Entries by Justina Janas

Recognizing Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month

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Hispanic/Latino heritage month graphic

Recognizing Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month

Each year, Visions In Education takes part in commemorating Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month!

Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of those whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week and was expanded in 1988 to cover a 30-day period.

Why Sept. 15?

The day of September 15 is notable, as it is the anniversary of independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico and Chile celebrate independence days on September 16 and September 18. Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period.

Join us in celebrating by visiting some of the resources below.

Resources and Learning Activities

Community Resources

These local organizations not only support the Latino community, but also serve as leaders in educating others.

Follow Us For More!

Follow us on social media for more content during Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month.

Resources for Families and Staff Impacted by the Mosquito Fire

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Resources for Families and Staff Impacted by the Mosquito Fire

As firefighters battle the devastating Mosquito Fire we want to offer support to families and staff who may have had to evacuate their homes or are affected in Placer and El Dorado Counties. 

At Visions, we want our families to know that our support goes beyond their education. Our counselors, social workers and other support staff are here to help you during this difficult time. Your health and safety come first, please do not hesitate to contact us with anything you may need.

Below is a list of resources and information for families, staff or anyone impacted by the wildfire. There is also information for anyone interested in helping wildfire victims. Please share these with anyone who would benefit.

Again, you aren’t in this alone. The Visions team is here to support you.

Wildfire Information And Evacuations:

CAL FIRE (Comprehensive Fire Coverage including: Fire Stats, Evacuations, Road Conditions etc.)

Ready Placer (Placer Co. Evacuation Maps, Evacuation Centers, Animal Evacuation Centers, Road Conditions, etc.)

El Dorado County (El Dorado Co. Evacuation Maps, Evacuation Centers, Animal Evacuation Centers, Road Conditions, etc.)

CALTRANS (Road Conditions, all counties)

Social Media Updates:

@PlacerSheriff on Twitter 

@CALFIRENEU on Twitter

El Dorado County Sheriff Facebook

Visions Support:

Visions Counseling Department (must be enrolled to access)

Wildfire Support:

Red Cross Relief

How to Help:

Placer Community Foundation’s Mosquito Fire Relief Fund 

Red Cross Disaster Relief donations

Support Placer County Animal Services

Back to School Celebration

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Collage of Visions students with text that says "Back to School Celebration"

Back to School Celebration

It’s the start of the new school year, and we want to see what your first day looks like!

Currently enrolled Visions students and parents/guardians are invited to share your back to school photos on Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #VisionsFirstDay.

Use the hashtag for a chance to win a $75 gift code to the Spirit Store!

Don’t know where to start? Here’s some ideas:

  • Take a selfie or short video showing your back to school excitement.
  • Give us a tour of your study space/home classroom.
  • Model your favorite back to school outfit.
  • Have a study buddy? Take a selfie with your pet or whoever else keeps you company while studying.
  • Capture your first meeting with your teacher.
  • Organized? Show us your planner or whatever else you use to stay organized.

Need more inspiration? Check out last year’s photos on Facebook! See additional details below.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to get started. See full contest details below*.

*Photos and videos must be posted on your personal Facebook or Instagram account using the hashtag #VisionsFirstDay. To be eligible, participants must be enrolled at Visions and have a public Facebook and/or Instagram account so we can see the submissions (if your account is private we’re unable to see your posts). By using the hashtag (#VisionsFirstDay) you grant Visions permission to use and repost your photos/videos on our websites, social media accounts and for any other Visions marketing purposes. Winners will be chosen based on the creativity of their photo or video. Photos and videos must be submitted by October 2, 2022 to be eligible. If you have any questions, please email marketing@viedu.org.

Back To School Reminders

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Back To School Reminders

The first day of school is just around the corner, and we can’t wait to welcome our new and returning students to the new school year on Tuesday, August 30!

As you prepare for the Fall semester, here are a few important things to keep in mind.

  • Check the School Calendar: Find it on the the Wire homepage, in the Helpful Links section. Take a look and start planning for the semester ahead!
  • Back to School Contest: Follow us on Instagram and Facebook and enter our #VisionsFirstDay Contest for a chance to win gift cards! More details will be posted on the Wire soon.
  • Weekly Wire Emails: Stay up to date on what’s happening with Visions! Check your email every Thursday for our newsletter. Make sure your email is up to date in School Pathways to ensure you’re on the email list.
  • Have Fun: Check out one of our many upcoming events for Home School and High School students on the Wire! Make new friends and have fun learning.

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

August Online Information Sessions For New Students & Families

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August Online Information Sessions For New Students & Families

Thinking about enrolling but looking for a bit more information? One of the best ways to learn more about Visions In Education’s programs is to attend one of our Online Information Sessions (or watch a recording)! Our administrators, principals and enrollment team explain our programs and the benefits we offer our students. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions.

Recordings

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Home School
(Grades TK-8)

Prospective parent educators will learn about curriculum, assessments, student budgets, credentialed teacher support, enrichment activities & much more.

TK-8 Info Session Recording

Watch this recording to learn more now.

Independent Study & University Prep
(Grades 9-12)

Parents & teens will learn about both high school programs. Once enrolled students receive a free Chromebook, student budgets for extracurriculars & community college, 1:1 teacher support & more.

High School Info Session Recording

Watch this recording & read the FAQ to learn more.

Ready to enroll? Submit your online application here!

Still have questions? Contact our Enrollment Team at 916-883-1615.

Student Technology Services (STS) Closing Early On 7/22

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Student Technology Services (STS) Closing Early On 7/22

Due to on-site facilities maintenance, we must close our Student Technology Services (STS) offices early on Friday, July 22 at 3:30 p.m. on this day only (rather than the normal 6:30 p.m. closure time).

This work has to be done during a weekday, so this has been scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on Friday, July 22. Mail deliveries will be received on the following business day (Monday, July 25).

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. For any questions or concerns please contact the STS department at 916-883-1624 or at STS@viedu.org.

Visions Partners with Amazon To Make Ordering Easy

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Visions In Education has been partnered with Amazon since 2015. This partnership ensures that the process for parents to purchase curriculum, supplies and materials is a fast and user-friendly experience.

Visions Partners with Amazon To Make Ordering Easy

Visions In Education has been partnered with Amazon since 2015. This partnership ensures that the process for parents to purchase curriculum, supplies and materials is a fast and user-friendly experience. To recognize the success of our collaboration, Amazon featured our work in a case study. Read more about how our families benefit from this partnership here.

Optimized Ordering To Help Students Succeed

“I have appreciated being able to order items off of the Amazon [Business] site for any needs we have regarding homeschooling. It’s been easy to navigate the site and find what I’m looking for, often offered at a reasonable price or lower than other vendors. The prompt shipping of items is also a plus as there have been times we’ve needed items more quickly,” said Visions In Education parent educator, Bernadette K.

Leveraging Amazon Business has made buying easier by bringing choice to our charter school families. This streamlined process allows our families and staff to spend more time helping students succeed. Amazon logo

“In the past, purchasing was a tedious task. Parents had to research materials from a vast number of vendors and then manually type orders into an ordering system. Once entered, parents then had to wait for the school to approve and process orders which often took a substantial amount of time, resulting in a delay that impacted the student’s learning,” said Tom Tafoya, Visions In Education’s Chief Operating Officer.

88% of Visions In Education parents leverage the Amazon Business account to purchase their student’s materials and supplies throughout the year. Visions is proud to innovate and improve our systems in partnership with major businesses like Amazon to provide our students and families with the best education experience possible.

Read more Case Studies from our other technology and curriculum partners here.

About Visions In Education

Visions In Education is a free, public charter school that serves nearly 7,000 TK-12 students in Amador, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Sutter and Yolo counties. Visions offers students flexible and personalized service in their Independent Study high school, University Prep high school and TK-8 Home School programs. Learn more at viedu.org.

Visions Student Signs National Letter Of Intent to Dive at Eastern Michigan University

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Home School senior Cate Migliori signs National Letter of Intent to dive at Eastern Michigan University

Visions Student Signs National Letter Of Intent To Dive At Eastern Michigan University

Visions In Education is proud to announce that Home School Academy Senior Cate Migliori of Stockton signed to the Eastern Michigan Swimming and Dive Team on May 2, 2022! Visions helped Cate focus and master her athletic pursuits while earning her diploma.

“Visions’ support these past 10 years was outstanding, and I couldn’t have done it without you,” said Cate.

About Cate

Cate started recreational gymnastics at the age of four. By the age of six she was competing, and by 10 she was listed as one of the top 100 gymnasts with USA Gymnastics. In 2018 she had hip surgery and started a year-long recovery. With a lot of hard work and physical therapy, she was finally ready to resume training. Unfortunately her coaches moved to a new gym and after 10 years of competitive gymnastics Cate needed to find a new sport.

It was in her sophomore year that Cate found Delta Valley Diving, located in Stockton. As she began getting acquainted with this new sport, she put her gymnastics training to work. Eight months in, the pool was shut down due to COVID-19, and she wasn’t able to use the pool for two years. During her junior year in high school she began talking with college coaches.

“After a very long recruiting process, I finally found a school that seemed to fit me best: Eastern Michigan University,” beams Cate. “I am beyond excited to dive Division I at EMU, as well as continue my academic career studying exercise science.”

Cate, a lifetime California Scholarship Federation (CSF) member, currently has an academic GPA of 4.39 and has completed 312.50 high school credits. While enrolled with Visions, Cate attended San Joaquin Delta College, where she currently has a 3.86 GPA, and will close out her senior year with 50 college units.

According to her mother Kristyn Migliori, “Visions In Education gave our daughter the opportunity to follow her dreams while receiving an exemplary education. Her credentialed teacher kept her on track academically and tailored the educational choice to her. I cannot thank Visions enough for such a wonderful educational experience.”

National Letter of Intent Signing

The National Letter of Intent Signing was attended by her teacher, Steve Huck, counselor, Deanna Stevenson, Superintendent Steve Olmos, Delta Valley Diving coach Robert Wimberly and her family.

Coach Robert Wimberly had this to say about Cate’s success: “Working with Cate for the last few years has been an excellent opportunity for me to become a better coach and to help her transition from gymnastics to another sport … She’s obviously been very successful and I’m very proud of her to go on and continue diving at a Division I level.”

“Congratulations, I know how difficult it is to get to that next level. The day they start competing they are always thinking about how to get to that next level and you’re there. You’re the top 1% that goes on to compete at the college level. You’re making your parents proud and you’re making our school proud,” said Visions In Education Superintendent Steve Olmos.

Thank you to Kristyn for contributing Cate’s background for this article. 

Grad Spotlight: Guitar Virtuoso Takes Center Stage

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Zac came to Visions looking for the flexibility to pursue his passion for music and a schooling environment free of distractions.

Grad Spotlight: Guitar Virtuoso Takes Center Stage

For Zac S., playing guitar is more than just his career of choice. It’s a way to express himself through music. For more than ten years (since he was twelve years old) Zac has been honing his skill with his instrument as a way to communicate his feelings.

“I’ve never been good with words,” says Zac. “[Guitar] is how I communicate to other people how I feel.”

With aspirations of playing professionally, Zac came to Visions looking for the flexibility to pursue his passion and a school free of distractions.

“You’re not exposed to bad influences as much,” says Zac. At Visions, Zac connected with Credentialed Teacher Donald Bisio who helped Zac plan his schedule so that he could complete his schoolwork while continuing to improve his musical talents. In his sophomore year, Zac took community college classes to get a jumpstart on college while touring with musical groups across the country.

“If you just put your mind to it, you’re gonna get it done,” says Zac, when asked how he managed to balance his obligations as a high school student and his budding musical career.

Zac worked with his teacher Mr. Bisio to get his assignments completed ahead of his tours across the country to places like Germany and Ukraine. In 2017, Zac even set a world record by playing 41 notes in .98 seconds!

Turn the Page

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Zac has continued to travel and play guitar since graduating as part of Visions’ Class of 2020. Compelled by his love of music and his faith, Zac has since been touring the country, performing with acts such as Dennis Agajanian and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Organization while completing his undergraduate work. He is currently on the cusp of receiving his AA in Recording. After performing at Liberty University in Virginia, he has accepted an offer to study there in the very near future.

“There’s no way I would have been able to do all this stuff in a conventional high school,” Zac says, looking back on his time with Visions.

Whatever the future holds for Zac, it seems that his love of music will continue to take him far.