About the School
Mission Statement | Our History | School Information | Inclusion | Involvement
Mission Statement
Our mission is to empower student learning by teaching tolerance and non-violence, celebrating our diversity, achieving academic excellence, and fostering strong family-school-community connections. At Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy, you will be encouraged to become an active participant in your child’s educational journey.
Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy is a small alternative school in the Castro and named after its most famous persona: Harvey Milk! We are committed to developing literacy skills in an enriched environment. Science and math are emphasized in a hands-on, inquiry-based curriculum. Our social studies program emphasizes global awareness and student activism. Our school library, visual and performing arts, field trips, outdoor education, computers, and music enhance our strong academic program. We are a Model Inclusion Program. Educational needs of children are also met by providing services for GATE students, a Resource Specialist Program, a Computer Teacher, Literacy Specialist, Tutors, ELD instruction and extensive Health Resources on site. Children are assigned to “Families” that meet to foster cross-grade activities. We have before and after school programs and enrichment clubs.
We have an open door policy to parents, and believe all staff and parents should be involved in the decision-making process within the school. We focus on helping children develop self-control and a personal commitment to values with such programs as First PASS and Conflict Managers. We are proud of our ongoing relationships with SF School Volunteers and its Adopt-A-School program – we have several very active community partners.
Our overall objective is to guide the development of a well-rounded human being who has the ability, skills and attitude to become a contributing asset to self, family, community and society.
Our History
The original campus housed Douglass Elementary School until the early 1950′s.
On June 25, 1996, San Francisco Unified School District’s Board of Education voted to rename Douglass School to Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy. Superintendent Waldemar Rojas and Principal Sandra Leigh dedicated the school to Harvey Milk.
School Hours
9:30am – 3:30pm
Before School Program
8:00 am – 9:10 am – Open to all grades – Donations are welcome!
After School Program
3:30 pm – 5:30 pm – Late bus provided – Contact Susan Tramontana (after-school coordinator) at (415) 241-6276 for more information – In addition to homework support, the after school program, funded through grants and donations to Friends of Harvey Milk, offers a variety of clubs and activities such as: art club, sports club, hip-hop club, and more.
Visiting & Volunteering
Families are always welcome! Please register in the office for a visitor’s pass.
School Tours
Parent School Tours are on Tuesdays & Wednesdays – October 11th, 2011 – November 30th, 2011 from 10:00am – 11:00am. Tours are drop in. If you have any questions, contact Shawn Maceira (Parent Liaison) via email at pfc
harveymilk
com (pfcharveymilkcom) .
Inclusion is about ALL of us. Inclusion is about living full lives – about learning to live together. Inclusion makes the world our classroom for a full life. Inclusion treasures diversity and builds community. Inclusion is about our ‘abilities’ – our gifts and how to share them. Inclusion is NOT just a ‘disability’ issue.
What else is inclusion?
- Educating students with disabilities in their neighborhood schools
- Placing students in their age-appropriate grade for homeroom with a daily schedule that is like other students in the grade
- Providing the special education services and supports in general education classes
- Providing planning time for teachers and other service providers to plan for the implementation of special education services in general education classes
- Providing regular collaborative planning time for teachers to communicate about the design of lessons and accommodations for individual students
- Providing professional development opportunities for both special and general educators on strategies to use inclusive instructional practices
- Having all staff members support the inclusion of all students, understanding that this may mean learning new strategies and collaborating with others
- Using “person-first” language when referring to students with disabilities (for example, student with Downs Syndrome, not “a Downs student”)
- Actively encouraging and implementing activities that promote social acceptance and the development of friendships between students of different abilities
For more information, visit www.inclusiveschools.org
Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy has a WONDERFUL open door policy! Every parent is encouraged to be involved, not only their child’s education, but with every HMCRA child. We know that parents cannot be involved everyday, but we encourage every parent to do what they can. See our “Get Involved” section for a menu of all of our volunteer opportunities and the Who?, What?, When?, and Where? for each activity. If you would like to volunteer, have any questions, concerns, or ideas to help our volunteering continue to be a great success, please contact Shawn Maceira (Parent Liaison) at school or email: pfcharveymilkcom (pfcharveymilkcom) .