Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
SCHEDULE/CALENDAR
SCHEDULE/CALENDAR![]()
When is the first day of school?
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The first day of school for students is Wednesday, August 12, 2024. Please look for the summer mailer packet which is sent to families in late July.
All freshman and new students are invited to attend the orientations happening prior to the first instructional day.
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Where can I find the school/district calendar?
The district calendar is linked here.
When is graduation?
Graduation will be Friday, June 6, 2025.
What is the bell schedule this year?
Due to the State requirement for high schools to meet 64,800 instructional minutes, coupled with the new requirement for a late start at 8:30 or later at high school and 8:00 or later at middle school, MVLA starts our day at 8:30am. For more information, see the CDE guidance here: https://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/aa/pa/instructionaltimetable.asp
Campuses are typically open and welcome students who arrive as early as 7:30am on most regular school days. Please check with your site administration to confirm.
When will my child get their class schedule?
Students who are rising into the next grade or pre-enrolled from middle schools (anyone registered prior to the start of school) will receive their schedules during their grade specific orientation (9th grade) or text book check out (10th -12th grades) the week before school begins.
This information can be accessed on each of the school calendars.
How do I know who my child has as a counselor?
What if my child wants to change a class in their schedule?
August 12, 2024: Students with clear errors to their schedules may request changes.
- Errors are defined as a student schedule that is missing a class (No English class), enrolled in the wrong course (a Junior in a freshman English class) or they are in a course that is not appropriate for them (enrolled in an AVID class by mistake).
Students may add a new course up until the end of the third week of the semester. Level transfers can only take place prior to the end of the sixth week of the semester. Students who drop a course after six weeks from the start of the semester will receive a "W" ("withdraw" mark) on their transcript.
The corresponding dates would be:
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Add a new class: up until the end of the 3rd week of the current semester
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Level change (up or down): up until the end of the 6th week of the current semester
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Drop a class without a W: up until the end of the 6th week of the current semester
Are students allowed to go off campus for lunch?
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MVLA has an open campus policy. Students can leave campus during lunch, however, we do provide free lunches. More information here.
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What is the purpose of the Tutorial/Academic Collaboration Time (ACT)?
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The tutorial period allows students and teachers to engage in meaningful activities outside of instructional time.
All students are required to attend a classroom-based tutorial period; attendance will be taken.
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COMMUNICATING WITH SCHOOL STAFF
COMMUNICATING WITH SCHOOL STAFF![]()
How do I notify the school of our new address?
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Contact your school’s registrar to update your contact information. your address.
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How do I schedule a parent teacher conference?
In person Parent-Teacher Conferences are available at your request. We ask that you communicate with your student’s teachers via phone, Parent Square or email. Please use the staff directory to find information for your student's teachers.
How do I schedule a conference with my student’s counselor?
Our counseling departments believe that a strong partnership between the student, the family, and the counselor is critical for student success. Counseling hours are primarily reserved for students to address student concerns. We encourage families to reach out via email or phone calls to address.
In addition to the extensive community presentations, small group grade level workshops, classroom-based meetings and content that is shared with students and families through our websites and newsletters, the counseling departments have strategically timed one-on-one meetings with freshman and senior students.
MVLA offers a number of interventions which range from individual counseling appointments to "parent-teacher" conferences; counselors can help develop a plan of action to address the academic concerns. If your student is struggling academically every effort will be made to accommodate a request to meet.
Using ParentSquare
More information about using ParentSquare can be found here.
TIPS FOR MVLA FAMILIES:
- Make sure to download the ParentSquare App. It makes it easier to ensure you don't get excessive data charges and if your cell phone changes before you inform the registrar, you won't miss out on important information from your school.
- All MVLA user notifications are set to default on INSTANT notification. This means you will receive an email (and a notification on your cell phone) until you log into ParentSquare and change the settings.
- Manage your notification settings
Why do we have our defaults set this way?
Many parents and families do not even realize what they are missing and are turning to other parents to get vital information. To avoid this, we set our defaults to ensure that we get information in the hands of parents who need it. If you choose to change your settings, that is certainly an option.
504 PLANS/INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLANS
504 PLANS/INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLANS![]()
What is the process for updating my child’s 504 plan at the high schools?
The 504 plan transition process from one of our partner middle schools (Blach, Egan, Crittenden, Graham) to the high school involves:
- Springtime meetings between administrators from MVLA and school counselors in LASD and MVWSD.
- Springtime transfer of existing 504 documentation from middle schools to high schools.
- Summertime communication to incoming families re: needs for updated medical documentation from the high schools.
- Late summertime scheduling of 504 meetings for incoming students in August/September.
The process of transitioning an existing 504 plan in the case of a non-partner, private school involves:
- Springtime enrollment of students from non-partner middle schools to the high schools.
- Springtime communication between registrar and families re: the existence of a student's 504/accommodation plan.
- Springtime provision of existing 504/accommodation plan documentation from incoming families to high schools.
- Summertime communication to incoming families re: needs for updated medical documentation from the high schools.
- Late summertime scheduling of 504 meetings for incoming students in August/September.
What is the process for updating my student's IEP at the high schools?
The IEP transition process from middle school to the high school involves:
- Collaboration among the districts in the Fall to identify the students requiring Special Education services and transition IEPs.
- Springtime collaboration with staff to determines the scope of services and setting dates for the IEP articulation meetings.
- Springtime observations of students.
- Articulation meetings are scheduled.
The middle school team meets with the high school team and family to finalize the transition for the Fall of the coming school year. The middle school discusses students' strengths, areas of growth, current progress, and services.The high school proposes a schedule of courses and supports as the Offer of Free and Public Education requirements.
TECHNOLOGY
TECHNOLOGY![]()
Does my student need to have a laptop for MVLA classes?
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Los Altos High School and Mountain View High School are BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) environments, created to support students using 21st-century skills and promote equitable access. Our BYOD system integrates digital technology and “Cloud-based” learning in every class.
Students and families have two options to meet this BYOD learning expectation:
Students are expected to bring their charged digital device to their classes daily, and will be used as directed by the teacher. This device will be regularly used in many classes to find, create and share digital materials, as well as to access a variety of learning tools and materials in the cloud and on the web. Students will also use this same device outside of class and at home.
More information can be found here.
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How do I log into my Aeries Parent Portal to view my student’s grades, etc.?
If you are a parent/guardian who came to MVLA from Mountain View Whisman or Los Altos Elementary School Districts:
- the email that was being used at those schools was automatically rolled into our database as your username. If you use that email and go to reset.mvla.net and select Forgot My Password, you can reset your password if you’ve forgotten it.
- If you have forgotten the email address and password, email helpdesk@mvla.net
If you are a new district family, you were asked to provide and email during the registration process for your student.
- That is the email address you use to access Aeries.
How does my child log into their MVLA Google Account?
Go to mail.mvla.net
- Use the student ID number starting with 1000xxxxx@mvla.net.
- Enter password.
First time users/Forgot Password:
- Go to reset.mvla.net
- Select Forgot My Password
- Enter 1000xxxxx for the user name
- Answer security questions
- Change the security password.
- Return to mail.mvla.net to sign in.
Once signed into the MVLA Google account, please make sure students can also sign into Aeries.
- Go to https://mvla.asp.aeries.net/
- Select the Student sign-in.
- Enter the student email address>Next>Sign in Google button.
What happens if my child cannot log into their MVLA Google account or has other school-related technology issues?
Email any technical questions about the account to helpdesk@mvla.net.
Using ParentSquare (Parents and Families)
More information about using ParentSquare can be found here.
TIPS FOR MVLA FAMILIES:
- Make sure to download the ParentSquare App. It makes it easier to ensure you don't get excessive data charges and if your cell phone changes before you inform the registrar, you won't miss out on important information from your school.
- All MVLA user notifications are set to default on INSTANT notification. This means you will receive an email (and a notification on your cell phone) until you log into ParentSquare and change the settings.
- All MVLA user notifications are set to default on INSTANT notification. This means you will receive an email (and a notification on your cell phone) until you log into ParentSquare and change the settings.
- Manage your notification settings
Why do we have our defaults set this way?
Many parents and families do not even realize what they are missing and are turning to other parents to get vital information. To avoid this, we set our defaults to ensure that we get information in the hands of parents who need it. If you choose to change your settings, that is certainly an option.
Should my student have a StudentSquare App on his/her phone?
As is always the case, decisions about personal cell phone usage is a family decision and one that we feel is best determined by caregivers. However, as MVLA continues to increase its use of ParentSquare as a means of streamlining communications to our families and students, we do think it may be helpful.
A student who does not have StudentSquare on his/her/their phone will still receive notifications on their school emails. However, in order for them to open and read and respond, they will at the very least need to register for either a ParenSquare account or a StudentSquare account. Either one will work.
MISCELLANEOUS
MISCELLANEOUS![]()
What support is MVLA using to counter antisemitism, islamophobia, and other hate on campus?
Please read the Support & Protocols document.
What is the current policy regarding face masks for students?
Students and staff are no longer required to wear face masks but may do so at their own discretion.
