Los Cerritos Elementary School students

Support for Our SSFHS Community / Apoyo para Nuestra Comunidad de SSFHS

October 4, 2024

Dear South San Francisco Unified Community,

During this challenging time, I have been deeply moved by the compassion, resilience, and solidarity shown by our community. Your continued support has been vital as we work together to help our South San Francisco High School (SSFHS) students and staff heal from the incident that occurred last Friday, September 27.

In the days following the event, our district has worked diligently to provide additional resources and care to support our SSFHS students and staff as they process and heal:

  • Over the weekend, SSFHS administrators, alongside the school wellness counselor, created a set of resources for teachers and students. These materials were shared with first and second period teachers to help them facilitate discussions with all students on Monday to help them process their feelings and learn about the various wellness resources available to them. Students were encouraged to express their emotions, seek support, and lean on their community during this time.
  • On Monday, district wellness counselors and school psychologists joined SSFHS counseling and support staff to offer additional emotional and mental health resources to students. District and school staff were stationed throughout the school, allowing students to check in, debrief, and process their experiences.
  • Our district’s Psychologist on Special Assignment, Coordinator of Mental and Behavioral Health Services, and Counselor on Special Assignment have been on-site at SSFHS all week, where they have provided support to SSFHS’ school-based staff, checking in with teachers and support personnel to ensure those who are helping our students are also cared for as they process last Friday’s incident.

Throughout the week, we’ve continued our partnership with the South San Francisco Police Department (SSFPD), who came to campus to provide enhanced supervision and offer an added layer of security and support to our SSFHS school community.

We know that everyone processes events like these differently and at their own pace. I encourage you to continue checking in with your children, their teachers, and each other. The healing process is ongoing, and no one should feel they need to go through it alone. 

  • For those looking for additional support, we encourage you to explore resources from our partner, Daybreak (https://www.daybreakhealth.com/), a school-based mental health company, that offers 1:1 teletherapy services with qualified clinicians to students and families at no cost to families.
  • Additional resources can be accessed via California Health & Human Services Agency’s Mental Health Resources for Youth (https://www.chhs.ca.gov/youthresources/).

As we move forward, we remain committed to supporting our South City community, fostering resilience, and working together to heal. Thank you for your continued partnership, and know that we are here for you.

In partnership,

Dr. Shawnterra Moore
Superintendent
South San Francisco Unified School District


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4 de octubre de 2024

Querida comunidad del Distrito Escolar Unificado de South San Francisco,

Durante este tiempo desafiante, me ha conmovido profundamente la compasión, la resiliencia y la solidaridad que ha demostrado nuestra comunidad. Su apoyo continuo ha sido vital mientras trabajamos juntos para ayudar a los estudiantes y al personal de South San Francisco High School (SSFHS) a sanar del incidente que ocurrió el pasado viernes, 27 de septiembre.

En los días posteriores al evento, nuestro distrito ha trabajado diligentemente para proporcionar recursos adicionales y atención para apoyar a los estudiantes y al personal de SSFHS mientras procesan y sanan:

  • Durante el fin de semana, los administradores de SSFHS, junto con la consejera de bienestar escolar, crearon un conjunto de recursos para maestros y estudiantes. Estos materiales se compartieron con los maestros del primer y segundo período para ayudarles a facilitar discusiones con todos los estudiantes el lunes, con el fin de ayudarles a procesar sus sentimientos y conocer los diversos recursos de bienestar disponibles para ellos. Se alentó a los estudiantes a expresar sus emociones, buscar apoyo y apoyarse en su comunidad durante este tiempo.
  • El lunes, consejeros de bienestar del distrito y psicólogos escolares se unieron al personal de apoyo de SSFHS para ofrecer recursos adicionales de apoyo emocional y de salud mental a los estudiantes. El personal del distrito y de la escuela se ubicó en diferentes áreas de la escuela, permitiendo a los estudiantes registrarse, desahogarse y procesar sus experiencias.
  • El Psicólogo Especialista del Distrito, la Coordinadora de Servicios de Salud Mental y Conductual, y la Consejera Especialista del Distrito han estado en el sitio en SSFHS toda la semana, donde han brindado apoyo al personal de la escuela, registrándose con maestros y personal de apoyo para asegurarse de que aquellos que están ayudando a nuestros estudiantes también reciban el cuidado necesario mientras procesan el incidente del viernes pasado.

Durante toda la semana, hemos continuado nuestra colaboración con el Departamento de Policía de South San Francisco (SSFPD), quienes asistieron al campus para brindar mayor supervisión y ofrecer una capa adicional de seguridad y apoyo a nuestra comunidad escolar de SSFHS.

Sabemos que cada persona procesa eventos como estos de manera diferente y a su propio ritmo. Les animo a que continúen registrándose con sus hijos, con sus maestros y entre ustedes. El proceso de sanación está en curso, y nadie debe sentir que tiene que atravesarlo solo.

  • Para aquellos que buscan apoyo adicional, les alentamos a explorar los recursos de nuestro socio, Daybreak (https://www.daybreakhealth.com/), una empresa de salud mental escolar que ofrece servicios de teleterapia 1:1 con clínicos calificados a estudiantes y familias sin costo alguno.

A medida que avanzamos, seguimos comprometidos a apoyar a nuestra comunidad de South City, fomentando la resiliencia y trabajando juntos para sanar. Gracias por su continua colaboración, y recuerden que estamos aquí para ustedes.

En colaboración,


Dr. Shawnterra Moore
Superintendente
Distrito Escolar Unificado de South San Francisco