Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month

Published in Chinese in Sing Tao Daily.

By Dr. Vincent Matthews

Ni hao! 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. 

This month in May, we recognize AAPI Heritage Month to honor and uplift the many important contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who are essential to San Francisco’s history, present and future. San Francisco public schools strive to be places where every student can see themselves and be themselves, where the diversity of our students is celebrated each day. Our communities are made better by embracing and celebrating the differences that define us.

In SFUSD many of our schools offer Asian language programs and clubs for AAPI communities. This past fall, Leola M. Havard Early Education School opened the first dual-language Samoan immersion program in the mainland U.S. SFUSD also has employee affinity groups such as the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) Racial Affinity Administrators Group and Kababayan for Filipino/Filipino-American staff.

Teachers and staff are working on AAPI-themed lessons to teach to students during this month. Our show for K-2 students SF Loves Learning, which aired on KTVU Plus during distance learning, compiled videos and resources for students to learn more about and celebrate AAPI Heritage Month.

For AAPI instructional resources you can use all year long, check out SFUSD’s AAPI Heritage Month Resource Guide.

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