A brief summary of that flowchart is as follows:  First, bring the concern directly up with your child’s teacher.  If the concern has to do with someone other than your child’s teacher, please bring the concern to the principal.  Once you have brought a concern to a teacher, hopefully a resolution will occur.  If it does not, the concern can then be brought to the principal.  The principal will investigate and determine appropriate courses of action.  If there is no resolution at this point, a family can bring the concern to the Office of Family Voice.  The district, school, and parent work together to reach a solution.  If a solution is still not reached, the concern can then be brought to the Assistant Superintendants.  Please see the complete Flowchart located right outside the offices at both campuses.  Thank you!  If you have any questions, please email Tiffany Kendall | email hidden; JavaScript is required.

Due to the delay – and since printing costs for the directory are significant (about $1,500) and we’ll all need a new one within 6 months (i.e., at start of the new school year) - the team has decided to forego printing a full directory for this school year.

Instead, we will print classroom-based (in the case of Mayeda, grade-based) contact information only, to be distributed by your teacher beginning the week of Feb 22nd. If you need to contact parents of a student who is not in your child’s class, please email the team at email hidden; JavaScript is required and we will provide you with that information.

We want to thank the Rooftop community for their patience and understanding. Now that we have all family contact information in one place, it will be significantly easier & faster for us to produce the family directory for future school years. In August 2012, we will send everyone an email to check and confirm their current information (or paper form, for those families for whom we have no email address).

We are also investigating the possibility of securely distributing the directory online in an effort to significantly reduce our directory distribution costs. Whether online or in print, however, we expect that in future years we should all have access to the Rooftop directory shortly after Back to School night.

Tickets are $40/person, available online at http://auction.rooftopk8.org/tickets/.  Paper copies of the ticket order form are also available at school. Doors open at 5pm at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park!

All that and more may be found online at the Rooftop Auction Catalog (direct link: http://auction.rooftopk8.org/catalog/) … shop, create & print a wish list and take your list to the auction. New items are added daily so browse the catalog often.

Budget Update:  Rooftop has received our 2012-2013 budget allocation.  Many of the devastating cuts that will be necessary the district is trying to keep away from the classroom, as much as possible.  They are still looking at cuts through furlough days, possible increase class size and cuts to transportation and there are still more.   The SFUSD gave schools one budget and are asking schools to develop a financial plan.  Rooftop allocation is approx  $60,000 less than last year.

Auction: We have amazingly dedicated parents and caregivers volunteering everyday at our school.  Right now we are entering a period where we are asking folks to find extra time and resources to prepare for our most important fundraiser of the year….our Annual Auction and Children’s Art Show on March 3rd.  A core of volunteers have already logged countless hours getting us to this crucial stage.  I would like to publicly thank all those who have dedicated those countless hours. Your generosity and caring are a big part of what makes Rooftop great.

I want to close by saying, the Rooftop staff has worked hard and smart this year to implement an ambitious program that addresses the achievement needs of our diverse community of learners.  The year is far from done.  Our work is far from complete.  Let us take this opportunity just the same to thank Rooftop’s amazing staff of hardworking, generous, intelligent teachers.  It is not enough to have high expectations.  Working as a cohesive team, the staff provides the support and structure which enables Rooftop students to reach important goals and exceed expectations.  To the Rooftop Staff::  Thank you for all that you do.

Sincerely, Diana Marshall

Conferencias para los Padres: quiero recordarles a todos que la semana del 5 al 9 de Marzo es “semana de conferencias para los padres” y la salida será a las 12:50pm. Por favor hagan planes para que su estudiante sea recogido a tiempo, porque no tendremos supervisión adicional en el patio. Si el maestro de su hijo ha pedido que usted asista a la conferencia, por favor confirmen la fecha y la hora inmediatamente. Nosotros hacemos las citas de conferencia una tras la otra, si usted esta pidiendo una conferencia por favor  pongase en contacto con el maestro de su hijo para hacer una cita con el día y hora.

Noticias del presupuesto: Rooftop ha recibido la asignación del presupuesto. Muchos de los cortes desbastadores serán necesarios y el distrito esta tratando de mantenerlos lo mas lejos posible de los salones. Ellos todavía están tratando de hacer Cortez Atravez  de los días de permiso. Posiblemente incrementen el tamaño de las clases y cortar el transporte y todavía mas. El SFUSD dio a las escuelas un presupuesto y están pidiendo un plan financiero. A Rooftop se le asigno aproximadamente $60,000 menos que el año pasado.

Subasta: Tenemos un increíble y dedicados padres, cuidadores que trabajan como voluntarios todos los días en nuestra escuela. En este momento estamos entrando a un periodo donde estamos pidiendo a todos que se den un tiempo extra y recursos para preparar la mas importante de nuestras recaudación de fondos del año….nuestra subasta anual y el show de arte de los niños el 3 de Marzo. Un grupo de voluntarios han puesto incontables horas para llegar a este momento tan crucial. Quiero agradecer públicamente a todos aquellos quienes han dedicado esas horas incontables. Su generosidad y preocupación son una gran parte de lo que hace que Rooftop sea maravillosa.

Quiero cerrar diciendo, que los empleados de Rooftop han trabajado duro e inteligentemente este año para implementar un programa muy ambicioso que se enfoca en la necesidad de logros de nuestra diversa comunidad de estudiantes. El año esta lejos por terminar, nuestro trabajo esta lejos de completar. Tomemonos esta oportunidad para agradecer a estos trabajadores duros, generosos e intelligent maestros. No es suficiente tener expectaciones grandes. Trabajando de una forma conjunta como equipo, todos dan el apoyo y la estructura que le permite a los estudiantes alcanzar importante metas y sobresalir en sus expectaciones. Para los trabajadores de Rooftop: gracias por todo lo que hacen.

Sinceramente,
Diana Marshall

Internet Essentials – an affordable Internet program

We know that many students and their families would like to have Internet service at home so they can do homework, search jobs, download music, communicate with others and much more. We also believe the Internet can be an important part of your child’s education. That’s why we want to make sure you know about a new program called Internet Essentials, a community access program sponsored by Comcast & Microsoft.

If you have at least one child receiving free or reduced school lunches at Rooftop, your family may qualify for this fast, affordable home Internet service for the new school year.

Internet Essentials bring fast internet access to your home, and costs just $9.95 per month (+tax); there are no price increases, activation fees or equipment rental fees. In addition, you may buy a low cost computer for just $149.99 (+tax) and receive free Internet training – online, in print or in the classroom.

If you think this might be right for your family, it’s easy to get started – call Comcast toll free at 1-855-8-INTERNET (1-855-846-8376) to see if you qualify, enroll and get connected. Or for more information, you can go to InternetEssentials.com.

Rooftop wants to make sure that our students have access to online learning, and is excited to tell you about programs like Internet Essentials that may be helpful to your family.

Internet Essentials is a program to provide home Internet service for families.  It is not a school program, and is not endorsed or required by Rooftop School or SFUSD.

Fundamentos de Internet – un programa económico a Internet

Sabemos que a muchos estudiantes y a sus familias les gustaría tener acceso a Internet en casa para que puedan hacer sus tareas, buscar trabajo, bajar música, comunicarse con otros y mucho más. Creemos que Internet puede llegar a ser una parte importante de la educación de sus hijos.

Es por eso que queremos para asegurarse de que usted sabe sobre un nuevo programa llamado Esenciales de Internet, un programa de acceso a la comunidad patrocinado por Comcast y Microsoft.

Si usted tiene al menos un hijo que recibe almuerzos gratuitos en Rooftop, su família podría calificar para recibir un servicio de Internet residencial rápido a un precio accesible para el nuevo año escolar. El Servicio de Internet Básico cuesta sólo $9.95 al més (más impuestos). Para las familias participantes, no habrá aumentos, ni tarifas de activación ni por alquiler del equipo.

Además podrá comprar una computadora de bajo costo por sólo $149.99 (más impuestos) y recibir capacitación gratuita en línea, con materiales impresos y en la escuela.

Si piensa que esta oferta es ideal para su família, es fácil unirse a este programa. Llame a Comcast sin costo al 1-855-8-SOLO-995 (1-855-765-6995) para ver si califica o para registrarse y conectarse. O bien, para obtener más información, visite InternetBasico.com.

Una vez más, Rooftop quiere asegurarse de que sus estudiantes tengan acceso al aprendizaje en línea, y está encantada de indicarte que programas como Internet Essentials pueden ser de gran ayuda para tu familia.

Servicio de Internet Básico (Internet Essentials por su nombre en inglés) es un programa para proveer servicio de Internet a las familias.  No se trata de un programa de la escuela, y no es aprobado o requerido por la azotea de la escuela o el Distrito Escolar.

Attachment: Feb 2012 Library Newsletter (PDF)

We will have a double feature: Alvin and the Chipmunks: the Squeakquel for the younger crowd, and the classic TOP GUN, featuring one of our fabulous teachers actually filmed in the movie!  Can you guess who? Of course, TOP GUN also stars Tom Cruise!

Come join in and enjoy the movie, popcorn and assorted appetizers, and donate to a great cause: Pencils of Promise: “Mission: Pencils of Promise builds schools in the developing world and trains young leaders to take action at home and abroad. We know that we can create a better world through education.”

Everyone is welcome! Questions? Please email email hidden; JavaScript is required

Attachment: Pencils of Promise movie night flyer (PDF)

Created from San Francisco Opera’s production of The Girl of the Golden West in 2010, this one hour movie is a perfect way for families to learn about the magic of opera. The Company’s education department produced the movie version for Bay Area school and community programs. The performance is in Italian, with English subtitles and is recommended for ages 8 and up. For a short video excerpt, please visit http://sfopera.com/girlmovie.

ADVANCED REGISTRATION is required for this free event. Doors open 30 minutes before each show time. General Admission seating with confirmation page print out. Register at http://sfopera.com/girlmovie

Location: Herbst Theatre Veterans Building | 401 Van Ness Avenue at McAllister | San Francisco

Attachment: Puccini’s “Girl of the Golden West” flyer