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MITA MS/HS: First Day of School [Monday, August 18, 2025]
Hello MITA Scholars and Families,
We look forward to seeing familiar and new faces on Monday, August 18, 2025. While some staff worked through the summer to get ready for the new school year, all staff returned to campus last week to get ready. We would like to share a few things for everyone to be familiar with in order to have a successful first day and a productive school year.
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL
Whether Monday is the first or the n-th time that you will be arriving and departing from MITA, please be familiar with the Drop-Off and Pick-Up expectations for both schools by reviewing the information on the school websites.
MIT Middle Safety First! Protocols webpage: https://mitams.gtaschools.org/46219_2
MIT High Safety First! Protocols webpage: https://mitahs.gtaschools.org/275624_2
CLASS SCHEDULE - FIRST DAY
Both MIT middle and high schools will distribute class schedules at 7:45 a.m. The class schedule includes a campus map. Look for tables in front of Rooms 14, 15, and 16 at the middle school. Look for tables on the field at the high school. Each grade level will have a table. Please form two lines at each table, last names beginning with A - L on the left and M - Z on the right. Parents are welcome to support their students by staying with them. You may also log into Aeries to see your class schedule. Directions on how to request schedule changes will be sent by Ms. Saldana for the middle school and by the counselors at the high school, Ms. Saravia and Ms. Silva.
CELL PHONE POLICY
As per Assembly Bill 3216, the Phone-Free School Act, signed by Governor Newsom in September 2024, every school district, charter school and county office of education are required to develop a policy limiting the use of smartphones by July 1, 2026. At Mare Island Technology Academy, the middle school, it is cell phone free from when a student enters the main gate until they exit the gate. MITA MS has had this policy since 2023. The policy plays a very important role in creating a positive school culture. Please see this webpage for more information: https://mitams.gtaschools.org/37979_2. We will be announcing the cell phone policy for MIT high school on Tuesday. The policy in the classroom comes from the teachers. It is all of our responsibility to support the teacher team’s choice. We will work with the teachers, support staff, students, and parents/guardians to refine the cell phone use outside the classroom.
DRESS CODE
Mare Island Technology Academy was established in 1999 by a group of Vallejo parents who wanted a different educational experience for their children. The dress code has not changed much except for the introduction of the navy polo top in 2021. Last year, we experimented with black denim at the middle school. Due to the number of incidents with faded/distressed, gray, and embellished jeans, we are going back to regular black or khaki twill pants. The dress code policy and its enforcement are the same at both schools. For more information, visit this webpage: https://mitams.gtaschools.org/37980_2.
STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM: AERIES
We kindly ask that parents and caregivers be actively involved in their students’ progress and performance by checking their grades, attendance, and other metrics. It is very important that your student’s demographic information in Aeries is accurate. At any time during the year, you may complete a change of information form. Remember that we will not allow anyone to pick up a student who is not on their Emergency Contact list. Also, only individuals listed as having educational rights may make decisions or meet with the school to discuss matters between the student and the school. For more information, visit this webpage: https://mitams.gtaschools.org/37990_2.
PARENT/FAMILY COMPACT and ATTENDANCE.
The primary reason that we asked families to sign a compact is the importance of attendance. Charter school funding is a little different than regular public schools. We only get funding for the number of seats filled each day. Every day counts for learning and learning. The middle school completed its charter reauthorization last year. The high school will go through the same process next year, which means that we were preparing for it last year and ramping up that preparation this year. The California Dashboard is one set of metrics that our authorizer, Vallejo Unified School District, will use to determine whether MIT Academy will continue to stay open. No school can stay open unless it has money; hence, attendance is everyone’s priority. We are looking at providing Independent Study for any length of absence for up to a cumulative of 15 days for the school year. Information about attendance and absences can be found on this webpage: https://mitams.gtaschools.org/43577_2.
STUDENT AND FAMILY ORIENTATIONS.
Thank you to Superintendent Nick Driver and Mildred Gains, Director of Family and Community Engagement, for hosting orientation meetings for all GTA schools this month to ensure all stakeholders are familiar with our vision, mission, policies, and procedures. Please reach out to Mildred Gains, mgains@mitacademy.org, if you have questions or concerns. We would love to hear constructive feedback on how we can improve family and community engagement.
COMPLIMENTARY POLO TOP AND PATCHES
We are very pleased with approximately 80% attendance at the MIT Middle Griffin Day. Thank you to all the students and families for taking the time to take care of school business. If you missed Griffin Day (MITH = 8/6/25, MITM = 8/13/25), please turn in the required forms to the school office to receive your complimentary polo top. You may also request up to five complimentary patches. The required forms can be picked up from the school office or on this webpage: https://mitahs.gtaschools.org/269847_2.
LAST WORDS.
Please know that we will support and redirect students with extra care and compassion during the first week to get them all familiar with the MIT codes of conduct and school policies. What we ask in return is that students and families are mindful that we are a SCHOOL OF CHOICE. ALL of us CHOSE to be on team MITA/GTA. We are small schools with limited facilities and resources. Our programs are “curated” and focused on college preparation, with almost all students required to take college classes to get their high school diploma. As a public school, we serve all students. Some things we do better than other schools. Some things are improvement opportunities in which other schools do better than us. We appreciate families making an informed choice to best serve their child and all children. We aim to have productive partnerships with all stakeholders to ensure equitable outcomes for all students. If your goal is to be part of a disruption-free learning community where we work together to persevere and rise together, then you made a great choice. We all made a great choice! Go Team MITA!
Lai Saeteurn, Director of Schools
Ernst Louis-Jacques, MIT High Site Director
Liz Saldana, MIT Middle Site Director