Greetings, Viper Families!

Our Vipers have been working hard, thinking deeply, and growing as learners across all of their classes! As an IB World School, each course is organized around engaging Units of Study that encourage students to explore important concepts, ask questions, and make meaningful connections.

Throughout the school day, Vipers are taking notes, collaborating with classmates, participating in academic discussions, and demonstrating their learning through a variety of assignments, projects, and performance tasks. Ask your Viper what they are learning and what activities are engaging them right now!

📅 Progress Reports Are Coming Soon!

Our first Progress Reporting Period is right around the corner. The gradebook closes on October 16, which means the next few weeks are especially important. Many classes will be completing assessments, projects, and performance tasks that contribute to students' IB grades for the upcoming Progress Report.

Families can help their Viper stay on track by:

📓 Checking their planner. Vipers should be recording assignments and important due dates each day.
💻 Checking eKadence. Review class information and look for missing or incomplete assignments.
✅ Taking ownership. Students are responsible for identifying missing work, completing it, and submitting it to their teacher for grading. They can always email their teacher if they have questions.

As IB learners, we want our Vipers to develop strong habits of organization, responsibility, self-advocacy, and reflection. These are skills that will support their success well beyond middle school.

Need Help? Visit the Viper Study Lounge!

If your Viper needs help catching up on missing assignments, getting organized, or receiving extra academic support, we are here to help!

The key is to start early and ask for support before missing work begins to pile up. Encourage your student to take advantage of our Viper Study Lounge, where they can get the extra time and support they need to get back on track.

Please see all the latest updates for our Viper community below. If you need assistance, please contact our front office at (760) 726-5766.

Thank you!

Vista Magnet Middle School

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COME TO THE PARENT RIASEC WORKSHOP! This will be a great opportunity for you to learn about the RIASEC, a tool that can engage your students in talking about their FUTURE.

Discovering Who We Are: RIASEC

Ask your Viper what is their RIASEC Code? (The Top 3 Letters that they identify with).

This week during CLUB CARNIVAL, Vipers completed RIASEC Bingo to learn about the different clubs offered this year.

RIASEC introduces students to six broad areas of interest: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. Students will identify areas that connect with their individual strengths, preferences, and interests.

For middle school students, this is not about choosing a career right now! Instead, it is an opportunity for students to build self-awareness, explore possibilities, and begin making connections between their interests, goals, learning, and future.

Our Advisory teachers will use these results to learn more about each Viper and help students reflect on questions such as: What am I interested in? What are my strengths? What motivates me? What possibilities might I want to explore?

At VMMS, we believe that understanding yourself is an important part of becoming an IB lifelong learner. We are excited to help every Viper continue discovering their unique identity and the possibilities ahead!

Vipers should MATCH their RIASEC Codes with the Enrichment Learning Labs! See BELOW!

At VMMS, we believe in High Expectations, High Support, and High Belief! Our Intervention Learning Labs provide additional academic support for Vipers who may need extra time, guidance, or practice.

An important part of middle school is learning to self-advocate. We encourage Vipers to recognize when they need help and take the initiative to seek it. Students can always ask questions during class or reach out to their teachers by email, but sometimes dedicated support time before or after school can make a big difference.

Intervention Learning Labs are offered before and after school based on teacher availability. Please review the current opportunities and permission forms below:

English Intervention Learning Lab

Spanish Intervention Learning Lab

ALL Vipers Are Welcome at the Viper Study Lounge!

The Viper Study Lounge is a great place for students to get homework help, organizational support, and extra guidance with projects and assignments. We want our Vipers to know that asking for help is a strength and that support is always available at VMMS.

**Parents and guardians, if your Viper is having difficulty keeping up with assignments, managing their workload, getting organized, or simply needs a little extra support, the Viper Study Lounge is a great place to start!

Enrichment Learning Labs Are Coming!

Beginning next week, permission forms for our Enrichment Learning Labs will be available in the front office.

Enrichment Learning Labs are teacher-led learning experiences offered before or after school. Our teachers design these opportunities around unique skills, interests, and hobbies, giving Vipers another way to discover something new and develop their talents.

Because space is limited, consistent attendance is required, and waitlists will be created when interest exceeds available spots. Labs are offered in different sessions throughout the year, allowing students and families to choose opportunities that best fit their schedules.

Enrichment Labs (ENG)

Enrichment Labs (SPAN)

Enrichment Labs Permission Form (ENG/SPAN)

**There is still LOTS of space for our Steel Drums and STEM Maker Lab. Please take advantage of these awesome opportunities.

At Vista Magnet Middle School, we are committed to creating a safe, focused, and respectful learning environment. Part of that commitment includes maintaining high expectations for student behavior—especially when it comes to the use of technology on campus.

To support learning and minimize distractions, we continue to uphold our long-standing No Cell Phone Use policy and reinforce clear expectations for responsible Chromebook use. All students signed an Acceptable Use Agreement for Use of Tech as per VUSD. Click HERE for our Student Handbook.

As IB learners, our Vipers strive to be Balanced and Principled—making thoughtful, responsible choices that contribute to a positive community for all.

Here are a few important reminders:

Cell Phones: Phones should be turned off and stored in backpacks during the school day. Keeping phones out of pockets helps reduce the temptation to use them during class time or in settings like restrooms, where privacy and safety are especially important.

Social Media & Privacy: Many social media platforms require users to be at least 13 years old. Students should never take photos or videos of others—students or staff—without clear consent. This includes the use of AI to create or alter images or videos. RECORDING ON CAMPUS during school hours is not permitted. Students who take pictures/record inappropriate actions and/or post these on social media or share with others will be required to delete harmful content. Non-consensual tech actions are not only inappropriate but may also violate district policies related to cyberbullying and safety. Law enforcement is notified for serious situations.

Chromebook Use: VUSD-issued Chromebooks and student accounts are intended for educational purposes only. This means no gaming, streaming for entertainment, or social communication through school email. This applies for after school hours AND for weekends, include school breaks. CHROMEBOOKS may not be used during lunch or while walking in passing period.

Digital Safety Monitoring: All student accounts are monitored through district safety systems. Inappropriate searches or concerning language are flagged, and school staff are notified to ensure student safety and provide support when needed.

We appreciate your partnership in reinforcing these expectations at home. By working together, we can help our Vipers make safe, responsible, and informed decisions when using technology.

At VMMS, we hold high expectations and high belief in every Viper. Middle school is an important time for students to build responsibility, maturity, and ownership. We want every Viper to “show up” and “lock in” as a responsible, engaged member of our school community.

Please help us reinforce these expectations:

School-Appropriate Items Only
Students should only bring items that are needed for school. Toys and non-educational items are not allowed, including NeeDohs, squishies, stuffed animals, noise makers, and sports equipment brought from home. Please review our Student Handbook for the complete list of prohibited items.

Beginning next week, confiscated items will require parent/guardian pickup from the front office.

Lanyard & ID Every Day
Students must wear their lanyard and ID daily. IDs are used for check-ins and earning Viper Way Points. Students received one free set at the beginning of the year. Replacements are available in the front office for $5 each.

Dress Code Every Day
Students are expected to arrive in VMMS dress code each day. Plain-colored T-shirts, non-VMMS spirit shirts, tank tops, and non-collared shirts are not dress code. Students who arrive out of dress code will change in the Health Office rather than cover the shirt with a sweatshirt.

Students who develop a pattern of missing IDs/lanyards or dress code violations will be assigned to a Viper 101 class before or after school. Notifications will begin next week.

Catching Vipers Being EPIC!

As a PBIS Gold School, we believe positive recognition matters! Through MINGA, students are earning Viper Way Points for demonstrating EPIC behavior inside and outside the classroom.

Families receive an email when recognition is given, but your Viper can see the details in their MINGA account, including who recognized them, when, and often a personalized note. Ask your Viper what they did to earn their latest recognition!

Even better, Vipers can save their points and redeem them at our first-ever Viper Way Store!

Stay tuned and check out the teaser flyer below!

On behalf of our 2026-2027 VMMS PTA Association we want to invite all the parents, students and other supporters to join our VMMS PTA!

This is a great way for student members to learn more about the association and vote on various subjects that impact our school! Anyone can join and there is no obligation to attend any meetings or participate (though we would love it if you would). The membership dues collected go towards supporting various programs, events and other needs for our students and staff.

CLICK HERE

We look forward to an amazing year at VMMS with your partnership! Please contact Vicky Henry, VMMS PTA President for any questions vistamagnetpta@gmail.com

CLICK HERE for the VMMS Counseling website. Please see who supports your Viper below:

Ms. Ward

Click HERE for an Appointment

Supporting students with the last names [A-Go]

(760) 726-5766 ext. 61041

laurenward@vistausd.org

Mr. Xander

Click HERE for an Appointment

Supporting students with the last names [Gr-O]

(760) 726-5766 ext. 61043

alexanderdoyle@vistausd.org

Ms. Andrade -Hablo Español

Click HERE for an Appointment

Supporting students with the last names [P-Z]

(760) 726-5766 ext. 61040

krystinaandrade@vistausd.org

Please fill out this FORM if you feel you need support from the PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention & Support) team regarding a students academics, behaviors, and/or social-emotional well being.

Our PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention & Supports) team is made up of our School Counselors, administrators, school psychologist and Student Support Team Lead. This centralized request system will allow for a "whole team approach" in ensuring that we are analyzing needs and collectively combining efforts. We are happy to help. Please reach out!