Roar'n Cougar Connection

There are so many wonderful things happening at Jean Callison Elementary and throughout our VUSD community, and we would love to celebrate the amazing things you and your Cougar Cubs are experiencing!

We invite you to take a moment to share a Nice Note through the link on the VUSD website. This link will also remain available in our school newsletter throughout the coming months, so there will always be an opportunity to spread a little kindness and gratitude.

A Nice Note is a wonderful way to recognize the positive experiences happening in our classrooms, on the playground, and throughout our school community. Whether it’s a special interaction with a teacher, classified staff member, office secretary, or administrator, we want to hear about the people who are making a difference in the lives of our Cougar Cubs.

These small moments of kindness, connection, and support are what make our school community so special. We look forward to celebrating the wonderful things happening right in our own backyard!

Thank you for being such an important part of our Callison family and for helping us shine a light on the good happening every day.

Nice Note Link

Dear Parents and Guardians,

October went by in a flash! It was a month filled with festivities, fun, parties, our Book Fair, and, of course, plenty of Halloween excitement! We had a wonderful month celebrating our Cougar Cubs and teaching them about integrity. Through our Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons, students explored what integrity means and what it looks like both inside and outside the classroom.

As we welcome November, we are excited to focus on the month of gratitude! Gratitude is the quality of being thankful, showing appreciation, and returning kindness to others. Over the next two months, our teachers will be hard at work helping students understand what gratitude looks like, how it feels, and the powerful impact it can have on changing the world around us. With Thanksgiving break approaching, November is the perfect time for our Cougar Cubs to reflect on the many people and things for which they are grateful.

Speaking of gratitude, we are incredibly thankful for our amazing parents and guardians who continue to support our Callison community. Your love, smiles, thoughtful notes, and acts of kindness create a beautiful ripple effect of support, compassion, and care for all our students. Together, we are building a community where every Cougar Cub feels valued, supported, and loved.

And speaking of November traditions, our annual Turkey Trot is just around the corner! This beloved Callison tradition brings our Cougar Cubs together to run around the backside of campus, celebrate school spirit, and see who will win the coveted turkey gift card! We are looking forward to another fun-filled event!

We are excited for a wonderful November filled with gratitude, kindness, connection, and love. Thank you for being such an important part of our Callison family!

Have a wonderful month of November, and may it be filled with moments of gratitude and joy!

With gratitude and warm wishes,

Callison Administration

This month, we are celebrating the incredible work of our sixth-grade team! At Callison, we have the privilege of celebrating Cougar Cubs at every stage of their elementary journey, from our littlest learners to our biggest Cougar Cubs as they prepare for middle school.

Our amazing sixth-grade team includes Mr. Tapia, Ms. Carolle, Mrs. Stornetta, Ms. McNeil, and, of course, Mrs. Ingraffia, who will be joining us at the end of February.

Our sixth-grade team holds a special place at Callison because we offer a middle school model that helps prepare students for their next chapter. Our Cougar Cubs transition between classes every 48 minutes, giving them a wonderful opportunity to experience the structure and expectations of middle school while still having the support of our elementary community.

Each day, this incredible team serves nearly 110 students through explicit instruction, small-group learning, project-based learning, social-emotional learning (SEL), field trips, and a multitude of assessments. Behind the scenes, countless hours are spent grading, preparing, collaborating, and planning to ensure that every Cougar Cub is learning and growing across all subject areas.

This dynamic team brings together more than 50 years of combined experience, knowledge, and dedication. Their commitment to our students, their passion for teaching, and the love they bring to campus each day make such a meaningful difference in the lives of our Cougar Cubs.

We are incredibly grateful for all they do to support, challenge, and inspire our sixth graders as they prepare for their next adventure!

If you see these wonderful teachers around campus, please take a moment to give them a high-five, share a kind word, or send them a friendly ParentSquare message. A little appreciation goes a long way, and we know they would love to hear from you!

Thank you for being such an amazing part of our Callison community and for helping us celebrate the incredible educators who make our school so special.

There will be NO SCHOOL on WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11th in observance on Veteran's Day.

There will be NO SCHOOL the week of November 23-27 for Thanksgiving Break.

Have a great week off!

November 7th is our next Super Saturday. This is a terrific opportunity for your student(s) to clear up a whole days absence in 4 hours OR bank hours for an upcoming absence!

To sign up digitally, just click here for English or click here for Spanish.

Check your child's backpack for paper sign up forms or sign up at the link above!

Don't have time to call in your student's absence?

Just click on the link below to report it online. Your submission goes right to the school's email box. It's easy as that!

Absence Reporting Form

You may also call Ms. Rebecca, our Attendance Secretary, at (707) 453-6250 x591102 or email her at RebeccaL@vacavilleusd.org to report your child's absence or tardy.

For students who are in STOMP, Mrs. Houston has created the documents below with words to the songs they are singing.

Every Friday is an early release schedule for grades PM TK/Kindergarten - 6th grade.

Please see below for Friday schedule:

AM TK/Kindergarten - no schedule change, attends 8:10-11:30

PM TK/Kindergarten attends 9:20-12:40

Grades 1-6 attends 8:30-12:40

We kindly request your cooperation in refraining from bringing toys, including Squishies and Pokémon cards, and extra playground equipment, including footballs, soccer balls, and basketballs, to school. Our primary concern is the safety and focus of our students. We have concerns that the presence of these items can become a distraction, potentially leading to hazardous situations.

Additionally, the school administration is not responsible for lost or damaged personal items, including phones and other personal equipment. We appreciate your understanding in this matter.

Thank you for your cooperation.

We are so grateful for our volunteer community!

We want to share an important update regarding SB 848, a new California law, that took effect on July 1, 2026, which expands mandated reporter status to include school volunteers to further enhance student safety.

STEPS TO BECOME AN ACTIVE VOLUNTEER:

Step 1. Email Mrs. Kristy in the office at kristyf@vacavilleusd.org to begin the process. She will verify what information we already have and will confirm what step in becoming a volunteer you are at. If you are new to volunteering (no previous fingerprints with VUSD completed) or have been fingerprinted, you will be forwarded a link for the mandated reporter training to complete first. PLEASE NOTE: If you have previously been fingerprinted and have not completed the mandated reporter training, you are currently deactivated from being a school volunteer.

Step 2. Complete the mandated reporter training, then email a screenshot of your completion certificate to kristyf@vacavilleusd.org. If you have been previously fingerprinted, you will then be reactivated as a volunteer at Callison.

Step 3. If you have NOT been previously fingerprinted, please see Mrs. Kristy for a volunteer form. Fill out the form, then follow the instructions at the top to make an appointment for fingerprinting.

Step 4. Once fingerprints clear, Mrs. Kristy will be notified by HR, and you will be activated as a volunteer.

Please note that mandated reporter training is an ANNUAL training and we MUST have a copy of your completion certificate on file in order to stay active as a volunteer.

Thank you for your continued dedication to keeping our students safe!

If you have any questions, see Mrs. Kristy in our office.

VUSD participates in the Children Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), a statewide program designed to expand and strengthen behavioral health services for children and youth. Through this initiative, VUSD may seek reimbursement for eligible school-based services at no cost to families. This is also why families may be asked to provide or verify their student's health insurance information. Reimbursements received through CYBHI help support and sustain important mental health and wellness services for students throughout our district.

Watch our short CYBHI videos to learn more about the program, why we collect health insurance information, and how this initiative supports VUSD students and families:

English CYBHI Video

Spanish CYBHI Video

If you have questions, please reach out to our Student Services Department at (707) 453-6015. Or by emailing tgallick@vacavilleusd.org

To order online, please click the link:

https://my.cheddarup.com/c/callison-spirit-wear-2026-2027

As we begin the new school year, we’d like to remind you that the school parking lot is reserved for staff parking only and is not available for student drop-off. For morning drop-off, please use the designated curbside drop-off lane in front of the school or park in a legal spot off campus.

Parent and guardian parking is available in the surrounding neighborhood only. We understand this may be an inconvenience, so we encourage you to allow extra time if you would like to park and walk your child onto campus.

Staff members will be present to assist with drop-off and ensure a smooth and safe start to the day. Thank you for your cooperation and patience as we welcome you and your child back to school!

Cell phones & smartwatches are becoming more of a distraction for our children, which is disrupting the learning environment at school. Cell phones are recognized as a safety precaution for parents and children before and after school. Cell phones and other personal electronics(Smart watches, air pods, etc.) may not disrupt the educational program, school activities or violates the rights of others.

During the school day, bell to bell, all cell phones must be turned off and remain out of sight. Teachers may allow students to use their cell phones for instructional purposes under their supervision. If a school employee finds it necessary to confiscate an electronic device, the item will be secured and brought to the office until the end of the school day.

Cell phone violation consequences, as follows:

1st violation- warning & confiscation, return to the student at the end of the day

2nd violation- confiscation & parent pick up from the office

3rd violation- confiscation, parent pick up from the office, and administrative detention

4th violation- confiscation, parent pick up from the office, and behavior contract

Thank you, in advance, for your partnership in this matter!

Breakfast and lunch is FREE to ALL STUDENTS!

Though meals are not reimbursed for all students federally, the State has permitted all schools in California to continue offering free meals to all students.

Since meals are free, we encourage all students to come try our meals.

Breakfast starts for AM TK/Kinder-6th grade students at 7:45am.

PM TK/Kinder may come before their school day starts to enjoy lunch in front of the school..

Only Service Animals Are Allowed On Campus.

Although we love dogs and other pets we can only have service animals on campus.

Thank you for your cooperation!

If you need to drop off prescription medication for your child with our nurse, you may do so between the hours of 8:15-3:00.

Below is a link to VUSD's policy for medication at school. You can also locate all needed forms on this page.

Thank you for your support with following these procedures and dropping off all necessary paperwork and medications to our nurses office.

If your student is injured and cannot participate in PE or will need specific accommodations, it is required that we have a doctor's note on file.

Please bring any doctor's notes to our nurse, located in the office.

Thank you in advance!

Our school-to-home communication platform at Vacaville Unified School District is called ParentSquare. This unified communications platform is designed to keep parents and guardians informed and encourage greater engagement and connection with VUSD. It provides a safe way for district administrators, school principals, teachers, staff, and parents to:

• Send and receive school and class information

• Share pictures and files

• See calendar items

• Sign up to volunteer

• Schedule parent-teacher conferences

• and much more . . . all in one centralized place!

Parents—Getting Started Video

All district and school, grade level and classroom information will now be sent to your computer or phone via email and/or text. For even more convenience, download the ParentSquare app (available for free for iOS and Android devices).

Have questions? Click the question mark in the top right corner of the desktop version or the Help tab on the app (tap the triple bar icon at the top left) to find answers to most of your questions.