Welcome To Spruce!

***You can translate into the language of your choice at the top of this page

***Puede traducir al idioma que elija en la parte superior de esta página done dice "Translate."

🟢 August 3: 9-1:30pm

🟢 August 4: 9-1:30pm

🟢 August 5: 9-1:30pm

🟢 August 6: 9-1:30pm

🟢 August 7: 9-1:30pm

❌ August 10: CLOSED

🟢 August 11: 9-2pm

🟢 August 12: 9-2pm

Dear Spruce Families,

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2026-2027 school year! I hope you and your child had a restful summer and I encourage you to begin the routine of sleeping at an early time as we come close to returning to school.

🌟 STUDENTS BEGIN SCHOOL THURSDAY, AUGUST 13. 🌟

Please read on for all the information you need for a successful beginning.

- Principal Angelica Garduno

Parents will login to Infinite Campus Parent Portal (Where you completed your Annual Enrollment or New Registration) and be able to see your child's schedule there.

Practice logging in to Infinite Campus Portal!

INFINITE CAMPUS PARENT PORTAL

Schedules will go LIVE August 10.

If you need assistance with resetting a password, you may call the office at 650-877-8780 or email scruz@ssfusd.org

The following are the supply lists of materials for students to bring on the first day of school.

Incoming TK/Kindergarten: Please bring supplies to the Welcome Hour on August 12.

We have a recommended uniform dress code, but it is not required found HERE

To help everyone feel comfortable, safe, and ready to learn, please follow these dress guidelines:

1. Clothing Must Be Appropriate

   • No clothing with offensive words, images, or symbols.

   • No references to drugs, alcohol, or violence.

2. Wear School-Ready Clothes

   • Shirts must cover the stomach and shoulders.

   • Shorts, skirts, and dresses should be a suitable length (fingertip length or longer).

3. Safe Footwear

   • Wear closed-toe shoes for safety, especially for PE and recess.

   • No flip-flops or high heels.

4. Hats and Hoods

   • Hats and hoods should be taken off inside the building (unless for religious or medical reasons).

5. Weather-Appropriate Clothing

• Dress warmly in cold weather and wear sunscreen or hats for sunny days during outdoor activities.

6. Label all items

Here are a few notes to review:

• Gates will open at 8:10am. Please do not drop off your child before 8:10am.
• Children who will eat breakfast only may go directly to the cafeteria starting at 7:50am. Students in TK/Kindergarten will be walked to the classroom at 8:15am and be monitored by noon duty supervisor.
• Arrive before classes start at 8:20am (aim for 8:15am).
• Arrive early to look for parking on the street and most importantly DRIVE CAREFULLY.

TK/Kindergarten

• Students line up outside their classroom starting at 8:10am when gates open.
• Parents are to wait with their child at their line everyday. There is no supervision.
• When students start to walk in to classrooms parents must leave campus. A quick goodbye is the best! Tell them you love them and will see them later!
• Keep all children off of play structures at all times.

DISMISSAL

• TK:
• August 13 - October 30 release is at 12:30pm.
• 1:20pm release begins on November 2nd
• Dismissal at front of school

• Kindergarten:
• August 13 - August 28 release is at 12:30pm.
• Starting September 8 release is at 1:20pm.
• Dismissal at front of school

Here are a few notes to review:

• Gates will open at 8:10am. Please do not drop off your child before 8:10am.

• Children who will eat breakfast only may go directly to the cafeteria starting at 7:50am.

• Arrive before classes start at 8:20am (aim for 8:15am).

• Arrive early to look for parking on the street and most importantly DRIVE CAREFULLY.

• Entrance is through Spruce Avenue walking gate and Tamarack walking gate.

1st - 5th Grade

• Students will line up outside starting at 8:10am when gates open.

• Parents may wait with children at their line.

• When students start to walk in to class, parents must leave campus.

• Keep all children off of play structures at all times.

• All 1st-5th students will line up on the playground yards. Class numbers can be found painted on the playground.

• 1st-3rd Upper Playground

• 4th-5th Lower Playground

DISMISSAL:

On August 13th school will end at 2:40pm for 1st-5th. 2:40pm will be the regular dismissal time.

Wednesdays will be 1:40pm starting August 19th.

1st-3rd Grade: Dismissal is in front of the Main Office

4th & 5th Grade: Dismissal is at Tamarack Gate

• More funding for programs | Más fondos para programas

• Free bus passes | Pases de autobús gratis

• Discounted internet or wireless services | Servicios inalámbricos o de Internet con descuento

• Discounted laptops or Chromebooks | Laptops o Chromebooks con descuento

• Discounted Advanced Placement (AP) test fees | Tarifas de prueba AP con descuento

3rd grade parents can come sign out their child's chromebook on August 12 from 9am-1pm in the Main Office at Spruce.

Minimum Day Schedule

TK Dismissal: 12:30pm

Kinder Grade Dismissal: 12:45pm

1st-5th Grade Dismissal: 12:55 PM

Please make necessary arrangements for pick up on time.

ELOP provides eligible students with free before-school, after-school, school-break and summer programming. Students receiving free care through ELOP and families paying tuition register with the same expanded care providers and participate in the same programs. The difference is that ELOP covers the cost of care for students who qualify.

To be considered for ELOP-funded care, families must complete two separate steps:

1. Register for expanded care. Review the Expanded Care Program Guide to find the provider serving your student’s school. Then, register directly with that provider and let them know you are interested in an ELOP-funded space.

2. Apply for ELOP eligibility beginning August 1. Complete the Free and Reduced-Price Meals application to help determine whether your student qualifies for free care through ELOP. When completing the application, enter the full district name: South San Francisco Unified School District.

Please complete both steps. Registering with a provider does not automatically determine ELOP eligibility, and completing the Free and Reduced-Price Meals application does not automatically register your student for expanded care.

Why should families complete the Free and Reduced-Price Meals application?

Although meals are provided at no cost to all SSFUSD students, this application is still important. It helps SSFUSD:

• Determine whether a student may qualify for free care through ELOP

• Identify students who may qualify for other benefits and support

• Demonstrate the level of need in our community, which may help the District receive additional funding to expand services

Important information:

Applying does not guarantee ELOP eligibility, free care or placement in a program. Enrollment depends on confirmed eligibility, available space, staffing and provider capacity. Some programs may have waitlists.

For questions about registration, program availability or waitlists, please contact the provider serving your student’s school.

For help completing the Free and Reduced-Price Meals application, please contact: SSFUSD Nutrition Services (650) 877-8716

ParentSquare is one of our ways to communicate with families — for announcements, reminders, photos, and event sign-ups. You can message teachers and even translate messages into your preferred language right in the app.

Look out for your invitation to join, and check the app or your email regularly

This is a messaging system that allows the school to send emails to families and robo messages. This will be use less frequently but you will see emails from time to time.

Make sure lunches are sent in the morning with children who do not want a school lunch that day.
Where do you find the lunch menu? In this monthly newsletter towards the bottom!

We're happy to share that all students will receive free lunch this school year!

Students in 1st–5th grade will also have the option of a free "second chance" breakfast during recess, for anyone who wants a bite to eat later in the morning.

Please fill out the meal application 😃

We look forward to a great year of well-fed learners!

The back gate of Tamarack will be closed at 8:20am

🔸TARDIES

• Arriving after 8:20am is a Tardy
• If you arrive late, you are to go through the main Spruce gate to get a tardy slip.
  
• Continuous tardies are usually due to adults, not children, please be on time every day!

🔸ABSENCES

• Students are expected to be at school every day.
• If there is an emergency or an illness, parents must call the office to inform the school of any absence.
• Phone calls will be made to families whose child is not present, daily.
• Students must be fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication to return to school.

Let’s work together to give our children the best education possible and that begins by attending school daily❗

🔸SPECIAL EVENTS

(Valentine’s, Halloween, Birthdays, etc.)

For safety and equity reasons, we are not accepting any outside food for any party favors. However, Teachers may request donations for curriculum-related projects or activities in the classroom for a special event or holiday.

Goody bags may be sent to the classroom with no food/candy.

Goody bag small object examples:

• Pencils, erasers, crayons, stickers, tattoos, mini puzzles, mini playdough, fidget, etc.

We encourage our families to have celebrations with their friends and families during non school hours for birthdays.

Students should not bring smart watches or cell phones to school. These devices can be a distraction to learning and take away from valuable classroom time. In addition, they can be a concern if used for communication/pictures at recess. If your child needs to bring a phone/smart watch for after-school communication or tracking, it must remain turned off and kept in their backpack during the school day.

Children may only use the Office phone to communicate with parents

Thank you for helping us create a safe and focused learning environment for all students!

The only items coming from home to school should be materials for the classroom (as shared by classroom teacher) and technology issued by the school if asked by the teacher.

Any toys/items (including playing balls/dolls/trading cards/fidgets not approved by teacher etc.) stay at home please.

In order for parents to volunteer or volunteer to be chaperones, you must be a fingerprinted cleared volunteer.

THIS PROCESS TAKES TIME!

Please come to the office to pick up an application to start the process.
Want to volunteer if teachers have a need in the classroom? It is the same process.

Start today!

Every Wednesday for 1st-5th grade

1:40pm Release

Children attending breakfast are to eat. Breakfast is not a drop off for before school care. If you looking for before school care, please call the Main Office for programs.

8am-2:30pm & 2:50-3:20pm

**We close the office for 20 minutes to assist with dismissal

Website: https://spruce.ssfusd.org/
Location: South San Francisco, CA
Phone: 650-877-8780