expectations 

CULTURE OF LEARNING

MISSION STATEMENT

Monte Vista believes that providing an excellent education is a shared responsibility involving the entire school community. We provide our students with learning opportunities that help them develop intellectually, emotionally, and physically in order to reach their full potential. Monte Vista provides a safe, equitable environment that fosters resilience and promotes ethical and emotional growth, lifelong learning, and informed citizenship. We provide a comprehensive support system that helps our students thrive.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (SLO’S)

• Critical Thinkers who apply their knowledge, skills and experiences to solve problems and actively seek out and listen to a variety of perspectives to draw informed conclusions.

• Creative Contributors who engage in problem solving, inquiry and innovative solutions to improve societal outcomes, demonstrate originality and imaginative ideas, and generate new and meaningful solutions.

• Intentional Collaborators who demonstrate the ability to work within a group to achieve common goals, integrate diverse perspectives and ideas, and enrich the learning of both self and others.

• Adaptable Learners who demonstrate the ability to adjust to new situations, respond productively to feedback, and to empathize with diverse views.

• Effective Communicators who articulate ideas clearly in a variety of forms and contexts, listen with empathy to decipher meaning and intentions, and demonstrate the ability to give presentations for a range of purposes and audiences.

• Ethical, Respectful, and Responsible Citizens who demonstrate compassion, empathy and respect to others and take responsibility for their actions.

More information about our academic guidelines including rights, responsibilities, and what it takes to be a Mustang can be found in our Student Handbook.

INCLUSIVE CLASSROOM

Monte Vista is a No Place for Hate School. We put an emphasis on creating respectful and empathetic classroom communities so that students from all identities, abilities, and perspectives feel seen and heard. Student safety is critical for effective learning and for feeling connected to school, adults, and peers. Embracing and celebrating diversity of lived experiences in the classroom environment can be viewed as an opportunity to enrich, and as a resource that can benefit everyone.

SUPPORTING STUDENTS

HOME-SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP
Student success depends on clear expectations, shared goals, and supportive routines both at school and at home. We want students to develop self-advocacy skills and independence, and also know it is important for parents and teachers to be able to communicate about academic and social-emotional observations or concerns.

ATTENDANCE
Research shows a strong, positive connection between a student’s academic success and attendance (page 10). Therefore, Monte Vista emphasizes the importance of daily student attendance as well as proactive communication between students, teachers, and home. SRVUSD Board AR 5113.1 states, “students who are absent shall be given an opportunity to make up missed assignments or assessments and shall receive full credit for satisfactory completion of the work. Students with excessive absences shall be supported to the extent possible to limit the impact of absences on the student's grades. 

STUDENT SUPPORT
Student Support is mandatory instructional time. The SRVUSD MCD Policy (above) applies during Student Support.

BEHAVIOR

Should the need for further communication arise, the teacher will communicate with the student about appropriate learning behavior. If the problem persists, the teacher will contact the student’s parent or caregiver. Additionally, administration will be notified regarding egregious behavior and further disciplinary action may be taken. Please keep our Communication Protocol in mind (see above).

ACADEMIC CODE

In addition to our mission for preparing students academically, we want students to cultivate the ethical standards necessary to set them up for future success. Monte Vista affirms that we value learning for its own sake and that we expect personal integrity and intellectual honesty in all academic work, including the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence. Academic dishonesty undermines our objectives as an educational organization, damages the student’s personal character, and compromises the integrity of the larger school community. 

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)
MV maintains a zero-tolerance policy for cheating and plagiarism - this includes presenting AI-generated material as a student’s original work. Aligned with SRVUSD’s Core Beliefs, academic integrity in the context of AI use means using tools ethically, responsibly, and as intended to support learning - not bypass it. Unauthorized or inappropriate use of GenAI is considered plagiarism/cheating.

As a general rule, Generative AI (GenAI) is not permitted unless the teacher grants explicit permission to access it for a specific purpose or assignment. Students should assume that:

• All submitted work must reflect authentic student thinking/ideatioan, writing/drawing, and voice

• AI tools may not replace original student work

• Permission to use AI in one course or on a singular assignment in a course does not automatically apply universally to other courses or assignments.

SRVUSD MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE (MCD) POLICY

Students are expected to use their school issued chromebook during the instructional day.

SRVUSD BP 5131.8 and AR 5131.8 establish standardized district-wide expectations for the management and usage of MCDs during the school day, per the direction granted by California Education Code Sections 48901.5 and 48901.7. MCDs include but are not limited to smartphones, wearable devices (such as watches and glasses). During instructional time, MCDs shall be turned off and stored in a teacher-designated classroom location, unless a teacher explicitly grants permission for instructional use. MCDs may be used outside of instructional time at the high school level including passing periods, lunch, and breaks. If a student uses an MCD in an unauthorized way, disrupts learning, or violates others’ privacy, it may be confiscated. Additional disciplinary action may occur, especially in cases of repeated misuse. Exceptions will be made for medical needs, emergencies, etc.

NOTE: Instructional time is defined as times during the school day when students are being supervised by the teacher they are rostered to and are expected to be in their classroom. Instructional time therefore includes times when students finish their work early, leave the classroom for a restroom break, or go to the office to see their counselor. Student Support periods are instructional time.

TEACHER COMMUNICATION

Annie McElhattan

amcelhattan@srvusd.net

One of my highest priorities is keeping caregivers informed about how their student is doing in my class. If your family is more comfortable communicating with me in your home language, feel free to use a program like Google Translate. Please also let me know what your home language is, so I can return your communication.

MVHS COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL

Step 1: Student talks with Teacher
Step 2: Student and Parent/Caregiver talks with Teacher

Step 3: Student and Parent/Caregiver talks with Counselor 

Step 4: Student and Parent/Caregiver talks with Teacher, Counselor and Assistant Principal 

Step 5: Student and Parent/Caregiver meets with Teacher, Counselor, Assistant Principal and Principal
Please refer to our Monte Vista Handbook to read more about communication protocols.