Mountain View Whisman School District embraces its role in establishing its commitment to equity in our district. It is our mission to establish and nurture a supportive culture where every student, staff, family, and community member feel valued and supported while working, learning, and partnering with MVWSD.

We envision a district where our students are empowered to reach their highest  potential, acknowledging that this excellence is borne from a deep well of knowledge sustained through our diversity, not stymied by it. We will encourage our students not only to think and feel-- but act -- in a way that aims to disassemble power structures that marginalize historically underserved communities. Lastly, we will empower students to be active participants in a diverse democracy and learn how to be agents of change in their own lives and in the lives of others.

Better Together’s theme this year: Belong
This year, MVWSD is officially launching Better Together, a program designed to increase meaningful conversations in the classroom. For the 2022-23 school year, the theme is “Belonging is Elemental.”  We look forward to the coming months with the launch of the monthly Better Together infographics, No Place for Hate programming at our middle schools, and the district-wide recognition of United Against Hate week in November.

Better Together events - click here

Monthly informational offerings

Our monthly offering towards MVWSD’s equity goals is titled Together We Are a Better MVWSD.

Each month you will receive an infographic in both English and Spanish that offers educational tools and community guidance inspired by a national diversity calendar. The theme is guided by the calendared events that are taking place that month.

You’ll see:

* Lessons provided by grade level that are designed to be used by teachers to enhance work they are doing in the classroom. 
* Activities provided to parents, which are meant to help bridge the gap between lessons at school and conversations at home. 
* Organization spotlights to help us engage with our community and learn more about organizations doing equity work.
* Children’s books by authors who have either the lived experience or scholarly background to contextualize this topic for children and adolescents. Please check back monthly for new topics and resources.

Hispanic Heritage Month: September

During the month of September, we are exploring the topic of identity with students. September 15 - October 15 also marks the occasion to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Developing a positive self-identity can help students reorient their misperceptions about how our differences divide or isolate us. Exploring identity during Hispanic Heritage Month gives us all the opportunity to recognize that a collective celebration of our individual differences can actually bring us closer together.

Click on each graphic below to view the PDF