visitacion valley middle school principal
Due to stereotype threat, this is especially problematic when students of color are a numerical minority in a classroom or school. For example, pushing students to work independently or write before processing verbally can lead to stress and isolation. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me for anything (. Thus, we are building a collective purpose and a commitment to learning. Before becoming the Assistant Principal at VVMS, I served as an Assistant Principal at two different elementary schools in Richmond, CA. There was a time when Visitacion Valley middle school in San Francisco could have featured in a gritty US crime drama. James Dierke, Principal of Visitacion Valley Middle School in San Francisco, like so many thousands of principals and teachers who are working in inner-city schools throughout the US, knows how frustrating it can be trying to provide an education in Americas low income, high stress localities. But to start, we must go inward. Only two teachers have left in the past five years, outside of retirements and district layoffs. For over 10 years, Visitacion Valley Middle School has been utilizing Transcendental Meditation to help students address stress and improve focus. Visitacion Valley Middle School In my spare time, I enjoy camping and traveling. So the privately funded non-profit Center for Wellness and Achievement in Education (CWAE) was set up. Please read our Welcome Back letter. A Clipper Card is not required for buses and trains, however it is needed to receive a free fare on cable cars. Some conversations fell flat, and others were superficial. Distance: 1.7 mi. Get Well's Running email for practical tips, expert advice, exclusive content and a bit of motivation delivered to your inbox every week to help you on your running journey. Report an absence. What Happened When My School Started to Dismantle White Supremacy Culture, The Standing Up for Racial Justice coalition, http://culturallyresponsiveleadership.com/. Over the next three years, Visitacion Valleys suspensions dropped by 79 percent, attendance rose to 98 percent, 3. Search for Public Schools - Visitacion Valley Middle (063441005678) The programme, introduced to all ages, sees students sit for 15 minutes of meditation twice a day. This week's important updates are available! Even in failure, there is growth, if you are using a critical lens to understand and improve. Students at Visitacion Valley School in San Francisco meditate, as part of a program in which students meditate for fifteen minutes twice a day. for the lowest performing demographic was double that for the overall student group. the Visitacion Valley principal who brought the program to life in 2007. Students, families, and school staff can email requests to sflink@sfusd.edu,call 415-340-1716(M-F, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m., closed from 12 to 1 p.m. every day), or complete an online request form. (DiAngelo, 2018). Eighth grader Art Parkeenvincha moved to San Francisco from Canada in the middle of this year. 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. 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." Saratoga, California, United States. Anecdotally, favorable feedback poured in from both students and staff members. Nearby Public Schools The nearest high school to Visitacion Valley Middle School is Burton (Phillip And Sala) Academic High School(0.6 miles away) The nearest middle school is Bayshore(0.6 miles away) Students. Further, staff moved to thinking about how our school practices perpetuate WSC and send negative messages to our students. This has the power to unite folks at the foundational level, setting the stage for deeper commitments to learning new strategies, practices, and routines. 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. [2] Under the management of the San Francisco Board of Education, the district serves more than 55,500 students in more than 160 institutions. Visitacion Valley Middle School, Public District Grades 6-8; Revere (Paul) Elementary School, Public District Grades KG-8; . A lot of the kids have deep anger issues or problems focusing, she says. I like to think of myself as a recovering perpetrator of WSC. Mad Sal's Dockside Inn in Ale House Alley, and Mission Blue. 266 Curtis St, San Francisco, CA 94112 | MLS #423718391 | Zillow The art of relaxation: ideas to get students to unwind and recharge, How two minutes of mindfulness can calm a class and boost attainment, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. In Violent Neighborhood, 15 Minutes of Meditation Calms Students $93. Which Type of Exercise Is Best for the Brain? . This took the form of discussions, watching short video clips, annotating readings, and doing some deep personal introspection. Check out the 2022-23 academic calendar here. Dont just throw it into 2,000 schools, he says. 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. $365. [3] Having served the past two years as Assistant Principal, VVMS is a community that I love and care for. expanded to serve middle school children and grow with the kids it was already serving. She used to have trouble at home and get into fights with her family, says ODriscoll. We are the operators of some piece of the education machine, and therefore, if we change our actions, we can change the larger system. The award, given by the National Association of Secondary School Principals, includes a $5,000 award for the school. The school has something to offer everyone, from new programs of study and a variety of clubs to join. Visitacion Valley Middle School basks in principal-of-year award, campusviolence03_005_cs.jpg When the staff at Visitacion Valley Middle School explored White Supremacy Culture, it gave them a new framework to define their North Star: being an anti-racist school. For instance, we might see folks making eye contact, leaning into conversations about racial identity, and asking probing questions. Visitacion Valley Middle School is a public school in San Francisco, California that is part of San Francisco Unified School District. And thats one of the challenges., However, Swarana Patel, a teacher in a north London secondary school where behaviour is often an obstacle, can see the benefits of a more intensive programme like this. At first glance, it might not appear the principal of the year would come out of Visitacion Valley. Find COVID-19 testing, vaccine, and daily health screening information. Visitacion Valley still struggles with significant challenges. The most recentnewsletteris linked below in the Week 25 section and also in our Families section. and our Visitacion Valley Middle School Spark Program site. Education in collaboration with the San Francisco Unified School District research department, had more good news. Main Office: 952-431-8300. Angelica Mahinay, Visitacion Valleys 8thgrade student body president, said Quiet Time gives her more energy. It is the water we are swimming in. Then, Dierke struck a bell and said, Okay, its quiet time.. Phones will be closed on school holidays, including the fall, winter and spring breaks. Now, levels of self-confidence and happiness. The highlights are available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Filipino, and Vietnamese. At times, it appeared that we werent clearly aligned philosophically and did not have a focused call to action. They simultaneously tell us that we are not good enough and keep us to the bottom rungs of racial hierarchy if we do not assimilate. We will share information about our school and answer your questions. Grades: 6-8. Imagine that. Chris Stewart / The Chronicle Visitation Valley Middle School, campus violence MANDATORY CREDIT FOR PHOTOG AND SF CHRONICLE/NO SALES-MAGS OUT, No seriously, dont drive up to Tahoe this weekend, Horoscope for Friday, 3/03/23 by Christopher Renstrom, Horoscope for Saturday, 3/04/23 by Christopher Renstrom, Snowboarder dies at Tahoe ski resort following historic blizzard, Wife of Jeffrey Vandergrift issues somber update, Oakland ransomware attackers leak 'confidential' data, Mochi muffin bakery closes SF cafe after just 4 months, Even Salesforces tower HQ isnt safe from office cuts, The Warriors broke Russell Westbrook, just like old times, The best fried chicken is at a San Francisco strip club, National Association of Secondary School Principals, You can still overpack the smaller Monos check-in suitcase, In search of vegan food, I found a world-class Mendocino inn, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). 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. I am privileged to be able to continue to work with our dedicated staff, AMAZING students, and supportive parents. In my dream, I imagine that educators can become comfortable talking about race and how it informs the work of educating children. 1500 Visitacion Ave, San Francisco, CA is a single family home that contains 1,068 sq ft and was built in 1944. Once white fragility is defined and debriefed amongst a team, we can begin to talk about racism, anti-racism, and White Supremacy Culture. Racial-equity work is like trying to defuse a bomb and cutting the wrong wire. Out of view, city dignitaries and his students waited inside Visitacion Valley Middle School to surprise him with the news: He was the National Middle School Principal of the Year.. On a recent morning at Visitacion Valley Middle School in South San Francisco, Principal James Dierke looked out over the schools auditorium at more than 100 eighth graders. In order to build this ideal structure, we must start at the base and engineer for equity. If I can be vulnerable and honest, white educators can and must do the same. If I can be vulnerable and honest, white educators can and must do the same. To do it properly Visitacion Valley middle school made the day 30 minutes longer. This might include wanting to win an argument, not making space for others to talk, and rushing through meetings. These beliefs lead to actions that are dehumanizing to all races of people; however, they have a more drastic effect on indigenous, black, and people of color (IBPOC). Others rested them on the backs of their chairs. As for getting the children to start. Joe Truss Students at Visitacion Valley School in South San Francisco observe 15 minutes of quiet time every morning. (Dan Schreiber/The Examiner) In 2004, two students discovered the partially decomposed body of a 19-year-old stabbing victim. 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. Additionally, kids get to participate in fun activities, including recreation, cooking, dance, technology and leadership. Don't be confused.