In this edition:
- A Look Inside College and Career Awareness Week
- Elementary Science Teachers Recognized
- Black History Oratorical Fest
- Arts on the Run at Berkeley High School
- Rally for Education in Sacramento: April 3
- Berkeley Public Schools Fund Luncheon
- BSEP Planning & Oversight Committee, School Board Meeting, and more!
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Potential Futures on Display During College and Career Awareness Week
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As seen in this quick look video, the week featured panels and presentations from professionals in a broad range of fields. Our youngest students enjoyed visits from Berkeley firefighters, others gathered for library programs that helped students see that they can do anything. Some middle school students were prodded to think about high school course options while touring new hands-on learning spaces and programs at Berkeley High School.
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Digital media interns from the Communication Arts & Sciences (CAS) program at Berkeley High School are helping us take you inside our schools with short videos, like this one! Thank you, BHS seniors Michaela Hinds, Olivia Martinelli, and Aaliyah Ratchford for sharing your skills and creativity with us. More to come!
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Five Elementary Teachers Named Science Super Stars!
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Five BUSD elementary school science teachers were named "Science Super Stars" by Community Resources for Science. Our teachers were chosen for demonstrating how they are bringing meaningful science learning experiences to our students and for taking time to reflect on how their science lessons have impacted their students' learning. This year’s honorees are:
Berkeley Arts Magnet
Malcolm X Elementary
Oxford Elementary
Rosa Parks Elementary
Sylvia Mendez Elementary
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Don't Miss the Black History Oratorical Fest: March 26
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Students from across the district, who have been selected to represent their school, join for an evening of performance, recitation, and spoken word.
Elementary students perform from 5-6:30pm and middle school students will be on stage from 7-8:30pm. This event is sponsored and organized by the BUSD Office of Family Engagement & Equity and BUSD parents.
Come out for this great family event and support our orators!
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Arts on the Run Video Helps Students Make Course Selections
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This time of year our 8th grade and high school students are making class selections for next school year. Through video messaging students have a chance this year to see inside the arts and learn more about all the offerings. As they quickly learn, the arts are alive and well at Berkeley High School!
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Join Berkeley and Other East Bay Educators in Sacramento to Rally for Education: April 3
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East Bay educators, including Alameda County Superintendent of Schools L. Karen Monroe, are urging their colleagues, families, and community members to join
the rally for education in Sacramento
on Wednesday, April 3.
The rally – aimed at boosting state funding for education – will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. on the Capitol Mall.
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Save the Date for the Berkeley Public Schools Fund Luncheon, April 19
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The Schools Fund Spring Luncheon theme is "Pathways to the Future," honoring
Wyn Skeels, BUSD Career Technical Education Program Supervisor
, for his work in developing educational pathways at Berkeley High for careers connected to Bay Area industries and trades; and
Michael McLaughlin, BUSD preschool teacher,
for his work in helping set a solid foundation for our youngest students.
UC Chancellor Carol Christ, Keynote Speaker
Friday, April 19, 11:00 am - 1:30 pm
Pauley Ballroom, UC Berkeley
Come out to the UC Berkeley campus, hear Chancellor Christ speak, and let's recognize these great educators and support our public schools!
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Upcoming Events & Meetings
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Berkeley Schools Excellence Program (BSEP) Planning & Oversight Committee
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March 26, 2019 at 7:00pm
2020 Bonar Street, Room 126
The P&O Committee, mandated by the BSEP Measure and comprised of representatives from
every school, meets regularly to:
- Review the implementation of the many aspects of the BSEP Measure, ranging from Class Size Reduction to Music & the Arts, from Technology to Professional Development for Teachers, and much more;
- Ensure that BSEP funds are spent in compliance with the Measure;
- Make annual recommendations to the School Board for the use of BSEP dollars.
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The BSEP P&O meetings are open to the public and include an opportunity for public comment. More information is available on the
BSEP webpage
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March 27 & April 10, 7:30pm
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Berkeley School Board Calls for Increased State Funding for Education
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The school board released a letter March 11 to the community calling on increased state funding for public education. The letter is posted on the
district website
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Noting that state funding for public education places California among the least funded states in our country, the BUSD Board has been advocating with state legislators for increased funding and also recently passed a School Board
resolution
, with an urgent call to fully fund publlc education, and to “support wages that address California’s high cost of living for all workers serving California students.”
While Berkeley is fortunate to have local support through BSEP, which provides lower class sizes and pays for one third of classroom teachers (as well as libraries and many other essentials), these funds are not sufficient to avoid painful budget cuts over the past two years. The Board noted that the essential funding issues cannot be solved by each district at a local level, and urged staff and community members to contact their local representatives, the Governor, and the State Superintendent of education. The Board letter shared links to a website with resources for understanding the funding crisis facing our California public schools:
http://www.fullandfairfunding.org/
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Spring Break: April 1-5, 2019
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Have a safe and restful spring break!
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2019-20 School Year Calendar Released
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The first day of school for the 2019-20 school year in the Berkeley Unified School District will be
Monday, August 26, 2019.
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