October 14, 2020

October 14, 2020

Dear SFUSD Staff:

Today, October 14th, would have been George Floyd’s 47th birthday. His death in May sparked the ongoing movement for racial justice. Enikia Ford-Morthel (AKA Miss Nikki), Deputy Superintendent of Instruction at SFUSD, appeared on SFUSD’s TV show SF Loves Learning today to talk about George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the values of fairness, equality, and love. In this segment children are encouraged to make a special wish for our world.

Today and every day, we recognize that Black Lives Matter. SFUSD is dedicated to providing an education for each and every student that contributes to an anti-racist, fair, and just society.

Please keep reading today’s digest for important updates. 

Updates

Watch and Contribute Your Talents to SF Loves Learning

SF Loves Learning continues to air every weekday at 2pm on KTVU Plus and on our website any time: SFUSD.edu/SFLovesLearning.

You can also now watch individual clips from each episode on our website (Read Alouds, Movement Breaks, Music, and more) anytime! Teachers are welcome to use these clips with their students and can also use the SF Loves Learning Seesaw daily lesson activities. Here is a video explaining how.

We encourage teachers, students, and community members to submit videos for the show. Scroll to the bottom of SFUSD.edu/sfloveslearning to contribute.

Students can submit photos, videos, and student work for the show with this form. Here is a video on how to do it through Seesaw.

SFUSD 2020 Filipino American History Month Resource Guide 

October is Filipino American History Month. SFUSD celebrates by highlighting the diversity, brilliance and beauty of the Filipinx community both in their countries of origin but particularly in the diaspora and their presence here in San Francisco.

This Resource Guide provides links to literature, lessons, content, events, and other resources to celebrate the rich history, contributions and amazing that is Filipinx heritage and presence. 

Educators! Need Support with Synergy Gradebook, Classroom Sync & Grades?

Check out these quick guides and visit help.sfusd.edu for more support. 

Seesaw Tip for Educators: Activity Library

Find great lessons in the Seesaw Activity Library to share with your own class! In the library you can:

  • Search by keyword and filter by grade level or subject area
  • View only SFUSD activities with the “School & District” tab
  • Find activities from our SF Loves Learning TV show for PreK-2nd grade students
  • Contribute your own activities by clicking on your activity, selecting the 3 dots in the bottom right and choose “Share Activity” and “Share to School & District Libraries.” 

Technology Troubleshooting Guides for Families

These technology troubleshooting tips can be shared with families to support:

  • Having a successful Zoom experience
  • Adjusting microphone sensitivity for Zoom and for a Chromebook
  • Getting their hotspot or Chromebook working and performing strongly

SFUSD Launching Ready4Learning, a Free TK-2nd Grade Text Messaging Program

SFUSD will automatically enroll all TK-2 families in Ready4Learning text messaging program during the 2020-2021 school year at no cost to families. Ready4Learning is a free resource that texts tips to families about reading, math, science, social emotional learning, and approaches to parenting. 

Each week families receive 3 texts with fun facts and tips on ways to help children learn and grow. While there is no cost for the service, data and message rates may apply, and families will be allowed to opt out of this service. Families can opt out of the texts at any time by texting STOP to 70138. This SFUSD web page, FAQ and flyer provides more details.

Complete the 2020 Census for Our Schools & Community TODAY!

Help make sure everyone counts! TOMORROW, OCT. 15 is the last day to complete the 2020 census.

  • Every 10 years, everyone is counted in the U.S. regardless of immigration status. An accurate count impacts the federal funds that school communities receive for special education, classroom technology, teacher training, after-school programs, school lunch assistance, and so much more.
  • The response rate in San Francisco is only about 66% so we still have more to do to reach an accurate count. Learn more about the response rates in your neighborhood.
  • How do you complete the Census? You can respond online, by phone, or by mail. Go to my2020census.gov OR call 844-330-2020 to get started.

For more Census information and youth voices videos, go to the district’s 2020 Census webpage.

Bright Spot

Congratulations to April Barrios-Escobar, a fifth grader at E.R. Taylor Elementary School and a poet-athlete with the America SCORES Bay Area program, who won first place in a national poetry slam and was featured on the news in a surprise event at her home yesterday!

Warm regards,

Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthews

This page was last updated on October 14, 2020