Saturday 10/4 & 10/25! USC Troy Philippines Club is hosting a college info event on USC’s campus!
Campus tour of USC and speak with current students during a live Q and A session
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)
🚀 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.