Hello Vista Academy Families,

We have been working on increasing our average daily attendance so students are here on time, everyday, and this year is off to a great start. Vista Academy was one of only a couple schools in our district with an average of 97% daily attendance for the months of August and September. Bravo!

Our next Bulldog Boogie is this coming Friday morning, October 11th at 8 AM on the upper blacktop. Please join us for celebrations, announcements and of course the Bulldog Boogie! See you on Friday!

Don't forget to get some Vista Academy spirit wear to wear on Mondays and Fridays!

In addition to individiual spirit wear orders (see below), our Vista Academy Foundation purchased a limited amount of very reasonable Vista Academy Bulldog Spirit wear to sell this week at dismissal on Wednesday and Friday to students and families.

Please stop by Ms. Sanders' Annual Costume Sale this week on Wednesday - Friday, October 9-11th, from 2:18 - 3:30 after school in the Community Room. This is a great opportunity for dance and Halloween costumes at reasonable prices. Don't miss out!

The 20th Annual Vista Unified's Festival of the Arts is coming to Vista Village on October 19th from 10 AM - 4 PM! Several of our performing arts groups will be performing (see schedule below), and student artwork will be on diplay. We need your help monitoring the booth, helping the community with our art project, and representing our school. Please sign up Here to volunteer for a time slot.

• Starbucks Stage: 10:40 Theatre Performance
  
• Cinepolis Stage: 11:20 Mariachi Performance
  
• Cinepolis Stage: 11:40 Spirit Squad, The PACK
  

Please check out upcoming events, offereings and announcements below.

Have a great evening,

October 9: Spooky Stories in the Library

October 9-11: Costume Sale

October 11 : Bulldog Boogie

October 16: Spooky Stories in the Library

October 19: Festival of the Arts in Downtown Vista

October 23: Spooky Stories in the Library

October 30: Dia De Los Muertos Show at VAPA, Final Spooky Stories in the Library

October 31: Spooktacular Stroll-A-Thon (Halloween Themed Fun Run)

Nov 1, Friday: NO SCHOOL

Nov 8: Bulldog Boogie, Talent Show

Nov 11: Veteran's Day, NO SCHOOL

Nov 12-15: Parent - Teacher Conferences, Minimum Days, School Dismisses at 12:58PM

Nov 25-29: Thanksgiving Break, NO SCHOOL

Dec 6: Bulldog Boogie

Dec 20: Last Day of School before Winter Break

School Calendar: 2024-2025 School Calendar linked HERE

Sign up here to volunteer at our crafts booth!

Mark your calendars for this fun-filled presentation from our Spanish, Music and Art conservatories. Tickets will open on the Foundation website here on Monday September 30th at 12:00 PM. Donations are accepted!

Our Spooktacular Stroll-A-Thon is coming up on October 31st! Parents are welcome to come watch your kids stroll around as we celebrate weeks of fundraising for our school. Registration for the Fun Hub online fundraising platform will begin on October 11, more information to follow!

VAPA Spooktacular Stroll-A-Thon Schedule: Thurs, Oct 31

8:10-8:40: Santa Fe (1st & 2nd Grade only)

8:45-9:15: 4th Grade

9:50-10:20: 5th Grade

10:30-11:00: 1st Grade

11:05-11:35: 3rd Grade

11:40-12:10: Kindergarten

12:15-12:45: 2nd Grade

Get Ready for a Fun-Filled Afternoon: Book Tasting & Talent Show Extravaganza!

We’re combining two awesome events into one unforgettable afternoon! Join us right after school for a *book tasting* – a super fun way to dive into new books as a family. And guess what? Thanks to the amazing Dr. Seuss grant, you’ll have a chance to win brand-new copies of the books you read during the talent show's intermission!

After the book tasting, the fun continues with our Talent Show starting around 3:00 PM! Prepare to be wowed by the incredible talent in our community!

Don’t forget...For entry into the talent show, bring a toiletry item to donate to Operation Hope’s shelter. They’ve shared their top-needed items, so let’s make a difference together!

Come for the books, stay for the talent, and leave with a smile (and maybe even a free book)! See you there!

The dance and drama conservatory programs are fundraising through See's candy. Please click on the links below to be taken to their storefronts. A portion of the proceeds support our conservatory dancers and actors here at Vista Academy.

Please contact Ms. Suzy if you are interested in free technology classes for parents.

susanacruz@vistausd.org

Thank you to all the families who came out to the Bulldog Campout! It was so much fun and we raised $3,225 for our school. Each of you who purchased food from the food trucks, bought fun glowy items, our campout shirt, and your entry ticket all contributed, we thank you! A special thank you to the families who donated donuts and our local Starbucks for donating the coffee.

Upcoming Events: Join us at Panda Express on Main Street on Oct. 19 from 11am-9pm for our next Dine Out!! This is the same day as the Festival of the Arts and right in the area, so stop by and grab your lunch or dinner. 20% of the sales go back to our school.

Our Spooktacular Stroll-A-Thon is coming up on October 31st! Registration for the Fun Hub online fundraising platform will begin on October 11, more information to follow!

PTO has brand new, IB inspired VAPA Bulldog shirts for sale. Next week, you can catch us selling them after school on Wednesday and Friday. Shirts are $15 and we only have kids sizes available at this time. Cash and card accepted, in person sales only. All of the proceeds of these shirts go right back to our school.

Thank you For being amazing parents!

It is HIGHLY recommended that you purchase Mobile Device Coverage Protection Plan. Every student has a device assigned to them and they are responsible for their devices all school year.

Renewal begins July 1st and ends June 30th each school year.

This Plan is $20 for two incidents and is available at the following link. https://vusd.myschoolcentral.com/

If you would prefer to pay with cash, please come to the library next week starting on Tuesday Aug 6-9 from 8:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

As an FYI: Cracked or damaged screen replacement per incident = $150

Chromebook total damage replacement per incident = $322

Power adapters are not included in the plan

Sign Up for Before and/or After School Childcare

If you need before and/or after school childcare at Vista Academy, you MUST fill out an application ASAP. All families needing childcare for 24/25. You will need your child's 9-digit student ID, which can be found in parent portal. Please note that this application does not guarantee admission. Please see full flyer for details. Some students may qualify for free care.

English/Spanish Flyer and Application Here

tinyurl.com/AM-PMprogram

In the 2024-2025 school year, all elementary schedules will be changing to include Minimum Day Mondays.

The schedule will be reflected as follows:

Mondays 8:00AM -12:58PM

Tuesday-Friday: 8:00AM- 2:18PM

2024-2025 School Calendar linked HERE

*Gates open at 7:30 AM for breakfast. Students may not be dropped off before 7:30 AM for safety since we do not provide supervision before 7:30.

Breakfast will be available to students before school from 7:30-7:50 AM. Students are welcome to bring a snack to the tables during recess time, but they are encouraged to come to school early if they would like a free breakfast from the cafeteria.

Breakfast and lunch is free for all students at Vista Academy. You do not need to fill out an application.

Fruit and salad bar is also available. For more information please visit:

We love our volunteers and cannot wait to welcome you on campus!

In order for volunteers to help in classrooms or outdoor spaces, here are the requirements:

• Must complete the VUSD Volunteer Application
• Review the Code of Conduct (images below)
• Must complete a TB questionnaire. If you have not had a history of TB, then you do the lab test. Please email our school nurse, Brenda VanDerPol, with any questions at brendavanderpol@vistausd.org.

If you are interested in being an Essential Volunteer, please

1. Submit your paperwork to Ms. AnaKaren in the office.
   
2. Reach out to your teacher for volunteer opportunities OR any of our specialty teachers. Must pre-arrange to volunteer. Thank you!

We look forward to welcoming back all of our volunteers. Thank you for your cooperation!

Please bring your ID when coming into the office. An ID is needed to check students out and all visitors must scan their ID to enter school. Thank you for your help.

There are many ways to support our teachers and students and our Foundation has set up several options for you below.

As a Vista Academy family you are encouraged to register on the Vista Academy Foundation Website. You will have access to all the Foundation/PTO tookit. SIgn up HERE.

To get the most up to date information, ask questions, make comments, and share thoughts with other Vista Academy families, join our “Families of Vista Academy” Facebook group at www.Facebook.com/groups/1692479804104789

• School Parent Compact

• Parent and Family Engagement Policy

The office will be open to assist families from 7:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns. We are here to help in any way we can.

Phone: 760-941-0880

Email:

General Information: anakarengarcia@vistausd.org

Registration/Health/Attendance Concerns:sharonsantiago@vistausd.org

Registration/General Information: rosysimmonds@vistausd.org

Parent Liaison: susanacruz@vistausd.org

Principal: benjiewalker@vistausd.org

Por teléfono celular haga clic en el círculo con la persona de manos extendidas.

Por computadora haga clic en "Translate Newsletter" en el cuadro negro en el lado derecho de la pantalla y luego seleccione su idioma.

Vista Academy's School Accountability Report Card is now available for review on our website (link at the bottom of the page). A hard copy will be made available upon request at our front office.

Vista Unified School District prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, intimidation, and bullying in educational programs, activities, or employment, based on actual or perceived race, color, ancestry, national origin, nationality, immigration status, ethnicity, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital or parental status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender-identity, or gender expression, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. VUSD requires that school personnel take immediate steps to intervene when safe to do so when he or she witnesses an act of discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying.

Email: vistaacademyes@vistausd.org
Website: vapa.vistausd.org
Location: 600 North Santa Fe Avenue, Vista, CA, USA
Phone: 760-941-0880
Twitter: @VistaAVPA