Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Nancy Yoshihara Mayeda

Mrs. Mayeda served as the principal of Rooftop Alternative School in San Francisco from 1982 to 1998. In 1997, the Nancy Yoshihara Mayeda Campus for grades 5-8 of Rooftop was dedicated.

The Vision: The ARTS AT ROOFTOP

Former Rooftop principal Nancy Mayeda discusses the origins of Rooftop School's focus on the arts in this interview conducted on April 30, 2012 in the Margaret Condon Amphitheatre in the Rooftop Garden.

Illustration by

Cyndy Sugawara, former Rooftop Art Teacher

Sansei Girl The Story of Nancy Mayeda

by Tracy Heffernan

“Sansei Girl,” is a children’s book written in 2003 by SFUSD teacher librarian Tracy Heffernan (former librarian at Rooftop’s Twin Peaks Campus). After her independent research, Tracy conducted interviews with Nancy Mayeda and her family members to create this book sharing Nancy’s childhood memories and family history.

In 1942, over 120,000 US citizens of Japanese ancestry (Nikkei) were ordered to leave their homes, jobs, and lives behind, and forced into one of ten prison camps spread across the nation because of their ethnicity. Young Nancy and her family were sent to Minidoka Internment Camp in Idaho.

Aya Attal, then age 17, of Crafton, Pennsylvania., hugs a friend at an Eid al-Fitr celebration, marking the end of Ramadan, on June 25, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Photo: Justin Merriman/Getty Images

What is Eid and how do Muslims celebrate it?

Muslims all over the world are celebrating Eid al-Fitr this week, one of their biggest religious holidays. In July, Muslims will celebrate Eid al-Adha. Read this article from Newsela to get six questions answered.

Kami-Shibai

Watch this 40 minute show of three folktales from Japan told in a traditional style of Kami-Shibai, the Japanese Art of Paper Picture Storytelling.

Thank You SFPL

Read Alouds

Ruth Asawa -A life made by hand.mov

A Life Made by Hand: The Story of Ruth Asawa

by Andrea D'Aquino

Paper Son - Tyrus Wong.mov

Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong

by Julie Leung

Ho'onani Hula Warrior.mov

Ho'onani Hula Warrior

by Heather Gale

Story read by Author Heather Gale

An empowering celebration of identity, acceptance and Hawaiian culture based on the true story of a young girl in Hawaiʻi who dreams of leading the boys-only hula troupe at her school.

The Meaning of Mahu

Watch the full 25 minute documentary about Ho'onani

A Place in the Middle

Asian American Author tells us about his book

Listen to Simran Jeet Singh tell us about this amazing true story about Fauja Singh and why it was important to create this picture book to inspire young readers.

This book is available at SF Public Library using your student library card.

AAPI Slideshow

Spotlights for AAPI Heritage Month

LIVE Author Visit Assembly with Oliver Chin

Wednesday - May 5, 2021 @ 11:00-11:45

Update: It was great, Thank You Oliver!

Let's celebrate AAPI Month and Year of the OX with local author Oliver Chin. Mr. Chin will present his book The Year of the Ox from the popular series Tales of the Chinese Zodiac and will also introduce his new book Awesome Asian Americans: 20 Stars Who Made America Amazing, co-written by Phil Amara and illustrated by Juan Calle.

To order signed copies of his books, download this form, then email a photo or scan of your order to Ms. Tamra marshallt@sfusd.edu

Book orders due by May 7th - free delivery will follow!

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