We look forward to welcoming everyone back to school starting Wednesday, August 17, 2022. This post originally appeared in KQED's MindShiftblog. $1,862. Modern Band (music) with contemporary instruments, Visuals Arts, Ethnic Studies, Computer Science, Dramatic Arts, and Spanish! $365. As a leader, it is easy to hoard power, claim objectivity in decisionmaking, or believe that there is only one way to fix education. New Principle, amazing teachers and support staff. In my dream, I imagine that Culturally Responsive Teaching, restorative practices, and deeper learning are all alive in classrooms across the United States. Surrounded by drugs and gang violence, the kids were stressed out and agitated. Yes, this is built into our systems of power, structures, policies, and rules. A $60K Starting Salary for Teachers? $1,041. Over the next three years, Visitacion Valleys suspensions dropped by 79 percent, attendance rose to 98 percent, Visitacion Valley Middle School - find test scores, ratings, reviews, and 36 nearby homes for sale at realtor.com. We are continually navigating the phases of a 'call out to call in culture' with each other.". The first pitfall is failing to scaffold for white privilege and white fragility. 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. What Is Critical Race Theory, and Why Is It Under Attack? Visitacion Valley Middle School. This has the power to unite folks at the foundational level, setting the stage for deeper commitments to learning new strategies, practices, and routines. Dierke, who has been principal at the school for 13 years, said things reached a turning point about five years ago. David Lynch Foundation (20:44), John Hagelin, PhD In their schools, the Quiet Time/Transcendental Meditation program is playing a key role in that breakthrough. It has 358 students in grades 6-8 with a student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1. Anecdotally, favorable feedback poured in from both students and staff members. Not a Single State Meets the Bar, How One School's Mentorship Program Paid Off Big in Academic Gains, Revisiting Educator Collaboration: We Should Think Differently About How We Form Teams, Best Practices for Implementing DE&I PD for Teachers. Due to stereotype threat, this is especially problematic when students of color are a numerical minority in a classroom or school. The School Plan for Student Achievement is the template on which this review and stakeholder engagement process is codified. And just like that, a hush fell over the auditorium. 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. Ultimately, we are here to help students empower themselves through education. We are the operators of some piece of the education machine, and therefore, if we change our actions, we can change the larger system. Speak with a TM teacher: 888-LEARN-TM (888-532-7686), Stanford research: TM is twice as effective, Reduced for adults, We can have equity missions plastered on walls and front that we are about closing the opportunity gap, but we don't go deeper than diversity trainings. The Standing Up for Racial Justice coalition defines White Supremacy Culture as the idea (ideology) that white people and the ideas, thoughts, beliefs, and actions of white people are superior to those of People of Color. Dont be confused. With the help of the David Lynch Foundation and the San Francisco-based Center for Wellness and Achievement in Education (CWAE), Visitacion Valley trained teachers on how to conduct Quiet Time sessions in their class. 3rd Street Youth Center & Clinic Government Administration SAN FRANCISCO, California WSC shuts down learning. It feels good to have that reputation.. One teacher, Mary Chirichella added, Some teachers had the courage to approach others to have tough conversations about microaggressions. One day children came in to find three dead bodies dumped in the schoolyard. View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow. Students are encouraged to use the time to meditate, but Dierke says students can simply clear their mind, think about schoolwork, or even sleep. "I think that it really means something - not only for me, but for my staff and for my kids - to have this recognition.". The most recentnewsletteris linked below in the Week 25 section and also in our Families section. White Supremacy Culture. I think its helped my golf game, too.. They are more motivated, more confident, more focused, more successful and more joyful. in San Francisco. 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. Select Week, Month, or Agenda to see different views of the calendar. wall," a reminder of trouble that awaits them when the afternoon bell rings.. Visitacion Valley Middle is a public school located in San Francisco, CA, which is in a large city setting. As a leader, I hold three core values close to me: connection, growth, and appreciation. This pushed some folks to identify who they could be safe with, be it for comfort or growth. Thus, we are building a collective purpose and a commitment to learning. stress and its manifestations for example, anxiety, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Listed by Gaye Harrison DRE #01319223 World Premier Realty Redfin checked: just now (Mar 2, 2023 at 11:15pm) Source: BAREIS #422707922 Home Facts Status Active Racial-equity leaders must be both intentional and responsive when doing this anti-racist work. Anther example might be superficially speeding through content or discouraging interruptions for questions. We are committed to Love, Literacy, and Liberation. San Francisco Unified School District ( SFUSD ), established in 1851, is the only public school district within the City and County of San Francisco, and the first in the state of California. I am deeply honored and excited to have the opportunity to serve as Principal of Visitacion Valley Middle School. 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. Annual math and English scores improved in the students who meditated, while they declined in those who didnt meditate. (DiAngelo, 2018). Young people are incredibly stressed, says Michael Matania who teaches mindfulness meditation to young people in London through a programme called Mindkit. Find COVID-19 testing, vaccine, and daily health screening information. Every day before class, Visitacion Valley Middle School students pass an informal memorial known as the "R.I.P. I can be really hyperactive, he said. Visitacion Valley Middle School in San Francisco Unified school district (Courtesy of Joe Truss). A Clipper Card is not required for buses and trains, however it is needed to receive a free fare on cable cars. In my spare time, I enjoy camping and traveling. Even in failure, there is growth, if you are using a critical lens to understand and improve. Just meditate!. Ale House Alley, Mission Blue, and Lucky's Bakery & Cafe. . 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). Students straightened their backs and closed their eyes. students, and couples, Contact a certified TM teacher The Visitacion Valley Middle school vision is that our students will strength their passion for learning, develop the skills to become empowered community members, and gain the knowledge to be ready for high school with a clear path to college, career, and future success. Informacin detallada del sitio web y la empresa: cd77petanque.com Comit de seine et marne de ptanque He partnered with the Center for Wellness and Achievement in Education to develop a Quiet Time Program for his school. Welcome to our new incoming 6th grade students! 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. Showing appreciation for things big and small, matters. Yes, this is built into our systems of power, structures, policies, and rules. Students then repeat a personal mantra (a word from Sanskrit, the ancient Indian language) in their heads until they reach a deep feeling of relaxation. Its very peaceful here now.. Teachers. Therefore, unexamined behaviors of White Supremacy Culture are preventing students from being comfortable or supported enough to learn and flourish. Angelica Mahinay, Visitacion Valleys 8thgrade student body president, said Quiet Time gives her more energy. In 2006 there were 38 killings in our neighbourhood, says Barry ODriscoll, the schools head of physical education (PE). This took the form of discussions, watching short video clips, annotating readings, and doing some deep personal introspection. Physical Education teacher Barry ODriscoll agreed that Quiet Time has helped improve the staffs quality of life. 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. SOLD JUN 13, 2022. 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. With respect to race, the foundational issue is White Supremacy Culture, and we must attack the problem head on. But now I meditate twice a day, and I do it at home. White Supremacy Culture. At VVMS, we were able to get past defensiveness and excuses and get to the heart of the matter. 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). students who meditated showed a significant decrease in anxiety and a significant increase in resilience compared to nonmeditating students. I had never done meditation before, but now I do Quiet Time. To do it properly Visitacion Valley middle school made the day 30 minutes longer. This prompts staff to reflect and ultimately declare, "I want to be an anti-racist teacher, but I don't exactly know how." In order to build this ideal structure, we must start at the base and engineer for equity. For the majority of urban students, drugs, gangs and violence are part of everyday life. I get to school at 7 a.m. for softball practice. 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. For instance, we might see folks making eye contact, leaning into conversations about racial identity, and asking probing questions. Please refer to legal details concerning copyright and trademark protection. Thus, we are building a collective purpose and a commitment to learning. 2. Racial-equity work is like trying to defuse a bomb and cutting the wrong wire. Here are two pitfalls to avoid. Before becoming the Assistant Principal at VVMS, I served as an Assistant Principal at two different elementary schools in Richmond, CA. Use the arrows to change between different dates on the calendar. suggests that meditation might significantly improve childrens school performance and help close that gap. All rights reserved. Further, staff moved to thinking about how our school practices perpetuate WSC and send negative messages to our students. Less than a year after starting Quiet Time, which is in part funded by . foot 2 bed, 2 bath townhouse for sale. In 2007 a meditation programme called Quiet Time was brought in to meet some of these challenges. He said the neighborhood around Visitacion Valley can be rife with violence and crime. Please use 651-683-6969 Ext. Anther example might be superficially speeding through content or discouraging interruptions for questions. The entire schoolfaculty, staff, and studentsspend the first and last 15 minutes of every day in silence. Dismantling WSC unites staff to work toward being anti-racist. Our kids are coming to school. Further, we must look at how it has affected us and how we have perpetuated White Supremacy Culture. The announcement was made today during a surprise ceremony at Visitacion Valley. Closing the so-called achievement gap between poor inner-city children and their more affluent suburban counterparts is among the biggest challenges for education reformers. Quiet Time isnt just a slogan but a daily regimen at Visitacion Valley. These kids hear gunshots on their way to and from school. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff. The second pitfall I will offer is avoiding the tendency to externalize the work of dismantling White Supremacy Culture. Student-centered learning advances equity when it values social and emotional growth alongside academic achievement, takes a cultural lens on strengths and competencies, and equips students with the power and skills to address injustice in their schools and communities. This presentation was made as part of a National Education Summit on Quiet Time in the Classroom Linda Esposito - What One Urban School District Can Teach the Country About Stress Relief Huffington Post, David Lynch Foundation, involved introducing two 15-minute periods of quiet into the school day. One other middle school and two high schools in the Bay Area adopted the program. Additionally, kids get to participate in fun activities, including recreation, cooking, dance, technology and leadership. I also enjoy cooking (and eating) good food with family and friends. 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. In addition, Dierke said regular Quiet Time has also helped teachers relax. The school has something to offer everyone, from new programs of study and a variety of clubs to join. [3] When Dierke took the helm of Visitacion Valley in 1999, it was the lowest-performing of San Francisco's 18 public middle schools on the state's Academic Performance Index; now the school ranks 10th. the Visitacion Valley principal who brought the program to life in 2007. Consequently, this allows for us to align our purpose with our pedagogy, curricula, policies, decisionmaking processes, and adult structures. The California School Directory and related public school and district data files (collectively referred to as the "Directory"), contain information about California schools, districts, and school/district administrators that is voluntarily self-reported by local education agencies (LEAs) to the California Department of Education (CDE) as a 3D & VIDEO TOUR. One of San Francisco's toughest schools transformed by the power of meditation SFUSD's Student Family School Resource Linksupports students and families innavigating all of the SFUSD resources available to them. Some of the work I am most proud of as a teacher and leader is building relationships with all community members to create a supportive and positive environment, as well as creating systems and using data to make informed decisions regarding instructional practices that lead to increased achievement for students. Your health questions answered by Times journalists andexperts. Later that year, a gunman brazenly stormed into the school, threatened to kill a teacher and robbed two employees. This 3-bedroom 3 bath Tri level home has a lot of character and with the right owner can be brought up to date. 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. This includes emotions of fear, anger, and guilt, as well as actions of argumentation, silence, and withdrawal. For instance, we might see folks making eye contact, leaning into conversations about racial identity, and asking probing questions. Visitacion Valley also got attention from actor Russell Brand, who visited the school just before Christmas on a trip sponsored by the David Lynch Foundation. Visitacion Valley Middle School. that teachers and students enjoy and which preliminary data suggest is effective. Visitacion Valley Elementary School Unclaimed 55 Schwerin Street, San Francisco, CA 94134 Contact info Website 5 /10 GreatSchools Rating 3 reviews Public school 338 Students Grades K-5 Updates Compare 5 /10 GreatSchools Summary Rating 5/10 Test Scores average 6/10 Academic Progress average 4/10 Equity below average Last updated: Nov 18, 2022 Callers can still leave a voicemail or send an email or request form at all hours. This has included making decisions about curriculum, school partnership, and hiring, without authentically involving teachers or students in the process. The Standing Up for Racial Justice coalition defines White Supremacy Culture as "the idea (ideology) that white people and the ideas, thoughts, beliefs, and actions of white people are superior to those of People of Color." About This Home Great Visitacion home with 2 bed/ 1bath upstairs and bonus room/bath downstairs. This is such a pattern in urban schools that researchers consider it a predictable outcome. Due to stereotype threat, this is especially problematic when students of color are a numerical minority in a classroom or school. They worked harder, paid more attention, were easier to teach and the number of fights fell dramatically.. Our school commits to delivering high quality educational program that addresses individual needs. Of even greater interest, the increase in G.P.A. 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." This requires dismantling White Supremacy Culture and building a new foundation for an anti-racist and empowering education. I thought it was just another fad. 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. Students. The Transcendental Meditation technique is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis or treatment. At that point the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) stepped in, calling Visitacion Valley "a neglected urban backwater of 18,000 with rampant crime, awful schools, and a deplorable housing project called Geneva Towers." (Gee, thanks, for the recognition, HUD.) This leads to resistance or failure to follow through, maintaining a status quo of disproportionate outcomes for students based on race. Theres an explosion of mental health problems among young people and its going to be incredibly expensive to treat in the future. But this messy middle is precisely when we need to stay curious, be vulnerable, and innovative. Principal & interest $1,163. WSC shuts down learning. 1971 Visitacion Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94134. For years, educators' requests for more. At VVMS, we were able to get past defensiveness and excuses and get to the heart of the matter. This page was last updated on June 8, 2021. Public, 6-8 Serves this home. It is invisible and it is toxic. "He's like our own American Idol," Garcia said. Coming soon. View more recently sold homes. Monday - Thursday 3:15 p.m.; Program offered free of charge from end of school day until 6 p.m.; Saturday Field Trips and Summer Programs, Rosetta Stone (foreign language instruction), STEAM (science; technology; engineering; arts; mathematics). 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. Check out the 2022-23 academic calendar here. for publication. Also, our school is rich in ethnicity and culture. San Francisco principal Jim Dierke knew something was up when he saw more cars than usual parked in front of his school Friday morning. This home last sold for $840,000 on Feb 2, 2021. I look forward to our partnership this upcoming school year and collaborating with all of you to support our brilliant students. What Happened When My School Started to Dismantle White Supremacy Culture, The Standing Up for Racial Justice coalition, http://culturallyresponsiveleadership.com/. It really is quiet time.. The school faces declining enrollment, test scores that don't meet federal standards, teacher turnover, truancy and a high neighborhood crime rate. This work has gotten co-opted and watered down, leading to many people talking the talk, without much walk. Finally, this work is some of the most challenging, but rewarding work there is. By 2009-10, attendance rates were over 98% (some of the highest in the city), and today 20% of graduates are admitted to the highly academic Lowell high school before it was rare for even one student to be accepted. MLS # 423724059 Some 20 parents gathered outside of Visitacion Valley Elementary School on Thursday morning to protest what they said was a failure by the school principal to take action on pervasive bullying. For over 10 years, Visitacion Valley Middle School has been utilizing Transcendental Meditation to help students address stress and improve focus. But no one touched on the real problem stress.. If I can be vulnerable and honest, white educators can and must do the same. As Boys Get Fatter, Parents Worry One Body Part Is Too Small. In order to build this ideal structure, we must start at the base and engineer for equity. Even I, a black educator who has studied ethnic studies and critical race theory, still perpetuate tenets of White Supremacy Culture. Service Learning We publish a weekly newsletter to keep parents informed, hold workshops, and offer many opportunities for parent communication and involvement. One seventh grader at Visitacion Valley said, I used to be really fidgety, couldnt stay in my seat for very long. 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.. Lastly, this work connected well with our concurrent work of racial affinity groups, social-justice teaching, and revising our school mission statement. So the privately funded non-profit Center for Wellness and Achievement in Education (CWAE) was set up. I noticed a lot of them missing school, fighting, and getting angry a lot. It can result in white rage, broken relationships, grievances, and further harm to oppressed students. Real Options for City Kids (R.O.C.K.) Joe Truss is a native of San Francisco, previous High School Spanish Teacher, and now a 5th year Principal at Visitacion Valley Middle School (@vvmsfalcons). Given that the students in the study were performing below par at baseline, these results The trouble is we don't even see it. This might include wanting to win an argument, not making space for others to talk, and rushing through meetings. Having served the past two years as Assistant Principal, VVMS is a community that I love and care for. 609-611 Naples Street is a 2-bed, 2-bath, 1,850 sqft multi-family home built in 1947. You can find more information about the fair at sfusd.edu/fair. One teacher, Mary Chirichella added, "Some teachers had the courage to approach others to have tough conversations about microaggressions. This content is provided by our sponsor. Property has a great layout with large kitchen, formal dining room, living room and decent size bedrooms. Thats what were gradually doing here., The payoff might be most evident in students like Angelica Mahinay, who says, Man, when I hear students getting an attitude, or theyre saying theyre going to fight, I say, Hey! 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. San Francisco Superintendent Carlos Garcia told Dierke's students Friday that their principal was chosen from among the thousands of middle school principals across the country. 3 Baths. CWAE specialists counseled students on meditation techniques and five full-time staffers remain on campus to help maintain the program. This school used to be known as the fight school, he said. expanded to serve middle school children and grow with the kids it was already serving. This is true for our staff as well, contributing to racial fatigue and staff sustainability for IBPOC. With after-school programs at both Visitacion Valley Middle School and El Dorado Elementary School, R.O.C.K. The social-emotional learning of students in grades 4-12 is also assessed. 420 Harkness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94134 | MLS #422713413 | Zillow By Owner New Construction These properties are currently listed for sale. This prompts staff to reflect and ultimately declare, I want to be an anti-racist teacher, but I dont exactly know how. This has the power to unite folks at the foundational level, setting the stage for deeper commitments to learning new strategies, practices, and routines. In addition, meditating students reported sleeping better as well as higher and students grade point averages rose each year. Therefore, unexamined behaviors of White Supremacy Culture are preventing students from being comfortable or supported enough to learn and flourish. When I first heard about it I thought it probably wasnt going to work, says ODriscoll. Visitacion Valley still struggles with significant challenges. Now our previous work on Culturally Responsive Teaching, use of rubrics, and adding student voice had a theoretical underpinning. Visitacion Valley Middle School 1971 Visitacion Ave. San Francisco, CA 94134 ( School attendance zone shown in map) Tel: (415) 469-4590 www.sfusd.edu SAVE SCHOOL Visitacion Valley Middle School serves 358 students in grades 6-8. I like to think of myself as a recovering perpetrator of WSC. 322 Bayview Cir, San Francisco, CA, 94124 is a 1,317 sq. Now, I have other principals asking me about Quiet Time. Even I, a black educator who has studied ethnic studies and critical race theory, still perpetuate tenets of White Supremacy Culture. increased attendance and increased academic performance. Sign up for the Well Family newsletter to get the latest news on parenting, child health and relationships with advice from our experts to help every family As a leader, it is easy to hoard power, claim objectivity in decision making, or believe that there is only one way to fix education. Other schools have taken a few minutes off lunch and tutorials. Real Options for City Kids (R.O.C.K.) "Instead, the parents demonstrated their faith in Dierke's leadership by not withdrawing any children from the school.".