Culture at the Core: How North Valley's Monthly Themes Reinforce Maxims to Unify the School Community

At North Valley High School, school culture is more than words on a wall. It is something students, teachers, and leaders practice together with intention and care. Principal Erik Lathen and his team have found meaningful ways to bring the school’s identity into daily classroom life.

OBJECTIVES

Strengthen a sense of belonging by making the school’s shared identity visible in everyday classroom interactions
Reinforce collective values through consistent, community-based practices that engage both students and staff
Cultivate alignment between what the school says it stands for and what people experience throughout the day

RESOURCES

Operationalizing Maxims: Monthly Themes at NVHS

One of the most consistent ways they do this is through monthly themes that highlight and reinforce the school’s 3-R Maxims: Respect, Responsibility, and Resilience. These themes are not abstract ideals. They are built into everyday routines and activities that help students and staff recognize what those values look like in action.

Watch this accompanying video where Erik Lathen, Principal at North Valley High School, talks about bringing their school identity to life

Bringing Values to Life with Gratitude and Connection

Each month, Erik and his team visit classrooms to spotlight a theme connected to the school’s shared identity. These visits give students and staff real opportunities to connect with the school’s values through active participation and personal recognition.

Some months include fun and engaging games. In one example, teachers nominate students who have demonstrated the 3 Rs. Those students take part in a short “Minute to Win It” challenge, and if they complete it successfully, their entire class earns a small treat. These moments help students see that their positive choices are noticed and appreciated.

Other themes focus on reflection. During a month centered on giving thanks, Erik begins each classroom visit by asking students to name the theme. When they respond with “Thankfulness” or “Giving Thanks,” he turns to the teacher and shares a sincere message of appreciation.

This simple gesture opens the door for something even more meaningful. Erik then invites students to share what they appreciate about their teacher. At first, only one or two hands go up. Then more students begin to speak. They share stories of encouragement, patience, and kindness. One student thanked their science teacher by saying, “Thank you for letting me be me. I’m not great at science, but you helped me feel like I could succeed by giving me time and showing that you care.” The teacher, hearing this for the first time, was moved and surprised by the impact of his everyday actions.

Culture is not just an accessory to learning. It is the air students breathe.

-Pedro Noguera

These shared moments build connection and strengthen the relationships that make a school community feel real. They also help students internalize what it means to live the school’s values in their own words and actions.

Identity in Action, Every Day

At North Valley, identity is not something that lives on paper. It lives in classrooms where students are seen and supported. It lives in moments when a teacher hears they have made a difference. It lives in the decision to turn schoolwide values into something students can recognize, experience, and reflect.

By visiting classrooms each month and building values into daily routines, North Valley makes its identity visible and real. Culture is created not just by what is said but by what is consistently done. When values are practiced in every period, for every student, they become something the entire school can take pride in.