A coalition of organizations that believe in the importance of San Francisco public education have launched an exciting new community engagement program Your SF Public Schools yoursfpublicschools.org. The website will offer an opportunity to volunteer, donate, partner, and contribute ideas via this website, which includes videos, contests, and a Discussion Forum.

 

The website contains sixteen new rules for our public schools. DCYF director Maria Su has written an article about Rule #3: "The City is our classroom" entitled "49 Square Miles, 40 Neighborhoods and 55,000 Kids"

"We know from decades of research and experience that learning is a process, with each experience building on the last. Research also tells us that there is truth to the old Chinese proverb, "Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand." (read more ... )

 

Well, at least pictures of them.

 

Upload your favorite photos of your family to the SFkids.org Flickr Page. The only requirements are that you own the picture and it's either of your kids or kids you have parent permission to post. Pictures at SF spots are a plus. We may post your picture on SFkids! Everyone who posts pictures to the Flickr page will be entered in our monthly drawing for a $20 gift card.

 

Thanks to Beverly for the picture here!

In April, President Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act which, for the first time, officially recognizes September 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. This year, on September 11, the President, the Corporation for National and Community Service, MyGoodDeed and the 9/11 families will ask all Americans to remember that Tuesday eight years ago and recommit to service in their communities throughout the year. Find a toolkit to launch service projects and locate service and volunteering opportunities at www.serve.gov or 911dayofservice.org

 

SFkids.org has been hard at work to get the most up-to-date afterschool guide around.  Not all programs have updated information available yet. We will  include any new information as we get it.

 

We know, school just started, but the fall school search is just around the corner.  Whether it's preschool, kindergarten, middle school, high school, or college, every transition can be stressful to navigate. While most people don't start touring until October, it's a good idea to start thinking about what options might be best for you and your family.

 

GreatSchools.net

 has a great Guide to Choosing the Right School as well as many other vaulable articles.

 

Parents for Public Schools SF also has a great school checklist, see their School Tours Page and their Calendar for listings of enrollment events.

 

The SFUSD website hasn't been updated yet for the 2010-11 school year but you can see the dates/requirements for last year to get an idea.

 

Also check the SFkids.org Education Pages  for important dates, reminders, and information.

 

The H1N1 (swine flu) virus is something all parents should educate themselves about and know how to help their family avoid. 

The Family Day Kite Festival is a free, open-air, panoramic, eco-friendly event for San Francisco Bay Area families. Watch spectacular kites flown high above the Marina Green -- from the acrobatic kites of world champions to the hand-made entries of amateurs. The Festival features all forms of kiting from kite-flying to kite-boarding to kite-boating. Exhibits promote wind power, renewable energy, and sustainability.

 

Kids love science and the Bay Area has several world-renowned science museums to get their curiosity flowing.  Read Laure Latham's article Bring Out Your Child's Inner Cool Scientist! Learning About Space & Science in the Bay Area

 

Our wonderful hills make biking a challenge sometimes. Luckily, there are so many great places around the city and beyond with great routes. We've compiled a great list of places to bring new bikers (with or without training wheels) with help from parents from the Glen Park Parents Yahoo group and the SF Bike Coalition.

 

Read the article here ...

 

Walk to school with a purpose -- to promote health, safety, and physical activity with your school community. 

When:  Wednesday, October 7, 2009

How:  --Lead a walking group of kids to school.
--Carpool, bike or skate together to school.
--Take transit, get off one or two stops early and walk.
--Park a few blocks away from school and walk.
--Volunteer to coordinate or help with your school's Walk to School Day.

 

Resources, updates, and helpful tips available at sfwalktoschool.com 

 

Now that school has started homework has also started.  We've found some great links to articles that can help:

 Think your child may need a tutor?  Check our our article Tutoring Options in San Francisco

The New Walt Disney Family Museum opens October 1 in the Presidio.

 

The new museum site is 77,000 square feet in three sepearate buildings and will tell Disney's story in his own words and those of his family, friends, and co-workers. Using a mix of historic materials and artifacts, the musuem will include listening stations, interactive media, and more than 200 video monitors.

 

Main Library, Fulton Street Steps

 

The San Francisco Public Library and Friends of the San Francisco Public Library present the first ever Tricycle Music Fest West, the biggest little music fest in San Francisco, combining seven libraries, five entertainers and a month of shaking, rattling and rolling for kids around the City.

The lineup of top performers includes: Frances England, The Hipwaders, The Time Outs, Charity and the JAMband, and The Devil-Ettes with Pip Squeak A Go Go. In addition, six branch libraries-Glen Park, Ingleside, Marina, Portola, Richmond and Western Addition-will hold mini concerts throughout the month, see tricyclefest.org for specific dates and times. 

Register for 2009 fall programs starting at 10am on Saturday, September 12, 2009.

 

View courses and register online www.sfRecOnline.org or at a neighborhood registration site during open registration.  Walk-in registration is from 10am-3pm on September 12 and 4pm-7pm from September 14-18. After September 18, you can register online or at McLaren Lodge up until the course start date.  See a list of sites here.

 

The Ingleside neighborhood will come together to celebrate the new Ingleside Branch Library on Sept. 12. Replacing a leased facility on Ocean Avenue and Faxon Street, the brand-new library at 1298 Ocean Ave. at Plymouth Street, will feature an expanded collection of material, a teen room, a children's area with window seats and skylight, plus a program room accessible after hours for community meetings.

 

A grand opening celebration will kick off with lion dancers and musicians in front of the new branch. Festivities begin at 1pm. Library services will start at 2pm. Plymouth Street will be closed at Ocean Avenue to through traffic during the event.

 

For more information see the SFPL website.