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Dear Parents,

We recently completed a survey of families to determine how well our programs are meeting the needs of our students. Please take a moment to see the summary of the survey results.

Thank you for your donations which empower all students to thrive and succeed at all MVLA High Schools. 

Andrea Gray
President, MVLA High School Foundation

 
SURVEY RESULTS
You had many questions and comments.
We hope these responses are helpful!
 
I don't know much about the annual grant and its funded programs. I know you ask for money but I don't know how it is used.
Please visit the MVLA Foundation website to see all the programs we fund. Or visit the school websites to find out more information on programs such as the College and Career Center(LAHS, MVHS) and the Tutorial Center(LAHSMVHS).


How does the Foundation Board decide to use the funds?
The MVLA Foundation Board uses the results of our annual parent survey to gather input from parents to help with resource planning and decision-making. Our grantmaking committee meets with district staff to discuss student needs and our board determines anticipated fundraising capability. Our website shows the current grant distribution.


Can math classes be reduced beyond freshman year? Class sizes for what is considered freshman-level math courses have been reduced to allow for more teacher attention to the individualized needs of the student transitioning to high school. The foundation would love to reduce other math class sizes, but it is very costly to add additional teachers and there is currently not enough classroom space. Based on the survey feedback, the foundation is currently working with the district to see how we can better support students in the area of math in the future. 


What is a Science Lab Technician and why do we need one? The new Science Lab Technician splits time between MV and LA high schools. They set up labs, maintain equipment and order supplies, which frees up teacher time for planning labs and focusing on student interactions during labs.


How do I know if my student has benefited from an Innovative Learning Grant?
Hopefully your student or their teacher will mention it to you, but in case they didn't, visit our Innovative Learning Grant page to see the past and present grants.


Where do I find the College Counseling Handbook? A hardcopy of the handbook is distributed to all junior students, but everyone can download the information anytime. 


Why can't parents have a separate Naviance account? Since the Naviance account is specific to your student’s grades and test scores, there is only one login to be shared by a student with his/her parents. All students create an account freshman year, so please ask your student to share his/her username and password with you. If they have lost their login information, they should contact their counsellor.


I can't afford to donate, what should I do? It is unfortunate we need to rely on donations to provide the education our students deserve. We strive for 100% participation, so consider a small donation in an amount that is meaningful to you. Every donation is valued and appreciated.


We feel the college and career center should do a better job of preparing the kids with a realistic plan for the college application process. People should not have to hire private counselors to assist.
The College and Career Centers(CCC) are valuable resources and provide many opportunities and support for students who visit and attend events. The more events students and parents attend, the better prepared they will be for the application process.
The College and Career Center has 2 employees on each campus. The Counselors and Coordinators arrange speakers at dozens of events tailored to the grade level of your student. They are also in the CCC daily to answer questions and help students.
CCC Counselors
  • meet by appointment with seniors and juniors. There are over 2,000 seniors and juniors, so this is a huge undertaking.
  • visits students in the classroom to inform them of events and opportunities
CCC Coordinator
  • schedules nearly 100 colleges to come to campus and provide information sessions to students. These sessions are often with the admissions officer who will be reading your students application. This is a huge advantage to students who may not be able to travel to visit schools before they apply.
  • hosts College Fair
  • hosts Countdown to College a conference-style event
  • hosts PSAT information sessions 

I don’t recall learning about your programs despite being at Back to School Night and reading all emails from the school. I wonder if I’m not on all the email groups?
Communication is a challenge! Please add info@mvlafoundation.net to your address book so our emails do not get sent your spam or promotions folder. Check these resources to stay informed.

MVLA
MVLA Foundation website
MVLA Speaker Series
MVLA District website
MVLA District Calendar
Los Altos High School
LAHS website
LAHS PTSA
LAHS eLists
Mountain View High School
MVHS website
MVHS PTSA
MVHS eLists


The Foundation tries to make your student's experience the best it can be, but there are a few things you mentioned in the survey we can not help with:
 
  • changing school start time
  • adding more sports teams
  • surveillance cameras at the bike racks
  • more food options on campus
  • teachers not updating Aeries/SIS promptly
  • banning cell phones
  • changing the student pick-up line






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MVLA High School Foundation · P.O. Box 1146 · Los Altos, CA 94023-1146 · USA