Safe & Sound at
Malcolm X Elementary

With the support of a $1000 grant from the Berkeley Public Schools Fund and numerous other community sponsors, the Malcolm X School community collaborated in carrying out "Safe & Sound: The Malcolm X Mosaic Sign Project." The two new Malcolm X signs of mosaic tiles now grace each school corner on Ashby Ave., promoting health and well-being, and a safe community for our children. "Safe and Sound" involved over 400 children and youth from the community making pledges "to do one special thing to care more deeply for their health this year."  
More here.

Admissions Season
is here!

TONIGHT! Berkeley High School Fall Information Night: Wed., November 12, 2014 at 7pm in the BHS Community Theater (more here)

Annual Kindergarten Information Fair is Sat., December 6, from 10am-1pm at LeConte Elementary.

Learn about steps to enrollment here and find schools in your attendance zone:
 Elementary Schools
 Middle Schools
 Berkeley High School
School Board Members Hold Office Hours

  Members of the Board of Education are holding office hours as part of their efforts to make themselves available to the community.  This is an opportunity for parents, students, teachers, staff and community members to have one-on-one communications with the Board. Office hours and locations are available here.
BUSD Meetings and Events Google Calendar
Happy Thanksgiving!
NO SCHOOL:
Nov. 26-28
Google Calendar 

Give us your feedback on the A+ eNews

 

We want the A+ eNews to serve your needs for district-wide information. Let us know what you think or want to know about! Send an email to:
A-plus@berkeley.net 

New School Library Webpages Highlight Resources
Thanks to the support of the Berkeley community for the Berkeley Schools Excellence Program (BSEP), our school libraries are well-staffed and well-stocked, and serve as a valuable resource to students and teachers in every BUSD public school. The recently updated school library websites provide direct access to a virtual library of tools and resources for families to access both during and outside of school time. You can find reading suggestions, practice keyboarding skills, and connect to teacher and librarian recommended online learning tools, and so much more. Check it out and see for yourself!

The middle and high school library websites are soon following suit and updating their layout and links.
Bring your appetite! Dine Out for Cooking & Gardening Education: Thurs., Nov. 13

We need your appetite for the Gardening and Cooking Program in the Berkeley Public Schools...  

 

Dine Out with Us!

This Thursday, November 13th we will partner with generous local restaurants throughout Berkeley - and dipping into Oakland - to co-host a wonderful food-filled day and night in support of a garden-based learning education for all Berkeley public school kids. This is a great way to try something new, Dine Out at a local business, and support your public schools in providing a garden-based education.

 

If you are an eager diner awaiting this sensational event, please plan on dining at one or all of the following participating restaurants. You can learn more about our district-wide program, our student reach, and teacher support, as well as an updated list of participating restaurants on our webpage. 

What's in the LCAP?

AVID - Advancement Via Individual Determination

Ensuring students are college and career ready when they graduate from high school is one of the primary goals of actions found in Berkeley's Local Control & Accountability Plan (LCAP).  Designed to meet the needs of students in the "academic middle", and often the first in their family to go to college, the AVID program is based on a nationally recognized set of research-based strategies to prepare students for rigorous academic work beginning in 7th grade. AVID students learn how to dive into text and read closely, take notes, use academic writing mechanics, practice effective organizational strategies, and among other benefits, develop a college-going mindset through exposure to guest speakers, college visits, and mentors. While there are 125 AVID students at BHS in grades 9-11, the middle school AVID program has grown to serve 107 seventh grade students and 90 eighth grade students at the three middle schools.


 

Teachers and principals have found that the AVID curriculum positively affects the school-wide college and career-going culture. Several components of the AVID curriculum benefit all students including the teaching of Cornell Notes, holding Socratic Seminars, and the use of weekly learning logs.  

Enrollment Growth & Capacity Update
With the growth of our transitional kindergarten program and elementary school enrollment, and a recent demographic study predicting 252 more elementary students to enroll over the next three school years, more space is needed to meet the demand. A number of possible facility-related options to grow the capacity of our elementary schools was presented to the school board for consideration at the November 5th board meeting. (Both a video of the presentation/discussion and the PDF documentation are available online.) Discussion of possible options being considered will continue at the December 10th board meeting.

During his board comments, the Superintendent also announced that the School Board Policy Subcommittee will be reviewing the district's enrollment policies and procedures, including the possibility of requiring proof of Berkeley residency for all BUSD students entering at 6th and 9th grades.
Upcoming Meetings     
BSEP Planning & Oversight  (P&O) Committee:
Tues., Nov. 18, 7:15pm at 2020 Bonar St., Room 126 (New P&O member orientation begins at 6:30.)

School Board:
Wed., Nov. 19 - 7:30pm
Wed., Dec. 10 - 7:30pm
The meeting is held at the West Campus Board Room (Entrance on Addison between Bonar and Browning Streets, with free parking in the public lot on Browning.) Board agendas are posted here 72 hours before the meeting.