August 19, 2020

Dear SFUSD Staff:

Happy first week back! I know the start to this school year is like none other, but I hope you’ve been able to make connections with your students and are transitioning into the fall semester smoothly. Please also remember to take good care of yourself and your loved ones as we continue to navigate this new school year together.

Updates

How to Get SFUSD Student Login Information

Student login information is available in ParentVUE under the "Student Info" tab. Get directions on how to view student's login information. This is the most secure way to share student usernames and passwords with families. Please help families find the information by helping them activate ParentVUE.

While the Student and Family Resource Link team can assist families with technology needs, they are experiencing a high volume of requests. Also, the Link team cannot give out login info without establishing the caller’s identity, but this is easier for sites, who know them. You can help students find their login info in Synergy!

Teachers can view student passwords in TeacherVUE Gradebook. 

SFUSD administrators, if necessary, can also run the U-ST800 report in Synergy.

Digital Learning Opportunities

Explore a wide variety of professional learning offered by the Department of Technology:

• Register for daily webinars at the Professional Learning webpage. Offerings include: Setting Norms for Online Learning, Google Meet for Meetings with Students, Getting Started with Seesaw, and many more!
• Can’t make a session? No problem! View webinar recordings and supporting resources at your convenience.
• View sessions from Digital District Day on the Digital Learning Youtube Channel.
• Need additional support? Join us for daily Digital Learning Team Office Hours. 

Encourage Families to Apply Online for 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. Families must submit a new application each school year to qualify for meal benefits. Please share with families: even if  their children do not eat school meals, submitting this form helps to secure classroom funding. Meal benefits are available regardless of citizenship status and eligible families should continue to apply; the “public charge” rule does not apply to school meal programs. For assistance, families may reach out to SNS at 415-749-3604 or SchoolLunch@sfusd.edu.

At the beginning of the school year, SNS sends eligible families a letter of eligibility or a letter of direct certification. Families that receive direct certification letters are automatically eligible for free meals and do not need to submit the Multipurpose Family Income Form on SchoolCafe.

Support Meal Access: Barcode Assistance Sites on Aug. 21, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

If families did not receive their student’s meal account barcode in the mail, they can visit one of nine school sites, Friday, Aug. 21 to receive a printed copy.

Other Food Resources for Families

Due to USDA policies, beginning Aug. 19, meals are available to SFUSD students only. This means that siblings not enrolled in SFUSD could access meals March through early August, but are no longer eligible. Please share this City of San Francisco Food Resources flyer, which offers a food resources website, help via 311, and CalFresh.

Volunteer and Help Students Access School Meals

Student Nutrition Services has volunteer opportunities for SFUSD employees!

• Help with setup and line control at grab & go meal sites
• Volunteer as a delivery driver for students with disabilities and special dietary needs

Questions? Email SchoolLunch@sfusd.edu.

SF Loves Learning Season 2 Coming Soon

Beginning Monday, Sept. 14, we will be producing an hour long episode at 2 p.m. on weekdays aimed toward PK-2nd grade students.

The show will provide daily culturally relevant academic, social emotional, movement, and creative content from SFUSD educators, students, families, and community partners and will exemplify SFUSD's Core values and develop students' Graduate Profile skills and provide chances for students to showcase their work.

We encourage teachers to consider promoting the show with  students and we hope to offer ways to reference the show through activities on Seesaw.

You can find the archive of SF Loves Learning Season 1 on the district website. 

Gift Card Requests Are a Scam

Do not respond to email requests to buy gift cards. 

Organizations across the country, including SFUSD, are reporting an uptick in the number of phishing attempts. Phishing attacks exploit a trusting user’s desire to be helpful and responsive. Attackers are posing as a district colleague/leader, such as the Superintendent or School Principal, asking the individual receiving the email to purchase gift cards and send them the redemption codes and/or provide money for an overdue payment. 

These emails are a scam. No district officials, such as the superintendent, Board commissioners, chiefs, or principals, would make this type of request via email.

If you think you have been the target of a phishing attack, reach out to the DoT Help Desk at help@sfusd.edu.

FYI: Muni Service Expansion Aug. 22

Muni is reinstating some more services effective Aug. 22. Learn more on the SFMTA website.

Family Digest

Read today's family digest.

Warm regards,
Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthews