Hello, da Vinci family!  My name is Suezann Kitchens and I am serving as your Assistant Principal this school year.  I am thrilled to join this amazing arts community!  

 I am originally from Texas where I taught drama, language arts and reading in various public schools.  I also opened a theater with a focus in educational programming for all ages in drama, musical theater and music.  I have been in Portland for the past 12 years where I began as a teacher/director at Northwest Children’s Theater and School.  From there, I grew into the Educational Outreach Director, which worked with numerous PPS schools, and then became the Education Director.  I was lucky enough to work with many da Vinci students and families through NWCT programming.  

After NWCT, I went on to work for Rosemary Anderson High School as an Academic Counselor then Assistant Principal.  Last year, I opened up the first RA Middle School and also served as principal. I always made sure I was still leading a drama class at least once a week!  I believe the arts are vital to our children's education and their journey in becoming global citizens.     

Outside of school, I love to spend time with my 8 year old daughter, husband and two kitties.  Together, we love to visit the coast, go bowling and karaoke as much as possible! I am an avid reader and love to end each day with a good book.  

I am extremely excited to meet everyone and support this wonderful and creative school!

 

August 12, 2019

Dear da Vinci Families, 

I hope you are all thoroughly enjoying the last weeks of summer, staying cool, and having a lovely time with family and friends. Our summer has been productive. Thanks to our custodial team, our building is gleaming- Thank you Terry, Jada, and Roland. We are super excited to welcome all students and families to the 2019-20 school year! 

I am very pleased to announce the following new staff members who are joining our da Vinci Arts community family.  Susan Goetz will be our new CB Team Teacher/Program Director. As a Special Education teacher at Hayhurst elementary, Ms. Goetz gained extensive experience working with students experiencing a variety of academic and social emotional needs. Before coming to Portland, she did an outstanding job teaching students on the spectrum in the Bay area.  

Alan Burnce most recently taught at MLC, and he will be our new 7-8 Social Studies teacher. We are extremely fortunate to have Heidi Sprecher teaching a section of Drama Tech while Ms. Accuardi teaches a section of Health. Da Vinci graduate Anna Rudinsky is looking forward to working with Sara Martins and Andrea Thompson in the Dance Department.  

I am honored and thrilled to welcome our new Assistant Principal, Suezann Kitchens to da Vinci. Most recently Suezann was a teacher, academic counselor, Assistant Principal, then Principal at POIC/Rosemary Anderson. Prior to that she was Education Director at Northwest Children's Theatre where she worked with a number of our da Vinci drama students. With her arts and administrative background, Suezann is very excited to join us! 

New for next year, are some important curricular changes. All sixth grade students will take one quarter of AVID that is designed to help them with organization and other tools for academic success. All students will take grade level health for one quarter, and all students not taking Year-Long Dance, will take a quarter of Dance to satisfy their state PE requirements. Please look for an upcoming email regarding our new Electronic Devices policy. We are looking forward to your feedback so that we can implement a new policy from day one of this school year with clear expectations and broad family support. 

On Saturday, August 24th we will participate in the PPS Project Community Care event, working together to clean up our grounds to get ready for the start of school. I welcome you to bring your gloves and garden tools (if you have them) and join us in this effort from 9 am to 12 noon. The first day of school will be August 28th for NEW students only as an orientation day. August 29th will be the first day for ALL students. 

Thank you in advance for welcoming our new da Vinci colleagues. Please introduce yourselves as we begin a great 2019-20 school year! 

Best,

Fred Locke, Principal

Young Playwrights for Change

This year we are thrilled to announce that nine da Vinci students are regional finalists in the annual Young Playwrights for Change competition. Congratulations to the following students for their outstanding dramatic writing: Quiet, by Indie Brakken; Rising, Never Falling by Brooklyn Glennon; I’m Fine by Curtis Madlangbayan; Alone Beneath the Border by Lucy Mason; You are Enough by Kylie Moller-Pape; Socks With Sandals by Olivia Sanchez-Bishop; Dem Gay Boyz by Malaika Wandugu; Friends by Penelope Ware; and A Life Through Jewish Eyes by Abby Wendroff.

Dear da Vinci Families & Friends,

I hope you are well. Thank you Capstone A performers and staff for an amazing show! Connections beautifully showcased your talent, creativity, compassion, humor, and ensemble. Your extraordinary effort and risk-taking make us proud.  Visual Art students, your work added another dimension. Congratulations all!

Dragon’s Fire, da Vinci Arts Middle School’s Literary Review is brilliant! Now on our website, it includes superb writing and artwork from over 90 students. Congratulations also to our twelve Creative Writing Capstone students: Alex Barry, Nick Berkson, Elliana Hanna, Delilah Hartwell, Olivia Nally, Sierra Nelson, Lilith Neuse-Kartmazov, Gabriel Robinson, Jack Schneiger, Silas Schoenborn, Ella Van Schoick, and Vince Wilson. To all Dragon's Fire writers and artists, thank you for sharing your imagination, wisdom, and skill. Special Thanks to Advisor and Editor Alison Lanigan and her husband Steve Lanigan for the formatting. Brava, Bravo All!  Enjoy, here is the link: Dragon's Fire

Thank you to Jason Hieggelke, a community volunteer, Sheli and Jim Bryan, parents, and students for clearing blackberry bushes from our da Vinci Water Garden.

The da Vinci Foundation is over half way to reaching our goal of raising $15,000 by Friday, June 8th. As your gift will still be matched up to $5,000, PLEASE HELP us meet or exceed our goal. 

1. Donate directly (A recurring Monthly donation OR a One Time Gift) through All Hands Raised using the following link: http://allhandsraised.org/  Click on the red DONATE button and make sure you “Select” "da Vinci Arts Middle School” OR 

2. Write a check made out to the “da Vinci Foundation” and give it to Liz or Sheli in the Main Office.

Enjoy our last week, and thank you! 

The da Vinci Foundation

In this week's PPS students receive "Beat the Odds" scholarships; meet PPS's new Programs Manager for Climate Change & Climate Justice

Four high school students from Portland Public Schools who have excelled academically despite hardships have been named Renaissance Scholars and recipients of $16,000 “Beat the Odds” college scholarships.

Earlier this year, Nichole Berg was scrolling through Facebook while visiting family when she came upon something that would change her life: a job description. The life-long Wisconsinite, then a vice principal at a Madison middle school, read about a position in Portland Public Schools she had never heard of before: Programs Manager for Climate Change and Climate Justice.