Over the last year, we have collaborated with NOPNA in several ways, including helping with a summer block party and lending our space to a NOPNA parent group for family activities throughout the year. Recently, we received a thank-you letter from this group for the use of our cafeteria and kitchen to prepare gingerbread houses for the holidays. Looking ahead, we hope to collaborate with NOPNA on a tree-planting initiative in partnership with Friends of the Urban Forest.

Attending NOPNA meetings can also open up new opportunities for community involvement. Last year, Facilities Director Danny De Leon connected with a local Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT) representative. This relationship resulted in an addition to the SFDS emergency-response plan that enables us to coordinate with NERT and share resources in the event of a neighborhood emergency.

We also recently partnered with one of our neighbors to persuade the Department of Parking and Traffic (DPT) to reexamine the intersection at Golden Gate and Masonic avenues to improve safety. The meeting with the DPT has already resulted in the trimming of trees along Masonic to improve visibility at this busy intersection.

Please do your part to help us maintain good relations with our neighbors and ensure the safety of our children by familiarizing yourself with the traffic guidelines posted on the SFDS web site. Our daily commitment to a safe, quick, and orderly drop-off and pick-up is one of the most concrete ways to demonstrate that we are thoughtful and conscientious members of our neighborhood.