April 20, 2020 - Staff Digest

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Dear SFUSD Staff:

I want to acknowledge all of you who in the past several weeks have made tremendous adjustments to continue serving our students. To our teachers transforming their lessons, our staff and volunteers distributing meals and devices, and to everyone finding a way to help, thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

Today, thanks to the efforts of many members of the SFUSD community and our partners, we launched the first episode of SF Loves Learning, an hourly TV show for preK-2nd grade students. Thank you all for continuing to set an example of what can be accomplished when we work together.

Continuity of Learning

We have concluded our distribution of PreK-2 learning kits. Families can find a PDF of the print contents online. There will be another distribution of materials in May. Stay tuned for details. 

Family Resource Link

• The SFUSD Family Resource Link opens tomorrow to help families navigate SFUSD resources and questions during distance learning for the rest of the school year.
• Families with questions can access the Family Resource Link in three ways: email, online form and phone. Translation services will be provided as needed. 
• This Family Resource Link will not replace existing phone lines and emails already provided by district departments. 

Reminder - Continuity of Learning Technology Resources

• Webinars & Office Hours: Access webinars, PLCs, office hours, other professional learning opportunities at our SFUSD Webinars page. New webinars have been added!
• Google Meet Update: Google Meet meetings can launch through Google Classroom now providing an even more secure experience. Visit the Guide to Virtual Meetings with Students to learn more.
• Safety Tips: Review these safety tips for Zoom and Hangouts Meet to ensure that you are prepared to launch a safe and secure meeting with students. This quick tips guide has tips for both meeting hosts and participants.
• Zoom Managed Accounts: With the switch to managed Zoom accounts last week, Zoom meetings now require SFUSD logins as an added security measure for our students. If you host meetings with participants outside of SFUSD, you can request to switch this setting off on your individual account by emailing help@sfusd.edu. As an alternative, you can use Hangouts Meet to host calls with up to 250 participants.
• Family Technology Resources Support: Share the SFUSD Family Technology Resources site - sfusd.edu/familytechnology with your families. Families can learn how to access their child’s Google account and SFUSD tools and platforms, including Google Classroom, Meet, and Zoom.  
• Digital Citizenship: Leverage SFUSD’s Guidance for Digital Citizenship and Norms for Online Teaching and Learning to prepare for successful virtual meetings with your students. SFUSD has also curated self-guided digital citizenship resources by grade level for students and families to access
• Cyberbullying & Cyber Harassment: Visit the Cyberbullying & Cyber Harassment page to learn how to identify and address inappropriate online behaviors.

Reminder - Volunteers needed to support Chromebook distribution

• Sign up to volunteer for any of the following roles:
  • Hand out devices from 9:30 am -1:30 pm through Wednesday this week.
  • Drivers/Deliveries (minimal human interaction): Pick up and delivery of devices and/or materials to families or community sites. 
  • Call families to determine unmet technology needs. Please sign up for 2 days or more, installation and training required.

Reminder - No staff or students allowed in schools at this point

The San Francisco Human Rights Commission has a Community Coronavirus Resource Guide with helpful information on health and wellness, evictions, power and water, and other city services.

Dr. Rupa Mayra is a University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) physician working on the front lines of the COVID-19 response. Here are some of her recommendations to best support our health and help us to learn and grow in a difficult time.

• Get 7-8 hours of sleep each night. 
• Drink at least eight glasses of water a day to keep your body well hydrated.
• Cook foods with natural immune boosters like garlic, ginger, turmeric, parsley, thyme, sage, and bone broth.
• Spend time outdoors each day. Make sure to get sun on your bare skin to activate vitamin D.
• Sing out loud! It expands lung capacity and the stimulation of the vagal nerve can calm your body’s overdrive from stress.
• Advocate for things you believe in and start a practice of imagining the world the way you want it to be. 

See more of Dr. Rupa Mayra’s tips.

Suzann Baldwin, Spanish Teacher at Abraham Lincoln High School, was recently recognized by her colleagues as a RAVE award winner for her many years of dedication to her students and the SFUSD community. At last week’s Board of Education meeting, Suzann dedicated her heartfelt acceptance speech to her fellow teachers, her students and their families. Read her full speech here.

Warm regards,
Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthews