Parent Bulldog Bulletin!
Stuart Mesa Newsletter #3 week of 8/24/26
What's Happening @ Stuart Mesa?
Hi Stuart Mesa Families,
What a wonderful first seven days of school! It has been so great seeing our students back on campus, getting comfortable with their new schedules, reconnecting with friends, and building relationships with their teachers. Thank you for your patience and partnership as we have worked through the first week together. We are off to a great start!
As we begin our second week, here are a few important reminders:
🏫 Closed Campus Begins Monday, August 24
Beginning Monday, August 24, Stuart Mesa will be a closed campus. Parents and guardians should say goodbye to their students at the school gate or during drop-off. We know it can be difficult to say goodbye, especially at the beginning of a new school year, but our students are doing a wonderful job becoming more independent and settling into their school routines. Our counselors and staff will be available and ready to help students who need extra support.
🧸 TK & Kindergarten Shortened Days
TK and Kindergarten students will continue their shortened schedule of 8:15 a.m.–12:25 p.m. through Friday, August 28. These shortened days give our teachers dedicated time to complete important beginning-of-year assessments and get to know each student’s individual strengths and needs.
TK and Kindergarten will return to their regular schedule beginning Monday, August 31.
🍎 Breakfast Reminder
Breakfast is served each morning from 7:45–8:05 a.m. The cafeteria doors close at 8:05 a.m., so please make sure your student arrives at the cafeteria with enough time to eat breakfast before the doors close.
đź“š Back to School Nights
We are looking forward to welcoming our families to campus for Back to School Night!
- Elementary: Wednesday, September 2
- Middle School: Thursday, September 3
We are so grateful to have such a wonderful community of families supporting our students and staff. Thank you for helping us make the beginning of the school year a positive, safe, and successful experience for every Stuart Mesa Bulldog!
We can't wait for another great week!
Sincerely,
Dr. Rhonda Heffernan
Principal, Stuart Mesa School
Looking Ahead
ELAC Meeting @ 8:30 & 5:00 PM- August 26
Last day of shortened TK/K days- August 28
Picture Day- August 31
Elementary Back to School Night- September 2
Middle School Back to School Night- September 3
Labor Day (School Closed)- September 7
OUSD School Board Meeting @ Adult Transition School- September 8
Apex Color Run Fundraiser- September 10
Coffee With the Principal- September 16
PTO Bingo Night- September 18
Last day to purchase device insurance- September 30
Stuart Mesa ,as well as six other school in OUSD were recongnized by the State of California for their implementation of PBIS. PBIS stands for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. It is a proactive, school-wide framework that teaches kids clear behavioral expectations, acknowledges them when they follow the rules, and provides supportive guidance instead of just using punishment.
How PBIS Works at School
- Clear Expectations: Schools set 3 to 5 simple rules (Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible) that apply everywhere—in the classroom, hallways, and on the bus.
- Teaching Behavior: Just like reading or math, good behavior is explicitly taught, practiced, and retaught.
- Positive Reinforcement: Students earn praise, points, or special rewards for making good choices. At Stuart Mesa, students earn Bull Dog Pride Cards. Every Friday we have a drawing and students earn prizes. Twice a month, students can redeem their Bull Dog Pride cards at the Bull Dog Pride Store hosted by our school Counselor, Ms. Rubio. Check out our Stuart Mesa Behavior Matrix which we are teaching all our students this week in each of our classrooms.
TK, Kinder, & 1st Students Picked Up By Adults Only
Tk, Kindergarten, and 1st grade students must be picked up by an adult 18 years or older. This has been Stuart Mesa's policy for the past 8 years.
If there are special circumstances, 5th - 8th grade siblings can pick up their TK, Kindergarten, or 1st grade sibling with prior approval from administration. If you are a parent who needs a 5th - 8th grade sibling to pick up a TK, Kindergarten, or 1st grade sibling, please email our principal, Dr. Heffernan or our Assistant Principal, Mrs. Chamow for approval.
Our school picture day is scheduled for Aug. 31st. Please the following links for more information:
Picture Day Flyer Link
Picture Day Packages Link
SSC Interest Survey!
The School Site Council (SSC) is a school-level group of elected parents/community members, and school staff whose common goal is the success of all students. SSC is the oversight community for Title I funding.
Thank you,
Dr. Heffernan and Mrs. Chamow
MFLC- On Campus 5 days a Week
MFLC stands for a Military and Family Life Counselor. This year, our MFLC is Mike Macalma. Please see his induction letter below.
Hello Bulldog families,
My name is Mr. Mike, and I am thrilled to introduce myself as Stuart Mesa’s new Military & Family Life Counselor (MFLC) for the 2026-27 school year. While the MFLC program is already a familiar part of the Stuart Mesa community, I am honored to step into this role and support our wonderful military-connected students and families. I will be working closely with our teachers, staff and school counselor, Ms. Rubio, to ensure that we can give your children the best possible support.
As your student’s MFLC, I provide free, confidential, non-medical counseling to help students navigate the unique challenges of military life - including deployments, PCS moves, school transitions, and everyday stress. Whether your child needs a listening ear, help building positive relationships, or developing strategies for managing their emotions, I am here to support them on campus to be the best students they can be.
Please reach out to me at (760) 828-0575, or connect with our school counselor to learn more about these services and discuss if they may be a good fit for your child. I look forward to partnering with your family, our school staff, and all our students for a successful school year!
Warmly,
Mr. Mike
Please follow the directions, linked HERE, in order for your student to ride their e-bike to school. If you student has a permit from last year, they still need to renew it for the 2026-27 school year!
Attendance Matters!
Please email us to clear your student's absence: (copy & paste this address)
The phone service in the Stuart Mesa Housing area is not always stable. To make sure your child's absence is excused, please email.
Stuart Mesa
Email: rhonda.heffernan@oside.us Principal
emily.chamow@oside.us Assistant Principal
Website: stuartmesa.Oside.us
Location: 100 Yamanaka Way, Oceanside, California 92058, USA
Phone: (760) 901-7700
Follow Stuart Mesa on Instagram on the following accounts:
* stuartmesaschool
* stuartmesapto
Follow OUSD on Instagram on the following account:
* osideusd