Academics
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Free Public Education
The Constitution of the State of California requires that we provide a public education to you free of charge. Your right to a free education is for all school/educational activities, whether curricular or extracurricular, and whether you get a grade for the activity or class. Subject to certain exceptions, your right to a free public education means that we cannot require you or your family to purchase materials, supplies, equipment or uniforms for any school activity, nor can we require you or your family to pay security deposits for access, participation, materials, or equipment. You may be required to attend a fundraising event; however if you are unable to raise funds for the event, you will not be prevented from participating in an educational activity.
Parent Involvement
Here are SDUSD released documents concerning Parent Involvement (this will be updated):
- English
- Spanish
Title I Policy
Here is the Title 1 Policy:
- link (will be updated)
Home/School Compact
Here is a copy of the Home-School Compact for 2010-2011:
- link (will be updated)
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Testing
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California Standardized Tests
Students in grades 3-5 will be given a series of tests in the spring of every school year. All students take sections of both math and language arts. 5th grade includes a science portion. The science test is based on our new NGSS standards, and tasks and questions reflect what the students should know up through 5th grade – so not just on the 5th grade science standards.
The testing is done electronically on their classroom-issued laptops. Questions may be multiple choice, short answer, or a variety of other types of questions or tasks. The tests are not strictly one answer correct, multiple choice answer tests anymore.
The scores on these tests are used to evaluate the progress of students in a variety of ways and are broken down into statistical categories.
For more information on what is on these tests, you can follow this link to the California Department of Education website.
The results are used to report the school’s performance on the California School Dashboard.
California English Language Development Test (CELDT)
The purpose of the CELDT is to identify new students who are English learners, determine their level of English proficiency, and annually assess their progress toward becoming fluent English proficient. The CELDT covers four skill areas: listening, speaking, reading and writing in English. It is administered in grades K-12.
FitnessGram
In February 1996, the State Board of Education (SBE) designated FITNESSGRAM® as the required physical fitness test that school districts must administer to all California students in Grades 5, 7, and 9. The FITNESSGRAM® will be administered in the Spring of each year, usually during the month of March. An additional fall administration is also offered to provide 10th through 12th grade students an opportunity to pass prior to scheduling courses for the following semester. The FITNESSGRAM® is a comprehensive, health-related physical fitness battery developed by The Cooper Institute. The primary goal of the FITNESSGRAM® is to assist students in establishing lifetime habits of regular physical activity
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District Mandated Testing
Includes the Stanford Diagnostic Reading Test (SDRT) and the Analytic Reading Inventory (ARI) for grades 4 & 5 and the Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) for grades K-3. Fifth graders are also given a mathematics exit exam used for placement at the middle school level. In addition, there are district unit assessments in different academic areas.
Special Education Testing
Parents may request that a district psychologist and resource specialist evaluate their children for learning disabilities. Requests are to be made to the principal. An Instructional Study Team (IST) will meet with the parent or guardian to determine the appropriateness of the request.
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California Accountability Model & School Dashboard
California’s new accountability and continuous improvement system provides information about how local educational agencies and schools are meeting the needs of California’s diverse student population based on a concise set of measures. You can view the information on California Department of Education website. You can view accountability on the California School Dashboard.
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Academic Programs
[ps2id id=’tk’ target=”/]Transitional Kindergarten
Information for families with students who are age eligible for transitional Kindergarten (TK).
These are students that will be five years old between Sept. 2 and Dec. 2. Students desiring enrollment in their neighborhood school can now go directly to the school for enrollment. All schools will have a program for transitional K students in the 2014-15 school year. (Look for this to be updated for the 2015-2016 school year.)
Students eligible for transitional Kindergarten (TK) can now apply to school choice via the district website, using the link that asks, “Is your child new to the district?”. The application for students will:
- Initially show as a late applicant, but it will be changed to reflect as an on-time application, if submitted by March 7, 2014. (look for updated date for the 2015-2016 school year)
- Show as Grade Kindergarten for next year, student are age eligible for a two-year Kindergarten program (transitional Kindergarten).
- Be included on the school’s Kindergarten choice enrollment list, but will be highlighted as transitional Kindergarten.
[ps2id id=’special-education’ target=”/]Special Education
We have a variety of programs available at Vista Grande to help students identified as needing special education assistance. Whether it is through the initiation of the SST (Student Study Team) or IEP process, or working with children in the classroom or in small groups throughout the day, we have a team in place to help students with special needs. Click here for SDUSD information regarding special education. This is a good place to start.
[ps2id id=’resource’ target=”/]Resource
The amount and type of assistance is determined through the IEP process. Once these needs are determined, students will be meeting with the resource or special education teacher on a daily or weekly schedule to receive additional instruction in their areas of need. The services are determined by the IEP goals that are constructed by the special education teachers in a way to best serve the student. See below for more information on the IEP process.
[ps2id id=’iep’ target=”/]IEP Process
When a student experiences educational difficulty, s/he may be brought to the attention of the school site’s Student Study Team, composed of school staff and other professionals knowledgeable about the student. The parent/guardian is invited to attend this meeting, where concerns about the student’s progress are reviewed and modifications/accommodations are identified for implementation in the classroom. If, after a time period, limited or no progress is noted, the student may be referred for Special Education. Concerned parents are encouraged to conference with the teacher and may also refer their child for special education.
Once a child has been referred, the parent receives a packet of materials including a Consent for Assessment form, indicating assessments to be completed in areas of concern. When the parent signs and returns it, the case manager ensures that an evaluation is conducted in a timely manner. The evaluation typically includes a review of school records and other developmental or medical reports, observation of the student at school, portfolios, and completion of formal and/or informal evaluation tools. After evaluations have been conducted, a meeting will be set up with parents and all involved school personnel to go over their findings and recommendations. If the student qualifies for services, an IEP (plan) will be developed for implementation. An IEP team always includes the special education teacher, parents, administrator, and regular classroom teacher. It may also include other school personnel, such as a nurse, speech and language pathologist, behavior support specialist, occupational therapist, or psychologist, depending on the content of the IEP and the presenting struggles of the student.
Parents who feel their child is having problems learning in school and suspect they have a disability should bring their concern to the attention of the child’s teacher or principal.
[ps2id id=’gate’ target=”/]Gifted and Talented Education (GATE)
The San Diego Unified School District Gifted and Talented Department supports unique and equitable access for high achieving and underachieving pupils who are identified as Gifted. Our mission is to advance the development of gifted, talented, and high potential youth through opportunities, student advocacy, and exemplary programs and practices.
The GATE Office is responsible for GATE Programming, GATE Teacher Certification, and Professional Development around Gifted and Talented Education.
The Office of Related and Low Incidence Services is responsible for all GATE Testing and Identification. For information about GATE Testing and Identification please see the Assessment Tab.
For information about GATE, please email gate@sandi.net. (this is a SDUSD email)
For further information about GATE, please see these links:
- Main GATE Information Site at www.sandiegounified.org
- GATE Assessment
- Program Summaries
- GATE Support Materials
[ps2id id=’science-lab’ target=”/]Science Lab Enrichment
At Vista Grande, we offer an extra hands-on science experience for all students, ages TK-5th, in the area of science. Each class at the school comes to the science lab at a regularly scheduled time and day during the week. Activities may involve any area of science and engineering. The goal is for students to experience working, thinking, and asking questions like a scientist. The lab classroom also houses several live specimens to observe throughout the year. Activities may involve observations, drawings and diagrams, designing and building, modeling, experimenting, making scientific claims, coding, robotics, using science equipment, and much much more. Lesson and activities might be taught in grade spans rather than for one specific grade.
The Science Lab experience is not intended to be a substitute for the state standards (NGSS) in science taught by the classroom teacher. Lessons taught in the science lab may, however, contribute to both the students’ academic progress and development, and students are expected to behave as they would in their regular classroom, do the written assignment that accompanies many of the activities, and to follow safety rules. Work done in the lab may be provided to the classroom teacher for use in determining grades.
The Science Lab teacher is Kimberly Allard and you can visit her website at www.mattermasters.com. Be sure to also check out the wish lists and supply lists information if you would like to help contribute. The Science Lab is only funded through the Vista Grande Foundation and through other donations. The district does not provide any funding for the program.
[ps2id id=’ngss’ target=”/]Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
NGSS is the set of new science standards for teaching science. California is the middle of making a transition from the California Science Standards to the Next Generation Science Standards. The new standards are focused more on the practice of being a scientist, rather than just knowing science facts. To learn more about NGSS, please visit the NGSS Website.
[ps2id id=’sfd’ target=”/]Science Field Day
Elementary Science Field Day is a competition for 4th and 5th graders that takes place once a year in May. It is a county-wide competition, and nearly 60 teams participate! The event is hosted in Lakeside, typically at Lakeside Middle School. There are a limited amount of spots available – not all 4th and 5th graders will be able to participate. Students have to fill out an application, get teacher approval, and must be willing to prepare themselves through research and/or practice for their event(s) outside of school time. Team members will be selected randomly from the approved applications turned in by the deadline.There may be a limited amount of practice time held on minimum days after school.
Occasional meetings and individual practices might be scheduled during the week.
Typically students work on two events, and will have at least one partner that they will be working with.
For more detailed information, please see the Science Field Day tab on www.mattermasters.com.
[ps2id id=’music’ target=”/]Music
The VAPA Department sponsors a music program for 4th and 5th graders. More information will be posted regarding the VAPA program.
The Vista Grande Foundation has sponsored a music program for TK-3rd graders for the last few years. That program is no longer available, but the Foundation is working to find another one.
[ps2id id=’jrachievement’ target=”/]Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement is a program that is focused on preparing young people to become knowledgeable in the global economy. JA uses hands-on experiences in the classroom the help students understand the economics of life. Schools and teachers choose to participate in the Junior Achievement program, which provides a business leader to come to the classroom and teach economy-focused lessons to every grade level.
Ms. Posella is our Vista Grande Junior Achievement Coordinator.
[ps2id id=’fineartist’ target=”/]Fine Artists
The Fine Artist Program is a parent taught art education program. The program was designed and developed by Kathleen Kane-Murrell. Parents attend workshops that teach the techniques and history of each project, and then go into their assigned classroom to work on the project with the students.
Students might be honored for their art work in a variety of ways.
Each child will have one piece of their artwork displayed in the hallways of Vista Grande during Open House in April.
For more information about the program and Kathleen, you can visit her website: www.kathleenkanemurrell.com