Introduction
A Message from SFUSD Superintendent Dr. Wayne
你好! Kamusta! Xin chào! Talofa!
These are ways to say hello in Chinese, Filipino, Vietnamese and Samoan — some of the primary languages spoken by Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) students and families in the San Francisco Unified School District.
Read the rest of my column on how SFUSD honors our AAPI communities each day.
Why do we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month?
In the United States, the month of May each year is celebrated as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. This annual celebration came about in 1978 when President Jimmy Carter signed into law a Joint Resolution of the Congress of the United States designating a week in May for the celebration of Asian and Pacific Islander culture and heritage, until 1992, when Congress passed Public Law 102-450 which annually designated May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.
Visit the APA Heritage Foundation's website for more information on AAPI Heritage Month celebrations in San Francisco.
SFUSD Asian American and Pacific Islander Resource Guide
The purpose of this resource is to provide a curated list of materials that reflect some of the history and diversity of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. It is not specifically for this Asian Pacific American Heritage month, but it can be used throughout the year.
This is not a comprehensive list, nor does it reflect all the identities within the AAPI community. It is meant to serve as a launch pad for staff to use to explore their own learning, use with students or by families.
Asian American Trailblazers in Civil Rights
View a recording of an in-person Teachers Workshop featuring Principal Liana Szeto of Alice Fong Yu Alternative School. The workshop highlights Asian American pioneers and the pivotal court cases that changed the landscape of U.S. civil rights, including the U.S. Supreme Court decision in United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898) that established the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship for all.
Featured AAPI Staff and Students
"I am proud to be in a school community where we believe in each and every child's brilliance and power while overcoming challenges together."
- Lily Chen, National Board Certified Teacher, Kindergarten Cantonese Biliteracy at Jean Parker Elementary
"I was a student at Spring Valley, so it’s nice to come back to the community where I grew up and learn from the families that are now here."
- Erica Wong, 3rd Grade Teacher, Redding Elementary School
"I like playing in the school yard, my classroom, doing art with my teacher, and learning about space."
- Julian Ow, Kindergarten, Garfield Elementary School
"This is a really great time to make sure our students are ready to be adults with personal finance education to help them make the right decisions."
- Kingsley Yee, SFUSD Personal Finance Specialist
Lunar New Year Celebrations
This page was last updated on May 10, 2023