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da Vinci Arts
2508 NE Everett St.Portland, OR 97232
Phone: 503-916-5356
Fax: 503-916-2721
E-mail: ebergman@pps.k12.or.us
School-created web pages: http://www.davinci.pps.k12.or.us/
School-brochure: http://www.pps.k12.or.us/schools-c/profiles/brochure/da Vinci.pdf
Grade levels: 6-8 MS
Enrollment: Enrollment by Application
Principal: Eric Bergmann
Student Enrollment: 450
About:
Da Vinci Arts Middle School opened its doors in 1996. Founded by parents, one of its basic goals is to expand opportunities for students to use the arts as a means of expression, discovery, invention and reflection. Da Vinci earned an "exceptional" rating on its 2006–07 state report card, which measures academic achievement and attendance. Da Vinci is not a "neighborhood" school but draws its students from throughout the district. All students that want to attend need to apply through a three-step process. Students who complete this process are placed in a lottery for entrance to the school. For process details see the Admissions page on our school created website. Our school day runs from 8:15 to 2:45. Families need to provide their own transportation.
Focus options: da Vinci is a visual and performing arts focused school.
Information Sessions: Visit the Admissions Page of our web site for dates and times.
Before and after school programs
- Coed volleyball team (fall), boys\' and girls\' basketball teams (winter). Both are coached by parents and organized through the Portland Parks department.
- French and Spanish instruction (fee based).
- Occasional art classes taught by community members, staff and parents. Sometimes a fee is assessed. Currently we offer Animation, Computer Game Making, Yoga, Jazz Ensemble, and the da Vinci garage band, Trogdor.
- After school clubs include Rock Climbing, Geography Club and a Book group.
- The library is open after school for student use. Math teachers provide small group help a few days each week after school, as well.
- Performance rehearsals for plays and dance concerts are often held after school.
Community partnerships
- Advanced level dance students participate in classes at Oregon Ballet Theater once a week.
- An annual Arts Fair is held each December to benefit the school and artists in the community.
- Our Water Garden and Rose Garden are maintianed with the help of friends and neighbors.
Student learning environment
- The student body comprises 450 arts-interested or arts-focused students from throughout the district.
- Art curriculum is valued on an equal footing with coreacademic subjects.
- Mixed-age classes support goals of individual learning growth.
- Respect of self and peers is emphasized.
- Students are expected to work both independently andcooperatively with other students.
Curriculum components
- All classes at da Vinci are mixed age; 6th, 7th and 8th grade students are together in the same class.
- Our program offers a challenging arts-infused academic curriculum and specialized arts instruction. Students spend two periods in arts electives each day.
- Subjects covered in language arts/social studies blocks include: reading, writing and social studies.
- Our math program offers leveled math classes that range from 6th grade general math through high school level geometry.
- Taught by science specialists, our science curriculum offers hands-on lab work with high expectations for each student. Health curriculum is taught in science class, as well.
- All students meet their PE requirement in dance class. They can take a 12-week class (one trimester) or a 36-week class (full year). Four levels of dance classes are offered for full-year students. These classes are a mix of tap, modern,jazz and ballet for upper-level students. Yearlong dance students perform two top-quality dance concerts each year.
- Our music program includes two levels of band (full-year classes), two levels of choir (full year), Music Exploratory (12-week class) and African drumming (12-week class). After school, we have a jazz ensemble and a garage-style rock band. All groups are invited to participate in the two annual music concerts.
- Our drama program offers a wide range of in-class and performance opportunities for beginning and advanced students. Theater classes are both 12-weeks long and year long. Students is the year-long classes participate in a full fledged play.
- Visual arts classes include drawing, printmaking, painting, dark room photography, ceramics and more. Students in year-long visual art class can focus on 2-D Drawing & Painting, 2-D Printmaking and digital Photo, Textiles or 3-D Ceramics & Sculpture
- 8th grade students are expected to choose an art form in which to create their Arts Capstone Project. The projects consist of three elements:1) a paper focusing on the historical and cultural context,2) a paper focusing on a critique of the chosen art form, and 3 a portfolio or demonstration of skill in the chosen art form. Students can choose to do a music, dance, theater, or visual art project.
Staff
- da Vinci has a staff of 23+ terrific teachers, including 6 arts specialists and 1.5 Special Ed teachers. We have a principal, assistant principal, counselor and two office secretaries.
- We have a good mix of new and experienced teachers, many with multiple endorsements.
- On going staff development emphasizes best practices, arts integration and community building.
Parent and family support
- da Vinci was founded in 1996 by parents, and parents continue to have an active role in the school. Parents are welcome volunteers in classrooms and for special events andworkshops. Our library is staffed by parent and community volunteers.
- We have an active PTSA that sponsors monthly activities and/or meetings. Their annual auction and arts fair and weekly scrip program financially support many school functions.
- Back to School Night, Fall Conferences and the annual year-end picnic bring teachers and families together.
- After school and lunchtime activities are frequently led by parent volunteers working as coaches, mentors, tutors and facilitators.
- Communication is essential for the school-parent partnership to work. Da Vinci provides a Family Calendar & Handbook annually for each student and sends out an electronic newsletter called the Scroll each week. A paper copy of the Scroll is sent home each month. The school maintains a website, that is updated weekly with important school events.
- Each student receives a planner for tracking assignments and sharing work expectations with parents. Many teachers post assignments on their personal web pages on the school\'s website.
Special programs and features
- We have an auditorium that seats 500+ that provides us with a wonderful venue for producing student dance, drama and music performances. It also allows stage tech experiencers for our students.
- Performance opportunities for the 2007–08 school year:
Winter and spring music concerts.
Winter and spring dance concerts.
Fall musical “The Lady Pirates of Captain Bree
Student-created musical comedy “Sappington”
Guest-directed The Magic Bow
The Tempest by William Shakespeare
Attack of the Pom Pom Zombies (6th grade performers only) There are also Talent Assemblies about every 6 weeks and an annual Poetry SLAM. - To support its diverse visual arts offerings, da Vinci has a dark room, a digital photo lab, a ceramics studio, a textile studio of floor and table-top looms and a drawing studio.
- On the east side of the school is a student and community designed and maintained water garden that acts as a hands-on laboratory for science classes. It is on many green tours conducted in Portland.
- Currently in consruction is The Evans-Havard High Performance Classroom, a high-efficiency music classroom with practice rooms and a recording studio. Estimated opening is Fall 2009. It will be the first Platinum LEED certified building at a public school in the nation.
- Connections to the arts community include: cultural field trips, artist residencies, guest performers and an annual arts fair that benefits local artists and the school.
- Da Vinci\'s Green Team of students and teachers organizes the recycling of paper, cans and plastic containers throughout the building. They have eliminated the school cafeteria\'s use of disposable flatware and Styrofoam meal trays through the tray washing program.
- The latest test scores, school progress report, demographics, and more are available at: http://www.pps.k12.or.us/schools-c/
Statistics and test scores
- Report cards and AYP Scores
Oregon Department of Education school report cards - School Enrollment and Program Data
- Standardized test scores
Course syllabus
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