VUSD Connections- Give us input on fall and spring b...

  Thank you for taking the time to read this edition of the VUSD Connections Newsletter. It’s full of important information and opportunities to get involved. It has been wonderful meeting and talking with many of you at our Back-to-School Nights. We are thrilled to see such a positive response from our families. I want to share my appreciation for working with us to ensure the success of our students.  I also want to extend a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to our staff for your efforts in preparing our campuses and for centering our community on student outcomes. Your dedication does not go unnoticed and has an impact on our students and families every day. Your voice matters, and sharing your feedback helps us make decisions that benefit all students. In this edition, we invite you to weigh in on topics like the timing of Fall and Spring breaks, ideas for surplus properties, completing forms that help us secure millions in educational funding, and providing insurance information to support school-based programs that provide student access to district mental health personnel. Thank you for taking a moment to share your thoughts and helping shape the future of VUSD. Sincerely, Dr. Antonio Castro   Sept. 26-  SEDAC Meeting- 9-11 am, call 805-641-5000 for more information Oct. 2 - Non-Student Contact Day - Schools closed to students, district offices open Oct. 3 - Parent Advisory Committee (PAC)- 9 am, ask your principal for more information on how to become a representative for your school Oct . 7 - Meeting on Surplus Properties (Avenue School and Washington School sites), Ventura High School, 5:30 pm- more info to come in next newsletter Oct. 8 - African American Parent Council (AAPC), 7:30 pm via zoom call 805-641-5000 for more details Oct. 16 - District Multilingual Language Advisory Committee (DELAC) Meeting- 5:30-7 pm Oct. 18- -Free Family Farm Fest, 10 am-3 pm at VUSD's Sa'aliyas Ranch, at Pacific High School Oct . 21 - Principal for a Day with Ventura Chamber of Commerce Nov .  3 - VUSD Information Night- 5:30 pm, Buena High School- more info to come Nov. 7 at 9 am until Dec. 1 at 4 pm - Schools of Choice Application Window and Expanded Learning Interest Form Window Visit the VUSD Calendar webpage   to help you plan for a successful year.    Fall and Spring Break Dates- Want Your Feedback We are seeking input from VUSD families to help plan the 2026-2027 school year calendar. Specifically, we’d like to know your preferred dates for fall break in October and spring break. Your feedback is valuable and will help us create a calendar that best supports our families and school community.  Please take this Fall/Spring Break Survey   no later than September 29, 2025.      New Athletic Websites Are Here!  Want to cheer on your local athletes and catch all the action? Buena, Foothill, and Ventura High Schools have launched new athletic websites to make it easier than ever to find game schedules and support our teams. Join the roaring crowd at home games and stay up to date on all athletic events. Visit the sites today! Links:   www.buenaathletics.com   www.foothilltechathletics.com   www.venturacougars.com   VUSD Town Hall on Surplus Properties  Ventura Unified invites the community to a Town Hall on Monday, October 7, from 5:30 to 7:00 PM at the Ventura High School Auditorium. Learn about the Board’s goals for the former Avenue and Washington school sites, and the Request for Proposals process. Community members will also have the opportunity to share feedback during public comment. Public comment may be limited to less than three minutes each to ensure all voices are heard. This meeting will be held as a Special Board meeting to comply with Brown Act Rules.  Learn more on our Business Services webpage .    What Happens if Power Goes Out at School?  From time to time, our schools may experience a power outage during the school day. Please know that school remains in session and student safety is always our top priority. Classrooms use natural light, and staff are prepared with plans to keep learning going. Here’s what you can expect: Phones & Internet: Phones and internet may not always work when the power is out. If you cannot reach the school in an emergency, call 805-641-5000 and ask for the Superintendent’s Office. They will relay your message to the principal. Communication: ParentSquare and email may also be unavailable until service is restored, however, Principals do have access to ParentSquare through their phones and can notify you in the event of a real emergency. Meals: Breakfast and lunch will still be served, our staff always have a backup plan to ensure students are well cared for and fed. We want to reassure you that our schools are prepared for these situations, and your child’s safety and well-being are always our focus.   Complete Your LCFF Alternative Income Form Families, please complete the LCFF Alternative Income Form (the pink form) included in your back-to-school packet. This form helps determine funding for our schools through the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) and can also provide family benefits like college application fee waivers, testing fee waivers, and P-EBT food assistance. If you can’t find your form, a copy is attached to this newsletter and also available at the link shown at the end of the form. The form can either be sent back to your front office or a clear image can be emailed to  lcff@venturausd.org .  Please return your completed form to your child’s school by Tues. Sept. 30, 2025.   Prioritizing Student Wellness Through School-Based Supports At Ventura Unified, supporting the mental health and overall well-being of our students is a central commitment. As part of a statewide Healthy Campus initiative to strengthen and sustain school-based services, we ask families to complete the  Student Health Insurance Information Form .  Completing this form allows the District to seek reimbursement from insurance providers for mental health services already provided. This helps us fund our mental health practitioners, staff, and services without any cost to families. There will be no cost to you. No deductibles, no co-pays, and no impact on your child’s ability to receive services. Your participation helps us maintain high-quality services such as individual counseling, group sessions, skills workshops, and other supports that foster resilience, social connection, and lifelong coping skills. Your participation is key to helping us support every student. Please take a moment to complete the form at: Student Insurance Information .   Ventura Adult & Continuing Education Fall Classes for Adults Self-Service Auto Care – Learn how to maintain and care for your personal vehicle in this hands-on class! Meets Mondays & Wednesdays, Sept. 22-Dec. 19, 5:30-7:30 PM at Ventura High School Auto Shop. Cost: $65.  Gentle Stretch Yoga – Focus on your whole body with mindful breathing and deep, slow stretches. Meets Sept. 2–Nov. 19, 2025. Perfect for adults looking to improve flexibility and relaxation. For more details, see the attached flyers .   We’re Here to Help. Every Day Matters! At VUSD , we believe every student deserves the support they need to succeed. That’s why we offer  wraparound services to help students overcome barriers to attending school. When attendance becomes a challenge, our schools use a  care coordination approach, working together with families to provide personalized support. We focus on building strong relationships so students feel they belong and know they’re cared for. Our staff closely monitors attendance and intervenes early to prevent chronic absenteeism. If your student is having difficulty getting to school, don’t wait, reach out to your school. We are here to listen, support, and help. “Every day you show up, you’re investing in your future self.” – Unknown   Poster Contest: “Here Today, Ready For Tomorrow!” Get ready to show off your creativity!   All TK–12  students  are invited to design a poster that reflects what makes your school community special. Deadline to Submit: September 30, 2025 Details & Guidelines: See the attached flyer (available in English / Spanish ) Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Together, we’re building bright futures—one day at a time.   Budget Bites Video Series Curious how school budgets really work? In Episode 2 of our Budget Bites series, we break down the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) and Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). Learn how funding decisions are made, what drives support for students, and how your input impacts how we spend funds on programs, services and opportunities to help our students. Watch episode 2 now!    https://youtu.be/tzJEbn0rC0U     Make the Most of ParentSquare ParentSquare’s Parent Dashboard helps you stay informed and engaged with your child’s school life. After logging in, you can: See your children : In the upper left, view all your children with their grade levels and schools, even if they attend different schools using ParentSquare. View posts : Click Posts in the left sidebar to see all school updates that relate to your student(s). Send and receive messages : Click Messages in the left sidebar to read messages from teachers or staff, or click New Message to send a question. Check classes : Select a student at the top left, then click Classes to see your child’s schedule and courses. Use ParentSquare to stay connected and support your child’s learning every step of the way!   Follow VUSD on Social Media Celebrate student success and stay informed about district highlights throughout the year. Facebook: @Venturausd Instagram: @SchoolVentura YouTube: @VenturaUnifiedSchoolDistrict       Highlights from Sept. 23 Regular Board Meeting The Board of Education met on  September 23, 2025 , focusing on various initiatives. Some topics (with a link to the presentation on YouTube) discussed included:   - VUSD Elementary Dual Language Highlight - Buena High School Report - Pacific High School Report - Ventura High School Report - Update on Student Support Services Social Worker/Clinical Services - VUSD and Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE)  - Discussion of Surplus Properties and RFP Timeline - Link to full Regular Board Meeting Open Session   Upcoming Board Meeting  Our next Regular Board of Education Meeting is planned for October 14, 2025. All agendas, including information on how to make public comments (which must be in person) and the start times of both closed and regular sessions, are available at least 72 hours before the regular board meeting date on the Board Agendas and Minutes webpage . All regular Board meetings are livestreamed and recorded. To view, please visit our Ventura Unified School District YouTube page . Ventura Education Partnership (VEP) Announces Fall Grant Cycle  All VUSD teachers and staff who work directly with students may apply for $1,000 VEP grants.  All VUSD High School and Middle School students representing a class or club may also apply for $1,000 grants under the supervision of an advisor. The application will be released on the Ventura Education Partnership (VEP) website on August 29, 2025.     Student Logo Contest Calling all student artists! The Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE) is now accepting entries in the logo design contest for the 2026 Academic Decathlon, Battle of the Books, Batalla de los Libros, Mock Trial, Science Fair, and Civic Action Project. The winning designs will be featured on event lapel pins, awards, and competition materials. Students can compete for the opportunity to leave their mark on these prestigious events and win a plaque at the competition awards ceremonies. The deadline to submit entries is October 17. All details on how to participate are available her e

Friday, Sep 26 2025

VUSD Connections- Upcoming event dates, important fo...

Thank you for taking the time to read our VUSD Connections Newsletter. In this edition, you will find information on upcoming important dates, gratitude awards, joining our district Parent Advisory Committee, and much more!   As we settle into the rhythm of a new school year, one of the most important habits we can help our students build is consistent attendance. Every day at school matters. When students are present, they engage with their teachers or another trusted adult, connect with their peers, and have the best chance to succeed academically and socio-emotionally. September is Attendance Awareness Month , a reminder that coming to school every day is the first step toward achievement. Our goal this year is a 97% attendance rate across the district. We know that life can get busy, and sometimes families face challenges that make it hard for students to get to school. If you are finding it difficult, please reach out to your teacher, school principal, or our  Student Support Services Department at 805-641-5000 . We have resources to help every student be successful in getting to school. I want to thank our families for making attendance a priority, as initial attendance rates for this school year look promising. Together, we can support our students in showing up, staying engaged, and making the most of their education. Thank you for helping us make every day a learning day. Sincerely, Dr. Antonio Castro   Sept. 18 - DELAC Meeting- 5:30-7 pm, call 805-641-5000 for more information Sept. 23-  Board of Education Meetings- see   Board agenda website   for more information, including start times and agenda items Sept. 26- SEDAC Meeting- 9-11 am, call 805-641-5000 for more information Oct. 2 - Non-Student Contact Day- Schools closed to students, district offices open Oct. 3 - Parent Advisory Committee (PAC)- 9 am, ask your principal for more information on how to become a representative for your school Oct . 7 - Meeting on Surplus Properties (Avenue School and Washington School sites), Ventura High School, 5:30 pm- more info to come in next newsletter Oct. 18- -Free Family Farm Fest, 10 am-3 pm at VUSD's Sa'aliyas Ranch, at Pacific High School Oct . 21 - Principal for a Day with Ventura Chamber of Commerce Oct . 22- State of Education-Time TBD, Buena High School- more info to come in next newsletter Nov .  3 - VUSD Information Night- 5:30 pm, Buena High School- more info to come Nov. 7 at 9 am until Dec. 1 at 4 pm - Schools of Choice Application Window Visit the VUSD Calendar webpage   to help you plan for a successful year.    LCFF Alternative Income Form (The Pink Form) Reminder Families, please take a moment to complete the 2025 LCFF Alternative Income form included as the pink sheet in your physical back-to-school packet ( see attached for a copy - feel free to download and use this if you cannot find yours). This information is not collected during online data verification and is required by the state for regulatory purposes. Collecting these forms is essential to ensure families receive the services they need and  helps our district secure millions of dollars in funding when we achieve an almost perfect return rate. If you have not yet completed and returned the form to your school site, please do so no later than Monday, September 15, 2025 . Your participation directly supports our students and schools.      Nominate Someone for a VUSD Gratitude Award Every day in VUSD, incredible people go above and beyond to make a difference. It might be a teacher sparking curiosity in the classroom, a staff member lending a helping hand, a student showing leadership and kindness, or a volunteer giving their time to support our schools. The Gratitude Awards are our way of shining a spotlight on these everyday heroes who embody the spirit of care, dedication, and community. But we need your help. Nominate someone today who deserves to be recognized for their positive impact on the VUSD community. Big or small, every act of going the extra mile matters. Nominate them using our Gratitude Award form .     Join the VUSD Parent Advisory Committee! The VUSD Parent Advisory Committee plays a vital role in ensuring families have a voice at the district level. Committee members meet monthly with district leadership to receive updates on topics such as the budget, special education, communications, and academic initiatives. Our goal is to have at least one representative from every school who can share information from these meetings back with their school community. Currently, the following schools do not have a representative on the committee. Balboa Buena El Camino Pacific Sheridan Way Sunset Will Rogers If you’re interested in serving, please reach out to your principal to express your interest. Thank you for helping strengthen the home-to-school connection!   Curbside Coffee Chats with Ventura PD Return The Ventura Police Department and Ventura Unified School District have relaunched Curbside Coffee Chats to create positive connections between students, parents, staff, and local police officers. These informal meetups give our elementary and TK-8 students and families the chance to ask questions, learn safety tips, and enjoy fun giveaways like free Starbucks coffee, badge stickers, pencils, and paper police hats. School Resource Officers, detectives, K9 handlers, and staff look forward to meeting students and building community together.  Thank you to Pierpont, ATLAS, and Mound for hosting the first three coffees this year! Check the schedule below for upcoming Coffee Chats at your school (dates are subject to change). Sept. 25- Portola  Oct. 9- Citrus Glen  Oct. 16- Will Rogers  Oct. 23- Juanamaria  Nov. 6-E.P. Foster  Nov. 13- Elmhurst  Nov. 20- Sheridan Way  Dec. 4- Lemon Grove  Dec. 11- Montalvo  Dec. 18-Loma Vista  Jan. 8- Lincoln  Jan. 15- J. Serra  Jan. 29-Poinsettia    Free Family Farm Fest We invite you to join us for our 4th Annual Family Farm Fest on Saturday, Oct. 18, between 10 am-3 pm at VUSD's teaching farm, Sa'aliyas Ranch, at Pacific High School.  Admission is free and includes face painting, a petting zoo, games, and farm tours! Pumpkins will be on sale for $3/each, which includes free pumpkin decorating, and Mr. Softee will be available for purchase. Free bus transportation will be available for VUSD families to/from Sheridan Way Elementary and ATLAS K-8 schools approximately every 30 minutes from 9:45 am-3:15 pm.  The farm is located on the corner of Dean Drive and Chapel Drive.   See attached flyer  for additional information.    Free English Classes for Adults in Our Community Ventura Adult and Continuing Education is offering free English classes for adults beginning September 29, 2025. Classes will be offered at two locations: VACE (Ventura Adult and Continuing Education)- currently happening- Monday and Tuesday evenings, 6:30–8:30 p.m. E.P. Foster Annex on the Avenue- will be the one starting on 9/29 and is from 6:30-8:30. All adults in our community are welcome to enroll. For more information or to register, please call (805) 289-7925 ext. 1230.   September is Attendance Awareness Month! We’re excited to celebrate a  strong start to the school year and shine a spotlight on the power of showing up every day. Attendance matters and we’re off to an amazing start! Attendance Goal: 97% We’ve set a goal of 97% attendance across our schools—and we’re proud to share that several schools already met that goal in  August ! Those include:  Anacapa Middle School Balboa Middle School Buena High School Cabrillo Middle School El Camino High School Foothill High School Poinsettia Elementary Sunset 6–8th Ventura High School   Special recognition goes to Pacific High School for achieving the biggest attendance increase —up to an impressive 96%  in August (last year their attendance rate for the first two weeks of school was 54.86%). Amazing progress! Well done, everyone!   Poster Contest: “Here Today, Ready For Tomorrow!” Get ready to show off your creativity!   All TK–12  students  are invited to design a poster that reflects what makes your school community special. Deadline to Submit: September 30, 2025 Details & Guidelines: See the attached flyer (available in English / Spanish ) Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Together, we’re building bright futures—one day at a time.   Staff reported on the Unaudited Actuals Financial Report , which provides the final unaudited accounting for all revenues and expenses for the 2024-2025 school year.  Watch that portion of the board meeting here.                   Preparing for Emergency Communication While we hope emergencies or lockdowns never occur, it’s important for you to understand in advance how we communicate during such events. Please  see the attached flyer  for details on our communication process, including what you will hear from us, when, and how to stay connected. In today’s world, students often have phones, and information can spread quickly online, often before all the facts are confirmed. Please  do not rely on non-District social media or unverified sources for updates. Our messages are the most current and have been confirmed with emergency services and local law enforcement. While you may hear updates from other sources first, we always gather and verify information before sending official notifications to families. We encourage you to review this information now so you’ll know what to expect and how to stay informed in the unlikely event of an emergency on your campus.   Follow VUSD on Social Media Celebrate student success and stay informed about district highlights throughout the year. Facebook: @Venturausd Instagram: @SchoolVentura YouTube: @VenturaUnifiedSchoolDistrict     Board of Education Survey We want to hear from you! The Ventura Unified Board of Education is conducting a short survey to gather feedback from families, students, staff, and community members. Your input helps us understand what’s working well and where we can improve, ensuring we continue to exceed your expectations for our schools. The Board of Education survey   takes just a few minutes to complete. Please share your thoughts today and help shape the future of VUSD!    Highlights from Sept. 9 Regular Board Meeting The Board of Education met on  September 9, 2025 , focusing on various initiatives. Some topics (with a link to the presentation on YouTube) discussed included:   El Camino High School at Ventura College Student Board Report- Lizzie Okubo Foothill Technology High School Student Board Report-Santanah Schnizler Ventura Adult and Continuing Education (VACE) Student Board Report- Cain Bolante Unaudited Actuals Financial Report : This is the report with final unaudited accounting for all revenues and expenses for the 2024-2025 school year.    Upcoming Board Meeting  Our next Regular Board of Education Meeting is planned for September 23, 2025. All agendas, including information on how to make public comments (which must be in person) and the start times of both closed and regular sessions, are available at least 72 hours before the regular board meeting date on the Board Agendas and Minutes webpage . All regular Board meetings are livestreamed and recorded. To view, please visit our Ventura Unified School District YouTube page .

Friday, Sep 12 2025

VUSD Connections Newsletter- 08.28.25 Budget Bites V...

We are a few weeks into the school year and there’s already so much to share. In this edition, you will find key dates to mark on your calendar, important forms that need your attention, and a reminder about how vital regular attendance is for student success. We’re also excited to debut the first episode of our new " Budget Bites" video series, designed to help families better understand how school funding works. Plus, plenty more updates to keep you informed and connected!   It has been wonderful to visit our schools during the first couple of weeks of the new school year, seeing the energy and care that our staff and students exude each day. I have been inspired by the intentional ways our teachers and support staff are helping students thrive, and by how engaged our students are in their learning.   This year also brings important conversations about our district’s budget. To help families better understand how school funding works and what VUSD is doing to address reductions caused by declining enrollment and commiserate loss of funding, we are sharing the first episode of our new “ Budget Bites ” video series. You can access it in the Budget section of this newsletter, and I encourage you to stay tuned for future episodes.   Thank you for partnering with us in making this a remarkable school year.   Sept. 1- All schools and district offices closed- Labor Day Sept. 5  -  Parent Advisory Council - 9-11 am - Reach out to your school site if interested in serving on this committee.   Sept. 9 & 23-  Board of Education Meetings- see   Board agenda website   for more information, including start times and agenda items Sept. 10-  African American Parent Council Meeting- 6-7:30 pm- email Danna.lomax@venturausd.org   for more information  Sept. 18 - DELAC Meeting- 5:30-7 pm, call 805-641-5000 for more information Sept. 26- SEDAC Meeting- 9-11 am, call 805-641-5000 for more information Please visit the VUSD Calendar webpage   to help you plan for a successful year.    Email & Text Message Internship Fraud Advisory  We’ve heard from several middle and high school families that students have received emails or text messages claiming that VUSD is offering online internships and helping students land their first job. These messages may ask for personal information, including banking details, and are  not from VUSD.  Once we are notified about messages like these, we delete the messages from student accounts and disable the link for VSD.org emails. Please discuss with your student how to identify and report these types of messages. You or your student can email a copy of the message to vusdparenthelp@venturausd.org . If they’re unsure whether an opportunity is real, they should ask a teacher, counselor, or another trusted adult on campus. Legitimate opportunities usually come from the College & Career Center, official school or district newsletters, or our verified social media accounts (for example, we shared communications internship openings there last year). Please encourage your children to double-check before sharing any personal information online.   Food Allergy Accommodations Food and Nutrition Services is happy to accommodate students’ medical requests for special meal accommodations. To do so, the café at your student’s school must have a doctor’s note or a Meal Accommodation Form on file  (see the attached form  and submit to your school’s cafeteria). Either form must be signed by a licensed physician, physician assistant, registered dietician or nurse practitioner. We must have this form on file so we can place an alert on your student’s account. Please feel free to contact your school’s café manager to discuss at extension 1555.  The note/form must contain the following information: Describe the physical or mental impairment sufficiently in order for the SFA to understand how it restricts a child’s diet Explain what must be done to accommodate a child’s disability Identify food or foods to be omitted from a child’s diet Recommend food or choice of foods that must be substituted in a child’s meal   LCFF Alternative Income Form (The Pink Form) Reminder Families, please take a moment to complete the 2025 LCFF Alternative Income form included as the pink sheet in your physical back-to-school packet ( see attached for a copy - feel free to download and use this if you cannot find yours). This information is not collected during online data verification and is required by the state for regulatory purposes. Collecting these forms is essential to ensure families receive the services they need and helps our district secure millions of dollars in funding when we achieve an almost perfect return rate. If you have not yet completed and returned the form to your school site, please do so as soon as possible. Your participation directly supports our students and schools.      Lights, Camera, Student Photos—Have You Completed Data Verification? Thank you to everyone who has already logged into  Aeries and started the Data Verification process. If you have not completed it yet, please do so as soon as possible, as the deadline has passed. This important step ensures we have up-to-date emergency contact information and confirms whether we have your permission to photograph or video your child for news media, social media, school websites, school yearbook, and more. It also helps us collect other required back-to-school information.  Data Verification must be completed using the web version of Aeries at   venturausd.aeries.net . The Aeries app does not support updates or changes, including password resets, contact details, or required forms. First-time login steps: Go to venturausd.aeries.net Select Parent/Student Portal Log in using the credentials emailed from venturausd@aeries.net Change your password when prompted Once your account is set up and verification is complete, you can use the Aeries app to view information, but any updates must be made on the website. Need help? Contact the VUSD Help Desk at 805-641-5000 x1340 or email  vusdparenthelp@venturausd.org . Thank you for helping us ensure we have accurate and complete information for every student.   Webinar Recording Now Available On August 19, 2025, El Concilio Family Services hosted an online webinar titled  Know Your Rights . The presentation focused on immigrant rights, steps to take if you encounter immigration enforcement, and how to develop emergency and family preparedness plans. El Concilio also shared valuable resources to support families in these areas. You can view the full recording and access the resources on our 'Know Your Rights'  webpage .   Here Today, Ready For Tomorrow! VUSD is proud to join the nationwide Attendance Awareness Campaign this September! We’ve set a goal of 97% attendance and are off to a strong start (96.84% from Aug. 13-22)! Regular attendance is key to student success. Missing just 10% of the year (18 days) can lead to academic struggles. If you're facing attendance challenges, our Student Support Services   team is here to help.   Attendance Poster Contest is Now Open! Show us what makes your school special! Submit your "Here Today, Ready For Tomorrow!" poster by  September 30, 2025 . See the attached flyer for TK–12 details ( English / Spanish )   Introducing " Budget Bites" : Episode One We are excited to share the first episode of " Budget Bites" , a new video series designed to help families better understand how school budgets work, how funds are distributed, and how our community helps guide spending decisions. You will find the Spanish translation of this video  attached as a document.   Watch our first episode below, or you can find it on our District YouTube page . Stay tuned for Episode 2 coming soon!                             Manage Your Account Settings in ParentSquare You can change your  language setting s to receive posts, messages, and alerts in your preferred language.  Here is how: From the home page in ParentSquare, click on your name at the top-right and select Manage Account.  On the left, select Language Settings Click the drop-down menu, select your language, and then click Save.  You can also change your  notification settings  from instant to digest Instant sends all post notifications in real-time, and digest sends all posts for the day in one single digest at the end of the day.  From home, click your name in the top-right corner and select Manage Account.  Select Notification Settings on the left Choose your preferred Notifications Settings for General Announcement and Messages (emergency alerts from the school or district will send instantly, no matter which notification setting you pick). If you are a parent/guardian and you are not receiving ParentSquare messages and your notification settings are correct please contact our Technology Services team at 805-641-5000 x1340 or email vusdparenthelp@venturausd.org .   Board of Education Survey We want to hear from you! The Ventura Unified Board of Education is conducting a short survey to gather feedback from families, students, staff, and community members. Your input helps us understand what’s working well and where we can improve, ensuring we continue to exceed your expectations for our schools. The Board of Education survey takes just a few minutes to complete. Please share your thoughts today and help shape the future of VUSD!    Highlights from Aug. 26 Regular Board Meeting The Board of Education met on August 26, focusing on various initiatives. Some topics (with a link to the presentation on YouTube) discussed included:  Student Wellness Centers Buena High School- Student Board Member Update Pacific High School- Student Board Member Update Ventura High School- Student Board Member Update Update on School Site Council (SSC) Bylaws and SSC Site Funds Guide Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) Recommendation Update   Highlights from the August 26 Special Board Meeting At its Special Meeting on August 26, the Board of Education discussed sending a survey to families, staff, students, and community members. The survey seeks input on what VUSD is doing well, areas for improvement, and community priorities as we face upcoming budget reductions. See the Board of Education Survey  information above to share your thoughts.   Upcoming Board Meeting Our next Regular Board of Education Meeting is planned for September 9, 2025. All agendas, including information on how to make public comments (which must be in person) and the start times of both closed and regular sessions, are available at least 72 hours before the board meeting date on the Board Agendas and Minutes webpage . All regular Board meetings are livestreamed and recorded. To view, please visit our Ventura Unified School District YouTube page .   Ventura Education Partnership (VEP) Announces Fall Grant Cycle All VUSD teachers and staff who work directly with students may apply for $1,000 VEP grants.  All VUSD High School and Middle School students representing a class or club may also apply for $1,000 grants under the supervision of an advisor. The application will be released on the Ventura Education Partnership (VEP) website on August 29, 2025.     VYBA is Pumped Up! Get ready for another season of VYBA! Online registration for children in grades 2-8 starts on Tuesday, August 26, at 12 pm. Register your child to attend one of the required skills assessment dates to join a team. Games are played on weekends in January through March.    Fee: $120 (includes uniform), scholarships available.  All details at:   www.cityofventura.ca.gov/VYBA  

Friday, Aug 29 2025