
Yick Wo Video Overview
At Yick Wo we are dedicated to fostering enthusiasm for lifelong learning through supporting the social, emotional, intellectual, artistic and physical development of our students. We nurture good citizenship by teaching empathy and guiding students to practice the school values to be safe, kind, and responsible. Our teachers, staff, students, and parents are deeply valued and together create an engaging learning environment. Yick Wo serves the North Beach, Russian Hill and Chinatown neighborhoods in San Francisco.
This video provides an overview of our wonderful school.

Clubs and Activities
Yick Wo students are fortunate to have the incredible city of San Francisco at their doorstep. Field trip locations include the DeYoung Museum, the Symphony, the Asian Art Museum, Kule Loklo, Elkus Ranch, Angel Island, and many more exciting locations throughout the bay area. In addition to field trips, school-day activities for students include Gardening, Art, Reading Recovery, Math Support, Computer, Music, Dance, Chess Club, and a Newspaper Club.
Reading Recovery, Math Support, and Computer Classes
Students in all grades take computer classes. Our Reading Specialist works with students who need extra help, and provides math support to 4/5 students. Providing extra support for students that need it is just one way the PTO helps foster excellence that benefits all Yick Wo students, and helps keep Yick Wo ranked 9 out of 10 on great schools. Yick Wo is a 2020 National Blue Ribbon School.

Yick Wo Library
Our school library is a portal to the magical world of books, a place where students can read and know about anything that interests them, and where they can discover new ideas and possibilities. Our wonderful school Librarian, Ms. Alexandre Patrikis ("Ms. Alex") helps keep reading enjoyable and expansive for all our students.

Gardening Program
Yick Wo's gardens are living classrooms where standards-based curriculum are taught, and air students in their discovery of the living world. Children are simultaneously stimulated, focused, and calmed by their time in the garden. The program supports intellectual, emotional, and social-emotional engagement with things that must be measured, counted, arranged, planned, and cared for, Children enjoy hands-on, experimental learning in a variety of disciplines, including the natural and social sciences, language arts (e.g. through garden journaling), visual arts, and nutrition.

Music and Dance
Yick Wo students and teachers utilize the rich resources of the surrounding bay area community to infuse the campus with music and poetry. Kinder's - 2nd graders listen to live music played by their teacher (guitar piano, and drums), as well as to recorded music while singing, dancing, and enjoying sound together. Third graders play recorders, and fourth and fifth graders have the option to select violin, flute, trumpet or clarinet. 2nd and 3rd graders are introduced to the world of dance by visiting instructors from the SF Ballet. Some classrooms also work with the SF Opera.

Physical Education
Students at Yick Wo enjoy outdoor activities several times each week with physical activity classes with Coach Robinson, and physical education classes with PE specialist Andre Barnes. The Physical Education curriculum is intended to develop physically-educated individuals who have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to enjoy a lifetime of healthful activity. Physical activity classes are intended to provide recreational and fun activities for students. Coach Robinson also provides recess support.

Art
All students enjoy weekly art instruction in a variety of mediums including painting, drawing, collage, paper mache, mixed media, and pottery. Art projects support classroom instruction, and give children opportunities to create gifts for special occasions.

Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
The PTO is a non-profit independent group of volunteers who are committed to helping organize school activities, fundraising for educational materials, activities, enrichment programs and additional support for students not funded by SFUSD, and facilitating communication between parents, teachers and students. Membership is open to all YW families, teachers, and staff. By being active in the PTO, you demonstrate to your child the importance you place on education. Contact: pto.yickwo@gmail.com

ELAC
California Public Schools from Kindergarten through grade 12 with 21 or more English Learners must form a functional English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC). Yick Wo’s ELAC is a committee for parents or other community members who want to advocate for English Learners. The purpose of the ELAC is to advise the principal and school staff on programs and services for English Learners and the SSC on the development of the Single School Plan for Student Achievement. The ELAC also assists the school on its annual language census. Yick Wo’s ELAC meets monthly.
School Site Council (SSC)
School Site Council (SSC): Like all SFUSD schools, Yick Wo has an elected School Site Council (SSC) that represent parents, students, community members and school staff in the school governance process. The SSC has a number of important responsibilities, including: Reviewing and analyzing student achievement data; Gathering community input; Helping develop the Single School Plan for Student Achievement and the school site budget; Monitoring the implementation of the plan and budget. The SSC meets monthly and is considered a public meeting for anyone to attend.

On-Site After School Enrichment Classes
On-site after school enrichment classes change each semester and include hip-hop dance, tennis, ukulele, gymnastics, and Spanish.

Before and After School Care
MORNING CARE: Is offered onsite (beginning at 8:00am) by the Excel YMCA Chinatown Team who have long run the after-school program at Yick Wo. AFTER CARE: The Chinatown YMCA runs an on-site program at Yick Wo (3:30pm-6:30pm). Many Yick Wo families utilize the After School Academy at the Tel-Hi Neighborhood Center (3:30pm-6pm).

Konstella and Parent Vue
PARENTVUE: If you have not already done so, please activate your SFUSD Family Portal (ParentVUE) account. ParentVUE accounts are easy to set up, are the best way for you to stay connected to what’s going on in the district and in your student’s learning.
KONSTELLA: Parents can keep up with our school community and news during this time of remote learning via Konstella.

New Yick Times
Yick Wo school's wonderful student newspaper is published once a year by the Newspaper Club.
More about this school
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School Type
Elementary School, K-5 -
Estimated Enrollment
240 -
Principal
- Molly Jo Alaimo
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Hours
Mo - Fr: 9:30 am-3:30 pm
The Yick Wo campus opens at 9 a.m., playground supervision begins at 9:10 a.m. on the Upper Yard, and school begins for all grades at 9:30 a.m. Kindergarten dismissal is at 3:20 p.m., while dismissal for 1st - 5th grades is at 3:30 p.m..
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School Tour
Please call to schedule. Tours run from October to January on Tuesday mornings.
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This School Feeds Into
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Neighborhood
North Beach -
School Bus
94133 -
School Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, After School Supper -
School Code
801
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About Yick Wo Alternative Elementary School
The mission of Yick Wo Elementary School is to foster lifelong learning by providing enriching academic, social, emotional, artistic and physical development experiences to every student.
Our little school provides a rich educational program to our 240 students. We offer diverse, challenging, fun, and authentic learning opportunities. Teachers have high expectations of all students, address different learning styles, and incorporate hands-on and field trip experiences to inspire enthusiastic learners. We offer integrated learning experiences, building on a variety of instructional frameworks such as Reader's Workshop.
To ensure students are well rounded we have a comprehensive enrichment program that integrates art, poetry, science, music, physical fitness and sports. We have a wide variety of programs and partnerships such as cross-class reading buddies, Education Outside, SF Ed Fund School Volunteers, Education Outside, San Francisco Ballet, AIMS from San Francisco Symphony, Kimochi, Second Step, lunch room composting, and outdoor education.
Besides a rich daytime academic program, the Yick Wo PTO supports extracurricular activities such as Chess Club, Coding Club, Spanish classes, Piano Classes, Newspaper Club. Our small campus provides an intimate setting where teachers, staff and parents develop trusting relationships, understand student needs, and foster social and emotional development to allow students to thrive both inside the classroom, and as members of the greater community.
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Before School Programs
Morning care is offered onsite (beginning at 8:00am) by the Excel YMCA Chinatown Team who have long run the after-school program at Yick Wo. -
After School Programs
ON-SITE: The Chinatown YMCA runs an on-site program at Yick Wo (3:30pm-6:30pm) Application fee $350 & Monthly fee $100 (if you qualify for free and reduced lunch, cost is $350 for 10 months). Many Liu, Senior Director of Youth Programs, 415-748-3556 and email address mliu@ymcasf.org OFF-SITE: Many Yick Wo families utilize the After School Academy at the Tel-Hi Neighborhood Center (3:30pm-6pm). Tel-Hi staff come to Yick Wo at dismissal and walk the kids to the Tel-Hi Community center located at 660 Lombard Street. Monthly fee $275 (financial assistance is available). Have any other questions? Please contact Josh Feierstein, Program Director at JFeierstein@telhi.org or you can call him at (415) 421-6443 X 30 or check out their website. Salesians Boys and Girls Club retrieves students (from 3rd grade and up) from Yick Wo at the end of the school day and transports them via school bus to Club, located at 680 Filbert Street in North Beach. For more information visit: https://salesianclub.org Membership $10 per year. AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT CLASSES: After school enrichment classes change each semester and include hip-hop dance, tennis, ukulele, gymnastics, and Spanish. -
Special Education Programs
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Resource Specialist services
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Separate class - Moderate/severe with autism focus
Yick Wo specializes in Discrete Trials and alternative communication strategies for non-verbal students. -
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School Day Academic Enrichment
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Computer carts
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Computer lab
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Education Outside
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English literacy interventionist
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STEAM (science; technology; engineering; arts; mathematics)
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Arts Enrichment
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Arts residency
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Ceramics
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Dance
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Drumming
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Gardening
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Visual arts
After school enrichment classes change each semester and include hip-hop dance, tennis, ukulele, gymnastics, and Spanish. -
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Student Support Programs
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Social worker
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2018-2019 School Accountability Highlights
Published annually by SFUSD to provide access to key data points and three-year trends related to student achievement and school culture-climate. The highlights are available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Filipino, and Vietnamese. -
2019-2020 School Accountability Report Card (SARC)
School Accountability Report Cards (SARCs) are required by state law and are intended to provide families with important information about each public school. -
2018-2020 Balanced Scorecard (BSC)
A two-year plan each school creates with families, students and community members that details the school's goals and priorities. -
2018-2019 Social-Emotional and Culture Climate Report
SFUSD annually surveys families and school staff on a range of school climate indicators that have been found to predict positive student academic achievement. The social-emotional learning of students in grades 4-12 is also assessed. -
2019-2020 Yick Wo ES School Accountability Report Card (SARC) Chinese
School Accountability Report Cards (SARCs) are required by state law and are intended to provide families with important information about each public school.
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Address
2245 Jones Street, San Francisco, CA, 94133 -
Phone Number
415-749-3540 -
Fax Number
415-749-3543 -
Email
sch801@sfusd.edu -
Website
Yick Wo Alternative Elementary School
Grades K-5
2245 Jones Street, San Francisco, CA 94133
Get directions9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.