April 28, 2021

April 28, 2021

Back to All Updates

Dear SFUSD Families:

Thanks to the incredible hard work and support of everyone in the SFUSD community, over the past three weeks we have welcomed back more than 19,000 students to in-person learning. This is a moment to celebrate, but we also know there are many students who want to return and can’t at this time. We are committed to a full in-person return in the fall as long as public health conditions allow. 

Please keep reading today’s digest for important updates.

Return Safely Updates

SFUSD has welcomed over 19,000 students back to in-person learning since April 12, with connection, learning and health as our top priorities during the Return Safely Together effort. Continue reading for more updates.  

  • Almost 2,000 middle and high school students in focal populations returned on April 26. Middle school and high school start and end times for in-person learning have been posted on the SFUSD website. 
  • SFUSD continues to implement health and safety guidelines to slow the spread of COVID-19 as students return to in-person learning. Learn what custodial staff are doing to help maintain healthy environments, including the frequency of cleaning and disinfection by room type at school sites.
  • We are still exploring the possibility of offering in-person learning for high school seniors beyond the focal populations before the end of the 2020-2021 school year. SFUSD will be conducting an interest survey among families of high school seniors regarding their interest in returning to in-person learning for a few weeks this spring. 

Summer Together Programs

  • SFUSD is partnering with the City and County of San Francisco to provide SFUSD families free in-person and virtual summer opportunities.
  • SFUSD will be administering summer programs for:
    • Early Education/Pre-Kindergarten 
    • TK-5 Out of School Time (OST)
    • Extended School Year 
    • Special Ed/ IEPs for Extended School Year (ESY)
    • High School Credit Recovery
    • Early College Initiative
  • From now until May 7: Families may be contacted through existing programs to enroll in summer offerings
    • SFUSD programs and/or school sites may contact eligible families to enroll in summer offerings through existing programs that their student is participating in. 
    • Learn more about SFUSD summer offerings.
    • Community based organizations and providers will be reaching out to eligible families who are current participants of their programs, which includes:
      • Community Hubs
      • ExCEL afterschool
      • Beacon
      • Community based summer programs
    • Families should ask their Beacon and ExCEL program if they will be operating this summer and how to sign up.
  • May 8: General registration period when SFUSD families can sign up for the program offered by various community-based organizations and City departments. 
    • While space is limited, SFUSD families will be prioritized over non-SFUSD families. 
    • SFUSD families will have to provide their student’s SFUSD Student ID Number for verification.
    • For more information, including key dates and times and other program offerings, visit dcyf.org/summertogether.

Distance Learning Updates

High School Graduation Ceremonies

Our seniors will be able to graduate in person thanks to a collaborative effort between SFUSD and the City. Graduations for All will provide staggered ceremonies on June 1-3, 2021 for our 4,000 public High School graduates. 

Schools with large graduating classes will be hosted at the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department’s iconic Kezar Stadium. Smaller public high schools will enjoy more intimate commencements at SFUSD’s McAteer High School campus overlooking Glen Canyon.

All graduation ceremonies will comply with state and local health guidance. This includes at least two hours between events for thorough disinfection, breakdown, and set up. All students will be seated 6 feet apart. Each student will receive tickets to bring up to four guests. Family pods of four will sit at least 6 feet from each other in the audience. 

For ceremony schedules and participation guidelines, visit 2021 High School Graduation Ceremonies.

SF Loves Learning 

Whether you’re at school in the day or at home, you can find our most recent full episodes on our website. Segment highlights are below. Here’s a new slide deck of science themed segments about Push and Pull. We also have videos from Women’s History Month and about Climate Change and Climate Justice.

This week’s theme is Seasons as the Earth Rotates. Check out these segments that are airing this week:

  • Why do we have different seasons?: Conclusion (Lesson): 4/30/21: Maestra Meza reviews what we have learned about seasons and their weather patterns. We also reviewed the plants that will thrive if planted in Spring in California. We use the Sun, Moon, Earth model to see our position in relation to the earth during the year. We use another model to show how the amount of sunlight changes with our position throughout the year. We conclude that our seasons change because of how we are facing the sun. (April 30) Seesaw
  • "Lluvia y Arcoiris" (Music) Miss Peña-Govea sings a song about seasons. Seasons are cyclical and Spring always returns!  Spanish bilingual. (April 28)
  • It’s so quiet (Read Aloud): It's time for bed, but one little mouse just can't get to sleep—it's TOO QUIET! However, the night is actually full of sounds, from the croak of the bullfrog to the howl of a coyote on a distant hill. (April 26)
  • We Are Earth! (Movement): In honor of Earth Day, Ms. Sammay takes us through a movement meditation on 'reciprocity' and our role as earth dwellers a.k.a. humans! As a part of one whole ecosystem, how do we embody reciprocity with the earth and practice collective care with all of the plants and animals to ensure a healthy and sustainable future for us all? (April 30)
  • Letter A! (Community): Adrian goes through the possibilities of words starting with the letter A! Ambulance, Alligator, they're all amazing! (April 26)

You can watch any content from the show in these ways:

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

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

School Meal Updates

School Lunch Hero Day Is Friday, May 7

  • It’s time to remind our food heroes and sheroes how special they are. Join us in saying “Thank you!” to all our dining staff and food delivery drivers for providing over 6 million meals during the pandemic!
  • Get creative and celebrate in any of these ways:
  • Make a card in any language!
    • Drop off at a Grab & Go meal site on May 4 or 6. Locations at sfusd.edu/schoolfood
    • OR give to the dining staff at your school on Friday May 7
  • On Friday May 7, post a photo or video on social media for #SchoolLunchHeroDay. Tag us @sfusdschoolfood.

Free Meals from SFUSD’s Student Nutrition Services

  • Free lunch and snacks are available daily for students returning to in-person learning. School breakfast will be replaced with a hearty snack this school year. More information available at sfusd.edu/inpersonmeals
  • Any SFUSD family can pick up meals for the week at Grab & Go locations.
  • Review this Grab & Go Meals Guide
  • Download the May Calendar & Map
  • Full Grab & Go schedule at sfusd.edu/schoolfood
  • Reminder: As of Tuesday, April 27 the Grab & Go meal site at A.P. Giannini Middle School is now closed due to construction. Please visit any of our other Grab & Go sites listed at sfusd.edu/schoolfood

Resource Highlights

Vaccines for Youth 16+: Pfizer Vaccination Event

  • Adults and minors 16 and up are eligible to receive a vaccine at this event at Sacred Heart Preparatory, Friday April 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1055 Ellis Street. Sign up for a vaccine appointment. 
  • California requires minors have parent/guardian consent in order to receive the COVID-19 vaccine
  • Parents are encouraged to accompany minors.
  • It is important that the parent/guardian correctly complete minor consent for the COVID 19 vaccine.
  • Without the correct consent, minors will be turned away if their parent is unable to provide consent onsite: they can accept consent onsite if their parent is present.
  • Please follow the steps in this video to sign your child up. Note you must register first as the parent/guardian then add your child to the appointment per the video instructions.
  • Please ensure you have eaten and are well hydrated prior to getting your vaccine.

Sal Afuera / Get Out: How to Get to School, Safely!

  • Walk San Francisco, together with the San Francisco Safe Routes to School Partnership, is hosting a webinar in Spanish to give you the information and inspiration you need for getting to school, the park and beyond, safely. 
  • Date: Friday, April 30, 2021
  • Time: 12-1 p.m. 
  • Join our conversation in Spanish with health, safety, and outdoor education specialists, to discuss how to safely walk, bike, carpool, and take public transit to and from school. 
  • Health and safety experts: Oscar Grande (Poder, Casa de Apoyo, Excelsior Hub, Bicis del Pueblo), Jenny Morales (Good Samaritan Family Resource Center, Excelsior Strong), and Daisy Avalos (Muni Transportation Assistant Program) will take your questions and share the latest health guidelines, advice, and tips. 
  • Register here: https://tinyurl.com/SalAfuera  - *This webinar will be entirely in Spanish.*

SF Bike & Roll Week May 10 - 14, 2021

  • Bike & Roll Week, organized by the SF Bicycle Coalition as part of the Safe Routes to School Partnership led by the SFMTA, is for students city-wide to celebrate getting around under their own power.
  • K-12 students across SF are invited to participate, whether they’re back to in-person learning or still remote.
  • Check out all the awesome activities and exciting prizes at sfbike.org/bikeandrollsf.
  • Please read and share our recent blog with helpful tips and this blog from the SFMTA about supporting students returning to school.

Wellness Tip

Wellness Resources to Support Families Returning to School: Sleep

Did you know that quality sleep is important to learning?  A good night of sleep can improve mood, and help with focus and memory. For both adults and children, a regular sleep schedule helps the body know when it’s time to sleep and wake up. For some it can be difficult to get on a sleep schedule. 

These tips may help:

  • Stay active during the day
  • Slowly adjust bedtime, rather than change time suddenly
  • Phase out electronics one hour before bedtime 
  • Consider a relaxing bedtime routine, for example, taking a bath, brushing teeth, reading a story, journaling about your day or setting goals for tomorrow

Find more tips on healthy sleep routines for students: 

Did You Know?

Anyone 16 years and older is now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination in San Francisco. 

At this time only Pfizer is approved for those ages 16 to 18 years of age. Vaccinations are one of the most effective preventative measures in stopping the spread of COVID-19 and saving lives. Learn more from the CDC about the benefits of getting a vaccine (Español | 简体中文 | Tiếng Việt | 한국어).

Learn more about how to make a vaccine appointment and FAQs.

SFUSD SEL/Culture Climate Survey Window Closes Next Week on May 4

Please make sure you are taking the Social Emotional Learning/Culture Climate Survey.  Families should contact their school if they have not yet received the link to the survey.  Results of this survey will be used to help assess our school programs and are used in our district and school site level planning.  To review survey questions, visit: https://www.sfusd.edu/services/selsurvey

Bright Spot

Students in Kristin Antonio’s Physiology class at The Academy - SF at McAteer have created face masks in partnership with professional mentors from IDO (Industry Design Outreach, Inc). IDO is also providing free toolkits and industrial design curriculum for students to create innovative 3D objects. Read more and see some of their creations!

Warm regards,

Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthews

This page was last updated on April 28, 2021