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December 2025 | Issue #35 |
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Talofa*Aloha*Alii*Bula*Fakaalofa lahi atu*Hafa adai*Iokwe*Ia orana*Kia orana*Kia Ora*Ko na Mauri*Malo e lelei*Mogethin*Hello!
(These are various greetings in different Pacific Islander languages)
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December 2025 | SFUSD Fa'aSamoa Initiative Highlights
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On December 9, 2025, Mātua Advisory Council (MAC) representatives & Fa'aSamoa Initiative Team presented to the SFUSD Board of Education. Their presentation included highlights, history, MAC recommendations and shared an example of process and strategy with Literacy. Their Brightspots looked at positive gains and data shifts in Literacy with NHPI students and sharing partnerships with MAC, School Sites, Community-based organizations and Afterschool programs who have all aligned their efforts to tackle SFUSD Goal 1: 3rd grade literacy. The presentation was met with positive comments and questions from Board Commissioners to Dr.Su around sustainability and supports for initiative, ways to model efforts district-wide, and even ways to continue a legacy starting with first Pacific Islander/Samoan elected Board Commissioner member, Faauuga Moliga and community advocacy since 2018. For the full presentation slides, visit www.sfusd.edu/fasi. To find recorded 12/9 SFUSD School Board Meeting, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbyGqInJh18 [MAC presentation starts at 1:38:00. |
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On December 8th, 2025, Leola Havard EES/Samoan Dual Language Class (Vasega Amata) attended the Deck the Hall Community Day at the Davies Symphony Hall! Students were able to watch the show and even meet Mayor Lurie, who was in attendance that day. Shout outs to our Arts Department for supporting with transportation for students! [PC: Ms.Epenesa Taylor] |
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On December 10th, 2025, Mātua Advisory Council (MAC) had their last General Meeting of the year! This meeting was hosted by Street Violence Intervention Program, Elder Joe Kaulave. Our special guest, Lizzie Liu, Parent & Community Coordinator in SFUSD Student Nutrition Services Division. She presented on plans to be intentional of parent and community feedback as they plan for ways they can improve student nutrition services for students and getting accurate information directly to our families. She posed in photo next too the grand prize created/dontated by Beacon afterschool program at Bret Harte Elementary, Mrs.Merita Kaulave and her amazing team! Other prizes were dontated by SF Tongans Rise Up and SALT Association. Thank you Parents/Guardians and community for your commitment to collective efforts in partnership for our future generations. |
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On December 8th, 2025, Bret Harte ES's Pacific Islander Mātua (Parent) Council had an end of the year holiday celebration. They had holiday theme art activity stations like making a cardboard Gingerbread house, making decorative mini mason jars with lights, canvas painting station for students and families to do together. Good food, music and good company was the vibe! |
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On December 12, 2025 Visitacion Valley Elementary and Real Options for City Kids (R.O.C.K afterschool program) did their Winter Wonderland event. This included Hot Chocolate, Popcorn, Face painting, Photo booth, Ball in Cup stations for students. It was also pajama day, so students and staff were dressed up in their favorite pajamas. Anna Mahina, Faye Ia and Nellie Skeen (Representing Mātua Advisory Council, SALT Association and SF Tongans Rise Up) were invited to create a Pacific Islander Reading/Literacy Corner that evolved into highlighting coloring book, The Peepole Coloring Book by Pacific Islander Author & Artist Mi'ile's Strokes. Students were able to take a page from the book that represented islands like Tonga, Fiji and Samoa - and color. When students completed their coloring, they got to take their page home and receive a holiday goodie bag. Shout out to VVES and R.O.C.K Teams for another successful event! Thank you for the continued partnerships with NH&PI Parents and Community Based organizations! |
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Fall 2025 | SFUSD Announcements
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SFUSD Winter Break 2025
- No School -
December 22, 2025- January 2, 2026
School starts back: Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.
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Fall 2025 | In Case you missed it... |
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On December 8th-12th, we celebrated Inclusive Schools Week! 'This years theme, "Children's First," is rooted in the powerful Maasai greetings, Casserian Engeri, which translates to "And how are the Children?" Putting Children First means prioritizing every students's right to learn in an environment that supports their diverse needs, embraces their unique abilities, and fosters a sense of belonging.' For additional information and inclusion resources, please check out www.sfusd.edu/sped |
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On December 11th, 2025 at Brava Women for the Arts Cabaret, RAMA Blueprints Podcast interviewed Tino Felise (SCDC), Gaynorann Siataga (SALT) and Anna Mahina (SF Tongans Rise Up) in an episode entitled, Tres Generaciones/Three Voices: From Invisibility to Visibility. The Rise of the VASA, The Pacific Islander People of San Francisco. This talk story session included the history of policy pushing, creation of Pacific Islander led organization, and navigating San Francisco with a culturally sustaining effort towards self determination. These powerful individuals has dedicated and committed their lives, talents, skills, networks and voice to move what many have deemed impossible. These three individuals were also the community leads that advocated for Fa'aSamoa Initiative, Mātua Advisory Council and the Pacific Islander Cultural District in SF. This event was coordinated and facilitated by Soccoro Gamboa and Darren J. de Leon. For the recording of livestream, visit Carecen SF facebook page. |
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On December 4th, 2025, Critical Pacific Islands and Oceania Studies (CPIOS) x Oceania Scholars Program (OSP) at SF State University hosted a space entitled, Pacific Islander Pathways: Education, STEM, and Community Development. Higher Education students and community members were able to hear from panelists currently in these fields and how they are able to navigate these spaces including where did their journey begin to where they are in their careers. The panelists included, Aukusitino Felise, Caroline Tuipe Washington and SFUSD's Fa'aSamoa Initiative Educational Policy Analyst, UrsulaAnn Siataga. |
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Fall 2025 | In Community... |
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Critical Pacific Islander & Oceania Studies program (CPIOS) is seeking a designer, illustrator, or visual storyteller to help design our new CPIOS Digial Learning Hub. This remote, stipend-funded role is an opportunity to create work that uplifts Pacific Islander knowledge, culture, and community. Submit your application by Friday, December 19th. Click on the link below. |
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In the Visitacion Valley Neighborhood and Pacific Islander Cultural District there will be the Leland Avenue Winter Festival!
Free Kids Activities, Music, and Fun For All!
Saturday, December 20, 2025
11AM-2PM
Leland Ave at Peabody Street (Hans Schiller Plaza)
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San Francisco State University's Critical Pacific Islanders and Oceania Studies Spring 2026 courses are out for SFSU students! Enroll, enroll, enroll! |
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SAVE THE DATE Flyer!
Mixed Persuasion Performing Arts Showcase! Saturday, January 31st, 2025 in San Francisco, Ca! More details coming soon... |
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We moved.
Fa'aSamoa Initiative has moved departments in SFUSD! Fa'aSamoa Initiative moved from the Office of Superintendent to Curriculum & Instructions Department - Local, State and Federal Programs - Access & Equity Division. Herbert Coach Wylie Ilalio and UrsulaAnn Siataga are now housed under the same department with 18 others from Indian Education, Migrant Education, LCAP, Multilingual Learner Pathways, Matua Advisory Council, LatinX and Asian PAC, State & Federal Programs. We are excited for the levels of collaborations and partnerships this year, and look forward to continue aligning our work with HAPI Resolution, MAC Recommendations and District goals - to better serve our students and families. |
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This image above shows many types of offerings throughout the years that has shown positive impacts with educators, students and families. Each of these events/programs were implemented in the last four years in partnership with educators, students, community-based organizations and Matua Advisory Council as examples of strategies useful for improving the ways in which the district serves equitably our Pacific Islander/Samoan students. The programs/events cover students programming, parent/family and community engagement and professional/curriculum development. Check out our websites for more information.
Matua Advisory Council website - www.sfusd.edu/mac
Fa'aSamoa Initiative website - www.sfusd.edu/fasi |
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These monthly newsletters are to support and share information about Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Events, Collective work in Education and Community, SFUSD resources and more!
Thank you for reading!
To check out previous Monthly Newsletters or to subscribe to this newsletter - please visit www.sfusd.edu/fasi.
If you are interested in sharing content on this monthly newsletter, please contact: UrsulaAnn Siataga, siatagau@sfusd.edu.
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