MVLA Magazine
December 2022
Dear MVLA Community,
Happy Holidays from the team at MVLAHSD! We wish you all the best this holiday season.
We know that we are fortunate to live and work in a community that values education and realizes it is a substantial investment in our futures. Please know that we take our mission of seriously preparing students for their futures and work very hard to allow them to reach their full potential.
As we finish the 2022 year, I cannot help but reflect on the many conversations I have had with students, families, and staff. I consistently hear comments about our talented and caring staff and the dynamic work happening daily in our classrooms and campuses.
Thank you for your trust in us, and we wish you a restful, restorative holiday.
With appreciation,
Nellie Meyer
Superintendent MVLAHSD
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
Susan is passionate about STEM fields and the arts. She is co-captain of the robotics team and is the lead programmer. Susan has also competed in Botball at the international level. Her passion for computer science led her to become proficient in a number of computer programming languages. She is also interested in biology, and is currently working on a project to predict the toxicity and side effects of a group of drugs integral to the current treatment of HIV.
Susan is an experienced dancer, practicing ballet 8-10 hours a week, and a violinist. She was awarded a rating of “excellent” in a California Music Educators Association violin competition in 2018! Read more about Susan here!
Ben came to Mountain View as a sophomore, after growing up in San Diego and Guam where his father, a Navy Pathologist, was serving.
Ben is taking a diverse course load of AP Government, Advanced Computer Science, App and Game Design, AP Literature, and AP Physics C while also taking Differential Equations through concurrent enrollment at Foothill College. He plans to explore a career in mathematics and linguistics.
In his spare time, Ben likes to cook - smoked ribs are a specialty - and having long conversations with friends over food! Read more about Ben here!
BOARD UPDATE
At its regular board meeting on December 15, 2022, the MVLA Board of Trustees had a number of presentations and reports on the agenda, including:
- The swearing-in of new trustees Thida Cornes and Esmeralda Ortiz. The oath of office was also administered to Catherine Vonnegut, who was re-elected to another term.
- MVLA Spotlight for Jennifer Denebeim, Cindy Zinn, and Tara Williamson - Los Altos High School and Mountain View High School PTSA Organization Leaders
- Presentation of the First Interim Financial Report, showing the District will be able to meet its financial obligations for the current fiscal year.
The Board also elected officers for the 2023 calendar year, and approved the proposed meeting calendar for 2023.
The next regular meeting is Monday, January 9, starting at 7:00 p.m. Meeting materials will be posted here.
FOUNDATION UPDATE
As 2022 ends, marking our 40th anniversary, here is one more look back on how much the MVLA Foundation has grown in 40 years. Thank you for your generous support!
DISTRICT NEWS
PARENT EDUCATION SPEAKER SERIES: RAISING BODY-POSITIVE TEENS
Join us for an evening with Wendy Sterling, Shelley Aggarwal, and Signe Darpinian – co-authors of No Weigh! and Raising Body Positive Teens – as they discuss how to raise confident eaters in a home free of judgment with their presentation, Raising Body Positive Youth: A Guide to Diet-Free Living, Exercise, and Body Image, on Tuesday, January 19, 2023, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at the Los Altos Eagle Theater. Register here.
Online registration is open for the MVLA Adult School's Winter/Spring 2023 courses. Whether your goals are academic, personal, or professional, there is something for everyone. As we expand course offerings, we're pleased to announce two new certificate programs for next year.
Our new Eye Care Technician program is designed for students looking for a career in the healthcare field with an emphasis on optometry and eye care. Students who complete the course are eligible for a fully paid apprenticeship opportunity.
Our introduction to Cloud Computing in Amazon Web Services (AWS) will prepare students for an entry-level AWS-certified cloud practitioner career, helping to configure, deploy, and manage cloud facilities.
Registration for career technical education classes is open year-round. Information about our online registration system is available here. You can also email adulted@mvla.net for assistance.
The District is proud to have established the Family Partnership Council (FPC), created in 2021 to strengthen and facilitate communication, feedback, and collaboration between our families and MVLAHSD.
There are currently three openings for Members at Large, serving terms until June 30, 2025. The District is seeking approximately six additional members from throughout the MVLAHSD community of families.
CAMPUS NEWS
Freestyle Academy is looking for people of ALL ages and backgrounds to act or appear in student films. No acting experience is required. Please complete this form if you are interested or available to appear in a student production (like this one or these).
Each year, the Spartans Tree Lot offers top-quality Douglas, Noble, and Nordmann fir trees, ranging from three to nine feet tall, along with wreaths and handcrafted reindeer and snowman decorations. All proceeds benefit Mountain View High School Athletics. Local delivery is available within a five-mile radius of the school; online ordering is available. For more information, visit https://www.spartanstreelot.com/ or call 650-407-1932.
The Los Altos High School Tree Lot also has beautiful trees and decor and is located at 749 W. El Camino Real (Chase Bank at the corner of Castro St.) It's open 3:30 - 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. on weekends.
GALLERY
Oh, the places they go! Alta Vista High School students have had trips to Foothill College, FLY Law Program at SJSU, and SFSU! Lots more to come in the Spring
Shout out to Lisa Falsetti, College & Career Coordinator, for coordinating these visits, advisory speakers, and career panels.
DATEBOOK
December 23, 2022 - January 9, 2023
Winter Recess & Holiday Break
NO SCHOOL
January 9, 2023
Board of Trustees Regular Meeting
7:00 p.m.
Meeting materials will be found here.
ABOUT US
Email: communications@mvla.net
Website: https://www.mvla.net/
Location: 1299 Bryant Avenue, Mountain View, CA, USA
Phone: 650-940-4650
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mvlahsd
Twitter: @MVLAHSD