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December 16, 2019
In This Issue
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4 Questions for Romeo Fernandez
We visited Romeo Fernandez, the lead custodian at Earhart Elementary School, to ask him about his daily work, what he likes about his school site, and the one special thing he does every day for students.
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Classroom Peek: Art and Science at Bay Farm School
Bay Farm School 2nd grade teacher
Michele Kuttner recently combined art and science when she had her students work on a project
inspired by artist Raku Inoue, who creates elaborate insects out of flowers, leaves, twigs, and other natural materials.
"First we learned about this artist, then spent lots of time outdoors collecting materials," Kuttner says. "Next came a blissfully zen session creating our bugs and insects. The students were so excited for me to photograph their work! The insects aren't glued together, so at the end of the project all the materials went back to where they came from - full circle, no waste. Art and Science unite!"
After posting photos of the work on Instagram, Inoue himself provided clapping emojis in response!
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Encinal Construction On Track
Our modernization of Encinal Jr. & Sr. High School remains on schedule. The existing 200 building (that's the big blue two-story building at the front of the campus) has been framed out, conduits have been installed for state-of-the-art educational technology, and workers have installed interior and exterior drywall, as well as the insulation, plumbing and mechanical infrastructure. The renovation of that building is scheduled to be completed this summer, and we expect classrooms will be ready for teachers and students at the beginning of the 2020-21 school year.
Meanwhile, construction on the new 900 wing (at the back of the campus) is also progressing well. A "floating slab" foundation built to withstand earthquakes was poured last week. To counter the risk of liquefaction, the slab foundation is anchored to firmer ground with 152 steel pilings that extend 34 feet into the ground. That building is expected to be completed sometime next fall.
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Love Elementary Receives STEAM Grant
Congratulations to Love Elementary School for receiving a $4000 grant from the Wells Fargo and KNBR "Step Up to the Plate for Education" contest! The grant will pay for STEAM kits and supplies for a Makers Space Cart for the school. Principal Tina Lagdamen, two students, and parent Sandy Calloway, who wrote the grant application for the school, received the check at a reception last Thursday at San Francisco's Oracle Park.
The school plans to use the money to buy a variety of technology, engineering, and art kits/sets such as Little Bits, Kinderbots, Cubelets, Snap Circuits, and robotics to be used by students, plus online professional development courses for teachers.
"The STEAM Maker Space will provide our Title I students access to technology and engineering tools to empower them to build, develop, and become critical problem solvers through project-based lessons," Ms. Calloway wrote in the grant application. "Access to the requested STEAM technologies for a Makers Space Cart will help bridge the opportunity gap and give our students the creative confidence to design, code, and engineer solutions to real world challenges needed to succeed in an academic environment and in life."
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P
auline Stahl, who teaches anthropology and physiology at Encinal Jr. and Sr. High School, is AUSD's 2019 Teacher of the Year, as well as an Alameda County Teacher of the Year.
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eminder: Nominate a Teacher for Teacher of the Year!
Do you know a teacher who goes above and beyond in (and out of) the classroom? Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) is now accepting nominations for its Teacher of the Year program.
More details are available in this community bulletin and on the
Employee Recognition page
of the AUSD website. Teachers, staff, families, and students are all welcome to nominate a teacher; the deadline to submit nominations to the nominee's principal is 3 pm on December 17, 2019.
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Emma Hood Pool Update
Throughout the fall, we have been working on short-term repairs to the Emma Hood pool so that it can be used even as plans are being developed for the construction of a new and improved swim center at the same site. The deck has been re-leveled to prevent trip hazards, and the pool has been re-plastered and filled with water. We are expecting a final inspection by the County Health Department shortly. If all goes as planned, the pool will be ready for student use again in early January.
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Upcoming Events
December 17, 2019, 6:30 pm
Paden Elementary School
December 20 and 21
Firefighters' Toy Distribution
Christ Episcopal Church
1700 Santa Clara Avenue
(Details in flyer to right)
December 21 - January 5, 2019
Winter Break
(All schools closed; District Office is open 8 am to 12 pm on December 23, and 8 am to 5 pm on January 2 & 3)
January 15, 6:30 pm
Transitional Kindergarten Information Night
Paden Elementary School
January 16, 6:30 pm
Kindergarten Information Night
(At each elementary school site)
January 22, 6:30 pm
African American Family Town Hall
Ruby Bridges Elementary School
January 23, 6:30 pm
Additional Maya Lin Kindergarten Information Night
Maya Lin School
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Board Briefs
At its December 10 public meeting, the Board of Education approved the First Interim Budget Report; heard a presentation on updating the Facilities Master Plan, and participated in a workshop about the district's graduate profile and strategic plan. The agenda and video is
here.
The next Board meeting will be held on December 17. At that meeting, t
he Board of Education will: review a draft of the graduate profile, as well as AUSD's mission, vision, and values; vote on the charter renewal petitions for Academy of Alameda and ACLC; conduct a self evaluation as a governance team; and then vote on its officer positions. That agenda is here.
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Alameda Unified School District | 510-337-7000 | www.alamedaunified.org
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