DaVinci Academy of Arts and Science

Core Knowledge
Singapore Math

Mission:

DaVinci Academy will nurture and enrich the learning experiences of students through an individualized approach to education. Meeting the needs of students through an innovative and comprehensive education with a particular emphasis on the arts and sciences and a strong positive reinforcement strategy, DaVinci Academy will assist the community in raising children to be confident, successful adults. Students will learn leadership, social, and problem solving skills both in the classroom and through community service projects.

Vision:

DaVinci Academy will become a model Charter School that will be known and respected for its academic excellence and its ability to serve children in a nurturing educational environment in which students develop the whole mind, and excel in academic, social and leadership skills, to reach their full potential.

DaVinci Academy was founded by Kathy Reinartz, mother of two, who felt traditional public schools were not meeting the needs of her children and many other children.  In 2004, Kathy began researching alternative choices for educating children in MN because she felt there were many children from all types of backgrounds who needed a differentiated  approach to education.
After two years involvement in a Charter School in Columbia Heights, Kathy saw the need for a Charter School in the northern suburbs.  After further research and education, Kathy found the statistics on the needs for future Science/Technology/Engineering/Mathematic (STEM) professionals to be quite significant. 
During her involvement in the Charter School in Columbia Heights, she learned of Core Knowledge Sequence.  Core Knowledge offers a solid foundation to build on and teaches subject matter in a sequence to allow for a rich education to include the needed subject matter without repetition or absence of important subject matter.
In 2006, the idea of DaVinci Academy of Arts and Science was born. The Arts and Science focus while utilizing the Core Knowledge Sequence seemed very appropriate, given the name of the school. Leonardo DaVinci was a scientist and an artist. His education was well rounded, and systematic; much like the Core Knowledge Sequence.
The four Pillars:
Arts and Science Focus: Given the statistics on the increased need of STEM professionals, the need to include a higher focus on Science at DaVinci was evident. The focus of Arts was included to assist students in becoming well rounded in their creative thought processes.
Core Knowledge: Core Knowledge Sequence is just that: a sequenced education. It is very rich in the arts, and has a systematic approach to education. It prevents gaps in education, and it also prevents overlapping curriculum grade by grade. Core Knowledge teaches a base knowledge in subjects, and then builds on that knowledge grade by grade.  While Core Knowledge does prevent gaps and overlaps, it still allows the teacher s the autonomy to teach according to the needs of the students.
Differentiated Instruction:  Studies show there are multiple learning styles. Based on this knowledge, differentiated instruction applies an approach to teaching and learning so that students have multiple options for taking in information and making sense of ideas. The model of differentiated instruction requires teachers to be flexible in their approach to teaching and adjusting the curriculum and presentation of information to learners rather than expecting students to modify themselves for the curriculum.
Positive Reinforcement: Most adults are capable of intrinsic reinforcement, but also rely to some degree on extrinsic reinforcement to improve. Children rely on extrinsic reinforcement more than adults, learning over time to rely more on intrinsic reinforcement. Kathy felt, one could teach a child anything, one could teach to a genius, but if that child or genius does not believe in him/her self, the child will not work to his/her full potential.


In July 2007 the Charter Proposal for DaVinci Academy was submitted to the State Department of Education.  There were 21 other charter Proposals submitted at that time. Only 11 of those 22 were approved.  In October 2007, DaVinci Academy was approved as a K-12 Charter School and the year and a half long journey began.
A Start Up Board of Directors was in place, the search for the perfect site had begun prior to approval by several Board Members, Parents and other interested parties. Sites in Lino Lakes, Blaine, Coon Rapids, Spring Lake Park, and Fridley were viewed.
In the meantime, marketing, policy development, programming, facility and technology planning, food service, purchasing of school furniture and curriculum, planning of transportation, enrollment of students, hiring of staff and the Director all began.
DaVinci Academy opened with 160 students enrolled in grades K-6  September 2008. By the end of the first year, nearly 190 students were attending DaVinci Academy.  DaVinci added grade 7 in 2009 and plans on adding a grade each year through 12th grade.