Positive Behavior Programs

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Mentor Program
A program designed to promote positive self-image, academic achievement, and self-sufficiency in students. Faculty, staff, and community members volunteer as mentors and devote two hours or more per month with mentees for activities such as lunch, field trips, help with schoolwork, goal setting, and career planning.

Girl’s Club
An administrator and teacher led activity that fosters increased self-esteem, learning about female issues and concerns, breaking gender-based stereotypes and sharing positive experiences with the female students at Mountain View. Teacher-organized workshops and guest speakers create interactive sessions weekly and serve as positive role models for the members.

Resiliency Program
An intensive substance abuse and violence prevention program that offers extra support to students considered at risk. The program helps students identify their strengths and increase their resiliency skills. Overall school performance, as measured by increased grade point average, school attendance, and reduced school-based behavioral incidents, is improved.

Support Our Students (SOS)
A support group that targets 16-18 students per semester who have a history of attendance problems. The group seeks to promote interpersonal communication, decision making, problem solving, and self-management skills. In addition to the weekly group meetings, staff members connect with students during the week to foster a strong student-staff attachment, which research has shown to have a positive influence on student retention. Staff involved includes a social worker, special education teachers, general education teachers, guidance counselors, and administrators.

Behavior Contracts
Agreements are established outside of the typical norms approved by the teacher in the classroom. The purpose of the contract is to prevent student referrals, expand upon classroom established rules, and further detail disciplinary consequences outside of Mountain View’s Student Responsibilities and Rights presentation.

Attendance Contracts
Both teachers and administrators create attendance contracts that combine the teacher’s expectations and the student’s commitment to education. Once a student signs an attendance contract, the student’s step toward accepting responsibility for his or her actions is acknowledged and celebrated.

Mountain View Assistance Team (MVAT)
An intervention team, comprised of counselors, administrators, teachers, school social worker, and public health nurse, that meets on a regular basis to discuss students referred for behavior problems, depression, suspected drug abuse, and other negative behavior. The intervention team approaches each referral as a case study and assists teachers in planning interventions and strategies for more effective instruction.

Student Leadership Team
A group that works with the Principal to ensure that Mountain View High School is a place where students can learn and grow by fostering the school motto of “Family, Love, and Respect.” The Student Leadership Team meets monthly with the Principal and plays an active role in the orientation of new students. School spirit is fostered through school activities and outreach projects as determined by the members of the team and the administration.

School-wide Advertisements
Posters modeling positive behaviors are regularly updated and posted throughout the school hallways. Student created video commercials encouraging positive social norms and school rules are viewed every Friday when video announcements are played for school-wide viewing.

Chat and Chew
A voluntary lunch time gathering for Limited English Proficient students that fosters increased English language acquisition. Held in a classroom, Chat and Chew offers ESOL students the chance to converse in English in a risk-free environment. English is required during the sessions. Staff members and invited guests (such as business partners) from the community are welcomed to chat and chew.

Dream-Catchers
A partnership between George Mason University and FCPS that targets capable at-risk students enrolled in alternative education programs. Using mentors and role models from the GMU community, this unique partnership identifies and supports students who wish to attend or graduate from college.

Project Opportunity
A program offering support for pregnant and parenting teens. Students enrolled in Project Opportunity complete the requirements for a high school diploma. A mentor program, group and individual counseling, and elective courses in parenting and employability skills are among the services provided. Other support services include an on-staff public health nurse and social worker, day care assistance, transportation, and homebound instruction.

Learning for Transitions
A school-wide career development initiative based on the transition gateway model. The Learning for Transitions (LFT) Committee creates and implements a series of sequential activities based on FCPS Career Connections Competencies. The goal of the LFT Committee is to ensure that students have the resources necessary to develop a postsecondary plan to pursue career goals.

Intramural Activities
The Intramural program offers leisure opportunities for students to be part of a team, builds peer relations, and develops stronger social skills. Opportunities are provided in the form of tournaments and one-day events. Activities include: soccer, volleyball, basketball, ping-pong, and foosball. The program also encourages lifelong fitness and a healthy lifestyle.

Lunch and Learn Program
A program that offers the opportunity for guest speakers from community organizations and agencies to address our pregnant and parenting students on topics of interest. Speakers come from the health care field (pediatricians, ob/gyns, pediatric dentists, pediatric physical therapists), the helping services (Healthy Families, Resource Mothers, Child Support Enforcement), and educational support (Early Head Start, Fairfax County Public Library). A home-cooked lunch is provided by the Washington Christian Life Centre, and a drawing for door prizes encourages student attendance.

Pathways
This initiative shares with each individual class, opportunities that support the school’s vision and purpose are shared with the students. A team consisting of the guidance and resource departments shares updated events and information for the month.