Spartan Weekly Update Dec 9-14
Week at a Glance
See What's Happening This Week
Mon. Dec 9
Regular Monday
SPIRIT DRESS UP: PAJAMA DAY
Tue. Dec 10
Odd Day
SPIRIT DRESS UP: WEAR BLUE & WHITE
Winter Festival Choir Concert 7 pm @ United Methodist Church
Wed. Dec 11
Even Day
SPIRIT DRESS UP: WEAR YOUR SLIPPERS
Thurs. Dec 12
Odd Day
E-Bike Safety Training - Library @ Lunch
SPIRIT DRESS UP: FUZZY SOCKS
Band Winter Concert - PAC @ 7 pm
Fri. Dec 13
Even Day
SPIRIT DRESS UP: BRING A STUFFED ANIMAL TO SCHOOL
Sat. December 14
Saturday School - 8am-12pm Rm 205
11th Grade Fundraiser: Chipotle on Tustin 4pm-8pm
Double Credit if students have Holiday Attire
SPARTA SPIRIT - DRESS UP DAYS
Farewell, Spartans - Mr. Simons
Dear Villa Park Community,
It is with mixed feelings that I would like to let you all know that I will be leaving Villa Park High School.
Last year my wife and I started an education consulting business that provides services for rural districts throughout the state of Oregon. It has been highly successful, and this has required my wife to move to Oregon full-time. Having our family live apart is obviously less than ideal. In light of this, I began looking at job opportunities in Oregon and have been offered the position of Director of Communications for a small district in central Oregon (near Bend, if you know the area).
While I am excited to learn a new job and to be reunited with my family, I want to let the VP community know that my time at VPHS has been the best 3 years of my 25 years in education. The students, staff, and community have been amazing to work with and I will always be grateful for the connections I made here. I consider myself very fortunate to have met and worked with you all. I have loved being a Spartan and I want to thank you all for welcoming me into this community.
I wish you all the best in the future!
Sincerely,
Rich Simons, Assistant Principal
Administration Updates
12 Days of Detention - Dec. 5-20
Happy Holidays, Spartans!
I'm writing to let you know about the "12 Days of Detention" which will give students a chance to earn credit for detentions in fun and festive ways. Here are the instructions and details:
- Listen to daily announcements for a specific challenge or trivia question. Follow the instructions to play and hopefully win.
- Dress for the holidays on Fridays and at Saturday School - double credit (8 detentions cleared) December 7 and 14
- Prizes for winning challenges include:
- 2 Detentions Cleared
- 5 Detentions Cleared
- All Detentions Cleared - ONE WINNER PER GRADE LEVEL ANNOUNCED DEC. 12!!
If you have detentions, please be sure to serve them at lunch or Saturday School to remove yourself from the "naughty" list.
E-BIKE MANDATORY SAFETY TRAINING DEC. 12th @ Lunch
Join us in the Library on Thursday, Dec. 12 at lunch and hear from Deputy McDermott.
Class of 2025 Scholars with Distinction
Congratulations to the 132 seniors who have been recognized as Scholars with Distinction. These seniors earned Proficient or Advanced scores in state testing in both English and Math. They will be recognized with a distinguished cord to be worn at graduation in June.
State testing for 11th graders this school year will take place in March 2025.
Short Day / Athletic Periods - Must Have Student ID
🚨 STUDENTS MUST HAVE THEIR PHYSICAL STUDENT ID CARD IN ORDER TO LEAVE CAMPUS. 🚨
For increased safety of our students on campus, VPHS Admin and Security Team are beginning to scan student ID cards as they leave campus on a "short day" or "athletic" period. Student ID numbers are scanned and our 5-star system keeps a log of exit times each day.
Students found without their ID will be subject to the following consequences for multiple ID violations.
- Call to Parents
- Lunch Detention Assigned
Serve Your Assigned Detentions
- Students may join lunch detention Monday - Friday even if you do not receive a call slip
- Have Unexcused Absences? Parents must contact the attendance office to clear. See Mrs. Zlaket in Counseling to remove assigned Saturday School
- How many detentions do I have? CLICK HERE to find out
- Seniors: Students who do not serve detentions or Saturday school will not participate in SENIOR ACTIVITIES the last week of school.
Math Tutoring Available
Need help with Math? We encourage students to attend our Morning Math Tutoring, led by our very own Math teachers Ms. Petrella and Ms. Capriles.
- Double Zero Period (7:35 - 8:24) - Room 213 - Ms. Petrella
- Zero Period (8:30 - 9:20) - Room 206 - Ms. Capriles
These tutoring options are available for ALL STUDENTS.
5-Star - Schoolwide App for Students
This year we will be using the 5-Star Students program at VP to maintain safety on campus and to help students increase their involvement on campus. Students can earn points for attending events and participating in activities.
Student Conduct Guidance 24-25
- Student Attendance: Students who arrive late to class after the bell rings for each period are tardy. There is a 6-minute passing period to move from class to class. Students who earn 4 tardies will be assigned a lunch detention. We appreciate parent support in encouraging students to be prompt and show up to classes on time!
- Student Conduct Guidelines 24-25: Outline of student behavior and consequences administered by Student Services (Discipline). Please take a moment to review school policies on the following topics:
- Attendance Policy
- Saturday School & Loss of Activities
- Lunch Detention
- Campus Deliveries
- Dress Code
- Student Parking
Click Here to Review Student Conduct Guidelines 24-25
- Attendance: Parents must call or deliver a note to the Attendance Office within 72 hours to clear a student's absence. Students will be held accountable for their attendance through lunch detentions or Saturday School for unexcused absences. If a student is absent from school, they must provide an excuse for an absence (Illness, Personal, Medical Appointment, etc.). Calls to attendance can be made to (714) 532-8020.
Winter Festival 2025 - Dec. 10
Tickets for our Winter Festival 2024 are now available! Come support VPHS Vocal Music and see a wonderful variety of holiday music you’ll certainly enjoy, being performed by our amazing ensembles!
Tickets are available on our website and will also be sold in the breezeway, starting next week. The link is in our bio, so make sure you buy your tickets before they sell out! ❄️⛄️
SENIOR YEARBOOK ADS 2024-2025
Hello all Senior Parents,
SENIOR PORTRAITS AND PARENT AD DEADLINES FOR THE YEARBOOK ARE COMING UP.
· PARENT AD INFORMATION: If you would like to purchase a PARENT AD, or space in the yearbook to include fun photos of your student from their childhood along with a kind message, please see the order form attached below. Deadline for submission is February 7th.
· SENIOR PORTRAIT INFORMATION: If you have not yet had your Senior Portraits taken you must schedule an appointment with PSS Imaging by either calling 714-630-7785 or visiting their website (https://www.pssimaging.net/seniors1). Please make every effort to have your portrait taken before the end of January.
· YEARBOOK PURCHASE: Don’t forget, you can still buy our 2024-25 Yearbook! They are $175 and you may pay on the VPHS Webstore or in the principal’s office.
· Lastly, should you have any questions please email Mr. Hill at ghill@orangeusd.org.
Thank you for your support,
Mr. Hill and the Odyssey Staff
HOSA - Guatemala Service Project
Donate an oral hygiene kit to send to Guatemala. The kits can be donated in Mrs. Porter class, 301. The oral hygiene kit must contain:
1 Toothbrush
1 Travel-sized toothpaste
1 Travel-sized mouthwash
1 Thread floss (No floss picks)
Our goal is to obtain 125 kits by January! Please help us make this possible, the people who donate the most can obtain a prize.
VPHS Grad Night (and Day!) 2025
Your year. Your Park. Your Party! Villa Park High School seniors 2025, get ready for an incredible day and night at the Disneyland Resort! We are headed to the Happiest Place on Earth for one final day/night of high school memories on Friday, June 13th!
Your Grad Nite Ticket includes:
- Breakfast and Check-in from 7:30am to 9:00am @ VPHS
- Transportation to & from Disneyland - Leave VPHS on Friday, June 13th @ 9:15am & returning to VPHS on Saturday, June 14th @ 3am (approximation)
- ALL DAY Disney Park Hopper ticket
- After Hours Grad Nite Private Event ticket (at California Adventure)
- Money for snacks during the event
EARLY BIRD PRICE- $279-Prices go up January 20th!
If you have any questions, please contact Jodi Kraft at (714) 338-9306 or by email at jodikraft5@gmail.com. Thank you!
AVID Seniors Visit Cal Poly Pomona
On Wednesday 12/4, 60 of our AVID students from all grades had the opportunity to visit Cal Poly Pomona and take a campus tour. VP AVID students were able to see what life is like as a Cal Poly Pomona Mustang and learn more about majors, academics, and student life first-hand from their student tour guides. College visits are one of the special benefits of the AVID program.
CASH 4 COLLEGE WORKSHOP - DEC. 16
Dear Villa Park High School Senior Families,
We are excited to invite you to our upcoming Cash for College event, a valuable opportunity for seniors and their families to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or CADAA (California Dream Act Application).
Event Details:
📅 Date: Monday, December 16th
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📍 Location: Villa Park High School Library
As part of a new California law, all graduating seniors are required to complete a financial aid application. Filing your FAFSA or CADAA is essential for students to:
- Be eligible for the California Promise Grant, which offers FREE tuition at all California community colleges.
- Qualify for a Cal Grant, which provides financial assistance for college expenses.
Through our partnership with Santiago Canyon College, this event is open to all Villa Park High School seniors and their families, regardless of where students plan to attend college in the fall.
Financial aid experts will be available to provide step-by-step guidance in completing your application, ensuring you have the support you need to unlock these important financial aid opportunities. Spanish translation is available.
What to Bring:
- Social Security Number (if applicable)
- 2023 tax information for you and your parents
- Your Student Aid Report (if already started)
- Any other financial or identifying documents
We strongly encourage all senior families to attend this event and take advantage of this chance to make college more affordable! Please RSVP using the QR code on the attached flyer.
We look forward to seeing you there!
College Planning Checklist
Parent vs. Student Responsibilities
Which College Admission Process best suits you?
Counselor Assignments & Contacts 2024-2025
A - C - Lauren Bartelli
D - H - Jeremy Bulrice
I - M - Jason Pham
N - R - Shasta Campbell
S - Z - Doreen Valentin
Spartan Wellspace - Agnes Cimino
Meet the Spartan Staff
Jaquelyn Chamberlain-Senior Administrative Assistant
Written by: Nolan Tao
Graduating from Savannah High School in 1996, Mrs. Jaquelyn Chamberlain was active on her campus’s volleyball and softball teams. She was also a part of the ASB, where she contributed to the spirit and activities of her school. Upon graduation, Mrs. Chamberlain attended Fullerton College, then transferred to California State University, Fullerton, where she majored in business and management. During college, Mrs. Chamberlain was active in the education world. Before coming to Villa Park, she worked at Sycamore Elementary as a substitute administrative assistant covering the Orange Unified School District. Starting in 2015, Mrs. Chamberlain has contributed her many years here as the secretary to the principal. When asked about her favorite part of the job, Mrs. Chamberlain loves the staff, students, and having the opportunity to see her kids develop while attending high school at Villa Park. Outside of school, Mrs. Chamberlain loves dancing, motorcycle riding, and, heading out to the river to go jet skiing and boating.
Holly Clarke-Art Teacher
Written by: Nolan Tao
Joining our Spartan family just this year, Mrs. Clark currently serves Villa Park High School as an art teacher. Coming from neighboring Esperanza High School, Mrs. Clark was active in her school’s art scene, an area in which she learned to love and develop. She would go on to attend California State University, Fullerton where she majored in Art. Mrs. Clark’s passion for not just art, but education extends far and wide. Prior to joining Villa Park High School, Mrs. Clark previously worked at Richland Continuation School and Esperanza, her alma mater. Having the opportunity to work with such an amazing group of staff, administrators and students is an experience she has valued the most while working here.
Athletics
Boys Soccer Wins Walnut Tourney
CHAMPS 🏆 After an undefeated tournament with many close games, the boys have won!! Jerry Herrera scored both goals in the final, including one in the last 3 minutes which saw him win player of the tournament. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE BOYS AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYONES SUPPORT💙
Lady Spartans Take 1st!
Congratulations to Girls Basketball for its 8-0 record, defeating St. Margaret's in a defensive battle to claim the 8th Annual VP-Brea Olinda Winter Shootout Tournament on Saturday (12/7). This is the best start for the Lady Spartans since 2011!
VP Wrestling Takes 1st!
Congrats to our Spartan Boys wrestling team who won the team 1st place award at the Mater Dei Individual Tournament!
Join Girls' Wrestling
There is still time to join VP Girl's Wrestling. Come check it out this week. Practices, Monday-Friday 4:50pm-6:30pm
VPHS MINI DANCE CLINIC - Feb. 1, 2025
We can’t wait to dance with you again this year! Join us for our Mini Dancer Clinic! All students grades TK-8th are invited! Dancers will learn a halftime routine at our clinic and perform at a Spartan basketball game halftime!
Support VPHS Cheer
Support VPHS Baseball
Interested in Joining a Sport?
Contact our Athletic Director, Tom Fox tfox@orangeusd.org
Follow VPHS Teams on Social Media!
Please check out the VP Sports schedule for the latest game schedule, results, and events.
If you are on Instagram, follow our teams to stay updated on game results, schedules, and other team-related events:
- VPHS Boys Basketball
- VPHS Girls Basketball
- VPHS Hockey
- VPHS Rugby (NEW)
- VPHS Boys Soccer
- VPHS Girls Soccer
- VPHS Girls Wrestling (NEW)
- VPHS Wrestling
- VPHS Aquatics - Water Polo Boys (Fall) Girls (Winter) Swimming (Spring)
- VPHS Cheer & Stunt
- VPHS Cross Country (Fall)
- VPHS esports
- VPHS Football (Fall)
- VPHS Flag Football (Fall)
- VPHS Girls Golf (Fall)
- VPHS Girls Tennis (Fall)
- VPHS Girls Volleyball (Fall)
- VPHS Baseball (Spring)
- VPHS Boys Golf (Spring)
- VPHS Boys Volleyball (Spring)
- VPHS Softball (Spring)
- VPHS Boys Tennis (Spring)
- VPHS Track & Field (Spring)
Thank You To Our Cheer Sponsor
Upcoming Events
Dec. 19 - Final Exams - Minimum Day ODD
Dec. 20 - Final Exams - Minimum Day EVEN
Dec. 20 - Last Day of 1st Semester
Dec. 23 - Jan. 10 - Winter Break
February 22: Winter Formal
VPHS Fundrasing Opportunities
We’re happy to announce that a new webpage has been created, in response to parent feedback, to collect all fundraiser events that occur throughout the school year. VPHS Fundraiser Events is now open for all sports teams and boosters, clubs, classes, and VPHS-affiliated organizations who wish to promote their upcoming fundraisers.
Should you wish you promote your event, please contact Mr. Pongco at jpongco@orangeusd.org. We are able to feature events on our newsletter, this new webpage, and in school email broadcasts to our parents and students.
Free and Public Education Notice
Section 5 of Article IX of the state of California constitution guarantees students a "free public education". Any requests financial requests from coaches or teachers shall be donations and therefore not required to participate.
Villa Park is a public school, which means we offer a free public education. Any fees attached to events, such as field trips, are requested as a donation from families. Your child will not be excluded from the event if you are unable to donate for a school day field trip or program.
OUSD Annual Notice of Nondiscrimination (UCP)
Orange Unified School District annually notifies its students, employees, parents or guardians of its students, the district advisory committee, school advisory committees, appropriate private school officials, and other interested parties of the Uniform Complaint Procedures (UCP) process.
The UCP Annual Notice is available on the district's website.
The Orange Unified School District is primarily responsible for compliance with federal and state laws and regulations, including those related to unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying against any protected group, and all programs and activities that are subject to the UCP.
Villa Park High School Assistant Principal | Curriculum & Instruction