Monte Vista Christian School
 | A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. (October 2010) |
| Monte Vista Christian HS | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| Type | Private |
| Motto | "Fidei Defensor" (Latin) Defender of Faith |
| Established | 1926 |
| School district | Watsonville City School District |
| Principal | Steve Sharp |
| Grades | 6-12 |
| Enrollment | 250 (2009) |
| Campus | Rural |
| Color(s) | Blue and White |
| Athletics conference | CIF Central Coast Section |
| Mascot | Mustang |
| Website | http://www.mvcs.org/ |
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Monte Vista Christian School, commonly referred to as MVCS or MVC, is a Christian school in Watsonville, California. MVCS consists of a middle school and a high school, encompassing grades 6–12.
Campus
MVCS is situated next to a golf course in an area surrounded by redwoods, orchards, vineyards, and agricultural fields. The middle school is located in a central area while the high school classrooms are connected by walkways throughout the rolling lawns of the campus.
There are two baseball fields, a softball field, two tennis courts, a swimming pool, two football and soccer fields (which in 2009 got lights installed), a track, two basketball courts, and a beach volleyball court.
Athletics
Sports include baseball, golf, soccer, football, basketball, track and field, cheerleading, swimming, wrestling, tennis, equestrian arts, and volleyball.
After a slow start to the 2009 spring season, the baseball team went on a run that earned them the co-championship title with the Monterey Toreadores. With new coach, Donald Keathley, a former Santa Cruz native who coached at Seven Lakes High School in Texas, the mustangs look to have some success in the playoffs for the third straight year.
In 2010, coach Matthew Miller joined the MVCS coaching staff. Also a Santa Cruz native, he's a former Cabrillo College, and SFSU baseball player (P/OF). He is finishing his B.S. in Kinesiology with Emphasis in Teaching/Coaching. His roles include Pitching and Outfield Coach, first Base coach for JV games, and will be Frosh/Soph Head Coach beginning this year. "I am willing to do whatever necessary to assist/improve the MVC baseball family and beyond. I have gained so much more than just baseball skills, but life-skills, and this is what we aim to pass to our student/athletes. I've been fortunate to have such coaches as Coach K himself and Coach Andy Messersmith at Cabrillo, and Tom Arrington at SFSU, just to name a few."
In the year 2000 the MVCS football team had one of its most successful seasons to date playing in the more difficult local public school league. The team had only 1 regular season loss to San Lorenzo Valley High School and went on to the semi-championship in the division. In 2011, the Monte Vista football team tied Christopher High School and Monterey High School as co-league champions in the final year of the Monterey Bay League.
Performing arts
MVCS Performing Arts Department offers students the opportunity to participate in Instrumental, Vocal, and Theatrical Arts.
MVCS director of vocal arts is David Anthony Dehner, D.M.A. and director of instrumental studies is Shari McQueen.
The music program is nationally and internationally recognised and ranks in the top 15% of High School performing arts programs in California.
The Band and Orchestra perform regularly on tours around California. The Band and Orchestra has also performed in Philadelphia and New York City at Carnegie Hall.
The MV Choir participated in a Kingsway International concert tour of France performing in five French cathedrals/churches with the San Francisco State University Chamber Choir. They have been invited to the prestigious "Golden State Choral Festival," and performed in the Distinguished Concerts International "Excellence in Education" series at Carnegie Hall in March 2008. The program has 120 vocalists who rank as the top program in the state for solo performance (California Music Educators Association - numerous commands, Association of Christian Schools International - numerous commands, National Association of Teachers of Singing - winners in three divisions at the San Francisco Bay Area Festival, and numerous honor choir participants in both the CMEA and American Choral Directors Association).
The performance calendar can be viewed on the school web site www.mvcs.org.
Other
- The school colors are black, white, and blue.
- The school mascot is the mustang.
- The school offers a boarding program for students who wish to live on campus while attending MVCS.[1]
- The school hosts many people from all over the world in the dormitories. Currently, much of the dorm population is from East Asia, specifically South Korea, Taiwan, and mainland China.