February 10, 2021

February 10, 2021

Dear SFUSD Staff:

I want to extend my deepest gratitude to every SFUSD staff member for all of your hard work in service of students at this time. Please know your efforts are noticed and appreciated. 

Keep reading today’s digest for updates about the in-person learning planning process, distance learning resources, and more.

Return Safely Updates

SFUSD continues to plan and prepare to reopen school sites. Here are some current events related to the preparation process. 

  • On February 6, SFUSD and a group of labor unions representing SFUSD employees reached a tentative agreement on the health and safety standards for in-person learning, a critical milestone toward reopening schools. Find answers to some of your questions about this agreement in the “Did You Know” section below. 
  • COVID-19 vaccines are in low supply in San Francisco, and are not yet available to educators and San Francisco remains in the purple tier. The City has said that teachers, day care workers, emergency responders and food and agriculture workers would become eligible for the coronavirus vaccine in San Francisco on Feb. 24, pending adequate supply of vaccines. At this time supplies are limited. 
  • The Return to In-Person Learning Update, presented at the February 9 Board of Education Meeting, includes the latest progress on SFUSD’s efforts to prepare for in-person learning. Learn about:
    • What the instructional plan could look like 
    • Testing and vaccination policies and efforts
    • Facilities and Department of Public Health site inspections
    • Communication resources for students and families  

Distance Learning Updates

Enhancing Distance Learning

As we continue planning for a safe return to in-person learning, SFUSD is also working to enhance the distance learning experience for students and staff. Some of this work includes implementing lessons designed using culturally and historically responsive frameworks; increasing access to Ethnic Studies, Black Studies, and Mastering Cultural Identity courses and lesson planning based on culturally and historically responsive frameworks. We’re offering intervention classes at middle and high schools and supporting more robust coordinated care teams and wraparound services for students. Read more in our latest blog post.

Attention 3rd Grade Teachers

Attention 3rd grade teachers using the Inheritance and Traits SFUSD revised science unit: Are you curious to learn more about our home-state Lassen wolf pack? If so, you and your students don't want to miss the Q&A zoom event with Kent Laudon, wolf specialist from the CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife! 

Mr. Laudon will be visiting SFUSD 3rd graders via Zoom on Friday 2/19 from 10:15 - 10:45 AM to share his work and answer student questions about the Lassen pack.

Please RSVP by FRIDAY 2/12 by filling out this Google form. We will send you a Zoom link to share with your students next week. CAN'T JOIN ON 2/19? No worries! We will record the session. The video link will be shared on the Grade 3 Science landing page after the event. Please reach out to Carolyn with questions: gencarellac@sfusd.edu

SF Loves Learning

Are you teaching about Lunar New Year? Here is a Lunar New Year Deck of videos and Seesaw activities to share with your students!

Are you teaching about Black History Month? Check out this Black History Month Deck of videos and Seesaw activities for ways to celebrate and teach this month! We will add resources each week. Would you like to share how you are celebrating Black History Month on SF Loves Learning? Email sfloveslearning@sfusd.edu to share your ideas or submit your video using this submission form.

“What do plants and animals need to survive?” is next week’s theme on SF Loves Learning. Check out these segments that will air next week:

  • Crab Dissection (Read Aloud): Maestra Meza dissects a rock crab to investigate what defenses it has that helps it survive.
  • The Termite Lady (Music): This is a biographical blues song about a African American woman scientist.
  • Benjamin the Brave: A Story About Anxiety (Read Aloud): Author Ameshia Arthur reading part of book “Benjamin the Brave: A Story About Anxiety”
  • Physical Education Oxygen Tabata (Movement): This fitness video helps students practice a tabata. A tabata is a short, high intensity workout that improves cardiorespiratory endurance and muscular strength and endurance of the upper body, lower body, and core.
  • Black History Month: Family Trees (Community): Virginia Marshall shares her family tree in celebration of this year’s Black History Month theme: Celebrating the Diversity of Our Families.

You can search for any content from the show, and plan instruction for next week in three ways:

  • Segments Library: Find any segment (read aloud, daily lesson, music, movement, community)!
  • Seesaw page: Teachers can adopt any Seesaw activity on our page.
  • YouTube channel: Subscribe to this channel, explore the playlists, and receive notifications when new content is published.

SF Loves Learning is now airing every weekday, 8:30-9am on KTVU Plus and any time at sfusd.edu/sfloveslearning.

Resource Highlight

Zuckerberg San Francisco General (For Residents of ZIP Codes 94110, 94112, and 94107) 

San Francisco is offering free COVID-19 vaccinations at Zuckerberg San Francisco General’s Learning Center to those who meet ALL of the following requirements:

1) Live in ZIP codes 94110, 94112, or 94107; and

2) Ages 65 and over; and

3) Medi-Cal recipients, Healthy SF recipients or uninsured.

  • Drop in from 9am to 3pm any day of the week at Zuckerberg SF General Learning Center – 1001 Potrero Avenue, Building 30 on the 2nd floor (off 23rd Street). You do not need an appointment. Please bring proof of age, residence, and Medi-Cal/HSF card.
  • Flyer in English | Spanish | Chinese | Filipino 

Did You Know?

SFUSD and labor groups reached a Tentative Agreement regarding baseline health and safety standards

What does the tentative agreement between SFUSD and labor groups address? 

  • On February 6, the group of unions and SFUSD tentatively agreed on baseline health and safety standards. The tentative agreement addresses the health and safety standards necessary for the return of students at all grade levels, preschool through 12, and the parties have agreed to meet and confer on any additional negotiable impacts of the District’s plans for the return of middle and high school students. 

What did the parties tentatively agree to regarding when students can begin to resume learning in person? 

SFUSD and labor groups agreed that students can return when: 

  • San Francisco City and County are in the Red Tier as determined by the California Department of Public Health, and according to California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, and all staff reporting to District school or worksites have had the opportunity (eligibility and access) to be vaccinated at the recommended dosage;   OR 
  • San Francisco City and County is in the Orange or any lower Tier, as determined by the California Department of Public Health, regardless of the availability of vaccines.

Does this tentative agreement with labor groups mean SFUSD has completed bargaining as it relates to reopening school sites? 

No, the tentative agreement reached with the group of unions does not address or resolve all the negotiable impacts of the District’s plan for Hybrid Instruction. The District continues to meet with the United Educators of San Francisco and other unions to complete bargaining on the negotiable impacts of hybrid instruction. 

Learn more in this FAQ. 

Tech Tips

Zoom Tip: Making a “Recurring” Meeting 

  • Do you have a Zoom meeting that repeats on the same times and days? You can make the meeting “Recurring” to use the same call for multiple meetings, and keep the same link in the calendar invitation, the Classwork section of Google Classroom, or your Clever page for easy reference.
  • Just make sure to keep security settings in place, such as enabling your waiting room and requiring authentication. 
  • This short video shows you how to set up a recurring meeting.

Reminder - Help Families Receive Pandemic-EBT!

Did you know that 49% of SFUSD students are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals? These students are also eligible to receive P-EBT. 

Please share this message with families:

Pandemic-EBT: Two Steps to Take

California is getting ready to issue Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT) benefits for the 20-21 school year. Eligible families can receive a P-EBT card with funds to purchase food while school buildings are closed.

To receive P-EBT, review the following before February 22:

  1. Ensure your children are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals. If you haven’t already, update your household income information online by submitting the Multipurpose Family Income Form. 
  2. Ensure your mailing address is correct. Check which address you have on file or update it by completing the Emergency Card form online in ParentVUE.

The State of California will mail cards directly to families March through June. Families do not need to apply. Benefits have recently been increased by 15% and will include any August and September funds not received. Like school meals, P-EBT is available regardless of citizenship status and is not considered a “public charge.” 

Note: All students enrolled in Community Eligibility Provision schools, receiving CalFresh or CalWORKs, or who are homeless, migrant, or foster, are automatically eligible and do not need to submit the Multipurpose Family Income Form. Please ensure your mailing address is correct!

For assistance updating a mailing address over the phone, families may contact the Student and Family Resource Link at 415-340-1716.

Bright Spot

Our 140 SFUSD school site counselors received some much-deserved recognition in the SF Examiner for all the ways they’re staying connected with students and families while learning is remote. Please join me in celebrating their important work!

Warm regards,

Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthews

This page was last updated on February 10, 2021