April 7, 2021

April 7, 2021

Back to All Updates

Dear SFUSD Families:

We’re excited to welcome back many students to school buildings next week. And, if you’re one of those who is staying in distance learning for now, please know that your classes are still one community. All students are equally important members of that community.

Please keep reading today’s digest for important updates.

Return Safely Updates

The San Francisco Board of Education voted unanimously for all SFUSD students to have the option to return to full-time in-person school starting August 16, the first day of the 2021-22 academic school year, assuming public health guidelines allow.

For Students Returning to In Person This Spring 

SFUSD is excited to welcome back some of our students to in-person learning starting April 12, 19 and 26. If you’re coming back, remember to wear a mask and have clothes for different temperatures, as classroom windows will be open and there may not be heat. 

Placement Packets, Forms and the Return Safely Guide

  • Resources and information are available now to prepare for in-person learning. If your child is confirmed for an in-person placement, you will receive information and participate in a mandatory school orientation. Resources such as Return Safely Together Family Guide and in-language videos are available now to help families prepare.
  • Students who receive an in-person learning placement will receive information in a few different ways: 
    • All families will receive a letter by mail. 
    • Families who have an email address or active ParentVUE account on file with SFUSD will only receive their placement letter (not the entire packet) by mail. The packet materials (including the forms) were sent by email or uploaded in your ParentVUE account. All packet materials are also available at sfusd.edu/placementpacket
    • Accessing spring placement information in ParentVUE: To access your student's placement letter for in-person learning, please log in to ParentVUE and follow these steps to access your letter. The letter is available in the "Documents" menu. The same letter was also mailed via USPS and emailed (for those with email addresses on file).
    • Risk acknowledgement and other forms are due on your child’s first day of in-person school for Spring 2021. 
    • For more information on placement packets, read the Question of the Week section below.

Transportation

  • If your child receives transportation services based on their IEP, and you said “yes” to in-person learning, you will automatically receive information about your bus route and schedule from the Transportation Department. You do not need to submit a request for services.
  • SFUSD is also providing limited general education transportation services to 34 elementary schools (see list). If you would like to request general education transportation services please complete this form, and the Transportation Department will let you know if your request for transportation has been approved or denied. 
  • Since we may not be able to provide general education transportation services to all families who request services, we encourage you to review the following web pages to explore other transportation options: www.sfmta.com, www.sfsaferoutes.org.
  • If your child is riding a school bus, please review this video and these guidelines with your child.
  • For additional information visit www.sfusd.edu/transportation.
  • Questions? Review the Buses and Transportation FAQs

Free Meals for All In-Person Students

  • Free lunch & snacks will be served at school for SFUSD students returning to in-person learning. 
  • Meals are free for all students through the 2020-21 school year.
  • Watch Meals in the Classroom in action with our friend Phoebe the Phoenix! Click for a video in English, Spanish, Mandarin or Cantonese
  • Find more information about meals available for students returning to in-person learning on our webpage at sfusd.edu/inpersonmeals
  • Menus are posted at sfusd.edu/inpersonmenus

Summer 

  • SFUSD is partnering with the City for the Summer Together Initiative to provide free in-person and virtual summer camps and programs. Here are key dates for most programs:
    • April 19 - May 7: Priority Enrollment
      Families in priority enrollment groups will be contacted and can sign up during early registration. During this time, families who are eligible will be contacted by one or more of the following: SFUSD, the SF Department of Children, Youth, and their Families (DCYF), the SF Recreation and Parks Department (RPD), Community Hubs and DCYF Summer Only programs.  
    • May 8: General Enrollment
      Any SFUSD family may sign up (families will be required to submit their students’ SFUSD ID number). More information will be shared soon. 
    • Before April 30 any family may register if interested in San Francisco Recreation and Parks Summer Programs. Visit sfrecpark.org/register to enroll. Families will need to have filled out the interest form to verify SFUSD status by April 30.

Distance Learning Updates

SF Loves Learning

SF Loves Learning is airing a Special Episode, United Against Racism, on our website and on Friday on KTVU as students prepare to return to school. Deputy Superintendent Enikia Ford Morthel will open the episode speaking to students about Anti-Asian racism. Below are all of the segments of that episode. You can also find these and more segments in SF Loves Learning’s United Against Racism Return to School Deck.

Explore these segments from this week’s Special, United Against Racism:

  • Nikki Speaks Out Against Racism (Community): Deputy Superintendent Enikia Ford Morthel speaks out about anti-Asian racism as students prepare to return to school. 04/09/2021
  • Stand Up for You (Community): Alphabet Rockers created a music video with students about standing up for ourselves and each other.
  • Young, Proud, Sung-Yee (Read Aloud): JustineRay reads about combating anti-Asian racism during COVID. 4/9/21
  • #StopAsianHate: Embodying Solidarity from Within (Movement): In response to anti-Asian violence, Ms. Sammay reminds us of the importance of 'lakas ng loob', or "inner strength.” She's invited some friends from the community to contribute their voices and special gifts. 4/9/21.
  • Citizen of the Universe (Music): This song is about artist, sculptor, and Japanese American education advocate, Ruth Asawa. 4/9/21

Our regularly scheduled Friday program will also be available on our website. Segments include Maestra Meza’s Week in Review, Mr. Mansfield’s song, Water, Wind, and Sun! about renewable energy, and Ta-Da! A book about two young storytellers resolving conflicts. For more Science resources, check out the “I am a Scientist!” deck from the start of our season. You can find all of our cultural and science slide decks so far.

Returning to school next week? You can play SF Loves Learning any time of day from our website, sfusd.edu/sfloveslearning AND you can find our full library of videos 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

Grab & Go Meals Continue with Adjustments

  • Free Grab & Go meals will continue to be available. 
  • Save this Grab & Go Meals Guide
  • Grab & Go locations & schedules are listed at sfusd.edu/schoolfood
  • Changing: Starting Tuesday April 13, the Grab & Go meal service will no longer be open at elementary schools. This is to accommodate SFUSD’s in-person learning plans. 
  • Continuing: Our 10 existing middle and high school sites will continue to serve free Grab & Go meals. Open Tuesdays & Thursdays. See a full list of sites and schedules at sfusd.edu/schoolfood.
  • Tuesdays: Free meals available for SFUSD students and siblings. Pick up 5 days’ worth of meals, including breakfast, lunch, supper, fresh fruits and vegetables, and milk is available.
  • Thursdays: Free meals available for all children 18 and younger. Pick up 2 days’ worth of meals, plus snacks, fresh fruits and vegetables, and milk is available.
  • Use the following information as a guide to know when you can pick up meals:
  • Will your student be attending in-person learning?

Yes, in-person 5 days a week → Pick up free meals on Thursdays

Yes, in-person 2 days a week → Pick up free meals on Tuesdays

  • Will your student continue in distance learning?

Pick up free meals Tuesdays and/or Thursdays.

  • Can I pick up meals for siblings not enrolled in SFUSD?

Yes, free meals are available for siblings of SFUSD students on Tuesday and/or Thursday. Please show the student’s barcode and:

  • For school-age siblings: show a school enrollment letter or student ID card
  • For younger siblings: provide their birthdate to receive an orange grab-and-go card

SFUSD Is Hiring

  • SFUSD Student Nutrition Services is hiring for School Lunchroom Helper and School Food Service Area Supervisor. Please share with anyone you believe would love to be a part of bringing food to SFUSD students! Apply at careers.sfusd.edu
  • SFUSD continues to hire Substitute teachers to aid in our return to in-person learning. To learn more about being a substitute at SFUSD, click here.  

Resource Highlight

AAPI Health and Safety Townhall for Chinese Language Families April 8 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

SFUSD leaders will address health and safety questions pertaining to the return to in-person learning, and share resources to support the social-emotional wellness of AAPI communities. The virtual event is aimed at Chinese-speaking SFUSD families, moderated bilingually with interpretation available in Cantonese and Mandarin. 

PIN: 835 852 835‬#

  • Mandarin Line: 1 650-449-9833‬

PIN: 355 790 611‬#

Support for Families of Children with Disabilities 2021 Virtual Information and Resource Conference, April 10 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The annual Support for Families of Children with Disabilities (SFCD) Information and Resource Conference (IRC) is an opportunity for families with children with disabilities and those who support them to gather in community, learn from experts in the disabilities field and find resources that can support their children on the path to academic and life success. This year's conference features a keynote from Heather Calomese, CDE Director of Special Education, multiple workshops and an exhibitor fair.

The conference also includes a town hall: Return to In-Person Learning Discussion with San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) Leaders. SFUSD Special Education Chie Jean Robertson and other district leaders will answer questions about the return to in-person learning for students receiving special education services.

Register today! The event is presented in partnership with the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) Special Education Services and Community Advisory Committee for Special Education.

Wellness Tip

Wellness Resources to Support Families Returning to School 

As we return to school it will take time for children and adults to adjust. This includes both excitement and uncertainty or stress. Here are some resources for you!

Question of the Week

I should have received a placement letter but I didn't get one. What do I do?

SFUSD sent placement letters to all PK-5 families (including SDC) and County families who are returning to in-person learning regardless of start date, with a few exceptions: PK Gen Ed (the Early Education Department is contacting PK Gen Ed families separately), Rosa Parks, Hillcrest, and Sheridan. To see when your school is scheduled to return, please see this timeline. If your child is in the groups above and your school is scheduled to return to in-person learning but you did not receive a letter, please contact the Educational Placement Center at 415-241-6085 to get a copy. Packet information is available at sfusd.edu/placementpacket but does not include placement letters since that's personal student information.

If your child attends Hillcrest, Parks, or Sheridan or is in a middle and high school focal student group, letters will be mailed at a later date with the aim of notifying families no later than 10 days prior.

For more information, read the Placement Packet FAQs.

Bright Spot

Students from The Academy - San Francisco @ McAteer, John O’Connell High School, and Mission High School were featured in a recent ABC7 Bay Area news story while working at various stations with the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA) at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market as part of Foodwise Teens, a paid job training program where teens build skills to sustain healthy lives and a healthy planet.

Warm regards,

Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthews

This page was last updated on April 7, 2021