DaVinci Connection

As we move through the winter months, our school continues to be filled with joyful learning, creativity, and meaningful growth. It has been wonderful to see students engaged in hands-on experiences, celebrations, and opportunities to share their learning. Thank you for your continued partnership and support—your involvement helps make these moments possible and strengthens our school community. Below are just a few highlights from the past few weeks and a preview of the exciting learning ahead.

Kindergarten
Our kindergarten students recently celebrated the 100th day of school! This special milestone provided a fun opportunity for students to explore counting, patterns, and problem solving while reflecting on all they have learned and accomplished during the first 100 days.

First Grade
Our first grade team celebrated the 101st day of school “Dalmatian style” on Thursday, February 19th. Students dressed in black and white polka dots and participated in a full day of Dalmatian-themed learning. The celebration brought math, literacy, and creativity together in a fun and engaging way.

Looking ahead, first grade students are working hard to prepare for Animal Adventure Night. During this month-long unit, each student selects an animal to research and explore. Students are creating research reports, dioramas, art projects, sculptures, science experiments, and musical performances centered around animals and their habitats from around the world. The unit will conclude with a parent art show and music concert where students will proudly share their learning.

Second Grade
Second grade students have been learning about and celebrating the Lunar New Year. This celebration provided opportunities to explore traditions, culture, and global connections while building understanding and appreciation for communities around the world. Students designed their own dragon based on their learning and hosted a dragon parade through our building.

Third Grade
In literacy and science, third grade students have been exploring the wonders of our solar system. As part of their learning, they studied the phases of the moon and even recreated them using Oreos by carefully scraping off the cream to model how sunlight reflects off the moon’s surface. It was a fun and memorable way to deepen their understanding of this concept.
To wrap up the unit, students are now researching a planet of their choice and creating informational reports. They may present their learning through a website, poster, or slideshow. We are excited to see their creativity shine as they share their discoveries.

Fourth Grade

Fourth Grade is gearing up to start the Inventors Fair. It is a fun event where students showcase their creative inventions to solve everyday problems. Each student presents their idea, explaining how it works and why it’s useful. It’s a great opportunity to practice problem-solving, innovation, and presentation skills while celebrating imagination!

Fifth Grade
Fifth grade students had their music concert and art show last week. These events provide opportunities for students to build confidence, showcase their talents, and celebrate their hard work. The team is presently planning a kindness retreat for the 5th grade students for February 26th. This will be a day of collaboration, team building, and character building.

RTI (Response to Intervention)
After winter break, our RTI team took a deep dive into student assessment data to ensure we are meeting learners exactly where they are. Students in reading groups are strengthening phonics and comprehension skills, while math groups are reviewing key concepts and building confidence with foundational math. We are already seeing strong effort and progress and look forward to continued growth in the weeks ahead.

Thank you for your continued support of our students and staff. We are grateful to partner with families as we work together to support each child’s growth, curiosity, and success.

Healthy eating is so important for children. At DaVinci Academy, we work hard to ensure students receive a healthy breakfast and lunch each day to support their developing brains and bodies. Research shows that children who eat regular, nutritious meals are more likely to attend school and be engaged in learning.

We are excited to partner with Every Meal to offer a free weekend meal program to all our students.

Every Meal is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to fight child hunger through community and school partnerships. They strive to make a difference in children’s lives by focusing on food gaps like weekends, school breaks, and summer when they can’t receive food in school.

• Free for all families

• No qualifications required

• Students enrolled in the program will receive a 4-5 pound bag of nutritious, nonperishable food each week

• Every Meal does not collect information from families; privacy is protected

• Families may choose to participate in the program anytime throughout the

school year

• Families may choose from a variety of different weekend food bag options

To enroll in the Every Meal program, please use the link provided below:

Enroll Here

Please contact Diana Muske with any questions or for more information

Diana Muske

Licensed School Counselor

(O) 763-754-6577, ext 1310

dmuske@davincicharterschool.org

As we move towards spring, the days are getting longer and the temperatures are slowly warming; however, Minnesota weather can still be unpredictable! Please continue sending students to school dressed appropriately for outdoor recess.

At this time of year, layers are especially helpful. Students should still come prepared with:

• Jackets

• Snow pants

• Boots

• Hats

• Gloves or mittens

Even on milder days, playground surfaces can be wet, snowy, or muddy. Proper gear helps keep students warm, dry, and comfortable so they can fully enjoy outdoor play.

We are not able to provide spare winter gear this year, secondary to an increase in lice cases this year, so we are discouraging the use of items from the Lost and Found. Sending the appropriate clothing each day helps prevent unnecessary discomfort for your student(s).

Bumps, Scrapes, and Playground Injuries

With outdoor play comes the occasional bump, bruise, or scrape. Recess is an important part of the school day, and minor injuries are a normal part of active play.

When a student is injured at recess, the Health Office carefully assesses the situation and provides first aid as needed. This may include: cleaning scrapes, applying ice packs, applying bandages, and etcetera.

Families will be contacted about their student’s injury if:

• The Health Office feels your student needs further medical evaluation

• There was a head injury with concerning symptoms

• The injury limits movement or the student is unable to bear weight

• A higher level of care is needed

Please know that if we ever have concerns beyond routine first aid, we will contact you. Our goal is to keep students safe, while also allowing them to remain in class whenever appropriate. Please also use this as a reminder to have a discussion with your student(s) about making safe choices with their body at recess.

Thank you for partnering with us to ensure your student(s) are dressed appropriately and ready for active outdoor learning. Fresh air and movement are wonderful for growing bodies and minds, and together, we can make sure that students enjoy recess safely and comfortably this spring.

Cassie Johnson, BSN, RH, PHN

School Nurse

Office: (763) 754-6577, ext. 1110

cjohnson@davincicharterschool.org