Faculty and Staff Anniversaries

Steve Morris, Head of School

As the school year draws to a close, I want to step-back and acknowledge faculty and staff who are ‘marking’ anniversaries at the end of this school year. More specifically, every year, we acknowledge faculty and staff members who are completing their 5th, 10th, 20th, 30th, 35th and 40th years at The San Francisco School.

2010-2011 Anniversaries (at completion of June 2011)

5 years
Josefina Bolton (ES and MS Spanish)
Brian Donovan (7/8th Science)
Madeleine Day (2nd Co-Head teacher)
Paloma Herman (Admissions)
Nancy McCallister (MS Learning Specialist)
Michelle Yi-Martin (8th Humanities)

10 years
Francisco Hernandez (5th Head Teacher)
Lu Wei (Maintenance)

We are fortunate to have an incredible team of experienced professionals at SFS - several of whom have spent their entire careers working at our school. There is a great wealth of experience, history, and wisdom in our ranks and I am grateful to be a part of such a committed team.

Please join me in celebrating our faculty and staff celebrating anniversaries this year!

Graduation & Last Days of School
Monday, June 6th & Tuesday, June 7th – Normally scheduled school days with extended care as usual. Please note: Tuesday is the last regular day of school for Preschool – 4th grades.

Wednesday, June 8th – 8th Grade Graduation Day – The ceremony is at the Brava Theater from 9:30 AM to 12:15 PM. Preschool, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade students are welcome to attend graduation ceremony if accompanied by parents/guardians. 5th – 7th grade students attend the ceremony in class groups. They should be dropped off directly at Brava Theater between 8:30 - 9 AM. 8th graders should be dropped off directly at Brava at 8:30 AM.

Dismissal will be from Brava. All 5th – 7th grade students should be picked at the theater at 12:30 PM. We will run a regular pick-up system there, with cars lining up and teachers dismissing students. Do not take your children without signing them out with the teacher in charge. Please note: There is NO AFTERNOON extended care on Wednesday, June 8th; all students should be picked up from the graduation site at 12:30 PM.

Please click here for a map and directions to the Brava Theater (located at 2781 24th Street at York). If you have any questions, please contact the Front Desk.

The Hills are Alive with the Sounds of the Middle School Orff Ensemble Salzburg Concert!
Mark your calendars for Thursday, June 2! The San Francisco School Orff Ensemble will be performing the show they will present in Salzburg in July. The concert will take place at the Lick-Wilmerding Theater (755 Ocean Avenue), from 7:30 – 8:30 PM. Not only is this a chance for you to enjoy and support the work of these 17 remarkable middle school students, but it's our last chance to raise much-needed funds so that all students may attend and represent our SFS school community! Tickets are available at the door the night of the show. If you cannot attend, but would like to donate, please drop off or mail a check payable to The San Francisco School and make a note that this is for the Salzburg Orff Ensemble. Shout from the hill tops and invite neighbors, friends and family!

And don't forget to stop by the front desk to pick up a set of those fabulous toothbrushes being supplied by Steve Ostwald (Kelowna, 8th grade) as part of the Salzburg fundraising efforts! Read below for more details on the toothbrush fundraiser.

Salzburg Toothbrush Fundraiser
Help SFS Middle School students raise money to travel to Salzburg, Austria to perform in the Orff Symposium this July by purchasing NIMBUS Toothbrushes. See display at front desk and order form at parent bulletin board. $20 for five toothbrushes. For more information, please contact lwestm3@aol.com.

Hiring Update – 7th-8th Science
We are thrilled to welcome Eugene Stampley to SFS, where he will teach 7th and 8th grade science and serve as a Middle School advisor. Eugene brings a wealth of science and education experience, having earned his B.S in Biology (with a minor in Chemistry), and having completed multiple graduate courses in both Biology and Secondary Curriculum and Instruction. He has taught middle and high school in the Chicago area for 19 years, and has served as Science Department Chairperson at three schools. His passion for science started young, and during his senior year in high school he was the first African-American student from Illinois to be selected to attend the International Science and Engineering Fair. He has received numerous awards for his teaching as well, including being named Teacher of the Year four times. In his application materials, Eugene wrote, “My life-long passion has been to educate [students] about the complexity, yet simplicity, of science…It is imperative that students are encouraged to explore their natural curiosity about the world around them…Equally important is an institution whose science program causes thought-provoking questions and possible solutions to age-old problems such as waste disposal, environmental pollution, stem cell research, etc.” Eugene’s references used phrases such as “fantastic educator,” “a great asset,” and “kids love him,” and continually referred to the high level of student engagement in Eugene’s classes. Eugene was extremely impressed with the program, students, and friendly collegial atmosphere at SFS, and is very excited to move to the Bay Area to join our community.

Many thanks to Melissa Doezema (6th grade math and science teacher), Matt Plut (7th grade parent, member of the Diversity Committee, and former Board Chair), and Guy Haskin Fernald (pre-school and 1st grade parent) for serving on the Search Committee.

Eighth Grade Poetry Reading
The 2011 Graduating Class of The San Francisco School will be bravely reciting their own poetry at Farley’s (1315 18th Street, SF 94107) on Wednesday, June 1st from 6-8 PM. The poems are a result of a study of poetic forms and devices, and most importantly, an experimentation of craft and voice. Students, faculty, and families will be present to support this literary engagement with their city.

Extended Care Fees Due!
A friendly reminder to all parents whose children have used extended care, please contact Rahna Brown (rbrown@sfschool.org) to find out the status of your extended care account. All accounts must be paid in full by June 10, 2011. Thank you.

Calling All Library Books!
It is time to return your library books! Look under the bed! Dig through your piles! Thank you, folks!

Book Published by Sofia Lopez-Ibor
It's out! The long-awaited book from our very own Sofia: Blue Is The Sea: Music, Dance & Visual Arts. The work of our SFS students – poetry, music, dance and visual arts – is everywhere and beautifully displayed in full color photographs. The theme of integrated arts filtered through the genius and dedication of Sofia – sure to become one of the definitive works on the subject. As one reader (who also happens to be in the book business) wrote: "My initial reactions are that no one has ever published a book like this, and that is it so beautiful it makes me want to weep." Those interested in seeing (or buying!) a copy should stop by in the music room. Congratulations to Sofia!

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