SFUSD Family Newsletter
Celebrating Earth Month and Earth Day
SUPERINTENDENT'S MESSAGE 
Dear SFUSD Families:
Dr. Matt Wayne, SFUSD Superintendent

Happy National School Library Month! As a former English teacher, one of my favorite places in school is the library. The library is a special place for many reasons -- it’s a nurturing and inviting space where students experience all things literary, from reading to writing to exploring the world of knowledge. In SFUSD school libraries, you will find students engaged in culturally responsive book clubs, comic book arts, 3D printing, origami and building sets, podcasting, and video studios, just to name a few activities. Our librarians create spaces for students to connect outside of class: clubs for tinkering, crafting, games like chess, and of course, reading. 

 

Literacy is not only important when it comes to school libraries; it’s also a priority in our classrooms. In fact, on March 26, the Board of Education adopted new Language Arts core curricula for grades PK-8. The new curricula will debut in the 2024-25 school year. This is quite a milestone – it has been at least 10 years since the last adoption of a Language Arts core curriculum in SFUSD – and is a testament to our commitment to our ambitious goal to raise third-grade students’ reading level proficiency to 70% by October 2027.

 

Finally, in honor of Paraeducator Appreciation Day on April 3, I want to encourage our students and families to celebrate the paraeducators in your school community. From working in classrooms, to monitoring students during their lunch, to supporting students and families when conflicts arise, paraeducators make a difference in the lives of students and families every single day. 

 

Please keep reading this month’s newsletter for updates about these topics and more.

 

In community,

Dr. Wayne

Newsletter Navigation
Featured in this month's family newsletter:
EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES 
Microphone in front of rows of seats
Resource Alignment Initiative: Share Your Input
 
SFUSD is seeking input from community, families, staff, and students on draft criteria for school mergers, co-locations, and closures for the 2025-2026 school year. Register to attend a virtual town hall or an in-person community session.
Round 2 Application Deadline
 
Families who missed the Main Round enrollment application deadline for the 2024-2025 school year can apply for Round 2 through April 19.
Children smiling in playground
Golden Gate Bridge against neon pink, yellow, blue, and orange background
2024 Citywide Youth Arts Festival
 
Celebrate the creativity of SFUSD students at the 2024 Citywide Youth Arts Festival! Visual art exhibitions will be on display throughout San Francisco, and a performing arts showcase and digital media screening will be held on April 27.
Celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride
 
SFUSD celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride in April while working throughout the year to ensure students feel safe, welcome, and included in their school communities. We will be holding special events throughout the month, including the Superintendent's Rainbow Read-Aloud on April 23 and Pink Wave on April 30.
Pride flag
2024 BIPOC KidLit Fest: April 6 12-4 p.m.
SFPL BIPOC KidLit Fest
 

On April 6, celebrate diverse authors at the first BIPOC KidLit Fest at the San Francisco Public Library! Meet authors and get a free copy of keynote author Christina Soontornvat's works while supplies last. 

No smoking, no vaping sign
Anti-Smoking/Vaping Art Contest
 
SFUSD students in Grades 4-12: Create art or video about the harms of smoking or vaping and submit it by April 19 for a chance to win up to $200! 
 
 
Students in caps and gowns
2024 Ignite Potential Event
 
Spark’s Ignite Potential 2024 event is a special evening celebrating SFUSD’s students and leaders, and the community that supports them. Join us on May 1 when we will feature several student performances and honor six graduating seniors with the Superintendent's 21st Century Award scholarship
Arab American Heritage Month
 
SFUSD celebrates the rich and diverse culture and contributions of the diverse population of Arab Americans all year long, and especially during the month of April.
National Arab American Heritage Month April 2024
RESOURCES AND FEATURES
You belong here! Let's show up for each other
Spring Show Up!
 
Learning is accelerated in the spring semester, and that's why Showing Up for Spring is so important! ParentVUE allows you to see your child’s attendance record, messages from teachers,and grades. We want to make sure we get it right, so if you see anything for attendance that should be updated, please let your school know.
SUN Bucks Summer Food Program
 

SUN Bucks is a new program to help families buy food for their school-aged children during the summer. Families will get $120 for each eligible child to buy groceries during the summer.

SUN Bucks
Algebra equations and a pencil
2024-25 Pilot Schools for Algebra 1 Announced
 
Find out which schools will be piloting Algebra 1 in eighth grade for the 2024-25 school year. Eighth graders in schools that are not piloting Algebra 1 will still have opportunities to take Algebra 1 over the summer or online.
Student holding cards with "A" for "apple" and "D" for "donut"
New PK-8 Language Arts Core Curriculum for 2024-25
 
The San Francisco Board of Education adopted new Language Arts core curricula for Grades PK-8 at its special workshop meeting on Tuesday, March 26. The new curricula will debut in the 2024-25 school year. 
Celebrating Environmental Education and Earth Month
 

Many of SFUSD Science Department's community-based partners will be hosting events for Earth Month for families. Join us! 

Hands holding sprouting plants
Two youth in Chinatown
Summer Jobs, Internships and Programs for Youth
 

If you are or know youth ages 14-24, March and April are the best months to visit the SF Department of Children, Youth, and their Families' Opportunities for Youth Page to find summer jobs, internships, scholarships, contests, and more.

 

Our 415 with sun and flying birds
2024 Summer Opportunities for Grades K-8
 

If you are looking for summer camps and programs for children and youth in grades K-8, visit the SF Department of Children, Youth, and their Families' Our415 Summer! The Our415 Summer page includes 165+ agencies in San Francisco that offer a wide variety of summer camps and programs.

Cherry blossoms
Spring Break
 
TK-13 SFUSD schools will be closed for spring break from Monday, April 8 to Friday, April 12. SFUSD offices will remain open. 

Eid Mubarak
Eid al-Fitr
 
Eid-al-Fitr is expected to begin on Wednesday, April 10.
 
Eid Mubarak! 
Seder plate and matzoh
Passover
 

Passover will be celebrated from April 22 to April 30.

Happy Passover! 

SFUSD IN THE NEWS
Video game building class at Balboa High School
Video game building class at Balboa High School
 

Inside San Francisco's Balboa High School, students in Mr. Peery's class are hard at work building video games. Make no mistake, while these games may be fun to play, designing them is hard work.

 

"That includes programming, it includes making the digital art assets, as well as sound effects and background music," said teacher Owen Peery.

 
Teacher Barbara Cushway honored at Warriors game
 

Jefferson Elementary early education teacher Barbara Cushway was honored at the March 18 Warriors game for her long-time contribution to SFUSD. Ms. Barbara is an alumnus of Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary, A.P. Giannini Middle School, and Abraham Lincoln High School, and she returned to SFUSD to teach after her university studies and never looked back. 

 

Thank you, Ms. Barbara!

WHO TO CONTACT
Department
Student and Family Services Division
Can help with...
Expulsions/Suspensions
Student Attendance Review Board
Records Requests 
Location and Contact
Phone: 415-340-1716 
Email: sflink@sfusd.edu
Transcript & Work Permit Office
Student transcripts
Work Permits
Phone: 415-750-4500
Email: transcripts@sfusd.edu
Student Nutrition Services
Breakfast + Lunch program
Free/reduced lunch applications
Pandemic EBT
Phone: 415-749-3604
Transportation Services
Transportation for students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs)
General Education busing  
Transportation bus service for paid, athletic, and art program trips
Phone: 415-695-5505
Enrollment Center 
Student enrollment
Language assessments
Address change

Don’t see what you’re looking for and need assistance? Contact Student Family School Resource Link

 

Call 415-340-1716 * or email sflink@sfusd.edu or see the Contact Us page

 

*Hours of operation for the phone are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (Closed from 12 p.m - 1 p.m every day). Phones will also be closed on school holidays. Callers can leave a voicemail at all hours.
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