It only takes like three seconds
Urge Your Senator to Support Women Refugees!
The case of Rodi Alvarado, a Guatemalan survivor of severe domestic violence currently seeking asylum in the U.S., is pending before Attorney General John Ashcroft. On February 19, 2004, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) filed a brief urging Attorney General Ashcroft to grant asylum to Ms. Alvarado. In its brief, the DHS promises to issue regulations soon that will provide guidance in cases involving similar issues. Members of the Senate led by Senator Clinton (D-NY)and Senator Brownback (R-KS) have joined in support of regulations to govern gender-based asylum claims. Please contact your Senator and express your support for women refugees who have fled gender-based persecution such as trafficking, sexual slavery, honor killing, and domestic violence who are seeking refuge in the United States. Urge your Senator to sign the Clinton-Brownback letter to Attorney General John Ashcroft on this important issue.
To sign on, please visit
http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/campaign/senate_sign_on_gender
To learn more about this issue, see Asylum Protection News #23:
http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/asylum/torchlight/newsletter/newslet_23.htm
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
summer is becoming really frustrating. plans are dropping left and right, and i've got nothing to do all day. no dc, no la, nothing until nyc. i'm trying to find a way out to dc before nyc, but we'll see.
i'm so comepletely distraught that i won't be able to see the pino when he visits dc, along with my 801 gals, or lin when he visits there over the fourth. i'm reminded daily of all last summer's memories because not a day goes by that i don't talk to someone from the 801/1327 crew. sigh. and i'm stuck here in berkeley...
i've been trying to find a temp job to keep me busy at least. but things are pretty dead. i miss the east coast, but i suppose i'll be getting my fill of it in august. until then, i'll try to enjoy the little things i love about the bay -- like finding new cool bars in unexpected places, spam kimchi fried rice from ramen house, falling asleep during afternoons on the couch in my living room, shopping at mars on telegraph, reading magazines for hours at barnes and noble, and watching steveo be SO SHLEEPY.
i'm so comepletely distraught that i won't be able to see the pino when he visits dc, along with my 801 gals, or lin when he visits there over the fourth. i'm reminded daily of all last summer's memories because not a day goes by that i don't talk to someone from the 801/1327 crew. sigh. and i'm stuck here in berkeley...
i've been trying to find a temp job to keep me busy at least. but things are pretty dead. i miss the east coast, but i suppose i'll be getting my fill of it in august. until then, i'll try to enjoy the little things i love about the bay -- like finding new cool bars in unexpected places, spam kimchi fried rice from ramen house, falling asleep during afternoons on the couch in my living room, shopping at mars on telegraph, reading magazines for hours at barnes and noble, and watching steveo be SO SHLEEPY.
Friday, June 18, 2004
help stop displacement of newcomer high school (my mom's work)!
Save SF's Newcomer High School !
- Revoke the Superintendent's decision to place Xcell Academy at Newcomer High School as it will displace 1/3 of the existing students and their teachers.
- Involve immigrant parents, students and their teachers in all future decisions effecting Newcomer High School.
Act now by contacting Superintendent Ackerman and letting her know that you and other members of the community find her actions unacceptable.
June 14, 2004
To Concerned Parties:
Twenty-five years ago the district saw the need and made a commitment to create a special program to serve new immigrant high school students. That s why Newcomer High was established.
• Newcomer is a one year transitional program to prepare immigrant students for regular high schools.
• Newcomer has open enrollment to receive immigrant students whenever they arrive. The population of the school grows throughout the semester. For the fall semester, we began with 309 students and ended with 456. In the spring, we began with 424 and ended with 530.
• Students come with little or no English often under educated. Newcomer has ESL and primary language content area classes so that students receive high school content and acquire English as quickly as possible.
• Immigrant students arrive physically, emotionally, socially, and economically stressed. Newcomer, with its understanding adult and peer support, is a safe environment for them to adjust and learn.
• Many community services come to Newcomer to help students adjust: they include Horizons Unlimited, Chinatown Youth Center, Mission Neighborhood Centers, Inc., Charity Cultural Center of Chinatown.
Six weeks ago, XCEL Academy, a charter school, was offered the third floor of the Newcomer High School building. No member of the Newcomer community was consulted. Newcomer High was only informed of this proposal in the second week of May, at which time the administrators of the two schools were told to discuss the accommodations necessary for receiving the other school. In the first meeting with a district official this past Thursday, June 10th, the members of the Union Building Committee of Newcomer High School were informed that this plan is all but imminent. On Friday, Newcomer received a request to begin the merge and open two rooms for the charter school in the coming week.
While we respect XCEL Academy and its mission, we are still extremely concerned that placing another school onto the Newcomer premises may not be in the best interests of the students of either school. More importantly, we fear that the temporary displacement and diversions required to accommodate the other school will lead to the END of the unique services at Newcomer High School.
Consequences of putting XCEL Academy into the Newcomer High School building:
• Newcomer High must give up 8 classrooms to accommodate XCEL Academy. This means that Newcomer will be giving up 40% of its instructional classrooms. As a result, Newcomer can only accommodate a maximum of 375 students rather than the 530 who currently attend.
• Approximately 130-200 new immigrant students for the next school year will have to be sent out to other high schools.
• Newcomer staff and students may be displaced to other schools.
• The education and welfare of new immigrant students are jeopardized despite a suggestion for the district to set up or reinforce existing ELD programs on other campuses to service new immigrant students who would have otherwise attended Newcomer between now and August.
Some points/facts that were never considered:
• Newcomer currently uses 18 of its 20 classrooms. The remaining two are in constant use: one is for
community service groups, tutoring, and student lunchtime creation; the other is a staff workroom.
• The Newcomer School Site Plan provides 20 teachers for the 2004-2005 school year. Losing 8 classrooms will displace teachers and students.
• Immigrant students arrive highly stressed physically, emotionally, socially, and economically;they require a safe and tranquil environment.
• Students arrive with little or no English often undereducated; they require a specialized instructional program.
• The library and technology room are composed of resources specific to the needs of English learners.
• Many of the resources were purchased with LEP funds and cannot be shared.
• The Newcomer cafeteria only holds 250 students and Newcomer already arranges for 2 lunch periods for its students.
• There are only 2 basketball courts for student recreation.
• The two bathrooms are already overcrowded one for the boys and one for the girls.
If anyone has more questions regarding this issue, please contact the Union Building Committee at Newcomer High School at 415-241-7584
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The following is a sample letter that you can adopt to send along your requests and concerns to the superintendent of schools and to the board of education.
Dear Superintendent Ackerman and the Members of the Board of Education:
I have just heard of the disturbing news that the district plans to put XCEL Academy into the Newcomer High School building. I strongly urge the superintendent to reconsider this decision for the following reasons:
• Newcomer High School is an unique, historic, and internationally recognized program that services immigrant English Language Learners.
• Reducing 40% of Newcomer High School s instructional classrooms even for a proposed one year will adversely affect the education and welfare of immigrant high school students.
• The subsequent diversion of staff and resources may irrevocably damage the current program at Newcomer.
• The community, immigrant parents/students, and Newcomer staff should have input in all decisions affecting the future of Newcomer High School.
The minority, immigrant, and English Language Learners in our district are some of the most vulnerable students in need of our greatest support. Therefore, I beg the superintendent and board members to act with the interests of ALL students in mind. Please find a permanent home for XCEL Academy and preserve the current program at Newcomer High School.
Respectfully yours,
Please send concerns to:
The Superintendent of Schools:
aackerm@muse.sfusd.edu (phone) 241-6121
The Board of Education:
dkelly@sfusd.edu, echin@sfusd.edu, hilesh@sfusd.edu, slipson@sfusd.edu, emar@sfusd.edu, msanche@sfusd.edu, jwynns@sfusd.edu
board office, Esther Casco, 241-6493; fax 241-6429
THANK YOU ALL!
The Community of Newcomer High School
Save SF's Newcomer High School !
- Revoke the Superintendent's decision to place Xcell Academy at Newcomer High School as it will displace 1/3 of the existing students and their teachers.
- Involve immigrant parents, students and their teachers in all future decisions effecting Newcomer High School.
Act now by contacting Superintendent Ackerman and letting her know that you and other members of the community find her actions unacceptable.
June 14, 2004
To Concerned Parties:
Twenty-five years ago the district saw the need and made a commitment to create a special program to serve new immigrant high school students. That s why Newcomer High was established.
• Newcomer is a one year transitional program to prepare immigrant students for regular high schools.
• Newcomer has open enrollment to receive immigrant students whenever they arrive. The population of the school grows throughout the semester. For the fall semester, we began with 309 students and ended with 456. In the spring, we began with 424 and ended with 530.
• Students come with little or no English often under educated. Newcomer has ESL and primary language content area classes so that students receive high school content and acquire English as quickly as possible.
• Immigrant students arrive physically, emotionally, socially, and economically stressed. Newcomer, with its understanding adult and peer support, is a safe environment for them to adjust and learn.
• Many community services come to Newcomer to help students adjust: they include Horizons Unlimited, Chinatown Youth Center, Mission Neighborhood Centers, Inc., Charity Cultural Center of Chinatown.
Six weeks ago, XCEL Academy, a charter school, was offered the third floor of the Newcomer High School building. No member of the Newcomer community was consulted. Newcomer High was only informed of this proposal in the second week of May, at which time the administrators of the two schools were told to discuss the accommodations necessary for receiving the other school. In the first meeting with a district official this past Thursday, June 10th, the members of the Union Building Committee of Newcomer High School were informed that this plan is all but imminent. On Friday, Newcomer received a request to begin the merge and open two rooms for the charter school in the coming week.
While we respect XCEL Academy and its mission, we are still extremely concerned that placing another school onto the Newcomer premises may not be in the best interests of the students of either school. More importantly, we fear that the temporary displacement and diversions required to accommodate the other school will lead to the END of the unique services at Newcomer High School.
Consequences of putting XCEL Academy into the Newcomer High School building:
• Newcomer High must give up 8 classrooms to accommodate XCEL Academy. This means that Newcomer will be giving up 40% of its instructional classrooms. As a result, Newcomer can only accommodate a maximum of 375 students rather than the 530 who currently attend.
• Approximately 130-200 new immigrant students for the next school year will have to be sent out to other high schools.
• Newcomer staff and students may be displaced to other schools.
• The education and welfare of new immigrant students are jeopardized despite a suggestion for the district to set up or reinforce existing ELD programs on other campuses to service new immigrant students who would have otherwise attended Newcomer between now and August.
Some points/facts that were never considered:
• Newcomer currently uses 18 of its 20 classrooms. The remaining two are in constant use: one is for
community service groups, tutoring, and student lunchtime creation; the other is a staff workroom.
• The Newcomer School Site Plan provides 20 teachers for the 2004-2005 school year. Losing 8 classrooms will displace teachers and students.
• Immigrant students arrive highly stressed physically, emotionally, socially, and economically;they require a safe and tranquil environment.
• Students arrive with little or no English often undereducated; they require a specialized instructional program.
• The library and technology room are composed of resources specific to the needs of English learners.
• Many of the resources were purchased with LEP funds and cannot be shared.
• The Newcomer cafeteria only holds 250 students and Newcomer already arranges for 2 lunch periods for its students.
• There are only 2 basketball courts for student recreation.
• The two bathrooms are already overcrowded one for the boys and one for the girls.
If anyone has more questions regarding this issue, please contact the Union Building Committee at Newcomer High School at 415-241-7584
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The following is a sample letter that you can adopt to send along your requests and concerns to the superintendent of schools and to the board of education.
Dear Superintendent Ackerman and the Members of the Board of Education:
I have just heard of the disturbing news that the district plans to put XCEL Academy into the Newcomer High School building. I strongly urge the superintendent to reconsider this decision for the following reasons:
• Newcomer High School is an unique, historic, and internationally recognized program that services immigrant English Language Learners.
• Reducing 40% of Newcomer High School s instructional classrooms even for a proposed one year will adversely affect the education and welfare of immigrant high school students.
• The subsequent diversion of staff and resources may irrevocably damage the current program at Newcomer.
• The community, immigrant parents/students, and Newcomer staff should have input in all decisions affecting the future of Newcomer High School.
The minority, immigrant, and English Language Learners in our district are some of the most vulnerable students in need of our greatest support. Therefore, I beg the superintendent and board members to act with the interests of ALL students in mind. Please find a permanent home for XCEL Academy and preserve the current program at Newcomer High School.
Respectfully yours,
Please send concerns to:
The Superintendent of Schools:
aackerm@muse.sfusd.edu (phone) 241-6121
The Board of Education:
dkelly@sfusd.edu, echin@sfusd.edu, hilesh@sfusd.edu, slipson@sfusd.edu, emar@sfusd.edu, msanche@sfusd.edu, jwynns@sfusd.edu
board office, Esther Casco, 241-6493; fax 241-6429
THANK YOU ALL!
The Community of Newcomer High School
Thursday, June 17, 2004
man it's crazy how many people read parry shen's blog andangryasianman. our modest little "are you down?" quiz has caught on fire the past few days, and bot, min, and i are enjoying our 15 minutes of apa internet fame (friendster who?).
anyways, last week i thought of one more thing i wanted to add to the "quiz":
28. Your favorite quote is: "Be the change you want to see in the world. -- Ghandi"
feel free to post any more additions you think of. also, i'd just like to say thanks to all those apa student activists across the country who inspired us to write this. you don't know who you are, BUT WE DO. sucka!
anyways, last week i thought of one more thing i wanted to add to the "quiz":
28. Your favorite quote is: "Be the change you want to see in the world. -- Ghandi"
feel free to post any more additions you think of. also, i'd just like to say thanks to all those apa student activists across the country who inspired us to write this. you don't know who you are, BUT WE DO. sucka!
Monday, June 14, 2004
thanks rj!
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