Pirate Treasure Chest

Nat Geo’s “Science Fair Series” Features MVSD Students!

National Geographic’s official trailer for the new series featuring our MVHS science fair students has been released!!  The release of the series will be on Hulu and Disney Plus, on December 10th, 2023 at 7pm (Central time). We can’t wait to see our kids, our program, and our community shine in this once-in-a-lifetime experience!!

Trout in the Classroom returns to Monte Vista High School!

Future Farmers of America (taught by Mr. Edwin Mondragon) and River Watch (taught by Ms. Loree’ Harvey) have teamed up to bring back a fantastic learning opportunity to Monte Vista HS students – Trout in the Classroom!  This is a year-long school project sponsored by Trout Unlimited and Colorado Parks and Wildlife where students raise Rainbow trout eggs from hatchling “alevins” to 3 inch “parr” (the young, tail-striped version of juvenile trout).  Students will learn all about nutrients, water quality, tank maintenance, and trout health as they care for approximately 180 young fish from October to May, at which time they will be released into a local river or lake of CPW’s choosing.

Swing by anytime to see the freshwater babies of Monte Vista High School!

Pictured are Addison Mondragon (left), Destiny Gomez (middle) and Hailey Lopez (right), getting ready to remove unhatched eggs from the rearing chamber and check on the status of the young alevins!

Colorado State Board of Education Visits Bill Metz Elementary

On Thursday, October 12th the Colorado State Board of Education came to visit Bill Metz Elementary (BME) because of the great work that has been done over the past several years. BME was put on the accountability clock after scoring Turnaround or Priority Improvement over a five year span. In February 2020 the administration had to present their Pathways Plan to the board to show how they would improve academic performance over the next couple of years with the help of their partner, Generation Schools Network (GSN). Of course we all know what happened just a few weeks later with the shutdown due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. While BME had to shift course like every other school in the country, the staff remained focused on what they needed to do in order to support student improvement. Coming out of the pandemic, BME has earned a Performance rating three years in a row. The state board members and commissioner especially enjoyed visiting classrooms to see the teachers and students in action putting their plans into action. The visit ended with a question and answer session in which the board members asked feedback around statewide issues such as student behavior, student attendance, the accountability system, and other key topics.

Bill Metz Kindness Club Visits City Council

On October 5th, the Bill Metz Kindness club had the honor to speak to the city council about bully prevention and what the club does for the school. The members shared a presentation about bully prevention and how kindness is an important factor for bully prevention. The kindness club’s goal  is to do acts of kindness that will inspire others to do the same. They strive to build self-esteem and raise school morale by showing every person at our school that he or she can really make a difference. To bring everyone at our school together in a cooperative, caring way. To remind students to look for the good they see in people. To change the world with kindness. Mayor Pro Tem Victor Sigala officially proclaimed October as Bully Prevention Month in the city of Monte Vista.

Fall 2023 High School Art Students Create Coloring Books for Elementary Kids!

The High School kids created a coloring book this year in art class.  Each student was asked to draw a page that was geared for a 4th grader to color, and we copied and bound them when they were done.  This week, some of those students had the opportunity to deliver copies to a 4th-grade class at BME.  The High School students enjoyed the opportunity to share their art and their time with younger members of their community! What a great way to build connection between campuses!

Society for Science celebrates 100 educators chosen for the Advocate Program, inspiring future STEM leaders!

Society for Science (the Society), a distinguished leader in scientific and educational advancement, is pleased to share the names of 100 committed educators selected for the Advocate Program during the 2023-2024 school year. The Society is awarding a total of $326,000 to 100 teachers for student mentorship in STEM. In its ninth year, the Advocate Program acknowledges and applauds the dedication, tireless efforts and vital role that teachers and mentors play in empowering and guiding students, who will be the next generation of STEM problem solvers and critical thinkers. These students will undoubtedly emerge as the next wave of climate scientists, biotechnologists, data analysts, astronomers and engineers. A big congratulations go out to our very own Loree Harvey and Kristi-Lee Mathiesen for being chosen for the program!! See full article HERE!

Monte Vista High School Celebrates Students Awarded with Academic Honors from College Board National Recognition Programs

Two students at Monte Vista High School earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs. Our own Asia Alarid and Valerie Goodland are 2 of 72,000 students from across the country who earned academic honors  from College Board’s National Recognition Programs!  These programs celebrate students’ hard work in high school and showcase their strong academic performance. The academic honors for rural area, Black, Indigenous, and/or Latino students are an opportunity for students to share their strong academic achievements with colleges and scholarship programs that are seeking to recruit diverse talent.
 
“We’re thrilled to celebrate our students and recognize them for the great work they’ve been doing. We’re proud of their strong academic performance in the classroom and on College Board assessments like the PSAT/NMSQT®, PSAT™ 10, and AP® exams,” said Mr. Ortega. “There’s so much that makes our students unique, and receiving this honor reinforces this as an asset for their future.”