Community Update
April 16 , 2024
Vista Is Nationally Recognized for Music Education
Vista Unified was just named to the 2024 Best Communities for Music Education by NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants). There were 975 school districts that were recognized as the Best Communities in the nation for music education. The award program recognizes and celebrates outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders who have made music education part of a well-rounded education. For reference, there are over 13,300 school districts in the nation. That places Vista Unified in the top 7%.
STEM Fest
A huge thank you everyone who was able to attend and participate in our 2024 STEM Fest. It was wonderful to see the students and teachers showcasing what they learn at each of their school sites. The Humpty Dumpty Challenge was also a wonderful turn out and experiment for all to participate in. If you were able to attend, we would love your feedback. Here is a quick survey to help us plan for next year. Check out our website for photos and upcoming events in relation to STEM.
Arts Under the Stars
It was magical to see students perform with their peers over three nights of concerts. There were 44 different performing groups that included more than 1450 students from kindergarten through high school. What was most special was the impressive variety of musical talent demonstrated from the youngest violin and ukulele players, to the impressive voices of our very own Mariachi, to the spectacular choirs of more than 60 students, to professional level band and wind ensemble performance that made everyone just feel proud of the talent and expertise our students (young musicians) have developed this school year. Bravo!
8th Annual Early Education Fair
On Saturday, April 13th 1650 people joined us as we celebrated our youngest learners. The 8th Annual Early Education Fair brought together families from our preschool learners to elementary students. All elementary schools were represented. We had impressive performances from our youngest learners and great rep-resentation from our elected officials including three of our board members (Trustees Alvarado, Vargas, and Marrocco), Deputy Mayor Melendez, a representative from Assemblywoman Davies’ office, and representatives from all preschool organizations in Vista. The Early Education Fair hosted dozens of booths that families could visit to find out more about the elementary school options within Vista Unified or to collect resources focused on developing the whole child. A huge thank you to our Family Liaison Team for demonstrating our District’s value of collaboration and for planning a successful event.
Athletics
Spring athletics in Vista Unified are in full swing! The student-athletes at our CIF high schools are building their skills on and off the field. Student-athletes from Mission Vista High School, Rancho Buena Vista High School, and Vista High School have been participating in Character & Leadership development to foster camaraderie within their team and school community. We have partnered with the Positive Coaching Alliance to bring engaging events to develop skills around “Becoming a Triple-Impact Competitor” to improve oneself, teammates, and the game as a whole. Student-athletes have also attended “Honoring the Game: Social Media Use” to provide a deeper view into how social media can impact athletes and teams and ideas for positive use, as well as, “Making Teammates Better: Leadership” to foster positive and productive communication and leadership. We appreciate the efforts of our student-athletes who continue to challenge themselves to grow as athletes and humans.
Following a highly successful Winter season, Vista Unified schools are poised to continue their success through the Spring season. We would like to thank all of our student-athletes for pursuing victory with character and hard work. And our coaches, athletic directors, administrators and families for supporting the commitment of Vista Unified to develop character, camaraderie, and excellence through education-based athletics.
DLI Achievement - Celebrating Dual Language Immersion (DLI) in Vista Unified
Vista Unified proudly celebrates the success of its Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs at Alamosa, Grapevine, and Hannalei schools. With 723 students of all language backgrounds currently enrolled across various grade levels, our commitment to dual language education is evident, providing a nurturing environment where students thrive academically and culturally in two languages. Looking ahead to 2024-2025, Vista Unified anticipates continued growth, with 127 new interest forms submitted so far for DLI enrollment, reflecting our community's dedication to linguistic diversity. As our DLI students transition to middle school, projections indicate promising numbers, with Madison Middle School poised to welcome its first cohort of sixth-grade students from Grapevine, marking a significant milestone in their bilingual and biliterate journey. We invite families to explore the enriching opportunities available through our DLI programs to enhance their children's learning.
For more information, please contact the Multilingual Education Department in Vista Unified at 760-724-6783 or visit our website at www.vistausd.org. You can also contact Grapevine, Alamosa, and Hannalei schools for additional information. Together, let us continue to celebrate and nurture the diversity that enriches our community and shapes the future of our students.
Attendance is Rocking
We're thrilled to announce a significant uptick in attendance across the Vista Unified School District! Thanks to the collaborative efforts of students, parents, educators, and the community, our schools are seeing more students in classrooms every day. When comparing year-to-year, our attendance rates increased from 89% last year to nearly 95% this year, showing a significant overall improvement! This incredible and impactful positive trend reflects a shared commitment to student success and highlights the impact of our collective efforts.
By fostering strong partnerships with parents and leveraging technology for improved communication, we've been able to keep families informed and engaged in their child's education. Innovative incentive programs and targeted interventions address barriers to attendance, ensuring every student has the support they need to thrive.
Increased attendance means more instructional time, leading to better academic outcomes and a positive school environment. We celebrate this achievement and remain dedicated to continuing our efforts to support student success in VUSD. Thank you to everyone involved for your dedication and commitment to our students' futures!
Vista High School Opens New Facilities
After nearly two years of construction, Vista High School had teachers move into Building T, a new three story structure. This building includes classrooms for history/social science, sciences, our Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps, a modern weight room, along with a fleet suite for collaborative learning. This building mirrors the new Building S which is already occupied and was constructed on the front of the school which houses English Language Arts. In the upcoming months, teachers will be fully moved into Building T and exploring their new spaces and how it will improve teaching and learning for our students. One teacher remarked that after nearly 16 years of teaching at the school that Building T “is a game changer” for their students. Learn more about how Measure LL is constructing the future of our education by visiting www.vistausd.org/measurell or explore the community oversight of Measure LL at the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee website at www.vistausd.org/departments/osc/cboc.
Bike Education
Our last Virtual Bike Education event for this school year is on Tuesday, April 16th from 5:00-6:00 pm (Zoom Link). Our last in person Family Bike Education (Spanish) event for this school year is on Wednesday, April 24th from 5:30-7:00 pm at Vista Innovation Center (VIC) 836 Olive Ave. Vista, 92084. Click here to RSVP for either event. As a reminder the bike protocol has changed for the district and students will need to attend a one hour event if they would like to ride their bikes to school. Here is our new protocol and our website for more information. #webikevista
AM-PM Comprehensive Program 2024-2025 School Year
Are you interested in having your student participate in fun enrichment activities after the school day ends? If so, then Vista Unified’s AM-PM Comprehensive Program is for you! Interested families should complete the application below to be placed on the 2024-2025 interest list. A completed application must be completed by all continuing and future students going into grades TK-8th grade. For questions, please contact the AM-PM Comprehension Program at (760) 726-2170 ext 92351.
Creek to Bay Cleanup Event for Earth Day
Join families from across the Vista community as we participate in the Creek to Bay Cleanup on April 20th. From every corner of Vista and Oceanside, families can come together as a community in honor of Earth Day 2024 and make a difference right where we live.
Vista Unified School District
Email: webmaster@vistausd.org
Website: vistausd.org
Location: 1234 Arcadia Avenue, Vista, CA, USA
Phone: (760) 726-2170
Twitter: @VistaBlueprint