Cortez History
The Official Website of Mr. Cortez
Vista Heights Middle School
Sign up for the East Coast Tour!
Interested?
Attend an informational meeting:
Current 6th, 7th, and 8th graders: I will be holding an informational meeting in the Vista Heights on Thursday, August 21st. Any parents interested in sending their child on the East Coast Tour in May of their 8th grade year should attend! The meeting will be from 6:00-7:15pm in the Multipurpose Room. Don't miss it!
It is an informational meeting only; many topics will be covered, including:
date and cost of the trip/payment information/how to sign up/who are the chaperones/safety issues/hotel information/cities and sites we'll visit/questions and answers/and more!
Please download the following flyer:
About the trip:
- The cost of the Trip is approx $3699.00 (for the 2026 Trip).
- The Trip is in late May of your 8th grade year. You will miss five days of school. The Trip is AFTER State testing. We will depart on a Sunday afternoon and return on a late Sunday night. (Note: The 2027 Trip will take place in June, after the school year has ended.)
- Sign up as soon as you can, because the top 45 are guaranteed a spot on the Trip. If you register after the top 45 spots have been filled, you will be placed on a Waiting List.
- We will visit four major cities, and various other towns.
- Minimum 2.0 GPA required and no F grades. Student behavioral record will be assessed by Mr. Cortez and Ms. Williams.
- Get your friends to sign up and perhaps they'll be your roommates in the hotels!
SIGN UP FOR THE TEXT MESSAGE NOTIFICATIONS TODAY!
TO REGISTER:
incoming 8th graders: Text @ECT2026 to 81010
incoming 7th graders: Text @ECT2027 to 81010
incoming 6th graders: Text @ECT2028 to 81010
(If your cell phone doesn't allow you to send messages to short numbers like 81010, then you need to either download the Remind app or download a different messaging app.)
I strongly recommend this experience for all students. It is strategically organized, safe, and a great time for students to bond. But most importantly, it is LIFE-CHANGING. Your child will have the opportunity to come face-to-face with many of the historic sites and topics that are studied throughout the course of middle and high school.
HERE'S HOW TO SIGN UP:
To register now, visit www.applestudenttours.org, click on "Register", then enter the following Tour Code:
2026 Trip - ZAD972 (this code works for incoming 8th graders)
2027 Trip - M23F6E (this code works for incoming 7th graders)
2028 Trip - 68EL52 (this code works for incoming 6th graders)
After filling out the required information, submit a $250 non-refundable deposit. Call Apple Student Tours for further payment details at (619) 299-9686. (If you register online and haven't attended an information meeting before, I recommend you attend the meeting mentioned above.)
Any questions? Please email Mr. Cortez at acortez@mvusd.net.
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2011 East Coast Trip Slideshow!
I want to thank Mrs. Lyons for making this slideshow!
2013 East Coast Trip Slideshow!
East Coast Trip Photos
Click the button below to see photographs from previous East Coast Tours: