Superintendent Enikia Ford Morthel coming directly to you to highlight some January BUSD events.

No School for Students:

January 15- Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 29- Staff Professional Development Day

Links

Strategic Plan and LCAP Information Sessions

Disability Awareness and History Month

A young attendee selects a toy at the holiday giveaway (left). Student servers take a plate for an attendee of the Berkeley High School Holiday Meal (right).

December was a month filled with the spirit of giving and celebration around the district, from the return of the Berkeley High School (BHS) Holiday Meal, a toy giveaway led by BUSD's Office of Family Engagement and Equity (OFEE) in collaboration with City Center Church and supported by Berkeley Public Schools Fund volunteers, and celebrations and performances in our schools.

The Berkeley High School Jazz Band, shown performing at Oxford Elementary School, spent December entertaining students across BUSD elementary schools.

Young Gifted and Black students performed at the UMOJA Kwanza event at Longfellow Middle School.

BUSD's UMOJA program, which positions Black/African American history and shared experiences as a central cornerstone for classroom learning, hosted their 5th annual Kwanza celebration at Longfellow Middle School, a beautiful evening of fellowship and community that included dinner, speakers, and student performances.

Wellness Center Grand Opening

Student leaders were recognized for their contribution to the Wellness Center's opening at the December 2 event.

Saturday, December 2 marked the grand opening of the highly anticipated BHS Wellness Center. The center, developed in response to the aspiration of centralizing several individual student resources for student wellness into one accessible hub with robust staff support, has been in development since as early as 2021.

The celebration included student and guest speakers, a Wellness Resource Fair with tabling from student clubs and community partners, and tours of the new Wellness Center facility. In the center, students can utilize resources for their mental health, such as taking a 5-15 minute break away from the bustling halls of BHS, recharging in the ways they find most restful, or connecting with a Wellness Center staff member or peer supporter who are available to make students seeking help feel seen, heard, and informed.

BHS Vice Principal of School Climate and Student Wellness Doreen Bracamontes spearheaded the opening of the center, with much support from BUSD students, staff, and community partners.

The Wellness Center includes calming nooks and collaborative spaces for students to step away and center themselves, or find support from staff and peers.

The large mural is several panels wide and will be installed in the center this January.

The Wellness Center was intentionally crafted with and for students. The BHS Mural Club collaborated with Wellness Center staff to create a mural to be installed in the center. Club members spent many hours sketching and painting the mural, which came about after collaboratively brainstorming on what wellness meant to them. The mural, painted in a palette of calming colors that mirror the center, includes imagery such as healthy foods, mindfulness practices, nature, music, and social connection.

Berkeley Public Schools Fund Grantee Showcase

2022-23 Grantees, BTA Counselor Sandra Maldonado and BHS Counselor Jasdeep Malhi, spokes at the Grantee Showcase. (Photo: Berkeley Public Schools Fund.)

Thank you to the Berkeley Public Schools Fund for their continued support of our schools. At their December 15 Grantee Showcase, BUSD staff shared the impacts of their projects that were created to combat equity gaps in the classroom, made possible by grants from the Schools Fund. View the closing remarks of BHS Counselor Jasdeep Malhi at the Grantee Showcase here.

Sustainability at BUSD: Take the Transportation Survey

The Sustainability Program is gathering transportation data for the District. If you are a parent or caregiver please fill out this survey about your travel habits. The results will provide us with valuable insight into the transportation needs of BUSD families.

Click here for more information about Strategic Plan and LCAP community engagement events in January.

2024 Black History Month Contest

Students may submit entries to participate in this Black History Month competition across a variety of categories (visual art, oral tradition, music, literature, historical exhibits, or dance). This competition is sponsored by Berkeley Juneteenth Cultural Celebrations, BUSD, the City of Berkeley, and other community partners. Click here to enter.

School Board Meetings

School Board meeting agendas are posted at least 72 hours before meetings.

The next regular School Board meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 10, followed by a meeting on January 24 . All details for upcoming School Board meetings can be found on this BUSD webpage.

Click here for contact information for School Board Directors.

Recent School Board Meetings



December 6, 2023

November 15, 2023

November 1, 2023

View the full BUSD calendar here.

Berkeley Unified School District | 2020 Bonar Street | 510.644. 6150 | www.berkeleyschools.net

Notification of Non-Discrimination Policy

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)

Complaint forms are available at school sites and on the district webpage at www.berkeleyschools.net/complaints.

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

Phone: 510.486.9338  Email: jasminaviteskic@berkeley.net

More information is available at www.berkeleyschools.net/non-discrimination/