visitacion valley middle school principal

Also, we might hear phrases like, "That comment triggered me, it was a microaggression," "I think we can do better for our Latinx students," or "This is not consistent with our commitment to anti-racism." Racial-equity leaders must be both intentional and responsive when doing this anti-racist work. Very diverse community that is willing to go above and beyond to support students and their families. near you and learn more, A summary of studies fromHarvard, Stanford, and more, AHA: TM is the only meditationfound to lower blood pressure, Different forms of meditationproduce very different results, Bob Roth, Director Once white fragility is defined and debriefed amongst a team, we can begin to talk about racism, anti-racism, and White Supremacy Culture. In my spare time, I enjoy camping and traveling. Modern Band (music) with contemporary instruments, Visuals Arts, Ethnic Studies, Computer Science, Dramatic Arts, and Spanish! $1,862. Staff watch a clip about white fragility during a staff meeting (Courtesy of Joe Truss). Visitacion Valley Middle (San Francisco) is a 06 to 08 grade school in San Francisco, and has made tremendous strides in improving the acceptance rate and education its students receive. This work has gotten co-opted and watered down, leading to many people talking the talk, without much walk. This might include wanting to win an argument, not making space for others to talk, and rushing through meetings. It serves 358 studentsin 6 - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 14.3:1.Its teachers have had 79 projects funded on DonorsChoose. Public, 6-8 Serves this home. Visitacion Valley Middle School - San Francisco, California - CA The Zestimate for this house is $1,039,700, which has increased by $3,460 in the last 30 days. White Supremacy Culture. Visitacion Valley Middle School prides itself in its active role in the community by welcoming parents, families, and community partners to participate on all levels of creating a culturally responsive 21st Century Middle School. Dont just throw it into 2,000 schools, he says. This page was last updated on June 8, 2021. WSC shuts down learning. 9 . But Quiet Time took years to develop. Maybe having half an hour just to focus on themselves so they get awareness and grounding, might have some impact., And it could help reduce costs later. Otherwise, white fragility will shut the anti-racist party down; its an equity consciousness buzz kill, for real. WSC shuts down learning. Remembering Geneva Towers - San Francisco Heritage Consequently, this allows for us to align our purpose with our pedagogy, curricula, policies, decision making processes, and adult structures. 2023 San Francisco Unified School District, I look forward to our partnership this upcoming school year and collaborating with all of you to support our brilliant students. Visitacion Valley Middle School | LinkedIn Reportar una ausencia. Later that year, a gunman brazenly stormed into the school, threatened to kill a teacher and robbed two employees. Our courageous educators got personal, thinking about how White Supremacy Culture shows up in their personal lives and between colleagues. To our teachers and staff, joyful learning means that each student is able to maximize his/her abilities and be successful in learning through different learning methods. Students. Students at Visitacion Valley School in San Francisco meditate, as part of a program in which students meditate for fifteen minutes twice a day. But he admits that it takes a big time commitment in resources and attention commitment to do this. View property details, photos, and neighborhood info. Valley Middle School Property has a great layout with large kitchen, formal dining room, living room and decent size bedrooms. It helps me not be so tired during school, she said. In between, she spent two years as a Peace Corps volunteer teaching English in Cape Verde, West Africa. You can see past weeks' newsletters as well. Visitacion Valley Middle - School Directory Details (CA Dept of Education) We might also see students connecting their identities to their learning and applying it back to their communities to manifest social justice. Visitacion Valley Middle School - Public School Review Here are two pitfalls to avoid. Callers can still leave a voicemail or send an email or request form at all hours. School: Visitacion Valley Middle: District: San Francisco Unified (District Profile) County: San Francisco: Address: 1971 Visitacion Ave. San Francisco 94134-2700: Phone (415) 469-4590: Web site* CDS Code: 38 68478 6059919: School Type: Intermediate/Middle Schools (Public) Charter School: No: Principal/Administrator: Courtney Harris, Principal . Thats amazing for an urban middle school, he said. What Happened When My School Started to Dismantle White Supremacy Photo at top courtesy of Joe Truss: VVMS staff match examples of White Supremacy Culture to the definition of each characteristic. I saw this personally at VVMS, as situations got awkward, uncomfortable, and uncertain. The teacher has also seen dramatic transformations in his students. Yet that's where real leadership comes in, the organization noted. Showing appreciation for things big and small, matters. The programme, introduced to all ages, sees students sit for 15 minutes of meditation twice a day. The trouble is we dont even see it. If I can be vulnerable and honest, white educators can and must do the same. Dear Visitacion Valley Middle School Community. Entire contents copyright 2023 Maharishi Foundation USA, a non-profit educational organization. This school used to be known as the fight school, he said. This can create power struggles, a learning opportunity gap, and as the scholar Monique Morris writes, students being pushed out of schools. General education entry grade seats per application: https://sfusd.zoom.us/j/89260175755?pwd=R2VLdWJQOVdySElJa1c2UUhCTkw5QT09, Districtwide before and after school program information, Social-Emotional and Culture Climate Report, School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA). View SFUSD's most recent athletics participation dataor past years' reports. Phys Ed: The Benefits of Exercising Before Breakfast, Dog Needs a Walk? $365. Visitacion Valley Middle School is a public school in San Francisco, California that is part of San Francisco Unified School District. 83 Ervine St, San Francisco, CA 94134 | MLS# 422711357 | Redfin At VVMS, we were able to get past defensiveness and excuses and get to the heart of the matter. It is imperative that we examine our actions to see if they are further harming students of color, disempowering them, and creating a psychologically hostile learning environment. To do this, we use diverse staff resources and improve student access to high quality programs during the school day and in after-school programs. 325 Harkness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94134 - Redfin The social-emotional learning of students in grades 4-12 is also assessed. Just meditate!. Join us at this years SFUSD Virtual Enrollment Fair for Middle and High Schools, October 24-27, 2022! When the bells sound twice a day at Visitacion Valley Middle School in San Francisco, students who used to be too rowdy to even sit still close their eyes and spend 15 minutes clearing their minds. Quiet Time in Los angeles The David Lynch Foundation is partnering with several Los angeles-based institutions which deliver excellence in academics and holistic student development through innovative educational models. This is true for our staff as well, contributing to racial fatigue and staff sustainability for IBPOC. Anther example might be superficially speeding through content or discouraging interruptions for questions. In my dream, I imagine that Culturally Responsive Teaching, restorative practices, and deeper learning are all alive in classrooms across the United States. A restless din filled the large room. Stacey Buchwald promoted to principal at Valley Middle School of STEM District 196 Superintendent Mary Kreger today announced the promotion of Dr. Stacey Buchwald from interim principal to principal of Valley Middle School of STEM in. In one, the effects of the Quiet Time Program, conducted over half the academic year, were evaluated in public middle school students performing below proficiency level. Thus, we are building a collective purpose and a commitment to learning. Surrounded by drugs and gang violence, the kids were stressed out and agitated. Only two teachers have left in the past five years, outside of retirements and district layoffs. It can result in white rage, broken relationships, grievances, and further harm to oppressed students. By Kyle Palmer On a recent morning at Visitacion Valley Middle School in South San Francisco, Principal James Dierke looked out over the school's auditorium at more than 100 eighth graders. for publication. When the school year starts, students may use Student Portal Student Portal (StudentVUE)and families may use Family Portal (ParentVUE)to keep track of a student's attendance, assignments, and grades, and contact teachers. Less than a year after starting Quiet Time, which is in part funded by . I like to think of myself as a recovering perpetrator of WSC. I got to sit right by him and the whole school meditated with him.. The success of some schools efforts An all-party parliamentary group has also recommended the Department for Education designate three schools to pioneer mindfulness teaching, and set up a 1m fund to allow more schools to benefit from support in the practice. 4 Beds. Please read our welcome letter! About This Home Great Visitacion home with 2 bed/ 1bath upstairs and bonus room/bath downstairs. In my dream, I imagine that educators can become comfortable talking about race and how it informs the work of educating children. It has 358 students in grades 6-8 with a student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1. Dr. Bettina Love writes in her book, We Want to Do More Than Survive, To even begin to attack our destructive and punitive educational system, pedagogies that promote social justice must help educators understand and recognize America and its schools as spaces of Whiteness, White rage, and White Supremacy, all of which function to terrorize students of color. (Love, 2019) It is imperative that we examine these deeply held beliefsboth conscious and unconsciousto build on top of a new set of habits, behaviors, and systems. 379 Winding Way, San Francisco, CA 94112 is a single family home listed for sale at $1,280,000. View more recently sold homes. "Although authorities captured the person, parents could have demanded changes at the school," a statement from the principals' association said. Visitacion Valley Middle School - Public School Review Its also important to start small. Visitacion Valley Middle SchoolHIGHLIGHTS 415-469-4590 Vis Valley MS 26.8 0.4 9.3 16.2 16.2 1.6 29.5 AA AI C F J K L ONW OW DS Percent of Enrollment Mr. James S. Dierke, Principal VVMS's Parent Representative/Liaison maintains an office within the main office. students, and couples, Contact a certified TM teacher In Violent Neighborhood, 15 Minutes of Meditation Calms Students Dierke, who has been principal at the school for 13 years, said things reached a turning point about five years ago. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to school starting Wednesday, August 17, 2022. This week's important updates are available! Imagine that. Students at Visitacion Valley School in South San Francisco observe 15 minutes of quiet time every morning. Having served the past two years as Assistant Principal, VVMS is a community that I love and care for. Sometimes the whole school meets to meditate in assemblies. Middle Schools Elementary Schools Fares The Free Muni for Youth Program provides San Francisco youth ages 5-18 with free Muni service, regardless of household income level. Balboa High School. Other schools have taken a few minutes off lunch and tutorials. Eighth grader Art Parkeenvincha moved to San Francisco from Canada in the middle of this year. Mortgage insurance $0. 3rd Street Youth Center & Clinic Government Administration SAN FRANCISCO, California Thus, we are building a collective purpose and a commitment to learning. There he is leading with a vision of Love, Literacy, and Liberation. Due to stereotype threat, this is especially problematic when students of color are a numerical minority in a classroom or school. stress and its manifestations for example, anxiety, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. PDF Visitacion Valley Middle School - archive.sfusd.edu Mr. Dierke wondered whether meditation might reduce students stress levels and help them learn. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me for anything (harrisc@sfusd.edu). 2023 Editorial Projects in Education, Inc. Physical Education teacher Barry ODriscoll agreed that Quiet Time has helped improve the staffs quality of life. 132 Britton St, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94134 - Redfin (Love, 2019) It is imperative that we examine these deeply held beliefsboth conscious and unconsciousto build on top of a new set of habits, behaviors, and systems. I imagine we might even see white folks redirecting their white colleagues and carrying their weight of racial conversations. Nearly 90 percent of Visitacion Valleys students are classified by the district as socioeconomically disadvantaged and more than 40 percent are English Language Learners. Main Office: 952-431-8300. Report an absence. Our teachers use Community Building and Restorative Practices. Discussing WSC gave us more impetus to make changes, because we now knew what was happening if we refused: microaggressions, dehumanization, widening the opportunity gap, and producing disproportionate outcomes. The UK has already started experimenting with meditation: 400 secondary schools offer programmes like the Dot B mindfulness meditation programme, which tends to take place once a week in personal, social, health education (PSHE) class. Just as long as they are quiet. Personal Commitment graphic organizer used in professional development (Courtesy of Joe Truss). Therefore, it was necessary to create shared understandings and subsequent commitments, which was facilitated by exploring a framework of White Supremacy Culture. Academic Support and Learning Enrichment - R.O.C.K. Therefore, it was necessary to create shared understandings and subsequent commitments, which was facilitated by exploring a framework of White Supremacy Culture. We have seen attempts at creating buy-in fail for initiatives like ethnic studies, mastery-based grading, or project-based learning. 336 Wilde Ave , San Francisco, CA 94134-2252 is a single-family home listed for-sale at $988,888. Quiet Time isnt just a slogan but a daily regimen at Visitacion Valley. One seventh grader at Visitacion Valley said, I used to be really fidgety, couldnt stay in my seat for very long. Known nationally for its innovative programs, teachers and students use technology, cross-curricular writing programs, and project- and standards-based instruction throughout the year. Even in failure, there is growth, if you are using a critical lens to understand and improve. After School Program at Visitacion Valley Middle School As the elementary programs established themselves and became more successful, R.O.C.K. James Dierke, principal of Visitacion Valley Middle School in San Francisco: Principal James Dierke "When I arrived at this school thirteen years ago it had the highest absentee rate, the highest suspension rate, the highest teacher turnover rate, the lowest academic achievement rate. His school, along with other urban middle schools in low income neighborhoods, is in the midst of a battlea battle against the predictive power of demographics. Our courageous educators got personal, thinking about how White Supremacy Culture shows up in their personal lives and between colleagues. Principal It would be nave to think that meditation alone could erase the effects of the many factors, like poverty, that are barriers to educational achievement. I had never done meditation before, but now I do Quiet Time. Visitacion Valley Middle is a public school located in San Francisco, CA, which is in a large city setting. Visitacion Valley Middle School Unclaimed 1971 Visitacion Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94134 Contact info Website 3 /10 GreatSchools Rating 5 reviews Public school 375 Students Grades 6-8 Updates Compare 3 /10 GreatSchools Summary Rating 2/10 Test Scores below average 4/10 Academic Progress below average 1/10 Equity below average In order to build this ideal structure, we must start at the base and engineer for equity. Additionally, kids get to participate in fun activities, including recreation, cooking, dance, technology and leadership. The first pitfall is failing to scaffold for white privilege and white fragility. Yes, this is built into our systems of power, structures, policies, and rules. In order to build this ideal structure, we must start at the base and engineer for equity. School Accountability Report Cards (SARCs) are required by state law and are intended to provide families with important information. One day children came in to find three dead bodies dumped in the schoolyard. A major factor preventing underserved children from learning is the stress they encounter on a daily basis from factors like poverty, deprivation, lack of steady parental input, physical danger and constant With respect to race, the foundational issue is White Supremacy Culture, and we must attack the problem head on. 420 Harkness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94134 | MLS #422713413 | Zillow By Owner New Construction These properties are currently listed for sale. Visitacion Valley Middle School. ODriscoll also says that leadership buy-in is essential for the programme to work as there needs to be support in terms of time and resourcing. 375. The 1,233 sq. Specifically, this pushed on us to think about and change how we work together: We worked to create norms that encourage people of color and women to contribute, we shifted the relationship between teachers and administration so that teachers had more input in budget and hiring decisions, and finally, we adjusted the pace of our professional-development plans to emphasize quality over quantity. Otherwise, white fragility will shut the anti-racist party down; it's an equity consciousness buzz kill, for real. And just like that, a hush fell over the auditorium. The Rent Zestimate for this home is $3,399/mo, which has increased by $239/mo in the last 30 days. Ale House Alley, Mission Blue, and Lucky's Bakery & Cafe. On a personal note, I was born and raised in the midwest, but I have called San Francisco home for the last 13 years. This post originally appeared in KQED's MindShiftblog. Were not perfect, Dierke said. And our teacher turnover and absenteeism is almost zero.. Please call and make an appointment with the principal, assistant principal, dean or school secretary. Home has a beautiful view with a nice size backyard for entertainment. A lot of the kids have deep anger issues or problems focusing, she says. For example, we looked at how our implicit bias when responding to student behavior leads to racially disproportionate discipline incidents and we organically identified restorative practices as a focus for the following year. 322 Bayview Cir, San Francisco, CA, 94124 is a 1,317 sq. Teachers. Visitors are always amazed, Dierke said afterwards, but it works. San Francisco Unified School District - Wikipedia Visitacion Valley Middle School - Trulia Real Estate Search The work to address racism in schools has been called cultural competency, diversity training, and equity. Meditation program mends troubled Visitacion Valley Middle School Eighth grader Stacy* has been meditating since she joined the school three years ago. At Visitacion Valley Middle School (VVMS), in the San Francisco Unified school district, our brave staff spent a majority of the 2018-19 school year unpacking White Supremacy Culture (WSC). Beginning with the 1983-84 school year, Valley Middle School organized into interdisciplinary teams referred to as the Village System. Service Learning campaign: %%CAMP%% -- %%CAMP_UID%%, creative: %%ADID%% -- %%AD_UID%%, page: %%PAGE%%, targetedPage: %%TARGETEDPAGE%%, position: %%POS%%, evaluated in public middle school students performing below proficiency level, Under Stress, Students in New York Schools Find Calm in Meditation. What Happened When My School Started to Dismantle White Supremacy Culture, The Standing Up for Racial Justice coalition, http://culturallyresponsiveleadership.com/. Lastly, this work connected well with our concurrent work of racial affinity groups, social-justice teaching, and revising our school mission statement. "Instead, the parents demonstrated their faith in Dierke's leadership by not withdrawing any children from the school.". One teacher, Mary Chirichella added, "Some teachers had the courage to approach others to have tough conversations about microaggressions. Property Taxes. that teachers and students enjoy and which preliminary data suggest is effective. . Its provided a lot of stability to our school, helping staff and kids get through the stress they have in their lives., The impressive results have led to more schools in the city introducing the programme. Quantum Physicist (16:40), By Mario Orsatti on 02/15/2012 Blog Home. The first pitfall is failing to scaffold for white privilege and white fragility. Visitacion Valley Elementary School - San Francisco, CA This prompts staff to reflect and ultimately declare, "I want to be an anti-racist teacher, but I don't exactly know how." As a result, staff were curious to take action to be anti-racist and promote a learning community that did the same. But this messy middle is precisely when we need to stay curious, be vulnerable, and innovative. Visitacion Valley Middle School - realtor.com As a leader, it is easy to hoard power, claim objectivity in decisionmaking, or believe that there is only one way to fix education. Search for Public Schools - Visitacion Valley Middle (063441005678) Its very peaceful here now.. were the happiest in the whole of San Francisco, to more schools in the city introducing the programme, Center for Wellness and Achievement in Education, recommended the Department for Education designate three schools to pioneer mindfulness teaching, international lessons in education series. Based on Rocket Mortgage data in comparison to public data records. Mad Sal's Dockside Inn in Ale House Alley, and Mission Blue. In the first year of Quiet Time suspensions at Visitacion Valley which has 500 students aged 11-13 were reduced by 45% (pdf). This leads to resistance or failure to follow through, maintaining a status quo of disproportionate outcomes for students based on race. Students seemed happy, says ODriscoll. To do it properly Visitacion Valley middle school made the day 30 minutes longer. In 2007, James Dierke, then the principal of the Visitacion Valley Middle School in a troubled neighborhood in San Francisco, was determined to improve both the quality of education and student behavior in his school. White Supremacy Culture also tricks us into thinking that if we change to fit a white model, we can be more valued but still never be white. Contact - Valley Middle School of STEM - District 196 He says the lives of students were infected by violence in the community, and several fights would break out every day. This year, the school has had to integrate more than 100 new students onto campus after another nearby middle school was closed by the district. Call Us. What Happened When My School Started to Dismantle White Supremacy Culture, The Standing Up for Racial Justice coalition. $5,220. Most definitely recommend this school to parents in the neighborhood with kids in Kinder-5th grade. White Supremacy Culture also tricks us into thinking that if we change to fit a white model, we can be more valued but still never be white. where I had the privilege to serve as a 7th and 8th grade English Language Arts and English Language Development (ELD) teacher at a public middle school. $1,150,000 Last Sold Price. 609-611 Naples Street, San Francisco, CA 94112 | Compass Property Taxes. This organizational structure reflects a "school-within-a-school" concept and is designed to help students make a successful transition from the self-contained elementary classroom to the fully departmentalized, comprehensive high school setting. Teachers and students are assigned to academic families that use a variety of innovative technology, cross-curricular writing programs, and project-based and standards-based instruction throughout the year. You can listen to Mr. Dierke speak at a conference in Los Angeles in December 2011 about his school districts research on the effect the Quiet Time/TM program has had on his students and teachers since it became part of their school five years ago. Now that the shock of reading these words has worn off, lets explore what it is and why we need to dedicate more time to exploring its dehumanizing effect in our schools. When My School Started to Dismantle White Supremacy Culture - NGLC Rice says they use TM because it takes those who do it to a deep level of relaxation, and its easy for children to learn.