Panther Press

Nov. 3, 2023

Need this newsletter in Spanish? Click the Translate button! ¿Necesita este boletín en español? ¡Haga clic en el botón Traducir!

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Important Dates and Information

Daylight Savings Time - Nov. 5

Veteran's Day - No School - Nov. 10

Thanksgiving Break - Nov. 20 - 24


District School Year Calendar 2023 - 2024

VHS Bell Schedule 2023 - 2024


Vista Unified Community Update

Panther Primetime November 3

Principal’s Message

Hello Vista High School Families!


Vista High School has had a spectacular week! We hae been hard at work learning and leaning into Progress report two! Look for a progress report coming to your mailbox soon. Progress report grades are now available on the Student and Parent Aeries Portal.

Today our students participated in a Peace Education assembly hosted by the Tariq Kamisa Foundation! Students heard personal stories of San Diego community members, learned about the power of forgiveness in the face of anger, and had the opportunity to take a Peacemaker’s Pledge! We encourage our students to be Peacemakers on our campus every day to make VHS a great place to be.


I’m happy to share two amazing pieces of news this week. First, our attendance rates are climbing! We beat last year’s weekly attendance rate every single week this year, and we are still going strong. We know that school attendance is incredibly important to success in school, and is the leading predictor of high school graduation rate. We celebrate our students getting to school on time, every time! Great job, Panthers!


While students are at school, we want to make sure they are able to learn and be well! Each year, to measure the social and emotional wellness of our students, we ask students to complete a wellness survey. This survey measures multiple ways that students learn, achieve, and grow as young people. This year’s survey data indicates that students are increasing up to 18% in self-reported wellness at school. We are celebrating their increases in sense of belonging, connection, decision making skills, and in many other ways!


Have a peaceful weekend, and Go Panthers!


Principal Ratliff

2nd Progress Reports - 1st Semester - Ready to view!

Head to your Aeries Parent Portal and check our your student's second progress report for the first semester!

Picture Day Make Up - Nov. 9

Did your student miss picture day? Gerardy will be here on Wednesday, Nov. 9 all day to take student pictures.
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Character Counts - Everywhere and All the Time!

Hello Panther Families!


At Vista High School we have a Character Education program that focuses on the six pillars of character (learn more HERE). Each 6-week grading period, our school focuses on one of the six pillars. Our focus for this next grading period is CARING! We’d love to hear examples of caring from our Panther families to be highlighted in our staff and family newsletters. Click HERE to share your example.


¡Hola Familias Panteras!


En Vista High School tenemos un programa de Educación del Carácter que se centra en los seis pilares del carácter (aprender más AQUÍ). Cada periodo de 6 semanas, nuestra escuela se enfoca en uno de los seis pilares. Nuestro enfoque para este próximo período de calificaciones es ¡CUIDAR! Nos encantaría escuchar ejemplos de cuidado de nuestras familias Panther para ser destacados en nuestro boletín de noticias. Haga clic AQUÍ para compartir su ejemplo.


Community School Advisory Council

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VHS Food Drive - Nov. 6 - 17

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VHS 23-24 Yearbook is on Sale Now!

Senior Portraits - Keane Studios

Keane Studios will be on campus on November 28th to take senior portraits for the yearbook. This is your last opportunity to get your portrait on campus. If you don’t get a portrait taken through Keane, you will NOT HAVE A PHOTO in the yearbook. Your school ID photo from last week WILL NOT BE USED. Check your school email for a link to make an appointment, or go to www.keaneseniors.com. The yearbook only session is completely free.

From our Counseling Department!

Hello! The counseling team wanted to THANK YOU for your support on last week's Top 9% celebration and iApplied for our Class of 2024 students (pics below). A special shout out to PTSA for supplying yummy treats for seniors! Seniors were able to jumpstart and even submit their college applications last week! Every Wednesday, seniors can come to CLC3 after school to continue working on their college/financial aid applications.


Next week, we will be meeting with your sophomore students in their English classes to review their transcript, 4-year academic plan, grades, and college/career plans. We finished our lessons with Freshman, Juniors and Seniors for the fall semester and will be meeting with them again in the spring semester.


Please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns. We send out communication through Email, Remind App and by Phone in regard to events, progress grades, lessons, etc. Parents are more than welcome to schedule a meeting with us to review grades, attendance, social-emotional, or any post-secondary support.

School Psychologist Week - Nov. 6-10

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World Kindness Day - Nov. 13

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Financial Aid Workshops

Need help filling out that FAFSA? Counselors are on hand Wednesdays after school from Oct. 4 through April 2 in room CLC3.
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Important Reminders from the Attendance Office

As we start the new school year, we'd like to remind all families about some key things to remember regarding attendance and picking up students from school during the school day:


Early Release:

- Please call attendance 2 hours in advance if a student needs to be released early.

- A parent or legal guardian must call to release a student and must present a valid government ID (Driver's License, Passport, Military ID).

- Only persons listed on the contact list in Aeries with a valid government ID can pick up a student.

Excusing an Absence:

- Families have 72 hours to clear an absence.

- Legal notes must be provided for an absence to be cleared after a student has reached 10 excused absences.

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PTSA Fundraisers

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PTSA Update

Our stated goal is to make every child's potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children. Our mission is for Parents, Teachers and Students to work together with our school to help provide programs and enrichment activities which enhance your child's learning environment! Click HERE to join the PTSA!

For current updates on the VHS PTSA, follow us on VHS PTSA on Facebook. Stay Connected!!!


Spanish Version

From the Librarian

The San Diego County Library has made its digital and audio books available to thousands of local students throughout the county. Any student in Vista USD, using just their student IDs, may check out the library’s collection of age-appropriate digital materials via Sora, an app used by school districts.

Additionally, every VHS student can check out the San Diego County Library’s Teen Book of the Month with their student ID through the Sora app— the ebook and the audiobook! Unlimited checkouts means no waitlists or holds.


Teen Book of the Month (November 1-30)

The Witch King, Book 1 by H. E. Edgmon

To save a fae kingdom, a boy witch must face his traumatic past and the royal fiancé he left behind.

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Parent Workshop at RBV for Spanish Speaking Families

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PSST World

PSST World is an on-line platform that allows students to report anything worrisome without fear. Using PSST World, students can report any range of concerning behaviors and incidents that they have seen, heard, or experienced. When a report is made, a message is immediately sent to our safety team and they will reach out to site administration for follow up.


Go HERE to check it out or to make a report.

Character & Leadership Development Program

Starting next week VHS student athletes will have the opportunity to participate in a character and leadership workshop put on by the Positive Coaching Alliance. Our first cohort will include the flag football team, girls water polo team, girls basketball team and the baseball team. Please see the attached flyer for details.
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Junior Panther Wrestling

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Badminton!

Any Boys or Girls interested in playing Badminton in the Spring as a CIF sport please see Coach Moramarco in D11 or the athletic director Mr. Ayala in the athletic office. Badminton is a Coed Spring sport with singles and doubles play. The season runs from mid-February to the end of May.

Playing a Winter Sport? You MUST complete the Physical Form!

In order to be eligible to try out and participate on a sports team, athletes must first complete the athletic clearance process (Physical). All paperwork must be complete and uploaded to homecampus.com. Please see the links attached or See the VHS website for more information. Please email Athletic Trainer Ms. Melissa at melissahutzell@vistausd.org if you have any questions. All instructions are below.

Homecampus Process(English)

Homecampus Process(Spanish)

VUSD VHS Physical Form

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Want Tickets to VHS Athletic Games?

Purchase them online using this QR Code!
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Girls Basketball!

Beginning Monday Aug 28 we will be holding Open Gym every Monday night 7-8:30pm for girls interested in playing basketball this year. Questions? See Coach Moramarco in D11.

Need a Work Permit?

See Mr. Soderback in the College and Career Center!

CSU/UC Application Deadline - Nov. 30

The CSU/UC Application deadline is November 30! Visit CLC3 on Wednesdays to get support on your application!

Senior Portraits through Keane Studios

The official senior yearbook photographer is Keane Studios. Seniors MUST get a portrait taken through Keane Studios if they would like a portrait in the yearbook. The yearbook-only portrait session is FREE. Keane Studios Senior Session Guide

Keane Studios will be on campus for the following scheduled days:

  • Tuesday, September 5
  • Tuesday, November 28

Students are encouraged to make appointments to avoid long wait times.

Keep an eye out for their upcoming emails, where they will provide you with all the necessary details on how to schedule your session. Please book using the link in your email as it's attached to YOUR account. Sharing this with your friend means your friend will book under YOUR name. If you have to create a new account, your username is your student ID and your password is your last name (case and hyphen sensitive).


Follow Keane Studios on Instagram for inspiration on what to wear and bring to your session. @keanestudios. Feel free to visit their website at www.keaneseniors.com to explore their portfolio and session offerings. Email them with any questions at info@keanestudios.com.

Club Info

  • Yu-Gi-Oh club meets every Thursday during lunch in V-20. Want to learn how to duel? Interested in learning the tournament style of dueling. Join Yu-Gi-Oh club today! Stop by V-20 to get more information. Look for flyers around campus.

  • Interested in crime & punishment? Want to know more about the law and being a lawyer? Come to D18 this Wednesday during lunch for Mock Trial information.

  • We have a new PAH club: Book Club! We'll meet after school on Thursdays starting September 7th in room D17. See Ms Vancelette (D17) with any questions.

  • BSU (Black Student Union) will be meeting every Friday in room D17. All are welcome!

California Department of Education Parent and Family Digital Learning Guide

Hapara Internet Safety and Monitoring

This is an important tool to assist teachers with digital citizenship and classroom management. It is important that parents are aware of the privacy policy and our adherence to the ethical monitoring policy.

Hapara Parent Letter English

Hapara Parent Letter Spanish

Counseling & Social Emotional Resources

Vista High School is committed to the Social and Emotional needs of all students.

Social/Emotional Supports & Links

https://vhs.vistausd.org/counseling


Vista Virtual Wellness Center:

https://sites.google.com/view/vhswellnesscenter/home

Family & Community Engagement

Suggestion Box

We would LOVE to hear from you!

Suggestions?

If you have questions, comments, concerns or requests for information you would like to see in the newsletter, please let us know by clicking on the link above. We appreciate your input!