Seniors! Scholarship opportunity!
Check out the scholarship available through the ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY, INC. – SIGMA ETA ZETA CHAPTER. Please click on the link and then “scholarships”, or CLICK HERE to access the form to fill out directly.
Connect High Newsletter and Exhibition Nights!
Please click here for the latest Connect HS Newsletter.
A big thank you to all our Freshman and Sophomores that shared their Exhibition Projects! Thank you to Connect High staff, they have done an amazing job in fostering curiosity and a desire to learn (even if the lesson comes by way of a mistake) in our students!
Please join us on Monday, December 18, 2023 from 5:00-6:30 pm for the 11th Grade Exhibition. Engage with diverse student projects, including English 11 Honors’ exploration of themes from “Interstellar,” ASU English 11’s writing portfolios, ASU Psychology 11’s insights on stress and anxiety, and ASU Biology 11’s immersive Water Cycle exhibit.
We also have videos of our Pre-calculus students group sales pitches on a new coaster they designed for the theme park of their choice. Team Portfolios are included with all student work and the process to make this design possible.
Announcements from Real World Learning Director (12.14.2023)
Please see four exciting Real World Learning opportunities below:
Bank of America’s Student Leaders Program
Deadline to apply: January 17, 2024
Through Student Leaders®, Bank of America recognizes high school students who lead and serve in their communities and beyond. They connect Student Leaders to tools and resources to help make communities better. Student Leaders work as paid interns at a local nonprofit for eight weeks, attend the weeklong Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., develop leadership and career skills, and connect with like-minded students from their community and across the country. Click here for more information.
Summer High School Intensive in Next-Generation Engineering (SHINE)
Presented by USC Vertibi School of Engineering
Application Deadline: February 16, 2024
At USC Viterbi’s Summer High School Intensive in Next-Generation Engineering (SHINE) students can join a USC Viterbi professor’s research team for seven weeks to discover how engineering addresses our real world problems in various fields including biomedicine, robotics, aerospace and more. Each student works with an assigned professor as well mentor (Ph.D. student or post-doctoral researcher) dedicated to training that student in experimental lab work or computational research – learning by doing not by studying. Scholarships are available for qualifying students.
Kollab Youth’s Winter 2024 Session
Deadline to apply: Monday, January 22, 2024
Low-income and underserved teens (ages 14 to 19 years old) can apply for Kollab Youth’s Winter 2024 Workforce Development Program beginning February 5th to April 5th. Kollab program helps young people explore career opportunities in business, STEM, and other careers that are high-growth and high-wage jobs. Kollab Youth is a registered Pre-Apprentice Program with the State of California! Youths can receive a certificate from the State of California for completing the program. To learn more, click here.
Iron Mountain Entertainment Services Scholarship
Presented by 1500 Sound Academy in Inglewood
Deadline to apply: December 22, 2023
Iron Mountain is giving away two on-campus scholarships to work with world-renowned producers. The recipients can select from Music and Industry Fundamentals, DJ Fundamentals, or the New Vocal Performace and Production Fundamentals program. To learn more, click here.
Attention Seniors! Important college and financial aid info below!
As you may know, November 30th was the application deadline for UC applications and most CSU applications. However, there are a number of CSU campuses that are continuing to accept applications and a list can be found here. Students can also apply to UC Merced until January 15, 2024.
Other highlights:
- Community College: applications are open! Most students who have El Camino College on their college list completed their application during their advisory class. In the spring, we will take prospective seniors to El Camino College to help them complete the enrollment process. If you haven’t finished filling it out and/or need help, please see Erin!
- Private Universities: Many seniors submitted their applications during the months of November and December. Some seniors are still working through their private university applications via the Common App. and will continue to do so until early 2nd semester for those universities that have a later deadlines.
- University Portals: Once applications are submitted, many universities will require students to create a portal. Portals are the main method of communication for many universities. Please encourage your student to keep a close eye on their email, including spam, to access important information from prospective universities.
Financial Aid Update:
The Department of Education just announced that the FAFSA will be available by December 31, 2023. We encourage you to create an FSA ID, which allows you to digitally sign the FAFSA, prior to the launch. Both student and at least one parent need FSA IDs. Financial aid updates and resources are below:
- Create an FSA ID – it takes 2-3 to process so creating one now will allow you to start the FAFSA when it opens
- Changes to the FAFSA (video)
- The California Student Aid Commission announced that the California Dream Act Application (CADAA), financial aid application for undocumented students, will be launch at the same time as the FAFSA.
- Complete the CSS Profile, if applicable. The CSS Profile is used by private universities. Here is the list for participating schools. Please check each university’s financial aid website for CSS and FAFSA deadlines as they vary. Ex: USC requires students/families to submit CSS profile.
- Below is a list of scholarships with upcoming deadlines, please check the blog regularly as scholarships are posted here when avaialble:
- Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship – due 12/15/23
- Edison Scholars – due 1/23/24
- Equitable Excellence Scholarship Program– due 12/18/23
- Here are some scholarship databases to search on your own:
Deadlines for FAFSA/CADAA:
- University of California: March 2, 2024
- Cal State University: April 2, 2024
- Private Universities: Check each university site as deadlines vary
We know there are a lot of updates and we are here to help! Please don’t hesitate to reach out for support.
Announcements from Real World Learning Director (12.8.2023)
The University of California Irvine Brain Camp is a summer program for middle and high school students that offers an opportunity for immersion in neuroscience. The 2-week full-day camp (9am-4pm) will feature lectures and seminars, workshops, laboratory tours, dissections and other hands-on activities and experiments. 2024 Brain Camp dates are Monday-Friday July 29-August 9. Limited scholarships available.
- Explore topics such as:
- Brain and spinal cord anatomy
- Sensation and perception
- Learning and memory
- Brain-machine interface
- Neuropathology
- Neuropharmacology
- Comparative neuroanatomy
- Participate in hands-on laboratory work to explore the latest tools, techniques and technologies that are used in neuroscience laboratories at UC Irvine including:
- Electrophysiology
- Brain Imaging
- Animal models
- Optogenetics
- DREADDs
- Participate in workshops on topics such as:
- Experimental design
- Data analysis
- Scientific Communication and public speaking
- Neuroethics
- Interact with world-renowned neuroscience professors, PhD students and undergraduates to gain insight into college life and the possible careers in neuroscience.
- Develop the tools and skills necessary for success in college coursework.
During the second week of the program, students will design experiments, analyze data and present their work to their families as well as to an audience of UC Irvine neuroscience faculty and students. To learn more, please click here.
Learn more about amazing RWL Opportunities here!
For more information, please contact Crissel Rodriguez, Director of Real World Learning, at crodriguez@davincischools.org.
USC Summer Programs (Summer 2024)
Application for High School Programs
The online application for the USC Summer 2024 Program is NOW OPEN!
USC Summer Programs offers current high school freshmen, sophomore and junior students a preview of “freshmen year” through their college immersion experience. Students explore Los Angeles as a laboratory for cultural learning beyond the traditional classroom. Their programs are designed to combine college level course work, academic field trips, and structured extracurricular activities.
USC Summer Programs offers 4-week courses in a variety of subjects from which students choose one course for intense study. Courses are interactive, engaging, and challenging, and students receive 3 units of transferrable USC elective credit upon successful completion. Students can choose from courses in the following subject areas:
- Architecture
- Business
- Engineering & Info Tech
- Global Studies
- Communication & Journalism
- Performing Arts
- Pre-Health/Science
- Pre-Law
- Writing & Critical Thinking.
To find out more about the program, visit the USC Summer Program website HERE.
RSVP As A Vendor For The DV Staff Health and Wellness Fair- Jan. 12th
Dear Da Vinci Community,
We are excited to host our first annual Da Vinci Staff Health and Wellness Fair on Friday, January 12th, 2024. We are looking for additional vendors and we’re reaching out to our Da Vinci community for businesses that would like to participate.
Participating in the Health and Wellness Fair is an opportunity for your business to connect with our dedicated staff members, showcase your products or services, and contribute to the overall well-being of our school community. Whether you offer fitness classes, nutritional products, wellness consultations, or any other health-related services, your involvement can make a meaningful impact. We welcome your creativity and input to tailor your involvement to best suit your business.
Event Details:
Date: Friday, January 12th, 2024
Time: 1pm-3pm
Location: Blackbox Theater
201 N. Douglas St. El Segundo, CA 90245
Da Vinci will provide tables and chairs for participants upon RSVP. Reserve your booth today at no cost by emailing Debbie Evans at devans@davincischools.org.
Sincerely,
Da Vinci Wellness Committee
Attention Seniors! Some CSU campuses have extended their deadline to submit an application!
Attention Seniors! While the most competitive CSU campus deadline to submit an application for Fall 2024 admission has passed on Nov. 30 (ex: CSU Long Beach, CSU Fullerton, San Jose State to name a few), some of the CSUs have decided to extend their deadlines past Nov. 30! CSUs like Cal State Northridge, CSU Dominguez Hills, CSU Channel Islands, CSU East Bay (to name a few) have new deadlines of mid-January, and some end of January. Please CLICK HERE for a complete list of CSU campuses that are offering extended deadlines. Please note- some campuses’ extended deadlines are only open to certain majors. Please click on the link above to view this info, as well. See Erin if you have any questions!
Announcements from Real World Learning Director (12.6.2023)
Hello Da Vinci Families,
We hope you are all enjoying the fall season! As we continue striving to support all our students to reach their goals beyond high school, we are excited to learn more about the real-world impact our school is having on your lives.
During this semester, our school blogs have been promoting exciting real-world experiences, from eye-opening career events to connecting students to inspiring people. We want to capture the essence of these moments and celebrate the impact they have on our community.
How Can You Contribute?
We invite you to share your personal photos, quotes, anecdotes, or stories related to the real-world experiences we’ve highlighted on our announcements. Your contributions will not only help us create a more vibrant and connected community but also showcase the unique and valuable experiences our school provides.
What to Share:
- Memorable photos from school events or outings.
- Quotes or reflections from your child about their favorite experiences.
- Anecdotes or stories that highlight the positive impact of our real-world learning initiatives.
How to Submit:
- Email your contributions to crodriguez@davincischools.org or text them to 424-209-7683.
- Include your child’s name, Da Vinci School, grade, and a brief description with each submission.
- Feel free to share as much or as little as you’d like – every contribution is valued!
Deadline for Submissions: Friday, December 15
We look forward to seeing the world through your eyes and sharing these moments with our extended Da Vinci family!
Dia de los Muertos ofrenda- please claim your items!
Thank you to everyone who participated in honoring their loved ones, and adding cempasúchil (marigolds) and offerings to the ofrenda for Día de los Muertos! A special thank you to Senior Aaron Diaz and his mom, Abril, for providing the altar and decorations! Lauren has saved the written names, photos, and other added elements — if you are interested in claiming them, please find her to get them back. ¡Muchas gracias de nuevo!