The Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District honored five teens with the title “Student of the Month” in October.
Moffett Independent Study Program
Anthony Velado is an ideal student: intelligent, self-motivated and enthusiastic. His consistency and dedication to his schoolwork have impressed his teachers. He also has a wonderful personality - he always walks into class with a great attitude and a huge smile, making his teachers’ day much more enjoyable.
In the six months he had spent in the program by October, Anthony had taken - and done very well in - two literature and two science courses. English is his favorite subject. Among the works he has read are Weisel’s “Night,” Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House,” Dickens’ “Great Expectations” and Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye.” His discussions and essays about these works demonstrate a remarkable level of sophistication. Anthony loves reading and writing.
Anthony plans to major in English at a four-year college. His teachers are certain he has a bright future before him.
Los Altos High School
Senior Cynthia Mendoza is involved in organizations all over campus. One of the clubs she devotes much of her time to is Mock Trial. In her first year with Mock Trial, she posed as the expert witness; the following year, she won the Best Prosecution Witness award. After three and a half years with Ambassadors, she now serves as the club’s president. Cynthia works on the yearbook and the school newspaper. She is the Talon’s Spanish translator and voice of the Latino community. She also tutors AVID students in a variety of courses. As a freshman, she participated in Girls for a Change. This year she is enjoying the Homework Club.
Cynthia completed all required math and science courses by her junior year - without recourse to summer school. Each year, she attends the Mayor’s Youth Conference at Mountain View City Hall to discuss the needs of local teens. She works with the county’s Conflict Resolution Essentials for School Transformation (CREST) and is a leader for the Conflict Mediation Forum for middle school students. At LAHS, Cynthia translates for the counselors and participates in Voces Latinas. She also works part-time at Sears every day.
Her teachers say they will miss her after she graduates. “It’s been a joy having her in the Ambassadors,” said Suzanne Williams. “She is one of the best kids I have ever worked with, as a student and as an Ambassador. I will sorely miss her next year.”
Mountain View High
Ansumana, Mariama and Sidikie Dolleh emigrated from Sierra Leone. They were born in Liberia in the middle of a civil war. After the deaths of their parents, they lived in United Nations refugee camps in Sierra Leone. After the United Nations sent them to the United States, the siblings were in the care of Catholic Charities until they were adopted by Tracy Weiss.
The three teens are learning about and adjusting to a new world. Their teachers said they hope the Dollehs enjoy their time at MVHS.
