Entries by Ronaldo Gomez

Ink & Inspiration: How Visions Students Became Published Authors

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Ink & Inspiration: How Visions Students Became Published Authors

The Visions In Education writing community came together on April 10 to celebrate the Find Your Voice Book Release featuring published works from students in this year’s Find Your Voice writing class offered in partnership with 916 Ink. The event showcased three collections of student writing: Mark Our Words, The Power of Ink, and Rhythms of Rain.

By fostering both technical skills and creative freedom, the program helps to empower students by transforming their thoughts and experiences into powerful written works. Students in both our high school and middle school classes worked with instructors to refine the pieces that they wanted to publish in the anthology.

The course creates a nurturing yet dynamic environment where students can discover and expand their writing potential. Students met weekly to hone their writing voices in a supportive atmosphere, engaging in creative exercises and receiving positive constructive feedback. This judgment-free space encourages young writers to take risks, share their perspectives, and develop confidence in their artistic expression.








“Everyone is a writer when given a safe environment to express themselves,” says Crystal Linnet, Middle School Find Your Voice Coordinator and Visions teacher. 

From Written Word to Spoken Word

The authors were provided with copies of their books and shared their work with the crowd of families and staff who have been eagerly waiting to hear what they have been working on over the course of the semester. As the young authors shared their stories; parents, guardians, friends, and staff listened intently, laughing at punchlines, and cheering for each student who shared. 

Students who were not prepared to speak in front of the crowd had the opportunity to have their work shared by one of their peers or teachers, ensuring that everyone had an opportunity to have their voices heard. After the event concluded, 916 Ink held a signing session where students were able to sign and leave notes behind sharing their experience with the program. Congratulations to our published authors!

Check out the video below to learn more about the program from past participants!

 Interested in writing? 916 Ink will hold Creative Writing Camps this summer at the 916 Ink Imaginarium located in South Sacramento for Grades 3-8. 

Note: these events are hosted by 916 Ink, not Visions In Education. We are sharing this opportunity as a courtesy to our families.

A Vision For Charter Schools: Chief Academic Officer Dr. Micah Studer Interviewed On More Than A Test Podcast

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A Vision For Charter Schools: Chief Academic Officer Dr. Micah Studer Interviewed On More Than A Test Podcast



LISTEN TO THE EPISODE HERE!

Chief Academic Officer Dr. Micah Studer was recently featured on the More Than A Test podcast, where he got to talk about Visions and our mission as a charter school. The episode, titled “Redefining Education: Doctor Micah Studer’s Vision for Charter Schools”, explores everything from the types of students we serve to the way that we build community in a non-classroom based school. With insight into instructional practices, family-teacher relationships, interpersonal student support, and more, Dr. Studer discusses how Visions’ student-first mentality has created a successful learning environment for over 25 years.

“We at Visions believe that we can never let go of the responsibility to ensure sufficient academic progress for all of our kids,” Dr. Studer explains in the episode. “Education is our future and we have a duty to serve all students.”

Serving our students includes academic support, such as Synchronous Instruction classes and one-to-one relationships with teachers, social opportunities like field trips and events, and social-emotional supports, such as mental health and social worker access. Most importantly, we serve each student in a way that honors their backgrounds, individual needs, and personal journeys.

“All students come to us with a story,” says Dr. Studer. “They had to make a choice to come here [to Visions], and there’s always a story attached to that.”

Looking Ahead

Every year, Visions continues to build on our successes. We know that our values, which are to accept, align with, and meet our students where they are, impact our school in ways that are both measurable and incalculable.

“The longer students are with us, the better their academic progress becomes,” explains Dr. Studer in the episode. “Those data points are incredibly inspiring because they mean our teachers and administrators are doing the great work of helping our students and families be successful.”

As the host Jennie Tookoian says in the episode, “Dr. Studer’s leadership is bold, reflective, and personal,” and we are grateful to him for sharing Visions’ story. Thank you Jennie and More Than A Test for having us!

About More Than A Test

The More Than A Test podcast focuses on literacy in the classroom, but also explores how school leaders are adapting to an ever-changing educational landscape. Their goal is to analyze the shortcomings in literacy education and tech while still finding a sense of hope in what’s possible in education through learning and technology.

Family Spotlight: Homeschooling From The Heart

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Family Spotlight: Homeschooling From The Heart

This may be the Boslands’ first year at Visions, but they always knew they wanted to be a homeschool family. Resources, flexibility, and personalized support were priorities for mom LeiLoni, who now has all three boys, Armoni, Andrew, and Anthony, enrolled in our Home School Academy.

“The flexibility of helping my children learn in a way that best fits their learning style is extremely important,” LeiLoni shares. “Most days we wake up and hop on our laptops after breakfast, group discussions after lunch and we end our day with either physical education or physical science like an experiment from their science kits. No two days are ever the same, just similar expectations of learning and growing something new everyday whether it’s a business idea or recipe.”

As a homeschool mom, LeiLoni is supported by the boys’ Credentialed Teacher, Kristi Mojalli, who is there to answer questions, support instruction, and ensure all three boys are staying on track academically.

“My CT is amazing! She is almost always a call away. She listens and acknowledges my children as individual learners and helps me keep them excited about school,” says LeiLoni. “The staff all seem to take on that characteristic of being helpful and supportive. We almost always leave a school event with new friends to see at the next event and that’s always fun!”

“It has been such a pleasure to get to know the Bosland family this year. Armoni, Andrew and Anthony are always eager to share what they have learned and what they are currently working on,” Kristi shares. “It is not easy to homeschool three children, but LeiLoni has done an amazing job. In addition to teaching and monitoring progress, she also brings the boys to as many events as possible, allowing them to socialize and make friends with other Visions students. I hope to work with the Bosland family until all of the boys go off to high school.”

A Message from Armoni

At Visions, Armoni, Andrew, and Anthony are members of Black Student Union, a club that provides students the chance to engage in activities and discussions centered around the experiences and issues that impact African-Americans. At one of BSU’s recent events, 5-year old Armoni stood up to give an impromptu speech to a room full of students and adults, sharing his dreams of becoming a firefighter.

“I want to be a firefighter to save people, even if they are not a part of my family,” said Armoni. He went on to explain how nothing and no one could stop him from achieving his dream, and that he could do anything he set out to do, a statement that deeply resonated with everyone in attendance.

“Armoni’s courage to speak up in front of older students and adults, sharing his dreams with clarity and conviction, is both heartening and inspiring,” shares Independent Study Academy Vice Principal and BSU club advisor David Doyle. “His fearless attitude and belief in his limitless potential not only celebrates his personal achievements but also encourages all our students to pursue their dreams without hesitation.”

Although Armoni was “a little nervous because it was kind of crowded,” he spoke from his heart in that moment, something that LeiLoni was not surprised to witness.

“I feel really proud to see the courage and leadership exude from my little man. Collecting these moments are priceless!”




About the Bosland Boys

Until Armoni can join the fire academy, he’ll be cooking and creating recipes to share, playing soccer, or learning about outer space. You’ll find Andrew working out, skateboarding, or helping someone in his community. Anthony will either be kicking the ball around with Armoni, on the court playing basketball, or working on anime pieces to add to his collection. All three boys are also starting their own vending machine business, hoping to provide healthier and tastier snacks to their community.

“Academically since starting with Visions, the boys are taking more initiative and ownership of completing their work and making progress throughout the lessons,” LeiLoni shares. “Also, I notice their confidence around learning new things and taking on new challenges. They are all pushing themselves a little more. If you are considering homeschool, try it out through Visions! You will be glad you did.”

Armoni, Andrew, and Anthony’s Favorite Enrichment Vendors: F.I.T and Justin’s Scuba Time!

Visions Students Are Invited To Submit 2025 Visions Reels

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Visions Students Are Invited To Submit 2025 Visions Reels

Currently enrolled Visions students in all grades and academies are eligible to participate in our 2025 “Why I Love Visions In Education” reel/video collection. 

Students can create a 30 to 60 second video explaining why they love Visions In Education to be eligible to win up to $300 in gift cards! Entries are due on 4:30 p.m. by April 25, 2025.

Prizes:

  • Grand prize: $300 in gift cards
  • Second prize: $150 in gift cards
  • Third prize: $100 in gift cards

Visions students and families can learn more about the contest and submit their entries on the Wire. Watch videos from our last contest here.

Video Requirements:

  • Vertical 9:1 aspect ratio videos
  •  Video submissions must be no longer than 60 seconds
  • Must submit a release form in order to participate

Visit The Wire to submit your videos and learn more!

Spring Break Is April 14th-18th

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Spring Break Is April 14th-18th





School Calendar

Spring break for students and teachers is April 14th-18th. We hope you all have a warm and restful week off!

Our main office and Student Technology Services (STS) will be closed Friday, April 18th. We will resume services during regular business hours on Monday, April 21st.

Spring Break Activities

Looking for something to do during your week off? Check out some ideas below!

  • Students & Families:
    • Make a nature collage
    • Create your own board game
    • Have a dance party!
    • Set up a scavenger hunt
    • Design your own obstacle course
    • Volunteer!
    • Have a movie night
    • Visit a local museum
  • Teachers & Staff:
    • Indulge in a good book
    • Try a new recipe
    • Binge-watch your favorite show!
    • Take an online class
    • Organize your at-home classroom
    • Explore new tools & technologies
    • Reflect on student progress and strategies
  • Don’t forget: Visions partners with Care Solace to provide students, families, and staff free mental health care. Their services are available 24/7/365, so don’t hesitate to reach out, even over break. 

Glow Up! Introducing Our Refreshed Website

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Glow Up! Introducing Our Refreshed Website

As shared last month, we’ve been working on refreshing the look and feel of Visions’ website, and we’re happy to announce that as of April 5th, the upgraded viedu.org is now live!

In partnership with Grow Enrollments, we worked to reimagine our website in a way that stays current with the needs of our families. The changes that we implemented helped modernize the appearance of the site, optimize the site for mobile and improve loading speed, and make it easier for prospective families to request information and apply.

What’s New?

Don’t worry! Our URL and site navigation are the same; our teams simply made visual changes to better reflect our brand and the resources Visions has available for current and prospective families. You’ll still be able to access our academy information, news articles, student spotlights, and everything else you need to stay in the know at Visions, just with a new look!

Thank You!

We would like to express our deep appreciation for Grow Enrollments and Visions’ Marketing and Technology Services teams for their hard work and commitment to delivering an exceptional final product for our families. We hope you all take a moment to explore the site and get a feel for our new look!

Recap: TK’s Trip To Safetyville!

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Recap: TK’s Trip to Safetyville!

On the morning of March 27th, sixteen inquisitive TK students entered Safetyville nestled in Sacramento. This pint-sized town was the perfect place for our little learners to explore real-world safety in a fun and interactive way.

Students practiced pedestrian safety as they navigated miniature streets, complete with stoplights and crosswalks, and a railroad crossing area learning the rules of the road. From role-playing as responsible citizens to discovering how to stay safe in everyday situations, this hands-on experience made learning come to life. It was a fantastic day filled with excitement, discovery, and valuable lessons that will stick with our young scholars for years to come!

Thank you TK Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) Kristyn Migliori for supporting this opportunity for our little ones! For more information about our Transitional Kindergarten program, see our Home School page.

April Is National Volunteer Month

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April is National Volunteer Month

National Volunteer Month is a time to recognize and celebrate the world’s volunteers. All across the globe, volunteers show how collective effort can create positive change, and this month is a chance to say thank you for inspiring change and making a difference.

Students, Join Our Community Service Clubs!

At Visions, we have two Community Service Clubs, one based in Sacramento and the other based in Contra Costa. Student members gather to volunteer at places such as the Contra Costa Food Bank and Wellspring Women’s Center. Home School Academy Credentialed Teacher Karen Moe serves as the club advisor for the Contra Costa club, while Independent Study Academy Credentialed Teacher Chris Fischer (pictured left with some of our club members!) oversees the Sacramento club.

For students in each club, giving back is an important part of their every day lives. In serving the members of their community, they’ve come to recognize the value of generosity, selflessness, and helping those in need. Thank you Karen, Chris, and our students for your work out in our communities!

Resources

César Chávez Day Of Service Is March 31st

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César Chávez Day of Service is March 31st

March 31st is designated as César Chávez Day. Chávez was born on March 31st, 1927 in Arizona and became a prominent Latino civil rights leader and labor movement activist. As a farmer, Chávez advocated for more rights, fair treatment, and better wages for farmers and laborers in the United States.

In 2008, former President Barack Obama endorsed César Chávez Day of Service as a commemorative holiday to honor Chávez’s “legacy as an educator, environmentalist, and a civil rights leader.” Chávez’s legacy lives on through the United Farm Workers (UFW) labor union (formerly known as the National Farm Workers Association), which he co-founded with Dolores Huerta in 1962.

Resources

To learn more about Chávez, see the following resources:

Throwback Thursday: Visions On The Screen!

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Throwback Thursday: Visions On The Screen!

For this #TBT feature, we’re throwing it back to 2010 (cue skinny jeans, selfie sticks, and Lady Gaga’s meat dress) and sharing some of our “Why I Love Visions” video contest submissions!

15 years ago, we asked students to create a video explaining why they love being a Visions student, and we received some amazing submissions! If you like puppets, claymation, or poetry, you’re in for a treat –  check out some of the videos below!

To see all submissions, check out our 2009-2010 Visions Video Contest playlist! If you want to see even more student content, visit our channel and browse all of our playlists.

POV: I’m a Visions Parent

Want to see more? Take a peek at some of our old parent testimonials and learn why Visions works for the whole family!

Don’t miss out on the chance to share YOUR story! Sign up for our Family Video Interviews happening in April.

Like, Follow, Subscribe

You know the drill – subscribe to our YouTube channel for graduation performances, staff interviews, video contests, and more! We can’t wait to continue sharing the stories of our students!