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Students greet each other at Mountain View High School on the first day of school on August 12, 2024. Photo by Anna Hoch-Kenney. 
Mountain View High School students make their way to class for their first day of school on August 12, 2024. Photo by Anna Hoch-Kenney. 
Mountain View High School’s cheerleading team welcomes students to their first day of school on August 12, 2024. Photo by Anna Hoch-Kenney. 
Mrs. Caramagno, center, checks in with a student in her ethnic studies class at Mountain View High School on the first day of school on August 12, 2024. Photo by Anna Hoch-Kenney. 
Mountain View High School cheerleaders and student leadership members welcome students back on their first day of school on August 12, 2024. Photo by Anna Hoch-Kenney. 
Mountain View High School freshman Ismael Velasquez meets his new algebra classmates on the first day of school on August 12, 2024. Photo by Anna Hoch-Kenney. 
Mountain View High School students make their way to class for their first day of school on August 12, 2024. Photo by Anna Hoch-Kenney.
As students arrived at Mountain View High on Monday, Aug. 12, for the first day of school, they were greeted with fellow students holding signs welcoming them back to campus, cheerleaders waving pompoms and music playing on the quad.
Principal Kip Glazer told the Voice that the start of school is her favorite day of the year because of the energy on campus.
“(It’s) the hope and promise of an exciting new year,” Glazer said. “I think we can build from it, so we try to set a really positive tone and we hope to carry that on.”
Mountain View and Los Altos high schools both kicked off the 2024-25 school year on Monday. At the elementary and middle school level, students in the TK-8 Mountain View Whisman School District will begin on Tuesday, Aug. 13.
When the bell rang at 8:30 a.m. for first period to start at Mountain View High on Monday morning, the quad emptied quickly and Glazer began making her way to classes to greet students and teachers. It’s her tradition to try to visit every classroom on the first day, Glazer said.
“Kids need to see that there are adults on campus who care about them, and I think I need to model that for our staff, as well as our community,” she added.
The first room she popped into was an Algebra 1 class, where she told students that they were in good hands and wished them a great year ahead.
Construction continues on campus
As students started their classes on Monday, construction was underway at Mountain View High School. The 100 and 200 wings are currently being renovated, Associate Superintendent of Business Services Mike Mathiesen said. Teachers moved into the renovated 500 wing over the summer, he added.
Over at Los Altos High School, the 200 and 300 wings are currently under construction, while the 400 and 500 wings have been completed. Two new classrooms near the pool are still being finished and will likely be ready to move into in September, Mathiesen said.
Over the past several years, the district has undertaken major construction projects using a $295 million bond measure that voters passed in 2018. Last school year, the district completed new administration buildings on both campuses.
A new superintendent joins the district
Monday wasn’t just the first day of high school for freshmen, it was also the start of Superintendent Eric Volta’s first year in the district. Volta was hired at the end of last school year to replace Nellie Meyer, who retired after five years in the district.
Since starting work at the beginning of July, Volta said that he’s had a positive experience so far and looks forward to getting to know teachers and students this school year.
As for the first day of school, Volta said that his message to students was to see high school as a time for growth and to “just go for it.”
“Go for it with your classes. Go for it with extracurricular activities,” Volta said. “Put yourself out there – stretch yourself.”
