Alvarado Elementary School | San Francisco Unified School District

625 Douglass St. | San Francisco, CA 94114

(415) 695-5695 | (fax) (415) 695-5447 |
Sheera Sadja, Principal

January 9, 2020
Dear Families of Room 12,

I have some sad news to share with you all. As you will read in a letter from Ms. Ribbens, she will need to spend
more time attending to family matters. I know it’s sudden, but her last day will be tomorrow, Friday, January 10. Ms.
Ribbens, Ms. Denise, Ms. Jeanette, and I will be sharing this news with the students of Room 12 on Friday morning.

Fortunately, we have a credentialed native speaking bilingual teacher, Daniela Alvarado, who has been hired to take
over the classroom. She has been a substitute here at Alvarado for the last few months and her mother, Ms. Carla,
has been a paraprofessional here for years, so she is familiar with our school and community. Our literacy coach,
Ms. Denise, and our social worker, Ms. Jeanette, and I will be working closely with Daniela (Ms. Dani) and the
students to ensure a smooth transition. Ms. Dani’s first day will be Monday, January 13 (although, she has already
asked me to come in over the weekend to plan and prepare!).

I have heard about the teacher turn over in Room 12 last year and know this will be especially difficult for our 5th
graders. We are committed to making sure they end their journey at Alvarado with the chance to make some special
memories. If you have ideas or suggestions on this, please let me know!

Ms. Dani is excited to share a letter of introduction and will be sending one home at the end of her first day on
Monday. I know you will all be eager to meet her in person, and would like to invite you to a welcome breakfast the
following Friday, January 17 at 7:30 in Room 12.

Again, I want to express while I am deeply disappointed by the experience of the students in Room 12 by losing Ms.
Ribbens, I feel grateful that we have been able to secure a credentialed native speaking bilingual teacher who is
excited and honored for the opportunity to work with this wonderful group of students and be a part of the Alvarado
Community like her mother.

Please always feel free to reach out to me if you have follow-up questions or would like to discuss your child.

Sincerely,

Sheera