WELCOME BACK

Hello Bessie Students & Families! 

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! I hope that this letter finds you in good health and high spirits as we prepare to embark on an amazing year together.  As we kick off the new school year, I am excited to welcome each and every student and family, both returning and new, to Bessie! There are many changes at Bessie and throughout SFUSD, and through them we will maintain our shared commitment to our vision and values, 

“At Bessie, we are anti-racist educators who are committed to providing each and every student with a balance of meaningfully rigorous socio-emotional and academic learning experiences so that they leave Bessie PK-8, high school, college, and career ready.” 

Here are some of the ways we plan to grow closer towards this vision: 

Literacy for Liberation: Engaging each and every scholar in meaningful, grade-level literacy instruction.

Lifelong Learning: Empowering families to support their child by including you in conversations about your child's academic progress and providing opportunities for you to learn how and what your child is learning. 

Linked through Love: Providing a true sense of belonging for each and every student and family no matter your identity. 

The first day of school is Monday, August 19th! Our dedicated team has been working diligently preparing for the academic year to ensure that we provide each and every student with a deep and meaningfully rigorous academic and socio emotional learning experience. 

The entire Bessie team is looking forward to building stronger partnerships with all of you to ensure we provide you with the excellent academic experience your child and family deserve! 

In community, 

Ms. Bell, Principal      

Back to School Information

Start & End Times

Arrival Daily PK-8

9:30 AM

Dismissal  Pre-K  TK-5 6-8

3:45 PM (Wed. 2:30 PM) 3:45 PM (Wed. 2:30 PM) 4:00 PM (Wed. 2:15 PM)

SFUSD Family Portal, ParentVUE: One way to be sure you and your child(ren) are set up for the school year is signing up for ParentVUE. If you have not already done so, please activate your SFUSD Family Portal (ParentVUE) account. ParentVUE accounts are easy to set up, and  are the best way for you to stay connected to what’s going on in the district and in your student’s learning, including:

• Helping your student engage in learning by accessing their login information to SFUSD digital learning platforms.
• Seeing important academic information, including your student’s schedule, participation, assignments, grades, and report cards. 
• Submitting important forms and documents, including emergency cards, media release forms, and more. 
• Receiving timely communications from your school and from SFUSD, by updating your phone number, email address, and mailing address.

For more information about creating your ParentVUE account, please visit sfusd.edu/parentvue. You will need an activation code to set up your account. Contact your school or the Family Resource Link at 415-340-1716 or familylink@sfusd.edu. 

Pre-K/TK Pick Up and Drop Off Procedures

• Pre-K/TK families must sign their child in and out each day. 
• Drop off is at 9:30 AM at the Sherman Street gate.
• If you arrive after 9:45 AM, please enter at the 7th street gate, sign-in in the main office, and escort your child to their class.
• Pre-K/TK pick up is at 3:45 PM. 

K-5 Pick Up and Drop Off Procedures

• Walk up or drive up drop off begins at 9:15 AM at the Sherman Street gate. Classes begin promptly at 9:30 AM, and you can drop off any time between 9:15 AM-9:30 AM.
• If you arrive after 9:40 AM, you will need to enter at the 7th street gate, where drive up drop off is not available. 
• Students have the option to have school breakfast from 9:15 AM - 9:30 AM in the cafeteria. 
• Pick up on Sherman street as follows:
  • Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 3:45 PM
  • Wednesday: 2:30 PM
• Any student not picked up within 5 minutes of dismissal will be in the main office, and caring adults should go to the 7th street gate to pick up their children if they are later than the 5 minute grace period. 
• We do not have staff available on site after 4:00 PM for any late pick-ups. Please be sure to pick up your student on time daily. We know things come up, and unfortunately our staffing does not allow supervision past 4:00 PM. 

6-8 Pick Up and Drop Off Procedures

• Walk up or Drive up drop off is at 9:00 AM at the yard gate to the left of the main office on Harrison Street. 
• Grab and Go breakfast will be provided to all students in the cafeteria. 
• Walk up or Drive up pick up is at 4:00 PM.

Orientation and Class Assignments

• On August 16th, you will be able to find your child’s schedule by logging into SFUSD’s family portal, ParentVUE (instructions listed above). Our family portal will give you access to important academic information, including their schedule.
• Little Bessie class assignments will be posted on the cafeteria window on the first day of school. 
• Big Bessie advisory assignments will be posted on the yard on the first day of school; students will be given a printed schedule in their advisory class.  
• New and/or transition student (kinder and 6th grade) orientation will be on August 15, 2024; 5:00PM - 6:30 PM. It is greatly appreciated if you RSVP by going to this link, https://forms.gle/6dzrKbwJ3VtBUSfy9. 

Mission Graduates Before School Care

We are excited to announce that the Bessie Beacon Program will be offering morning care to students and families of Bessie Carmichael FEC Elementary for 2024-2025 School year. Morning Care will be onsite Monday-Friday from 8:15am-9:30am. Students must be enrolled in morning care to attend. If interested, please complete the form below! Spots are limited and on a first come first served basis. To register for Morning Care visit this link https://forms.gle/TXKyB84V8Gk3m3AG6. 

Mission Graduates After School Programming

Mission Graduates will also be provided in person after school programming TK-8. Mission Graduates will provide homework support and a wide range of enrichments that align with our communities diverse needs and establish college education as an expectation and goal for every child.  After school programming is offered from dismissal to 6:15 PM.  If you are interested in registering your child in Mission Graduates After School programming visit this link https://missiongraduates.reg.eleyo.com/child-care/4/24-25-school-year-mission-graduates-programs.

Please visit this link to view their flier, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1k5lcRch6B5BL2XjBCXdH3Mqcvs5IYuyV/view?usp=sharing.