DaVinci Connection

Happy Fall, DaVinci Academy families!

We are finally into October, and yet it seems the weather is a bit confused. I hope you are finding some time to soak up the extra warmth we have been gifted with. As we near fall break and conferences, I want to acknowledge the astounding work our teachers and support staff do at DaVinci every day. Though a lot of the work with your children is done behind the scenes, I have the unique opportunity to see our amazing educators in action each and every day. I can tell you, they are moving mountains and setting high expectations to ensure your children are able to navigate our ever-changing world.

As your child’s first teacher, you play an instrumental part in the educational process. We appreciate partnering with you to ensure your children grow, learn, and thrive. We always welcome open, honest, and kind conversations with our families. When you have questions about something that may have occurred at school, please reach out to our teachers to learn what occurred, and we also ask that you presume positive intent. We may not always see eye-to-eye, but having a respectful conversation about a situation strengthens the family-school partnership and ensures DaVinci students feel support both at school and home. We are a team, and we all do better when we all grow together.

We are eager to continue to learn and grow alongside your children and you, as their caregivers. Thank you for entrusting us with the responsibility to educate your children. We do not take the charge lightly, and we are here to support both you and them.

My Best,

Antonio Kuklok - Executive Director

🐉✨ At DaVinci Academy, learning is personal!

With a unique focus on arts, sciences, and individualized instruction, we’re helping students grow into confident, successful adults. 🎨🔬📚

As a public charter school, we don’t receive the same levy funding as traditional public schools. That’s why grants, donations, and fundraising are so important in keeping our programs thriving.

We’re proud to be a fiscally responsible 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and every contribution makes a big difference in helping us continue to raise the bar for our students. 🌟

Please help our school by sharing MyBooster.com through email, text and on social media! Every dollar makes a difference!

Happy Fall DaVinci Families,

As we move into the colder months, it’s essential to make sure our students are prepared and protected, both in terms of health and comfort. In order to keep our school environment safe and healthy for all, we’d like to remind you of two important steps you can take to support your student’s well-being during this time.

1. Ensure Immunizations are Up-to-Date

• The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) requires all school-aged children who are enrolled in school to be immunized or to provide documentation of conscientious objection or medical exemption. Reviews of records have been ongoing, and if your student is missing immunizations, you have been contacted to complete this part of their record.

• Law §121A.15 states that for your student to remain enrolled within school, the school must receive proof of immunizations, objection, or exemption. If your student will be objecting to or exempt from one or more immunizations, they must be selected on the MDH Immunization form, which can be found on the school website. Please note that these forms must be signed and notarized.

• Immunizations, objections, or medical exemptions are due Thursday, November 20, 2025. If they are not completed by this deadline, your student may not be eligible to participate in school until documentation is received.

1. Solutions for Dry Skin and Chapped Lips

• The cold weather can bring dry skin and chapped lips, making students uncomfortable during the school day. To help alleviate this, we recommend sending your child to school with lotion and chapstick in their backpack. These small items can make a big difference in keeping them comfortable and focused on learning throughout the day.

If you have any questions, please contact the Health Office at (763) 754-6577, extension 1110.

Thank you,

Cassie Johnson, RN

School Nurse

cjohnson@davincicharterschool.org

Office: (763) 754-6577, Extension 1110

The Equity Team is collecting gently used or new winter clothing for our families and students. We are looking for jackets, hats, gloves, boots, socks, blankets, and snow pants. Any extra items will be donated to local shelters.

Drop-off dates: October 6 until Fall Conferences
Where: Bin in the front office or send with your student to Mrs. Sweeney or Ms. Bierbrauer

Please note: We are no longer accepting uniforms as our storage is full.

Don't forget about our Community Closet!
Families can request clothing, shoes, school supplies, and hygiene items at any time, no questions asked. Donations are always welcome through our Amazon Wishlist or by dropping off items at the school.

If your family has a need, fill out our form: https://forms.gle/nDnBPPaUaJmvozSm8.

If you would like to donate to the community closet, check out our Amazon wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/dl/invite/4sygi8f?ref_=wl_share

Reach out to Mrs. Sweeney or Ms. Bierbrauer with any questions!

ssweeney@davincicharterschool.org , hbierbrauer@davincicharterschool.org

DaVinci Academy is committed to creating a safe and respectful environment for every student. October is National Bullying Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness and work together as a community to prevent bullying. Families play an important role in helping children recognize, respond to, and report bullying behaviors.

How Parents Can Help:

• Recognize the signs: Watch for sudden changes in your child’s mood, behavior, or friendships. Reluctance to go to school, frequent headaches / stomachaches, or withdrawing from activities can be warning signs.
  
  

• Know how to report: Remind your child that if they experience or witness bullying, they can tell you, a teacher, or another trusted adult at school right away. Together, we can ensure concerns are addressed quickly and appropriately.

• Encourage upstander behavior: Teach your child to stand up for others in a safe and respectful way—by speaking up, offering support to peers who are targeted, or getting help from an adult.
  
  

Understand the Difference:

• Rude behavior is unintentional and may hurt someone’s feelings (e.g., thoughtless comments or poor manners).
  
  

• Mean behavior is intentional but usually happens once or twice in the heat of the moment (e.g., saying something hurtful out of anger).
  
  

• Bullying is different—it involves repeated, intentional behavior meant to harm, embarrass, or intimidate, and often includes a power imbalance.
  
  

By talking openly with your child about these differences, you help them build up the knowledge, skills, and courage to speak up.

If you feel your student may be experiencing bullying behavior, please reach out to Mr. Anders Lundahl, Dean of Students, or Dr. Trish Harvey, Assistant Principal. Davinci Academy takes these reports very seriously, to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all of our students.

Thank you for partnering with us to ensure our students feel safe, supported, and respected at school.

October DaVinner:

Join us on October 21 st from 4-8pm at Dave’s Hot Chicken in Coon Rapids (3574 Main

St). You must mention DaVinci Academy at the register when ordering for the PTO to

receive 20% of the sales. For added convenience, you may also order online at

order.daveshotchicken.com using this digital coupon.

CheapSkate:

Lace up those skates and join us on October 14 th for a night of fun, family, and community.

Tuesday, October 14 th

-5:00 PM – 7:30 PM

-Cheap Skate – Coon Rapids, MN

-$7.75 admission (skate rental extra)

100% of online ticket sales go directly to the PTO! Tickets must be purchased online

before the event to support the school. Plus, if you skate on any Tuesday and

mention “DaVinci Academy,” the PTO earns an extra 15% of admission sales.

A few reminders:

Please review Cheap Skate’s Admission & Rink Policies before attending.

Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian (no drop-offs)

Middle School Career Exploration Fair:

The PTO is thrilled to announce the Middle School Career Exploration Fair on

December 2nd. The event is designed to inspire and guide our Middle School students

in exploring a wide range of career paths. This is a valuable opportunity for students to

learn firsthand from professionals in various fields, both traditional and non-traditional.

Students will gain insight into day-to-day job activities and see how their classroom

learning connects to real-world careers.

We are seeking professionals from diverse industries who are passionate about sharing

their career journeys with our students. For planning purposes, this is a daylong event.

If you or someone you know would love to participate, please complete the registration

form at: http://tinyurl.com/DVACareerFair

For more information, send an email to: pto@davinchicharterschool.org.

Next Meeting:

Join us for our next PTO meeting on October 27th at 4:30 PM in Ms. Seversons room 304

Discover all the exciting details about our upcoming Butter Braid and Pizza

fundraiser kicking off in November and explore how you can get involved with our next

big event. Your participation, big or small, can make a big difference!

Hope to see you there!