Celebrating Real-World Learning and Growth at Da Vinci Exhibition Nights

Da Vinci Communications
At DVC, students in 10th and 12th grades exhibited their major projects from the semester across a wide range of subjects. 

In the Computer Science Pathway, students demonstrated their computer science knowledge and skills by programming robots and building model smart homes. Robots battled it out in Battle Bot competitions featuring battle attachments that had gone through multiple iterations of design testing and customized "special moves" ready to deploy at the press of a button. Scale-model smart homes programmed using Raspberry Pi were also on display; student teams designed their houses for a specific client of their choice and programmed lights/sensors/motors to improve home security, convenience and sustainability.

Students in the Media Production Pathway created original silent films utilizing visual storytelling techniques. The 3rd floor’s west wing was transformed into a mini movie theater to showcase students’ work and host filmmaker interviews. 

Senior Jacob Sandoval presented The Goomble, a puppet horror film about a monster attacking people. He used a school-provided JVC camera, DaVinci Resolve, and Final Cut Pro for production and editing. “I’m really proud to see all of the work that students have put into their films. I’ve become more proficient at editing and I’ve learned shortcuts that can make the process simpler and quicker,” Jacob shared. “My dream is to work in live production in esports, and this pathway has given me some great experiences.”

In Economics class, seniors engaged in a comprehensive market research and product development project known as Robsco — a creative simulation modeled after Costco. As part of the project, students designed new products with the goal of "selling" them to Robsco. Throughout the project, students conducted extensive market research through surveys, data collection, and analysis. They applied core economic concepts by developing market equilibrium graphs and examining supply, demand, price, and quantity dynamics.

DVC seniors Emiliano Angeles, Micah Burton and Kai Luzniak created a travel pillow for their project. In the process, they discovered important insights about consumer behavior, noting that individuals' willingness to pay varied significantly depending on factors such as their occupation, how much they earned, and how much they travel. These insights helped students understand how people decide what to buy, how sensitive they are to changes in price, and how different groups of customers can influence how products are priced and marketed.

Emiliano is channeling the skills he gained at DVC into his future plans: majoring in mechanical engineering and minoring in business. Reflecting on his experience, he shares, “I’m super passionate about project-based learning. I think it really prepares you to be an adult. In the real world, people are actually doing projects. I feel like you could leave this school and go directly into the workforce and be totally okay to go into any industry.”

Students in the FUTURES job skills class held their first-ever Wolves at Work Spring Market where they sold handmade soaps and homemade treats!

Da Vinci Connect TK-8
At Da Vinci Connect TK-8, students impressed families and guests with creative and engaging projects rooted in storytelling, science, engineering, and culture. 

In Core 1, students completed the Novel Engineering Project by identifying problems within the story of Rapunzel and designing engineering solutions to help the characters, cultivating empathy, creativity, and critical thinking skills. Core 2 students explored the wonders of the moon, showcasing the phases, gravitational pull, and the moon’s influence on tides. Their exhibits uncovered the fascinating connection between Earth and its celestial neighbor.

In Core 3, students celebrated the rich diversity within their community through scrapbooks filled with family recipes, cultural artifacts, and personal reflections, culminating in an interactive story walk for guests. Core 4 focused on myths from around the world, analyzing how different cultures use storytelling to explain natural phenomena and convey shared human values; students then wrote and performed their own original myths. Core 5 students designed innovative governments complete with leadership structures, economies, laws, and cultural features, presenting their visions through creative brochures, slideshows, and short documentaries. 

Across all cores, students demonstrated critical academic skills while showcasing the Habits of Heart and Mind that are central to the Connect experience.

“We love Da Vinci! I really appreciate the Exhibition experience because it’s such a real-world way of learning of what you know and appreciating the knowledge you gained along the way of understanding. My youngest son is shy, but he’s really stepped outside of his comfort zone by presenting to his friends” - Parent at DV Connect TK-8

“I loved the scrapbooking project because I learned a lot about other cultures! I enjoy sharing it with my family, too!” - Student

“My favorite project was creating a government and designing the flag. I learned a lot about governments that I didn’t know before. I had research and learn about economic systems and taxes” - Student

“I watched one presentation by a student in Core 4. It was fun watching him present and I appreciated hearing his passion for mythology–– his eyes sparkled when he shared about what he studied and researched” - Prospective parent in the community

Da Vinci Design
Da Vinci Design’s recent exhibition showcased a wide range of student projects focused on powerful themes such as social justice and global citizenship, reflecting the interdisciplinary learning that takes place across grade levels.

Ninth-grade students explored themes of social justice by designing and wearing custom garments, including hoodies, t-shirts, and tote bags. Drawing inspiration from their English and Design classes, they created powerful designs that conveyed messages of advocacy and awareness. One student, for example, designed a shirt highlighting the issue of prison labor. 

Tenth-grade students drew inspiration from renowned muralist Judy Baca to create impactful, large-scale murals in a "muralesque" art style, centering their projects around the theme of global citizenship. Integrating knowledge from Spanish, Geometry, English, and Chemistry classes, students collaborated to dissect both the theme and the mural-making process. One standout mural, titled “You Don’t Belong HERE!”, addressed immigration issues in both Los Angeles and the broader U.S. context. The piece highlighted student walkouts protesting immigration policies and challenged stereotypes faced by Latinx and Hispanic communities.

“All of the people in my group are Hispanic, so we knew we wanted to do something about immigration,” said a 10th grader. “We heavily relate to those issues. Given everything in the news relating to the protests we came up with a lot of the symbolism on our mural quickly. With the hands around the chain we wanted it to be broken to signify that we’re free, and not locked in or chained to society’s negative ideologies.”