News

Congratulations to Vista del Sur Accelerated Academy for being named a 2020 A+ School of Excellence by the Arizona Educational Foundation!

The A+ School of Excellence program is a comprehensive school assessment program that celebrates outstanding public schools. Schools complete an extensive application which is then followed by site visits by members of the AEF. The A+ School of Excellence™ designation is valid for a three-and-a-half-year period.

Vista joins Rogers Ranch, M.C. Cash School, and Trailside Point Performing Arts Academy in receiving this prestigious award.

Representatives from the Arizona Educational Foundation will present the school with an official banner.

The Arizona Department of Health Services requires that all 11-year-old children obtain two adolescent vaccines, Tdap and Meningococcal (MCV4), or provide a valid exemption. These new immunizations are important as they will provide protection against serious illness.

Tdap is a combination vaccine that provides protection against three bacterial diseases — Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Whooping Cough). Meningococcal prevents against four types of bacterial meningitis.

Parents should review their child’s immunization records. If these vaccinations have not been received, the child should obtain the vaccination at either their doctor’s office or an immunization clinic. Proof of immunizations will need to be received before the student can begin school.

Children who are not yet 11 will be required to get the new immunizations once they turn 11.

More Details

Vista del Sur will be distributing Chromebooks and other instructional materials to families on July 30 and 31. Families will be able to pick these items up on a drive-thru basis.

We are asking families to arrive during scheduled time frames according to their last name. The times are as follows.

Please view the flyer.

For more details on Vista’s Back to School plans including the schedule for the first day of school, view the letter from Principal Epacs.

For more details on Laveen’s Back to School plans, visit www.LaveenSchools.org/Back-To-School.

Vista is now accepting enrollment forms for the 2020-21 school year. Visit our enrollment page for details.

All prospective students must take an assessment prior to enrolling. Please call our front office for details at 602-237-3046.

A second informational session for prospective families of Estrella Foothills Global Academy will be held on January 30 at 6:00 p.m. This event will take place at the Laveen Education Center, 5001 W. Dobbins. Attendees will hear more about the global studies program and the process of becoming an International Baccalaureate World School. Plans of the campus and construction progress will also be shared.

Visit Estrella Foothills’ page for more details.

On October 25, 2019, Laveen broke ground on their ninth school, Estrella Foothills Global Academy. The future school is located near 55th Avenue and Carver Road.

Development of the school was made possible through a number of partnerships. The land was acquired through a donation by developer Taylor Morrison and proceeds from another district-owned land sale; the Arizona School Facilities Board is funding $14.6 million in construction costs; and, in addition to the site’s three play fields, there will be a joint-use playground/city park of which the City of Phoenix and Taylor Morrison are funding the construction, amenities, and improvements.

Estrella Foothills will offer global studies as its signature program. Plans include becoming an International Baccalaureate World School and offering Mandarin Chinese as a foreign language component. Global designs will be incorporated into the building’s architecture. Estrella Foothills Global Academy will open to Grades K–6, adding a grade level each year until it serves Grades K-8.

The school was designed by EMC2 Architects and is being constructed by S.D. Crane Builders.

Contractor S.D. Crane sponsored the celebratory event.

View photos from the groundbreaking on our flickr page.

For more information about the school, visit www.laveenschools.org/estrella-foothills-global-academy

Over 400 markers were collected by Vista del Sur students for recycling.

Vista’s 7th grade students participated in the  Youth Frontiers Courage Retreat.

Through presentations, activities, and small group discussions; the retreat aimed to empower students to be themselves and take positive risks that make a healthy difference for themselves, their peers and their school. It inspired students to follow their hearts instead of the crowd.

The retreat was organized by Youth Frontiers, based out of Minnesota.  Almost 20 Cesar Chavez High School students, selected based on their leadership ability,  also volunteered to support with small group facilitation.

Students finished the day learning how to act with courage to build a positive school culture and climate.

Vista del Sur student Angel Molina is a recipient of the Gila River Indian Community’s Chief Azul Scholar Award. The Chief Azul Scholar Award is given to students who personify Chief Azul’s leadership and educational ability. The students were chosen based on grade point average, attendance, behavior, accomplishments and extracurricular activities.

Chief Azul was known for leading the tribe during a turbulent time, through Mexican jurisdiction, the Gadsden Purchase, and keeping the Gila River Indian Community from being relocated to Oklahoma.

Angel was honored at a recent banquet held at the Vee Quiva Hotel and Casino’s Event Center. Read the article from the Gila River Indian News.