Artículos de October 2024

October is Principal’s Appreciation Month, and we are thrilled to honor and celebrate our incredible school leader, Jessica Epacs!  At Vista Del Sur Accelerated Academy, we recognize the vital role our principal plays in shaping the success of our students, staff, and entire school community.

Our principal leads with passion, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to excellence, ensuring that every student receives the best education possible. Whether it’s fostering a positive school culture, advocating for new initiatives, or being a constant source of support for students and staff, our principal goes above and beyond every day.

This month, we encourage everyone in our school community to take a moment to share your appreciation—whether it’s a kind word, a thank you note, or just letting our principal know how much their hard work means to you.

Let’s come together and make this Principal’s Appreciation Month extra special! Thank you, Mrs. Epacs, for everything you do to make Vista Del Sur a fantastic place to learn and grow.

We are excited to shine the spotlight on our talented 4th-grade writers from Vista Del Sur Accelerated Academy! Last night, eight outstanding students, led by the incredible Mrs. Kassey Rysdyk, took center stage as they showcase their writing skills and the process that pushes them to be their best at the October Board Meeting.

Mrs. Rysdyk has worked tirelessly to refine the writing process for our students, taking their already proficient abilities to the next level. She’ll be sharing her unique approach to encouraging student growth, creativity, and precision in writing. From drafting to final edits, students will demonstrate their progress by presenting their work to each Board Member in person, along with the feedback they’ve incorporated.

To make this an interactive experience, they brought along their Chromebooks to show both their initial drafts and their edited versions. This allows us to highlight not only the incredible work our students have done but also the importance of the revision process.

Each year one teacher from each school is selected to receive the district’s Excellence in Education Award. This prestigious award is given to those who attain high academic achievement for their students, provide exceptional service and leadership at their school, and make a positive difference outside of the classroom and in the community.

Congratulations to Vista Del Sur Accelerated Academy, Briana Wright

Read this month’s issue of the Tiger Pride Post.

The Laveen School District will be implementing a change to the district calendar beginning next school year (2024/25) that will impact the Wednesday half-day schedules.

Currently, we have 15 half days each year in which our staff receives professional development following dismissal. We also have four half days for parent/teacher conferences.

Next year, instead of the 15 half days in which our schools dismiss three hours early, we will dismiss an hour and a half early every Wednesday (36 days).  Half-day schedules on parent/teacher conference days as well as the last day of school will remain unchanged.

The reason for this change is twofold.

First, early-release Wednesdays allow for more instructional time in core subject areas. Students will follow a schedule similar to a full school day. This change will make the calendar more consistent for families.

Second, Laveen is in the process of implementing Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) for staff. By offering this time weekly, instead of once or twice a month, staff will receive more quality research-based training that is conducive to developing a strong Professional Learning Community and will ultimately improve student learning.

For more information, visit our FAQ on this topic.

Read the letter from Superintendent Dr. Jeff Sprout.

Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, all Laveen students will receive breakfast and lunch at no charge.

The Laveen School District has been selected to participate in the USDA Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). This provision to the school breakfast and lunch programs allows schools/districts to provide meals at no cost to ALL students. The program may be extended to subsequent years.

While the program is in place, families will not have to apply for free or reduced-price meals. However, all Laveen families will be asked to complete the simplified Alternate Income Form/ Formulario Alternativo para la Elegibilidad Basada en los Ingresos to collect important data used for each school’s federal funding allocations.

Adult and additional student meals, as well as a la carte items, will be still be available for purchase. Visit the Purchasing Additional Food Items page for details.

All Laveen schools are currently enrolling new students to being in August 2024.  Please visit our Registration page to enroll your child using our secure online parent portal or to access printable enrollment documents.

Parents/guardians will need to present the required documents listed below in person for verification to complete the registration process. These documents must be verified prior to the start of school.

• Child’s original birth certificate
• Child’s immunization record
• Proof of Residence, such as utility receipt or lease agreement (refer to Arizona Residency Guidelines)
• Legal papers, if applicable for custody
• Withdrawal form and report card from previous school
• Photo identification for parent/guardian.

*Please note, Vista del Sur is an accelerated school and students must take an assessment prior to enrolling. Paseo Pointe is a dual language immersion (DLI) school, incoming students must enroll in the DLI program.

All Laveen school offices are open Monday-Thursday this summer and available to complete your child’s registration. Please be advised most school offices will be closed July 1-5. Please call for hours.

On May 1, Laveen Elementary School District hosted our annual Science/Engineering Fair. Judges selected a First, Second, and Third Place winner from each grade level in Grades 5-8. Students did an incredible job of showcasing their projects. Congratulations to 5th Grader, Malyana McDuff who was the overall winner. She showcased a phenomena study on the impact of using “pool covers” to conserve water.

Read this month’s issue of the Tiger Pride Post.