Dear MVLA Community,
As we complete the first month of our 2023-2024 school year, it is an honor to share some highlights and updates from our high school community.
One of the cornerstones of our high schools is how student leadership permeates our hallways. Our students consistently demonstrate exceptional leadership skills, commitment to service, and a passion for making a positive impact. Whether through student government, student newspapers, yearbook students, clubs, athletics, music, drama, or volunteer activities, our students exemplify the best of our community.
This newsletter shares examples of student leadership, student recognition, college, and career fair information, and highlights from our district board meetings and partnerships. Within this issue, you will also see our latest, student produced, MVLA Minute, featuring our new Student Services Centers!
With appreciation,
Nellie Meyer
Superintendent
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
Thirty-one MVLA seniors have advanced to semifinalist standing for the National Merit Scholarship Corporation's (NMSC) National Merit Scholarship 2024 competition. The MVLA students are part of a group of approximately 16,000 National Merit Scholarship student semifinalists named this month by the NMSC.
Advancing to the semifinalist stage is a significant accomplishment. Approximately 1.4 million juniors from 21,000 high schools across the country entered the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program when they took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) last fall. Learn more here.
LOS ALTOS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT OF THE MONTH SEPTEMBER 2023 - KARA CHOU
Kara is a gifted student-athlete, and a four-year Varsity Starter for the Los Altos High School Girls Golf team. While on the team, they were the first girls golf team in school history to advance to the Northern California Regional Championships. In addition, she has twice been ranked on the SCVAL All-League Second Team.
As a member of the CHAC Teen Advisory Council and SCCOE Student Wellness Advisory Group, Kara advocates for the destigmatization of mental health and raises funds for wellness centers in schools. After graduation, Kara hopes to attend college and receive a bachelor's degree in mathematics. Read more about Kara here
MOUNTAIN VIEW HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT OF THE MONTH SEPTEMBER 2023 - RICHARD WANG
Richard is an exemplary student at MVHS; teachers describe him as a “mature, principled, and ethical member of our community.” He also shows his selfless spirit by volunteering at Spartan Start this past year to welcome new students to MVHS.
His favorite class this year is Calculus BC, as it has challenged him to push himself. Outside of the classroom, Richard serves as the president of the Bodybuilding Club at MVHS and is also part of MVHS’ wrestling team. A favorite memory this year was competing at the CCS Championships with his friends cheering him on. Read more about Richard here.
DISTRICT AND CAMPUS NEWS
LOS ALTOS HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTED ON U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S GREEN STRIDES TOUR
A delegation of leaders from the U.S. Department of Education, along with other federal, state, and local governments and agency officials, visited Los Altos High School on Wednesday as part of the Department’s Green Strides Tour, recognizing schools honored as federal Green Ribbon schools for their innovative practices in the areas of sustainable schools, whole-child health, and environmental education. The Green Strides Tour aims to see how Green Ribbon schools have expanded their efforts. (See photos from today's tour here. Credit: Sreyas Kadiyala)
Los Altos was named a Green Ribbon award recipient in 2021. The award honors schools, districts, and postsecondary institutions for work to reduce environmental impact and costs, improve health and wellness, and offer effective sustainability education. Learn more here!
NEW CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE) CAREER GUIDES
The District's Career Technical Education (CTE) team has put together its first-ever CTE Career Guide, serving as a terrific reference tool for meaningful college and career exploration, and also highlighting District and regional programs of study that lead to rewarding career opportunities.The guides are available in English and Spanish.
Students and their families wanting to learn more about our CTE pathways will find this presentation very informative - it's packed with updates! Additionally, MVLA is now in the process of developing matriculation pathways from middle school - stay tuned. We're also exploring becoming a member of the Metropolitan Education District Joint Power Agreement (JPA) for our students and help strengthen regional CTE offerings.
LEARN MORE ABOUT MVLA'S ADULT SCHOOL!
It's not too late to register for the Fall Semester for MVLA's acclaimed Adult School! Our course catalog details an (amazing) array of technical education, adult enrichment courses, and various sessions coming up. Registration information is located here.
MVLA Adult School recently participated in Sunny Palooza, our regional North Santa Clara County Adult Ed Consortium Pop-up community event held at Foothill College. Our adult school was represented by our new CTE Coordinator, Francisco Preciado, and Transition Adviser, Gina Riccitelli.
FOUNDATION NEWS
ANNUAL MVLA COLLEGE FAIR NEXT WEEK
Join us for the annual MVLA College Fair on Tuesday, September 26, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Mountain View High School's large and small gym (see map).
Students and parents register for the MVLA College Fair at StriveFair.com. By registering, you will receive a barcode for colleges to scan your information, and the following day, you will receive an email with information about all the colleges you visited.
College fairs are a great way for students to engage with many colleges in a short time period. The event will consist of college admissions representatives at different tables, and they will hand out brochures and answer questions about their campuses. Read How to Navigate a College Fair for tips based on a student’s grade level.
NEXT UP ON 2023-2024 PARENT SPEAKER SERIES
Please join us as we welcome Julie Lythcott-Haims as she presents "How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success." Her session will be held on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. at the Mountain View High School Spartan Theater.
In this widely acclaimed talk, shared on TED Talks, Julie draws on her insights as the former dean of freshmen at Stanford as well as her deeply personal journey as a parent to highlight the ways in which overparenting undermines skill development and positive mental health and wellbeing in our children.
Listen as she offers practical strategies that allow children to make their own mistakes and develop the resilience, resourcefulness, and inner determination necessary to become healthy, thriving adults. Register here!
BOARD UPDATE
For its regular meeting on September 11, 2023, the Board of Trustees' agenda included the following information and action items:
You can view the meeting on our YouTube channel here. The Board has its next regular meeting scheduled for September 26, 2023. The agenda and associated meeting documents will be available here.
Mountain View Los Altos Union High School District
Email: mvlahsd@mvla.net
Website: www.mvla.net
Location: 1299 Bryant Avenue, Mountain View, CA, USA
Phone: (650) 940-4650
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mvlahsd
Twitter: @MVLAHSD
