San Mateo-Foster City School District

Summer is definitely here, and our preschoolers are staying cool with exciting year-round programs! From Play-Based fun to Mandarin and Spanish Immersion, Montessori, and STEAM, we offer a variety of enriching experiences. In our commitment to equity, we have placed preschool classrooms in schools where the community has a need for early child education access. In August 2022, The San Mateo-Foster City School District's L3 report identified key factors for early literacy, highlighting the crucial role of preschool education in helping children achieve reading proficiency by the 3rd grade. Our diverse programs are designed to meet this need and provide a strong educational foundation for all students. Read the L3 Report: https://lnkd.in/gZaWPmFm Diego Ochoa | Alison Proctor, CPA | Gene Kim | LaTisa Brooks | Maggie Trinh (AWI-CH) | Diego Perez | Dr. Christian J. Rubalcaba | Amanda Driscoll |

Our restorative practices create a positive school climate by addressing conflicts through dialogue and mutual understanding, resulting in fewer disciplinary incidents and a more inclusive atmosphere. The latest California Healthy Kids Survey shows a significant increase in students feeling connected and safe at school, with 70% of middle school students reporting a sense of closeness to their school community, up from 53% in previous years. This data reinforces our effective restorative justice initiatives, which focus on building, maintaining, and repairing relationships within our school community. In addition, students in all of our middle schools have access to a wellness center or a peace room, providing all students with a space to decompress, socialize, or speak with a trusted adult. Read more about our progress by visiting our website: https://ow.ly/ItjU50Suhtw Diego Ochoa | Gene Kim | Alison Proctor, CPA | Maggie Trinh (AWI-CH) | LaTisa Brooks | Diego Perez | Dr. Christian J. Rubalcaba | Margaret Heredia, Ed.D. | Julienne Nakano

At San Mateo-Foster City School District, we are dedicated to advancing literacy with research-based, comprehensive curricula. The elementary PAF reading program has allowed our district to see significant progress, with a 17% increase in kindergarteners meeting literacy benchmarks. In middle school, our newly adopted ELA curriculum includes integrated ELD, engaging texts, and interactive lessons. Students and teachers have access to on-demand language coaches, and the curriculum is available in over 100 different languages, supporting our multilingual learners. We thank our students and teachers who have made significant strides during year 2 of our strategic plan. Learn more by reading our On the Road to Year 3 Annual Report and watch our ELA video: https://ow.ly/acB750SpBAQ Diego Ochoa | Alison Proctor, CPA | Gene Kim | Shara Watkins | Maggie Trinh (AWI-CH) | LaTisa Brooks | Diego A. Perez | Dr. Christian J. Rubalcaba | Pamela Bartfield |

Highlighted in the San Mateo-Foster City School District's Annual Report was our transformative journey in math education. Our new instructional approaches prioritize collaboration, allowing students to engage with and learn from each other more effectively than ever before. These collaborative learning environments have not only enhanced student engagement but also improved overall math proficiency. Watch the full video and read the annual report to learn more: https://ow.ly/hZ6950SmHie Diego Ochoa | Alison Proctor, CPA | Shara Watkins | Gene Kim | Maggie Trinh (AWI-CH) | LaTisa Brooks | Diego A. Perez | Dr. Christian J. Rubalcaba | Dana Pede |

SMFCSD's 3rd Annual Partners Luncheon is in the books! To all our partners, thank you for your passion, dedication, and belief in our mission. Together, we are making a meaningful difference in the lives of our students and the entire community. On Friday, June 14th, we gathered to celebrate the incredible support and dedication of our partners—both long-standing and newly formed. This luncheon marks the end of the school year by honoring the outstanding contributions of our partners through awards in various categories. Your commitment to our students and families in the San Mateo-Foster City School District is deeply appreciated. Diego Ochoa | Alison Proctor, CPA | Gene Kim | Shara Watkins | Maggie Trinh (AWI-CH) | LaTisa Brooks | Diego A. Perez | Dr. Christian J. Rubalcaba San Mateo-Foster City Education Foundation | San Mateo Police Department | San Mateo PAL | City of San Mateo | City of Foster City | Foster City Police Department | Boys & Girls Clubs of America | San Mateo County Office of Education | San Mateo Union High School District | County of San Mateo | Peninsula Bridge | YMCA of San Francisco | Gilead Sciences |

To our 8th graders, today marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. You've learned, grown, and made us proud. Remember, our doors are always open, and you are forever part of the SMFCSD family. Continue to dream big and reach for the stars. Congratulations! Diego Ochoa | Alison Proctor, CPA | Shara Watkins | Maggie Trinh (AWI-CH) | Gene Kim | LaTisa Brooks | Diego A. Perez | Dr. Christian J. Rubalcaba |

The San Mateo-Foster City School District is proud to recognize June 2024 as LGBTQ Pride Month and to proudly fly Pride Flags at district schools during the month of June. Our district is committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful environment for all students, staff, family members, and community members. During the May 23rd regular board meeting, the Board of Trustees approved Resolution 22/23-24 that acknowledges June 2024 as Pride month. This resolution reaffirms our dedication outlined in our strategic plan to ensure all students feel safe, welcome, and accepted in their schools and to see their identities represented in our curricula and staff. Board Trustee Shara Watkins highlights, “We started the Equity Task Force in 2018, and this was one of the topic areas that was prioritized. We had two students at the time, neither of whom, at least in that setting, identified as LGBTQ but had many friends they have witnessed having a lot of struggles.” Assistant Superintendent Dennis Hills proposed the Resolution and shared a personal anecdote: "In the late 1970s when I thought about being a teacher, it was not okay to be out and be a teacher. I continued to be who I was. Now, I am ending my career in a way that makes me so proud to know that it is just okay to be who you are. I couldn't have imagined as a young person that I'd ever be in this spot. Thank you." Read the full district statement: https://ow.ly/QZmP50S4EIC Diego Ochoa | Alison Proctor, CPA | Shara Watkins | Maggie Trinh (AWI-CH) | Gene Kim | LaTisa Brooks | Diego A. Perez | Dr. Christian J. Rubalcaba | KPIX | CBS San Francisco/Bay Area | Univision | Telemundo 48 Área de la Bahía | California School Boards Association | EdWeek Market Brief | EdSource |

As we inch closer to summer, our facilities department will simultaneously have 12 construction projects across 20 sites! We have already seen many of the projects come to life this year! Here is a peak of some of the many projects our community has been a part of. We could not have done this without our voters. We thank you for supporting our students and staff with state-of-the-art facilities to improve our educational environment. To hear more about facilities across the district, watch our recent board meeting: https://ow.ly/VC3P50RYQYu Diego Ochoa | Alison Proctor, CPA | Shara Watkins | Maggie Trinh (AWI-CH) | Gene Kim | LaTisa Brooks | Diego A. Perez | Amy N Ruffo | Dr. Christian J. Rubalcaba |

To every classified staff member, Thank YOU! Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to our students and families are truly commendable. Each of you goes above and beyond to ensure our students and families get what they need in a professional and compassionate manner. Your “Can do” spirit uplifts our community and serves as an inspiration to us all. Happy Classified Employee Appreciation Week! Diego Ochoa | Alison Proctor, CPA | Shara Watkins | Maggie Trinh (AWI-CH) | Gene Kim | LaTisa Brooks | Diego A. Perez | Dr. Christian J. Rubalcaba

We are still in awe of the incredible accomplishment our community has achieved with the San Mateo-Foster City School District being awarded the prestigious community schools grant of $5 million! The recent San Mateo Daily Journal notes, "The community schools model aims to align community resources to ultimately improve student outcomes by working closely with school faculty and staff, its students, and their families." This milestone is the culmination of a dedicated two-year process that reflects unity with the community and a lot of hard work. This grant is a testament to our collective commitment to creating inclusive, supportive, and thriving educational spaces for all our students. Read the full San Mateo Daily Journal Article: https://ow.ly/HriC50RKanz Diego Ochoa | Alison Proctor, CPA | Shara Watkins | LaTisa Brooks | Gene Kim | Maggie Trinh (AWI-CH) | Diego A. Perez | Dr. Christian J. Rubalcaba | Jeannette Ramirez | Marcela Miranda |