THE Leadership Academy School News

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We are thrilled to celebrate our very own Stephanie Ross, who was honored Friday evening as a Hero of Vista as Classified Employee of the Year by the Vista Chamber of Commerce and Optimist Club!

Stephanie brings incredible energy, kindness, and dedication to our school kitchen every single day. She goes above and beyond to care for our students and brighten their days with her warm smile and positive spirit. We are so fortunate to have Stephanie as part of our Dragon family!

Congratulations, Stephanie! This recognition is so well deserved!

Hello Leadership Academy Parents,

November is the perfect month for gratitude!

As we approach the holidays, our student leaders have created some ways for your family to give back to the community. I am so proud of our students for exhibiting empathy and thinking of others. Please consider discussing the importance of giving during the holidays and helping those in need.

Here are two ways you can help:

1. Grocery gift cards - Our Kindness Club will be collecting grocery gift cards until November 20. You can send your grocery gift cards or cash donations to school. We will be giving these to deserving families for the Thanksgiving holiday.

2. Secret Santa - Would you like to sponsor a child or two by providing gifts for the holidays? We will have tags available in the office soon with more information about how you can brighten the holidays for some of our young learners. This is a great way to teach about the power and joy of giving.

Thank you for your generosity and support. We love that we are raising compassionate, caring and giving children.

Friendly Reminder: Leave Valuables and Toys at Home

We’d like to offer a friendly reminder that students should not bring toys, removable jewelry, Pokémon cards, digital devices, or other distracting items to school. Items of sentimental or monetary value should also stay safely at home.

These items can easily be lost or broken, which can cause students to become very upset. We’ve reviewed this rule with all students at school, and we appreciate your support in reinforcing it at home.

Thank you for helping us keep our focus on learning and ensuring that everyone has a positive school experience!

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to email us directly.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Morton

Principal

kimmorton@vistausd.org

Mrs. Burke

Assistant Principal

karenburke@vistasud.org

November 11 - No School - Veteran's Day

November 16-20 - Minimum Days for Parent Conferences

November 23-27 - No School - Thanksgiving Break

December 4 - Family Movie Night

2026-2027 School Calendar

2026-2027 Calendario escolar

November 11 - NO SCHOOL for Veteran's Day

November 16 - November 20 are minimum days.

Students will be dismissed at 1:00 PM.

These minimum days will be for Parent Teacher Conferences.

All teachers will be conducting parent conference during the week of November 16. We will have minimum days all week: Monday, November 16 - Friday, November 20. School hours will be 8:00AM - 1:00PM. Please make arrangements to pick up your child on time. Thank you!

We have a group of students that started the "Kindness Club":

Ellie Stewart

Davian Cortez

Skye Mason

Yzzy Sumlin

Anthony Puentes

Gabriel Gomez Hernandez

They are conducting a Grocery gift card drive to help those in need during the holidays. Please consider donating a grocery gift card or send in a cash donation. This is a great way to teach about gratitude during the holidays. Your child could do extra chores to raise money on their own to donate too.

The club is hoping that each class will bring in enough to support one family. Each class has a goal of raising $100. Your child may be involved as each class has an ambassador.

The Kindness Club came up with the following incentives:

*The class that raises the most money through gift cards will get an ice cream dance party with Coco

**The individuals that raise the most money through gift cards will be treated to lunch with the principals and Coco

Showing Up Together

Count ALL Dragons In!

It is vital for students to attend school every day. Consistent and on time attendance is essential for students to gain the academic and social skills they need to thrive. We want to “Count ALL Dragons In!” Your partnership makes a difference.

Our front gates close promptly at 8:00AM. Students should be at school on time. When students are late, they feel disoriented and often have trouble settling into the classroom routine. We have talked to students about routines that help in getting to school on time. Strategies may include: setting clothes out the night before, packing your backpack so it's ready to go, and meal planning for breakfast and lunch. Let's work hard to be on time this year!

All parents and caregivers are invited to attend our PTA meetings!

PTA is a great way to stay connected, learn what’s happening around campus, and have a voice in the fun activities and events we plan for our students. There are also lots of opportunities to get involved and volunteer throughout the year.

Where: Community Room
Time: 2:30–3:30 PM

2026–2027 PTA Meeting Dates:

• September 2
• October 7
• November 4
• December 2
• January 13
• February 3
• March 3
• April 7
• May 5
• 
  

Everyone is welcome!

We hope you’ll join us and help make this a great year for our Dragons!

T.H.E. Leadership Academy Spirit Wear is now available for purchase!

*Great news! You can now purchase Spirit Wear online. Please click HERE or scan the QR code to the right of this message.

Stop by the front office to check out our new Spirit Wear and grab your favorite items. Please check in with Brandi at the front desk, and she will be happy to help you get the items and sizes you need.

Thank you for showing your Dragon pride!

Student Clubs Are Coming!

Does your child have a hobby, passion, or interest they’d love to share with others? Any student can start a club on our campus! Student clubs are a great way for students to connect with friends, explore their interests, build leadership skills, and add even more fun to our school community.

Starting a club is easy! Students should:

1. Think of a club idea based on something they enjoy.
2. Talk with a staff member who is willing to serve as the club supervisor.
3. Pick up a Club Application in the school office.
4. Complete the application with their staff sponsor and return it to the office.

The possibilities are endless! Clubs could center around Pokémon, soccer, knitting, kindness, recycling, gardening, or just about any other student interest.

Have an idea? Find a few friends, find a staff sponsor, and start a club! We can’t wait to see the creativity, leadership, and new possibilities our students bring to campus!

Check out the video below written and produced by our Video Club.

Our District is part of a Wellness Program and has strict guidelines with food items distributed in our classrooms. If you are celebrating a birthday for your child and wish to bring treats, please let your child's teacher know in advance. We have many food allergies and medical conditions and like to plan for these students.

Healthy is the way to go! It's important to be cautious and considerate with students who have food allergies. Treats must be pre-packaged, no home baked items.

The following example items are approved for classroom celebrations.

Pencils/bookmarks/stickers (these are always a favorite with students!)

Skinny Cow bars or sandwiches

Dole Real Fruit frozen bars

Fudge pops

Go-Gurts

Nutrigrain bars

Goldfish Crackers

String Cheese

Popcorn (individual bags)

Fresh veggies (individual bags)

Kudos 100-calories bars

**Keep in mind we don't have the means to store frozen items

The safety of our staff and students is our first priority. We have been working on tightening up our security and would like to communicate the following:

1. There will be only one entrance into school for general education students (Main Gate). This includes Kindergarten and TK students.

2. Gates open at 7:30AM. Breakfast will be available at 7:30AM each morning. This is the earliest a student should be dropped off at school.

3. Gates will be supervised at all times.

4. All general education students will exit through the main gate.

5. Special Education students will continue to use the upper gate for entrance and exit. The gate will be supervised at all times and open only to let students in and out.

6. TK and Kindergarten students will be dismissed through the Kindergarten Gate.

7. Only authorized individuals are able to check students out from the office early. Please make sure to bring your ID when picking up your student.

Students are not to use a smartphone or other electronic signaling device (including cell phone, smartwatch and personal tablet) on campus. Specifically, such devices must be turned off during instructional time and kept by the teacher in a secure location while on school, except under the following circumstances:

• In case of an emergency or in response to a perceived threat of danger.

• When a teacher or administrator grants permission to the student, subject to any reasonable limitation imposed by that teacher or administrator.

Students who violate any school rules related to the use and possession of personal technology may have the following consequences:

• 1st and 2nd Offense: Device is taken away, student picks it up from Administration after school.
• 3rd Offense or Above: Device is taken away, parent/guardian picks it up in the office after school.
• Continued offenses will result in the student being placed on the Loss of Privilege list and a parent/guardian conference with Administration.

Misuse of personal technology resources on or near school property, in school vehicles and buses, at school-sponsored activities may result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the District. Examples of misuse include, but are not limited:

• Taking photos or recording of any person at school without specific permission from a teacher or administrator (see notification below, Electronic Listening or Recording Device)

• Accessing, posting, displaying, or otherwise using material that is discriminatory, libelous, defamatory, obscene, sexually explicit, disruptive or without permission

• Bullying, harassing, intimidating, embarrassing or threatening others (“cyberbullying”)

• Disclosing, using, or sharing other people’s personal identification information (such as name, address, telephone number, email, or other personal information) with the intent to threaten, intimidate, harass, or ridicule that person

The school assumes no liability for personal technology, including computers, cell phones, smartphones, network access devices, or other electronic signaling devices, if such devices are damaged, lost or stolen.

Our Smart Watch Policy is the same as our Smart Phone Policy.

Students are allowed to bring watches and phones to school but they are not allowed to use them on campus during school hours. Watches and Phones should be given to the classroom teacher for safe keeping first thing in the morning. They will be returned at the end of the day. If you need to contact your child during school hours, please call the office. Likewise, if your student needs to contact you, they will be permitted to use the school phone.

The office will be open to assist families from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM beginning August 4. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns. We are here to help in any way we can.

Phone: 760-631-6242

Email:

Registration/General Questions: brandiadelsman@vistausd.org

Registration/Health/Attendance Concerns: dianaguevara@vistausd.org

Registration/General Information: marykizer@vistausd.org

Anything at all: kimmorton@vistausd.org (principal) or larasims@vistausd.org (assistant principal)

Breakfast and lunch is free for all students at T.H.E. Leadership Academy. You do not need to fill out an application.

Fruit and salad bar is also available. For menus and more information, please visit: https://wavecrestcafe.com/

Monday - Early Release Day

8:00AM - 1:00PM

Tuesday - Friday

8:00 AM - 2:18PM

*Gates open at 7:30 AM for breakfast. Students may not be dropped off before 7:30 AM for safety since there will be no supervision.

Email: kimmorton@vistausd.org
Website: th.vistausd.org
Location: 1550 Temple Heights Drive, Oceanside, CA, USA
Phone: 760 631 6242
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/THELeadershipAcademyDragons/?rf=580378695440830
Twitter: @temple_heights