October 28, 2020

October 28, 2020

Dear SFUSD Staff:

We’re well into fall and as the season changes, I want to remind everyone about the importance of taking care of ourselves and others. With COVID-19 and flu season overlapping, it is more important than ever to get a flu vaccine.  Everyone ages 6 months and older should get their flu vaccine this fall.  The flu vaccine protects everyone’s health — it prevents individuals from getting sick, limits the spread of flu from person to person, and reduces the chance of hospitalization. Flu vaccines are widely available at doctors’ offices, clinics, and pharmacies. To find a flu vaccine at a location near you, visit the Vaccine Finder or check the list of San Francisco Department of Public Health locations offering free or low-cost flu vaccinations for the public.

Please keep reading today’s digest for more important updates.

Updates

Distance Learning Support for Children of Healthcare Workers, Activated Disaster Service Workers, and SFUSD Educators

The City’s Emergency Child and Youth Care sites provide distance learning support (space, time, connectivity) and enriching activities to children of healthcare workers and activated Disaster Service Workers, and SFUSD educators.

  • Children must be in Grades 1-5.
  • The hours of operation are Mon-Fri from 8:30am-5:30pm.
  • Children should bring their own devices, headphones, lunch and snack each day. The cost for the program is $135 per week but children must attend for at least 3 weeks and payments are due monthly. The City offers financial assistance to low-income San Francisco Residents.
  • The sites where there are currently available slots are:
    • HAMILTON REC CENTER - 1900 Geary Blvd. @ Steiner St
    • POTRERO HILL REC CENTER - 801 Arkansas St.
    • RICHMOND REC CENTER - 251 18th Avenue
    • SUNSET REC CENTER - 2201 Lawton @ 29th Ave.
  • Interested parents should fill out this inquiry form, and will then be contacted by a Support Service Representative.

Upcoming Schedule Changes for Grab & Go Meals

In response to feedback from families to accommodate school and work schedules, meal pickup will now be offered in the afternoon, two days per week. After next week, grab and go meal sites will no longer be open on Wednesdays, 10:30-12. Schedule changes are also being made to accommodate the Thanksgiving holiday.

  • Meal Pickup Changing to Tuesday Afternoons

Starting November 10, the weekly pick up time for all grab and go sites will change to Tuesday, 2-3:30 p.m. On Tuesdays, 5 days’ worth of meals, including breakfast, lunch, supper, fresh fruits and vegetables, and milk is available. Brown, Lau and Mission stay open until 4 p.m.

  • New Second Pickup Day Offered

Starting November 13, sites will also be open a second day to pick up additional meals and snacks. On these days, 2 days’ worth of meals, plus snacks, fresh fruits and vegetables, and milk is available. Pick up meals one or both days!

  • November Schedule
    • Wednesday, November 4, 10:30-12 (5 Day Bag)
    • Tuesday, November 10, 2-3:30 (5 Day Bag)
    • Friday, November 13, 2-3:30 (2 Day Bag)
    • Tuesday, November 17, 2-3:30 (5 Day Bag)
    • Friday, November 20, 2-3:30 (5 Day Thanksgiving Holiday Bag)
    • Thanksgiving: Closed
  • Download Grab & Go Calendar
  • Grab and go meals are available for SFUSD students and their siblings. View locations and more information at sfusd.edu/schoolfood.

Grab & Go Meal Schedule at Bret Harte Elementary Nov. 4

On November 4, Bret Harte Elementary will be opening late as equipment is moved. Pick up meals 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Possible Increase in ICE Activity

The City of San Francisco has issued a statement regarding possible increase in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity on the days leading up to the election on November 3rd. While ICE has not shared any details, it is important that we are informed and prepared to support our students and families. The district’s Immigration Policy and Resources webpage includes local resources that are in place for our immigrant families.

Walk and Roll Week

Each October, thousands of kids at schools across San Francisco walk, scoot, and bicycle to school as part of International Walk & Roll to School Day. With students learning remotely this fall, Walk San Francisco has created activities to celebrate getting around in people-powered ways like on foot, bicycle, and scooter.

  • The San Francisco Safe Routes to School Partnership is holding an art contest for all SFUSD students K-12 to help celebrate Walk & Roll Week. Entries are due by 11:59PM November 16, 2020.
  • Teachers: When you sign up your classroom to participate in Walk & Roll Week, you’ll have a chance to win a set of books with sustainability, health, and safety themes for your classroom. Sign up your classroom now! 

For Educators: YouTube video approvals are almost here!

  • Starting on Friday, November 6th, all SFUSD staff will be able to “approve” restricted videos so that all SFUSD students (PK-12) can watch them.
  • Learn more about approving YouTube videos by watching our short video (2:23).
  • Read our updated tips for using YouTube with students, including recommended tools and methods to share videos with students.

Tech Tips to Prepare for Conferences

  • Use Google Calendar’s built-in appointment slots feature for families to sign up for meeting times. To use appointment slots, families will need either a Gmail address or to have their student use their SFUSD account to sign up for the time.
  • Google Meet is the recommended video conferencing tool to connect with families for conferences. 
  • If you use Google Classroom, you can show a summary of a single student’s work by clicking on their name in the People tab. 
  • To organize conference artifacts in Seesaw, create a “Conferences” folder for students’ best work and select the clearest examples to share student progress with families. Enable item editing so students can also choose which posts to add to their Conferences folder.  Encourage students to reflect on their learning with this Conference Reflection Activity. Learn more about organizing your students' best work and conferences with Seesaw.

Google Tip! Check on your files’ sharing permissions

  • Now is a great time to review the sharing settings on files with confidential staff or student information, such as IEPs, 504s, lists of student login information, and more.
  • Files set to “anyone at SFUSD with the link” can be found and viewed by anyone with an SFUSD account, including students.
  • Files with sensitive information should be shared only with the people who need access to the file. Learn more about how to share securely with our SFUSD sharing tips.

Synergy Tip! How to Navigate StudentVUE for Teachers

  • Learn what students see in their StudentVUE accounts by watching the Teachers’ Guide to StudentVUE video. See how they view messages, assignments, and grades!
  • Teachers are able to see student login information, parent/guardian contact information, and are notified which students do not have any parents/guardians with an activated ParentVUE account.
  • Visit bit.ly/SFUSDTeacherPortal for more resources on TeacherVUE Gradebook.

Reminders

Education Funding Measures on November Ballot

Election Day is next Tuesday! As a reminder, San Franciscans will vote on Proposition J, which addresses a legal loophole to continue providing funds to SFUSD, and California Proposition 15, which would increase revenue for public education and other services. Learn more about these measures and remember to make a plan to vote and urge your family and friends to do so.

Bright Spot

Longtime educator Robert Roth, who taught at Mission High School from 2005 until he retired in 2018, was featured in The Atlantic where he reflects on how he approached teaching U.S. history as an anti-racist educator. 

Warm regards,

Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthews

 

This page was last updated on October 28, 2020