About Us
Da Vinci International School (DVIS) is a nondenominational, international preschool and elementary school that offers French and Spanish immersion programs for children aged 18 months until 5th Grade. DVIS is a bilingual preschool and trilingual elementary school that is fully accredited by the French Ministry of Education.
We are located on the Blue Heron Nature Preserve in Buckhead, a natural haven within the city of Atlanta. Our home provides an idyllic environment for your learner to explore, investigate and experience nature.
Our school takes its name from the great Leonardo da Vinci, mathematician, engineer, anatomist, painter, sculptor, inventor, architect, botanist, musician, and writer. Da Vinci International School embraces the da Vinci within each child and focuses on developing 21st-century skills and a love for the process of learning.
POSITIVE LEARNING
We give our teachers full flexibility to develop curricula and routines that allow our learners to develop long-life learning practices. We recognize that students learn in different ways. Equipped with both an emotional and cognitive vocabulary, our little Da Vinci’s are well on their way to creating positive learning practices that will carry them through life.
It is ideal to start the Da Vinci program from an early age so that your learners are in a fully immersive environment in either French or Spanish. We have had the successful introduction of non-speakers at the 4K level, however, parents must allow for a transitional period where extra attention is given to the learner and the learner may have to enroll in additional language support classes.
At the 4K level, the students begin English instruction at 25%, and that increases to 45% at 5K and beyond. During 3rd grade, the learners will have an opportunity to learn a third language. The Da Vinci student will also be progressing in literacy, science, math, art, and music at the developmental milestones set by the French Ministry of Education. French is spoken with the French teachers, English with the English teachers, and Spanish with the Spanish teachers. We have experienced positive results from this method. Our children have the ability to switch between languages effortlessly, which is the result of our effective language-immersion process.
PRESCHOOL
In the 2K, 3K, and 4K (Pre-K) programs, teachers focus on developing the social, emotional, and physical cognition of the children in a full-immersion language setting. Children learn more effectively when they are nurtured in secure settings that prioritize observational and collective learning and engaged periods of guided play. Active instruction in literacy does commence in the earliest years, however, the focus is on developing the children in a way that promotes confidence, self-awareness, and curiosity.
The day starts with free play which leads to circle time where themes, vocabulary words, concepts, and songs set the tone for the day and tie into a relevant current theme. Time spent in nature, fine motor skill development, singing, dancing, playing games, cooking, art, and early science experiments create an engaging flow balanced by rest periods. Children are immersed in a French or Spanish language environment their whole school day. DVIS offers early drop-off as well as an engaging aftercare program from 1:00 to 5:00 PM for all preschool students. After-school enrichment programs are available starting as young as 3K.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
In the 5K (Kindergarten) through 5th Grade programs, classrooms are led in a way that promotes engagement by all students. The week is shared between the French and English programs. Group thinking and the collaborative process help teach confidence, and the ability to investigate, troubleshoot, and share opinions and ideas in a warm and nurturing environment. A chosen set of themes are decided for the year and explored in a multi-disciplinary approach. Da Vinci’s curriculum exceeds standards in numeracy, literacy, S.T.E.A.M., design, art, and must. The day begins around 8:00 A.M. and ends between 3:00 and 3:15 PM depending on the exact grade level. Our exciting variety of after-school enrichment programs run between 3:00 PM-5:00 PM.
DVIS BELIEVES IN LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS FOR 21ST-CENTURY SKILLS IN OUR THINKERS:
- PROBLEM-SOLVING
- COLLABORATIVE
- COMMUNICATION
- CRITICAL THINKING
- CREATIVITY
- INFORMATION, MEDIA, TECHNOLOGY
- PROJECT-BASED LEARNING
- ETHICAL REASONING
Da Vinci thinkers develop a strong ability to manage themselves, their emotional worlds, and how they engage with others and the world around them.
Our approach to education involves emotional literacy, cognitive development, and scientific reasoning that is interwoven with nature, art, and music. We teach our students to ask questions and investigate the answers together as a class.
PROJECT - BASED LEARNING
Each year, DVIS participates in a worldwide competition run by the Ministry of Education in France. For instance, the topic in 2016 was for children to design a sustainable home from reclaimed materials. For first and second graders, this also required electricity that wasn’t battery-powered. The children talked, wrote, drew, played, built, rebuilt, and eventually created three-dimensional models about their ideas that included water-catchment systems, green roofs, and different insulation materials.
Projects like these inspire learning across many disciplines such as science, math, design, engineering, and art. This sort of project-based learning experience fosters group learning, talking, and troubleshooting solutions, where every child has a voice. Solving challenges together fosters community spirit and civic-mindedness.
Orton-Gillingham Training:
A Positive Impact on Children's Learning
All DVIS English teachers are now trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach, which is set to have a highly positive impact on your child's learning experience. Engaging All Students: Orton-Gillingham is a teaching approach designed to engage every child, including those who might struggle with traditional methods. By focusing on individual needs, this approach ensures that every student can keep up and succeed.
Preventing Frustration: Learning challenges can lead to frustration and a lack of confidence. Orton-Gillingham addresses these issues early, helping at-risk students develop essential skills without feeling overwhelmed. This early intervention prevents long-term academic and emotional difficulties.
Multisensory Learning: Orton-Gillingham uses multisensory techniques, involving sight, sound, touch, and movement. This method helps children better understand and retain information, catering to different learning styles and making learning more enjoyable.
Building Strong Foundations: This approach emphasizes understanding the building blocks of language and math, ensuring that children develop a strong foundation. With these skills, students can approach more complex subjects with confidence.
Fostering a Love for Learning: By making learning accessible and enjoyable, Orton-Gillingham helps children develop a love for learning. When students feel successful and confident, they are more likely to be enthusiastic about their education.
Combining Classical Methods: Orton-Gillingham complements classical teaching methods, creating a well-rounded educational experience. This combination helps cater to the diverse needs of all students, enhancing overall learning outcomes.
Investing in Orton-Gillingham training for our teachers means that your child will benefit from an inclusive, supportive, and effective learning environment. This approach not only improves academic skills but also instills a lifelong love for learning.
AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS
DVIS offers an array of stimulating after-school enrichment programs in French, Spanish and English, as well as an engaging language immersive aftercare program, all between 1:00 to 5:00 PM. These programs are open to non-DVIS students between the approximate ages of 3 to 10 years. Many of our programs mix appropriate age ranges to allow for character-building mentoring experiences. Offerings are chosen and announced before the start of each semester. Examples of current and past programs include; Animation, Arabic, Art, Circus Arts, Coding, Cooking, Dance, Maker/Thinker, Performing Arts, Piano, Puppetry, Robotics, S.T.E.A.M., and Tae Kwon Do.
Notre école doit son nom à Leonardo Da Vinci, un mathématicien, ingénieur, anatomiste, peintre, sculpteur, inventeur, architecte, botaniste, musicien et écrivain. Da Vinci International school s’efforce de trouver le petit « Da Vinci » présent en chaque enfant.
Nous accueillons les enfants de 2 à 9 ans pour le programme scolaire (de la toute petite section au CE1). Le programme périscolaire est destiné aux enfants de 5 ans et plus. Notre école se situe sur la réserve naturelle Blue Heron Nature Preserve, au coeur d'Atlanta.
Nuestra escuela tiene el nombre del gran Leonardo Da Vinci, matemático, ingeniero, anatomista, pintor, escultor, inventor, arquitecto, botánico, músico y escritor. Da Vinci International School se esfuerza para que cada niño tenga un Da Vinci adentro.
Da Vinci Internacional School le da la bienvenida a niños de 2 hasta 9 años de edad para nuestro innovador programa de preescolar y primaria. En el programa de After –School recibimos a niños de 5K hasta 8 grado.