In November, BUSD celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Heritage Month to commemorate the histories, traditions, and important contributions of the many diverse Indigenous cultures to our nation.
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Halloween and Día de los Muertos Fun
at BUSD Schools
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Longfellow Middle School staff greeted students in their
Halloween costumes on October 28.
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Costumed Oxford students enjoyed an all-school Halloween parade on October 28. |
Students work together to complete a Día de los Muertos mural at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School. |
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Oxford Principal Beth Rhine brought her best Cruella de Vil to school on October 28 as she led costumed students in a Halloween parade. |
The finished mural made a beautiful and colorful contribution to the school. |
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Great Shakeout Earthquake Drills |
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Students in Ms. Richerson's 1st grade class practice ducking and covering their heads as part of Malcolm X Elementary School's Great Shakeout drill on October 21. |
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BUSD Schools Take Part in the Great Shakeout Earthquake Drill |
On October 21 at 10:21 am, BUSD students and staff ducked and covered as the district participated in the annual Great Shakeout earthquake drill. Earthquake drills are an opportunity for BUSD students and staff to practice procedures that will help them to be safer during an earthquake.
DROP: Students drop where they are, onto their hands and knees. This position protects them from being knocked down and also allows them to stay low and crawl to shelter.
COVER: Students cover their head and neck with one arm and hand. If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, they crawl underneath it for shelter. Students bend over to protect vital organs.
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Students at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School took cover under a table during the school's Great Shakeout earthquake drill on October 21. |
HOLD ON: Some can hold on to their desks until shaking stops. Those who are not under shelters hold on to their head and neck with both arms and hands. |
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COVID-19 Vaccination Updates |
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COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics for Students Ages 5-7 Set to Open |
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BUSD expects to offer three COVID-19 vaccination clinics for our younger students in partnership with Carbon Health and the City of Berkeley. Assuring that all eligible students are fully vaccinated helps to keep our school community safe and our schools open.
The clinics, held at Malcom X Elementary School on November 6, Rosa Parks Elementary School on November 13, and Sylvia Mendez Elementary School on November 20, run from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm on Saturdays.
Parents/guardians of BUSD students ages 5-11 can expect to receive registration links to the first vaccination clinic this week. Thanks to the Berkeley Public Schools Fund for supplying volunteers and working to make these clinics inviting for our youngest students.
School clinics have limited capacity and are just one way children ages 5-11 can receive the vaccine. Vaccines will also be avaialbe through health care providers, at local pharmacies, and through MyTurn. The City of Berkeley will also be offering vaccines for children ages 5-11 every Tuesday during the month of November at a clinic located at 3282 Adeline St. from 11:30am to 6:30pm. Please visit the City of Berkeley Vaccine Information Page for more details.
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Leadership students at Berkeley High School recorded Vax Up Jackets!, a Public Service Announcement encouraging the school's staff and students to take advantage of free vaccine opportunities in Berkeley, including clinics at the high school. Click on this link to see the video.
The next clinic will be held across from Berkeley High School on Wednesday, November 10, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
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International Walk and Roll to School Day at BUSD |
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On Wednesday, October 6, BUSD students walked, biked, and rolled to school to celebrate International Walk and Roll to School Day. Berkeley Unified students joined over 120 schools in Alameda County participating in the annual event. International Walk and Roll to School Day is designed to encourage students, families, and the school community to walk, bicycle, take transit, or use active and shared transportation to get to school.
Students had a great time celebrating the various ways they got to school. At Martin Luther King Junior Middle School, 65% of students that signed up used active and shared modes of transit to get to school on October 6, including 125 walkers!
Why is it important to walk and roll to school?
- It is an easy way for children to get the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity.
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Transportation is responsible for nearly 40% of the Bay Area’s harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
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Students and staff at Sylvia Mendez charted how they got to school on October 6. |
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At Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, a parent counted 74 bicycles! |
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The Sylvia Mendez "Bike Train." |
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November 1-5 is Zero Waste Week at BUSD, a time when students can focus on reducing waste at school. Zero Waste Week is also an opportunity to raise awareness of how single-use plastic and other types of litter affect the health of local watersheds, marine life, the ocean, and human health. Working together, we can reduce waste and be better stewards of the environment.
Here are some simple ways students can help make a difference:
- Bring a reusable water bottle to school.
- Don’t purchase plastic.
- Eat a plant-based meal.
- Compost a Halloween pumpkin.
- Use a cloth napkin instead of paper.
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Students at Berkeley High School are invited to play Zero Waste Week Bingo this week and win prizes for completing a row of five across. |
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BUSD Educator Awarded Leaders in Sustainability Fellowship |
We are excited to announce that Sofia Peltz, BUSD Sustainability Program Coordinator, has been awarded a spot in the Leaders in Sustainability Fellowship with the Center for Green Schools at USGBC. This unique fellowship supports K–12 district-level staff from around the U.S. who are committed to greening their school system at all levels, including the buildings, operations, and curriculum.
Fellows will work closely with the Center for Green Schools and its partner organizations to advance knowledge, share resources, and build leadership capacity in their school systems, communities, and beyond.
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BUSD's Sofia Peltz is one of five educators across the country to be awarded a Leaders in Sustainability Fellowship with the Center for Green Schools. |
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Celebrating Latinx Heritage |
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In celebration of Latinx Heritage Month, BUSD and Latinos Unidos presented a panel discussion and Q&A on Thursday, October 28. A diverse and distinguished panel of speakers explored the meaning of Latinidad in our classrooms and considered how to teach with Latinx student success at the forefront. Enhancing the climate and culture in our schools not only benefits Latinx students, but all students. Berkeley High School Senior, Matthew Zevallos, read his poem My People are Mountains, at the event.
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My People are Mountains
by Matthew Zevallos
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My people are Peruanos
Furiously funny, lion-hearted lovers, and ceaseless caretakers
Always racing to doctor appointments but missing the finish line every time while the clock ticks away unbothered
But my Dad is the winner, content with his homemade decaf coffee-
the sweet smell of hazelnut a sign of victory
My people make colorful cuisines
Rainbow potatoes and el Aji Amarillo
Mi abuelo Máximo and tio Gilmer, Alex, Arnold, and Fredy get to work
Heavy rocks are gathered, wood pieces are collected, the fire begins
It's my abuelita Patricia’s birthday; she is the guardian of the pachamanca
Inside, my mothers hands dance with spices over the stove
Lomo saltado and ceviche fill our plates
My people are story-tellers
I hear my tios and tias outside in the backyard-
A battlefield where the weapon of choice is Inca Kola, the golden drink
Stories of machinery in Peru versus old stories of my tios fighting over a bet
Laughter and music blanket the scene
Huaynos y cumbias peruanas
I hear my tio Johnny call me “pachuco” out loud
My people are sacred
It was my first time on a plane, my first time flying to Peru
We were carried by the wind and the wind brought me home
Machu Picchu, the sacred mountain
Left me speechless
The ancient city was still breathing
I am my people
A Peruvian-American
Far away from the land my parents call their first home yet
surrounded by the spirit of that home, that mountain
Everyday and always
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Kindergarten students in Bill Briggs's class at Thousand Oaks Elementary School learned about the life and artwork of Frida Kahlo during Latinx Heritage Month and created these fantastic portraits. |
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At Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, art teacher Louise Page and her students created a new exhibition of student artwork honoring Día de los Muertos. Retablos and Nichos, Scenes from Imagination and Everyday Life, are multimedia sculptures inspired by Peruvian Retablos and Mexican Nichos. These pieces are on display in the King Library.
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If you find yourself at Mr. Mopps or Cheeseboard, be on the lookout for the amazing self-portraits also created by these artists! |
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Director of Local Resources and Partnerships |
Kathy Fleming is excited to join the BUSD team to oversee our crucial local funding sources, the BSEP and BERRA special taxes. |
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Kathy Fleming, BUSD's new Director of Local Resources and Partnerships, brings 30 years of experience in public education to her new role at BUSD, serving most recently in SFUSD as the Director of a voter-approved initiative for enrichment, academic, and student support programs.
"I love the diversity and commitment to excellence I see all around me at Berkeley Unified," Ms. Fleming said. "I'm impressed by the amount of teamwork and comradery that goes on every day as staff works together to help all student achieve."
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Thank You for Your Service to BUSD |
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Natasha Beery is retiring from her role as Director of BSEP and Community Relations. |
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After over nine years with BUSD, Natasha Beery is stepping down from her role as Director of BSEP and Community Relations.
Ms. Beery was responsible for overseeing the Berkeley Schools Excellence Program (BSEP), and the Berkeley Educator's Recruitment and Retention Act (BERRA), which together provide over 20% of District funds.
In addition, as Director of Community Relations, she supported a wide range of community initiatives, including acting as public health liaison, facilitating school renaming, serving on the sanctuary task force, and leading the Communications Team for the district, just to name a few of her contributions.
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In Loving Memory
Dr. "Papa" Zakarya Diouf
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BUSD mourns the loss of global music and dance giant, Dr. Zakarya "Papa Zak" Diouf, who passed away on October 9.
Papa Zak was a legendary drummer and drum instructor who worked at Berkeley High School alongside his wife, Mama Naomi Washington. Both retired from Berkeley High School in 2019.
The dynamic duo was recently awarded the prestigious National Endowment for Arts Heritage Fellowship for their world-renowned dance company, Diamano Coura West African Dance Company.
Please visit this link to learn more about Papa Zak's amazing life and talents.
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We were extremely lucky to have had the presence of this very talented individual on our campus, as he made an impact on the Bay Area, the US, and beyond. |
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School board meeting agendas/materials are posted at least 72 hours before meetings. All details for upcoming Board Meetings can be found on our webpage.
Cick Here for contact information and office hours for School Board Directors.
Recent 2021-22 School Board Meetings
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Negotiating the Educational System: Participation in School Meetings
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Please join us for Session #3 of our Family Engagement Series: Negotiating the Educational System: Participation in School Meetings
This presentation will focus on providing information about the typical school meetings that routinely take place in schools and will provide concrete strategies and family-friendly handouts that can provide participants with the information and tools needed to prepare to advocate more effectively for their children in school meetings.
The purpose of this series is to help our school community listen, educate, and advocate on a variety of topics related to the goals of BUSD’S CCEIS Plan that are designed to empower families, in general, and African American/Black families specifically to become more knowledgeable about the educational system and more effective advocates for their children.
Date: Monday, November 8
Time: 6:00 pm
Presenters: Mary Montle Bacon, Ph.D. Educational Consultant, Images of a Culture, BUSD Leaders, and Guest Presenters
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Upcoming Meetings
November 4
School Board Facilities Subcommittee Meeting | 5:00 pm | Details
November 8
Presentation: Negotiating the Educational System | 6:00 pm | Details
November 9
Construction Bond Oversight Subcommittee Meeting | 6:00 pm | Details
November 9
Planning and Oversight Committee Meeting | 6:30 pm | Details
November 29
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The Berkeley Unified School District is committed to providing equal opportunity for all individuals in district programs and activities. Accordingly, BUSD programs and activities shall be free from discrimination, harassment, intimidation and bullying based on actual or perceived ancestry, age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression; nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. The Board shall promote programs which ensure that discriminatory practices are eliminated in all district activities. (Board Policy 0410, Board Policy 1311, Board Policy 4030, Board Policy 5145.3, Board Policy 5145.7)
The Board also prohibits retaliation against any district employee or job applicant who complains, testifies or in any way participates in the district's complaint procedures instituted pursuant to this policy. (Board Policy 4030)
For inquiries or concerns regarding BUSD nondiscrimination policy 5145.3 or the filing of discrimination complaints please contact:
Compliance Officer & Title IX Coordinator Megan Farrell
2020 Bonar Street Room 116, Berkeley, CA 94702
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