Take-A-Chance Raffle for Class Gifts

Da Vinci classes pooled resources to obtain a set of phenomenal items for the Take-A-Chance Raffle. These items will be raffled off at the auction, must be present to win. Tickets are $5 each and sold the night of the auction ONLY. (Not to sound like a broken record, but be sure to RSVP so you can be there to try for your chance to win one of these!)

The fantastic items include:

Two night's stay in the Wisconsin Dells
A huge set of Magna-tiles
All five of the Lego Prince of Persia sets
Two scooters (Powerwing and Siege)
A Barnes and Noble Nook ebook reader and case
American Girl Doll and Outfits
Xbox 360 and 3 games
DSI and games
and yes, you asked for it..

an iPad tablet computer!

Class projects

Just wait til you see what the amazing and artistic duo of Anita and Amy have cooked up for 2010 Auction Class projects!


Included, but not limited to...a fingerpainted reproduction of Van Gogh's Starry Night, a dragon built entirely out of...legos! A chess set built entirely out of...nuts and bolts! A knight's head statue beaded in exquisite shades of blue. More information and pictures of the masterpieces-in-progress to come.

Have you sent in your RSVP yet? You have to attend to have the opportunity to bid on these fantastic student-created one-of-a-kind artistic wonders. Come join the fun! RSVP today!

New donations in Art/Culture/Music

Fantastic donations in the Art/Culture/Music category:

EB Creative photography package: Package includes: A two hour individual, children's or family photography session with one 11x14 print, two 8x10 prints, and 15% off all additional prints and products. Fair market value: $400


Hinds Photography portrait package: Family Sitting for up to nine people; custom deluxe wall print retouched, mounted and sprayed with matte lacquer finish. Finished portrait size 11" x 14".Fair market value: $239


Northlight Theater: Enjoy two tickets to Low Down Dirty Blues playing May 27-June 24, 2010 Fair market value: $110

Steel Beam Theater: Full tuition for one session of Steel Beam Theater Summer Camp 2010. Six sessions to choose from, three age groups. Your child will learn acting and stage skills, confidence, poise, and discipline. The two-week camp will cap off with two performances. Fair market value: $350

Painting Lessons: Two hours of watercolor painting instruction using for a beginner or advanced student. The lesson is given by artist C.D. McNamara. Let your child's creativity be channeled through painting. Fair market value: $120

Watercolor painting: Original watercolor painting by artist C.D. McNamara. Fair market value: $425

Sutton Studios donates a portrait package for Family/Dogs

This gift certificate from Sutton Studios has a fair market value of $725, and is for:
Gift Certificate good for weekday portrait sitting for up to 2 people and 2 pets (flexible); 11" x 11" signed exhibition print; $50.00 framing voucher.

Nudera Orthodontics donates $1000 off orthodontic treatment

Nudera Orthodontics of South Elgin has donated $1000 off orthodontic treatment to the Da Vinci 2010 Auction. Come to the event on May 1, 2010 so you can secure this fantastic package!

Concert Tickets! - Eagles, Dixie Chicks, and Keith Urban June 19!!

The Eagles, Dixie Chicks and Keith Urban* will be playing Soldier Field on June 19, 2010 - four tickets and a parking pass.

The Eagles - Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit - will perform hits from their more than 35-year career, such as "Hotel California," "Desperado," "Life In The Fast Lane," "Lyin’ Eyes," "Take It To The Limit," "One Of These Nights," "Heartache Tonight," and more.

The Dixie Chicks - Martie Maguire, Emily Robison and lead singer Natalie Maines - will hit the stage for the first time in four years, performing songs from all four of their albums including smash hits, "Wide Open Spaces," "Goodbye Earl," and "Not Ready to Make Nice."

Urban's career has produced some of the industry's best known and most loved songs - 11 #1s. "Days Go By," "Sweet Thing," Who Wouldn't Wanna Be Me," "You'll Think of Me," "Better Life," as well as Billboard's Country Song of the Decade, "Somebody Like You," will highlight Urban's performance.

Caribbean Vacation!

One of the big-ticket items for the 2010 Da Vinci Academy Auction is a 7 night stay in one of these prime beachfront four and five-star Caribbean resorts:

Antigua: The Verandah Resort and Spa

Antigua: St. James's Club and Villas

Tortola: Long Bay Beach Resort and Villas

The Grenadines: Palm Island Resort

Be sure to RSVP for the auction soon, so you can have your chance to bid on this fantastic Caribbean vacation!

Golden Tickets coming to a Friday Folder near you

This Friday, your students will be bringing home a packet of Golden Tickets in their backpacks. These tickets are for two phenomenal prizes. One is a 46" Sony Bravia television combo pack, including a Bose speaker system. The second Golden Ticket prize is a 27 inch iMac computer system.

Golden Tickets can be sold to friends and family outside the Da Vinci community. This is a great way for us to increase our reach with fundraising. The prizes are fantastic. Wouldn't your co-workers, in-laws, or golf buddies like the opportunity to spend $10 (for one chance or $50 for 6 chances) to win a great flat-screen television/sound system or home computer?

There are two contest rounds running at school. The class who sells the most Golden Tickets in the first round will win an ice cream party. The class who sells the most Golden Tickets in the second round will win a pizza party. In addition, the two students who sell the most overall tickets will win Visa gift cards.

Additional Golden Tickets are available at school. Remember to fill out the entire ticket (including the name of the student on the back in the Ticket Sold By: line.)

Post comments if you have any questions, and get selling!

2010 Auction Theme Announced!

The 2010 Da Vinci Academy Annual Auction will take place on May 1, 2010 at the St. Charles Country Club. This year marks the school's tenth anniversary, and the celebration promises to be bigger than ever!

The theme of the 2010 Da Vinci Academy Auction is "Night of Knights."

Please save the date and plan to join us on May 1!

We are excited to announce the totals raised at this year’s Annual Benefit Auction: A Community Affair – Explore Your Future. The event raised an estimated $ 92,000 for Da Vinci Academy. A few highlights from this memorable evening:

• 136 people attended the auction
• Fund-a-Project/restricted donations raised $52,000
• The Live Auction raised $ 17,900
• The Silent Auctions raised $ 14,796
• The Golden Ticket raised $ 10,340
• The Buy-A-Bottle and Take-A-Chance raised $ 5,360


Da Vinci Academy was founded in 2000 as an independent school serving the needs of intellectually gifted children and has 135 students in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 8. Da Vinci students love coming to school to work alongside caring teachers who understand and embrace the unique ways in which bright kids think and learn. We encourage the intellectual creativity and curiosity of our students, and we support the growth of their minds and character. The school draws families from the local area (St. Charles, Geneva, Elgin, South Elgin) and from across the west and northwest Chicago suburbs.

The proceeds from this auction will be used to enhance and sustain the exceptional educational programs and services offered at Da Vinci Academy. As an independent school, Da Vinci Academy relies exclusively on tuition, private donations, and fundraising to provide a learning environment that is tailored to the needs of intellectually gifted and talented students.

Again, on behalf of Da Vinci Academy's students, staff, and parent volunteers, thank you for your generosity, we have enclosed a donation statement for you tax records.


With Gracious Gratitude,
The Da Vinci Academy Annual Benefit Auction Committee