El Rancho Unified Weekly Newsletter

This Week at ERUSD | September 25, 2026

Each week, Our El Rancho Story brings you highlights from our schools, important District updates, upcoming opportunities, community resources, and the people and programs supporting students across El Rancho Unified.

Where Science and Art Grow Together at VLA

At El Rancho Unified's Virtual Learning Academy (VLA), students have the flexibility to learn through a virtual school experience while remaining connected to their teachers, classmates, and school community. Learning at VLA also extends beyond the virtual classroom, with in-person opportunities that bring students together to explore new interests, collaborate, and learn through hands-on experiences.

While VLA serves students in grades K–12, this week's spotlight takes a closer look at the exciting learning happening in its elementary grades, K–5. Through weekly in-person events, younger VLA students have opportunities to connect with their peers and bring what they are learning to life.

One example comes from Ms. Shirley Ambrose, a K–5 teacher who is bringing science and art together through a gardening project. Students are working with her to plan, plant, and care for a garden, giving them opportunities to observe how plants grow and take an active role in the process.

The project also extends into visual arts. Students are exploring one-point perspective, learning how horizon lines and vanishing points can create a sense of depth in their artwork. By incorporating plants into their drawings, they can connect what they are learning in the garden with new artistic techniques.

For VLA's elementary students, experiences like these offer another way to learn, create, and connect. Whether they are caring for a growing garden or experimenting with perspective in their artwork, students have opportunities to explore different subjects and develop their skills through hands-on learning.

Supporting English Learners: A Pathway to Success

Every child who walks into an El Rancho classroom brings a language with them, and that language is a strength. At El Rancho Unified, our English Learner Program helps students strengthen their academic English while continuing to learn grade-level subjects alongside their classmates. An important milestone is reclassification, when a student demonstrates English proficiency and meets California’s requirements to be recognized as a Fluent English Proficient (RFEP).

In 2025–26, 167 ERUSD students were reclassified as fluent English proficient, and El Rancho outpaced the state on the 2025 California School Dashboard for English learners making progress toward proficiency.

Explore our English Learner Program webpage to learn how reclassification works, see more student achievement data, and find resources for families.

Construction continues in the Multi-Purpose Rooms at Birney Tech Academy, Magee Academy of Arts and Sciences, Rio Vista Elementary, and North Ranchito Elementary. Magee and Rio Vista have completed their electrical inspections as work progresses toward the next stages.

Take Two Minutes to Update Your ParentSquare Notifications

Did you know you can choose how and when you hear from ParentSquare? Your notification settings let you decide how you receive Posts and Direct Messages, while important Alerts and Notices can still reach you when needed.

• Posts: Choose Instant to receive notifications as Posts are published or Digest to receive one summary each evening. Digest can be especially helpful if you receive messages from multiple schools.
• Direct Messages: Choose whether you receive notifications by email, text, app, or a combination of methods.
• Alerts & Notices: Important alerts and notices can still reach you right away, helping make sure you don’t miss time-sensitive information.

Watch the short video above to see how to review your notification settings.

You can also find step-by-step instructions in ParentSquare by logging into your account and visiting the ParentSquare Help Center.

What’s Ahead at ERUSD

Here are a few upcoming events and reminders for El Rancho Unified families:

🏈 ERHS Varsity Football & Middle School Band Performances | Thursday, October 1, 7 PM

Come cheer on the ERHS Football Dons as they take on the SEM Eagles! During the game, band students from all three ERUSD middle schools will join the ERHS Marching Dons in the stands for a special evening of music and school spirit.

📍 Don Stadium 🎟️ Football game admission is required. Purchase tickets through GoFan

🌎 Hispanic Heritage Month | September 15–October 15

Celebrations continue across ERUSD! Schools are recognizing the cultures, histories, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities through activities and events throughout the month.

📅 Stay Connected with Your School

Check your school calendar and ParentSquare for upcoming activities, family events, schedule changes, and important reminders.

Looking for more? Visit the District Events Calendar for additional events and important dates across ERUSD.

A Warm Welcome to VLA: Meet Ms. Martinez

Virtual Learning Academy (VLA) is recognizing Ms. Briseida Martinez, one of the school’s newest team members, who joined VLA this school year after moving from Arizona.

As VLA’s clerk, Ms. Martinez has quickly become a friendly and dependable presence. From assisting students and families to supporting teachers and helping with daily school operations, she plays an important role in keeping the school community connected. Her bilingual skills in English and Spanish also help VLA communicate with and support its families.

As VLA continues to create opportunities for students to learn and connect both virtually and in person, staff members like Ms. Martinez help make those experiences possible. We are happy to have her as part of the VLA team and the El Rancho Unified family!

Helping Students See Clearly with Vision To Learn

Through our partnership with Vision To Learn, El Rancho Unified students have access to free eye exams and glasses, helping ensure that vision needs do not stand in the way of learning.

Vision To Learn, a nonprofit organization, brings vision services directly to participating school sites, making essential eye care more accessible to students and families. By identifying vision needs and providing glasses to children who need them, the program helps remove barriers to learning and supports students’ academic engagement and overall well-being.

We look forward to continuing this partnership and connecting more El Rancho students with the vision care they need to learn and succeed.