THE Leadership Academy School News

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If you have an additional family member who would like to receive this communication, please email Mrs. Morton (kimmorton@vistausd.org). We will add you to the email list. Thanks!

Hello Leadership Academy Parents,

Kindness is everywhere at T.H.E. Leadership Academy! Last week our students participated in activities at lunch, completed kindness challenges, and had some very wacky spirit days. The kind notes, gestures and buzz around campus were a delight to see. We have some pretty amazing little humans here at T.H.E. Leadership Academy.

Huge SHOUT OUT to our amazing counselor, Mrs. Flores, for organizing the event and to the Student Lighthouse Team for their leadership and support of the activities.

Please come join us this Tuesday, January 31 at 5:30PM!! FREE online safety workshop and FREE Pizza dinner for the whole family. We will be raffling great prizes (including Padres tickets!). Childcare will be provided!

We are proud to partner with our amazing PTA to offer a vital Parent Night about cell phones, online gaming, safety tips for managing your child at home on devices and much more. Internet safety expert, Jon Moffat, will be presenting to our families in the MPR. Please call the office to let us know you will be coming, complete the flyer sent home last week, or just show up! This topic is very near and dear to our hearts as we see the effects of digital use every day. We sincerely hope to see you there!

*There will be a separate presentation in Spanish (same night, same location, same time)

Sincerely,

Mrs. Morton

Principal

kimmorton@vistausd.org

Using technology in a safe way is more important now than ever before. All of our teachers and staff just completed training on how to support students to become good digital citizens. As parents, you play a key role in supporting your children as they learn how to safely use technology, particularly social media.

T.H.E. Leadership Academy will be hosting a technology awareness workshop for parents on Tuesday, January 31 from 6:00-7:30 pm. Technology expert Jon Moffat will guide parents through such questions as:

• How do I check privacy settings on my child’s profiles?

• How do I set up boundaries in the Digital World? How do I keep up?

• What are the latest tech trends in our community? What might my child be up to?

• Learn more about Instagram, Snapchat, Tiktok, Discord, Roblox, BeReal, and many more.

Mark your calendars and join us for this special parent workshop.

Spring Picture Day is Friday, February 3. Spring pictures are optional.

Picture order forms will go home Tuesday, January 31.

Click here for Spring Picture online orders.

Thank you!

Our after school theater club will be presenting their performance of "Willy Wonka" on Saturday, February 4th in the MPR at T.H.E. Leadership Academy. Our staff and students have been working very hard to produce this show. It's sure to be amazing!

Plan on a fun day out with your family to see the show!

All students will see the show at school on Friday, February 3rd.

There are two shows: 1:00PM and 3:00PM (these are two separate casts).

Tickets will be on sale at the door for $5.

Hello,

It has been so nice getting to know so many of you all. Thank you for your patience as I get acquainted with this new position. I'm always here to help, I don't always have the answer but I will do my best to find it or point you in the right direction.

I've updated our community board right outside the office! You can find out about all the activities we have going on as well as some resources for you and your family.

Warmly,

Shaina Mendoza

Family and Community Liaison

760 631 6242 Ext. 43005

email: shainamendoza@vistausd.org

We are offering a special opportunity for all 5th grade parents to congratulate their students in our yearbook this year. Please click HERE for a link to the flyer (it can be viewed below). You can also view samples below.

You will have the option of applying to Vista Magnet Middle School (VMMS) or Vista Innovation and Design Academy (VIDA). All 5th grade families are invited to upcoming magnet middle school presentations and school tours.

Click here to complete the application online.

All upcoming Presentations:

1/24/23 6:00pm; Mission Meadows Elementary

1/26/23 6:00pm; Bobier Elementary

1/31/23 6:00pm; Breeze Hill Elementary

2/2/23 6:00pm; VAPA

2/7/23 6:00pm; Casita

2/9/23 6:00pm; ZOOM Webinar

Please see this VMMS parent letter and this VIDA parent letter for information on our upcoming elementary presentations and school tours starting soon. All 5th grade families will also soon receive letters from VMMS and VIDA together in the mail. Families interested in applying to VMMS or VIDA will be able to submit an online magnet school application from January 11 - February 17th.

Not attending a magnet middle school?

If your child will not be attending a magnet middle school, they will automatically be enrolled in their middle school of residence.

This monoth’s habit is “Seek first to understand, then be understood.” Communicate effectively at all levels of the organization. Communication is the most important skill in life. You spend years learning how to read and write, and years learning how to speak. But what about listening? What training have you had that enables you to listen so you really, deeply understand another human being? Probably none, right?

Watch this video from Franklin Covey to learn how most people listen.

We look forward to acknowledging learners who display this habit.

• Families living in VUSD boundaries who would like to apply to attend a school other than their neighborhood school for the 2023-2024 school year can apply using this linked process for Intradistrict Transfers.

• Families living outside of VUSD boundaries who would like to attend a VUSD school or families living in VUSD boundaries who would like to apply to attend school in another district can apply using this linked process for Interdistrict Transfers.

Contact the Student Support Services Department for more information.

Parents and guardians can reach out to any VUSD elementary school for assistance with the pre-enrollment process. Click here for information about the TK/K Enrollment process, and click here for frequently asked questions about TK/K Enrollment. Enroll early to secure your spot!

Please visit the lost and found if your child is missing a sweatshirt or lunchbox. The lost and found bin is overflowing with Jackets! All items will be donated February 1 if they are not claimed.

Come have some coffee and meet with Mrs. Morton. She will talk about what is happening around school and introduce our new Community Liaison, Shaina Mendoza, who will speak about her role on our campus. Bring your questions and get ready for a fun and informative discussion.

We are pleased to welcome a new after school program onto our campus. If you have already enrolled, you should have received an acceptance letter or a "waiting list" letter. The program will continue to enroll students as staff become available.

This program is run by a company called Elevo. They are handling all registration. Please email vistausd@elevolearning.com with any questions.

This program will include academic and enrichment classes.

• The program is free to families
• Offered to students in grades TK to 5
• Open Monday - Friday until 5:30 PM
• Continues to the last day of school
• Begins on January 11, 2023
• Space is limited. If more students sign up than space available, priority will be given to students based on need.
• The company Elevo will be contacting families to confirm enrollment in the coming weeks.
• Elevo is responsible for the program and can answer questions. This is a new partnership. Email vistausd@elevolearning.com

Please see the flyer below for more information:

To register your child, click the following link:

Registration (English)

Registration (Spanish)

If you prefer, you may register on a paper copy which is available in the office.

Space is limited and for any questions, please email vistausd@elevolearning.com

January

16th Martin Luther King Jr Day - No School

All Month - See's Candy Fundraiser

17th Magnet Middle School presentation in MPR 6PM

23-27 - Kindness Week

31 Digital Citizenship Presentation MPR 6PM

February

3rd Spring Pictures

3rd - Willy Wonka School Performances

7th Coffee with the Principal - Come chat with Mrs. Morton!

17th President's Day Observed - No School

20th President's Day Observed - No School

21st President's Day Observed - No School

2022-2023 School Year Calendar

Calendario Escolar - Año 2023-2024

Click the position below for more information and the district application. Please call our office for more information. We are looking for the following team members:

Instructional Assistant

At T.H.E. Leadership Academy, we believe students are successful when they have clear boundaries. We have a staff team that is working on a matrix for our school expectations and we'd love your input! We have chosen ROAR (because dragons "ROAR"!). Please take a moment to review our chart below and send any input to our teacher leader Mrs. Sarsilmaz (lisasarsilmaz@vistausd.org). We love to give our families a voice and your input is valued. Thank you!

Our awesome PTA will be selling Dippin' Dots every Friday after school. The cost is $5.

These are "Yo Dots" and contain less sugar than the traditional Dippin' Dots.

COVID-19 testing continues to be available for our community at the Vista Innovation Center. The clinic has resumed testing Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. For those experiencing symptoms, the new “FLUVID” test is now available. This is a flu-Covid combination test that detects which illness someone may be experiencing. Starting February 3rd, COVID-19 boosters and flu shots will be available every Friday.

Did you know any student can start a club at our school? This is one way we give students a voice as we learn about their interests and strengths. Most of the clubs meet during lunch and require an adult supervisor. If your student would like to start a club, please have them see their teacher for an application.

Great job by our Go Green club! They save the earth one water bottle at a time!

We are proud to offer students weekly performing arts lessons. Students in TK-5th grade receive weekly lessons in dance, theatre and music. We have partnered with Luminary Arts to offer high quality lessons in the arts. Last week students learned about music from Brazil and danced the samba.

We want to thank our awesome PTA for bringing the YMCA to our campus during lunch for organized recess games. Students have the opportunity to play on the field with our YMCA coaches. The coaches are on campus four days a week: Tuesday/Thursday for grades 1, 3, 5 and Wednesday/Friday for grades K, 2, 4. This week our students participated in Dodgeball. Please see some highlights below.

*Important! The deadline for iPad device insurance is Friday, September 30. Please make sure you have signed the acceptable use policy and paid for your cost replacement insurance.

We are very proud to be an apple distinguished school. As part of our program, we send iPads home (grades 2-5). Please make sure you have completed the acceptable use policy and paid your $20 cost replacement insurance before your child's iPad comes home.

The $20 device insurance protects the iPads for the entire school year so students can bring them home. There are two options to pay.

1. Save time and pay online! Please click HERE to access the acceptable use agreement and pay with your credit card.

2. Click HERE to fill out the acceptable use agreement form. Pay $20 cash in the front office at Back to School Night.

We are so lucky to have a four-legged friend on campus! Coco is a facility dog from Canine Companions. She is assigned to our school to help spread calm and joy to all students.

Here are some facts I shared with the students about Coco:

• Coco was born on July 9, 2019
• She is a lab and retriever cross
• She is specifically bred to be a service dog and has a calm and gentle demeanor
• She has been trained since she was a little puppy to know many commands
• Mrs. Morton went through two weeks of training to learn how to work with Coco
• Coco and Mrs. Morton graduated together and now Coco is a member of our school team
• Coco comes to school every day. When she is at school she is working.
• Coco wears a vest to show she is on duty
• When Coco is not working, she goes home with Mrs. Morton. At home, she is a regular pet and does not wear her vest. She likes to play, walk and snuggle.
• When students see Coco on campus, they should give her a calm finger wave
• Students should not yell at Coco, run towards her or feed her any treats
• Coco can work with individual students, visit classrooms, read with students, and play fetch

We all love Coco! Feel free to say "hi" when you see her!

The safety of our staff and students is our first priority. We have been working on tightening up our security and would like to communicate the following:

1. There will be only one entrance into school for general education students (Main Gate). This includes Kindergarten and TK students. We will no longer utilize the Kindergarten gate.

2. Gates open at 7:30AM. Breakfast will be available at 7:30AM each morning. This is the earliest a student should be dropped off at school.

3. Gates will be supervised at all times.

4. All general education students will exit through the main gate. The upper parking lot will no longer be utilized for 4th/5th pickup.

5. Special Education students will continue to use the upper gate for entrance and exit. The gate will be supervised at all times and open only to let students in and out.

6. TK and Kindergarten students will continue to be dismissed through the Kindergarten Gate.

7. Only authorized individuals are able to check students out from the office early. Please make sure to bring your ID when picking up your student.

**Parents are welcome to come onto campus on the first day of school to accompany their students to the playground for lineup. Parents will be asked to say goodbye to their students on the playground as they are not permitted in the classrooms.

Starting the second day of school, we will ask our parents to kiss their students at the gate. Parents will not be permitted on campus. If you are interested in volunteering on campus, please see Carol in the office for a volunteer application. You will receive more information from your child's teacher at Back to School Night. Thank you for your support of our safety protocols.

The office will be open to assist families from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM beginning August 2. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns. We are here to help in any way we can.

Phone: 760-631-6242

Email:

Registration/General Questions: caroleconom@vistausd.org

Registration/Health/Attendance Concerns: rebecaalvarez@vistausd.org

Registration/General Information: patricialanderos@vistausd.org

Anything at all: kimmorton@vistausd.org (principal)

Mondays:

8:00 AM - 12:54 PM

Tuesdays to Fridays:

8:00 AM - 2:21 PM

Breakfast:

Gates open at 7:30 AM

CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE SCHEDULE

Breakfast and lunch is free for all students at T.H.E. Leadership Academy. You do not need to fill out an application.

Fruit and salad bar is also available. For menus and more information, please visit: https://wavecrestcafe.com/

We have a dedicated group of parents who work in conjunction with our school staff and community to make our school the best place to be. The PTA works tirelessly to provide school-wide events (camp out, Freaky Friday carnival, jog a thon, dances, promotion, assemblies) that make school fun and build community.

Please support our PTA by joining today!

Click HERE to join!

According to the very latest CDPH guidance for schools, indoor masking in K-12 school settings continues to be a strong recommendation, but not required.

In addition to routine cleaning, VUSD has installed maximum air filters and air cleaners in our classrooms and buildings.

If you or your child is displaying symptoms or tests positive, please stay home and notify us immediately.

All Vista Unified schools will be implementing the Group-Tracing Approach for students.

• When students are exposed to a COVID-19 positive person in a school setting, we will notify parents in writing of the exposure; however, all students may remain in school unless they are experiencing symptoms or have tested positive.
• As a condition to remain in school, parents are required to have their student tested with at least one diagnostic test obtained within three to five days of exposure and inform the school of a positive result.
• The following test methods are acceptable for staying in school after exposure at school: home test, rapid antigen test, or PCR test.
  
• Parents are only required to inform the school if their student tests positive for COVID-19.
• Only students who have symptoms or test positive must be isolated at home.

Families, in order to help us prioritize health and safety for all of our students and staff, please communicate with us. We appreciate you notifying us in any of the following scenarios:

1. If you notice any symptoms, please keep your child at home. Notify the school immediately.
2. If you have been exposed to someone who tested positive, please keep your child at home and inform the school immediately.
3. If you have taken a PCR or NAAT test and it is positive, please inform the school immediately.

You will share your information with:

• Lisa Franck, Nurse: lisafranck@vistausd.org
• Rebeca Alvarez, Attendance/Health Tech: rebecaalvarez@vistausd.org
• Kim Morton, Principal: kimmorton@vistausd.org
• Phone: 760-631-6242

To return to school after having symptoms, a negative PCR or two negative antigen (rapid or home tests) are now acceptable. The two antigen tests must be at least one day apart. Each test must have the student's name, the date, and their date of birth on the cassette.

If your child has any of the following symptoms, please keep your child at home and notify our school immediately. COVID symptoms may include:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of Breath or Difficulty Breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or Body Aches
• Headache
• New Loss of Taste or Smell
• Sore Throat
• Congestion or Runny Nose
• Nausea or Vomiting
• Diarrhea

Thank you for your communication in helping to keep our learning community safe.To view Covid-19 cases, visit the VUSD Covid-19 Case Dashboard.

Vista Unified District follows the regulations in the San Diego County Decision Tree that determine when staff and students to remain in school with symptoms or when testing positive for COVID 19.

English Version

Spanish Version

Email: kimmorton@vistausd.org
Website: th.vistausd.org
Location: 1550 Temple Heights Drive, Oceanside, CA, USA
Phone: 760 631 6242
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/THELeadershipAcademyDragons/?rf=580378695440830
Twitter: @temple_heights