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  • VESD District Newsletter - June 2026

    As we wrap up another incredible school year, we want to take a moment to thank our students, families, staff, and community for making 2025–2026 such a success. Your support, partnership, and commitment to learning have helped our students grow academically, socially, and emotionally throughout the year. A special congratulations goes out to our sixth-grade students as they prepare to take the next step in their educational journey. We are proud of all you have accomplished and wish you the very best as you promote to seventh grade. Last Day of School: Friday, June 5 (Minimum Day) Summer School: June 9–26 Offered at all VESD school sites Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. No Summer School on June 8 or June 19 First Day of the 2026–2027 School Year: Tuesday, August 11 As you enjoy a well-deserved summer break, we encourage you to keep reading, exploring, and learning together as a family. We look forward to welcoming students back in August for another great year of learning and growth. Thank you for being part of the VESD family. Have a safe, fun, and memorable summer!   Join the Summer Reading Challenge! Keep your students reading and learning all summer long with the 2026 Summer Reading Challenge. Students can participate for free through the Footsteps2Brilliance app by spending just 15 minutes a day reading and completing literacy activities. The challenge runs through September 13, 2026, and students can earn recognition for their participation. Families who would like a printed copy of the Summer Reading Challenge flyer and reading tracker may pick one up at the Victor Elementary School District Office during regular business hours. View the Flyer View the Flyer in Spanish   June Menu As we wrap up the school year, our Nutrition Services team has one more week of delicious meals planned for students. Remember, all VESD students eat breakfast and lunch at no cost! Monday, June 1 Cheesy Mozzarella Breadsticks with Marinara Sauce Green Beans Craisins Tuesday, June 2 Turkey Taco Meat with Tortilla Chips Corn Diced Peach Cup Wednesday, June 3 Orange Chicken Steamed Brown Rice Dinner Roll Applesauce Cup Thursday, June 4 Chicken Wings Dinner Roll Baby Carrots Diced Pear Cup Friday, June 5 (Last Day of School) Corn Dog Vegetable Medley Assorted Fruit Don't forget that a fresh salad bar is offered daily, along with breakfast each morning. Thank you to our Nutrition Services team for keeping our students fueled for learning all year long!   Free Summer Meals for Kids Did you know that free summer meals are available for children throughout our community? If your family is looking for meal sites during the summer months, help is just a phone call away. To find a free meal program near you, call the USDA Summer Meals Hotline at 1-866-348-6479 or download the CA Meals for Kids mobile app. These resources can help you locate nearby meal sites and meal service times throughout the summer. We encourage families to take advantage of these programs to help keep students healthy, nourished, and ready to learn all summer long.

    Tuesday, Jun 02 2026

  • Changes to Think Together and Champions Hours Next Y...

    Changes to Think Together and Champions Hours Next Year 2026-2027 As we prepare for the 2026–2027 school year, we want to share an update on our Think Together and Champions programs. Starting next year, program end times will be earlier than in past years. We understand this change may affect some families, and we appreciate your support as we make changes designed to better support students’ overall well-being. At VESD, we make decisions based on what is best for students. Our goal is to make sure every hour your child spends in our programs is safe, meaningful, engaging, and supportive of their growth and well-being. These updated hours are meant to help create a healthier balance between school, family time, rest, and evening routines. By focusing programs during the hours when students are most engaged, we can better support their success both in and out of school. Updated Program Hours: Early Start Schools (Galileo, Green Tree, Lomitas, Park View, Village, & West Palms) Before School: 6:40–7:40 a.m. After School: 1:55–4:00 p.m. Late Start Schools (Brentwood, Challenger, Del Rey, Discovery, Endeavour, Irwin, Liberty, Mojave Vista, Puesta del Sol, & RB21)  Before School: 7:40–8:40 a.m. After School: 2:55–5:00 p.m.   We truly value the trust you place in us and appreciate your partnership in supporting your child’s success. If you have any questions, please contact your school office.

    Saturday, May 23 2026

  • Important Messages for Families Promoting to Seventh...

    Hello Families, As your student prepares to transition to the Victor Valley Union High School District for the 2026–27 school year, we’re sharing this important information to help you get ready for enrollment. Required Immunizations for 7th Grade Entry: Students enrolling in VVUHSD must provide documentation of the following vaccines: Tdap: One (1) dose (required for all incoming 7th graders) Varicella (Chickenpox): Two (2) doses MMR: Two (2) doses Polio: Four (4) doses DTaP: Five (5) doses Need an Appointment? VVUHSD has partnered with Tri-State Community Healthcare to support families in meeting these requirements. Available for families with IEHP, Medi-Cal, or no insurance Call 760-955-3201 x10344 or use the QR code on the flyer to schedule We encourage families to plan ahead and schedule appointments early to ensure a smooth start to the school year. For more information, visit  VVUHSD.ORG . 

    Friday, May 01 2026

  • VESD District Newsletter - May 2026

    May Calendar Highlights May is here, and we’re in the home stretch—the last day of school is June 5! Our annual Junior Olympics will take place on May 13–14. Be sure to look for a livestream on our YouTube channel, The VESD Way, so families can cheer on students from anywhere. We’re also excited to host our 18th Annual College and Career Fair on May 29—a great opportunity for students and families to explore future pathways together. No School – May 25 (Memorial Day) We’re looking forward to a strong finish to the school year—thank you for helping your child stay focused, present, and engaged each day!   May Menu Highlights Our May menu is full of student favorites and familiar meals to keep everyone fueled through the final stretch of the school year! From pizza and tacos to chicken sandwiches and pasta, there’s something for every student to enjoy. You’ll also see some fun menu moments this month: May 1 – School Lunch Hero Day: We’re celebrating our incredible Nutrition Services team with a special menu and recognizing all they do for our students. As always, meals include fresh fruit, a daily salad bar, and whole grain options, and all VESD students eat at no cost. Thank you for continuing to encourage your child to try new foods and make healthy choices as we finish the year strong!   VESD College & Career Fair Please join us for the 18th Annual Victor Elementary School District College and Career Fair! Who: All VESD students, families, and staff When: Friday, May 29, 2026 | 2:30–4:30 PM Where: Hilton Garden Inn (Conference Center) 12603 Mariposa Rd., Victorville There’s something for everyone! Families can explore interactive career booths, check out student projects, and enjoy fun photo stations. Students are also invited to dress up as their future career and join our Career Cavalcade. We’ll also have raffle prizes and plenty of opportunities to learn about future pathways. We hope to see you there!   Building Strong Readers at VESD In our district, we support every student’s journey to becoming a lifelong reader through the 5 Pillars of Reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. These pillars work together to build strong literacy skills. As part of our literacy initiative, we want to connect learning at school with learning at home. This month’s activity gives you a simple, “at-the-table” way to support reading using proven strategies. Word Detectives: Learning Word Parts Help your child build vocabulary by learning parts of words—prefixes (beginning), base words, and suffixes (endings). This helps them figure out meanings on their own. 1. Base Words + Endings Add endings to change meaning: help → helps, helped, helping Try: play, jump, cook 2. Prefix Power Add a beginning to change meaning: tie → untie Common prefixes: un- (not), re- (again), pre- (before), dis- (not) 3. Root Words Find word parts that appear in many words: tract (pull): attract, subtract struct (build): construct, structure vis/vid (see): video, invisible port (carry): transport, export Tips Look for words everywhere Break words into parts Talk about what they mean Learning word parts helps your child understand thousands of new words! Visit Our Literacy Page!

    Friday, May 01 2026

  • VESD Newsletter - April 2026

    April Calendar Highlights April is here, and we’re heading into the final stretch of the school year—just a little over two months left of school! Let’s make every day count. To kick off the month, our 4th grade students will participate in the City of Victorville’s Annual Public Works Day on April 1–2 at Sunset Ridge Park—a great hands-on opportunity to learn about our community and the people who keep it running. Families can also enjoy a long weekend at the beginning of the month: No School – April 3 No School – April 6 As we move through April, we’re excited to keep building momentum toward a strong finish to the school year. Attendance and daily routines continue to make a big difference in student success—thank you for your partnership!   Fresh Flavors for April! Our April menu is here, and it’s full of student favorites, new options, and fun seasonal touches! From classics like pizza, tacos, and chicken nuggets to exciting choices like teriyaki bowls, carnitas, and chicken chipotle sandwiches, there’s something for every student to enjoy. We’re continuing to offer fresh fruits, a daily salad bar, and whole grain options, all at no cost to VESD students. Plus, breakfast is served every day with both sweet and savory choices to help students start their day ready to learn. Special Menu Fun This Month We’re adding a little extra excitement to the menu with some themed days your students will love: April 15 – McDonald’s Day: Students can enjoy a “Happy Meal-style” lunch—no toy, but all the fun of a familiar favorite! April 22 – Earth Day: Schools will celebrate with a fun “dirt and worms” treat alongside the day’s meal. May 1 – School Lunch Hero Day: We’ll recognize our amazing Nutrition Services team for all they do to support students every day. Our cafeteria teams do so much more than prepare meals—they create welcoming spaces, build connections with students, and make sure every child has access to healthy, nutritious food. While we’re excited to celebrate them on May 1, we appreciate our school lunch heroes each and every day.   Preparing for CAASPP Testing Our CAASPP Summative Testing window runs from April 7 – May 8, 2026, with a make-up week from May 11 – May 15, 2026. Each school has specific testing days within this window, so please reach out to your child’s school for their exact testing schedule. These assessments help measure student progress and guide instruction to support learning. You can help your child do their best by ensuring they: ✅ Get a good night’s sleep each night ✅ Eat a healthy breakfast ✅ Arrive on time to school each day ✅ Stay positive and encouraged throughout testing For more details about CAASPP testing, visit https://ca.startingsmarter.org/. Thank you for your support in making this a successful testing season!   The Sound Lab: A Family Guide to Phonemic Awareness This activity supports phonemic awareness, one of our 5 Pillars of Literacy. Phonemic awareness means being able to hear and play with the sounds in words—and it’s one of the very first steps in learning to read. The good news? You don’t need books or materials. You can practice anywhere—at home, in the car, or during dinner—and it only takes a few minutes a day. 👂 First Sound (Hearing the Beginning Sound) Ask your child: “What is the first sound you hear in the word sun?” Help them focus on the sound, not the letter. The answer is /s/. Have them “punch” the sound as they say it: /s/ /s/ sun! Try these words: map (/m/), top (/t/), fish (/f/), lion (/l/), bear (/b/), snake (/s/) 🤖 Blend Sounds (Putting Sounds Together) Say a word slowly, one sound at a time, like a robot: /m/ - /u/ - /d/ Ask your child to “zip” the sounds together to make the word: mud Try these: /k/ - /a/ - /t/ (cat) /sh/ - /i/ - /p/ (ship) /b/ - /i/ - /g/ (big) /r/ - /o/ - /ck/ (rock) /p/ - /l/ - /a/ - /n/ (plan) /f/ - /r/ - /o/ - /g/ (frog) 🔄 Change Sounds (Making New Words) Say a word, then change one sound to make a new word. Example: “Say cat. Now change the /k/ sound to /b/.” → bat Try these: light → night hop → pop man → men slip → flip This helps your child learn that small sound changes create new words, which is a big part of reading. 💡 Tips for Success Focus on sounds, not letters (for example, phone starts with the /f/ sound) Keep it short and fun—just 2–3 minutes at a time Practice during everyday moments Praise the effort: “That was a tricky sound—you figured it out!” This resource focuses on Phonemic Awareness. Because this is about sounds and not letters, these activities can be done anywhere—in the car, at the dinner table, or while walking to school. Visit Our Literacy Page!

    Wednesday, Apr 01 2026

  • Welcome Back & Important Dates

    We hope your family had a restful and enjoyable Spring Break! We are excited to welcome all students and staff back this  Monday, March 30 , as we head into the final stretch of the school year. For Mountain View Montessori families, please note there is no school this Monday, and students will return on Tuesday, March 31. A quick reminder of our schedule for the first week of April : Friday, April 3: No School Monday, April 6: No School We look forward to seeing everyone soon and finishing the year strong!

    Friday, Mar 27 2026

  • VESD Newsletter - March 2026

      Welcome to March Welcome to March! This month includes Parent-Teacher Conferences, which are an important chance to connect with your child’s teacher, review progress, and set goals for the rest of the school year. Conference week is March 16–20, and every day that week will follow a minimum day schedule. Please watch for communication from your child’s teacher with sign-up and scheduling information. Spring Break is March 23–27 (no school). Looking ahead, there will also be no school on April 3 and April 6.   Growing Comprehension Through Everyday Conversations At VESD, one of our 5 Pillars of Literacy is Comprehension — helping students understand and explain what they read and experience. You can build comprehension at home in just five minutes a day. Try asking: What happened first? What happened next? What happened last? As your child grows, encourage them to add details about where they were, what surprised them, and what they learned. When children practice retelling their day, they strengthen vocabulary, memory, and understanding — skills that directly support reading success.   March Menu March is here, and it kicks off with National School Breakfast Week (March 2–6)—a fun week that highlights the importance of starting the day with a healthy meal. During Breakfast Week, students can look forward to special morning options like Pan Dulce, Cinnabun Stick, mini maple waffles, and yogurt with granola, along with fruit and milk each day. Throughout the rest of the month, lunch includes a mix of student favorites and balanced choices, plus fresh fruit and a salad bar daily. Reminder: Spring Break is March 23–27 (No School). As always, VESD students eat at no cost, and students can also enjoy fresh fruit and a salad bar daily   What is CAASPP and Why is it Important? The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) is a set of state tests that measure how well students are mastering grade-level standards in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math for grades 3-6, and Science for grade 5. These assessments provide valuable insight into student learning and help educators tailor instruction to better support academic growth. CAASPP is not about passing or failing—it’s about understanding where students are excelling and where they may need more support. Your child’s participation helps ensure they receive the right resources to continue their learning journey. Our CAASPP Summative Testing window runs from April 7 – May 8, 2026, with a make-up week from May 11 – May 15, 2026. Each school has specific testing days within this window, so please reach out to your child’s school for their exact testing schedule. Thank you for your partnership in supporting student success! For more details about CAASPP testing, visit https://ca.startingsmarter.org/.   Heading to 7th Grade? VVUHSD Enrollment Is Open As our sixth-grade students prepare to promote to middle school, we want to help families stay informed about next steps. Victor Valley Union High School District (VVUHSD) is now enrolling students for the upcoming school year. If your child will be entering 7th grade, families should begin the enrollment process directly with VVUHSD. Enrollment information, required documents, and step-by-step instructions can all be found on their Central Enrollment Center webpage. Please note that incoming 7th graders must also meet California immunization requirements, including the required Tdap vaccine. To get started, please visit: VVUHSD Enrollment Page We’re proud to support our students as they take this exciting next step into middle school! Click Here for Spanish Version   Click Here for Spanish Version

    Sunday, Mar 01 2026

  • FRC Upcoming Classes and Events

    VESD Family Resource Center Upcoming Classes and Events Click Here to view Spanish Flyer Vaccination Clinic The VESD Family Resource Center has partnered with the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health to host a no-cost vaccination event for school-aged children (grades TK/K-12). This event will take place on Monday, February 23, 2026 from 10:30am - 1:30pm Eligibility information: Child/children must qualify through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program by being uninsured, Medi-Cal eligible, or American Indian or Alaskan Native. A parent or guardian is required to accompany children under the age of 18. Please bring a photo ID and your child/children's vaccination record to the appointment. Click Here for an Appointment (English) Click Here for an Appointment (Spanish)   Parenting With Love & Logic 6 Sessions designed to help parents equip kids with character, compassion, problem-solving skills, and more! Learn to: Avoid unwinnable power struggles Set enforceable limits Avoid enabling and begin empowering Stay calm when your kids do incredibly upsetting things Help your kids learn from mistakes Class Starts: 2/26/26, 9:30-11:30am Where: Family Resource Center This class is offered in English Click Here to Register  Human Trafficking Awareness This Parent workshop series will help educate attendees about IDENTIFICATION, PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, and TAKING ACTION. In-Person Session Class Starts: Friday, 2/27/26, 9:30-11:00am Where: Family Resource Center Virtual Session Class Starts: Thursday, 2/26/26, 6:00-7:30pm Where: Online via Zoom This class is offered in English Register Here (In-Person)Register Here (Online via Zoom)  Click Here to view Spanish Flyer Citizenship Classes Join us to practice for the U.S. Citizenship test. This 10-class course will focus on improving English language skills for immigrants eligible for naturalization. Class Starts: Wednesday, 3/4/26, 6:00-7:30pm Where: Online via Zoom This class is offered in English and Spanish Click Here to Register    Please call us if you have any questions: 760-493-1800 Thank You!

    Friday, Feb 13 2026

  • VESD Newsletter - February 2026

    Welcome to February We’re excited to keep the momentum going as we head into a new month of learning and growth. February is a great time to recommit to strong routines—getting to school on time, reading every day, and continuing the positive habits that help students thrive. With two Monday breaks this month, we encourage families to plan ahead for a smooth start to each week. Important February Dates: Monday, February 9: NO SCHOOL Monday, February 16: NO SCHOOL View our full calendar here: 2025-26 District Calendar   February Menu February is here, and we have a menu full of options that students are sure to love. As always, all VESD students can enjoy free breakfast and free lunch every school day, ensuring every child is fueled up and ready to succeed in the classroom. This month’s lineup features comforting winter classics and festive treats. Students can look forward to warm favorites like Chicken Tamales, Orange Chicken, and Creamy Mac & Cheese, plus a special Valentine’s celebration featuring Heart-Shaped Chicken Nuggets. Just like last month, every meal is complemented by our daily fresh salad bar and assorted fruits. We remain committed to serving nutritious meals that support student wellness and energy. We hope your students enjoy the variety of delicious options planned for this month!   Literacy Tip Reading at home is one of the best ways to help young children grow. Just 15 minutes a day of reading, stories, and word play can build vocabulary, improve listening, and boost confidence—skills that support learning in every subject. To make daily reading easier, the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools offers Footsteps2Brilliance for FREE to families with children birth–3rd grade. It’s bilingual (English/Spanish) and made for quick practice at home. Download the MyF2B app or go to myf2b.com, select “Create My Family Account,” choose Victor Elementary School District, and read together for 15 minutes a day. Tip: let your child pick the story and talk about the pictures as you read.   District-Wide Events Rooted in Resilience, Rising in Unity: Free Family Black History Celebration All VESD families are invited to a FREE community event celebrating Black History Month. Join us for an unforgettable afternoon highlighting the talents and creativity of our students, along with photo opportunities, interactive activities, food, games, raffles, artists, authors, and more. 📅 Friday, February 27 | 3:00–5:00 PM 📍 Victorville Fairgrounds (14800 7th St., Victorville) VESD Robotics Competition: Mix and Match Challenge One of VESD’s biggest student events of the year is back! Our annual VEX Robotics Mix & Match Challenge brings schools from across the district together to compete—both with and against each other—through teamwork, strategy, and problem-solving. It’s an exciting showcase of student creativity, collaboration, and STEM skills, and it’s always a great experience for students and families. 📅 February 24–25 📍 Victorville Fairgrounds 🎥 Livestreamed on YouTube (more details coming soon)   Help Us Improve School Communication We want school communication to be as clear, timely, and helpful as possible for every family. Please take a quick communications survey to tell us: how you prefer to receive information, and where you usually look for updates. Your feedback will help us improve how we share reminders, news, and important announcements throughout the school year. Click here to take the survey! Click here to take the survey (Spanish)! Using a phone? Turn it sideways for the best view.

    Saturday, Jan 31 2026

  • ESL Spring 2026 Enrollment

    VESD Family Resource Center New Classes Available! Click here to view Spanish Flyer Spring ESL Classes The VESD Family Resource Center is opening new student enrollment for Spring ESL classes. These classes can help parents and family members improve their English skills, communicate with school staff more easily, and feel more confident in everyday situations. Open enrollment starts Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. SAVE THIS REGISTRATION LINK! https://sites.google.com/vesd.net/sp26-esl-oe Or access it at the bottom of this page. Please be ready when enrollment opens by looking at the class options below. Spots are first-come, first-served, so we encourage families to sign up as soon as possible. If you have questions, call the VESD FRC at (760) 493-1800.   Click here to view Spanish Flyer Free English Classes for Adults - Class Options The VESD Family Resource Center is offering free English classes for adults who do not speak English as their first language. Classes are available at three skill levels (beginner to more advanced) and are designed to help you build confidence with everyday English—listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Registration is required and space is limited. Registration opens Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. For more information, call (760) 493-1800. Class location: VESD Family Resource Center, 15115 Nisqualli Rd., Victorville, CA (except ESL 2B, which is held at Irwin Academy) Class options (starting in early February): Level 1B (In-Person): Tue/Thu starting 2/3, 9:30–11:30 a.m. Level 1B (Online): Tue/Thu starting 2/3, 6:00–8:00 p.m. Level 2A (In-Person): Tue/Thu starting 2/3, 11:45 a.m.–1:45 p.m. Level 2A (Online): Mon/Wed starting 2/2, 6:00–8:00 p.m. Level 2B (In-Person @ Irwin Academy): Tue/Thu starting 2/5, 9:30–11:30 a.m. Level 3A (In-Person): Mon/Wed starting 2/2, 11:45 a.m.–1:45 p.m. Click Here to Register

    Tuesday, Jan 27 2026