Since COVID-19 restrictions continue to be lifted and positive cases within our Vista Unified schools reflect a downward trend, we feel it is a safe time to sunset weekly COVID-19 testing for students during the school day. Therefore, October 24th through the 28th will be the last week COVID-19 testing with Inspire Diagnostics will be provided during the school day.

For anyone seeking COVID-19 testing, the clinics at the Vista Innovation Center, Rancho Buena Vista High School, and Vista High School will remain open. The testing clinic at Mission Vista High School will close as of Friday, October 7th. For your convenience, we have provided the most updated flyers on COVID-19 testing and vaccinations.

Vista Unified and Madison Middle School are pleased to partner with the Eric Paredes Save a Life Foundation and offer free heart screenings to the Vista Community. Last year, a Madison Middle School student tragically lost his life to sudden cardiac arrest, a leading cause of death among children, especially student athletes. To honor his memory, Madison Middle School hopes to screen 600 students and community members for undetected heart conditions.

Join us on Sunday, December 4th for free heart screenings. Each screening will include a cardiac risk assessment, EKG, cardiologist consultation, and, if indicated, a limited echocardiogram. This special event is only available to those 12 years of age or older. Please register early at Madison Middle School Screen Your Teen or through the QR code on the attached flier.

Please join Rocky Herron, Ambassador for the San Diego County Office of Education, for a very important and timely presentation about the damaging impact of illegal drug use on the individual, the family, and the community. Rocky will also share information on the recent increase in Fentanyl use and overdoses.

Some Facts about Fentanyl:

• Fentanyl is involved in more deaths of Americans under 50 than any other cause of death, including heart disease, cancer, and all other accidents.

• Practically all of the pills seized by law enforcement are fake, and 40% contain a potentially lethal amount of fentanyl.

• Fentanyl is involved in more American youth drug deaths than heroin, meth, cocaine, benzos, and Rx drugs COMBINED.

• Fake Fentanyl pills have been found in all 50 states.

• Fentanyl is cheap, potent, and so profitable that dealers use it to make fake pills. It can also be found in party drugs like cocaine and MDMA. Illegally made fentanyl is the primary driver of the recent increase in all US overdose deaths. Fentanyl-involved deaths are the fastest growing among 14 to 23-year-olds.

Join Dr. Doyle and Board President Cipriano Vargas as they welcome Rocky Herron at the following live ZOOM sessions.

• Presentation in English on Wednesday, October 19th from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm https://vistausd.zoom.us/j/94547581630

• Presentation in Spanish on Thursday, November 3rd from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm https://vistausd.zoom.us/j/96636510996
  

Sincerely,

Matt Doyle, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Vista Unified School District