Groups for Caregivers

Check the school events calendar for meeting dates for the below groups.

English Learners' Advisory Committee (ELAC)

The English Learners' Advisory Committee (ELAC) is a required advisory committee at Sylvia Mendez due to the percentage of students designated as English language learners. This committee makes recommendations to the School Governance Council regarding the use of funds to improve the academic achievement of English language learners.

At Sylvia Mendez, ELAC has also been responsible for organizing cultural events, such as the Day of the Child.

For more information, please contact Family Engagement Coordinator Alejandra Frias via email or at (510) 684-4114.

School Site Council (SSC)

Serving the needs of all Sylvia Mendez students

The School Site Council (SSC) is a state-required leadership committee with 12 elected voting members, including parents, teachers, and staff. The SSC is responsible for helping to develop the school site plan and making decisions about how Measure A funds, as well as state and federal funds, are spent to meet the needs of all Sylvia Mendez students. The SSC develops the school’s plan for student achievement by examining student achievement data and contributing to budget priorities. Committee activities include evaluating standardized test results, creating and analyzing annual parent and teacher surveys, and considering ideas to better serve students at Sylvia Mendez.

For more information or if you are interested in joining, please contact Principal Maria Carriedo. Members are elected at the beginning of each school year.

Parents with Children of African Descent (PCAD)

A team of Sylvia Mendez parents initiated this coalition to increase the involvement and support of African American families within our school community. The overarching goal of this group is to systematically create a foundation that allows students to achieve lifelong success throughout their school career and beyond.

The organization is committed to community building, networking, and sharing resources to promote positive academic and social growth, and to foster a generation of children who will instill this same commitment as adults. Our purpose is to build pride in bilingualism for Black children and families of Sylvia Mendez Elementary. This group also organizes events to enrich the Sylvia Mendez community, such as our annual Kwanzaa celebration in December.

Please check the PCAD page for further details - join us!

Rainbow Families

Rainbow Families is a group of LGBTQ+ Sylvia Mendez caregivers and their students, students and their caregivers, and allies! Our priorities are to educate, advocate, and celebrate our vibrant community. We educate our students about the power of the LGBTQ+ community throughout the school’s curriculum, working to tie in LGBTQ+ themes with other cultural celebrations like Latinx Heritage Month. We advocate for LGBTQ+ issues at Sylvia Mendez and within the larger BUSD community, such as gender-inclusive bathrooms for students. We also provide a safe, welcoming community for Rainbow Families through social meetups during the school year, Rainbow Fridays, participation in school-wide cultural events, the annual school-wide Pride event, and an open forum for caregiver communication.

Please check the Rainbow Families page for further details.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

The Sylvia Mendez School PTA is a vibrant community of parents, caregivers, teachers, and staff dedicated to supporting student success and enriching the school environment. Through fundraising, organizing events, and fostering communication, the PTA works to enhance learning experiences, build a strong school community, and ensure all students have the resources they need to thrive. Joining the PTA is free and offers an opportunity to actively contribute to your child's education and the overall well-being of the school.

Please check the PTA page for further details.