The Mustang Message
November 9, 2023
Dear Families,
We are thankful for you!
As we prepare to take time off from school 11/20 through 11/24 for the Thanksgiving break, we are grateful for everyone who has helped to restore a routine for showing up to school while supporting students and families.
Daily routines are essential for reducing stress and creating a sense of security for students and adults.
Please take steps to keep your child healthy and send them to school unless they are truly sick. Every day of school is an important opportunity for students to learn as well as connect to peers and their teachers.
We thank:
· Our students and their families who do their best to show up to class every day even when it isn’t easy.
· Our teachers who have gone above and beyond to help make school a welcoming learning environment where students can thrive.
· Our administrators who help us work together to ensure we are healthy and safe, feel a sense of community and experience the excitement of an engaging learning environment.
· Our many, many healers and helpers - the support staff and community volunteers who provide the extra hands and attention our children need.
Thank you for partnering with us!
Sincerely,
Sheldon Sparks
TOSA – Student Support
Oh The Places You Will Go....
Plaza Olvera in Downtown L.A. - Field Trip
Students from Spanish 2 and 3 class visited the historical Plaza Olvera in Downtown L.A. for El Dia de Los Muertos festival which is a traditional Mexican holiday celebrating the life of past loved ones.
Students immersed into a cultural experience that guided them through ancient Aztec rituals, procession, Aztec dance and music. They ate delicious Mexican foods and browsed through traditional arts and crafts. Mrs. Torrez had been looking forward to this field trip for years and was grateful to have the opportunity to bring this cultural lesson to life. She sends her personal thanks to the support of the district, administration, and transportation staff who made it happen.
Oh, and prior to the start of the festivities, students also visited L.A. Union Station where they were also able to appreciate this monumental building.
Congratulations to Leilani McLaws!
Recipient of the In & Out Gift Card for Perfect Attendance for Month #2
State News
The National Association of State Boards of Education dedicates the September issue of its magazine to improving student attendance and engagement. Attendance Works shares the value of taking a systemic approach (e.g. actionable data, positive engagement, strategic partnership and capacity building) to improve student attendance, while Bob Balfanz of Johns Hopkins University shares work being done to improve high school attendance.
Why Does Attendance Matter?
English:
PBIS Rewards Family App Access
Our School is using PBIS Rewards to help us with our PBIS program! PBIS Rewards is a technology-based PBIS Management System that helps us with our behavior incentive program. You can learn about PBIS Rewards at their website (www.pbisrewards.com).
Our students can earn rewards throughout the day by meeting our behavior expectations. These rewards are in the form of electronic points. They can redeem these points for privileges, tangible items, access to events, and other similar things. Our expectation is that we will see overall behavior improve throughout the school and that the number of referrals we have will decrease.
PBIS Rewards has a Family App that will give you some insight into how your child is doing with respect to our PBIS program. The Family App will run on most smart devices, including smartphones and tablets. You can find it in the iPhone/iPad App Store, Google Play, and the Amazon App Store. Just search for "PBIS Rewards Family."
An email has been sent to families to get you set up on the PBIS Rewards Family App. Please access this email from PBIS Rewards if you wish to access your child's progress. If you did not receive an email, please contact Mrs. Lepp so she can help get you set up.
Spanish:
Acceso para familiar a la aplicación PBIS Rewards
Nuestra Escuela utiliza PBIS Rewards para ayudarnos con nuestro programa la intervención y apoyo conductual positivo (PBIS, por sus siglas en inglés). PBIS Rewards es un sistema de administración de PBIS basado en tecnología que nos ayuda con nuestro programa de incentivos para un mejor comportamiento. Para conocer más sobre PBIS Rewards, visite su sitio web (www.pbisrewards.com).
Nuestros estudiantes pueden ganar premios a lo largo del día si cumplen nuestras expectativas de buen comportamiento. Estos premios se materializan en la forma de puntos electrónicos. Los estudiantes pueden canjear estos puntos por privilegios, artículos tangibles, acceso a eventos, y cosas similares. Nuestra expectativa es que podamos ver las mejoras en el comportamiento general en toda la escuela y que se reduzca la cantidad de derivados por cuestiones de disciplina. PBIS Rewards tiene una aplicación familiar que les permitirá conocer cómo se desempeñan sus hijos con respecto a nuestro programa de PBIS. La aplicación familiar se podrá ejecutar en la mayoría de los dispositivos inteligentes, incluidos los teléfonos inteligentes y tabletas.
Lo podrá encontrar en la tienda de aplicaciones de iPhone/iPad, Google Play, y la tienda de aplicaciones de Amazon. Solo debe buscar "PBIS Rewards Family".
Se envió un correo electrónico a las familias para que puedan configurar la aplicación familiar PBIS Rewards. Acceda a este correo electrónico de PBIS Rewards si desea acceder al progreso de su hijo. Si no recibió un correo electrónico, comuníquese con la Sra. Lepp para que pueda ayudarlo a configurarlo.
Thank you to our incredible PTSO for a delicious staff luncheon.
Link to the website
SPED: Who qualifies?
Wellness
Attention Senior Families: Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Legislation AB 469, requires all California senior students to complete ONE of the following:
Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Complete an application for the California Dream Act (CADAA)
To “opt-out” prior to the end of their senior year.
Please review the email and forms they provided to determine how you would like to proceed with this requirement for your senior. Questions?? Reach out to our fabulous counseling team.
YEARBOOK
Our Yearbook Team is Awesome!
Our yearbook publication was chosen for the first time to be a part of Walsworth's Gallery of Excellence. Our 2023 Yearbook "Through You" was one of 300 books chosen in the country to be featured. This means that our publication is "a shining example of yearbook at its very best." Yearbooks featured in the Gallery of Excellence are displayed by Walsworth Yearbooks at their workshops, online inspiration files, at conventions, and may be featured in their Possibilities book. "Attaining this elite distinction is a testament to the commitment creativity and yearbook mastery" our yearbook staff has achieved.
Dear Senior Parents,
You are receiving this email because you purchased a Senior Package for your student. This year the yearbook is offering a 10% discount off of any size Senior Tribute for anyone who purchased a Senior Package. Senior Tributes can be purchased online at yearbookforever.com where you can pay in full and upload your desired photos and and text for the tribute directly all in one go. You can also purchase in person by completing the attached form and submitting it to the library with a full or down payment. Once the form/payment is received you will be sent an email where you will then send your desired photos and text.
Those who purchase online will use their personalized coupon code which is all lowercase first initial last name 24 of your student. For example John Smith's code would be jsmith24
For in-person purchases please let Celeste know that you get the 10% off the tribute price for purchasing a senior package.
Please e-mail me with any questions or concerns, any issues with purchasing online or to let me know if you need an extension of the deadline, but still plan to purchase.
Space is limited and it is first come first served, until space runs out.
Read All About It....
Special Edition
Birth of The Vasquez Post
Vasquez High School was established in the year 1993. Today we are happy to announce the Vasquez High School newspaper is now established in the year 2023, thirty years after the establishment of our school. Since the beginning of the 2023 to 2024 school year the journalism elective has been working to start publishing The Vasquez Post, with the incredible leadership of teacher Mr. Mangel!
Art Activities
2023 Seniors
Your Graduation Picture is Ready for Pick-up!
Please stop by the VHS front office to pick up your Graduation picture shaking hands with Dr. Chamberlain, taken by William Edward Photography the day of Graduation.
These photos are complimentary of the Acton Agua Dulce School District.
ATHLETIC NEWS
Link to the Website
Buy VHS Athletic Games Online!
Here is the downloaded flyer with our school's QR Code to purchase tickets.
ATHLETICS CALENDAR
Please review the Parent/Student handbook