Spartans,

As we move further into the school year, I want to take a moment to highlight two important responsibilities that help keep our school strong, safe, and connected — completing the OUHSD Annual Update and participating in our upcoming Lockdown Drill this Monday.

Completing the OUHSD Annual Update

Each year, every family in the Oxnard Union High School District is required to complete the Annual Update through the Aeries Parent Portal. This update ensures that your student’s contact information, emergency contacts, and important permissions are accurate and up to date. Having the correct information is essential, it allows us to reach you quickly in case of an emergency, provide timely communication, and ensure your student continues receiving all the support and services they need such as free school meals and Chromebooks.

Please take a few minutes to complete this vital task if you haven’t already done so. You can find step-by-step instructions and additional information here:
🔗 OUHSD Annual Update Information

Your participation directly supports our ability to keep every student safe and informed. Thank you for making this a priority for your family.

Lockdown Drill on Monday

This Monday, we will conduct a Lockdown Safety Drill as part of our ongoing commitment to emergency preparedness. The safety of our students and staff is our top priority, and regular drills help ensure everyone knows exactly what to do in case of a real emergency.

During the drill, staff will practice securing their classrooms, students will remain quiet and out of sight, and all exterior doors will be locked. These moments of practice are invaluable — they build confidence, readiness, and calm in situations where quick thinking and teamwork matter most.

We encourage parents to discuss the purpose of safety drills with their students. Understanding that these exercises are proactive and preventative helps reduce anxiety and reinforces the importance of following procedures carefully.

Together, we can make Rio Mesa a model of preparedness and community strength. Thank you for your partnership in keeping our campus safe and ensuring every family stays informed.

This week, students from the Art and Science classes embarked on a unique collaborative field trip that combined creativity with curiosity at Land and Sky in Oxnard. The excursion provided an exciting opportunity for students to explore real-world applications of both artistic expression and scientific inquiry.

During the trip, students engaged in hands-on activities, observed natural phenomena, and participated in interactive workshops that highlighted the connections between art and science. By blending creativity with experimentation, students were able to see how scientific concepts can inspire artistic work  and how artistic perspectives can deepen the understanding of science.

Teachers emphasized the importance of collaboration, critical thinking, and observation during the trip. Students returned energized and inspired, ready to bring their new insights back to the classroom. This innovative experience reflects Rio Mesa High’s commitment to integrating disciplines, fostering curiosity, and creating meaningful learning experiences for all students.

Spartans,

We will be hosting our Hall of Horrors event on October 24, before and after the game! Come out to support our ASB fundraiser and enjoy the last regular home game of the season.

We’re also celebrating some great news: first quarter grades and discipline have both improved as our students continue to show growth, responsibility, and dedication. Let’s keep up the momentum as we move into the second quarter!

As our fall sports season comes to an end, we want to thank our student-athletes and coaches for their hard work and commitment. Please continue to support our teams as we transition into an exciting winter sports season.

This Tuesday at approximately 10:25 AM, teachers will participate in a campus-wide safety system check. You may get an alert informing you of this drill. This brief test helps ensure that our emergency communication and response systems are working properly, keeping Rio Mesa prepared and safe at all times. Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to campus safety!

Spartans,

Thank you to all the parents and our partners at the Albert H. Soliz Library for joining us at the 10th Grade MYP Personal Project Exhibition. Our students did an outstanding job showcasing their creativity, critical thinking, and hard work. Events like this remind us of the incredible learning and growth happening every day at Rio Mesa. A special shoutout goes to Mrs. Lisette Severin, Ms. Alicia Alvarez, and Ms. Verity Olliff for their leadership in organizing this event and for their continued support of our students, the MYP program, and our school community.

Reminder: There will be no school on Monday—enjoy the long weekend and come back ready to finish the semester strong!

As we close out Quarter 1, final grades will begin to be posted over the weekend. Please take some time to review your student’s progress and celebrate their efforts. Each new quarter offers a fresh start and an opportunity to set new goals, so encourage your student to reflect on their successes and areas for growth.

The new quarter officially begins on Tuesday, and we ask that students check their schedules in advance to make sure they know where to go and are ready for a strong start.

Spartans,

This past Friday, our teachers and staff took part in a critical safety training focused on how to respond to an active assailant on campus. While we hope to never face such a situation, preparedness is key. The training was both informative and empowering, and it's part of our ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of every student and staff member on campus.

Looking ahead, we’ll be putting our learning into practice during a safety drill scheduled for October 27 or 28, in collaboration with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. These drills are an important part of building a culture of readiness and resilience in our school community.

On a different note, we want to keep families informed about some temporary changes to transportation:

This week, the 4th period dismissal bus will begin its route with Orchard Park stops first. We’ll be alternating weekly between the Orchard Park and Nyland/El Rio stops to ensure fairness and efficiency.

Also, for those students who take the Gold Coast public bus, please be aware that the Nyland stops have been temporarily relocated due to ongoing city construction in Oxnard. Thankfully, this does not affect our school bus routes, only the public transportation lines.

As always, thank you for staying informed and for partnering with us to keep our campus both safe and connected.

Spartans,

Thank you to all the parents and families who attended Back to School Night. Your involvement and encouragement mean so much to our students, and we hope you’ll continue supporting them by attending future school events and activities.

 A quick reminder for our seniors: senior contracts are due on Monday, September 29. Submitting this contract is an important step for all students who wish to take part in senior activities this year, so please be sure to turn yours in on time. 

Spartans,

At Rio Mesa High School, student safety is our highest priority. If your student ever witnesses bullying, vandalism, threats, or any unsafe behavior, we encourage them to immediately notify a teacher, counselor, administrator, or any trusted staff member. Parents and students can also make anonymous reports through WeTip at https://www.wetip.com/. WeTip is a confidential reporting system that lets anyone share information about suspicious or unsafe activity without giving their name. Every report goes directly to trained professionals who review it and notify school staff so we can respond quickly and appropriately.

We’re also looking forward to some exciting events. Our Homecoming Game is tonight, and the Homecoming Dance will take place tomorrow evening. Please remind your students to bring their school ID so they can enter quickly and enjoy the festivities. We also encourage all of our students to participate in school activities like these—they’re a great way to connect with classmates and show Spartan spirit.

Next week is our Back to School Night, where we will welcome over 15 outside community organizations to our campus. These groups include colleges, family support services, and after-school programs. We invite you and your family to come, meet the representatives, and learn about the many resources available to our students.

Thank you for partnering with us to make Rio Mesa a safe and welcoming place for everyone.

Spartans,

It’s been another amazing week at Rio Mesa High School! Homecoming week is next week, and it all kicks off Monday with Spirit Week. We also are on rally schedule Wednesday with the big football game against Oxnard on Friday, September 19 and the dance on Saturday, September 20. We can’t wait to see our students, families, and alumni come together to celebrate Spartan pride.

Join us for Back to School Night on Thursday, September 25, a great chance for parents and guardians to meet teachers, tour classrooms, and discover ways to support their students this year. 

Remind your students to tune in to Spartan Spotlight for updates on upcoming events, achievements, and opportunities. So much is happening at Rio Mesa, and we want everyone to be in the know!

Thank you for all you do to support our school. Together we’re creating a memorable and successful year for our Spartans.

Spartans,

It’s been another great week at Rio Mesa High School! The energy on campus is building as we head into some of the most exciting events of the year. Homecoming is just around the corner, with the big football game on Friday, September 19 and the dance on Saturday, September 20. We can’t wait to see our students, families, and alumni come together to celebrate Spartan pride.

We’re also looking forward to welcoming families back for Back to School Night on Thursday, September 25. This is a wonderful opportunity for parents and guardians to meet teachers, see classrooms, and learn more about how to support their students this year.

If you’ve been thinking about getting more involved, now is a great time to join our Parent Faculty Organization (PFO). It’s one of the best ways to stay connected and make a difference on campus.

Finally, please encourage your students to watch Spartan Spotlight to stay informed about upcoming activities, achievements, and opportunities. There’s a lot happening at Rio Mesa, and we don’t want anyone to miss out!

Thank you for being an essential part of our school community. Together, we’re making this a memorable and successful year for our Spartans.

The safety of our students and staff is always our top priority. This school year, we will be conducting four emergency drills including earthquake, shelter-in-place, lockdown, and evacuation drills, to ensure everyone knows how to respond in different situations.

Our Campus Safety Team, made up of dedicated staff members, helps plan and coordinate these efforts. We’re also developing a student safety leadership group so students can have a voice in creating a safe and prepared campus.

By working together, we’re building a community that’s ready, informed, and looking out for one another.

Accidents happen, but Chromebook insurance can help you avoid costly repairs or replacements. Families are encouraged to purchase coverage for their student’s device to ensure it stays protected throughout the school year. Don’t wait—secure your Chromebook today for peace of mind tomorrow! 

The MYP Club was created to support freshmen and sophomores as they experience the challenges of the MYP curriculum. Having gone through the program ourselves, our cabinet understands the dedication and effort required to succeed, and we want to use that experience to help others. So we would like to offer peer tutoring in both English and Spanish. Our tutors are students who have completed Honors MYP, Regular MYP, and are part of the IB DP and CP programs, including AP courses, so we can also provide support beyond MYP. We will also be hosting informational meetings during lunch for students who want to know more about the IB Diploma program or IB Career Program and their requirements. 

We are a completely student-run club, so please don't be afraid to reach out. We will also be partnering with teachers who already provide tutoring services, so if your teachers refer you to us, please don't be concerned. On days when teachers are unavailable or when there are more students than they can help, they will be referring those students to us, and we will put them in contact with a tutor. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to rmhsmypclub@gmail.com. You can also find us on IG as @rmhsmypclub. 

- Aisha Castellanos, Club Member

Spartans,

We’ve had another great week at Rio Mesa! I want to take a moment to encourage all of our students to get involved on campus. Club Rush is coming soon, which is a perfect chance to explore new interests, meet friends, and join a group that makes you happy. Beyond clubs, we also have athletic games, dances, and school events coming up. The more our students participate, the more connected they feel to our school—and research shows that when students feel connected, they often do better academically and socially.

We are so proud of the energy and spirit our students bring each day. Please encourage your student to step outside their comfort zone, try something new, and take advantage of all the opportunities Rio Mesa has to offer.

Finally, a quick reminder: our football team is playing Camarillo tonight at Camarillo High School. We’d love to see our Spartan families come out and support the team—it’s always great to fill the stands with school spirit.

Thank you for being such an important part of our community and for supporting our students in all they do. Together, we make Rio Mesa a place where every Spartan can thrive.

Spartans,

It’s game day! Tonight is our first home football game—please check the game day rules we’ve shared to help keep the event safe and enjoyable for everyone.

Also, be on the lookout for our lunch form. Completing it has helped us continue providing free meals for our students, so please consider filling it out if you haven’t already.

Thank you for your patience as we continue balancing classes to best support student learning. You may also notice that our campus is getting a fresh coat of paint—we’re excited for these improvements!

Finally, mark your calendars: Back to School Night is September 25. We look forward to seeing you there.

Go Spartans!

We’re excited to share that Rio Mesa is getting a fresh new look! Thanks to the support of Measure E, our school is currently undergoing a campus-wide painting project. These improvements will not only brighten and refresh our facilities, but also help us continue to provide a welcoming environment for our students, staff, and community.

We are grateful for the ongoing support that makes projects like this possible, and we are excited to let you know that more renovations will be happening soon.

We made it through our first week of the school year, and I couldn’t be more proud of our students and staff! Thank you to everyone for your energy, positivity, and commitment to making Rio Mesa a welcoming place to learn and grow.

As we move forward, I want to encourage all students to take advantage of our dismissal bus. It’s a great resource to help you stay for tutoring, clubs, sports, or other after-school activities without worrying about transportation home. Let’s make the most of the opportunities available this year!

Spartan Families,

Welcome to the start of another exciting school year at Rio Mesa High School! As we prepare to begin classes on Wednesday, August 13, our entire team is energized and ready to support our students in reaching their full potential. The first day of school is always filled with anticipation and possibility, and we are committed to creating a positive, engaging, and safe environment where every student can learn and thrive.

This year, we look forward to building on our strong traditions while embracing new opportunities for growth and innovation. From our academic programs to our extracurricular activities, we are dedicated to providing a well rounded experience that challenges and inspires our students. We encourage families to stay connected and engaged throughout the year. Your partnership is key to our collective success.

Thank you for entrusting us with your child’s education. We can’t wait to see our Spartans back on campus, ready to learn, grow, and make this year one to remember!