AAPAC MONTHLY UPDATES
December 2021
Season's Greetings African American Families, AAPAC Members, and Valued Partners,
As we close out 2021 and welcome in all the possibilities of 2022, we encourage you to focus on the health and wellbeing of yourself and your loved ones. There will always be systems to change, injustices to make right, and responsibilities to adhere to, but let's remember "The Oxygen Principle". It states, "If the cabin loses pressure, oxygen masks will fall from above. You are to place yours on yourself before trying to help others." In an article written in the Autism Parenting Magazine, author Chris Nealy writes, "For parents, this may seem rather preposterous! Of course we want to protect our children and feel an urge to forget our own mask in the process of securing theirs. This instinct reflects a common occurrence in the daily lives of many parents. The problem with breaking the Oxygen Mask Rule is that we increase the risk to not just our own health, but also for those relying on us to keep them safe."
AAPAC decided that this year we would focus on Black Resilience and Accountability. We must hold our leaders (City/School District/Community) and ourselves as parent partners accountable to the outcomes of Black children AND we must nuture our minds, bodies, and spirits so that we are well enough to do so. Please check out the information below from our district and community partners for ways to do both.
There are some very important decisions being made at the City and District levels that directly impact the services and education being offered to our children. Please continue to show up and lift your voices. There are also many exciting celebratory gatherings happening in our communities. Check out the links to our community partners' websites and if you are able, participate. Either way, please share these opportunities within your networks. As the African Proverb says, "Each one, Teach one".
Be well,
AAPAC
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” -Audre Lorde
AAPAC UPDATES
Please stay tuned for AAPAC's plan for December 2021. We are hoping to spread love and time throughout various communities in San Francisco. We will table at upcoming community events, partner to celebrate Kwanzaa citywide and hopefully share a meal and some hand-crafted gifts with many of you. We will share more information in the coming days.
In the meantime, if you are an AAPAC member (family of a Black child in SF) and would like to represent AAPAC at some of the upcoming events, please email us at aapac@sfusd.edu.
Previous AAPAC Meeting
AAPAC hosted a Pre and Post Budget Balancing Town Hall meeting. Together we uplifted concerns and suggested priorities for District leaders to consider when deciding on how to address SFUSD's 125 million dollar deficit. Those offerings will be summarized and shared with district decision-makers and back out to all of you.
In case you missed it, here are links to SFUSD's:
- 11/30/2021 Budget Town Hall and Slide Deck with a proposed budget plan
- 12/1/2021 Augmented Budget and Business Services Committee Meeting
Searching for Solutions
Stanford University Professor, Dr. Subini Annamma, and her team are interested in talking with Black students in grades 6th-12th who have been suspended at any time in SFUSD. They are doing up to three interviews or focus groups (youth can choose if they want to be a part of 1 or all of the interviews/focus groups). They will be paid $20 per interview they complete. This is a chance for Black youth to tell their stories, identify what is and is not working, and offer solutions based on their experiences.
To sign your middle or high school child up or for more questions, please email subini@stanford.edu. See the attached research memo for more information.
Lowell High School's Admission Policy
Following a lawsuit to overturn the SFUSD Board of Education vote to end merit-based admissions to Lowell High school, the courts ordered SFUSD to rescind its decision to make Lowell admissions a lottery system due to a procedural error. According to an SFUSD News Release, "The Court noted and explained that the Board could cure and correct this procedural error by placing the Resolution on a board agenda with proper notice."
"Superintendent Matthews will introduce a resolution for first reading on Dec. 7, 2021 that recommends SFUSD utilize the same admissions policy for Lowell for the 2022-23 school year as it did for the current school year. Per the Superintendent’s resolution to be introduced on Dec. 7, students applying to Lowell for the 2022-23 school year would use the same application form used for SFUSD’s comprehensive high schools. The application for Lowell would have the same deadline as all other comprehensive SFUSD high schools –– Feb. 4, 2022.
Superintendent Matthews will request that the SF Board of Education schedule the resolution for a vote at a special meeting on Dec. 16, 2021. SFUSD will notify families of the final decision immediately following a decision by the SF Board of Education."
The AAPAC Leadership team continues to stand in full support of making Lowell a regular admissions high school. We believe that all children should have the right to access quality education and equitable supports in each and every one of SFUSD schools without limitations. Please join AAPAC at 5pm on December 7th and December 16th to share your support and/or concerns. To join the special meetings visit the SFUSD BOE Webpage for the links and dial-in information.
SFUSD Early Literacy & Plans to Improve Student Outcomes
In November, Deputy Superintendent, Enikia Ford-Morthel, and Chief of Curriculum and Instruction, Nicole Priestly, met with the San Francisco Parent Coalition and gave a presentation about SFUSD Early Literacy & Plans to Improve Student Outcomes. Because this is an area of focus that AAPAC has elevated in recent conversations, board meetings, and in our board presentation on October 26th, we invite you to check out the recording and feel free to email and questions and/or reflections to aapac@sfusd.edu and we will share them accordingly.
SFUSD UPDATES
Staying Up to Date with SFUSD
Every Thursday, families who have included their email addresses in ParentVUE will receive the Family Announcement Bulletin (FAB), an email summary of all public website announcements posted in the past week. Learn how to update your contact information in ParentVUE. Interested community members can also sign up to receive FAB.
This week's FAB includes information about:
- Free Grab and Go Meals during Winter Break: On December 21st, pick up 10 days of free meals for children 18 years and under.
- SFUSD Black Educator Recruitment Information Session - 12/9/21: Join SFUSD for a Virtual Information Session for Black Educators interested in certificated career opportunities!
- Student Self-Swab Test Kits available at School Sites!: Test kits will be given to students if they are identified as symptomatic (while on site) or as a close contact to a positive case on-site.
- COVID Recovery Services Family Newsletter: Over 150 SFUSD students with special needs are getting additional learning time on Saturdays as part of the SFUSD SPED Covid Recovery Program. Learn more.
Inclusive Schools Week
Join SFUSD school sites across the district in celebrating Inclusive Schools Week December 6th - 10th, 2021. Historically, Inclusive Schools Week (ISW) has been an opportunity for us to come together to honor all students with disabilities as full members of our school communities. The Community Advisory Committee for Special Education (CAC SpEd) has partnered with many departments across the district to share Inclusion resources, deliver posters, and support staff in planning events at schools across the district.
Celebrate Inclusive Schools Week- Events/Opportunities:
Submit art to the Inclusive Art Showcase - open to all students to share what rebuilding our inclusive community looks and feels like for them. Submit work via this Google Form.
Register for the Virtual 49er Workout hosted by the SFUSD PE Department and Special Olympics of Northern California. Monday, December 6th from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm.
Register for the Parent Education Institute IEP Myths and Facts Workshop, sponsored by SFUSD ADR and Support for Families of Children with Disabilities. Wednesday, December 8th from 6-8pm.
Register for a Virtual Special Olympics Assembly featuring an Special Olympics Athlete speaker hosted by the Access program at Thurgood Marshall (open to all ages). Thursday, December 9th from 9:00am - 10:00am.
Register for the Young Adult Inclusion Panel - Rebuilding our Inclusive Community Thursday, December 9th from 6:30-7:30pm.
For more opportunities to get involved, check with your child's school site.
SFUSD School Enrollment:
If you have a student entering kindergarten, middle school, or high school next year, you must apply for a new school. The online application for the Main Round of Enrollment for the 2022-2023 school year is now available and must be completed on ParentVUE. For families new to SFUSD, you can create an account without an activation code at sfusd.edu/onlineapp. Step by step guides for families are available at sfusd.edu/ola. Applications are due February 4, 2022.
Visit sfusd.edu/schools/enroll to learn more.
Southeast Education Placement Center Office
A new EPC office is now open at Leola Havard. The office will offer the same services as the 555 Franklin location including school enrollment, placement counseling, change of information forms, referrals to alternative programs, and language assessment, and more.
The EPC Southeast office located at 1520 Oakdale Avenue will open from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday and closed every 3rd Thursday of the month from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Winter Recess
All SFUSD K-12 schools will be closed from December 20-31, 2021.
Board of Education Meetings
Unless otherwise noticed, meetings are held every 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month at 4pm and are open to the public. To tune in, visit the BOE Webpage the day of and follow login instructions. Agendas are posted the Friday prior to each meeting. The next regular meeting will be on December 14th at 5pm.
To Make Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items (for regular board meetings only):
The Board President will introduce the allotted period of time for Public Comments, organize the comments, and staff indicates who will be speaking next.
To comment by video conference, click on the Participants button at the bottom of your screen and select the “Raise Your Hand” button to request to speak when Public Comment is being asked for. When called upon, you will be unmuted. After the allotted time, you will then be re-muted.
To comment by phone, you will be prompted to “Raise Your Hand” by pressing “*9” to request to speak when Public Comment is asked for. When called upon, you will be unmuted.
Again, sign up or look out for the Thursday Family Announcement Bulletin or visit sfusd.edu for additional resources and information.
COMMUNITY PARTNER UPDATES
AAPAC encourages you to stay connected to community resources as well. Please visit the websites listed below for more information on activities and opportunities throughout San Francisco. The link to each organization is in the title.
K2C is a college savings initiative for kindergartners entering the San Francisco Unified School District. Each eligible child starts kindergarten with a savings account, containing an initial deposit of $50 from the City and County of San Francisco. Children and their families can contribute to the account throughout grade school and high school. Currently, over 22,000 students in all 74 public SFUSD elementary schools have K2C accounts, including all K-3 grade students (and select students in 4th-5th grade at K2C pilot year schools).
Help a child in foster care stay in the city. Click on the above link to learn more about fostering, adopting, hosting or mentoring. For current foster parents, learn your rights.
COVID-19 Resources for the Black Community
Looking for local resources in your community by Black-led Organizations? Browse Covid-19 Black's directory of San Francisco Bay Area Agencies.
We offer community-based, culturally competent, behavioral health services via
comprehensive (face to face and virtual) psychotherapy and behavioral health services, school and agency consultations, medication support, parent training and referrals.
We serve children, adolescents, families and the communities of African descent in the
Southeast sector of San Francisco. For more information call 415-330-5740.
Black to the Future is committed to enhancing educational and economic opportunities for our community by instilling the necessary tools to become successful. Black to the Future’s goal is to engage youth and young adults ages 14 to 35 around a continuum of culturally competent services that consider their role in family, community, and the overall landscape of San Francisco. Learn more or complete a family intake by clicking on the above link.
MegaBlack SF is a collective of Black-led organizations and Black individuals fighting for visibility, sovereignty, dignity, and justice for Black San Franciscans. For more information on MegaBlack SF, to be added to their newsletter, or to join the weekly meetings, visit their site linked in the title.
The Dream Keeper Initiative is a new, citywide effort to reinvest $120 million over the next two years from law enforcement into San Francisco’s Black and African American community. This Initiative is part of Mayor London N. Breed’s roadmap for reforming public safety and addressing structural inequities in San Francisco. The Dream Keeper Initiative aims to break the cycle of poverty and involvement in the criminal justice system for the families in City programs and ensure that new investments, including in youth development, economic opportunity, community-led change, arts and culture, workforce, and homeownership, are accessible to San Francisco’s families who are most in need.
Learn more about partner organizations and activities by visiting the linked website.
*AAPAC is an honored partner and recipient of DreamKeeperSF Funds.
Rafiki's goal is to improve people’s lives by reversing the history of health inequalities that affect the Black community and other under-served groups in San Francisco. Rafiki provides a safe, supportive environment where people can find a path to wellness by understanding their health issues, becoming more physically active, and eating a healthy diet. Rafiki is also spearheading covid vaccine and testings sites as well as free food giveaways.
Mo’ MAGIC is a collaborative, San Francisco neighborhood-based, nonprofit organization whose mission is to transform the community and youth through the MAGIC of collaboration.
a comprehensive program for K-12th graders that provides after-school and summer programming that focuses on literacy, STEAM, and sports activities. Also included in the Magic Zone program is our workforce development and job readiness services through the Community Safety Initiative and partnership with Mayor London Breed's Opportunities for All initiative.
BMAGIC is a network of San Francisco neighborhood-based nonprofit organizations whose mission is to facilitate, coordinate and develop community resources and opportunities that support service providers and community members in Bayview Hunters Point (BVHP).
Our neighboring YMCAs offer a variety of resources and opportunities that are free or low-cost to the community. The YMCA offers wellness groups, fitness classes, academic support, and more for the entire family.
Community Advisory Committee for Special Education (CAC)
The purpose of the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for Special Education is to advocate for effective Special Education programs and services, and advise the Board of Education on priorities in the Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA). CAC meets every 4th Thursday of the month. Visit their linked site for more information.
Grounded in the community schools model/framework, Beacon Centers are committed to a cohesive, comprehensive, and collaborative approach that creates pathways to lifelong learning and transformative experiences for youth and the adults who support them through advocacy, leadership, networking, and program support.
Kwanzaa begins December 26th. Stay tuned for dates and locations of daily Kwanzaa celebrations across SF.
Happy Kwanzaa and Merry Christmas!
ABOUT US
Email: aapac@sfusd.edu
Website: sfusd.edu/aapac
Location: 1551 Newcomb Avenue Room 101, San Francisco, CA, USA
Phone: (415) 241-6121
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aapacsf
