Community Update

Educational Results Partnership (ERP), a non-profit organization that applies data science to accelerate student success, has released the 2025 Honor Roll list of California’s top performing schools. This is the eleventh year that ERP has completed the Honor Roll, which recognizes top public schools, school districts and charter schools that have outperformed their peers in closing achievement gaps, particularly among higher-poverty and historically disadvantaged student populations.

This year 158 districts in California made the Honor Roll, approximately 21% of the schools in the state. The full list of Honor Roll schools is now posted on ERP’s website at https://www.honorrollschools.com/.

“This recognition highlights our success as a district to strive for Excellence and Innovation on every school campus in Vista Unified. This achievement also reinforces our vision to promote resilience, agile learning and creative problem solving that the business leaders need to address an increasingly complex and dynamic world of work,” said Dr. Matt Doyle, Superintendent of Schools. “The hard work of teachers and staff instilling the elements of our Learner Portrait: Kind and Confident, Capable and Knowledgeable, Curious and Connected, is really taking aim at eliminating generational poverty.”

“Business leaders are proud to recognize high performing schools that are equipping students with the fundamental skills that matter most to employers,” said Dan Kinney, ERP’s Board Chair. “Even as the world and the workforce rapidly change, these schools are helping students build strong foundations in critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving—skills that will always be essential in any economy.”

The program is part of a national effort to engage business leaders in recognizing successful schools and educational systems and promoting best practices that improve student outcomes. Honor Roll schools are recognized for demonstrating consistently higher levels of student achievement, improvement in achievement over time, and a reduction in achievement gaps among student populations. To learn more about the methodology used to determine the 2025 Honor Roll schools and districts, click here. For an expanded version of the announcement, click here.

Last week, students, teachers, and families across the district participated in Digital Citizenship Week—exploring how to balance healthy media habits with creative and innovative uses of technology. As part of the week’s events, Dr. Doyle hosted a special podcast conversation featuring Ed Tech District Lead Kerry Perez, teacher David Hanlon,and parents Jeanette and Charles Bradshaw. Together, they discussed kids’ media use, maintaining balance at school and home, and how technology can be used as a powerful tool for creativity and learning. Tune in for an honest, down-to-earth chat about kids and tech!

Check Out Our Podcast Highlighting Digital Citizenship. Click on these link below:

English

Spanish

We celebrated the graduation of our third cohort of the Apprenticeship Readiness Program (ARP) on Tuesday, October 28th at Rancho Buena High School. Twenty-six students completed online and hands-on training in a variety of skills. They received valuable industry certifications including OSHA 30, Mobile Elevated Lift Platform (MELP), MC3, and CPR. This 16 week program provides a critical first step to careers in the construction trades, providing structured preparation for adults interested in entering apprenticeships in high-demand industries. ARP, offered at Vista Adult School in partnership with the Building Trades Council and the San Diego Workforce Partnership, combines rigorous classroom instruction with hands-on training to ensure participants develop both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

Our next cohort starts November 13, 2025. Interested applicants can apply here.

We know that many of our families receive CalFresh benefits and want to make sure you’re aware of the recent announcement that November benefits will likely be delayed because of the federal government shutdown. Please know our school district is here to offer support and resources to help during this time. The best place to start is 2-1-1 San Diego, which is a free, 24-hour, confidential phone service and searchable online resource database. Families can call 2-1-1 or go online and get connected with local food pantries, meal programs, and many other essential services.

In addition to 2-1-1, here are some additional community and school-based resources that may be helpful:

Students receive breakfast and lunch while at school every day. If additional supports are needed, please view the following list of Food Distributions and Hot Meal locations:

Summit Church - Super Pantry

292 E Barham Dr., Suite 202, San Marcos, CA 92078

Tues 10:30am-2:30pm, Th 2:30pm-6:00pm, 1st and 3th Saturday 10:00-12:00pm

Catholic Charities Emergency Food Distribution

St. Peter the Apostle Fallbrook

450 S Stage Coach Ln, Fallbrook, CA 92028

St. Mark’s Pantry San Marcos

1147 Discovery Street, San Marcos, CA 92078

Grace Presbyterian Church

1450 E. Vista Way, Vista, CA 92084

760-724-0077

San Diego Rescue Shelter

120 Elm Street | San Diego, CA 92101

(619) 687-3720

Brother Benno’s

3260 Production Avenue, Oceanside, CA 92058

760-439-1244

Feeding San Diego Food Distribution List (web link)

School counselors support our students’ social emotional and mental health needs. Six social workers are also available to support families. Please contact your school counselor whenever there is a concern regarding your child’s social emotional or mental health.

Behavioral Health coaching for families for kids ages 0 - 12 via BrightLife Kids link HERE.

Confidential support for 13 to 25-year-olds in California at no cost via Soluna link HERE.

Please visit our Student Support Services Student Wellbeing page for additional resources to support your families’ social emotional needs, by clicking HERE.

• OTHER FAMILY RESOURCES:

Please view the following link, “Community Resources,” for additional resources via this link HERE.

If you’re unsure where to start or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your school family liaison, school counselor, or district social worker. We know that these times can bring added stress and uncertainty. We are committed to supporting every child and family, ensuring that students continue to feel safe and cared for.

History:

Red Ribbon Week launched in Calexico, California, after the death Enrique (Kiki) S. Camerena, who joined the Marine Corps, and was a fire fighter, police officer, deputy sheriff, and special agent with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). It started in 1985, and was formalized in 1988, as a way to show intolerance of illegal drug distribution and use. Every year, more than 80 million show their commitment to a healthy, drug-free lifestyle by wearing or displaying a red ribbon.

Learning and Activities:

Schools during Red Ribbon Week- Schools promote an understanding that illegal drug use interferes with our students realizing the elements of our Learner Portrait and rob students from realizing their dreams.

The Life of DEA Special Agent Kiki Camarena- videos are available via Google Voyager Tours on the following link: CLICK HERE.

Contest: Families can decorate their home’s door, mailbox, or fence for Red Ribbon Week’s Photo Contest. For more information, click HERE.

Sign the Pledge - Parents and Youth can take the pledge to be part of the commitment to a drug-free America. Please click HERE.

VUSD's Family And Community Engagement (FACE) Network would like to invite all families, staff, and community members to celebrate Día de los Muertos (“Day of the Dead”) on October 29, from 3-7 p.m. at the Vista Innovation Center (836 Olive Ave.). This fun-filled event will include honoring loved ones who have passed, taking fun photos, playing Lotería (Mexican Bingo), free souvenirs, learning about the history of this tradition through videos and art activities, movie fun (Coco), hands-on activities (traditional paper flowers & coloring decorative paper skulls), free books, community partners, face-painting, snacks, and much more! We will also be creating our own Lotería cards to make our very own set of VUSD Lotería! You can decorate your own altares (altars) Oct. 27-29 at the VIC.

This event is for ALL to join together in culture and unity. Many cultures have very similar traditions and also very different ones in how they celebrate the lives of those gone. We put together this celebration as a way to honor and learn about this tradition, but also as an opportunity for others to share their own cultural traditions and for all of us to come together as a loving community. We will have free traditional treats to enjoy, with food available for purchase. Drop in for 5 minutes or a couple hours and bring the whole family and friends! For more information: FamilyEngagement@vistausd.org or see a Community Liaison.

Did you know you have access to all of the past Community Updates? Click here to check them out! Another way to access those is by going to our website: vistausd.org/news and clicking on Archived Community Updates.

Email: webmaster@vistausd.org
Website: vistausd.org
Location: 1234 Arcadia Avenue, Vista, CA, USA
Phone: (760) 726-2170
Twitter: @VistaBlueprint