Principal's Message
Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year!
My hope is that you were able to enjoy summer break as it is important to refresh, recharge, and find time for the things that bring you joy.
“Once a Matador, always a Matador.” It is a Monta Vista High School saying that speaks to being part of our Matador family and is true for all students, parents, and educators.
It is in this spirit that I want to welcome our incoming 9th grade students, the class of 2027, as well as all other students new to Monta Vista. To our returning students, welcome back and we look forward to a great year culminating in the celebration of the graduating class of 2024!
Below you will find a few items that I would like to share with you as we prepare to begin the new school year.
Focus for 2023-2024: Monta Vista High School continues to be a special place where we are proud to offer students a comprehensive high school experience. Educators at Monta Vista continue to look ahead to this 2023-2024 school year and beyond as we collectively think about the wellbeing of our students and how to support them for more equitable outcomes for all learners.
Throughout the school year, educators at Monta Vista will engage in professional dialogue to continue to look for opportunities to improve as a school for our students. Guided by educators at Monta Vista who care deeply about our students, we will continue our work to establish a culture of relational care and trust as this is at the heart of our work. Our continued journey this year will focus on equity, social-emotional learning, and equitable grading practices. Our educators here at Monta Vista want all students to feel safe, welcomed, and valued.
We are excited to expand on our comprehensive high school experience this year with new programming for our students. We are piloting two new semester courses this year, Intro to Ethnic Studies and Health, as they will become required courses in one more year here at Monta Vista. Representation in the lives of our students matters and we will be providing new support for Black students here at Monta Vista with our partnership with the award winning African American Scholars Project. Our new Guided Studies Program will look to support underserved students here on campus during periods one through five. And Monta Vista will for the first time have a new staffed wellness space on campus available for students to foster mindfulness and wellness throughout the entire school day.
Office is open: Our main office opens again for the 2023-2024 school year on Monday, August 7 and office hours will be 7:45am to 4:15pm. Our Monta Vista website also continues to be the source of the most up to date information throughout the school year.
Monta Vista 9th Grade/New Parent-Guardian Welcome Webinar: This evening webinar event is for parent/guardian(s) of rising 9th grade students and/or a new student coming to Monta Vista for the 2023-2024 school year. Join us on Monday, August 14 at 6:00pm for the webinar. Details, including the webinar link, will be emailed soon.
Class of 2027 Matador Retreat: This day is for all members in the class of 2027 (rising 9th grade students). The event occurs on Tuesday, August 15 and includes a freshman orientation and a freshman dance. Please see the event flyer here for more information as this is a recommended welcoming orientation for all in the class of 2027.
Beginning of school: Tentative course schedules for all students will be emailed to students in early August. Students will have an opportunity to request course changes/corrections electronically via a Google Form that will also be included in the email. The email will come from noreply@fuhsd.org. School and ID pictures will be taken during the first week of school on Tuesday – Friday. All students that have completed their Back to School Update through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal at https://campus.fuhsd.org/campus/portal/fremont.jsp will pick up their schedule starting at 8am on the first day school, Monday, August 21.
Continued bell schedule: Monta Vista transitioned last year to a later school start time as part of a larger effort to address the issue of student sleep and wellness. We will be continuing with this bell schedule for the 2023-2024 school year, and it features four block days, a longer brunch time, three tutorials, and a consistent start time of 8:30am. Our bell schedule can be seen on our website here.
Classroom modernization update: Thank you to the Monta Vista and FUHSD community for your support and passage of the Measure G Bond Program. These funds from Measure G allow us to move forward on our school facility modernization needs. During summer break, the modernization of our F-Building #3 (music classroom and practice rooms) for student use included an increased number of practice rooms, updated fire systems, replacement of heating and cooling systems, new roof and gutter system, ceilings and floors, LED lighting, new technology and furniture. Thank you again for your support of our students and we hope to open the modernized music classroom and practice rooms this October.
Important dates for the year:
August 21 – First day of school
September 4 – Labor Day/no classes
September 7 – MV Back to School Night
See more important dates here on our FUHSD website.
I look forward to partnering with you for a terrific upcoming 2023-2024 school year!
With Matador pride,
Ben Clausnitzer
Principal