Sandia Vista Elementary
Principal Monthly Newsletter - March 2025
Note from Mr. DeSoto and Mrs. Northness
Dear Sandia Vista Families,
As we transition into the spring season, we want to take a moment to express our appreciation for your continued support and partnership. Together, we are creating a nurturing environment for our students to thrive. Please also remember as the weather changes our outside temperatures fluctuates and students may need to bring jackets.
- Bring a jacket if it is cold out.
- Shorts should be of appropriate length
- Open toe shoes are discouraged especially on P.E. days
- No tank tops / jerseys without a t-shirt underneath
Please mark all of your child(s) belongings with their name.
This practice helps us return lost jackets and other items quickly.
Important Announcements
We are excited to share that we have been working with Dr. Cleveland to schedule a Parent Information Night. This event will provide important insights regarding the implementation of Arts Integrated practices at Sandia Vista.
- Date: April 1, 2025
- Time: 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
We invite all families to join us for this exciting opportunity to learn more about how these practices will enhance our students' learning experiences. Your participation is invaluable to our community!
Celebrations from the Week
We are thrilled to report that Parent-Teacher Conferences have gone wonderfully! It has been a joy to see so many families in the building this past week. Your involvement is crucial to the success of our students, and we appreciate the time you dedicate to these important conversations.
Additional Information
Please remember to mark your calendars for the upcoming state testing dates for grades 3-5. Your support in preparing our students for these assessments is greatly appreciated.
As we begin Spring Break, we hope you all enjoy some well-deserved time off. We look forward to seeing everyone back at school on Monday, March 24th!
Thank you for your ongoing support in making Sandia Vista a wonderful place for our students. We cherish the strong partnership between our school and families, and we are excited about the future as we continue to work together for the benefit of our children.
Mr. DeSoto & Mrs. Northness
Spring State Testing
We have gotten many phone calls in the office trying to plan appointments around testing.
Parents also remember that NO smartwatches or wireless earbuds are allowed.
Spring Testing for 3rd through 5th grade is as follows:
Instruction - Ms. Gonzales
At the end of February, we had a successful visit with Sean Layne, author and creator of Acting Right. Students were successful by learning to truly work as a team, taking accountability for self, and feeling the success of accomplishment. Arts integration will allow us to uphold common expectations and language so that students can feel empowered through their successes.
The Kennedy Center defines arts integration as follows:
Arts Integration is an approach to teaching in which students construct and demonstrate understanding through an art form.
Students engage in a creative process which connects an art from and another subject area and meets evolving objectives in both.
Community Partners
Related Arts
Visual Arts
March News from the Art Room
There is another big art show for students at the Rio Rancho District Office this month. The annual RRPS Elementary District Art Show will be on display in the District Office Training
Center from March 14 - April 4th. The opening reception is March 25th from 4:30-6pm. Parents will be contacted if your students’ art was selected to be on display. Everyone is invited and if you get a chance to see the show you will be delighted by the artwork of elementary students from across the district from Kindergarten through 5th grade. I am excited that our school will have over 30 artworks on display!
Recently, students have been learning how to use the art room during our artist studio time. They are able to explore tools and materials and create independently while maintaining the artist studio space and have displayed lots of growth and maturity in the space! I always enjoy watching them explore and create on their own. Students will continue to explore materials as we start to wrap up the end of our school year with some fun puppets and animal sculptures!
Thank you for your continued support of the arts here at Sandia Vista Elementary!
Let me know if you have any questions! Heather Armstrong
Music
It’s been a very busy month for music! One of our Choirs just had their first performance at the NM Runner’s game and our other Choir will be performing for April 14th’s Board Meeting. We also just wrapped up another successful District VI Music Festival this last Saturday. It was so nice to see so many students and families from Central New Mexico in attendance. Our Sandia Vista students, as always, represented us so well!
Counseling
This month’s focus is Cooperation. One way to think about Cooperation is “working together to reach shared goals.” We will discuss how it applies to home, school and play. In Addition, what are some goals they share? Cooperation is 1 of 3 traits we will focus on throughout the year that helps students Be Kind. Across grade levels, students will be developing skills like perspective-taking, conflict resolution, and leadership.
STEAM
This month in our Steam program, we are continuing to learn about Ozobots and color coding.
Currently, we are using these robots to simulate frogs jumping from lily pad to lily pad in search
of food. We are also exploring other coding activities, such as Compute It and Little Dot.
Additionally, we have started working with snap circuits, which has been a lot of fun. Soon, we
will begin learning about insects, and students will create their own insect models using clay.
Physical Education
Families can help support an active lifestyle by encouraging outdoor play, family walks, or simple stretching at home.
Here are a few key points to discuss with your child to help keep them safe during PE:
Proper Attire:
- Footwear: Make sure your child wears appropriate athletic shoes with good support and grip for PE activities. Sandals, crocs, and other non-supportive shoes are unsuitable for physical activities and can increase the risk of injury.
- Clothing: Encourage your child to wear comfortable, breathable clothing that allows for easy movement
- Space: Help your child understand the importance of being aware of their surroundings during PE. They should be cautious of obstacles and others to avoid collisions and falls.
- Rules: Encourage your child to listen carefully to instructions and follow all safety rules set by their PE teacher. Understanding and adhering to these rules helps prevent accidents and ensures a safe environment for everyone.
- Behavior: Discuss the importance of playing respectfully and safely with their peers. Remind them to avoid rough play and to be considerate of others.
- Hydration: Make sure your child drinks plenty of water, especially on hot days.
- Rest: Ensure your child gets adequate rest.
Stay fit, stay strong, and keep playing!
Library / Media
Sandia Vista Elementary - Read Across America Reading Challenge
Dear Parents and Families,
We are excited to announce that Sandia Vista Elementary will be celebrating Read Across America this year with some fun and engaging reading challenges for all grade levels! Our goal is to encourage a love for reading while rewarding students for their efforts. Here’s what to expect:
Reading for Miles Challenge – 2nd Grade
Thanks to the generous support of Intel, we’re bringing back the Reading for Miles Challenge for second-grade students. Every night, second-grade students will log the number of minutes they’ve read, and parents will submit the logs electronically. Classroom teachers will soon be sending home the links to the reading logs.
How it works:
Each student will earn a prize for every week they log reading time.
The top four second-grade readers with the most minutes read will win brand-new bicycles!
We’re excited to see the enthusiasm this challenge will bring to our second graders and can’t wait to watch them race to log as many minutes as possible!
BINGO Reading Challenge – All Other Grade Levels
Students in Pre-K through 1st grade will participate in a BINGO challenge where they aim to complete 4 squares in a row. Meanwhile, 3rd to 5th grade students will complete 5 squares in a row to win!
How it works:
Each student will receive a BINGO card to track their progress.
Once they complete a row (either 4 or 5 squares depending on grade level), they can return their card to the library.
Completed cards will be entered into a drawing for amazing prizes, including a grand prize winner in each grade level!
This challenge is a fun way for students to explore different types of reading, and we hope it will spark excitement about new books and stories!
Important Dates and Information:
Logs for Reading for Miles Challenge will be sent home soon.
Completed BINGO cards should be returned to the library by April 14th.
We hope this year’s Read Across America celebration helps foster a love for reading that lasts a lifetime. Please encourage your child to take part, have fun, and read every day!
Stay tuned for more details coming soon, and happy reading to all!
Ed Tech
Report Cards:
Click here for directions to access your child’s report card online.
Technology Reminders:
When registering for the 2025-2026 school year, watch for a link to sign up for chromebook insurance. This coverage is very reasonable and covers repair and replacement costs in the event that your child’s device gets damaged.
Chromebooks do NOT go home with students at the elementary level (students begin taking these home when they go to 6th grade).
Students are able to access educational content used at school from home (using a household device) by going to Clever's login page and using their school credentials.
