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Dear VUSD Families,

We want to provide you with an update as it relates to our students and families that we support.

I was recently appointed to serve as the Interim Assistant Superintendent of Educational Excellence and Innovation, and Steffanie Rupp was also appointed to Interim Director of Special Education. Steffanie and I bring a wealth of experience, dedication, and a deep commitment to the success of our students, staff, and community.

We are excited to begin our new roles and are looking forward to working closely with our teams to continue fostering an environment of growth, innovation, and excellence. We remain focused on supporting our students and ensuring they have the resources and opportunities needed to succeed. Together, we will continue to strive for educational excellence and inclusivity for all learners.

Thank you for your ongoing support as we embark on this new chapter.

Sincerely,

Nereida Gutierrez and Steffanie Rupp

We would like to thank everyone who joined us for our in person workshop this past Tuesday! We hope you gained valuable strategies to support your students at home.

Workshop led by: Katherine Abraham VATC Principal, Steffanie Rupp Interim Director, Bill Foley and Casey Lynn Program Supervisors.

• Vista Unified School District Workshop
• Inclusion Workshop, Tuesday, January 14, 2025, 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm at the VIC


• North Coastal Consortium for Special Education NCCSE Workshops
• Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) - Implementation Strategies for Communication Partners at Home and School, Tuesday, December 10, 2024, from 8:30 am to 11:30 am In-person and Live Online
• Parenting The Love and Logic Way, Jan 8, 15, 22, 29 Feb 5, 12, 2025 4 pm - 6 pm Online
• Community Advisory Committee CAC Meeting, January 15th at 6pm
• Virtual Book Club, Jan 22, 29, Feb 5, 2025, 3 pm - 4 pm Online
• Recreational Resource Fair, Saturday, February 8, 2025, 10 am - 12 pm

If you have any questions about the workshops or need assistance with registration, please contact our Special Education Community Liaison, Doris Cruz, at (760) 726-2170 extension 92914 or via email at doriscruz@vistausd.org. (Bilingual)

VIC MPR: 836 Olive Ave, Vista 92083

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfQEdl8d5niiZIe_jyk9yo_yhmxvHGMMDGCTL59NtQ-TZ3wXQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

Please review the special education calendar to find a sessions that interest you. Each workshop is designed to support and inform families throughout the school year.

Our office is open to assist you. Our operating hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m to 4:30 p.m. You can find us at the District office located at 1234 Arcadia Avenue, Vista, CA 92084.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us by phone at (760) 726-2170 or by email at specialeducationdepartment@vistausd.org.

We are here to help!

NCCSE offers free training opportunities for parents and guardians. If you are interested in attending any of their upcoming workshops, please make sure to register online.

Link to view NCCSE upcoming workshops: https://www.nccse.org/families/workshops-for-families

If you have questions or need help with registration, please contact our Special Education Community Liaison, Doris Cruz at (760) 726-2170 extension 92914.

Tuesday, December 10th, from 8:30 am - 11:30 am

Learn strategies and ideas to create communication opportunities using AAC during the course of everyday classroom and home activities. Utilize a variety of AAC systems and conversational targets to enhance vocabulary for the AAC user utilizing the principles of Aided Language Stimulation, Descriptive Teaching Models, and Motor Planning to increase expressive output in children who are using AAC.

Register: http://sdcoe.k12oms.org/884-251251

Location: Via Zoom

This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with other parents from various school districts, build a supportive network, and gain valuable insights into available community resources.

Come meet our VUSD CAC representatives at the next meeting!

Next meeting date: January 15, 2025 at 6:00 PM

Where: 255 Pico Ave, San Marcos, CA 92069 (In-person and Online)

When: January 15, 2025 at 6pm

Where: In person and Online 255 Pico Avenue, San Marcos, CA 92069

If you are unable to attend in person, watch online by registering at: https://sdcoe.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nGso0b6HQDm0zid48KouVw

Location: 255 Pico Avenue, San Marcos 92069

Set sail with EFRC to improve your educational advocacy skills with all-new, interactive workshops.

Upcoming Workshop Date: Monday, December 9 from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

• Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEpcuqrrTojE9KzkdtQLkihevcoWe5HeVF0

Thursday, December 12, 2024, 5:15pm EST - 6:30pm EST

We are fortunate to have a pediatric dentist and a certified dental assistant who provide specialized dental care to children with autism. They will share some behavioral intervention strategies to make a visit to the dentist less stressful, including preparing the office and support staff, their unique pretreatment assessment forum, the team huddle before the visit, debriefing after the visit, and other ideas for addressing challenging behaviors within the dental setting.

Presenters: Dr. Oscar Padilla, DDS, Associate Professor of Clinical Dentistry, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Nova Southwestern University, and Krystal Eischen Olsen, BS, CDA, Grant Program Manager, Department of Oral Science and Translational Research, Nova Southeastern University.

This webinar is free, so register now!
Once you register, you will receive an email within 48 hours to confirm your attendance. We will provide you with the webinar link closer to the event date.

If your child qualifies for transportation during the school year per their IEP, and you require transportation please make sure you have fill out a new transportation form for the 2024-25 school year and return the form to the special education department.

If you recently submitted a transportation form please allow 5-10 business days for the student to be routed.

Bus routes will be confirmed by the transportation department the day before the student is ready to be routed.

If you need to update your recently submitted transportation form, please contact the Special Education Department at (760) 726-2170, extension 92914 or email at specialeducationdept@vistausd.org

***Just a reminder that not all students qualify for transportation.***

Our Special Education Department has a bilingual community liaison at the district office to answer any questions you may have about VUSD and community resources for your students. Feel free to contact Doris Cruz for assistance.

doriscruz@vistausd.org

(760) 726-2146 extension 92914

For additional information about Special Education services, please feel free to explore the links provided below.

Make sure to follow the Special Education Department on Twitter/X to stay up-to-date on VUSD and community events!

• Certificated:

  • Education Specialist - Mild/Moderate Teacher (2024/2025 school year)

  • Education Specialist - Moderate/Severe Teacher $5,000 hiring bonus)
  • Speech Language Pathologist - Special Education

  • Substitute School Psychologist - Special Education

  • Substitute Speech Language Pathologist - Special Education

  
  

  Classified:

  • INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT-BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION

  • SPECIAL EDUCATION ASSISTANT IV-SH/PH

  • INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT II-LH/CH/RSP