Berkeley Public Education Foundation hands out $192,830 in classroom grants 
The 2012 BPEF Classroom Grants, 285 in all (compared to 243 in 2011) are made to teachers applying either individually or as part of collaborative teams, affecting literally thousands of students. Themes that emerged include technology-with iPads leading the way among some 50 grants for equipment that teachers are testing in classrooms, libraries and special education interventions; the arts-with visiting printmakers, composers, choreographers, musicians and actors among the 70 grants with an arts focus; and field experiences-with trips to cultural institutions like Cal Performances, outdoor programs such as Camp Arroyo, science workshops at Lawrence Hall of Science, and historical sites including Angel Island being among 45 field trip awards. The single largest grant of $6,580 was for transportation to send every 5th grader to a hands-on science workshop at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. At the annual grant award's reception December 7th, teachers receiving grants were excited and appreciative of the foundation's generosity, while others commented on the amazing teachers they heard talking about their grants. There is still time to give to BPEF this holiday season. |
New School Board Convenes Closing out 12 years as an
 | | Retiring Board President Selawsky |
elected member of the Berkeley School Board, retiring Board President John Selawsky thanked the community for their support and encouraged the new Board to build a team that will continue to improve outcomes for all students. The newly convened School Board consists of five elected directors and a student director elected by the BHS student body: President Leah Wilson, Vice President Josh Daniels, Directors Leyva-Cutler, Karen Hemphill, Judy Appel, and Student Director Juliette Mueller.  | | Director Leyva-Cutler |
Director Leyva-Cutler was re-elected to a second term in November and is joined by newly elected Director Judy Appel. Appel came into the District as an Oxford parent, where she served as PTA President and later as School Governance Council (SGC) Chair. On a
 | | Director Appel |
district-wide level she has been instrumental in helping develop an anti-bullying policy and in our becoming the first district to adopt the Welcoming Schools curriculum. Her children currently attend Longfellow Middle School and Berkeley High.
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BHS Holiday Meal for the Homeless - This Saturday 
Berkeley High Student Leadership is finalizing all the details for the expected 300+ guests to BHS' Annual Holiday Meal for the Homeless this Saturday (Dec. 15). Fresh food donations can be delivered between 4:30-7pm on Friday, December 14 or 8am-12pm of Saturday, December 15 to the main doors of the school at Milvia and Allston.
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KPIX's Students Rising Above Chooses BHS student Jeannel Poyaoan
 | | Wendy Tokuda visits Jeannel and friends at BHS |
Students Rising Above (SRA) is a local organization of scholarship and mentoring that grew out of Wendy Tokuda's KPIX CBS5 series Students Rising Above. Like students who have come before her, Jeannel Poyaoan can look forward to the financial and mentoring support to follow her dreams. You can hear her story on KPIX this Friday 12/14 on the 6pm newscast, Saturday 12/15 on the weekend morning news, or Monday 12/17 on the noon news. |
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Superintendent's Budget Advisory Meets: Dec. 18th, 6pm
The Superintendent's Budget Advisory Committee is holding the first meeting of this school year on Tuesday, Dec. 18th at 6pm, 1720 Oregon Street. The purpose of the meeting is to review the current year's budget, including the first interim financial report, as well as to look at the impact of Prop. 30's passage on current and future budget projections.
Meetings are open to the public and include set time for public comment.
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