb 20-March 20.
• No more than 10 combined tardies from all classes between Feb 24-March 20. This includes 1st period.
• No unexcused absences. Families, please make sure to update attendance if your students will miss any school.

Any student at-risk of not meeting these expectations will be notified in advance and our attendance team will work with them to develop a plan to help them stay eligible. Families will also be notified. As a reminder, you can check your student's attendance on your ParentVue app.

More details about the dance will come out as we get closer to the 20th.

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.

We need help supporting literary arts at da Vinci.

Due to budget cuts, the PPS print shop closed and we are in need of funding to print materials required to share student writing with the community this year and moving forward.

Annual materials that need printing are the Dragons' Fire Literary Review magazine (which costs $10/copy to print), our Capstone Chapbooks, and other items.

Donation amounts suggested: $5-$50

One of Superintendent Dr. Armstrong’s big initiatives this year is to lift literacy. Please see below for opportunities to participate in this campaign.

The Golden Key Quest (March 2nd - April 2nd)

• 120 Golden Keys are hidden at Literary Arts, Caldera, and Third Eye Books—our three literacy hubs.

• Students who find a Golden Key scan the QR code and win a FREE trip to OMSI with their family on Saturday, April 5th for a literacy celebration with Timber Joey!

Where is Dr. A? + The Bookmobile

Dr. Armstrong will visit select campuses to celebrate literacy with students and staff. K-5 and K-8 schools will receive an email with details about special visits from Dr. A and the Bookmobile.

• Visits will include read-alouds, book giveaways, and a Dance Party to spread the literacy love!

• The Bookmobile will roll into schools with a special collection of books for students to take home.

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. Click here to pay through SchoolPay. 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).

Families of 8th graders: the Yearbook Staff is looking for baby photos of your sweet almost-high schoolers! Ms. Conner sent each 8th grade student a form to fill out, but they may need your help. Deadline is April 3.

We are in need of donations of pencils, facial tissues, wipes and hand sanitizer. If you are able to donate any of these items, please drop them off in the main office.

• VIBE PDX Spring Break & Summer Art & Music Camps (Mar. 3, Mar. 24-28, Jun. 16 - Aug. 29)

• USTA Spring Tennis Afterschool Zone at Maplewood (Apr. 8 - May 13)

• VIBE PDX No-School Youth Sewing Classes (Jan. 27-28, Feb. 17, Mar. 3, Mar. 24-28)

• Cognizart 31st Annual Young Artists Debut! Concert & Showcase (apply by Feb. 24 – Deadline extended again)

• Portland Parks & Rec Teen Force at SW Community Center

• VIBE of Portland Music & Digital Art Classes for Kids

• Portland Parks & Rec Environmental Education Nature Field Trips (flyer for teachers)

Summer Camps:

• VIBE PDX East Winds Band Camp (Jul. 21-25, 2025, recorded audition due Jul. 10)

• Cognizart 360Arts Summer Camps (Jul. 7-11, 14-18, & 21-25, 2025)

OSU Summer Reading Program (Jun. 14 - Aug. 16, 2025)