To remain true to our school’s namesake, Fred T. Korematsu, and his legacy of activism, Korematsu Discovery Academy believes in social justice and equity for all of our students. KDA is a diverse school and we strongly value celebrating this diversity by fostering every child’s emotional health, home language, learning ability, and overall well-being.
Restorative Justice
"Restorative Justice builds a school community’s social emotional intelligence, relationships, and capacity to address challenges together. It helps create a community where healing is possible. Restorative Justice not only strengthens relationships between adults and students; but among adults, and among students as well. In this way, RJ creates a positive, inclusive school culture; enhances teaching and learning; and acts as a preventative measure, as school communities are better equipped to resolve conflicts as they appear, before they escalate into a bigger issue." -excerpt from OUSD's Restorative Justice web page
At KDA, all classrooms hold community circles at least twice a week. These circles build trust and foster a sense of personal accountability for the well-being of the classroom community.
Belonging • Generosity • Independence • Mastery
Circle of Courage
KDA has adopted The Circle of Courage, a model of positive youth development that integrates Native American philosophies and teachings. The Circle of Courage is based in four universal growth needs of all children: Belonging, Generosity, Independence, and Mastery.
Toolbox:The 12 Tools
Toolbox is a research-based social-emotional learning curriculum for grades K-6. It teaches critical social competencies necessary for academic and life success such as: resiliency, self-management, and responsible decision-making skills through 12 human capacities (tools) that reside within us all.
The Circle of Courage was co-developed by Martin Brokenleg of the Rosebud Lakota Sioux Tribe. Read more about the Circle of Courage philosophy here.
