Highlights and Happenings from Around BUSD |
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Arab American and SWANA Heritage Month |
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National Arab American Heritage Month was recognized in April 2021 by President Biden and was launched as an initiative by the Arab American Foundation in 2017. Our district joins the country in recognizing, affirming, and celebrating the many historical and ongoing contributions of the Arab American and SWANA communities both here in Berkeley and beyond.
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Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School students celebrated Arab American and SWANA Heritage Month with an assembly on April 13. Members of the Arab American and SWANA Heritage Club presented to the school on the meanings of “Arab American” and “SWANA” and also shared how to say a greeting in Arabic. Students and staff enjoyed a performance of two dabke pieces from a local Palestinian dance group, Al Juthoor, and learned about rhythms in Arabic music. |
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BUSD staff participated in Arab American and SWANA Heritage Month celebrations by creating posters that were displayed at every school to share their unique and affirming stories. See all the staff posters here.
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Community Theater Grand Opening |
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Superintendent Enikia Ford Morthel, Board President Laura Babitt, former Board member Julie Sinai, Board Director Jennifer Shanoski, and Facilities Planning Analyst Chanita Stevenson cut the ribbon to the beautiful new facility.
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Saturday, April 22 marked the grand opening of the modernized Berkeley Community Theater stage area and classrooms, celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony, a live performance by the Berkeley High School (BHS) Jazz band, and a tour of the new classrooms. |
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Students are now engaging in a variety of classes in the beautifully renovated classrooms, including Hip Hop Studies, Digital Sound Engineering, Guitar, Film, Drama Arts & Acting Workshop, Concert Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Lab, Chamber Orchestra, Concert Band, AP Music Theory, Stagecraft, and more.
While the classroom wing and the stage area of the Community Theater have been modernized, there is more to look forward to. The district is currently in design to modernize both the Little Theater and the house section (seating, gallery, and Hall of Fame) of the Community Theater, estimated to begin in 2025 or 2026.
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A Berkeley High School Jazz Band drummer expressed gratitude for the newly renovated classrooms that have increased the availability of practices spaces for BHS musicians. |
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BSEP Renewal Measure
Community Conversation May 8
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The Berkeley Unified School District announced its intention to place the Berkeley Schools Excellence Program (BSEP) local special tax measure renewal on the ballot in March 2024. Funding from this measure provides many essentials for excellence in our schools, including small class sizes and support for teaching, school libraries, student support, music, visual and performing arts, and school site-based programs. Learn more about how BUSD students benefit from BSEP at this link.
The District will hold community engagement events during the development of this measure. The next event will be on Monday, May 8, from 5:30 - 7:00 pm in the District Boardroom, at 1231 Addison St. RSVP to the May 8 Community Conversation here.
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Berkeley High School Robotics Team Places 7th in World Championship |
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Click to watch Berkeley High School's Robotics Team competing (in blue) with their alliance. |
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Out of 77 high school robotics teams competing at the 2023 FIRST World Robotics Championship in Houston from April 19-22, Berkeley High School's For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics Team Alliance took 1st Place on the Milstein field in a semi-final competition and then went on to take 7th place in the overall World Championship competition with their alliance of four teams. At robotics competitions, teams advance through creating alliances that leverage strengths and mitigate challenges.
When BUSD students were called into the Finals tiebreaker on Milstein against Alliance 1, the robot was charged, and the students' nerves were steely. They pulled out a 198-168 victory sending the alliance to the "EINSTEIN FIELD" where the winning alliances of the 8 world championship divisions battled it out for the world title. Berkelium's robot playing again on the Einstein field was an accomplishment in its own right at an event where 620 robotics teams from around the world competed and just 32 advanced. Congratulations to the team!
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Week of the Young Child Art Show at Franklin Preschool |
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From April 10-14, Franklin Preschool celebrated the Week of the Young Child, an annual celebration of early learning, young children, their teachers, and families. As part of this celebration, Franklin classrooms and courtyards were transformed into galleries for an Art Show. |
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Franklin Preschoolers worked very hard to create individual and collaborative artworks for their April 13 show. |
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Celebrating Earth Week 2023 |
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Oxford Elementary students marched past the District Office chanting "There is no planet B." |
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Berkeley Unified students celebrated Earth Week 2023 with several events across the District. Students raised awareness for climate change by marching with handmade signs and chanting around their school communities about the impending threat of climate change. |
On Saturday April 22, students and their families attended the Earth Day Climate Faire at Longfellow Middle School. The event boasted a plant sale, live music, healthy food, and hands on activities that promoted eco-friendly behavior.
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A Cragmont Elementary School student displays a sign that reads "Protect The Earth." |
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Students examine critters found in compost under a microscope at BUSD's Earth Day Climate Faire. |
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Students learn the sustainable skill of mending on a pair of jeans at the Climate Faire. |
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Berkeley Arts Magnet Wins 2023 Platinum Sneaker Award |
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Congratulations to students at Berkeley Arts Magnet (BAM) Elementary School for winning the 2023 Platinum Sneaker Award as part of the Golden Sneaker contest held from February 27th to March 10th. Seventy-four percent of BAM students took active or shared transportation to school during the competition period.
The Golden Sneaker Contest is a popular annual tradition in Alameda County. During the contest, students, classrooms and schools compete to see who can use active and shared transportation the most. Teachers poll their classrooms and tally how many students used active and shared modes during the contest. The classroom at each school with the highest rate of active travel is awarded the Golden Sneaker award. Every year, the school with the highest average classroom participation in all of Alameda County receives the Platinum Sneaker Award.
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Community Block Party this Saturday |
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The Berkeley Public Schools Fund’s Annual Community Block Party is a celebration of our students learning to thrive in school and in life. Civic Center Park (2151 Martin Luther King Jr Way) will be alive with student performances, exhibits and activities— come join the party at Civic Center Park on April 29! RSVP here. The event is Free of cost.
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In-Person School Board Meetings |
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School board meeting agendas are posted at least 72 hours before meetings. The next School Board meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 3. All details for upcoming Board Meetings can be found at this BUSD webpage.
Cick here for contact information for School Board Directors.
Recent 2022-23 School Board Meetings
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School Board Meeting
Personnel Commission Meeting
P&O Finance Subcommittee Meeting
Planning and Oversight Committee Meeting
Board Policy Subcommittee Meeting
P&O Finance Subcommittee Meeting
Longfellow Modernization - Project Information Meeting
BUSD PAC Meeting
BUSD Delac Meeting
Facilities Safety and Maintenance Oversight Committee Meeting
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Washington Modernization - Project Information Meeting
School Board Meeting
Elementary Open House
BAM Modernization - Project Information Meeting
Bay Area AAPI Activism: BUSD Stories!
CAC Meeting
Planning and Oversight Committee Meeting
School Board Meeting
BUSD PAC Meeting
Construction Bond Oversight Committee Meeting
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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:
Jasmina Viteskic, Title IX Coordinator/Compliance Officer
2020 Bonar Street Room 116, Berkeley, CA 94702
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