Volunteer extra credit Jessica Garrison

The Da Vinci student and staff pledge

Today is a new day.
Today I am the possibility of da Vinci.
The possibility of a mind open to learning the secrets of life.
Today I am the possibility of creation itself,
creation through paint & clay, song & dance, word & pen.
Today my heart goes out to the da Vinci Community.
I am the possibility of respect for any and all.
I can open my mind to others voice and art, with a smile and a hug.
Today I am the possibility of possibility. Today I pledge to be da Vinci!

Da Vinci arts middle school is located at

2508 NE Everett Street in Portland, OR 97232
Phone: (503) 916-5356 Fax: (503) 916-2721.

I volunteer under supervision of Beverlee Tuyub, my dance team coordinator and

manager; her phone number is (503)3495015 or reach her by email at
Destinodanceteam@gmail.com. Da Vinci Arts Middle School is a magnet art focus school.
Meaning they have specialized programs, kind of like personalized schools allowing the
opportunity to focus on what you want to, instead of what the majority of other public schools
were doing. For instance Da Vinci has a mandatory dance program for at least one term to
receive the physical education credit. It is planted in a dense neighborhood near 23rd and
Burnside. Not too far from the Laurelhurst community on 39th. The grade levels include 6/7 and
8th however the classrooms are integrated with all grades. Except for homerooms that they call
core classes.

My specific job here at the school takes place after school in the gym. Two to three times
a week for 2-3 hour spans. Most of the time we have to start in their portable dance studio and
moved to the gym after an hour of working out and warming up. I'm a volunteer dance coach for
a dance team called Destino Dance Team. We compete in PIL dance competitions that take
place between fall, Winter to mid spring. The Dance Team includes boys and girls 6/7 and 8th
grade. My personal duties included creating dance choreography to teach to the students that
have good technique, creative patterns and other qualities that judges look for. We are a
competitive dance team which has ranked in the top 4 in the state for the the past 2 years. I
helped create this dance team, being inspired as a highschool dance team member at Cleveland
high school as well as being a part of the Davinci dance program as a middle school student. We
encourage dancers of all ages and skill levels to come try out. We showcase the students talents.
Giving us an advantage is the fact that the school has a dance program integrated already in the
curriculum. I have learned a lot about the difference between magnet schools and charter
schools through the education 101 class. I have also been discussing the advantage for some
people on getting into these magnet schools because of the percentage of minorities that are
excepted. This never occurred to me before, however I have been speaking with people at the
school about it, and it is a real thing.

Applying for enrollment at Da Vinci Arts Middle School begins with filling out a
Portland Public Schools School Choice form. The School Choice form needs to be turned in at
the PPS Enrollment & Transfer Center (501 N Dixon) Deadline March 9th at 5pm. they have
150 openings for incoming 6th graders and only 5 slots for 7th graders. A lottery is drawn from
all applicants that have completed this process by the deadline. You have to apply each year to
be considered if you didnt make it in the previous year.So students who were not accepted in
6th grade have to re-apply and follow all of the steps again, including attending another
information session, if they are interested in getting into the Magnet school. In 1993-1994 A
group formed to develop a proposal for an arts focused middle school. It primarily consisted
of parents whose children attend Buckman Arts Magnet Elementary School. Then in July
2003 The School board approves da Vinci status change from a program to a school. This
includes agreeing to move from a student population of 325 to 400+ over 3 years Back when
DaVinci first opened they used to interview every student on why they wanted to attend this
school. Now it is run by the lottery system. Which explains why me and my brother got to go to
this school but my little sister unfortunately didnt, even though my parents kept trying every
year.

I have learned a ton from teaching these boys and girls of all different learning levels. It

has inspired me to become a full time teacher eventually. I would love to work in a school like Da

Vinci. Through my Education 258 class i have learned more about the diversity within a school,

and how the teaching elements that a teacher provides helps guide children to a more open

perspective. Its interesting to have been a student there and not have ever thought about these
things, going back as an adult being on the other side of the panel as an authority figure. Some of

these students don't understand how fortunate they are and it's kind of upsetting sometimes

because you know other children around the world have schools in much worse conditions like

we were learning the first week of this class. Yes the Portland Schools have their water schut

down for the most part, and Ockley Green; another school i volunteer at has their Gym shut

down for another sort of contamination and now i understand It really leaves a big dent on the

unfortunate effect of not having students in a full functioning school, because then they wonder

why other schools are more upkept than theirs and look down upon themselves. Taking this

class has really encouraged me as a teacher to have my students teach each other about their

cultures so that they don't grow up with a monocultural point of view. I hope it would inspire

them to travel. I also hope that Da Vinci stays a safe place that welcomes all sexual orientations

and all races to come through the door and feel at home.

Another cool feature of the school is their water garden.

Just thought I should share that, because its beautiful