Valley Vista News

Please take note of the following important dates and schedules for our upcoming testing sessions.

Tuesday, March 31, 2026 📅

• 9th & 11th Grades: On-site testing for AzSci & Aspire Day 1. 
• 10th & 12th Grades: E-learning day (students do not report to campus). 

• 9th & 11th Grades: On-site testing for ACT & Aspire Day 2. 
• 10th & 12th Grades: E-learning day (students do not report to campus). 

Student Readiness Checklist  ✔️

To ensure you are ready to perform your best, please remember the following: 

• Make sure to arrive on time. 
• Come with a well-rested brain and a full stomach. 
• Bring your fully charged Chromebook plus its charger!

Time to trade the textbooks for some sunshine! 

Valley Vista High School will be closed for Spring Break from March 16th through March 20th. 

We hope all our students and staff have a safe, relaxing, and fun-filled week. We look forward to seeing everyone back on campus on Monday, March 23rd!

Graduation is just around the corner! It’s almost time to pick up your supplies for the big day. Valley Vista High School, in partnership with Jostens, will be hosting the official Cap & Gown Distribution event soon. 💜

Please mark your calendars for this exciting milestone for all seniors and early graduates. 🎓

Event Details: 

🗓️Date: Wednesday, March 11th 

⏰Time: During 3rd hour (9:30 am), you will be dismissed to the Vista after attendance is taken

📍Location: In the VISTA 

👥 Who: All seniors and early graduates 

What if I miss the event? 

If you are unable to attend the distribution event during 3rd hour on Wednesday, don't worry. Your cap and gown will be available for pickup in the bookstore starting the following day (Thursday, March 12th). 

For more information regarding graduation products, visit www.jostens.com.

This year's festival will be held March 7, 2026

Time: 10am to 2pm Location: Valley Vista High School 15550 N. Parkview Place, Surprise AZ

This year’s festival promises to be a spectacular celebration of the arts. This event will showcase the visual and performing arts programs from 16 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 4 high schools in the Dysart Unified School District. 

We expect at least 10,000+ attendees. The Dysart Arts Festival will be a full day featuring performances on multiple stages including various dance troops, theatre troops, choirs, and bands. The elementary, middle school, and high school visual arts programs will host two art showcases including 2D and 3D pieces. 

We will feature an Arts Vendor Fair where attendees can shop from local artists. Our “Arts Experience” area will offer hands-on opportunities, including dance workshops, bucket drumming, keyboard labs, 3D arts activities, and art projects. Our “Adaptive Arts Experience” offers a hands-on immersive arts experience for individuals and families that may need accommodations or a sensory friendly environment. Food trucks will be on-site to satisfy your appetite. This event is open to the public and free to attend, and we look forward to celebrating a day of arts with our community, families, and students. 

For information or questions on the Festival of the Arts, please contact Danae Marinelli, Director of Arts, at danae.marinelli@dysart.org

Our Valley Vista Girls Basketball team has fought hard all season, and now it’s time to defend our home court! ! We need every student, parent, and fan in the stands to bring the noise and cheer our girls on to victory.

📅 Game Details 

• Matchup: Valley Vista vs. Chandler High School 
• Date: Thursday, February 26, 2026 
• Tip-off: 7:00 PM 
• Doors Open: 6:30 PM 
• Location: Valley Vista High School Gym

💜 Student & Fan Theme: PURPLE OUT!

We want to see a sea of purple in the stands! All students and fans are encouraged to wear your favorite purple gear to support the team. Let's make sure our school spirit is seen and heard!

All tickets for this playoff matchup are available exclusively online through GoFan. Please note that cash will not be accepted at the gate.

• Get Your Tickets Here: GoFan.co

It’s a historic week for our athletes! We are incredibly proud to announce that our Girls Basketball, Boys Basketball, and Wrestling teams have all qualified for their respective State Tournaments. 

The hard work and grit have paid off. Now, it’s time for the fans to do their part. Dust off your school colors, clear your calendars, and let’s show the state what our community is made of!

Enjoy the extra day of rest, and we’ll see everyone back in class on Tuesday!

It’s Time to Complete the Annual Parent Survey!

Please remember to complete our annual Parent Survey if you haven’t already done so. We want to know what our district and school are doing well and how we can improve in the future. It should take about 5 minutes to complete and will be open through Sunday, February 15. Find it in English at www.dysart.org/survey and in Spanish at www.dysart.org/encuesta 

🎓 College 101 Night: Your Roadmap to the Future!

The Dysart Unified School District invites all families to join us for an evening dedicated to navigating college acceptance and financial aid.

📅 Date: Thursday, February 12, 2026 

⏰ Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM 

📍 Location: Valley Vista High School (15550 N. Parkview Place, Surprise, AZ) 

💰 Cost: Free to attend!

College 101 Night will begin at 5:00pm with college booths available to browse. Informational sessions will be held beginning at 6:00pm where parents can choose to hear about a variety of topics. Participating parents will have the opportunity to learn about FAFSA, athletics in college, honors colleges, saving for college, financial planning, and much more. There will be numerous colleges in attendance along with military representatives to meet with parents and answer questions. Food trucks will also be on site during the event. Grab dinner while you learn! 

Perfect for families of high school students at any stage—from freshmen just starting to plan, to seniors navigating final applications!

Attention Students and Parents:  

Horizon Benchmark Testing for Grades 9 through 11 will take place on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. Please ensure students arrive on time, are well-rested, and prepared with a charged chromebook.  

This assessment is an important part of our academic progress tracking and helps us better support student learning and growth. If you have any questions, please contact the school office.   Thank you for your support!

Horizon Benchmark Schedule for Wednesday, January 28th:  

9th-11th Grades - Horizon BM Testing  

12th Grade - Working on graduation checklist in class

7:15 - 10:45 Testing

A Lunch 10:45 - 11:15   

Period 4 11:20 - 12:00  

B Lunch 11:30 - 12:00  

Period 4 10:50 - 11:30  

1st Hour 12:05 - 12:27  

2nd Hour 12:32 - 12:54  

3rd Hour 12:59 - 1:21  

5th Hour 1:26 - 1:48  

6th Hour 1:53 - 2:15

Come Out For FAFSA Night!

Sign Up and join us on Wednesday, January 21st, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM for FAFSA Night. This is a great opportunity for seniors to get assistance with signing up for financial aid for college and to ask any questions. Our counselors will be available on site to help students and families! 

Sign Up Link

What is FAFSA?? 

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a free form that allows students to apply for federal student aid, including Grants, Work-study funds, and Loans.  The FAFSA is the largest source of financial aid for college or career school. It can help pay for expenses like:   

• Tuition and fees  
• Housing and food  
• Books and supplies  
• Transportation  
• A computer  
• Dependent care

🗓️ IMPORTANT DATE: Monday, Jan 19 

Reminder: Valley Vista High School is CLOSED this Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. 🕊️ 

"The time is always right to do what is right." — Dr. MLK Jr. 

 Enjoy the long weekend, and we will see all our students back on Tuesday morning!

While most of us were relaxing over the holidays, one of our very own was being celebrated on a statewide stage! We are thrilled to share that Amanda Johns, a dedicated special education teacher here at Valley Vista High School, was a recipient of the 2025 Fiesta Bowl "Wishes for Teachers" program. 

As part of the festivities, Amanda was invited to march in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade on January 3rd and was honored on the field during the Rate Bowl bowl game.

The Impact: Empowering Our Classrooms 

The "Wishes for Teachers" program, run by the Fiesta Sports Foundation, hit a major milestone this year for its 10th anniversary: 

• Record Giving: A total of $1.5 million was granted to educators across Arizona. 
• The Winners: 540 teachers were selected, each receiving a $2,500 grant. 
• The Wish: Amanda’s grant will go toward STEAM learning sets, providing her students with new tools to encourage collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking. 

We hope everyone had a safe and restful winter break! We are excited to welcome you back for the start of the Spring 2026 semester.

📅 Important Return Dates

• Office Opens: The school office will resume normal operating hours on Monday, January 5, 2026. 

• Students Resume Classes: All students will return to their regular schedule on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.

As the year draws to a close, we wish our students, families, and staff a joyous and restful winter break! ❄️

📅Key Dates for Your Calendar: 

• Last Day of School: Friday, December 19th 
• Winter Break Begins: Saturday, December 20th 
• School Office Reopens: Monday, January 5th 
• School Resumes (All Students): Tuesday, January 6th 

We hope this time allows you to relax, recharge, and spend quality time with loved ones. Whether you're traveling, enjoying traditions, or simply taking a break, we wish you a safe and happy holiday season. 

We look forward to welcoming everyone back, refreshed and ready for a wonderful start to the new year, on Tuesday, January 6th!

As the semester comes to a close, please take note of the schedule and important information for our upcoming final exams on Thursday, December 18th and Friday, December 19th. Please use the coming days to review your materials and get plenty of rest. Good luck to all students!

🗓️ Final Exam Dates and Times

Day 1: Thursday, December 18, 2025 

Period 1 7:15 a.m. - 8:20 a.m. 

Period 3 8:25 a.m. - 9:25 a.m. 

Period 5 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Day 2: Friday, December 19, 2025 

Period 2 7:15 a.m. - 8:20 a.m. 

Period 4 8:25 a.m. - 9:25 a.m. 

Period 6 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

🚌 Transportation and Meals

Please note the following logistics for both exam days: 

• Buses: Morning bus routes will run on their regular schedule. Afternoon buses will depart immediately after the final exam for the day concludes (at 10:30 a.m.). 
• Breakfast: Breakfast will be served as usual. 
• Lunch: Hot lunches will NOT be served on these days. A sack lunch will be available for any student who needs one.

🩰 Dance Performance: Lights, Camera, Dance! 🎭

Mark your calendars! Get ready for an evening of incredible dance performances at the Vista.

🗓️ Event Details 

• Dates: Thursday, December 11th & Friday, December 12th 
• Location: Vista Center for the Arts 
• Doors Open: 6:30 PM 
• Show Starts: 7:00 PM 

• Ticket Price: Only $10 per person! 
• Sales Start: Tuesday, December 1st 
• How to Get Tickets: 

Ticket Link: Click Here

❄️ Noches De Invierno ❄️

📅Save the Date:

When: December 4th 

Time: 7pm

Where: The Vista

🎶Performances By:

String Orchestra 

Symphony Orchestra

Concert Band

Wind Ensemble

Vanguard Big Band

On behalf of all the faculty and staff, we wish our students and families a wonderful and restful Thanksgiving break. 🦃

Please note that we will be closed from November 24 through November 28. Classes will resume on Monday, December 1st. 

We encourage everyone to use this time to pause, reflect, and enjoy time with loved ones. Travel safely, and we look forward to seeing you all refreshed and ready to learn on December 1st!

The Great Gatsby

When: November 19, 20 & 21 at 7:00pm

Where: The Vista Center for the Arts

Price: $10 

Running Time: 90 minutes

Purchase tickets here