Venetia Valley Elementary School

I live in the neighborhood, and was very nervous about sending my kindergartner to school here. I had heard so many bad things about VV, but my kid is just a poor fit for the private school my other children have attended. I have to tell you that I have been very pleasantly surprised by our experience with VV. My son's teacher is the best Kindergarten teacher that any of my 4 kids have had, and it seems that the new principal has really upped the level of leadership at the school. I have no complaints--I think this school has the potential of becoming really great.
—Submitted by a parent

I have one child here, and another joining next year. VV has some of the best teachers, and now one of the best principals in all of Marin. After a series of district failures to provide consistent leadership, Juan Rodriguez is a prayer answered at the helm. The school has a new and exciting energy to it which you won't see anywhere else. Issues involving test scores and community involvement are simply, directly and literally solved by local families choosing to send their children there. We hope the new leadership and vision will inspire exactly that.
—Submitted by a parent

Both of my kids attend this school and are doing great! I am impressed with the new administration and all the changes being made. This could be a great "neighborhood" school if our neighbors would just attend. This school offers tons of diversity and a real life experience.
—Submitted by a parent

Our experience at VV was not a positive one. I hope for the sake of the school that the new leadership really takes a firm stand against bullying and lack of dicipline in the classroom. Most of the kids in our neighborhood attend private school but we wanted to give VV a chance. We lasted a year and that as it.
—Submitted by a parent

Just an update--Venetia Valley has a new principal--Mr. Rodriques who is a brilliant educator and administrator, also the recent recipient of the Golden Bell Award. Judith Colton has done an outstanding job as interim principal, problem solving the issues that her predecessor, Pepe the Clown had inflicted upon the school and upon the teachers by extension. It's getting better all the time at Venetia Valley now these outstanding educators have gotten a chance to shine under the rays of strong and positive leadership. Please give your local school a chance before dismissing it--visit the classrooms, see the good work which is being conducted here. This school is a little gem nestled in the hills of Marin County.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a great school and community! The teachers all work very hard, students are happy and everyone in office puts 100% of their heart into the school. I think it is funny when parents say that teachers are stressed, because they have no idea, what really goes on. Be kind to your school, any teacher at any school is stressed, if they weren't it would be a sign that they didn't care.

V.V. is a great school. Yes it has problems but what schools don't. The teachers are the best, and no they are not tired. I volunteer at least 3 hours every week so i am there and the problems the last reviewer stated are just FALSE. We do need more parents to step up and care,and help in these tough financial times. We need parents who care and are willing to help their children and local school succeed, and not just walk away. V.V. will keep improving, if parents and the community will work together,but it takes time. I am glad these people with bad attitudes are leaving, since they are the ones showing no respect to their community, or children. A child needs to make friends where they live and not be dropped into a new class and community due to a short sighted parent. False facts like the ''droves'' leaving are false, just check the enrollment figures..I grew up in San Rafael and I am proud to be an 'involved parent of a child at V,V.
—Submitted by a parent

I agree that Venetia Valley is a great school. The teachers are wonderful. They really pay attention to the needs of each kid and have promptly responded to me whenever I have had a question about my children's academic or social development. We have a beautiful library, computer in labs and in the classrooms, Playworks is onsite to organize recess and lunch activities, a new kindergarten play structure and much more is happening. It is not full of gangs and bullies, or lacking in supplies. There are not hundreds of kid bussed in from Richmond. FALSE RUMORS!!!!! Do not believe them. VV is a public school and like all public schools, it needs parents and others to volunteer time and/or money. But the kids are learning the same things kids at other schools are learning, they are safe and surrounded by caring teachers, staff and parents. Those that are spreading the negative rumors are the types who will complain no matter where their kids go to school. If we want this to continue to be a great school, we need our parents and community to be part of the solution, not the problem.
—Submitted by a parent

My son is now a first grader at VV and I am absolutely blown away by this school. What a gem! The teachers are extremely dedicated and have met my son's needs from the very beginning. The parent community is extremely involved, kind and welcoming. The leadership staff has a clear vision of where the school is headed. The campus is great and has had many improvements in the last year (new kindergarten bathroom, play structure and remodeled library). And don't get me started on the After School program! The kids love it and they learn so much from the staff. There are so many positive changes happening and I am so excited that my son gets to benefit from them. As a parent, I cannot recommend it enough. It is beyond me why anyone who lives in the neighborhood would want to attend any other school.
—Submitted by a parent

Venetia Valley is a wonderful school. My son completed Kindergarten this year and his experience was fantastic! He is now reading at a 1st-2nd grade level and can add and subtract and he is only 5! He learned so much because his teachers were amazing. The teachers at Venetia Valley are truly special The parents at Venetia Valley are very engaged and dedicated to improving programs year after year. The principal is passionate about creating the best possible learning environment for all students at Venetia Valley. This is a gem of a school!
—Submitted by a parent

Many exciting changes at VV! New principal who is fantastic and putting in a lot of positive programs as well as changing systemic problems that were part of the previous administration. This is becoming a neighborhood school with a LOT of parent involvement and volunteers from the whole community. Very welcoming of all people and a safe, nurturing environment for all students.
—Submitted by a parent

So many exciting things are happening at Venetia Valley! The Arts Department is really expanding and is offering after school art program, parent workshops, a poetry performance and spring musical! Our principal is outstanding! Cindy Jaconette gets things done efficiently always putting kids safety and well-being first! I am so happy to be a part of our neighborhood school!
—Submitted by a parent

I love the diversity, the dual immersion (Spanish/English) program, the teachers, the new principal, the parents and of course the kids.
—Submitted by a parent

Yay Venetia Valley API scores went up this year! I knew the school was doing a great job with the new programs in place. I knew the teachers and principal team was working hard, and this is proof! I'm proud to be a VV parent.
—Submitted by a parent

My child has been at Venetia Valley since kindergarten and it has been a great experience with dedicated teachers, staff and families, diversity and a nice sense of community.
—Submitted by a parent

I wish to respond to the 1/4/2010 review. During an audit it was discovered that a few of the teachers (3, I believe) are credentialed to teach multi-subjects, so the school had to do a little shuffling around to accommodate the appropriate credentials. In middle school, only in grade 6, 1 teacher is teaching multi-subjects in the dual language format (for kids that were in the K-5 dual language program), 1 teacher is teaching Math & Science and 1 other teacher is teaching Social Studies & Lang. Arts. This will be revisited before the next year; it is just a temporary solution. I don t think it s damaging because: 1.they are the same wonderful teachers who are credentialed and FULLY qualified to teach. 2. it s only in the 6th grade. 3. it s the same CA State Standard curriculum that ALL schools are using. 4. Some other schools had to make similar changes.
—Submitted by a parent

Venitia Valley Elementary School is perfect, all work arduously, the teachers strive by the students, the director this always working; office, halls, recreation, parking and with the parents
—Submitted by a parent

Venetia Valley School has excellent teachers and a dedicated administration team. We have a winning math team (in county math competition) and band, and the district's Teacher of the Year is our own Danelle French. The students are kind, happy and interested in learning. The dual language program is the only one of its kind in the county. My daughter is receiving a challenging and well-rounded academic experience at Venetia Valley School. My son can't wait to attend next year!
—Submitted by a parent

Teachers are good and passionate about what they do. But the school needs to work on their behavior mnagement/and their discipline procedures. The middle school demographic really tends to be out of control as the unruly majoirty are allowed to dominate over the more scholastically inclined minoirty. I find it frustrating that the only 2 public middle schools afforded to our kids in the San Rafael School district are unacceptable.
—Submitted by a parent

Very nourishing and safe environment. Great staff and teachers. Strong parent and community involvement. Optional dual-language program. Very strong positive momentum right now.
—Submitted by a parent