Dear Bonita Vista Middle School Community,

Good morning! I hope everyone had a safe and relaxing weekend. We really enjoyed having you on our campus last week during Back to School Night. It was a pleasure to meet with you all as we continue our 2024-2025 onboarding efforts. I hope you had the chance to meet with all your student's teachers to strengthen the parent-teacher-student partnership. As mentioned before, we will continue to have an ongoing dialogue and partnership all year long as we work collaboratively to support the learning experience at Bonita Vista Middle School.

Pivotal Academic Stretch: August 19 - September 6

As we approach the 4th week of the semester, it's important to recognize that this period is crucial both academically and behaviorally. Historically, this is when some students may lose focus in their academic efforts and others may begin to exhibit misbehavior. To support our students, we urge parents and guardians to actively monitor their academic progress by checking Jupiter Grades regularly. Additionally, ensure that students have consistent and designated times at home for homework. It's important to remind students about the upcoming academic benchmark: Progress Report 1 on Friday, September 6, 2024. Let's work together to reinforce positive behavior and academic focus, both at school and at home.

Information about School-Related Matters:

Last week, our school experienced a Secure Campus incident. In light of this event, I would like to emphasize the importance of respecting student privacy and confidentiality within our school community. It is vital that we collectively work towards safeguarding the privacy and confidentiality of any student involved in such incidents. Rest assured that we will always communicate essential information to our community while upholding the utmost respect for the privacy and confidentiality of our students.

Should you have any questions or concerns about any incidents your student may have reported to you, please do not hesitate to reach out to us directly. Your partnership with us in maintaining a safe and supportive environment for all students is invaluable.

Let's have an awesome week BVM Community!

Sincerely,
Dr. Salazar

BVM Families,

AS we have mentioned before, all enrolled, returning and incoming, students will receive FREE breakfast, lunch throughout the school year!

Meals will be available to all students at no cost, one breakfast one lunch, daily.
Families are not required but encouraged to submit a free and reduced-price meal application.

By submitting a meal application for free and reduced-price meals your student(s) and family may qualify for additional programs and resources. More importantly, BVM will receive additional funds if we meet the minimum number of required families that qualify for free/reduced lunch.

Complete your application online in the privacy of your home. The information submitted is confidential and will have no impact on your child receiving a free breakfast and free lunch daily.

Please disregard if you have submitted a meal application, thank you.
Here is the link: campusportal.sweetwaterschools.org/campus/portal/parents/sweetwater.jsp

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Bienvenidos!

Todos los estudiantes inscritos que regresan, y los de nuevo ingreso, recibiran el desayuno, almuerzo GRATIS!

No se requiere que las familias presenten una solicitud de comidas gratis o a precio reducido, pero se les recomienda completar una solicitud para las siguientes escuelas:
• Bonita Vista Middle
• Bonita Vista High School
• Eastlake Middle
• Eastlake High School
• Rancho Del Rey Middle
• Otay Ranch High School
• Olympian High School

Al completar la solicitud de comidas gratis o a precio reducido, su(s) estudiante(s) y sus familias pueden calificar para otros programas y descuentos adicionales.

Complete su solicitud en linea (por internet) en la privacidad de su hogar. La informacion que usted provea, es confidencial y no tendra ningun impacto en que su hijo/s reciban desayuno y almuerzo gratis todos los dias.

Si usted ya lleno la solicitud de almuerzos, favor de ignorer este mensaje

campusportal.sweetwaterschools.org/campus/portal/parents/sweetwater.jsp

Parents and guardians, to report a student absence, please make sure to fill out the following form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScLJrFXTi9s9G9nIzEOJSMEn2NeMLbDqMYUseHAKr5YRwJmYQ/viewform.

For any absences extending to 5 or more school days, please contact Ana.Monge@sweetwaterschools.org, our Attendance Coordinator, to complete an short-term independence study contract.

Please contact Ms. Rubi.deleon@sweetwaterschools.org, our attendance technician, to report any attendance errors.

Please note that our Information Technology Technician, Bruno.Zamorano@sweetwaterschools.org, is available to all students in our school library for iPad support. Here are some links to provide further assistance with student iPads:

How to set-up your iPad at home: https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/post.jupitered.com/v3/p131557892/1/92657356/iPad_Setup_at_home_Instructions_2024-2025_updated.pdf

How to login to your student email account:

1. Your general password is your birthday written in the format below, followed by an exclamation mark, and two capital Z’s.

Example: If your birthday is September 12, 2012 then your password would be Sep122012!ZZ

2. Once you are logged in, look for the email with the subject titled: “Jupiter login instructions for new families” that was sent on 7/23/24. Clicking on the link in this email will prompt you to set a password for your Jupiter Grades account.

How to download the essential apps that students will need this year: Please open the attached PDF document below

Parents please make sure not to park in the parking lots of our local business or churches. We want to respect our neighbors and the spaces that they use for their employees.

Parents and guardians, to ensure a smooth flow of traffic during drop off and pick-up, please follow our traffic guidelines: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1h0yXoyV5YvLAWlj7qBZbbvb0RKGKkEYAoAGqUStI1Bg/edit.

Thank you!

The Acknowledgment Corner will be continued to be used to highlight and celebrate our students at any opportunity that we can! If you would like your student acknowledged for something we may not be aware of, please feel free to contact me (include a picture or video if possible).

Nominated by Ms. Kavouklis, Nyellie Garcia! Nyellie consistently volunteers to help other students and her teachers! She is the embodiment of our MYP Profile of Caring! Let's go BVM!!! #IBCandidateSchool

Nominated by Ms. Caballero, David Ortega! When a new student arrived in our class who did not speak English and only spoke Spanish, David volunteered himself to help the student learn how to use his iPad, access Jupiter Grades, Google Classroom and his email. He has helped him throughout class navigating the ins and outs of BVM and has been a steady support system for this student ever since. David demonstrated kindness, self-confidence and self-respect that I admire seeing in growing young men. David, I hope you continue to use your skills to support others. Thank you for being yourself, Mrs. Caballero. #IBPROFILECARING#IBCANDIDATESCHOOL

Thank you to our ASB Dean, Ms. Schroeder and our wonderful ASB students for their wonderful performance at this year's Welcome Back Assembly! Students enjoyed an entertaining assembly that included student participation and some student performances from our BVM Cheer Team and our local BVHS Dance Team! It was nice to see some of our BVM alumni continue their dancing talents and skills at BVHS. Also, our students behaved wonderfully at our assembly! Great job BVM!

Thank you to BVHS Dance Teacher, Ms. Timmons, who provided the opportunity to some our students interested in Dance to attend this year's district-wide Dance Workshop! Although we were not able to have Dance this year, we are still committed to providing this elective class in the future. Thank you again Ms. Timmons for not forgetting about our students!

Character building is embedded in an IB education. We want our students to learn and embody 10 Learner Profiles (See attachment below). Our first Learner Profile: Caring includes students who have made a personal commitment to service, and act to make a positive difference to the lives of others and the world around them. We know that during summer breaks, our students provide services to others to make our world a better place. We are asking families to send us pictures and stories that they can share of how their students made a world a better place over this past summer. We will feature these students in future newsletters and in morning announcements to promote the IB profiles and behaviors we want to see in all our students. You can email me directly pictures and stories of how your child provided a service to others this past summer: alexander.salazar-arbelaez@sweetwaterschools.org.

IB Learner Profile Caring: students who are caring show empathy, compassion, and respect towards the needs and feelings of others. They have a personal commitment to service, and act to make a positive difference to the lives of others and the world around them.

We want to thank our ASB students for hosting and allowing our visiting students from China to shadow them all week and for making our guests feel welcomed at Bonita Vista Middle School. The Chinese Student Chaperones absolutely enjoyed their experience at our school this past week. Thank you to our ASB students and all other students who made our friends from China feel welcomed! Thank you again BVM!!!

In our counselor, Woodie Taeatafa, you will not find a more caring and dedicated team member at Bonita Vista Middle School. Mr. Taeatafa, for approximately 15 years, has been deeply committed to the mission of BVM and truly caring for his students. This weekend alone, he spent the majority of his time in service, reviewing student schedules, to make sure all classes were balanced. He routinely provides social emotional support for students in need and even staff in need. His colleagues recognized Mr. Taeatafa as our certificated employee of the month for July. Congratulations Mr. Taeatafa and thank you for personifying the IB Profile Caring!

Crusader of the Week

Students are nominated for Crusader of the Week in the following areas academic achievement, improvement in behavior, demonstrating kindness and so much more. After the 10-day balance period at the beginning of each semester, teachers may begin submitting their nominations. Each week one 7th and one 8th-grade student will be recognized. If more than one student in each grade level is nominated next in line will be recognized the following week. Students may only receive Crusader of the Week once in the school year. Those who earn Crusader of the Week will be mentioned in the Principal’s newsletter, and the morning announcements, and receive a certificate and a small treat in front of their peers.

Straight A Luncheon –

Students (7th & 8th) who earned Straight A’s in BOTH Scholarship and Citizenship on the Fall Semester Report Card are recognized with a luncheon at the end of January/beginning of February.

Outstanding 8th Grade Students (We select two per year)

8th-grade teachers and other school staff nominate two students who have been outstanding the entire school year in all subject areas and extracurriculars. Those nominated then go on a ballot and are then voted on by the admin, counseling team, and other school personnel for the award. Each member of the voting team gets 1 vote. This award is then presented at 8th grade awards night, each May.

Reach out and communicate with us!

Email: alexander.salazar-arbelaez@sweetwaterschools.org
Website: http://bvm.sweetwaterschools.org/
Location: 650 Otay Lakes Road, Chula Vista, CA, USA
Phone: 619-397-2200
Twitter: @BVM_Principal