Respectful Individuals, Responsible Leaders, Reflective Achievers
May 18, 2022
Hello Sankofa United Families:
We are in the final sprint of a marathon. It has been a great year, that despite many challenges, is one that we should all be very proud of.
School Site Council this Wednesday. Our final School Site Council (SSC) meeting of the year will be this Wednesday at 6 PM at www.tinyurl.com/SankofaUnited. Please join us for a reflection and celebration of this year and discussion about 2022-23 and beyond.
PTA Meeting this Thursday. Our final PTA meeting of the year is this Thursday at 6:00 PM, also at www.tinyurl.com/SankofaUnited.
Art Expo THIS Friday. We are hoping that ALL families will be able to stop by at dismissal on Friday to celebrate your child’s experience in art this year. Tables will be set for each classroom inside the gate at the pick-up circle. After School Program dismissal on Friday will also be at the pick-up circle, so that all families can participate. (No parking in the traffic circle, please.)
After School Program Carnival. Also on Friday, After School Program is hosting its year-end carnival. This is open only to students who are in after school program and family members who have signed up to volunteer.
Bike to Wherever Day. Friday is also “Bike to Wherever Day” (formerly “Bike to Work Day”) If you would like to ride together to school that morning, we will meet at the “Energizer Station” across from the main entrance of Children’s Hospital on 52nd St near MLK. We will meet up at 7:45 and roll out at 8:00. Following this route, we will take Dover to school. Feel free to meet up with us along the way if you like.
After school program 2022-23 applications Applications for next year’s after school program are now available. Please see Mr. D or another member of our After School team at the main entrance between 3-6 PM any day this week or next (through May 25.)
Sensory pathways: This weekend a team installed “sensory pathways” in our upstairs and downstairs hallways. What the heck is a sensory pathway? Click here to find out more.
May 25 Zachary’s Fundraiser! On the last day of school, Zachary’s Pizza on College will donate 15% of any purchase made by anyone who mentions Sankofa United or shares this flier. Please help spread the word! A big shoutout to Sankofa United dad, Chris Vlasses for organizing a whole series of partnerships with local restaurants and businesses that brought in thousands of dollars in donations this year!
Music instrument return If your child has borrowed a musical instrument from school, please return it to the main office by Monday, May 23.
Congrats Ms. Ghansah! Congratulations to Joy Ghansah, Sankofa United kindergarten teacher, who graduated with her Masters in Educational Leadership from Mills College this weekend!!!
End of year celebrations. Many grades are having end-of-year celebrations. Please connect with your child’s teacher for details.
Monday, May 23, 12:00 PM: 1st grade celebration
Tuesday, May 24, 11:00 AM: 5th grade promotion
Tuesday, May 24, 1:00 PM: Preschool (ECE) celebration
Wednesday, May 25, 11:00 AM: Kindergarten celebration
3rd grade play: May 23, 24, & 25, 9:00 AM performance in auditorium (families may attend any day.)
Reminder: Job opportunities at Sankofa United for 2022-23.
We will have several opportunities for new staff to join our school community in August. Please email dennis.guikema@ousd.org if you are interested in knowing any more about these opportunities. Please pass on the word to others who might be interested.
Please save the date… Please calendar these important end-of-year dates: (Link to our May calendar)
May 18 (Wed), 6:00 PM. School Site Council (SSC)
May 19 (Thur), 6:00 PM. PTA meeting
May 20 (Fri) “Bike to Wherever Day”. Morning meet up and bike ride to school.
May 20 (Fri) Art Expo at dismissal (2:45 - 6:00 PM)
May 23 - 25 (M-W), 1:30 minimum day dismissal
May 24 (Tue), 11:00 AM, 5th grade promotion
May 24 (Tues), 1 PM, Preschool (ECE) End of Year Ceremony (garden)
May 25 (Wed), Last day of school
Aug 8 (Mon), 1st day of school!
Have a wonderful week!
~ Dennis Guikema, Principal
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May 9, 2022
Hello Sankofa United Families.
The end of the school year is just around the corner, and although there aren’t many days left of school, there is a lot of learning and many exciting events coming up!
Art Expo! One highlight of this year at Sankofa United has certainly been Ms. Mary’s art class! On Friday, May 20, we encourage ALL families to check out our art expo and take home your children’s art portfolio. Ms. Mary will be setting this up inside the gate near the pick up circle. Please plan to take extra time to come onto the playground at dismissal time. (After School Program will be dismissed from this area, not the front entrance, this day, so that ALL families can check out the art expo.)
Open Playground this Saturday! Our last Saturday “Open Playground” of the year will be this week, May 14, from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM. All families are welcome! Feel free to bring a picnic lunch or snack, bikes, scooters, etc. Current families as well as families joining us in August are invited. Please join me in welcoming new families to our community.
No Music performance. Due to unforeseen circumstances, we will not be having the previously calendared music performances this month.
Bike to Wherever Day. Friday, May 20, is “Bike to Wherever Day” (formerly “Bike to Work Day”) If you would like to ride together to school that morning, we will meet at the “Energizer Station” across from the main entrance of Children’s Hospital on 52nd St near MLK. We will meet up at 7:45 and roll out at 8:00. Following this route, we will take Dover to school. Feel free to meet up with us along the way if you like.
Job opportunities at Sankofa United for 2022-23.
We will have several opportunities for new staff to join our school community in August. Please email dennis.guikema@ousd.org if you are interested in knowing any more about these opportunities. Please pass on the word to others who might be interested.
Please save the date… Please calendar these important end-of-year dates: (Link to our May calendar)
May 6 (Fri), 8:30 - 9:30 AM. First Friday Family Coffee & Donuts
May 15 (Sat), 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
May 18 (Wed), 6:00 PM. School Site Council (SSC)
May 19 (Thur), 6:00 PM. PTA meeting
May 20 (Fri) “Bike to Wherever Day”. Morning meet up and bike ride to school.
May 20 (Fri) Art Expo at dismissal (2:45 - 6:00 PM)
May 23 - 25 (M-W), 1:30 minimum day dismissal
May 24 (Tue), 11:00 AM, 5th grade promotion
May 24 (Tues), 1 PM, Preschool (ECE) End of Year Ceremony (garden)
May 25 (Wed), Last day of school
Aug 8 (Mon), 1st day of school!
Have a wonderful week!
~ Dennis Guikema, Principal
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May 2, 2022
Hello Sankofa United Families:
Happy May! We are looking forward to a joyful end of this school year.
Teacher Appreciation Week: A GIANT THANKS to Sankofa United teachers for their tremendous dedication and love. Thanks, also, to the many Sankofa United families who are making Teacher Appreciation Week so special for our staff.
2022-23 School Plan and Budget: Thanks to our School Site Council (SSC) and staff who helped to inform our budget and School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) for the 2022-23 school year, which was approved by our SSC at last week’s meeting. Click here to see the slide deck from the meeting for more information.
Covid Safety Update: I am very happy to say that all of our pooled tests last Tuesday and individual tests on Thursday returned negative. We continue to strongly recommend masks indoors and will continue to have masks available to all students and adults on campus.
Reminder: Please take 2 minutes to confirm your plans for next year and share input: Last week I shared a link to this quick form to confirm your intention to return and share input about class placement for next year. If you haven’t already, please complete this sometime this week.
Please save the date… Please calendar these important end-of-year dates:
May 6 (Fri), 8:30 - 9:30 AM. First Friday Family Coffee & Donuts
May 15 (Sat), 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
May 18 (Wed), 6:00 PM. School Site Council (SSC)
May 19 (Thur), 6:00 PM. PTA meeting
May 20 (Fri) “Bike to Wherever Day”. Morning meet up and bike ride to school.
May 23 - 25 (M-W), 1:30 minimum day dismissal
May 24 (Tue), 11:00 AM, 5th grade promotion
May 25 (Wed), Last day of school
Aug 8 (Mon), 1st day of school!
Have a wonderful week!
~ Dennis Guikema, Principal
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For all prior announcements and messages from the principal, click on this link
CONTACT INFORMATION:
581 61st Street Oakland, CA 94609 (PHONE) (510) 879-2194 (FAX) (510) 627-9194 Site Map
