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Talofa*Aloha*Hafa Adai*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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SFUSD First Day of School:
Monday, August 17th, 2026 |
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On Thursday, July 9th, the SFUSD Local, State & Federal Program Office was honored to host a group of summer interns! TAUTUA (service) Summer Interns and MAC Junior Interns came together to support the Mātua Advisory Council, Indian Education, and Kinders by assembling and filling over 200 JanSport backpacks with school supplies for SFUSD students in PreK–12th grade.
Through the experience, the interns did amazing teamwork and their excitement of giving back to their community. Coming together to prepare something that will support our SFUSD students and families this upcoming school year was so much fun! Thank you to all the positive, consistent adults in the lives of our Interns and of course, thank you to the young people!
If you would like to request a backpack for your SFUSD child(ren) for the upcoming school year 2026-2027, please mail Mātua Advisory Council at matua@sfusd.edu by August 16th (or while supplies last).
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On Saturday, June 27th, the SALT Pacific Islander Association/Pacific Islander Cultural District hosted its 1st Summer of Alofa event, kicking off cool summer vibes filled with family, community, neighborhood, small businesses on Leland Ave, SF. This year's theme, Waves of Culture, celebrated diversity! The event featured a kids' corner hosted by the Mātua Advisory Council and the TAUTUA Summer Interns. Enjoy a few photos from the event below. |
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On Saturday, June 28th, UTOPIA took part in the SF Pride Parade as contingent #052. Photos captured parents and guardians proudly supporting their children in cultural attire, over 22 Pacific Island flags on display, and children's books given away along the route promoting pride, culture and literacy. It was such a great event. Two of our SFUSD students and their parents took on lead roles in the parade. One served as a Taupou (Samoan princess), and the other was our hypeperson on the mic, keeping the crowd energized throughout, and our parents led with UTOPIA banner. |
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On June 26, 2026, TAUTUA Summer Interns went on their summer college tour. This year, they toured UC Santa Cruz, home of the Banana Slugs! From Stevenson College, Cowell College, and Oaks College, to the bookstore, and finally to the best view at East Upper Field the interns were amazed by the UC campus nestled on the hill, in the woods. They were also excited to learn about scholars such as Dr.Teresia Kieuea Teaiwa, a celebrated poet, scholar, and cultural activist from Kiribati, and Angela Davis, the renowned scholar and activist who is a professor emerita at UC Santa Cruz. Some additional photos below. |
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Talofa Family and Friends,
On behalf of the Board of Directors, Staff, and the Youth of SCDC, WE are excited to celebrate our 30th Year of Pacific Islander Youth Alliance (PIYA) on July 30, 2026.
Someone said to me, Dream Big. Not only did I dream big for myself, I dreamed big for our youth and our community. WE are elated to announce that this years celebration will be at the Chase Center in San Francisco..
Here at SCDC, we are to create a “safe space” for your children, to be children. We are excited to celebrate with you and your family, as we witness our children sing, dance to the beat of their identity and culture. Fa’afetai, Fa’afetai, Fa’afetai.
We cannot wait to celebrate with you at the CHASE CENTER. Below is the link to the guidelines for the CHASE CENTER. (Guidelines link also in bio)
https://bit.ly/PIYAGUEST
Ma le fa’aaloalo tele,
Fa’atonu Fomai
Dr. Patsy M Tito |
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El Dorado Elementary School is one of two public elementary schools in Visitacion Valley Neighborhood and Pacific Islander Cultural District! They are still accepting enrollment applications for 2026-27, it is not too late to enroll your child! For more information or to schedule a tour of the school please contact: 70 Delta St.San Francisco, Ca 94134415.330.1537sch521@sfusd.edu School Website - LINK |
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July 2026 - In Community...
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Ways to Support Typhoon Recovery in the Marianas
Friday, July 31st
7pm-10pm
The Nook SF | 1242 Market Street | Floor 2
San Francisco, Ca 94102
About The Event
Join us for a night of live music, connection, and Inafa'maolek.
In April, Typhoon Sinlaku struck the Mariana Islands, causing over $1.5 billion in damages and displacing hundreds of families. As our community was working to recover, the islands were hit once again in early July by Typhoon Bavi. While typhoons are a natural part of the island ecosystem, experiencing multiple severe storms outside of the traditional storm season is deeply abnormal.
“This isn’t just bad weather; it is the direct result of climate injustice
. The entire Oceania region- including Australia, New Zealand, and all Pacific Island nations- accounts for only about 1.4% of global greenhouse emissions. The [Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas] and Guam contribute only a fraction of that, yet we’re experiencing some of the earliest and most severe impacts of climate change- including stronger typhoons, sea level rise, coastal erosion, and saltwater intrusion. We are on the frontlines of a crisis we did very little to create. That’s climate injustice.” - Micronesia Climate Change Alliance
In the spirit of
Inafa'maolek, the ancestral CHamoru core belief of striving for harmony and doing good for one another, we're inviting local arts and music lovers to come together to raise vital funds for those affected.
Where the funds go:85% will directly support grassroots, community-led initiatives on the ground, ensuring the people of the Marianas maintain agency to rebuild their lives and sustain long-term resilience.15% will support this event’s fiscal sponsor, Inafamaolek.us; a Bay Area non-profit dedicated to CHamoru cultural resilience and wellness.
The Lineup: The night features live performances by local musicians Daniel Cespedes (@danideru), quattro. (@tha_fourth_wun), and Robson Batinga (@robsonbatingaofc), plus raffle prizes from local businesses, and more.
Come for the music, stay for the community. Biba!
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Pasifika
Storytelling through Dance & Arts.
August 8, 2026
San Francisco
Union Square Plaza
11am-2pm
What to expect:
Cultural Dances, and Arts & Crafts activities.
For more information, contact Anna Mahina, amahina@mlvs.org |
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Additional Information/Resources: |
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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, DELAC, 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 address the academic needs of 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 five years in partnership with educators, students, community-based organizations and Mātua 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.
Mātua 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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