Dear Rancho Vista Families,
Welcome to the 2025–26 school year! On behalf of the entire Rancho Vista faculty and staff, I am delighted to welcome both returning and new families to our school community. We are excited for the year ahead and look forward to a successful, engaging, and enriching journey together.
At Rancho Vista, our shared mission remains steadfast: to provide a nurturing, inclusive, and well-rounded environment where every student can thrive—academically, socially, and emotionally. We are committed to ensuring that every child feels welcomed, valued, supported, and inspired to reach their fullest potential.
This year, we are proud to continue building on our strong tradition of academic excellence. Our instructional programs are thoughtfully designed to challenge and support all learners:
- In mathematics, students will continue to grow through Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) and our district-adopted Math In Focus curriculum, which promotes deep understanding and flexible thinking.
- In language arts, students in grades K–5 will continue to use Wonders, engaging in small group rotations that include reading to self, writing practice, partner reading, listening to reading, and word work.
- Our early learners (K–2) will strengthen foundational reading skills through the newly adopted Heggerty phonemic awareness curriculum.
- In science, all grades will dive into hands-on, inquiry-based learning through STEMScopes, aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
These programs—and many others—reflect our mission to provide an engaging and rigorous education that empowers students to become thoughtful, responsible, and high-achieving citizens of the world.
We know that strong partnerships between home and school are key to student success. We encourage open communication and invite you to stay connected throughout the year. There are many ways for families to be involved—whether by volunteering in the classroom, attending events, or participating in school meetings.
We are deeply grateful to our PTA and the Peninsula Education Foundation (PEF), whose generous support helps fund many of the exceptional programs that enrich our students' experiences, including music, Art at Your Fingertips, field trips, our Learning Garden, assemblies, and so much more.
We’re looking forward to an exciting year ahead and are here to support you and your child every step of the way. Let’s make it a great year—Let’s Go, Rancho!
Warm regards,
Rachel Dunbabin, Principal
Rancho Vista Elementary School
