Panther Press

There is no school April 1 - 5. We will return to school on Monday, April 8 at 8:30am.

April 1 - 5 - Spring Break - No School

April 9-10 - Every 15 Minutes Event

May 27 - Memorial Day

June 5 - Graduation and Last Day of School

District School Year Calendar 2023 - 2024

VHS Bell Schedule 2023 - 2024

Vista Unified Community Update

Happy Friday, Panther Families!

We hope you had a wonderful week and are looking forward to Spring Break! Spring Break is from April 1-5 and school will be closed. We hope you enjoy and we will see you back at school at 8:30 AM on Monday, April 8th!

I am pleased to announce that after Spring Break, we will be opening our second new classroom building! This building houses ten new science laboratories, ten new classrooms, a large new meeting space, our weight training facility, and our Air Force JROTC leadership and aviation program!

Please be advised that due to the removal of the old portable classrooms, we will be moving our car drop-off area to the sidewalk in front of the stadium. If you drop off or pick up by car, please follow the helpful campus assistants who will be directing traffic. You will need to move all the way forward to drop off your student in front of the football stadium gates.

Finally, when we return from break, we have two exciting events on our schedule. First, the Every 15 Minutes program will be staging a mock car crash to educate students on the dangers of drinking and driving. If you see emergency services in the are on April 9th, please know that this is not a real emergency, only an educational program.

Starting April 15th, our school will be administering our annual state testing in Math, English, and Science. This testing is important because it measures the academic progress of both our students and our school. Please be sure that your student is in school on time and encourage them to do their best.

Have a wonderful Spring Break, Panthers!

Mrs. Ratliff

Staff was able to enter our newest building this week! Check out the pictures below!

Due to our Every 15 Minutes program taking place on April 9 and 10, our classes for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday when we return will be slightly different. The bells will remain the same.

Tuesday, April 9: Periods 1,2,3,4 (Every 15 mins during period 2 - 11/12 grade only)

Wednesday, April 10: Periods 3,4,5,6 (Every 15 mins during period 4 - 11/12 grade only)

Thursday, April 11: Periods 1,2,5,6

Our own Science teacher Lisa Bechtold was awarded with the Women of the Year Making Herstory nomination by the Honorable Laurie Davies of the 74th District. She was honored for her service as a teacher and as an inspiration to our students. We are so proud of you, Lisa!

Our favorite AFJROTC Colonel Vincent Lostetter was awarded this past week at the Heroes of Vista event as the Veteran of the Year! Congratulations, Colonel!!

Our amazing Engineering and Gaming students participated in the district STEM Fest on March 27.

Panther families,

Thank you for attending our Association Meeting on February 29th. We have elected a Nominating Committee and they are hard at work working on filling the board for 2024-2025 school year. We will be electing our new board at the April 25 Association Meeting at 6pm.

Our stated goal is to make every child's potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children. Our mission is for Parents, Teachers and Students to work together with our school to help provide programs and enrichment activities which enhance your child's learning environment!

With the year coming to a close and students promoting and new families coming in we have a few openings on our PTSA board and would love for you to nominate yourself or a close friend for any of the following positions:

• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Financial Reviewer (formally know as Auditor)
• Hospitality Coordinator
• Reflections
• Scholarships Chair

Job Descriptions Link

If you are interested please contact us one of the members for the Nominating Committee:Kimberly Ashkiani, Tara Humphrey or Patty Landeros. Or fill out our online Board Interest Form.

Thank you so much and stay healthy and well!

Sincerely,

VHS High PTSA Nominations Committee

Spanish

Familias Panther,

Gracias por asistir a nuestra reunión de la Asociación el 29 de febrero . Hemos elegido un Comité de Nominaciones y están trabajando arduamente para llenar la junta para el año escolar 2024-2025. Elegiremos a nuestra nueva junta directiva en la reunión de la Asociación del 25 de abril a las 6 p.m.

Nuestro objetivo declarado es hacer realidad el potencial de cada niño al involucrar y empoderar a las familias y comunidades para abogar por todos los niños. ¡Nuestra misión es que los padres, maestros y estudiantes trabajen junto con nuestra escuela para ayudar a proporcionar programas y actividades de enriquecimiento que mejoren el ambiente de aprendizaje de su hijo!

Con el año llegando a su fin y la promoción de estudiantes y la llegada de nuevas familias, tenemos bastantes vacantes en nuestra junta de PSTA y nos encantaría que se nominara a sí mismo o a un amigo cercano para cualquiera de los siguientes puestos:

• Secretario
• Tesorero
• Revisor Financiero (formalmente conocido como Auditor)
• Coordinador de Hospitalidad
• Reflexiones
• Cátedra de Becas

Enlace de descripciones de puestos de trabajo

ReflexionesSi estás interesado, contáctanos con uno de los miembros del Comité de Nominaciones: :Kimberly Ashkiani, Tara Humphrey o Patty Landeros. O complete nuestro Formulario de interés de la Junta en línea.

¡Muchas gracias y mantente saludable y bien!

Sinceramente

Comité de Nominaciones de VHS High PTSA

Help out VHS by dining out at Rubio's on April 12!

Help out VHS by dining out at Panera Bread on April 23!

Greetings VHS Drivers and Families! We are excited to announce a partnership with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to bring a program called Start Smart to our school.

This presentation is required for all VHS drivers as a condition of having an active parking permit starting next semester.

These presentations will be held in Room E-11 across from the VHS library from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Students are required to bring one parent/guardian. We have one session left for second semester:

April 22, 2024

To ensure we have enough space, all attendees must RSVP. Any grade student can attend and each student will only have to attend one session.

Students can also attend sessions at Rancho Buena Vista High School. Their classes are on April 23 and May 15. To reserve a spot there use this form.

Please contact VHS Office Manager Leah Power if you have any questions by emailing leahpower@vistausd.org or calling (760) 726-5611 x 71002. For more information about the presentation, visit this website: Start Smart Program

Smart Start Parent Letter

VUSD PTSA groups and RBV will host two exciting events on April 20. These two events aim to empower young people to make informed choices and resist peer pressure, ultimately setting them up for success in all areas of their lives. Your support is crucial to achieving this goal, and we're grateful for your willingness to join us in making a real impact. Let's work together to make a difference and create a bright future for our students!

April 20 - Community Resource Fair - Vista Civic Center - 8am - 11am

April 20 - 420 REMIX - John Landes Park - 1pm - 4:30pm

All the info Seniors need from their school counselors! WHAT’S INSIDE?

Transcript Requests

Mark your calendars!

College Tips

Self-care for Seniors ❤️

Advice from a Panther Alumni

Senior Checklists

Scholarships & Xello

Financial Aid

VHS SENIOR NEWSLETTER 2024

Principal Ratliff invites you to learn the skills and tools to help support your student's future success.

We are just four weeks away from the start of VUSD’s Arts Under the Stars FREE community events. The performing arts will be featured on the stage at Moonlight Amphitheatre April 9th-11th. Every night will have performances from elementary through high school. Tuesday, April 9th, will feature 10 choirs, 3 small instrumental ensembles, and 1 children’s theatre group. Wednesday, April 10th, will feature 8 instrumental ensembles along with 7 student compositions. We wrap up on Thursday, April 11th, by featuring 7 theatrical groups, 6 dance teams, and 1 children’s choir. Shows start every night at 6:00 pm. Gates open at 5:15 pm.

The visual arts will be featured at the Vista Civic Center through a juried arts showcase. There is an Opening Reception on Wednesday, April 17th, from 4:30-6:30 pm. Selected artwork will represent 2D art, 3D art, photography, and digital art. Awards will be presented in the following categories: Superintendent’s award, Principal’s award, Mayor’s award, Best in Show, Most Original, Craftsmanship, and Best 3D. The art show will run April 17th through May 8th.

Every 15 Minutes April 9-10

More information can be found HERE

Day 1 April 9 will be a mock car crash

Day 2 April 10 will be a mock funeral

The program is for our 11th and 12th graders only. We will have CHP officers, San Diego Sheriffs, and Vista Fire Department on campus for the assemblies as well as Reach Air helicopter landing on our baseball field on April 9. Please remember that this is a staged car crash and funeral. Let me know if you have any questions

Tamara Drummond- tamaradrummond@vistausd.org

See flyer below for details!

Examine Key topics on African American studies.

Learn about Chicano and Latino American experiences!

Learn about the experiences of diverse populations.

The Small Business Ownership and Management course is an elective course designed for students who are interested in learning how to start a small business. Students will learn about the role of a small business in the economy, as well as the common challenges small businesses face. Students will gain an understanding of how to start, build, and manage a business, including employees. Students will also learn the principles of marketing, finance, and operations for small businesses, and develop their own business plan.

The San Diego County Library has made its digital and audio books available to thousands of local students throughout the county. Any student in Vista USD, using just their student IDs, may check out the library’s collection of age-appropriate digital materials via Sora, an app used by school districts.

Additionally, every VHS student can check out the San Diego County Library’s Teen Book of the Month with their student ID through the Sora app— the ebook and the audiobook! Unlimited checkouts means no waitlists or holds.

Teen Book of the Month (Ages 13-18)

The Summer of Broken Rules by KL Walther

Meredith's family's annual game of assassin at Martha's Vineyard during a summer wedding is the perfect chance to honor her sister's legacy, and finally join the world again. But when she forms an alliance with a cute groomsman, she's at risk of losing both the game … and her heart.

Meet early education teachers and school leaders!

Learn how they can help you!

Are you a kinship caregiver?

See flyer below for details.

The School Accountability Report Card is now available for review here https://vhs.vistausd.org/ and a hard copy will be made available upon request at our front office.

23-24 SARC Vista High School

Interested in ceramics? Come to our Panthers After Hours Ceramics classes - see video below for info!

PSST World is an on-line platform that allows students to report anything worrisome without fear. Using PSST World, students can report any range of concerning behaviors and incidents that they have seen, heard, or experienced. When a report is made, a message is immediately sent to our safety team and they will reach out to site administration for follow up.

Go HERE to check it out or to make a report.

Here are this week's sports.

Tryouts for VHS Cheer & Dance are coming up. Tryouts are for anyone interested in JV Cheer, Varsity Cheer, JV Hip Hop, Varsity Hip Hop or Varsity Pom. Tryout packets are now available in the office. On Monday, March 25th next year's captains and current seniors will teach material for tryouts. You will have two weeks to practice and videos will be posted to help you. Final tryouts will take place on Monday, April 8th beginning at 3:30PM in the dance room. Please follow @vistaspirit on Instagram for more info and visit Coach Caponera or Coach Wagner in the girls' locker room with any questions!

In order to be eligible to try out and participate on a sports team, athletes must first complete the athletic clearance process (Physical). All paperwork must be complete and uploaded to homecampus.com. Please see the links attached or See the VHS website for more information. Please email Athletic Trainer Ms. Melissa at melissahutzell@vistausd.org if you have any questions. All instructions are below.

Homecampus Process(English)

Homecampus Process(Spanish)

VUSD VHS Physical Form

Purchase them online using this QR Code!

Many of the local and regional scholarships are now open. As many require transcripts, letters of recommendation, and some writing - putting it off until the last second is not an option. Remember, money is on the table so don't let this slip past you! Check the bulletin at least once a week and google for scholarships that are in your major or have something to do with your background.

Senior Scholarships

See Mr. Soderback in the College and Career Center!

• Join us at 6pm in the gym for a fun game. Tickets are for sale, and snacks will be available for purchase. Players, be sure to drop off your signed permission slips to ASB the week we return from Spring Break!

ASB applications close on Friday, April 7th, during spring break. If you would like to apply for the class next year, you can find the application on our website.

Prom will be on Saturday, May 11th at the Air and Space Museum in Balboa Park. Tickets will go on sale when we return from Spring Break. Prices start at $90 with a Panther Pass and $95 without. They will increase by $5 every week. Guest Passes will be available in counseling before Spring Break.

This year's Grad Bash celebration will be at Universal Studios on Friday, June 7th. Tickets will go on sale Monday, Dec. 4 for $160 with a Panther Pass and $165 without in the Finance Office and the webstore. If you are interested in a payment plan, get more information in Finance.

Need a dress for prom? Book an appointment here for a chance to win a dress and accessory!

• Buddies Club meets Tuesdays at lunch in the GYM. Please join us for fun with our Buddies as we support inclusion for everyone at VHS. ALL ARE WELCOME! :) .
  

• Yu-Gi-Oh club meets every Thursday during lunch in V-20. Want to learn how to duel? Interested in learning the tournament style of dueling. Join Yu-Gi-Oh club today! Stop by V-20 to get more information. Look for flyers around campus.

• GSA Club meets Tuesdays in D20 during lunch.

• Interested in crime & punishment? Want to know more about the law and being a lawyer? Come to D18 this Wednesday during lunch for Mock Trial information.

• Book Club meets in D17 every Thursday after school. See Ms Vancelette with any questions.

• BSU (Black Student Union) will be meeting every Friday in room D17. All are welcome!

• The Whosoevers Club will be meeting in V12 every Wednesday at lunch. Snacks provided. All are welcome!
  

• Mariachi club is now Tuesdays and Thursdays after school in the Guitar Room!
  

Parent and Family Digital Learning Guide

Parent and Family Digital Learning Guide Spanish

This is an important tool to assist teachers with digital citizenship and classroom management. It is important that parents are aware of the privacy policy and our adherence to the ethical monitoring policy.

Hapara Parent Letter English

Hapara Parent Letter Spanish

Vista High School is committed to the Social and Emotional needs of all students.

Social/Emotional Supports & Links

https://vhs.vistausd.org/counseling

Vista Virtual Wellness Center:

https://sites.google.com/view/vhswellnesscenter/home

Community Resources

Wavecrest Cafe Meals

San Diego Food Bank

Brother Benno Oceanside Services

Vista Teen Outreach

Vista Community Clinic

North County LGBTQ Resource Center

North County Lifeline Community Resources

If you have questions, comments, concerns or requests for information you would like to see in the newsletter, please let us know by clicking on the link above. We appreciate your input!

Email: teachername@vistausd.org
Website: http://vhs.vistausd.org
Location: 1 Panther Way, Vista, CA, USA
Phone: (760) 726-5611