SFC is 50 years old!
SFC is 50 years old!
Our History
In 1972 parents and teachers founded San Francisco Community School as a family-involved, child-centered school that would engage and support students from diverse backgrounds. These objectives remain central to our mission today. A Small School By Design with approximately 285 students K-8, we continue to be able to offer smaller class sizes than are typical throughout SFUSD. Staff are able to establish and maintain personalized relationships with students and families to better meet the needs of our diverse student body.
Project-Based Learning
Project time is a highly anticipated time of year for SFC students and staff! Students participate in science-based, challenge-driven projects designed by teachers during two 9-week sessions each year. Projects are interdisciplinary and incorporate relevant themes as Community, the Human Body, Climate/Earth Science, and our Physical World/Design. Students present their projects to their families and other students at a community-wide celebration called Project Open House each December and May.
Some recent projects:
K/1: Pollinators: Students learned about the important jobs of pollinators, comparing and contrasting different pollinators, learning what they need to survive, and how we can support them in SFC’s own garden.
2/3: Bridges and Landmarks: Students learned about historical landmarks in the Excelsior and around SF and took walking field trips to see and paint landmarks. They also built bridges in teams and tested their strength with bricks.
4/5: Natural Disasters: Students made diagrams and models of natural disasters, created and filmed PSAs to teach others about natural disasters and preparedness, and wrote essays.
6-8: Middle school teachers implement projects within their subject area, for example, a trial of Ulysses in the Language Arts/Social Studies class; building rockets in Science.
The Arts
Each class rotates through trimesters of weekly arts with credentialed instructors, exploring dance, music, and visual art.
Additionally, project-based learning inherently involves hands-on creativity and work with a broad range of materials, so students are exposed to more building, creating, and different arts throughout their project sessions.
Playworks
Playworks is a program that focuses on teaching students how to play collaboratively and resolve conflicts. Our Playworks instructor is present on the playground during recess and also holds additional PE classes for students during the week. The Junior Coach program for 4th and 5th graders develops leadership skills in upper elementary students. Learn more at playworks.org.
Library
The newest addition to SFC’s campus is our library building, opened in 2019.
All K-8 students have regularly-scheduled time in the library. K–5 classes have longer sessions with our Librarian, during which there are read-alouds, and students learn how to navigate the library and the on-line resources available to them through SFUSD.
Middle School Sports
Middle school students compete against other SFUSD schools in basketball, track and field, volleyball, and more. Practices may be held before or after school.
After-School
The SF Community Boys & Girls Clubs EXCEL after school program is located on-site at SF Community School. The Boys and Girls Club is proud to partner with SFC to provide academic support, including homework help & tutoring, sports, fitness & play, creative arts, character & leadership including job readiness, and health & life skills. We are open M, T, Th, & F 3:30-6:30pm and Wednesday 2:15-5:30pm. The program is funded through EXCEL, accommodates all families who are interested, and is at no cost to families.
For more information about the SF Community Boys & Girls Clubs please contact Mia Amor Vega, the Site Director, at mvega@kidsclub.org OR visit the Clubs website: https://www.kidsclub.org/all-locations/san-francisco-community-school
There is no programmed care before school. However, gates open at 9am with staff onsite for dropoff between 9am and 9:30am bell time.