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.

1980-1981

1. ★In 1980, parent Aiko Cuneo’s son, Ken, started kindergarten in teacher Carol Damm’s classroom.  At that time there was no art at Rooftop School. Aiko makes a decision to come in to volunteer in her son’s classroom.  She loves doing art with the kids.
   

1981-1982

1. ★    Aiko starts going to into other classrooms to bring art to more kids. She gets her friends together to help out and volunteer too. And that is how the Rooftop Art Program was born.
   

2. ★   Parent Ann Henry starts the Sensory Motor Program
   

1982-1983

1. ★   Aiko Cuneo, art coordinator
   

2. ★   There is no money in the budget for the art supplies, so Aiko raises money by organizing the first Rooftop Auction in the multipurpose room, raising $2,000 through the sale of art.
   

3. ★   The grant money that funds the Sensory Motor program runs out and a major fundraiser, the Rooftop Run, is hatched! The first Rooftop Run takes place in the Fall of 1982.
   

1983-1984

1. ★    Aiko Cuneo, art coordinator
   

1984-1985

1. ★    Aiko Cuneo, art coordinator
   

2. ★    (1984) Rooftop students work with sculptor Ruth Asawa and art coordinator Aiko Cuneo on “San Francisco Yesterday and Today,” a concrete bas relief wall at the Renaissance Parc 55 Hotel (previously Ramada Renaissance Hotel)   
   

3. ★    (1984) Rooftop-in-Performance (RIP) / Elissa Elliot & Dorothy Moskovitz Falarski, Ginger Scutter, Pam Wong.  With the first show, “Rooftop Review,” RIP began the tradition of putting on an annual school show involving the entire school community. Coordinator Elisa Elliot noted, “It’s the process of putting it together, and knowing what it is to work together on something that is the greatest thing to watch.”
   

4. ★    (1984) Lunch Bunch, student do-wop group, with teacher Sandy Ramet
   

1986-1987

1. ★    Cyndy Sugawara, Aiko Cuneo, art coordinators
   

2. ★    (1986) Rooftop students participate in The Event of the Year at the Opera House with Jacques D'Amboise and The National Dance Institute of New York.
   

3. ★    (1986) Rooftop-in-Performance (RIP) / Elissa Elliot & Dorothy Moskovitz Falarski, Ginger Scutter, Pam Wong
   

4. ★    (1986) Lunch Bunch, student do-wop group, with teacher Sandy Ramet
   

1987-1988

1. ★    Cyndy Sugawara, Aiko Cuneo, art coordinators
   

2. ★    (1987) Rooftop students participate in The Event of the Year at Stern Grove with Jacques D'Amboise and The National Dance Institute of New York.
   

3. ★    (1987) Rooftop-in-Performance (RIP) / Elissa Elliot & Dorothy Moskovitz Falarski, Ginger Scutter, Pam Wong
   

4. ★    (1987) Lunch Bunch, student do-wop group, with teacher Sandy Ramet
   

1988-1989

1. ★    Cyndy Sugawara, Aiko Cuneo, art coordinators
   

2. ★    (1988) Rooftop students participate in Event 88 at the Palace of Fine Arts with Jacques D'Amboise and The National Dance Institute of New York.
   

3. ★    (1988) Rooftop-in-Performance (RIP) / Elissa Elliot & Dorothy Moskovitz Falarski, Ginger Scutter, Pam Wong
   

4. ★    (1988) Lunch Bunch, student do-wop group, with teacher Sandy Ramet
   

1989-1990

1. ★    Cyndy Sugawara, Aiko Cuneo, art coordinators