Surrounded by drugs and gang violence, the kids were stressed out and agitated. Its important to note that these responses work to maintain current consciousness and white supremacy. Visitacion Valley Middle School provides quality education that prepares students for a fulfilling life in a global society. 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. 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 Yes, this is built into our systems of power, structures, policies, and rules. When I first heard about it I thought it probably wasnt going to work, says ODriscoll. 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). Thats amazing for an urban middle school, he said. A pioneering programme has reduced stress and improved grades at Visitacion Valley middle school with lessons other schools can learn from. And a 2015 review of the program, issued by the Center for Wellness and Achievement in $5,220. Likewise, test scores have increased in recent years but still remain low compared to other SFUSD middle schools. He blogs at culturallyresponsiveleadership.com and is a racial equity leadership coach. 336 Wilde Ave , San Francisco, CA 94134-2252 is a single-family home listed for-sale at $988,888. One other middle school and two high schools in the Bay Area adopted the program. But to start, we must go inward. 82616 to call in a student absence. It feels good to have that reputation.. Now our previous work on Culturally Responsive Teaching, use of rubrics, and adding student voice had a theoretical underpinning. $1,150,000 Last Sold Price. and San Pablo, CA. Please read our Welcome Back letter. 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. CWAE specialists counseled students on meditation techniques and five full-time staffers remain on campus to help maintain the program. Physical Education teacher Barry ODriscoll agreed that Quiet Time has helped improve the staffs quality of life. wall," a reminder of trouble that awaits them when the afternoon bell rings.. 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. I also enjoy cooking (and eating) good food with family and friends. 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. 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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). 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. 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. It is the water we are swimming in. However, when we name oppression, racism, and more explicitly White Supremacy Culture, folks have to determine where they stand, what they value, and why they work in education. Our teachers use Community Building and Restorative Practices. This school used to be known as the fight school, he said. Racial-equity leaders must be both intentional and responsive when doing this anti-racist work. Dont just throw it into 2,000 schools, he says. Programs School Data Contact Info Visitacion Valley Middle School Grades 6-8 It can result in white rage, broken relationships, grievances, and further harm to oppressed students. A Bay Area native, Jill earned a master's degree in journalism at the University of Colorado, Boulder and a bachelor's degree from the UC Santa Barbara. For over 10 years, Visitacion Valley Middle School has been utilizing Transcendental Meditation to help students address stress and improve focus. Places. MLS# 423725010. What Happened When My School Started to Dismantle White Supremacy Given that the students in the study were performing below par at baseline, these results White Supremacy Culture. 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. Homeowners' Insurance. Our courageous educators got personal, thinking about how White Supremacy Culture shows up in their personal lives and between colleagues. increased attendance and increased academic performance. Lastly, this work connected well with our concurrent work of racial affinity groups, social-justice teaching, and revising our school mission statement. "He's like our own American Idol," Garcia said. Property Taxes. . Visitacion Valley Middle School basks in principal-of-year award - SFGATE Visitacion Valley Elementary School parents call for removal of levels of self-confidence and happiness. Angelica Mahinay, Visitacion Valleys 8thgrade student body president, said Quiet Time gives her more energy. 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. 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. But adopting the programme isnt without its challenges. California Principal Named 2008 MetLife/NASSP National Middle - PRWeb Academic Support and Learning Enrichment - R.O.C.K. Further, staff moved to thinking about how our school practices perpetuate WSC and send negative messages to our students. It contains 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. cd77petanque.com Informacin detallada del sitio web y la empresa 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. This might include wanting to win an argument, not making space for others to talk, and rushing through meetings. I saw this personally at VVMS, as situations got awkward, uncomfortable, and uncertain. View property details, photos, and neighborhood info. [2] Under the management of the San Francisco Board of Education, the district serves more than 55,500 students in more than 160 institutions. 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. The results of 17 studies conducted to date in the Bay Area, varying in duration from three months to one year, showed benefits across parameters including reduced stress, increased emotional intelligence, reduced suspensions, Racial-equity work is like trying to defuse a bomb and cutting the wrong wire. 2023 San Francisco Unified School District, Week 25 newsletter in different languages, Week 24 newsletter in different languages, Week 21 newsletter in different languages. 958 Ingerson Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94124 - RocketHomes Search for Public Schools - Visitacion Valley Middle (063441005678) There was a time when Visitacion Valley middle school in San Francisco could have featured in a gritty US crime drama. Visitacion Valley Middle School - San Francisco | DonorsChoose Imagine that. Property has a great layout with large kitchen, formal dining room, living room and decent size bedrooms. This prompts staff to reflect and ultimately declare, "I want to be an anti-racist teacher, but I don't exactly know how." This page was last updated on June 8, 2021. I value growth because I am constantly reviewing data, asking how we can be better for our students. 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. It is the water we are swimming in. Nearly 90 percent of Visitacion Valleys students are classified by the district as socioeconomically disadvantaged and more than 40 percent are English Language Learners. White Supremacy Culture is the silent killer flowing throughout classrooms and school hallways, like carbon monoxide gas. Our courageous educators got personal, thinking about how White Supremacy Culture shows up in their personal lives and between colleagues. The programme, introduced to all ages, sees students sit for 15 minutes of meditation twice a day. 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. Visitacion Valley Elementary School - San Francisco, California - CA 2. This pushed some folks to identify who they could be safe with, be it for comfort or growth. We focus on equitable teaching practices and encourage student participation. We might get verbal disagreements, but the kids are able to talk through it and move on instead of punching each other, says ODriscoll, adding that the last fist fight at the school was three years ago. This work has gotten co-opted and watered down, leading to many people talking the talk, without much walk. The social-emotional learning of students in grades 4-12 is also assessed. Visitacion Valley still struggles with significant challenges. WSC shuts down learning. Imagine that. View SFUSD's most recent athletics participation dataor past years' reports. I am privileged to be able to continue to work with our dedicated staff, AMAZING students, and supportive parents. Parent Advocates - ParentAdvocates.org Week 25 newsletter in different languages. It is invisible and it is toxic. And although this program has focused on schools in low-income areas, adolescents from middle-class and affluent families could benefit from stress reduction as well. This requires dismantling White Supremacy Culture and building a new foundation for an anti-racist and empowering education. In addition, we might see curricula that affirms and engages students of color. Parks near 132 Britton St include Crocker Amazon Playground, Visitacion Valley Greenway, and Bayview Park. In my spare time, I enjoy camping and traveling. Eighth grader Art Parkeenvincha moved to San Francisco from Canada in the middle of this year. He said the neighborhood around Visitacion Valley can be rife with violence and crime. 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. Visitacion Valley Elementary School - San Francisco, CA In my dream, I imagine that Culturally Responsive Teaching, restorative practices, and deeper learning are all alive in classrooms across the United States. Principals Page / Principal Bio - Seneca Valley School District Meditation program mends troubled Visitacion Valley Middle School "I am feeling elated," he said after the announcement and celebration in the school's auditorium. Now that the shock of reading these words has worn off, let's explore what it is and why we need to dedicate more time to exploring its dehumanizing effect in our 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). 379 Winding Way, San Francisco, CA 94112 | Compass 420 Harkness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94134 | MLS #422713413 | Zillow By Owner New Construction These properties are currently listed for sale. It can result in white rage, broken relationships, grievances, and further harm to oppressed students. 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. Therefore, it was necessary to create shared understandings and subsequent commitments, which was facilitated by exploring a framework of White Supremacy Culture. An easy way to remember our website is to memorize our bit.ly URL! Students are encouraged to use the time to meditate, but Dierke says students can simply clear their mind, think about schoolwork, or even sleep. Index of Northern California - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Valley Middle School So the privately funded non-profit Center for Wellness and Achievement in Education (CWAE) was set up. 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." Consequently, all other cognitive functions such as learning, problem solving, or creative thinking stop, (Hammond, 2015) activating our fight, flight, or freeze response. . We needed to go deeper than our previous conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Former principal of Visitacion Valley Middle School in San Francisco and a former Principal of the Year. Visitacion Valley Middle School, Public District Grades 6-8; Revere (Paul) Elementary School, Public District Grades KG-8; . Our GPA has trended up significantly since the start of Quiet Time., All of this indicates that we are winning the battle against the predictor power of demographics. Speak with a TM teacher: 888-LEARN-TM (888-532-7686), Stanford research: TM is twice as effective, Reduced for adults, And just like that, a hush fell over the auditorium. Grades: 9-12. . 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. She is a frequent guest on KQED's "Newroom" television show and "Forum" radio show. Get the latest education news delivered to your inbox daily. For example, pushing students to work independently or write before processing verbally can lead to stress and isolation. 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. As a result of these high-stress conditions, thousands of schools have predictable problems: low attendance, high violence, and low performance. Yes, it is exhibited by leaders at all levels, including me. The Transcendental Meditation technique is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis or treatment. This took the form of discussions, watching short video clips, annotating readings, and doing some deep personal introspection. WSC dehumanizes people of color. Ultimately, we are here to help students empower themselves through education. TM in San Francisco Schools Improves Learning and Behavior But now I meditate twice a day, and I do it at home. Further, we must look at how it has affected us and how we have perpetuated White Supremacy Culture. Don't be confused. Many have little or no parental oversight. As for getting the children to start. after meditating, I can sit down for a whole class without standing up. Barry ODriscoll, the schools director of physical education for the past 14 years, said, In the first seven An assistant principal suggested the idea for quiet time after she saw Hollywood director David Lynch speak about the program and the accompanying benefits of transcendental meditation. 132 Britton St, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94134 - Redfin 379 Winding Way, San Francisco, CA 94112 is a single family home listed for sale at $1,280,000. What Is Critical Race Theory, and Why Is It Under Attack? It helps me not be so tired during school, she said. We needed to go deeper than our previous conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion. The work of exploring White Supremacy Culture gave our staff a new framework to define our North Star, being an anti-racist school. Most of the students seemed disinterested in Dierkes announcements about the springs impending graduation, upcoming field trips, and recent birthdays. All school events, including athletic events, will be posted in this calendar. School communities gather twice a year to review data and previous actions in order to intentionally plan for the coming months. One day children came in to find three dead bodies dumped in the schoolyard. live well. Our Zoom link is: https://sfusd.zoom.us/j/89260175755?pwd=R2VLdWJQOVdySElJa1c2UUhCTkw5QT09. The School Plan for Student Achievement is the template on which this review and stakeholder engagement process is codified. "Although authorities captured the person, parents could have demanded changes at the school," a statement from the principals' association said. By Joe Truss, the principal of Visitacion Valley Middle School in San Francisco and a leadership coach. Visitacion Valley Middle School is part of San Francisco Unified School District. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me for anything (harrisc@sfusd.edu). We are committed to Love, Literacy, and Liberation. However, when we name oppression, racism, and more explicitly White Supremacy Culture, folks have to determine where they stand, what they value, and why they work in education. Anecdotally, favorable feedback poured in from both students and staff members. Once white fragility is defined and debriefed amongst a team, we can begin to talk about racism, anti-racism, and White Supremacy Culture. foot 2 bed, 2 bath townhouse for sale. Visitacion Valley Middle - School Directory Details (CA Dept of Education) I began my career in education in Richmond, CA. Please refer to legal details concerning copyright and trademark protection. Students straightened their backs and closed their eyes. The school faces declining enrollment, test scores that don't meet federal standards, teacher turnover, truancy and a high neighborhood crime rate. 3rd Street Youth Center & Clinic Government Administration SAN FRANCISCO, California Mad Sal's Dockside Inn in Ale House Alley, and Mission Blue. visitacion valley middle School students 14The QuieT Time Program DaviD Lynch FounDaTion 1 5 7. It is time that we detox and make the invisible visible. 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 View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow. 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. Published annually by SFUSD to provide access to key data points and three-year trends related to student achievement and school culture-climate. Having served the past two years as Assistant Principal, VVMS is a community that I love and care for. 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 Now, Photo at top courtesy of Joe Truss: VVMS staff match examples of White Supremacy Culture to the definition of each characteristic. Visitacion Valley Middle is a public school located in San Francisco, CA, which is in a large city setting. NBC News Cynthia McFadden, Tim Sandler and. 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. Norman E. Rosenthal is a psychiatrist and the author of Super Mind: How to Boost Performance and Live a Richer and Happier Life Through Transcendental Meditation.. For instance, we might see folks making eye contact, leaning into conversations about racial identity, and asking probing questions. This has the power to unite folks at the foundational level, setting the stage for deeper commitments to learning new strategies, practices, and routines. Just as long as they are quiet. Other schools have taken a few minutes off lunch and tutorials. Yordy teaches world history, civics, and freshman seminar and volunteers as a program mentor. and our Visitacion Valley Middle School Spark Program site. At times, it appeared that we weren't clearly aligned philosophically and did not have a focused call to action. 1971 Visitacion Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94134, We look forward to welcoming everyone back to school starting. It really is quiet time.. This has included making decisions about curriculum, school partnership, and hiring, without authentically involving teachers or students in the process. Quantum Physicist (16:40), By Mario Orsatti on 02/15/2012 Blog Home. 336 Wilde Ave, San Francisco, CA 94134 | MLS #423724059 | Zillow This might include wanting to win an argument, not making space for others to talk, and rushing through meetings. We will share information about our school and answer your questions. fear. 4 Beds. 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. It's important to note that these responses work to maintain current consciousness and white supremacy.