Friday, October 25, 2013

Vision 2020 in Action: Marvin Elementary School

Teachers and staff tend to stay at schools for their entire career, but for their entire lives?

Marvin families
That's what Superintendent Cindy Marten found at Marvin Elementary School in the Allied Gardens neighborhood during a recent visit, part of her A Quality School in Every Neighborhood Tour.

"I kept meeting staff members who talked about how much they loved the school," said Supt. Martin. "I found out that almost half the staff actually grew up in the neighborhood and came back to teach at the school."

Supt. Marten makes several visits to schools every week with an eye toward innovation and excellence, as well as proof of A Quality School in Every Neighborhood. An example of how Marvin has created that family feeling -- one teacher has a photo of herself as a kindergartener in her classroom. What's special about the photo is that it was taken in the same classroom where she now teaches Transitional Kindergarten.

"That cycle of what it means to be a community school was very inspiring to me," said Marten, "and all those stories matter."

Marvin Elementary is nestled in Allied Gardens, a community of mostly single-family homes. just northwest of San Diego State University. Marvin students are part of the Patrick Henry High School cluster, attending nearby Lewis Middle School as they move up through the grades.

Principal Jay Derwae points out that Marvin, with a 2013-14 enrollment of 409 students, includes Transitional Kindergarten and grades kindergarten through 5. The all-school science fair and other afterschool programs (science, aerobics, art, Spanish, basketball, soccer, jump rope) offer additional inst ruction to our children. The school's mission: that all students will learn to their fullest potential in a safe and clean environment.
Marvin Elementary School
Principal Jay Derwae
5720 Brunswick Avenue
San Diego, CA 92120
(619) 583-1355 – Office
(619) 582-7853 - Fax