About Our School
Mission Statement
Pride in our Choices...Pride in our Behavior!
Our mission is to emphasize academic excellence while recognizing the needs of every child in a safe, nurturing, environment.
Alta Vista School serves approximately 640 students in grades K through 5. We're located in Los Gatos, CA and serve students from both Los Gatos and neighboring San Jose. Alta Vista was built in1962 and is one of the six elementary schools that, along with the two middle schools, comprise the Union School District. Our best resources for student learning and literacy are teachers, school staff, parents and community members. Through a skilled staff and a strong tie to the community, the school does all it can to nurture parent and community partnerships.
Our school community is devoted to providing a quality education and a nurturing environment for all students. By teaching a rigorous content in the core academic areas and valuing visual and performing arts and technology, we are ensuring our children become confident, competent, independent learners.
Parents at our school are a very active and integral part of the education process at Alta Vista. Their involvement and firm commitment to the pursuit of excellence in education is an essential element that adds to our success. Parent run organizations benefit the school with proceeds from various fundraisers. Parent volunteers are plentiful, and their contributions include assisting in the classrooms, taking an active role in school committees and organizations, fundraising, driving on field trips, maintenance/beautification projects and more.
Our dedicated teaching staff brings vast experience, creativity, and genuine commitment to providing a quality education for students. Students' needs and interests are the highest priority of the staff. They recognize the educational challenges of maximizing the potential of every student; that is to meet all students as they come to us and to guide them to higher levels of achievement.
Finally, we strive to create a supportive climate in which every child's talents and interests are nurtured. We are proud to participate in the Project Cornerstone ABC Reader program, which utilizes parent volunteers to present monthly character lessons to classes. We provide social-emotional support for students through morning meetings, classroom lessons, small group and individual counseling, and our Cougar Pride program. Students also have opportunities to develop leadership skills through serving as Recess Leaders, Student Council Representatives, and Safety Patrol members. All Alta Vista students are encouraged to follow our school motto, “Pride in our Choices...Pride in our Behavior” and live up to the expectations to be respectful, responsible, safe and a learner and we strive to recognize their positive efforts through Cougars Paws and weekly bracelets.
Alta Vista "Pride" Statements:
Our mission is to emphasize academic excellence while recognizing the needs of every child in a safe, nurturing, environment.
Alta Vista School serves approximately 640 students in grades K through 5. We're located in Los Gatos, CA and serve students from both Los Gatos and neighboring San Jose. Alta Vista was built in1962 and is one of the six elementary schools that, along with the two middle schools, comprise the Union School District. Our best resources for student learning and literacy are teachers, school staff, parents and community members. Through a skilled staff and a strong tie to the community, the school does all it can to nurture parent and community partnerships.
Our school community is devoted to providing a quality education and a nurturing environment for all students. By teaching a rigorous content in the core academic areas and valuing visual and performing arts and technology, we are ensuring our children become confident, competent, independent learners.
Parents at our school are a very active and integral part of the education process at Alta Vista. Their involvement and firm commitment to the pursuit of excellence in education is an essential element that adds to our success. Parent run organizations benefit the school with proceeds from various fundraisers. Parent volunteers are plentiful, and their contributions include assisting in the classrooms, taking an active role in school committees and organizations, fundraising, driving on field trips, maintenance/beautification projects and more.
Our dedicated teaching staff brings vast experience, creativity, and genuine commitment to providing a quality education for students. Students' needs and interests are the highest priority of the staff. They recognize the educational challenges of maximizing the potential of every student; that is to meet all students as they come to us and to guide them to higher levels of achievement.
Finally, we strive to create a supportive climate in which every child's talents and interests are nurtured. We are proud to participate in the Project Cornerstone ABC Reader program, which utilizes parent volunteers to present monthly character lessons to classes. We provide social-emotional support for students through morning meetings, classroom lessons, small group and individual counseling, and our Cougar Pride program. Students also have opportunities to develop leadership skills through serving as Recess Leaders, Student Council Representatives, and Safety Patrol members. All Alta Vista students are encouraged to follow our school motto, “Pride in our Choices...Pride in our Behavior” and live up to the expectations to be respectful, responsible, safe and a learner and we strive to recognize their positive efforts through Cougars Paws and weekly bracelets.
Alta Vista "Pride" Statements:
- Alta Vista continually achieves high achievement and ranking on State and local tests.
- We provide a rigorous standards-based academic program, balanced with music, art, inquiry-based science, and technology instruction.
- We teach and model pro-social skills and values through ongoing training, Character Education curriculum, Project Cornerstone, and our school-wide PAWS expectations.
- We promote active, healthy choices through our Mileage Club and PE programs.
- We have a proactive parent community that is involved, generous, supportive, and committed to excellence.