The 2019 graduation of BUSD high school seniors on June 15 was a double celebration – of the students’ achievement and of the successful relocation of the graduation ceremony from its prior home at the UC Berkeley Greek Theatre to Haas Pavilion on the Cal campus. The smooth transition was all the more remarkable since […]
Berkeley High Bridge Students Celebrate Graduation and College Plans Ahead
There were many reasons for the group of twenty-nine Berkeley High seniors to gather and celebrate with family, friends, teachers, and mentors in the school library on May 29th. Back in 2015, these students became members of the sixth cohort of the BHS Bridge program determined to successfully transition to high school, carrying with them […]
Award-winning Poet and Novelist Elizabeth Acevedo Makes Berkeley School Visits
Poet and novelist Elizabeth Acevedo drew richly on her experience growing up as the Afro-Latina child of Dominican immigrants in New York City when she performed and spoke about her work to an enthralled audience of more than 1000 Berkeley High students, including the entire 9th grade, on May 14 in the Community Theater. Acevedo […]
Willard Students Win 1st Place in Alameda County for Video Against Flavored Tobacco Products
Congratulations to the eight peer-educator students from Willard Middle School whose anti-nicotine video won first place in a countywide contest hosted by the Alameda County Office of Education. The contest called for PSAs (public service announcements) on the theme “Under the Wrapper – Ban the Sale of Flavored Tobacco Products!” You can view the students’ […]
Starring Roles for Little Trees at Berkeley Schools
An eager gaggle of kindergarteners and first graders seemed stumped. They were gathered outside at Washington Elementary School when asked if they could identify a sapling waiting patiently in a gray bucket a few feet away. Guesses came tentatively: “Palm?” “Bamboo?” “Bay Laurel?” So BUSD lead grounds gardener Genaro Macchiavello offered a clue, “It has […]
Black History Oratorical Fest 2019: Jewel in Our School District
It was no surprise that BUSD’s second annual Black History Oratorical Fest on March 26 won warm and enthusiastic audience applause as well as heartfelt praise and appreciation at the next day’s School Board meeting. The performances by elementary and secondary students in the Longfellow auditorium – many featuring original compositions – were powerful expressions […]
New BHS Mechatronics Engineering Lab Classroom Now Buzzing
This month, Berkeley High students in the Mechatronics Engineering “Electrical Tech” class were able to get plugged into their new lab/classroom housed at the Berkeley Adult School. Now in its pilot year, the class taught by Dirk Wright meets once a week, on Wednesdays from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. It had been meeting in a […]
50th Anniversary of Berkeley’s Pioneering Busing Plan for School Integration
This year marks the anniversary of a landmark achievement for the Berkeley Unified School District and for racial equity in education nationwide. It was 50 years ago, in 1968, that Berkeley made headlines for its pioneering busing plan to fully integrate the city’s public schools. Though the achievement may seem emblematic of Berkeley’s progressive leadership, […]
Physical Education Teachers Focus on Fitness, Fun and Inclusion
Physical education doesn’t look much like it did when most parents went to school. Gone are the days of being beaned with a ball in dodgeball and the competitive team sports that often involved students feeling left out. Today, the physical education curriculum in our schools focuses on fitness, fun, and inclusion in ways that […]
Emotion-filled Welcome for Sylvia Mendez at Sylvia Mendez School
There were many smiles and warm hearts among children and adults alike on Friday, Sept. 14, as the newly named Sylvia Mendez Elementary School welcomed its namesake for a day of celebrating her legacy and the school’s new name. “I am so happy!” exclaimed the beaming Ms. Mendez, 82, in an evening program held to […]