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

Article about digital book readers

Nifty article about the Kindle 2 and other digital book reading devices, and how these new technologies may change the way we look at the book buying/selling/consuming business entirely.

Final Take-A-Chance Raffle Items

Remember you must be present to buy tickets for and win these fantastic items!

HP Mini Netbook with Intel Atom Processor

This compact netbook features a built-in webcam and wireless connectivity so you can easily video chat with friends and family from your home network or area hotspots.

Some of the features of this HP Mini Netbook N270:
16G Solid State Drive
Built-in Webcam and Memory Card Slot
2 USB ports
1.6GHz processor speed
Built-in Wireless LAN (802.11b/g)
Built-in 10BaseT ethernet port (to connect to the internet without using Wireless)
Weighs just 2.5 lbs and is 1" thin

Includes a Targus carrying bag and USB optical mouse.

Donors: Da Vinci Academy’s First and Third Grade Class
Value: $ 354.00

Billy Joel vs. Elton John - Dueling Pianos
Experience two Rock-n-Roll legends on one stage.
John and Joel plan to open the concerts with a series of duets, playing dueling pianos and trading vocals, then they will play solo spots with their band and end the evening with the piano men teaming up again for a grand finale. The shows are expected to include some of their greatest hits alongside a selection of rock n’ roll classics.

2 Seats on the field for this incredible concert! Field section K, Row 8 Seat 15 & 16. Expires: 07/21/09

Donors: A Friend of Da Vinci Academy
Value: $ 350

iPod Nano
16GB Ipod Nano (Blue)
Lady Bug limited edition docking station
$60 of Itunes gift cards

Donors: Da Vinci Academy’s Forth Grade Class
Value: $275

One Night Away at the Historic and Charming Hotel Baker in St. Charles

Bed and Breakfast Package includes overnight stay in a Deluxe Room and a $20.00 breakfast coupon.

Donors: Hotel Baker
Value: $199.00

Nintendo DS Lite and Games
Nintendo DS Lite and a package of games:
∗ Mario Kart - On your mark, get set, GO!!!
∗ Guitar Hero on Tour: Decades - Be a Rock Star
∗ Pokémon Ranger - A whole new way to capture Pokémon

Donors: Glenn and Mary Leonard and Jeff and Julie Martin
Value: $240.00

Play Station 3
Play games, access the internet, and watch Blue Ray DVDs
∗ Includes PlayStation 3 80 GB system, Dualshock 3 wireless controller, and free PlayStation Network membership
∗ Internet ready Wi-Fi
∗ 80 GB of hard disk storage for all your games, music, videos, and photos
∗ Built-in Blue-ray player to give you the best high-definition viewing experience and pristine picture quality
∗ Play your entire catalog of CDs and DVDs

Donors: Da Vinci Academy Advisory Groups of Ms. Burns and Mr. Allen
Value: $400.00

Kodak Easy Share- Digital Picture Frame
Wireless access to your pictures is now at your fingertips!
∗ 8 in. (20.3 cm) high-quality display
∗ Wi-Fi enabled
∗ Kodak's Quick Touch Border
∗ Access the latest news, weather, sports, and more
∗ Automatically send and receive pictures from KODAK Gallery members right on your frame with the Picture Mail feature

Donors: Cheryl Covino and Richard Novak
Value: $220.00

Amazon Kindle 2

A few of the features of the Kindle2:
∗ Large Selection: Over 260,000 books plus U.S. and international newspapers, magazines, and blogs available
∗ Slim: Just over 1/3 of an inch, as thin as most magazines
∗ Lightweight: At 10.2 ounces, lighter than a typical paperback
∗ Wireless: 3G wireless lets you download books right from your Kindle, anytime, anywhere; no monthly fees, service plans, or hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots
∗ Books in Under 60 Seconds: Get books delivered in less than 60 seconds; no PC required

For more information, check out the Kindle 2 on Amazon.com.

Donors: Da Vinci Academy’s Second Grade and Pre-Kindergarten Classes
Value: $400.00

Palm Treo
The Palm Treo 750 Smartphone goes where you go. It combines a world GSM phone, email, broadband wireless, and Windows Mobile - all with world-renowned Palm ease. And the sleek, midnight blue design with a soft-touch finish feels great in your hand.

Review and edit business documents and access corporate data. Answer calls as you check email. And with Microsoft's Direct Push Technology built-in, you can get your Outlook email, as well any changes to your Calendar, Contacts, and Tasks in seconds. Or kick back, play music, shoot videos, and surf the Web. All the functionality is elegant and seamless thanks to Palm enhancements on the Windows Mobile platform that will save steps and your valuable time. Get the all-in-one Smartphone that puts you in control.

Service Provider AT&T

Donors: Martin and Milanka Schray
Value: $250.00

iTouch

Take the internet anywhere you go, play games, listen to music and watch your favorite television shows and movies. Need we say more…

Donor: Da Vinci Academy Advisory Group of Ms. Ulharik-Boller
Value: $250.00

Selection of Terlato Wines

Three bottles of wine from the Terlato wine family,
Chimney Rock – Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Sanford- Pinot Noir 2007
Terlato – Cardinals’ Peak 2005

Donor: A Friend of Da Vinci Academy
Value: $156.00

Razor e200 Electric Scooter

Cruise around the neighborhood in style with the Razor E200 electric scooter. Boasting an adjustable handlebar that adapts to riders of all sizes, an ultra-quiet chain-driven motor, and a handy twist-grip throttle accelerator, the E200 is the perfect device for teens and adults wanting to speed over to a friend's house or head to the park. Unlike Razor's E300S and E500S scooters--which offers a seated ride--the E200 requires you to stand while zipping through town. But standing in the E200 isn't a problem thanks to the full-size deck and frame, which are custom designed for ages 12 and up. Once you're on the move, the variable-speed motor ramps up to 12 miles per hour--fast enough to have fun, but not fast enough to be a menace on the street or sidewalk. Protection Plan included.

Donors: Da Vinci Academy Advisory Group of Ms. Detzler
Value: $235.00

Digital Camera and Printer

Capture your family memories with The Samsung SL30 Digital Camera and SD memory card.
∗ 10.2-megapixel resolution for large, photo quality prints
∗ 3x optical zoom; 2.5-inch Intelligent LCD screen
∗ Digital image stabilization; Face detection
∗ Movie mode (VGA 30fps, MJPEG)
∗ Capture images to SD/SDHC/MMC cards

The Kodak Easy-Share ESP 7 All-in-One printer will let you print all your pictures to share with family and friends.

Donors: Da Vinci Academy Advisory Group of Senora Schnecke and the Kindergarten Class
Value: $320.00

Another great Take-A-Chance Item!

The Take-A-Chance raffle is for attendees of the auction only, you must be present to participate in these raffles. If you haven't already submitted your RSVP for the auction, do so NOW, so you don't miss your chance to win this awesome item, or one of the other great items featured in Take-A-Chance. More details to follow.

Netbooks are a fantastic new take on mobile computing. Ultra-small laptops, netbooks are able to connect to the internet, do basic word processing or computation, and are small enough to fit into a purse or child's schoolbag. The scaled-down keyboards are great for small hands, but even the larger-handed users find the convenience of having a small portable laptop worth the slightly more compressed keyboard.

The HP Mini laptop available in the Take-A-Chance raffle represents some of the newest thinking in mobile computing. It has a 16G solid state drive, meaning the computer performs tasks very quickly because it doesn't have to wait for hard-drive spin times. It also has an Intel Atom processor, designed specifically for this type of computer. It also has a built-in webcam, so you can video conference with friends and family!

In addition to the small laptop, also included in this package are a Targus brand carrying case and USB optical mouse.

Fund-A-Project

Fund-A-Project is a way to donate directly to a specific school program or need. During this part of the Live Auction, Da Vinci parents and guests will be able to make contributions to school programs that will directly enhance and enrich each child’s education. In previous years, Fund-a-Projects have included United Video Streaming, school wide math, science, and world language upgrades, art and music equipment, supplies and instruments, library renovation, staff professional development, and display cases for the many awards and recognitions that Da Vinci has received over the years.

On auction night, the auctioneer will ask if anyone wants to fund a complete program, section, or specific item within a project. Then funding levels of $5000, $2500, $1000, $750, $500, $250, $100, $50 and $25 will be called out in that order. Simply raise your bid card when the level of funding you wish to participate at is called.

It is our hope that every attending family will participate in Fund-a-Project on some level.

The Fund-a-Projects for 2009 are listed below.

Curriculum and Academics

Math
Funding Goal: $10,000
Throughout the second part of this year, we have been testing a computerized math program, ALEKS, in some of our classes. We have determined that ALEKS will supplement our current Math program by allowing assignments to be tailored to each child’s specific needs through the application of artificial intelligence software. It not only reinforces the lessons taught by our teachers, but also provides us with better ways to assess what students have already mastered and what they still need to learn. This approach fits perfectly with Da Vinci’s student-focused philosophy. Our free trial period with ALEKS has been so successful that we want to move forward and purchase licenses for next year at a cost of $3,200 for the year.

To fully implement the ALEKS program, we will also need to expand our laptop access so that our current laptop carts are still available for other classes. It is our goal to purchase an additional eight laptops to be able to utilize the ALEKS program in grades 3-8. (approximately $800.00 per laptop)

Writing and Art
Funding Goal: $3,000
The writing program at Da Vinci is evolving and it is our wish to purchase curriculum resources for this program. These enhancements and tools will give our students more ways to demonstrate their knowledge and improve their ability to share it with peers. We would like to further expand our Art Program so that our students and continue to learn new ways to express their selves through Art. To accomplish this, we would like to purchase Photoshop, a scanner, and a color printer for the Art room.

Physical Improvements to our Building
Funding Goal: Open-ended
Last year’s Fund-A-Project provided the necessary resources to restructure our library, increasing our area to house and display our books while preserving to open feel of the library.

This year we would like to continue with this project by improving the acoustics of the front of the building, mainly in the Library/Computer Lab and Lobby. Our goal is to minimize noise levels so that activities in the lobby are not disruptive to the classrooms or to classes that utilize the computers in the library for test taking.

The other component of this project would be to address the challenge our school faces in our classrooms. Classrooms would receive a new magnetic whiteboards, and we would work closely with each teacher to improve storage of teaching materials, creating a more calm and spacious classroom for our students.

Da Vinci Educator’s Fund honoring Lynne Cluchey
Funding Goal: Open-ended
For the past seven years, Mrs. Cluchey has been a constant positive force in the lives of our children. Her warm, nurturing presence has been felt from the time the first child enters the building in the morning to when the last student leaves. Her departure will be deeply felt as she retires from Da Vinci to spend more time with her husband, George. We would like to honor Mrs. Cluchey’s service to Da Vinci by creating a scholarship fund. This fund will make the benefits of a Da Vinci Academy education more accessible to students regardless of family finances.

More awesome class projects

Kindergarteners became little painters and decorated an assortment of clay pots and saucers using acrylic paints. These were then assembled into a collection of whimsical turtles and sealed for outdoor use. They are sure to brighten any garden space.

Sit back and enjoy the scenery in this beautifully crafted set of Adirondack chairs. These pieces were decoupaged entirely with maps of the United States. Sit for hours and see what places you can discover or reminisce about through the maps on these chairs.