VRA and IS Newsletter 10/13/24

Happy Sunday Independence School and Valley Robotics Academy Families,

Welcome back Independence School Families and Staff from the Fall Break. During the Fall Break the Staff and students continued to forge full steam ahead with learning, a few elementary grades field trips and preparation for the second quarter of the school year. The campus received some needed upgrades and sprucing up over the past two weeks by district facilities and maintenance & operations teams.

As you know the Fall Festival is 10 days away. All are welcome from our school community and family & friends. The Fall festival is intended to be a fun time to gather as a school community after hours, celebrate the good and fundraise for some of the extra's. We are all looking forward to a fun evening.

Coming the week of October 28 to November 1, is Red Ribbon Week for the students run by the students with guidance from staff.

Please continue to look for opportunities to get your student involved on campus and even a time to volunteer or get involved on or around campus. Student engagement and family involvement are known factors in student success.

A group of students with staff assistance are planning a spirit week and a separate Halloween Parade on (10/31)

Reminder: If you need to get ahold of anyone on our site regardless of which program (Independence or VRA), we can be reached at one phone number — (209) 331-8008.

Thank you for all you do as parents/guardians!

Dear VRA Families:

Parents, unfortunately, I have not received many College Early Start applications. I cannot stress it enough how vital it is that students complete this form as soon as possible. Enrollment starts as early as Monday, October 14th. Please have students check their LUSD email for directions on how to check their enrollment day and time.

The College Early Start forms has already opened online on Monday, September 30th. This form must be completed to enroll in classes for the Spring semester. Students were emailed the link for the application, and it was posted on my Google Classroom.

The Spring schedule for Delta has been posted. Please take time to view classes with your student to start planning out their schedule for the Spring. Please remember that when enrolling in classes, the class must start at 12:00 p.m. or later and no Friday classes.

For 10th Grade and above, students must enroll in Biology 10 as this is a requirement. The only other option is to take the class during summer school.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Gabby Nunez, High School Counselor

Welcome back, Independence Students!

Next month, there will be a new equipment from Magnitude called ExoLab in the Library where students can experiment the conditions of an organism called Medicago truncatula (barrel medic or barrel clover) that is sending to grow on the International Space Station. Students will track and measure the temperature, humidity, lux level, and carbon dioxide level in the ExoLab. M. truncatula provides valuable insights into legume biology, symbiotic nitrogen fixation, and plant genetics. It is a great model organism for research in plant biology and agriculture. For more information, check out their website.

The flyer and diagram of the ExoLab are shown below.

Students, you can show commitment and awareness to a healthy, drug-free lifestyle by participating in Red Ribbon Spirit Week from Monday, October 28th to Friday, November 1st! Each day will be a different theme. More information can be found below in the flyer.

VRA Seniors, Excel Photographers will be on campus on Monday, November 4th at 8:30 a.m. to take your portraits! You MUST book your appointment on their online scheduling tool as walk-in appointments WILL NOT be photographed.

VRA and Independence’s annual Fall Festival will be held on Wednesday, October 23rd from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. here on campus! VRA Parents Club is requesting for help and assistance in order to make this event a success. For every 30-minute shift, volunteers will receive 5 tickets where they can use it for themselves or give it away to someone else. If you are interested in volunteering, then please scan the QR code found below in the flyer or go to this link to sign up. If you have any questions, then feel free to email VRA Parents Club at vraparents@gmail.com.

One of the activities at the Fall Festival is Trunk or Treat! If you are interested in decorating your trunk and passing out candy, then please sign up to volunteer for this activity. Whether you are participating or not, any candy donations are welcomed!

Another activity at the Fall Festival is Raffle Baskets! Information about this activity and donations can be found below in the flyers.

Independence students will have their photos taken on Thursday, November 14th at 10:30 a.m.! There will be more information to follow.

Join VRA’s 8th Grade VEX Robotics Team as they compete in the VEX Robotics Competition Leagues. The dates, times, and location can be found below in the flyer. Everyone is welcomed and encouraged to cheer them on!

The first competition is on Saturday, November 2nd at 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at San Joaquin County Office of Education’s FabLab.

VRA Families, please notify the office of student absences at (209) 331-8008 before school starts. Your student may have to make up work, so be sure to contact their teacher(s).

Independence Families, please notify the office of student absences at (209) 331-8008 before their first class starts. Make sure that your student notifies their teachers via email as well.

VRA Families, please continue to follow the signage and cones to complete the oval. Please pull forward for a quick drop-off or pick-up. If you need a little more time to get situated, then please pull into an empty parking spot, so that others can completely pull forward to safely drop off or pick up their students.

Just a reminder that the gate will open at 7:45 a.m. for drop-off and close at 8:45 a.m. If you are running late, then please drop off your student at the front gate where the office is located at for them to be buzzed in. Student drivers, if you are running late, then please use the call button at the gate to be buzzed in.

For afternoon pick-up, the gate will open at 2:25 p.m. If you arrive early and the gate happens to open because someone is exiting, then please help us keep our campus safe and secure by remaining outside the perimeter until 2:25 p.m.

High School Students, are you interested in planning fun school events and activities? If so, then consider joining the Student Planning Committee. For more information, you may contact Victoria Reynolds at v.reynolds1@lodiusd.org or (209) 693-0252.

The 8th Grade VEX Robotics Team’s practices are held from 2:35 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays in Room P-5, Robotics Lab. See Ms. KG for more information!

VRA Esports Team’s Season 1 has begun and will last until Thursday, November 7th! VALORANT is on Mondays and Tuesdays right after school. For more information, see Mr. Warner in P-15.

Dear Parents/Guardians of 7th to 12th Grade Students,

We are very excited to introduce our new college and career readiness platform, SchooLinks!

All of the SchooLinks features are designed with students in mind to help them become career, college, and life-ready. As parents/guardians, you will have access to SchooLinks through your own account. This allows you to join your students in their career and college exploration process and discuss their future with them.

SchooLinks allows you to have informed conversations with your students by:

• Viewing your student’s career interest, strength, and mindset assessments
• Seeing what colleges and careers your student has favorited
• Comparing college costs and explore expected financial aid, scholarships, and out-of-pocket expenses