M&M NIGHT AND BLACK OUT BINGO
The Bybee family embraced the phrase "Winner need not be present" and sailed away on a Spring Break cruise. Said Denise: " I was playing Bingo onboard, and I kept saying 'I dunno, I just feel like I'm going to get lucky!'"


The Bybees were among the first to become PTSO members for the 2009-2010 school year, joining at the Mustang Flat-Out Gallop level--which included a Spring Bingo ticket.  Pictured from left: PTSO Prez Janet Long, Sara, Denise, Madison, Dale, and Danyel Bybee. The $2500 prize was handed off at the Harmonic Bronze Spring Concert at High Desert on April 17.

It should be added that all those who were present at La Cabana on April 1st for M&M Night were winners as well. The spirit of the evening ran high, the food was great, the waiters exhausted, and a wonderful time was had by all. Nineteen hundred dollars  was added to the PTSO treasury, for which we are grateful and with which we are planning great things. Thanks to all who participated.

VHS NEW CAMPUS CONSTRUCTION
After a thorough presentation by Interim Superintendent Woodard, the board has given direction to pursue a plan that would allow the temporary campus to remain in its current place during development and construction of the new campus. The portables will not be moved to the parking lot, as previously proposed. Dr. Woodard also urged that modular construction not be used, as traditional buildings would be more satisfactory in the short and long term. The new campus will be built on the lower level property fronting Escondido and cost an estimated $27 million.

The current parking area will remain and eventually serve the athletic fields. A softball field is also part of the plan, though it isn't pictured here--it will be either north of the current parking area or in that empty spot to the right of the football field and basketball courts (see below).  A new parking area will be added with access across Escondido Creek. The admin building, library, cafeteria, and gym are on the south and southwest end of the campus; the classrooms (to house 800 in phase 1) line out on either side of the quad.
Eventually, more classroom buildings will square off the quad, and other facilities, such as a track field, may be added after the demolition of the old campus.

The timeline, which includes planning, grading, approvals by a multitude of state and county agencies, and construction, has a tentative occupancy date of late 2013.

All of which depends on getting those state matching funds. Planning may proceed up to a point, but construction cannot begin until a statewide school bond is passed and matching funds become available.

BUDGET CUTS
The school board met on March 4th to provide Interim Superintedent Woodard with direction on how to deal with projected budget cuts. The problem: The County requires a balanced three-year budget that includes a 3% reserve for economic emergencies; the state projects a 30% reduction in the money it distributes to schools by 2013; the district must offer quality programs--that is, continue to provide teachers, materials, and support staff to keep things running well. The impact:

AV SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION DINNER
On January 26th, VHS PTSO, along with the Boosters from High Desert School and Agua Dulce Elementary and the Meadowlark PTO, contributed their time and talents to decorating the High Desert mpr. School boards across the AV take turns hosting this annual dinner. Our mission: to give the place that special ambience without spending any money. Rest assured, PTSO money is never used for any purpose not directly benefitting students at VHS. We were happy, however, to help our district sparkle and shine in the eyes of its AV peers. Many thanks to those who helped set up and to Anne and Caitlyn Dwyer and Charleen Klein for cleaning up the aftermath. A special thank  you to Michelle Risser for lending her beautiful snowman collection and table mirrors for centerpieces. Culinary Arts catered a superb stuffed chicken cordon bleu dinner.

In praise of Culinary Arts . . . the dinner they served was top-flight, restaurant-quality prepared and presented. From the salad (made with the really good baby greens with a bunch of yummy stuff mixed in there) to the big ol' german chocolate cupcakes with little exquisitely molded dark chocolate leaves on top--every bite was absolutely delicious. Did I mention I'd already had dinner? I just came to help with washing the dishes. But no, there weren't any dishes to wash--the kids washed everything as they went along. How's that for a great volunteering gig!? Now let me describe the scene in the kitchen. Picture a long, narrow kitchen with a long worktable lengthwise down the middle. Now put about twenty high school kids squished cheek by jowel on either side of the table, forty pairs of hands deftly and diligently (and FAST!)  working away on the task at hand. Then there would be these do-sie-do's where a body carrying something would slip over to a different station, and chaos DIDN'T ensue! Things were unpacked as needed, immediately washed and repacked, and by the time the guests were savoring their cupcakes, all the equipment was on its way back to VHS. All of this carried out by smiling kids, clearly proud of their achievement. Hats off to Mrs. Barnes and her amazing crew!

MIDWINTER'S NIGHT MASQUERADE BALL
Held on January 29th in the Meadowlark Ballroom and sponsored by the VHS Junior Class, the Midwinter's Night Masquerade Ball  was a spectacular success. Junior Class Officers President Halie Klein, Vice President Lindsey Dart, Secretary Sherie Peterson and Treasurer Rocky Mazorow spent many hours creating a memorable evening for the students at VHS. Attendance was 110 students. The ballroom was gorgeously decorated in purple wall coverings, snow glistening with white lights, and hundreds of balloons. Delicious appetizers supplied by the Junior Class parents provided nourishment lest the dancers should grow faint, and SOS entertainment kept the dancers moving throughout the night. VHS seniors said, "This was the best dance we have had in our four years at Vasquez." Others commented, "It was so much fun," "I love all the decorations," and "Great food. We didn't even have to eat dinner." Some of the memorable moments of the evening was when a group of senior boys lured Mr. Jorgensen inside to check on an "incident." Then, with the students laughing, Mr. Jorgensen found himself surrounded by the students on the dance floor. With a big grin, Mr. Jorgensen showed off some of his own dance moves. The students really enjoyed having Mrs. Hudson hit the dance floor while she was rocking out to some fun songs. A highlight of the evening was  the coronation.