The FACE Forum

Happy October! Can you believe it's already fall?! We hope your October is off to a great start and that things are starting to settle in. We know the past couple of months have been BUSY, so THANK YOU for all you're doing! And an extra thank you to all our incredible school administrators as we celebrate National Principal Month and School Administrator Week October 13-17! We appreciate you all so much and are beyond grateful for the never-ending, selfless work you do on behalf of our students, families and colleagues each and every day.

And don't forget-- October 2 is National Custodian Appreciation Day! Huge thanks to all our custodians who work so hard to keep our schools and facilities clean and safe. We'd be a huge mess without each one of you... thanks for all that you do!

To help you keep track of other days we can all show some extra appreciation for colleagues, including our amazing Coaches, Occupational Therapists and Bosses this month, we've included a helpful picture below!

In this month's October FACE Forum for school staff and district departments, you'll find practical family and community building tips, high-leverage engagement strategies, upcoming family workshops, staff professional development opportunities, district community events, resources, school shoutouts, and more! Additionally, our Family & Community Engagement (FACE) team is excited to share our brand-new Family & Community Engagement (FACE) Framework to help sites and departments assess and strengthen their family and community engagement practices and become even more effective in our six core FACE standards:

• Welcoming Families
• Effective Communication
• Student Success
• Community Partnership
• Family Voice
• Shared Decision Making

Check out the section on the FACE Framework in this month's FACE Forum to learn more! In the meantime, we've geared this month's newsletter towards resources to help you with the second FACE standard we're now focusing on-- Effective Communication!

Thank you for all you're doing to engage, communicate with and support our San Juan Unified students, families, and community! Our FACE team is here to help you, so please reach out to us at any time!

Have a great October ahead!

~Your FACE Friends

Please help us welcome our new Parent Family Support Ambassador, Padragin (Padra) to our FACE team! Padra will be helping support our team and district with family and community outreach as she welcomes newly-enrolled families at San Juan Central, visits school sites with our FACE Mobile, and provides outreach support at various family and community engagement events to help families become partners in their children's education.

Below are some fun facts about Padra:

• Traveled to Ecuador in South America when she was 13 years old
• Has been to the Louvre Museum in Paris
• Her Half-Brother is a drummer for The Deftones band
• Her interests and hobbies include hiking, going out to dance, and singing
• She's fluent in ASL

Welcome to the team, Padra!

At the beginning of each month, every site receives a package from our team with the new monthly Family & Staff professional development calendar and resources to share with your staff and families, as well as a monthly Morale Booster idea that administrators can opt to do with their own school community. We hope this FACE Fan Mail helps remind you how much we appreciate you and all you do to help build family and community engagement!

Who's ready for some BINGO fun, Family Engagement style?! Take a look at our Fall Fun Family Engagement Bingo card that's arriving in your October Fan Mail envelope coming to your school site the first week of October. Start checking off the activities you/your school completes. When you've completed all the activities, email BINGO! to Amy Rovai Gregory (arovai@sanjuan.edu) for your prize!

WAYS TO USE THIS FALL FUN BINGO TO BOOST ENGAGEMENT WITH YOUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY:

• STAFF- Make a copy for each of your staff of the Fall Fun BINGO Card we sent to you. The first staff member that completes all the spaces wins a fall treat!
• Use the blank BINGO card to create your own site-specific activities to fill in for each square of the BINGO card. These activities could involve ways to build community with each other, families, and students, or may be activities specific to your own school initiatives.

• STUDENTS- Use the blank BINGO card to create a BINGO game for students, including activities centered around demonstrating proficiency with school routines, positive behaviors, acts of kindness, campus cleanup, academic skills, at-home learning activities, family engagement, etc. Give students a week to complete their BINGO card and they earn a small fall prize.

• FAMILIES- Use the blank BINGO card to create a Family Engagement BINGO game for students to take home and complete with their family. Activities could range from reading a story together, making a meal, sharing a funny part of their day, taking a walk, telling jokes, playing a game, reviewing homework, signing up for their Parent Conference, etc. As students complete the activities and parents/caregivers sign off on all of them, the student can bring it back to redeem for a small fall prize from their classroom.

Looking for a way to show some appreciation to your teams and/or reward students for successfully making it through the month of September?! This is an a-PEEL-ing way to bring some orange cheer and gratitude to teams this October!

October is Global Diversity Awareness Month!

This month is dedicated to celebrating and increasing awareness about the diverse cultures and populations that make up the world. It encourages individuals and organizations to learn about different cultures, as well as to promote inclusion and understanding across various cultural contexts. The celebration is an opportunity to reflect on the positive impact of diversity on society and to challenge and address issues of inclusion within communities and organizations.

Below are some important awareness campaigns that are celebrated in the month of October:

National Hispanic Heritage Month- September 15-October 15: While we celebrate Hispanic and Latino communities beyond this month, from September 15 to October 15 we give extra recognition to the many contributions made to the history and culture of the United States, including important advocacy work, vibrant art, popular and traditional foods, and much more. Hispanic Heritage Month provides an additional opportunity to explore the incredible impact Latinas and Latinos have had on the United States for generations.You can learn more about some ways to celebrate this month, by visiting the websites below:

https://hispanicheritagemonth.gov/

https://latino.si.edu/learn/teaching-and-learning-resources/hispanic-heritage-month-resources/hispanic-heritage-month

Polish American Heritage Month: The first Poles migrated to America starting in the early 1800s. This month, celebrate their contributions to culture and society. Once here, they were dedicated to preserving their heritage and culture and even started a national network of Polish-language newspapers, radio, and television stations to keep their language alive. New York State has the largest Polish-American population with Michigan, Wisconsin, and Connecticut having a substantial group too. https://genealogytour.com/polish-heritage-month/

Italian American Heritage Month: Nearly 16 million Americans identify as Italian American according to the U.S. Census. Italian American Heritage Month occurs every October to overlap with Columbus Day, celebrated on the second Monday. It was first celebrated in 1989 with a proclamation from George H.W. Bush. Every year, a Columbus Day parade is held in New York City with an average million spectators. https://www.osdia.org/commission-for-social-justice/italian-heritage-month/

Filipino American History Month: Filipino American History Month is celebrated as it was when the first Filipinos arrived in California in 1587. Many organizations in California and Hawaii, where many Filipino Americans reside, hold annual celebrations. Some call the month “Filipino American Heritage Month” while others regard it as a History month to focus on the events and lived experiences and their impact on society. http://fanhs-national.org/filam/about/. In honor of Filipino American History month, check out this guide to teaching Filipinx history created by San Francisco Public Schools.

Down Syndrome Awareness Month: Each year, nearly 6,000 babies born in the United States are diagnosed with Down Syndrome, or 1 in every 700 babies. October focuses on the acceptance and inclusion of people with Down Syndrome. Learn about their unique strengths and promote a society and workplace that values diversity and offers support to those living with Down Syndrome and their families. https://ndss.org/down-syndrome-awareness-month

Looking for More Ways to Celebrate Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging?

Are you trying to create more inclusive spaces of belonging in your community? Wanting to find ways to continue promoting awareness, deepening cultural knowledge, and celebrating the beauty of our diversity? Below are some helpful resources to support you in this important work!

Cornell's Diversity and Inclusion Celebration Resources:

https://diversity.cornell.edu/our-community/dei-celebration-resources

Diversity Awareness Months:

https://www.diversityresources.com/october-awareness-months/

Common Sense's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Resources for Classrooms:

https://www.commonsense.org/education/lists/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-resources-for-classrooms

ACSA's Resource Hub on Equity & Inclusion:

https://content.acsa.org/equity

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Resources for Educators:

https://hbsp.harvard.edu/diversity-resources-for-educators

October is National Bullying Prevention Month! Research shows bullying CAN be stopped, but true change requires consistent education and intervention. Below are lesson plans for educators to help create a culture of kindness and safety in your school(s).

https://www.weareteachers.com/national-bullying-prevention-month/

https://www.pacer.org/bullying/nbpm/

https://pacerkidsagainstbullying.org/join-the-cause/awareness-month/

https://www.stompoutbullying.org/world-day-bullying-prevention

By promoting kindness, inclusivity, and respect, we can contribute to creating workplaces where everyone feels valued and respected. Together, we have the power to make bullying a thing of the past and build a better, more compassionate world.

Red Ribbon Week is coming up! Every year from October 23rd to the 31st, families, communities and schools around the nation celebrate Red Ribbon Week for kids of all ages. It’s the country’s largest and longest-running drug abuse prevention campaign, with K-12 students being the primary participants. This year's theme is "Life is a Puzzle. Solve It Drug Free." Check out the resources below to help celebrate and share the importance of staying drug free!

https://www.redribbon.org/

https://www.redribbon.org/resources

https://www.dea.gov/redribbon

https://nimcoinc.com/blog/ten-activities-for-red-ribbon-week-in-your-school/

https://www.getsmartaboutdrugs.gov/rrw

Direct to Teacher Grants San Juan Education Foundation

Parent/Family Hub www.sanjuan.edu/parents

Student Hub www.sanjuan.edu/students

FACE Outreach requests (Face Mobile, mini clinics and more!) https://bit.ly/FACEoutreach

FACE Lending Library of Fun https://bit.ly/FACElendingfun

Staff Digital Resource Library (community/district flyers) https://bit.ly/FACEresource

San Juan Unified Volunteer information www.sanjuan.edu/volunteer

FACE department Intranet! (Field trip forms, volunteer flyers and more!) intranet.sanjuan.edu/face

Community Resources www.sanjuan.edu/communityresources

• Food

• Clothing

• Diapers

• Utilities & Housing

• Social & Recreational

• Academic

• Disability & Special Education

• Employment

• Mental Health

• Refugee, Immigrant & Newcomer Supports

• LGBTQIA+

• Domestic Violence

• and more!

Family Engagement Video Library

Check out our new pre-recorded learning videos for parents/caregivers/school staff in our NEW Family Engagement Video Library at www.sanjuan.edu/familyed under the "Family Engagement Video Library" tab.

Staff Professional Development Opportunities

On Zoom - Register through the Staff Portal portal.sanjuan.edu

Mini-Clinics at sites by request (10-15 minutes at staff meetings) https://bit.ly/FACEoutreach

• Field Trip Process
• Volunteer Process & Recruitment
• Conflict Resolution Process
• FACE Resources

Find resources, including monthly parent newsletters, family workshops and volunteer information, as well as staff resources, such as our Lending Library of Fun, Outreach Requests, and Digital Resource Library, on our website at www.sanjuan.edu/familyed.

Find additional internal staff resources & forms on our Intranet at https://intranet.sanjuan.edu/familycommunityengagement

Supports for Students with Disabilities

IEP Trainings & Support Groups. FREE Year Round!

https://warmlinefrc.org

https://health.ucdavis.edu/mind-institute/resources/family-resource-centers

Having a family engagement event? FACE offers items for checkout at no cost to support family engagement efforts! Staff and volunteer leaders (PTO/PTA, etc) are welcome to request items on behalf of school family engagement events. We will follow up and confirm in 2-3 business days. Pickup and return of items is at the San Juan Unified District Office during pre-scheduled hours.

For more information, visit our Lending Library of Fun Catalog!

Sites can submit requests for the FACE Mobile, FACE information tabling, and FACE Mini-Clinics for the 2025-2026 school year! We would love to attend and support your family engagement events, however our schedule fills fast! We encourage sites to submit your request as soon as possible using our FACE Outreach Request form. We look forward to working with you! If you have any questions, please contact Luis Cruz Solache at luis.cruzsolache@sanjuan.edu or call 916-979-8990.

Our FACE outreach team can come out to help support you with the following:

• FACE Mobile visits

• 15 minute staff trainings on various processes:

(Problem Resolution, Volunteers, Field Trips, Partnerships, Community Resources, Family Ed, Staff Ed, general FACE overview, etc.)

• 15 minute family clinics (parent portal, preparing for parent-teacher conferences, effective school-to-home communication, exploring district and community resources, etc.)

• Volunteer recruitment (fingerprinting available evenings/weekend events only)

• Family resource center/space/bulletin board consultation

To request a FACE Mobile visit for one of your events or outreach item listed about, please click the link below:

https://bit.ly/FACEoutreach

Thursday, October 23

3:00-4:30 pm, Encina High School (1400 Bell Street, Sacramento)

This monthly event is open to all families across our school communities seeking support with essential tools and resources to help their student’s success. Families can access tangible resources such as food boxes, diapers, learning tools, and explore a resource fair to learn about community and district resources! This month’s Care Hub highlight: Parent-Teacher Conferences, Open Enrollment and School Choice. For details and other resources, visit the sanjuan.edu/communityresources webpage.

Copy and paste Family Workshop info direct from www.sanjuan.edu/familyed for Smore, Social Media, Class Dojo, Talking Points and email messaging! Digital content is translatable and accessible for families.

Family Leadership Academy begins on Monday, October 13 and meets on Mondays for four sessions from 6:00 - 7:30 pm at Casa Roble High School (9151 Oak Avenue in Orangevale).

This 4-session program empowers families to become active leaders at the school and district level. Participants will explore topic to support learning about the educational system, current initiatives in the district, and discover ways in which families can be involved. This class series is offered in English and Spanish. Dinner, child care and interpretation provided. Additional details and registration can be found on www.sanjuan.edu/familyed.

Parent Project Series begins on Wednesday, October 15 and meets on Wednesdays from 5:45 - 7:45 pm at San Juan High School (7551 Greenback Lane in Citrus Heights).

This parenting support program is created by parents, for parents, to help support households who are struggling with difficult teen behavior. In this class, participants will learn strategies to help nurture positive home communication, reduce family conflict, and improve difficult teen behavior. Participants will receive a free class handbook that contains the weekly topics. Dinner and child care assistance will be provided. This class meets weekly on Wednesdays for ten sessions. Details and registration can be found on www.sanjuan.edu/familyed

Did you know that FACE launched a brand new Family Engagement Video Learning Library on our website where families, staff and community can access pre-recorded learning videos on a variety of topics? These videos are perfect for families who may not be able to attend our regular workshops, but would like to access the learning at a later time, or for colleagues and parent-teacher organizations who want to share the learning with families at their own site meeting or event.

Check out all the videos on our playlist that we've released by visiting www.sanjuan.edu/familyed.

Check out this month’s featured workshop designed to help families feel confident and prepared for the upcoming parent-teacher conferences. In this workshop, families can explore ways to build a positive relationship with their child’s teacher, learn how to effectively monitor their child’s progress in the classroom, and discover strategies to support their academic, social, and emotional growth. To view this workshop and other workshops in our Family Engagement Video Library, visit www.sanjuan.edu/familyed.

Join us online 10/11/25 for college prep workshops, assistance with financial aid applications, one-on-one meetings with advisors, an immigration clinic, and more. Registration is available at tinyurl.com/2025Feria or via the QR code. For additional information, please contact feria@csus.edu or visit www.csus.edu/feria.

We appreciate your understanding and flexibility regarding this unexpected change in format. While we had hoped to gather in person, this shift allows us to continue delivering important services and information in a safe and accessible way.

La Feria Anual de Educación 2025 será virtual este año.

Acompáñenos en línea 11 de octubre para participar en talleres de preparación universitaria, servicios de apoyo estudiantil, clínicas de inmigración y más. Puede registrarse en tinyurl.com/2025Feria o escaneando el código QR. Para más información, comuníquese a feria@csus.edu o visite www.csus.edu/feria.

Agradecemos su comprensión y flexibilidad ante este cambio inesperado de formato. Aunque esperábamos reunirnos en persona, este ajuste nos permite seguir ofreciendo servicios e información importantes de manera segura y accesible.

Whether you have a 7-year-old or a 17-year-old, research shows that students perform better academically and behaviorally if the student knows their parents are involved and have high expectations.

To support this effort, each month we will feature a new "Helping Children Learn" newsletter that is full of ideas to support learning at home. You can share this free newsletter with families directly from our website!

To access the newsletters in English and Spanish for Elementary, Middle School, and High School, visit www.sanjuan.edu/familyed and click on the "Parent Newsletter" tab.

Are you looking to help build capacity and knowledge with your families around ways they can support their students and improve home-to-school partnership? In the PDF below is a detailed list of engaging family education workshops offered by our FACE team. Workshops can be custom-built and tailored to suit your school’s needs, times, and are conducted in person or hybrid. For more information, contact Luis Cruz Solache (luis.cruzsolache@sanjuan.edu).

Are you ready to grow your knowledge around family and community engagement, while also earning professional development hours? Our FACE Team's lineup of virtual workshops are now open for registration! The workshops take place on Zoom and are open to all certificated and classified staff members in our district. You can register directly on our FACE course page in the PL Tile (click “FACE” in the "Subjects" section on the Home page). Check out the workshops on the PDF attached below.

*Note: If you are a school or department and would like to book a workshop for your entire staff, using your collaborative Thursday time or as part of your Staff Meeting time, please reach out to Amy Rovai Gregory to schedule. (arovai@sanjuan.edu)

Get a Grant! Your LIttle Dreams Can Come True- Wed., Oct. 1, 3:30-4:30 pm, Zoom, #68619

Are you dreaming of extra funds to support a project you've been wanting to try in your classroom? Special classroom equipment/materials to better support your students’ learning? Additional supplies for a science, technology, art or math activity? Join Colleen Cadwallader, the Executive Director of the San Juan Education Foundation, to learn how to best complete a Direct-to-Teacher Grant so you can make your dreams come true. This 1-hour virtual workshop on Zoom will help you formulate great case statements, write the best SMART goals, and create easy-to-understand budgets. Best of all, if all goes well, you’ll be able to submit your grant application to the San Juan Education Foundation by the end of the workshop to help make your little dreams come true for your students and school community!

Effective Communication Practices- Wed., Oct. 15, 3:30-4:30 pm, Zoom, #68620

In many schools across the country, families and caregivers feel excluded from the learning process and unsure about how to get involved. During this session, participants will learn and practice strategies for strengthening verbal, written, and virtual communication that will motivate and empower ALL educators and families to become active partners in their student’s learning.

Join us for our brand new, just released, spring book study in Google Classroom- Building Parent Capacity In High-Poverty Schools: Actions for Authentic Impact!

During this 6-week virtual book study on Google Classroom, discover practical strategies to foster meaningful connections with parents and families. In Building Parent Capacity in High Poverty Schools, learn insightful strategies and hear personal stories to guide educators in fostering meaningful connections with parents. Underscoring the importance of nurturing parent capacity and cultivating authentic relationships with parents and community stakeholders, the book enables learning communities where parents are active participants in their child’s educational journey. By moving from rhetoric to reality, from jargon to clarity, and from bake sales to budget considerations, this strikingly practical book offers tools, methods, and ideas that school leaders and educators can use to engage parents, build their capacity, and ultimately create a future of hope for generations to come.

Check out the flyer to learn more and register on the PL tile or at portal.sanjuan.edu and search Course #69095.

Saturday, October 18

9:30 am - 1:30 pm , Arcade Middle School (3500 Edison Ave, Sacramento)

Please help us spread the word about our Fall 2025 Family Conference: Language, Literacy, and Belonging, taking place on Saturday, October 18 from 9:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. at Arcade Middle School. Families will have the opportunity to attend engaging workshops presented and interpreted in multiple languages—including English, Spanish, Farsi/Dari, Pashto, Arabic, Russian, and Ukrainian—on topics such as supporting literacy and math at home, preparing for college and career, navigating the U.S. school system, mental health, special education, and partnering for student success. A special focus will highlight ways to support English learners. In addition, families can explore a resource fair featuring district and community programs. Free interpretation and child care will be available, along with a light breakfast, lunch, and a family swag bag for the first 150 attendees. There will also be raffle prize drawings! This is a FREE district event open to all parents, guardians, caregivers, and staff. Please encourage your families to register, discover valuable resources, connect with others, and gain tools to support their child’s success. For details and registration, please visit the www.sanjuan.edu/familyed webpage or contact Luis Cruz Solache at luis.cruzsolache@sanjuan.edu.

We know how quickly online risks are evolving and how important it is for our staff to feel confident keeping students safe from all forms of abuse, including human trafficking (forced labor and child sexual exploitation). San Juan Unified School District staff can access an evidence-based, one-hour, trauma-informed free training to learn more about Human Trafficking. Please encourage your staff to consider taking this training, especially your front office staff who are often the first points of contact with students and families.

The training is currently free for San Juan Unified employees. In addition, any staff members who complete the training will receive a completion certificate and have the option to earn 2 continuing education hours in PL.

Please use this link to register in PL.

Free Community Food Distributions & Resources

San Juan Central Food Closet:

The San Juan Unified food closet is located at the Central Enrollment Center (3700 Garfield Ave. in Carmichael) and serves families, staff and community who are in need of non-perishable food items.

Hours:

Open year round, Monday through Friday, 9:00 am-1:00 pm
Closed on non-school days and holidays.

Need more information on food resources? Visit www.sanjuan.edu/resources/community-resources for more information about our district food closet and community food banks.

Elica’s Health on Wheels (HOW) program brings full-service mobile health clinics directly to schools and communities to provide accessible care for students and families. These state-of-the-art clinics offer services like physical exams, vaccinations, and primary care—especially for those facing barriers such as lack of transportation or insurance. By partnering with select schools, Elica ensures students can receive quality care conveniently on campus. To access services, families must complete a brief intake process and provide insurance and vaccination records. Appointments may be required for certain days and locations. For more information, email mobile@elicahealth.org or call (916) 454-2345.

The 2025 Sacramento Valley Clinic will be held on October 10-12, 2025, at Cal Expo, 1600 Exposition Blvd., Building C, Sacramento, CA 95815. All services are free, open to the public, and offered on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of services as capacity allows. The clinic will open at 7:00 am, October 10-12, 2025. No ID is required. Services are provided at the discretion of the healthcare provider. Cal Expo will open at 5:00 am to allow parking access.

Services include dental (fillings, extractions, cleanings, x-rays, and limited number of dentures); vision (vision acuity tests, full exams, and eyeglasses made onsite); medical (basic physical, blood pressure, and blood glucose screening).

• Patient FAQs

We know how challenging and time-consuming it is to search for resources for families, so our team has been building a Digital Resource Library for all sites and departments to have access to. In this library, you'll find flyers and links for district and community resources to assist with housing, clothing, food, health, special education, college and career, community service partners, and more. We'll be adding to this library regularly, so keep checking to see what's new! The link allows anyone in San Juan to view the resources, so please feel free to share the link with your site/ department team members!

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/12Roaab9q0nSbMBTZ6Ef3nzVJ8BRxtgPj?usp=sharing

Our FACE team has designed a framework for school sites, departments, and district staff to utilize as a guide to help assess current family and community engagement practices and expand meaningful engagement opportunities with students, families and community members.

The framework consists of six family and community engagement standards that each contain resources, including a reflective assessment tool with indicators and stages of growth, providing an opportunity for schools, departments and district teams to evaluate their family and community engagement practices. The resources included with each standard provide additional supports to help assist teams with their targeted improvement efforts.

Implementation of this tool supports the important work of amplifying all voices, ensuring equitable access and creating safe, welcoming environments that foster authentic educational partnerships throughout our district.

We'll be rolling out one FACE standard per month and will be providing extra resources to support each of the standards, including FACE mini grants, which you'll get to learn more about in November's FACE Forum! You can find the FACE Framework and its resources on our FACE department page on our district Intranet (intranet.sanjuan.edu/face) and we've also linked the FACE Framework and the Supplemental Resources directly below. For those that prefer to print the FACE Framework, you can find it attached as a PDF below and can customize your own resources from the Supplemental Resource Folders link!

FACE Framework & Tools: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Bo7csuQC17u_2uQJTc0qSipEit6Q08oB?usp=sharing

Supplemental Resource Folders:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1CeFe5_iBCLnWOKQI6rjPVc9bZ_Y_Hc47?usp=sharing

See the Welcoming Families section of the FACE Framework (attached as a PDF below) for the detailed Welcoming Families information, assessment rubric, and resources in the Resource Folder linked below:

Welcoming Families Resource Folder:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1tHgDtctdmfA8zfcGQftDc47iDLXQ0a7I?usp=drive_link

See the Effective Communication section of the FACE Framework (attached as a PDF below) for the detailed Effective Communication information, assessment rubric, and resources in the Resource Folder linked below:

Effective Communication Resource Folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QztbvMv25HF7M2ogUSYgHSWU8spZVG1j?usp=drive_link

Effective communication with families builds trust, strengthens emotional connections, and fosters collaborative partnerships, leading to improved well-being for individuals and a more harmonious family dynamic. By creating a safe space for expressing needs and emotions, effective communication prevents misunderstandings, facilitates conflict resolution, and allows for a deeper understanding and support of each family member. This is crucial in family dynamics, professional relationships, and overall personal development.

Effective school-family communication is vital because it demonstrably improves student outcomes, including better academic achievement, attendance, and social-emotional development, while fostering stronger relationships and trust among students, families, and educators. By building a unified support system, this collaboration leads to more personalized support for students, a greater sense of community, reduced student anxiety and aggression, and increased likelihood of postsecondary education.

In addition to the FACE Framework's tools, assessment rubric and supplemental resources, check out some additional learning opportunities and resources below!

https://www.edutopia.org/article/4-ways-improve-teacher-communication-families/

https://edsource.org/2022/equitable-inclusive-parent-communication-is-key-to-helping-students-thrive/670489

https://www.virtuallabschool.org/preschool/family-engagement/lesson-3

Did you know Talking Points has many resources to support you with communicating with families? Check out our folder of Talking Points resources below:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fW7KdN5AJF800WlVSxdoYPQH4T51tv_o?usp=sharing

As we gear up for an exciting season of Fall trips and school activities, we want to remind all families and staff of the importance of ensuring that volunteers are properly cleared. For safety and security reasons, all volunteers must complete the required clearance process before being allowed to attend school trips. This ensures that we can maintain a safe environment while fostering a positive and engaging experience for our students. Family presence on these trips not only enriches the experience for our students but also strengthens the bond between school and home. Please encourage families to sign up as soon as possible at www.sanjuan.edu/volunteer.

Planning a field trip is easier than ever! Various resources, including a streamlined online

request process, are now available on the intranet: FT Resources on the Intranet

Consider marking it as a favorite!

Remember to use the San Juan Field Trip School Bus Availability Calendar when requesting a trip via the new Field Trip Request Portal. It shows how many school buses are available for field trips every day for the remainder of the school year & can help ensure you plan your trip accordingly. It now also includes cost estimates for both school and charter buses!

When submitting a field trip request, make sure to complete the form in its entirety to help facilitate a quick approval process. Include the number of students by grade level & list adults, including yourself & other staff who you know will or expect to attend. If you don’t have final numbers yet, use an estimate. Please DO NOT book charter buses through third party channels. The district has vetted and approved carriers that should be used.

If you have any questions or would like additional information or field trip recommendations, please contact the field trip desk at fieldtrips@sanjuan.edu or via phone at (916)979-8937.

When considering new community partners, it's important to gather key information to ensure alignment with your school's goals and student needs. Below is a short checklist to guide your review process:

Program/Project Outline
Request a brief overview of the proposed program, service, or project, including goals and expected outcomes.

Costs & Funding
Clarify any costs associated with the program and who is responsible (school, district, families, or partner-funded).

School Site Needs
Ask what support or resources are required from the school (e.g., space, staff time, technology, scheduling).

Partner Contributions
Identify what the community partner will provide (e.g., staffing, materials, curriculum, transportation, etc.).

Target Audience
Understand who the program is designed to serve—specific grade levels, student groups, or broader school community.

This simple checklist helps ensure partnerships are clear, beneficial, and aligned with your site’s priorities.

Should you have any questions, or would like to set up a call or meeting to discuss further, please reach out to Natalia Aguirre-Mazzi, Coordinator, Community Partnerships, Field Trips & Volunteers at (916) 971-7929 or via email at: Natalia.Aguirre@sanjuan.edu.

This month we’d like to shout out United College Action Network (U-CAN)! Each year they partner with the department of Equity and Student Achievement to host a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) fair. Qualified students receive on the spot admission and scholarships! You can find out more here:

https://www.ucangotocollege.org/ and https://www.ucangotocollege.org/flyers

Check out our district's past HBCU story featuring our incredible community partner, U-CAN:

https://elcamino.sanjuan.edu/news/news-detail/~board/district-news/post/san-juan-unified-hosts-annual-hbcu-recruitment-fair

Thank you, U-CAN for all you do to support our San Juan Unified students, families and schools!

The San Juan Education Foundation’s STARS Hall of Fame shines a spotlight on alumni who demonstrate excellence and creativity in their chosen career field, inspired by their education in the San Juan Unified School District. Honorees are selected thanks to nominations submitted by our community, making this recognition especially meaningful.

Meet this year’s honorees:

Melissa Lloyd, Mira Loma High School 1990 - Deputy Director, Child Protective Services, Sacramento County

Joanna Rowland, El Camino Fundamental High School 1996 - Children's Author

Josh Emmett, El Camino Fundamental High School 2003 - MMA Fighter

At the San Juan Education Foundation, we believe that great teaching deserves great support. That's why our PROPEL Grant Program offers flexible funding for educators and staff ready to make a difference in their classrooms, schools, and communities.

The PROPEL Grant Program funds projects that:

• Promote academic achievement for every student.

• Reaffirm a commitment to creating safe, welcoming, and culturally responsive classrooms that nurture joy and inclusion.

• Optimize meaningful, engaging, and accessible educational experiences.

• Provide financial relief to grantees.

• Empower grantees to develop innovative and dynamic learning environments.

Thanks to the generous support of Link Logistics, the PROPEL Transformation Grant provides school sites with up to $20,000 in infrastructure funding to expand access to essential resources and help create more equitable, inclusive learning environments.

The term infrastructure is broadly defined to include any lasting improvement that strengthens student learning and school environments. Examples may include library books, musical instruments, playground or shade structures, technology equipment, furniture, or sports equipment.

In problem resolution, it helps to focus on interests rather than positions. A position is the “what” someone is asking for, but their interest is the “why” behind it. For example, a parent might say, “I want my child moved to another class” (position), but the real interest could be “I want my child to feel safe and supported.” When we uncover the why, it often reveals shared priorities and opens up more flexible, creative solutions that meet everyone’s needs. By shifting the conversation to the why, we not only resolve the immediate issue more effectively, but also strengthen trust and collaboration for the future.

There are so many wonderful student, family and community engagement highlights happening around the district! We'd love to spotlight any of those efforts that your site, department, or another team is doing! Send us an email at face@sanjuan.edu and we'll highlight your shoutout in the next FACE Forum newsletter!

Shout Out to the El Camino Team, Rio Americano Team, Equity Team, United College Action Network (U-CAN) and Our District College & Career Readiness Team for an Amazing College Week!

Well over 2,000 students and families participated in College Week 2025, which included an HBCU Fair at El Camino, College Night at Rio Americano, and a wide array of individual school site community celebrations! Huge thanks to the El Camino team, Rio Americano team, and their school families for hosting and helping organize these exciting events. And special thanks to the San Juan Unified high school counselors and vocational education team, the Equity department, U-CAN community partners, and all the other incredible colleagues all across our district who celebrated San Juan Unified's College Week 2025! Way to go!

Nearly 500 of our San Juan Unified girls from across 17 of our middle and K-8 school sites were invited to take part in the Aerospace Museum of California's annual We Can Do It Together- Girls in STEAM event! The event featured table talks with STEAM professionals, a women in STEAM panel, STEAM demonstrations and hands-on activities, career path information, games and more! The girls had a blast learning all about STEAM and we can't thank our amazing community partners from the Aerospace Museum of California enough for making it all happen!

Did You Miss the Last FACE Forum Newsletter?

Click the link below to access September's FACE Forum newsletter and see all the resources, information and supports for you and your school community!

https://secure.smore.com/n/phgnaw

Want to receive the monthly FACE Forum newsletters directly to your email inbox during the school year? Our newsletter is now being emailed directly to recipients who have opted in to receiving the monthly newsletter. For those who choose not to opt in to receiving the newsletter via email, you will still be able to access the newsletter in Behind the Scenes (all San Juan Unified employees), Leadership Reflections (administrators), Secretary Scoop (secretaries), and Elementary/Secondary Updates.

To opt in to receiving The FACE Forum newsletter directly to your Inbox, please complete this brief opt-in here: https://forms.gle/3DQ62CUCZy4HjzGt6

Email: face@sanjuan.edu
Website: www.sanjuan.edu/face

Intranet: intranet.sanjuan.edu/face
Location: 3738 Walnut Avenue, Carmichael, CA, USA
Phone: (916) 971-7929

Facebook & Instagram- @SanJuanUnifiedFACE