Saturday 10/4 & 10/25! USC Troy Philippines Club is hosting a college info event on USC’s campus!
RSVP: Fall 2025 USC Outreach Workshops
Please fill out the following form below to ensure your spot in each of our workshops, and be added to our email list for future events. This form will close on October 1st, 2025, at noon.
Workshop #1: October 4th, 10am-1pm
Campus tour of USC and speak with current students during a live Q and A session
Workshop #2: October 25th, 10am-1pm
College essay Q and A with USC Assistant Director of Admissions, College Essay Review Workshop (seniors), How to prepare for college and make a college list (freshman-juniors)
Parents and family members are welcome to attend all events. More information will be provided via email.
We will meet in the USC Village where our Troy Philippines members will be holding a Filipino flag.
Address of the USC village: 3301 S Hoover St, Los Angeles, CA 90007
You can find more information on our website!
🚀 Path to College & Careers – Weekly Update
Scholarships – Week of September 22
Senior_Weekly_College_Career_Update_Sept22 (1)
Dear Seniors & Families,
Here is your Senior Weekly College & Career Update for the week of September 22nd. Each week, I will share:
📎 Scholarship opportunities (PDF attached)
🎓 College planning tips & reminders
🌟 Career exploration resources
Please review this week’s newsletter (attached) and take advantage of the opportunities that fit your goals. Staying consistent with applications, deadlines, and exploration will make this senior year a strong foundation for your next steps.
If you have any questions or need support, please feel free to reach out. I am here to guide you through this exciting journey.
Best,
Kene
Good news! The 2026–27 FAFSA has launched
The Department of Education (ED) officially launched the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2026–27 academic year a week early. The launch came after a successful beta testing period in August.
What does this mean for your students?
Earlier access: Students and families can complete the form now, giving them earlier access to financial aid information.
Positive feedback: Beta testing yielded strong results, with 97% of users satisfied and 90% reporting a reasonable completion time. We anticipate a smooth and effective start to the new application cycle.
Challenges for mixed-status families: ED has not yet provided a permanent solution to identity verification issues, which continues to pose a challenge for these families when attempting to file the FAFSA and privacy concerns.
The 2026–27 CADAA opens October 1!
The California Dream Act Application (CADAA) opens on October 1.
The CADAA is available to eligible undocumented Californians and mixed status families. While the CADAA provides access to state and institutional aid, students who file only the CADAA are not eligible for federal financial aid dollars.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me Kene Washington – kwashington@davincischools.org and/or (310) 725-5800 ext 7013.
Come Meet Our Campus Safety Team! (Sept. 30)
At Da Vinci Schools, the safety and well-being of our students and staff are our top priority. We are fortunate to have a dedicated Safety Team as well as School Resource Officers (SROs) who work closely with our school communities to ensure a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment for all.
Our safety professionals are trusted partners who build positive relationships with students, staff, and families. They provide guidance, mentorship, and resources, while fostering a culture of respect and responsibility.
We invite students and families from all Da Vinci schools to join us for this special event to meet members of our Campus Safety Team and learn more about the important role they play in supporting our students every day. This is a great opportunity to get to know our team, hear about their training and responsibilities, ask questions, and learn about future campus safety initiatives.
📅 WHAT: Community Q&A with our Safety Team and School Resource Officers
🕕 WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 30 | 5:00 – 7:00 PM
📍 WHERE: The Skybox, WDV Gym, 201 N. Douglas St.
Come enjoy a coffee or cold beverage with us. We look forward to seeing you there!
PSAT Seats for 10th Grade Students!
There are available seats for 10th grade students to take the PSAT at Connect High School this Fall. Seats are limited and being offered to current sophomores on a first come first serve basis. Please click HERE to fill out the Google form to reserve your spot to take the PSAT!
When: Wednesday October 29th
Where: Connect HS campus, 8am-11:30am
Any Sophomore who wishes to take the PSAT MUST fill out the Google form. To access the Google form, students MUST be logged into and use their DV student email address to submit. No outside email address will be allowed.
Cal Grant Information for Seniors and Families
Hello Seniors and Families,
As you prepare for the college application process, many of you will also be applying for financial aid. One of the funding opportunities available to California students is the Cal Grant—a state grant that helps pay for college and does not need to be repaid.
The Cal Grant can be used at:
University of California (UC) campuses
California State Universities (CSUs)
California Community Colleges
Qualifying independent (private) universities and career or technical schools in California
How to Qualify
To be considered for a Cal Grant, students must:
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA)
Meet financial and eligibility requirements
Meet minimum GPA requirements
Be a recent high school graduate
List California colleges on the FAFSA or CADAA
For full details, please visit http://www.calgrants.org.
GPA Submission Requirement
Da Vinci Connect High School is required to submit students’ verified GPAs to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC). This information is used to determine Cal Grant eligibility.
By law, families have the option to opt out of this process. Please note:
If you submit an Opt-Out Form, your student’s GPA will not be submitted, and they will not be eligible for the Cal Grant.
If you do not submit an Opt-Out Form, Connect High School will send your student’s GPA to CSAC automatically.
Important Deadline
If you wish to opt out, please complete the Cal Grant GPA Opt-Out Form and return it to Kene Washington at kwashington@davincischools.org before Friday, September 26, 2025.
Click here http://Cal Grant GPA Opt-Out Form
Free On-Campus Eye Exams and Glasses (Oct. 9-10)
Da Vinci Schools is partnering with VSP Vision to provide free eye exams and glasses to eligible Da Vinci students who have no vision insurance or face barriers to accessing vision care. The mobile eye care clinic will be on-site Oct. 9–10 at Da Vinci’s 201 N. Douglas St. campus, offering students (ages 5 and up) convenient, no-cost access to eye exams and eyewear. In most cases, glasses can be picked up the same day. Each appointment is approximately 45 minutes.
Pre-screening with our health team is required. Please email to receive more information and the sign-up link. No walk-ins allowed.
Communications, Design, Science: TLucero@davincischools.org
Connect, RISE: Egreen@davincischools.org
FAFSA Information Meeting & LifeLaunch – Tonight at 5pm
Hi Seniors & Families!
Join us for FAFSA Night, tonight at 5:00 pm (Zoom). This workshop will guide you step-by-step through FAFSA, share updates for the 2025–2026 school year, and answer your financial aid questions.
Special Kickoff: The LifeLaunch program will open the meeting, sharing free college & career pathways in healthcare, aviation, and business for graduating seniors.
Why Attend FAFSA Night?
Learn FAFSA basics & why it’s required
Get 2025–2026 updates (simplified app, new rules)
Review documents you’ll need
Hear key deadlines (March 2, 2025 CA priority)
Avoid common mistakes
Event Details:
Monday, Sept. 22
5:00 PM
Zoom: https://davincischools-org.zoom.us/j/94483101479?pwd=hko1JxaE7Le1fMGqJDPBZHYOuFy3oW.1
Meeting ID: 944 8310 1479 | Passcode: 256439
Who Should Attend: Seniors + Parents/Guardians
Path to College & Careers – Weekly Update
Senior_Weekly_Update_Sept15_2025
Seniors & Families,
Here is your Senior Weekly College & Career Update for the week of September 15th. Each week, I will share:
📎 Scholarship opportunities (PDF attached)
🎓 College planning tips & reminders
🌟 Career exploration resources
Please review this week’s newsletter (attached) and take advantage of the opportunities that fit your goals. Staying consistent with applications, deadlines, and exploration will make this senior year a strong foundation for your next steps.
If you have any questions or need support, please feel free to reach out.
Best regards,
Kene