St. Anthony Immaculate Conception

We had such high hopes for this school, but unfortunately our experience was incredibly horrible. Our son attended the elementary school for 2 years, and did not learn anything during this time. And by anything, I mean he did not advance a single grade level and actually regressed. In fact, on the last day when we brought home his school supplies, his notebooks were completely empty. This should have been a red flag for us, but we hung in there and tried again for a second year thinking it would get better. Since leaving the school, he has advanced significantly and is performing at or above his grade level. KMS is progressive (which is one reason why we fell in love with it in the first place) and allow the children to choose what they want to learn. This all sounds great, however in actuality the children are left for themselves to roam the school building doing whatever they please. If they don't want to do work, they don't have to do any work. The teachers do not have control over the classes and the children run the show (I have seen this first hand.) There is nothing good about KMS elementary school. The preschool and after school care works well because they basically are just babysitters for your children. If you want your children to actually learn something at school, this place is not for you.

I vividly recall my 1st tour of Synergy. There was laughter and smiles from children in the halls and play spaces. It felt airy and vibrant at the same time. Children’s art lined the walls, there were posters of banned books hung upstairs, and there was a presentation of a recent trip to Nicaragua. And, I thought, YES, this is the school for my son! However, the most prominent sensation I felt while I toured Synergy was the sense of safety. This stands out because I never experienced feeling safe in school. I was born and raised in SF’s southeast and I attended SF’s public schools at the height of the crack epidemic. My community witnessed the devastating effect of addiction, violence, grief, and constant loss. Research shows that it’s hard to learn when you feel scared… My son and I still live in the southeast. The same schools that I attended surround us. In my heart, I knew he needed to experience a different way of learning. I was thrilled beyond words when Synergy accepted us.My son started Synergy as a shy and sensitive child. But I could tell, he felt safe here too. He felt safe to explore, to mess up, to speak up, to get dirty, to laugh, and to be sad and scared, as we all felt in the last few years. All this, he was able to experience in community with you all. Today, I have witnessed the beauty of him blossoming and transforming into a confident young brown man. Tremendously held by a solid foundation that Synergy provides, from its agreements, to teachers and staff, to mixed grade learning, and of course, by his posse of friends, who he considers family.What a blessing it is to be part of the Synergy family. It is our hope that other families also experience the beauty of watching their child thrive in their own unique way, in the amazing urban sanctuary that Synergy is for us.