Bulldog News

Hello Vista Academy Families,

Just a friendly reminder that progress report cards came home with your kids on Friday, March 14. Please be sure to ask them for their report card so you can take a look and see how they're doing. It's a great way to stay in the loop with their progress! You can reach out through ParentSquare to your child's teacher with any questions.

Have a great evening,

Mar 14: Progress Report Cards Sent Home

Mar. 25: Chick Fil-A Dine Out Fundraiser

Mar 26: STEM 2 Career Expo, 5:00 PM at Vista High School

Mar. 28: Third Grade Bulldog Family Luncheon

Mar 31 - Apr 4: Spring Break, No School

Apr 10: Arts Under the Stars: Steel Drums Performance

Apr 11: Arts Under the Stars: Theatre, Mariachi, Spirit Squad, and The Pack Perform

Apr 17: Open House

April 18 and 19: Frozen, Jr.

May 2: IB Exhibition

May 5: Staff Appreciation Week

May 29: Reclassification Ceremony

May 30: Kindergarten Promotion

Jun 3: 5th Grade Promotion

Jun 4: Last Day of School, Minimum Day

Every Monday is a Minimum Day

School Year Calendar -- Calendario Escolar

We need you to complete the California Healthy Kids online survey to learn more about your opinions. This survey is an opportunity to communicate your perceptions about your child’s school.

Your participation is voluntary. It is also very important. The information you provide will help guide district and school efforts to promote safety, enhance learning supports, and improve student achievement.

• This is an anonymous survey. It is designed so that no one can be identified from the data. You do not have to respond to any questions that you feel could be used to identify you. Simply skip any such questions.

• All questions apply to this school only.

• The results are for the use of your district. The California Department of Education and WestEd will preserve data confidentiality and refer any data requests to the district.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ACCESSING THE SURVEY

If you have more than one child at this school, you will only need to complete one survey for this school. Please fill out just one survey about the school using your oldest child as a reference.

After the first page of the survey, you will be able to change the language to one of 18 options.

California Healthy Kids Survey Link

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the STEM2Career Expo—an amazing event that brings together the best of STEM and CTE opportunities! Mark your calendars for Wednesday, March 26th, from 5:00pm - 7:00pm at Vista High School Save The Date Flyers.

This dynamic expo will spotlight:

- Authentic STEM Experiences from all VUSD students, TK-12th grade

- The incredible CTE Pathways offered at our high schools

- A hands-on STEM Challenge: Catapults (fun for all ages!)

- Local businesses showcasing potential internship opportunities for students

This event is open to all VUSD families and the wider Vista community. It’s a fantastic chance to celebrate student achievements, explore career pathways, and spark interest in future opportunities!

IBPYP Corner:

These past few weeks I have read this book: The Anxious Generation: The Great Rewiring of Childhood. It has been an eye-opening read for a parent of a middle school student. If you have the opportunity to, please read this book. If not, here is a brief synopsis of the book.

The Anxious Generation: The Great Rewiring of Childhood is a must-read for parents who are concerned about the impact of smartphones and social media on their children’s mental health. In this eye-opening book, Jonathan Haidt explores how childhood has dramatically changed in the past decade—moving away from real-world play and independence toward screen-based, socially isolated experiences.

📌 Key Takeaways for Parents:

• 📱 Delay Smartphones Until 9th Grade

• 🎾 Let Your Kids Play and be independent

• 🗣️ Talk to Your Children

🎥 Watch this insightful video about this important topic for your younger children: How Every Child Can Thrive by Five

By making mindful choices about technology and encouraging real-world connections, parents can help their children grow up happier, healthier, and more resilient.

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

susanacruz@vistausd.org

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/

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

All elementary schedules 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

Please contact the school at 760-941-0880 or complete form to resolve this absence. Report absence: https://forms.gle/xRmHaZHzSpVKtvNp6

Please email medical notes to sharonsantiago@vistausd.org and anakarengarcia@vistausd.org to excuse the absense.

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