Dearest Koala Families,

Welcome to a new school year! I want to extend my welcome to the returning parents and students and all of the many wonderful new parents and students to Vista Grande Elementary School.

I hope you all had a wonderful summer and I look forward to our successful school year! There is absolutely nothing more exciting than the first day of school! The excitement is infectious! This is my 9th year as Principal at Vista Grande, and the thrill is still there!

Classroom assignments will be emailed out this afternoon! And please don’t miss the Ice Cream Social hosted by the Foundation today, Friday August 18th at 5:00 pm! Come for an ice cream and see some friends, old and new. Class lists will be posted during the Ice Cream Social only.

Heads Up: Our first day of school, Monday, August 21st is finally here. Tropical storm Hillary may impact our morning commute to school. Potential downspouts and local flooding expected currently. Check your local weather throughout the weekend and plan ahead. If it is raining in the morning, students will go directly into their classrooms. The gates will open at 7:20 a.m. As always, be sure your child is dressed appropriately for school each day. We recommend layers and a raincoat on Monday.

Kindergarten: Don’t forget, Kindergarten students will be dismissed at 11:50 am for the first week of school, Monday August 21st through Friday August 25th.

UTK: Don’t forget, UTK students will be dismissed at 11:50 am for the first TWO weeks of school, Monday August 21st through Friday September 1st.

All students are always dismissed at 11:50 am EVERY Thursday.

This year Vista Grande welcomes the following new staff members:

• UTK Teacher Juliet Rous
• ECE Teacher Oliver Lapuebla
• 3rd grade Classroom Teacher Talia Kraus
• School Psychologist Salvatore D’Amico
• Mild/Mod Teacher Alesta Dorn
• Mild/Mod Teacher Karla Rodriguez
• Mild/Mod Teacher Scott Spaulding
• Guidance Assistant Mia Cruz
• PE Teacher Naomi “Suki” Miyasaki
• Speech Pathologist Michelle Beaver
• Occupational Therapist Nicole Lombardi

As we begin this year, please remember that this is your school and we welcome your involvement. You establish a strong foundation with the school and become a positive role model for your children when you participate in the various school activities offered at Vista Grande.

Please utilize our website to keep informed of the many exciting and informative upcoming school events. We also invite parents or guardians who desire to be involved in helping to shape the school to come and be members or participate in the School Site Council (SSC), School Governance Team (SGT), and our Vista Grande Foundation.

Have you joined us on Konstella yet? Konstella is the Foundation’s main platform for communicating news, events and volunteer opportunities. It’s free to join and easy to navigate. Click here to join and be sure to add your child/ren to their classes (by room number and teacher). You can also browse the events and committees to see where you may be able to help. Each month, we will add Foundation meeting agendas, minutes and budget reports so that you can stay up-to-date even if you’re not able to join a meeting.

Have a question, idea or suggestion for the Foundation? We want to hear from you! Please email us at VistaGrandeFoundation@gmail.com.

Back to School Night For Grades 1-5th grade

This year’s Back to School Night is scheduled for Thursday, September 7th starting at 5:30 p.m. This is a great opportunity to visit your child’s classroom, meet his/her teacher, and get an overview of our educational programs. Please make time to attend this informative and rewarding event for your child/ren.

Attendance

Attendance is the key to the academic success of your child. Therefore, it is important that students come prepared every day, without excuses but with the expectation of working to their highest potential and being challenged to the highest levels. With your support of ensuring daily attendance in school and setting high standards for your child from home, I can assure you that they will achieve at very high levels academically.

Tips for Success

I offer you a few suggestions that foster academic success.

• Set an early bedtime that allows for your child to receive plenty of rest.
• Determine a set time and place where homework will be completed.
• At least once a week, if not daily, clean your child’s backpack.
• Make frequent contact with your child’s teacher via notes, emails, phone calls, or visits.
• Celebrate success at all levels of learning.
• Read with your child 20 to 30 minutes a day and limit television and video games during the week. Be sure that they see you reading, thus signifying that reading is important.

School Dismissal & Parent Pick-up

When school is dismissed it is important that children are picked up promptly. Please remember that Tuesdays are early dismissal for students. Students are dismissed every Thursday and other minimum days at 11:50 a.m., and Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 2:05 p.m.

Please make sure your child’s teacher and the office is informed of any after school pick up procedures that are different from the norm. Students’ safety is our number one priority. By working together, we can ensure the safety and success for all our students involved in this year’s educational experience.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to ask. I look forward to working with you and your child/ren throughout the school year to provide a rigorous and safe learning environment that results in students’ academic success.

For Our Children,

Nikki S. Mitchell, Principal