Current Events
2012 Benefits Plan Option Powerpoint download (very large 79mb file)
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Back-to-School Night at Pet Co Park
Friday, Sept 23 at 7:05 p.m., Padres vs. Dodgers
click here for flyer
Wellness Program
We are pleased to announce this excellent opportunity to improve the health and wellbeing of all employees within our district!
California State of Emergeny !
California schools have been cut by $18 BILLION in the last three years and we now face another $4 billion. We may lose 20,000 teachers this year, on top of the 30,000 we’ve lost in the past two years.
COME STAND WITH US!
BE A PART OF THE MOVEMENT!
L.E.A.R.N. and SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!
California schools have been cut by $18 BILLION in the last three years and we now face another $4 billion. We may lose 20,000 teachers this year, on top of the 30,000 we’ve lost in the past two years.
COME STAND WITH US!
BE A PART OF THE MOVEMENT!
L.E.A.R.N. and SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!
- Monday, May 9 – Focus on LEGISLATIVE activities
- Tuesday, May 10 – Reach out to EVERY parent
- Wednesday, May 11 – Use Day of the Teacher to APPRECIATE educators and ALLIES
- Thursday, May 12 – Promote the need for REVENUE for schools and educate our members and the community about tax fairness
- Friday, May 13 – It’s NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL. Attend a rally in Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Fresno, Inland Empire, San Diego and Palm Springs to voice and support tax extensions to prevent deeper cuts.
PRE-RETIREMENT WORKSHOP
Sat, April 9, 2011 8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
CTA/San Diego RRC, 5333 Mission Center Road, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92108
Sponsored by: CTA/San Diego County Service Center Council
SPACE IS LIMITED – REGISTER NOW! ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED TO CONFIRM YOUR ATTENDANCE
Continental breakfast will be provided, compliments of the San Diego County Service Center Council
IMPORTANT! -PLEASE BRING 3 ITEMS WITH YOU TO THE WORKSHOP: * Writing instrument and note pad * Copy of your STRS statement * Calculator
RSVP by email to: sbaxter@cta.org OR
Return the reservation form below to the CTA/San Diego RRC by US Mail or FAX: (619) 683-3994
PRE-RETIREMENT WORKSHOP RESERVATION FORM
(Confirmation of your registration and a map will be emailed or mailed upon receipt of reservation)
Name(s):___________________________________________________________________________________________
Address:____________________________________________________________________________________________
City/ZIP:______________________________________________________________Phone:_________________________
Email:___________________________________________________________School District:________________________
For more information, call the CTA/San Diego RRC office at (619) 683-3990
Sat, April 9, 2011 8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
CTA/San Diego RRC, 5333 Mission Center Road, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92108
Sponsored by: CTA/San Diego County Service Center Council
SPACE IS LIMITED – REGISTER NOW! ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED TO CONFIRM YOUR ATTENDANCE
Continental breakfast will be provided, compliments of the San Diego County Service Center Council
IMPORTANT! -PLEASE BRING 3 ITEMS WITH YOU TO THE WORKSHOP: * Writing instrument and note pad * Copy of your STRS statement * Calculator
RSVP by email to: sbaxter@cta.org OR
Return the reservation form below to the CTA/San Diego RRC by US Mail or FAX: (619) 683-3994
PRE-RETIREMENT WORKSHOP RESERVATION FORM
(Confirmation of your registration and a map will be emailed or mailed upon receipt of reservation)
Name(s):___________________________________________________________________________________________
Address:____________________________________________________________________________________________
City/ZIP:______________________________________________________________Phone:_________________________
Email:___________________________________________________________School District:________________________
For more information, call the CTA/San Diego RRC office at (619) 683-3990
PRE-RETIREMENT WORKSHOP
Saturday, March 19, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
at CTA/San Diego RRC 5333 Mission Center Road, Suite 200 San Diego, CA 92108
Saturday, March 19, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
at CTA/San Diego RRC 5333 Mission Center Road, Suite 200 San Diego, CA 92108
| retirement_workshop_03_19_111.pdf |
Facilities Committee
The Facilities Committee has been meeting weekly for months and now their findings are being sent to the School Board. On January 27th, 2011 the School Board will be looking at their data, findings and developing their plan for closing one or more schools. There have been many rumors flying around the District but it is the School Board that will make the final decision. The meeting will take place at Foothill Oak at 7PM.
The Facilities Committee has been meeting weekly for months and now their findings are being sent to the School Board. On January 27th, 2011 the School Board will be looking at their data, findings and developing their plan for closing one or more schools. There have been many rumors flying around the District but it is the School Board that will make the final decision. The meeting will take place at Foothill Oak at 7PM.
UniServ Pre-Employment Development Program
The UniServ Pre-Employment Development Program (UPDP) is an NEA/state collaborative training program designed to support state affiliates with the development and training of potential UniServ staff for a new and changing environment. The program emphasizes personal and professional development in the areas of acquiring organizational knowledge, job skills, and taking a reflective look at one’s personal attitude. This is accomplished through an intensive 16-day training experience in the Washington, DC area and a state-based mentoring experience of at least four weeks. Application Deadline: February 11, 2011
http://www.cta.org/Professional-Development/Events/Trainings/Uniserv.aspx
The UniServ Pre-Employment Development Program (UPDP) is an NEA/state collaborative training program designed to support state affiliates with the development and training of potential UniServ staff for a new and changing environment. The program emphasizes personal and professional development in the areas of acquiring organizational knowledge, job skills, and taking a reflective look at one’s personal attitude. This is accomplished through an intensive 16-day training experience in the Washington, DC area and a state-based mentoring experience of at least four weeks. Application Deadline: February 11, 2011
http://www.cta.org/Professional-Development/Events/Trainings/Uniserv.aspx
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VUSD Board meeting Thursday, October 21 at Foothill Oak Elementary, 7pm
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Saturday, October 23rd is the Vista Art Festival. VTA will be having a booth at the festival.
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Pertussis (whooping cough) is a highly contagious bacterial illness spread by coughs and sneezes. People sick with pertussis have severe coughing attacks that can last for months. Vaccination is the best defense against whooping cough. However, the immunity from vaccines wears off over time and pertussis booster vaccine rates in adolescents and adults continue to be low. As a result, pertussis continues to circulate widely in California. For more information about Pertussis, please visit the following websites:
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/discond/Pages/Pertussis.aspx
http://eziz.org/resources/materials_pertussis.html
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Thursday, May 20th VUSD Board Meeting at Foothill Oak, 7:00pm
Please be reminded that we need your support at this meeting. We have several parents who have volunteered to speak about their frustration that the VUSD Board is pushing for PERMANENT class size increases in K-12. These parents, who are part of a fast- growing group of community members, provide a vital voice in our fight to protect a powerful learning environment in our schools. They will be speaking early in the meeting and need our support. Please be there for them.
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The District wants to increase the student minutes 4 days a week in K-5 to allow for an early release Wednesday. This is teacher prep time that would be used for teacher collaboration and meetings. The school site leadership team would be in charge of determining what would occur on those Wednesday meetings. We are concerned that at some sites it would be under the direction of administration and not the teachers. Are we willing to give up prep time to collaborate? A surveymonkey will be sent out this weekend to K-5 teachers to ask that question.
Meetings: Place, time and date:
*Monday, May 17th, Vista Magnet Middle School Gym
Time: 3:00-4:00 first meeting, 4:00-5:00 second meeting
*Wednesday, May 19th, Empresa Elementary MPR
Time: 3:00-4:00 first meeting, 4:00-5:00 second meeting
*Thursday, May 20th, Lake Elementary School MPR
Time: 3:00-4:00 first meeting, 4:00-5:00 second meeting
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Thursday, May 6th
Please join us in the first of many rallies and demonstrations protesting the VUSD proposal of permanent class size increases. Wear black on Thursday, May 6th and come walk with us from 4-6 p.m on the 78 overpass at Vista Village Drive.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Thursday, April 15th: VUSD Board meeting at Washington Middle School
Please arrive by 6:30 to receive the plan for your participation in the presentation of the "Resolution of No Confidence in Joyce Bales." Considering the overwhelming number of signatures on the resolution, it is fundamental to our process that the VUSD Board see the people who continue to fight for powerful education in Vista Unified.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Wednesday, March 10th: Mediation Day #2, VTA Office
The mediation will be held at the VTA office starting at 9:00 AM. Parent groups are organizing to spend the day there, but we would like you to involve yourself as well. Please come after school in black to line the halls and street with signs, letting the District Management know that we continue to be committed to pressuring them into a fair and equitable solution to the impasse.There are three possible outcomes at this mediation. 1) A solution to the impasse is discovered which will be brought to the membership for approval. 2) The mediator decides to have a 3rd meeting next month. 3) The mediator decides that no resolution is possible and that the fact-finding process should begin.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Thursday, March 11th: Board Meeting, FoothillOakElementary School, 7:00 PM
We are looking for 100% of the membership to come to the board meeting to show our commitment to maintaining a strong educational experience in VUSD schools. The Board needs to look more closely at the Budget Advisory Committee list of recommendations and your presence at the meeting can help. When the Board sees our numbers, it helps them to understand that they need to continue a dialogue with the Association if it is going to find a reasonable solution to the budget crisis. Have no doubt-- you matter at all these meetings and rallies to keep them talking. Every person matters.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
On Thursday, February 18th at 7:00pm at Foothill Oak Elementary School is a VUSD Board meeting. We need 50% of each school’s staff to come. We understand that it is difficult to find the time to go to another meeting, but continued pressure on the board and VUSD management is critical. Make no mistake, you are fighting for a fair and reasonable resolution to this crisis and you have a lot to lose of you do nothing.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
On Monday, February 15th at 8:00am support our negotiating team on the first mediation day at the district office. More specific information on that event will come later, but please plan to attend the mediation in the morning and then in shifts throughout the day to let the district and community know that supporting teachers equals supporting students.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
On Wednesday, February 10th from 4-5pm is our Total Member Unit Meeting at Temple Heights. The purpose of this meeting for the entire VTA membership is provide an opportunity to hear from both VTA and CTA speakers about the “state of our union,” the state of the impasse, and the future state of education in California.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
On Thursday, January 28 at 5:00 p.m., V.U.S.D. School Board Work Study Session
(location: Roosevelt Middle School, 850 Sagewood Dr., Oceanside, 92057) We will need new and additional faces to show that our attendance will be ongoing for the long haul and not just a momentary blip on the radar screen. We would especially like to have parents come and speak to the Board and show their support for teachers. If you haven't spoken to your PTA or parents please try to do so soon.This meeting will most likely be the time and location where the school board members must determine and finalize the 2010-11 Budget and therein their priorities of how they "truly" values teachers. Please have as many teachers attend this meeting as possible!
____________________________________________________________________________________________
On Tuesday, December 8 at 5:30 p.m., in the Vista City Council Chambers on Escondido Ave., the Vista City Council is declaring this date DEE SMITTH DAY. You may remember that last month Dee, one of our teachers, rescued a young boy who was being mauled by rottweilers. I believe that this woman showed amazing courage, risking her own safety to help this child. I am so glad that the city is honoring this deserving woman.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
On Tuesday, December 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the Vista Magnet Middle School gym, the Vista Superintendent and Board of Trustees will be honoring students who achieved perfect scores on their CSTs last spring, and recognizing schools and teachers. Fortunately, VMMS is across the street from the City Council meeting, so it may be possible to attend both events.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
On Wednesday, December 9, Washington Middle School is having a McTeacher Night fundraiser at the McDonald's at 3794 Plaza Dr., in Oceanside, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. The principal, Michael Marcos, and other staff members will be there to serve attendees. Mr. Marcos has provided me with a packet of flyers (you must have a flyer to participate), so let me know if you'd like to attend and I'll get flyers to you. McDonald's donates 25% of your order back to the school
VUSD Board meeting Thursday, October 21 at Foothill Oak Elementary, 7pm
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Saturday, October 23rd is the Vista Art Festival. VTA will be having a booth at the festival.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Pertussis (whooping cough) is a highly contagious bacterial illness spread by coughs and sneezes. People sick with pertussis have severe coughing attacks that can last for months. Vaccination is the best defense against whooping cough. However, the immunity from vaccines wears off over time and pertussis booster vaccine rates in adolescents and adults continue to be low. As a result, pertussis continues to circulate widely in California. For more information about Pertussis, please visit the following websites:
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/discond/Pages/Pertussis.aspx
http://eziz.org/resources/materials_pertussis.html
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Thursday, May 20th VUSD Board Meeting at Foothill Oak, 7:00pm
Please be reminded that we need your support at this meeting. We have several parents who have volunteered to speak about their frustration that the VUSD Board is pushing for PERMANENT class size increases in K-12. These parents, who are part of a fast- growing group of community members, provide a vital voice in our fight to protect a powerful learning environment in our schools. They will be speaking early in the meeting and need our support. Please be there for them.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
The District wants to increase the student minutes 4 days a week in K-5 to allow for an early release Wednesday. This is teacher prep time that would be used for teacher collaboration and meetings. The school site leadership team would be in charge of determining what would occur on those Wednesday meetings. We are concerned that at some sites it would be under the direction of administration and not the teachers. Are we willing to give up prep time to collaborate? A surveymonkey will be sent out this weekend to K-5 teachers to ask that question.
Meetings: Place, time and date:
*Monday, May 17th, Vista Magnet Middle School Gym
Time: 3:00-4:00 first meeting, 4:00-5:00 second meeting
*Wednesday, May 19th, Empresa Elementary MPR
Time: 3:00-4:00 first meeting, 4:00-5:00 second meeting
*Thursday, May 20th, Lake Elementary School MPR
Time: 3:00-4:00 first meeting, 4:00-5:00 second meeting
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Thursday, May 6th
Please join us in the first of many rallies and demonstrations protesting the VUSD proposal of permanent class size increases. Wear black on Thursday, May 6th and come walk with us from 4-6 p.m on the 78 overpass at Vista Village Drive.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Thursday, April 15th: VUSD Board meeting at Washington Middle School
Please arrive by 6:30 to receive the plan for your participation in the presentation of the "Resolution of No Confidence in Joyce Bales." Considering the overwhelming number of signatures on the resolution, it is fundamental to our process that the VUSD Board see the people who continue to fight for powerful education in Vista Unified.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Wednesday, March 10th: Mediation Day #2, VTA Office
The mediation will be held at the VTA office starting at 9:00 AM. Parent groups are organizing to spend the day there, but we would like you to involve yourself as well. Please come after school in black to line the halls and street with signs, letting the District Management know that we continue to be committed to pressuring them into a fair and equitable solution to the impasse.There are three possible outcomes at this mediation. 1) A solution to the impasse is discovered which will be brought to the membership for approval. 2) The mediator decides to have a 3rd meeting next month. 3) The mediator decides that no resolution is possible and that the fact-finding process should begin.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Thursday, March 11th: Board Meeting, FoothillOakElementary School, 7:00 PM
We are looking for 100% of the membership to come to the board meeting to show our commitment to maintaining a strong educational experience in VUSD schools. The Board needs to look more closely at the Budget Advisory Committee list of recommendations and your presence at the meeting can help. When the Board sees our numbers, it helps them to understand that they need to continue a dialogue with the Association if it is going to find a reasonable solution to the budget crisis. Have no doubt-- you matter at all these meetings and rallies to keep them talking. Every person matters.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
On Thursday, February 18th at 7:00pm at Foothill Oak Elementary School is a VUSD Board meeting. We need 50% of each school’s staff to come. We understand that it is difficult to find the time to go to another meeting, but continued pressure on the board and VUSD management is critical. Make no mistake, you are fighting for a fair and reasonable resolution to this crisis and you have a lot to lose of you do nothing.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
On Monday, February 15th at 8:00am support our negotiating team on the first mediation day at the district office. More specific information on that event will come later, but please plan to attend the mediation in the morning and then in shifts throughout the day to let the district and community know that supporting teachers equals supporting students.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
On Wednesday, February 10th from 4-5pm is our Total Member Unit Meeting at Temple Heights. The purpose of this meeting for the entire VTA membership is provide an opportunity to hear from both VTA and CTA speakers about the “state of our union,” the state of the impasse, and the future state of education in California.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
On Thursday, January 28 at 5:00 p.m., V.U.S.D. School Board Work Study Session
(location: Roosevelt Middle School, 850 Sagewood Dr., Oceanside, 92057) We will need new and additional faces to show that our attendance will be ongoing for the long haul and not just a momentary blip on the radar screen. We would especially like to have parents come and speak to the Board and show their support for teachers. If you haven't spoken to your PTA or parents please try to do so soon.This meeting will most likely be the time and location where the school board members must determine and finalize the 2010-11 Budget and therein their priorities of how they "truly" values teachers. Please have as many teachers attend this meeting as possible!
____________________________________________________________________________________________
On Tuesday, December 8 at 5:30 p.m., in the Vista City Council Chambers on Escondido Ave., the Vista City Council is declaring this date DEE SMITTH DAY. You may remember that last month Dee, one of our teachers, rescued a young boy who was being mauled by rottweilers. I believe that this woman showed amazing courage, risking her own safety to help this child. I am so glad that the city is honoring this deserving woman.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
On Tuesday, December 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the Vista Magnet Middle School gym, the Vista Superintendent and Board of Trustees will be honoring students who achieved perfect scores on their CSTs last spring, and recognizing schools and teachers. Fortunately, VMMS is across the street from the City Council meeting, so it may be possible to attend both events.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
On Wednesday, December 9, Washington Middle School is having a McTeacher Night fundraiser at the McDonald's at 3794 Plaza Dr., in Oceanside, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. The principal, Michael Marcos, and other staff members will be there to serve attendees. Mr. Marcos has provided me with a packet of flyers (you must have a flyer to participate), so let me know if you'd like to attend and I'll get flyers to you. McDonald's donates 25% of your order back to the school
