The Power of Showing Up: Why Attendance Matters

Every day matters in your child’s education. When students attend school consistently, they build strong learning habits, deepen relationships with teachers and peers, and gain the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in life. Even missing a day here or there can add up quickly—leading to learning gaps that are difficult to make up.

At Sierra Vista Unified School District, we know that life can bring challenges, and sometimes getting to school every day isn’t easy. That’s why each of our schools has a School Success Plan designed to support families. These plans focus on working with parents to remove barriers, problem-solve, and find solutions that help keep our students learning and thriving.

We want you to know that you’re not alone. Whether the concern is transportation, health, motivation, or family circumstances, our team is here to partner with you. When schools and families work together, students benefit in every way—academically, socially, and emotionally.

How You Can Help

Prioritize attendance: Set routines that make school a non-negotiable part of each day.
Communicate early: Reach out to your child’s teacher or principal if challenges arise.
Use the School Success Plan: Each school has resources and strategies available to help.

Together, we can make sure every student is present, engaged, and ready to learn. Because when students show up, they grow up strong.

Take the simple surveys below for a chance to win school swag or gift cards!

Attendance Matters Survey

Just for Fun Survey

Become a Volunteer with SVUSD

Volunteering is rewarding—for everyone!
SVUSD deeply values the time and effort volunteers contribute across classrooms, playgrounds, athletic events, field trips, and more. These contributions significantly enrich the educational experience for all students.

👉 Learn more here: How to Volunteer

🙋 Who Can Be a Volunteer?

The answer is simple—anyone! Parents, grandparents, family members, and community members are all welcome to complete the process to become an SVUSD volunteer.

📝 How to Get Started:

Visit the "How to Volunteer" page on the SVUSD website.
Depending on the role, background checks and IVP fingerprinting may be required.
Volunteers will receive district-issued volunteer ID badges for easy identification by staff.
Questions? Contact the Human Resources Office at (520) 515-2760.

💙 Why Your Help Matters:

Whether it’s an hour or a month, every moment you share positively impacts SVUSD students’ lives.
As a volunteer, you become more than an extra set of hands—you become a caring resource, a classroom enrichment partner, and a vital bridge between home and school.

Dream. Write. Win

For the sixth year, Arizona State Treasurer Kimberly Yee and the AZ529 Education Savings Plan are hosting an essay contest for kids. The 2025 Essay Writing Contest invites Arizona 5th and 6th graders to submit essays explaining their dream job and the steps they’ll take to reach it. Winners will receive $529 toward an AZ529 Education Savings Plan to fund their future educational aspirations!

Contest Rules and Entry

Empowering Every Learner: SVUSD’s Exceptional Student Services

Welcome to Exceptional Student Services (ESS)
Nestled within the Sierra Vista Unified School District, the ESS department offers a thoughtfully designed array of educational programs and support services for students with disabilities and exceptionalities.

A Holistic Philosophy

ESS operates from a deeply rooted belief in nurturing each student's full potential—focusing not just on academics, but on physical, emotional, social, scholastic, and vocational growth. This philosophy ensures a well-rounded foundation for every individual served.

In essence:

Academic Support – Strategies and programs tailored to diverse learning needs
Social & Emotional Development – Guidance nurturing resilience and self-awareness
Vocational Readiness – Pathways aiming toward future independence and success

Mission-Driven Support

ESS’s mission anchors its work: to ensure students with disabilities and exceptionalities receive individualized support for progress and achievement—not only academically, but in employment and independent living, too.

This means ESS doesn’t simply help students succeed in school—it empowers long-term success, preparing students for life beyond the classroom.

Accessible Resources & Programs

ESS provides a wide range of resources to support families and students:

Autism Resources – Tailored support materials and guidance
Child Find – Proactive services to locate and evaluate students who may need assistance
Discovery for Gifted & Talented – Programs geared toward advanced learners
e-IEP Pro Parent Portal – A digital gateway for families to engage with IEPs
Preschool at Town & Country – Early childhood education administered by ESS; enrollment details and cost information are transparently outlined (e.g., $330/month with payment options available via MySchoolBucks or in person)
English Learner (EL) Services – ESS oversees EL programs using structured models (Pull-Out SEI and Two-Hour SEI) that combine integrated and targeted instruction to support English acquisition and content mastery
Parental Rights & Procedural Safeguards – Comprehensive notices and resources to help families understand legal rights and district procedures
Section 504 Support – Assistance for eligible students under this federal law, coordinated within ESS

These offerings demonstrate ESS’s unwavering commitment to creating equitable educational opportunities and supporting families every step of the way.

A Warm Welcome for New Families

ESS strives to make every new family feel at home. The site includes an informative “New to Special Education or SVUSD?” section, addressing common questions such as “What is an IEP?”, “Do I need a current copy of my student’s IEP?”, and “What special programs are available?”—all aimed at smoothing transitions and clarifying next steps.

Central Location & Dedicated Team

The ESS office is centrally located in Room 202 at the Rothery Educational Service Center (3305 E. Fry Blvd.). Families can reach the office by phone at (520) 515-2798.Sierra Vista Unified School District ESS

A dedicated team of professionals—including paraprofessionals, therapists, EL teachers, behavior technicians, school psychologists, and administrative staff—supports students daily, offering a secure web of caring, specialized support.

Spotlight Summary

Holistic Development-Customized programs for academic, social, emotional, and vocational growth
Long-Term Mission-Prepares students for independence in education, work, and life
Inclusive Resources-From autism support to preschool and EL services, ESS covers many needs
Family-Friendly-Transparent guidance, clear enrollment processes, and support for new families
Accessible Expertise-Experienced, multi-disciplinary staff in a central, welcoming location

Wrap-Up

Sierra Vista Unified’s Exceptional Student Services exemplify a compassionate, inclusive, and forward-looking approach to education. With a suite of thoughtfully crafted programs, accessible resources, and a deeply committed team, ESS stands as a beacon of support for students and families. Every service echoes the department’s core values: respect, growth, empowerment, and partnership.

📵 Thank You for Supporting Our Cell Phone Policy!

We want to thank our SVUSD families for helping us keep classrooms focused on learning! Our district already had a policy in place, but this year we’re placing extra attention on students keeping phones and personal devices out of sight during the school day.

Parents have been fantastic partners—talking with students about appropriate phone use and reinforcing the importance of staying engaged in class. Your support, along with our dedicated staff, is helping create a positive, distraction-free learning environment for all students.

“By working together, we are ensuring that every student can focus, learn, and thrive,” said Terri Romo, Interim Superintendent.

Thank you for partnering with us to make this school year a great one!

Spotlight on Parents: Navigating StudySync with Confidence

Dear Parents,

We’re excited to share how StudySync’s ELA curriculum empowers you to stay connected with your child’s learning journey—whether they’re in grades 6–8 or venturing into high school. Here’s a closer look at what makes the program parent-friendly and how you can best support your reader or writer at home.

1. Easy Access & Navigation

Students access StudySync through platforms like Clever or Google Classroom, providing a seamless entry point into the program—whether using print materials or digital tools

2. Clear “Units of Study” Overview

Each grade level features well-defined Units of Study structured around essential questions, genre focus, and extended writing projects.
For example, in grade 6:

Unit 1: Testing Our Limits — What do we do when life gets hard? (Fiction + Narrative Writing)
Unit 2: You and Me — How do relationships shape us? (Poetry + Argumentative Writing)
…leading up to Unit 6: True to Yourself, prompting reflection on identity and purpose.Cloudinary

This layout helps parents understand what themes and skills their children are exploring—and when.

3. Blended Print & Digital Learning

StudySync offers flexible delivery. Students can work digitally or via printed materials interchangeably:

Print Companion Books — Full texts, writing prompts, and annotation examples support offline learning.
Digital Platform — Contains assignments, scaffolds, student work (“binder”), and auto-embedded supports.

These options support diverse learning preferences and home access constraints.

4. Built-In Support for All Learners

StudySync is designed to scaffold learning for every student:

Digital scaffolds adapt lessons to each learner’s needs.
Lexile-leveled texts, especially in the “Blast” feature, ensure content is accessible at varying reading levels.
Audio support, screen-reader compatibility, adjustable playback speed, and alt-text descriptions enhance accessibility.

5. Reflective & Collaborative Learning

Students engage in a variety of assessment formats:

Self, peer, and teacher evaluations.
Formative and summative assessments, with opportunities for re-teaching or targeted remediation.l

This multi-modal feedback loop keeps you informed about your child’s progress and areas for improvement.

6. Rich Multimedia Engagement

StudySync brings literature to life with dynamic, culturally relevant materials:

Over 2,000 classic and contemporary texts
Peer-modeled video lessons via StudySync TV—modeling literary discussions, evidence-based argumentation, and academic vocabulary.
These features promote engagement and deeper comprehension.

7. Research-Backed & Continuously Evolving

StudySync’s impact is rooted in evidence:

Students demonstrated statistically significant growth on assessments such as ACT Aspire and ACT.
The curriculum is continually refreshed with weekly multimedia additions and instructional content.

Why This Matters to You

Stay in the loop—understand what your child is reading, writing, and thinking about.
Support with confidence—know where to find scaffolds, annotations, and reflection activities.
Celebrate growth—use assessment insights to acknowledge achievements and guide progress.

Pro Tips for Parents

Watch the video above to familiarize yourself with the platform’s look and feel.
Check in regularly: ask your child about their current unit or extended writing assignment.
Encourage use of accessibility tools (like audio options) to support engagement and comprehension.
Discuss reflections or peer feedback—they offer insights into your child's thinking and social learning.

Thank you for being an active partner in your child's ELA journey. StudySync bridges home and school with clarity, flexibility, and equity—making literature learning more meaningful and accessible than ever.

🎉🏈 It’s Homecoming Week, Colts! 🏈🎉

On Friday, September 19th, your Buena Colts take on Tucson High under the lights, and we want the stands packed with Colt pride! 💙🐴💛

Homecoming isn’t just about football—it’s about celebrating our school, our community, and our alumni. Whether you’re a current student, proud parent, or a Buena alum ready to relive the magic, we’d love to see YOU in the crowd!

✨ Grab your blue and white, bring your school spirit, and join us for an unforgettable night! ✨

Let’s make this Homecoming one to remember—see you Friday night, Colt Nation! 💙💛

We Want Your Input on School Consolidation

As Sierra Vista Unified School District prepares for the 2026–2027 school year, we will be consolidating schools to best serve our community while remaining fiscally responsible. Your feedback is an important part of this process.

Please take a few moments to complete our School Consolidation Survey and share what you value most about our schools. Your input will help guide decisions and support for students and families during this transition.

📌 Learn more about the plan by reviewing Interim Superintendent Terri Romo’s presentation and her Board Meeting presentation.
Together, we can create the best possible schools for our students and families.

SVUSD Ignite: Illuminating Learning & Success