finals today and tomorrow at monta vista high, then christmas break begins. but this season doesn't feel so jolly. on december 6th, the principal sent home the first of two troubling letters. >> first one said we were getting reports of racial harassment. >> then yesterday another letter went out. >> we had more incidents reported to us throughout the week. >> in one incident in an online chat room, a student called an african-american male she was talking with the n-word. >> it doesn't surprise me based on what's the climate of the country right now. >> it stays with you. they are hurtful. >> her son graduated last year. she credits school officials with trying to improve things but -- >> there's always going to be hate, right? there's always going to be hateful words. but i think it's really a matter of how we address this as adults. >> monta vista is not identifying the student involved in the incident but they say there are already programs from inside and outside the district to reduce racial animosity and increase understanding. officials vow to keep tr