I am so proud to announce that Vista Unified continues to build upon our reputation of excellence and innovation. We began this year focusing on Finding Joy in our Flow. What we mean by this is that the systems we have built are not only focused on amplifying and elevating the achievement of all students, but also ensuring that our learning environments are deliberately designed to promote joy, a sense of belonging and connectedness to each other. Students, teachers, staff, and community partners spend a large part of their lives together, so it makes sense for us to carefully cultivate a sense of community that is joyful. What is most inspiring to me is that we, as a community, are truly creating joyful experiences for students. It is in this spirit that we share the Power of Community Year In Review 2024 that highlights the many different examples of student success as a result of the dedication and love our teachers, staff, parents, and partners have invested to make Vista a joyful community.

Year in Review 2024 English

Year in Review 2024 Spanish

This is the most exciting time of the year for Vista Unified students, staff, and families. Starting with our youngest, kindergarten students are taking their first official promotion steps on their learning journey. These ceremonies are so special because entire extended families attend. Our fifth and eighth grade students are honored for their completion of the grade span pathways. These events are also very well attended, with proud parents and family members showing up with signs and special gifts for their children. All schools host their annual awards ceremonies to recognize unique accomplishments of students and staff for the 2023-24 school year. Finally, seniors are preparing for their most celebrated accomplishment, their graduation ceremony. For families and staff, it is always a heartwarming experience to see excited seniors walk across the stage and receive their high school diploma. This event marks the culmination of more than a decade of learning and achievement. This event also marks the demonstration of the skills and dispositions of our Learner Portrait: kind and confident, capable and knowledgeable, curious and connected learners.

Perhaps the greatest recognition of the accomplishments of the graduating seniors is the breathtaking quantity of scholarships and awards received and the scope of acceptance to institutions of higher education.

We are nearing the end of the annual LCAP (Local Control and Accountability Plan) and Budget development process. During this process, we have engaged almost one thousand students, staff, families, and community members in providing feedback on making revisions. We have a Public Hearing set for June 6, 2024 to gather final feedback from the community. The board will be meeting on June 20, 2024 to review and approve the final LCAP and Budget. Details about these two meetings are posted to the district website: www.vistausd.org.

The Annual VUSD Parent Survey is still open and we are hoping to have final percentages for each school by the end of the week. If you haven’t yet filled it out. please click here. We encourage you to take the survey for each of your children, so you may fill it out more than once.

We are using our new podcast channel to highlight the great work completed in facility improvements across the district. This work includes everything from new structures like multi-story buildings at Vista High School to unseen, but very much-needed, infrastructure updates to vital systems like plumbing and physical plants.

Learn more here.

Podcasts are posted to our website, click here to access all VUSD Podcasts, also available on Apple and Spotify

In this episode, we highlight the many opportunities to prepare students for career pathways that include everything from healthcare to welding. Our Career Technical Education (CTE) Pathways offer a robust and varied selection of classes that even include North County’s first pre-apprenticeship program for the building trades, an expanding sector of the local workforce. These pathways prepare our students for well-paying, in-demand jobs.

Click here to access all VUSD Podcasts, also available on Apple and Spotify

In the 2024-25 school year, our schools will implement late start and early release Mondays to provide dedicated time for staff collaboration. This new schedule aims to enhance the quality of education for students by allowing staff to work together on curriculum planning, professional development, and student support strategies. On these days, students in middle and high schools will begin school one hour later and at elementary, students will be dismissed one hour earlier than usual. We believe this adjustment will foster a more collaborative and effective teaching environment, ultimately benefiting our students’ learning experiences. Please adjust your schedules accordingly and reach out to your school if you have any questions or concerns.

2024-25 School Bell Schedules will be available on the VUSD website and School websites after Jul 1, 2024.

Are you interested in a career in construction? Vista Unified is partnering to bring a free program to North County to explore the building trades and prepare for a future in construction. Housed at Vista Adult School, the program offers an introduction to the tools of the trades, builds up participant’s math skills, and helps students learn to work safely and more.

Additional services include:

• Participants may be eligible to earn a stipend while completing the program

• Assistance with networking and applying for jobs in your field of interest

• Participants who are parents or legal guardians of children under the age of 18 may be eligible to receive financial assistance with childcare costs while enrolled in the program

For more information and to apply please go to https://workforce.org/apprenticeship-readiness

The San Diego County Building & Construction Trades Council has opened registration for their high school girl’s Construction Boot Camps this summer to inspire girls to pursue careers in the Building and Construction industry. There will be two sessions – one from Monday, June 24th through Friday, June 28th and a second from Monday, July 22nd through Friday, July 25th. During each week, participants will receive hands-on training in professional tools and techniques, learn about training programs they can pursue after high school, and explore careers in different construction specializations.

Lunch and snacks will be provided daily to participants as well as personal protective equipment.

As summer approaches, it's essential to ensure our students stay safe while enjoying their well deserved break. Summer play is an essential aspect of childhood, offering numerous benefits for children's physical, emotional, and social development. Here's what summer play means for children:

1. Physical Health: Engaging in outdoor activities like running, swimming, biking, and playing sports helps children stay active, improving their physical fitness, coordination, and overall health.

2. Creativity and Imagination: Summer play often involves unstructured, imaginative activities such as building sandcastles, role-playing, and creating art projects. These activities stimulate creativity and cognitive development.

3. Social Skills: Playing with peers during summer helps children develop important social skills, including communication, cooperation, sharing, and problem-solving. It also provides opportunities to make new friends and strengthen existing friendships.

4. Emotional Well-being: Free play allows children to express their emotions, relieve stress, and experience joy. It fosters a sense of freedom and independence, contributing to their emotional resilience and self-confidence.

5. Connection with Nature: Summer play often takes place outdoors, providing children with a chance to connect with nature. Exploring parks, beaches, and forests fosters an appreciation for the environment and can inspire a lifelong love for nature.

6. Learning and Exploration: Through play, children learn about the world around them. Whether it's discovering how things work, observing wildlife, or engaging in science experiments, play encourages curiosity and a love for learning.

Summer play is a vital part of childhood, offering a holistic blend of physical activity, creativity, social interaction, emotional growth, and learning. We hope you and your family safely enjoy the summer months. See you in August!

It’s not too late to sign up your student to receive counseling services from Healthy Campus (formerly Campus Clinic) during the summer months. Summer services will be delivered via telehealth while schools are closed, but can easily transition to in-person services once school resumes. Signing up is as easy as using the QR code on the flier or calling 855-286-2577.

This was our second year at the Vista Strawberry Festival, where TOSA’s, teachers and student leaders hosted STEM activities, explained our career pathways, and provided information on bike education. Families learned about job opportunities in VUSD, explored the life cycle of a strawberry by planting seeds and making books, and dissected strawberry DNA. Later in the day we continued with DNA origami and models, the AI welding machine and circuit-building with Little Bits. We’re excited for next year’s activities and want to thank the Chamber of Commerce for their partnership and amazing festival!

Did you know you need a permit to ride your bike to school? VUSD has a new protocol to help educate students and keep them safe. We have partnered with the City of Vista to support these virtual educational classes taught by San Diego County Bike Coalition (SDCBC) over summer. The next course is on June 15th. Don’t wait until August to get your permit, register for the one hour classes today! Our website has the most up to date information regarding protocols, events and classes. The city has also started a new rebate program for e-bikes, if you’re a Vista resident you might qualify.

We are excited to announce that we adopted a new form of school-to-home communication at Vista Unified School District called ParentSquare for the 2024-2025 school year. This unified communications platform is designed to keep parents and guardians informed and encourage greater engagement and connection. It provides a safe way for district administrators, school principals, teachers, staff, and parents to:

• Send and receive school and class information

• Share pictures and files

• See calendar items

• Sign up to volunteer

• Schedule parent-teacher conferences

• and much more . . . all in one centralized place!

Parents—Getting Started Video

ParentSquare Resumen - Espanol

ParentSquare Resources

All district and school, grade level and classroom information will now be sent to your computer or phone via email and/or text. For even more convenience, download the ParentSquare app (available for free for iOS and Android devices).

• iOS App - Apple Store

• Android App - Google Play Store
  

We will send an invitation to join ParentSquare later this month.

Have questions? Click the question mark in the top right corner of the desktop version or the Help tab on the app (tap the triple bar icon at the top left) to find answers to most of your questions.

Email: webmaster@vistausd.org
Website: vistausd.org
Location: 1234 Arcadia Avenue, Vista, CA, USA
Phone: (760) 726-2170
Twitter: @VistaBlueprint