DaVinci Connection

Greetings DaVinci Academy Families,

What a beautiful day to enter into our Spring Break. I always take time to reflect on the student growth I have seen throughout the year as the weather begins to shift in March. I have marveled at the academic and personal growth of all of our DaVinci Academy students. I took time today to connect with some students and the kindness and generosity they showed was uplifting. I hope you can relax and enjoy the time with your families over Spring Break.

Please also take some time to ask your children about the successes they have felt this year and then celebrate them! The remainder of the year will go by fast. At DVA, we will continue to support and cheer for your children until the very last school bell rings on the 24’-25’ school year. Thank you all for your continued support and for sharing your children with us each day.

Antonio Kuklok

Executive Director

We have great news to share! A couple of years ago, a team of DaVinci staff began participating in a PBIS initiative offered by the Minnesota Department of Education. This initiative is known as the Positive Behavior Interventions and Support Initiative, or PBIS. Recently, this team completed the required PBIS training, and we want to celebrate all of their accomplishments.

Other PBIS team members include Jenny Ryan, Karen Howell, and Diana Muske. Again, we celebrate their huge accomplishment and thought this would be a great time to review with our families what PBIS is, and how it helps our students. We also would like to provide a resource for how families can also support PBIS.

PBIS is a well-researched approach for creating safer and more effective schools. Although it is a systematic approach with all grades, the program still allows schools to design, implement, and evaluate in ways that make sense to those utilizing the program.

This is how it works. Students are taught how to behave in different parts of the building. For example, how should students behave when walking down the hallway? Teachers would discuss this with students and even model the expected behavior. There are signs and pictures reminding students of these expected behaviors. If a student is seen demonstrating a specific behavior they may receive a SPARK ticket. Once we have enough SPARK tickets then students may earn prizes or rewards. Teachers also discuss with students the behavior expectations in the cafeteria, in the restroom, in classrooms, in the gym, and on the playground. As part of our approach, teachers are constantly teaching and reteaching skills so that students can become successful with their behaviors. We can use data to see where students struggle the most. For example, if our data shows we have the most concerns in the hallway we can create incentives for having proper behavior in that area.

We love partnering with our DaVinci families. We have included a resource link we hope you find helpful: Supporting our Families with Parent Resource

Have a great Spring Break,

Dr. Jessica Murphy

Dr. Rick Halley

Thank you for completing our first survey. The follow-up survey below collects more details to help our school board determine school start times. DVA can offer a 7:30 a.m. drop-off time in both scenarios (pre-scheduled, with no drop-in care, to ensure proper staffing).

We are exploring earlier bus routes, but nothing has been confirmed. As of now, bus routes may be delayed by 10–15 minutes, so please keep this in mind when completing the survey.

Providing consistent time for regular teacher collaboration is essential for sharing best practices, aligning curriculum, and organizing student support—all of which enhance learning and improve student outcomes.

A big “THANK YOU” to all the families who visited Pizza Hut for February’s DaVinner! We made nearly $500 that will be used to support teacher’s classroom requests and future PTO-sponsored

events.

DaVinner’s will pause in March due to the Gerten’s fundraiser but stay tuned for another

amazing restaurant choice in April.

Mark your calendars! Due to the huge success of the recent Cheap Skate community nights, we have booked the second Tuesday of each month for the rest of the school year.

April 8, May 13, and June 10, From 5:00-7:30 pm!! All DaVinici families are welcome to join in for a night of skating and fun.

When you purchase your tickets online, 100% of the proceeds go directly to the PTO! The admission fee is $7.75, skate rental is extra. You may purchase your tickets here: Buy Tickets

The Gerten’s Spring Plant Sale is in full swing! This is a fantastic opportunity to refresh your garden while supporting DaVinci Academy. 30% of plant sales and 15% of gift card sales go directly to the PTO.

Order online now using Store ID: 968

The deadline to order is March 31. Don’t wait; popular items do sell out fast. Orders will be ready for pick up on May 5 at DaVinici, just in time for Mother’s Day!

📅 Friday, April 4

📍 DaVinci Academy
⏰ 6:30–8:30 PM

The PTO is hosting a party for all 6th–8th grade students, and this year’s theme is…

🎉 Blast from the Past! 🎉

Get ready for a decades-themed celebration with music, games, and fun inspired by the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 00s!

Enjoy a DJ in the gym, games, henna, concessions, and more!
Students are encouraged to dress in their favorite decade style.

How to Participate:

✅ Sign up through Infinite Campus (School Store > Middle School Party) by March 28 and pay the $5 entry fee.

• Includes one free pizza slice and a drink! Additional snacks and drinks will be available for purchase.
  ✅ Print, Review, and Sign the attached Code of Conduct and return it to Ms. Paumen in Room 325 by March 28. Students will not be able to attend without turning in a signed code of conduct.

Don't miss out on this blast from the past—it's going to be groovy, rad, and totally awesome!

Mark your calendars for a fun day on the course at DaVinci Academy’s Spring Golf Scramble! Gather your team and join us for a great day of golf - all to support our awesome school.

📅 Friday, May 16, 2025
⛳ Refuge Golf Course
🏌️ Noon Start

Stay tuned for more details on registration—we can't wait to see you there!

Each March, we celebrate National Nutrition Month® by promoting the importance of making informed food choices and developing healthier eating and physical activity habits.

This year, the National Nutrition Month® theme is “Food Connects Us.” Food is a connecting factor for everyone. It strengthens our bonds socially, economically, and culturally. Food is like a language that we all can understand. Food is much more than just a source of nourishment for survival, it connects all of us regardless of background, culture, or language. Food helps us feel connected whether it’s from a memory of a family/friend gathering, or experiencing a new cuisine, or volunteering at food assistance programs within our communities to help those experiencing food insecurity.

Here are some ways to celebrate how - “Food Connects Us” socially:

• Host a potluck with family or friends

• Volunteer to help with community dinners at local food banks or soup kitchens

• Start new food traditions with family or friends

• Connect with local food providers from grocery stores, community agencies, or farmers

Food also connects us economically by creating jobs in agriculture and food distribution. These connections can make us think about how the workers in food production, processing, and distribution collaborate to nourish each of us daily.

The character trait highlighted for March is COOPERATION, which means working together to accomplish a goal.

As parents, you’re in a great position to teach your kids the power of working together. When

students learn to share ideas, support others, and work toward common goals, they’re building strong relationships and valuable life skills. Cooperation helps kids develop empathy, respect, and trust, making them feel connected and valued in their friendships and school activities.

By encouraging teamwork at home—whether it’s sharing chores or solving problems together—you’re helping your child grow more confident in group settings. They’ll learn to communicate, navigate differences, and contribute to the success of a team. These skills will serve them well, both in school and in the future, where teamwork is key to success in nearly every area of life.

We’re excited to announce our upcoming Elementary School Career Fair as we welcome spring!

This event will give K-5 students the chance to explore diverse careers and connect with professionals in our community. It promises to be an inspiring and engaging experience!

If you or someone you know is interested in sharing your career journey with our students, we’d love to hear from you. Please complete this brief survey by Friday, March 14th.

Thank you for helping to inspire and enrich our students’ learning!

Warmest regards,

Ms. Phoenix Hathaway, MA, LSC
Elementary School Counselor, K-4
phathaway@davincicharterschool.org
763-754-6577 ext. 1203