August 26, 2020

August 26, 2020

Back to All Updates

Dear SFUSD Families:

We’re nearly two weeks into the new school year, and I hope that your family is navigating this time as best you can. Remember to reach out to your child’s school if you need help. There are many important updates in today’s digest. Please keep reading for information about safe practices for online learning, wellness check-ins for families, and other news related to your child’s education.

Updates

Parental Consent Form for Zoom Recording

  • To provide broad access to distance learning to all students, including those who may not be able to attend sessions at the scheduled time, we are seeking to record our live instruction and make it available to students who missed the class.

  • Please find a consent form seeking your permission to record your child’s name, image and voice during distance learning instruction, and any personally identifiable information shared by your child during instruction; and share the recording with other students who were unable to attend the live Zoom/Meet session.

If you are willing to consent, please read and return the attached form using one of the following methods: 

  • Print out the attached form, sign and date it.  Send a picture of the full page of the completed form with your signature and date visible to your teacher. OR
  • Send an email to your teacher with the following text (cut and paste these 2 sentences into your reply email and fill in your child’s name):  “I have read the attached form “Parent/Guardian Consent to Use Student Image and Voice in Zoom/Meet Recordings” and agree to its provisions.  I consent to the recording and release of [insert student name]’s name, image, voice or other personally identifiable information shared during Zoom/Meet instruction to other students who missed the live Zoom/Meet session.”

Security, Safety & Privacy in Distance Learning Online Environments

Your student’s safety and security is a top priority as we navigate learning in a virtual environment. We are working hard to ensure all of our platforms are as secure as possible. This includes changing practices and bolstering security in both Zoom and Google Classroom. 

To continue making our digital tools more secure, we are taking the following measures:

  • Moving forward, only enrolled SFUSD students will be allowed in a Google Classroom. In the spring, educators and families may not have realized that Google Classroom is only for SFUSD students. Instead of allowing parents or guardians to join a Google Classroom as a student, your child’s teacher can invite you to Google Guardian Summaries.  
  • Many educator Zoom accounts were opened to allow participants outside of SFUSD’s students and staff. While this openness allows teachers to connect with parents/guardians via Zoom, it also puts classes and our students at risk of Zoombombing. As alternatives, we recommend Google Meet, email, or phone calls to connect with families.

Family Wellness Check Ins

Staff are starting to reach out to families as part of the District wide Family Wellness check ins. Given that schools plan to reach each student, families with multiple children and at different schools may receive more than one phone call.

Online Emergency Card Form in ParentVUE - Coming Soon

Starting on September 1, families will be able to complete the Emergency Card form online through ParentVUE. Through the online emergency card form, families will be able to update their student’s health information, emergency contacts, and upload health forms and immunization records. Families will also be able to update their contact information including their phone number, email address, and mailing address. 

Note: If you already submitted a paper emergency card  to your school, no further action is required. A step-by-step guide on how to complete the Emergency Card Form Online will be posted in sfusd.edu/parentvue on Monday, 08/31/2020.

Questions about the City’s Hub Initiative

The Community Hub Initiative is a Citywide, neighborhood-based strategy to support children, youth, and families during the school year. The Hubs will provide support for students in grades K-6 who are utilizing SFUSD’s Distance Learning Curriculum, and will prioritize children and youth with the highest need.

The City will utilize a focused enrollment model for the Community Hub Initiative in order to serve children who have the absolute highest level of needs. The first wave of focused outreach will only be open to the following groups: HOPE SF, public housing and SRO residents; homeless youth; foster care youth; English language learners; and low-income families that are African American, Latinx, Pacific Islander and Asian. Community based organizations and City agencies, not SFUSD schools or staff, will be reaching out to the eligible families they serve. More information is available at SF School Year Community Learning Hubs — SF Department of Children, Youth and Their Families

Student and Family Handbook - dress code

We ask students to dress appropriately for daily attendance at school, even during distance learning. The SFUSD Student & Family Handbook includes information on the SFUSD dress code for students. 

Outdoor Education Spaces

As we rethink time and space for the hybrid phase of distance learning, we are exploring many options including the use of outdoor spaces. We have been meeting with experts, community and city partners and with internal working groups to build out this option, making sure to consider health and safety guidance and best practices for facilitating teaching and learning outdoors. 

At this time SFUSD is not opening up school sites for outdoor education. We are focusing on getting a stronger distance learning model up and going while considering what the next phase will look like when health guidance allows schools to open to in-person instruction.

Join Zoom Meeting to Learn About Redesigning Student Assignment

  • Meeting Logistics
    • What: Board’s Ad Hoc Committee on Student Assignment
    • When: Monday, August 31st, 5 pm to 7 pm
    • Where: Join via BoardDocs
    • Agenda: a) Update on process and timeline for this year. b) Why we are changing student assignment.  c) Elementary school portfolio analysis.  d) Update on EPC process improvements. 
  • Background

Reminders 

Grab & Go Meals Available for SFUSD Students

  • Every Wednesday, 10:30-12, a bag of 5 days' worth of meals (including breakfast, lunch, supper, fresh fruits and vegetables, and milk) is available for each student. Last week, some sites ran out of our planned menu early and served shelf-stable meals. We apologize, and have increased orders going forward. 

  • Visit sfusd.edu/schoolfood for locations and more information on what to bring to pick up meals.

Volunteer at SFUSD Grab & Go Meal Sites

Community members and SFUSD employees can volunteer at grab & go meal sites every Wednesday. Volunteers assist with setup, line control, and breakdown. Must be 18 or older. Sign up to Volunteer!

Need technology help?

  • Technology Videos: Check out the Family Technology Video Tutorials page at sfusd.edu/family-technology-tutorials for videos on how to use district Chromebooks, hotspots, ParentVue, and digital platforms
  • Free 1:1 technology support is available for parents and guardians

In collaboration with the San Francisco Education Fund, SFUSD has recruited tech volunteers to provide personal phone and video support on basic questions about Zoom, Google Meet, Google Classroom, and Seesaw. 

Sign up for an appointment! ← (Click or tap here)

Volunteers can support you for up to 30 minutes. 

Tech appointments are available in multiple languages including Spanish, Mandarin, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. 

Apply Now for 20-21 School Meal Benefits!

  • The Multipurpose Family Income form for the 20-21 school year is available online at sfusd.edu/MFIF. The form is available in English, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese. 
  • A new application needs to be submitted each school year. 
  • Even if your child does not eat school meals, please submit this form to secure classroom funding. 
  • Questions? We’re here to help! Call 415-749-3604 or email SchoolLunch@sfusd.edu.

Warm regards,

Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthews

This page was last updated on August 26, 2020