Dear Bahia Vista Families,

As we approach Veterans Day, I want to take a moment to recognize and thank all the brave men and women who have served in our nation’s armed forces. Their courage, dedication, and sacrifice have helped preserve the freedoms and opportunities we cherish.

At Bahia Vista, we are deeply grateful to the veterans within our community—our staff members, families, and neighbors—who have given so much in service to others. Your example of leadership, perseverance, and selflessness reminds us of the values we strive to instill in our students each day.

I encourage everyone to take time this week to reflect on the meaning of Veterans Day and to express appreciation to the veterans in your lives. Even a simple “thank you” can go a long way in showing our gratitude. Let’s continue to honor their legacy through our actions—by serving our students and community with the same sense of purpose and integrity they have shown in service to our country.

This Friday, November 14, we are proud to celebrate Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day—also known as Walk n Roll Day! On this day, we honor the incredible courage of Ruby Bridges, who, at just six years old, took a brave step toward equality and helped pave the way for generations of students. Her story reminds us of the power of kindness, inclusion, and standing up for what’s right. We invite our students, staff, and families to participate by walking, biking, or rolling to school in recognition of Ruby’s historic walk and to promote healthy, sustainable habits. Let’s all wear purple to show our support and celebrate the spirit of unity and courage that Ruby represents!

This week, all students are learning how to recognize and manage strong emotions in positive ways. Through age-appropriate stories, discussions, and activities, they practiced identifying feelings like frustration, excitement, and disappointment, and explored strategies to calm down—such as deep breathing, counting, or using positive self-talk.

These skills help students pause, think, and make respectful choices, even when emotions run high. Families can support this learning at home by talking with their children about what helps them stay calm and celebrating times when they manage their feelings successfully.

In service,

Julio Villalobos

At Bahia Vista Elementary School,

We believe that every day counts. Regular attendance is one of the most important factors in ensuring student success. When students are present, they engage in learning, build strong habits, and strengthen our school community.

I am excited to share that from November 3-6, our students showed great commitment to being present and ready to learn. A special congratulations goes out to Ms. Scannell’s Class with 98.91% attendance rate for primary grade (TK-2nd) and Ms. Mackay’s Class with a 100% attendance rate for upper grades (3rd-5th grade).

All classes were given a dragon stuff animal that they keep for the week and return it at our next PBIS rally. Your dedication to showing up every day sets a shining example for our entire school.

Let’s continue to make attendance a priority. Together, we can help our students build a bright future—one school day at a time!