April 2011
Vista Academy of the Visual and Performing Arts is a Program Improvement (PI) school which means
that we have not made our annual yearly progress (AYP) on the California State Test (CST) – especially for
our English Language Learners, low-socioeconomic students, and our special education students – over a
period of years. In VAVPA’s case, we have been in PI for 5 years. As a result, we are currently undergoing
what is called Corrective Action which means we must comply with state and district mandates to improve
our instructional practice and thus our scores on the CST. The teachers and I, along with parents, are
working on a plan to ensure that all our students have academic success at VAVPA. It is our commitment
that we will move out of Program Improvement and continue the arts here at VAVPA.
With all this in mind, this upcoming CST testing period – May 2 – 13 – is extremely important for our
2nd – 8th graders. Our teachers are doing their best to prepare your child for the test. As a parent or
guardian, you can also help us and your child.
Here are some suggestions:
• Read with your child. Have your child read to you and then discuss what was read. Children should be
reading at least 30 minutes every night.
• Children should have a good breakfast every morning. We will be providing FREE BREAKFASTS for
all our children during the test window – the specific dates to be determined.
• You can help your child do his/her best at school each day and on these tests by ensuring they get a
good night’s sleep every night. It is recommended that children get at least 8 hours of sleep.
Please talk to your child about taking these tests seriously and to do their very best. The test provides us
with information about each child and then helps us to determine the curriculum they are taught the
following school year.
Thank you for being involved in your child’s education. Your involvement with our school and in your
child’s education is the key to a child’s success – not just in school but for their future. It takes us all
working together as a team to prepare our children for the great future they so richly deserve.
Finally, I can’t believe that another school year is almost over. Where does the time go? Well, when you
are having as much fun as I am on this wonderful campus, the time dances by and it feels like we’ve been
doing the Flamenco this year. Thank you for being passionate about VAVPA and the arts.
Sincerely,
Mary Contreras
Principal
Vista Academy of Visual and Performing Arts |
