[BHS etree] ADMIN: Choices at Berkeley High School Next Year

[bhs at idiom.com]

CHOICES AT BERKELEY HIGH SCHOOL NEXT YEAR

This month (March 2005), students begin registering for the classes they
want to take next year at Berkeley High School.  Those entering 9th and 10th
grade can choose from among six different options: four small schools (Arts
& Humanities Academy, Communication Arts and Sciences, Community
Partnerships Academy, and School for Social Justice and Ecology), the
Academic Choice program within the large school, and the large school (no
program). Students indicate their choices in order of preference.  Berkeley
High will enroll students based on the stated preferences and on diversity
requirements (which are based on the student's residence).  For more
information, contact Berkeley High School at 510-644-6140, or visit
www.bhs.berkeley.k12.ca.us.

The six choices are described below:

1.  Arts & Humanities Academy (AHA!) -- a small school

The Arts and Humanities Academy (AHA!) provides an innovative, rigorous
academic curriculum.  Yet, students use the lens of the arts to seek
creative solutions to both academic and artistic challenges.  The curriculum
is designed to inspire greater levels of achievement by linking student
interest and talent in the arts to all aspects of their educational
experience.

At the foundation of AHAs culture is the pursuit of personal growth,
development and excellence as student, as an artist, as an individual, and
as a member of a community.  We approach learning and growing as a
collective within an environment where the arts are the vehicle for creative
and analytical thinking.

In the first two years, students enroll in the AHA Arts Wheel -- wide
variety of visual and performing arts classes.  Included in the Arts Wheel
is a selection of : painting & drawing, ceramics, photography, sculpture,
vocal music and percussion, Afro-Haitian and Modern dance, and theater.
Freshmen and sophomores take all AHA! classes together, including English,
Social Studies, Advanced Biology, and Visual & Performing Arts; each class
is half freshmen and half sophomores.

As juniors and seniors, students pursue an artistic specialization and an
internship in the community related to their interests.  Throughout the four
years of study, History, English and Arts classes are taught in
interdisciplinary project based units of study.  Students choose from the
wide variety of Language, Math and Science courses available in the large
school to meet college preparatory graduation requirements and the
challenges for future life success.

For more information, you can contact the AHA! lead teachers: Linda Carr,
mailto:lcarr at berkeley.k12.ca.us, 644-6052 (phone); and Miriam Stahl,
mailto:mstahl at berkeley.k12.ca.us, 644-8003 (phone).

2.  Communication Arts and Sciences (CAS) -- a small school

CAS is the first of the small schools at Berkeley High. We work to bring to
students academic success, a social consciousness, and confidence in their
own personal capacities. CAS emphasizes media literacy and communication
skills in a context of social justice.  This innovative program helps
students to:
- Incorporate real-world experiences into their education
- Plan for both college and life
- Make Berkeley High smaller, more personal
- Create community among classmates and with teachers
- Explore issues of social justice, social change, and social
responsibility.

Students in CAS have the opportunity to: develop strong academic skills; go
to museums; see plays; produce videos; design magazines; write journals;
work in TV and radio stations; participate in debates; go on overnight
retreats; get support from after school learning center; participate in
international exchange; think critically; have their opinions heard; know
their diverse classmates; participate in video festivals; curate film shows;
and learn to DJ.

CAS is forging the way to make the high school more interesting, engaging,
and successful for all students.  We are excited to be part of this process.

What makes CAS unique:
- CAS prepares all its students for college.
- The group stays together.
- Teachers team teach.
- Science and math are experiential.
- Each year offers a CAS media class.
- The senior year includes an internship.

Students take most of their classes within the CAS (this allows
collaboration of teachers, integrated curriculum, student support, and field
trips).  Some passports can be worked out for particular needs.  Freshman
and sophomores are mostly in CAS.  For seniors, three or four of the six
classes are within CAS.

For more information about CAS, visit http://cas.bhs.berkeleypta.org. You
can also contact CAS counselor Stephen Chang,
mailto:schang at berkeley.k12.ca.us, 644-4578 (phone); and CAS teacher director
Rick Ayers, mailto:rayers at berkeley.k12.ca.us, 644-4586 (phone).

3.  Community Partnerships Academy (CP Academy) -- a small school

Community Partnerships Academy (CP Academy) is a small, personalized school
within Berkeley High focused on building, learning from and serving
community.  Through rigorous content and skill development, students are
encouraged to develop their strengths, discover their hidden talents and
explore their career goals.

All core academic requirements for college can be met through the CP Academy
four-year curriculum.  In addition, electives are available in the large
school and college courses are available for transfer to the UC/CSU system.

Information technology skills are integrated into all four years and the
Academy's many community partners open opportunities for students in the
areas of law, government, health, and education.  Service learning and
internship experiences allow students to explore, gain skills, and set
career goals.  Through promoting a sense of empowerment and future vision in
our students, they are able to take leadership roles and become agents of
change in the community.

Parents/guardians are an integral part of CP Academy including in the
decision-making structure.  As members of our community we ask that you
participate fully to create a learning environment that supports success for
all students.

CP Academy is committed to creating a school community in which all students
are welcome, every student counts and every student achieves.  We invite you
to make CP Academy your high school choice at Berkeley High.

For more information about Community Partnerships Academy, you can contact
teacher leaders: Annie Johnston, mailto:anniej at igc.org , 612-0404 (phone);
and Flora Russ, mailto:fruss at telis.org, 849-2176 (phone).

4.  School for Social Justice and Ecology (SSJE) -- a small school

SSJE seeks to help students grapple with the challenging social and
ecological problems facing the world today.  As humans living on the planet,
we each have the responsibility to support the creation of healthy societies
and ecosystems.  This endeavor provides countless opportunities for deep,
engaging and meaningful educational experiences via:
- Interdisciplinary, project-based, hands-on learning
- Coursework connected to current issues of social justice & ecology
- Equity awareness & action, in our school community, and in the world

SSJE will:
- Prepare all students for college via 4 years of science, math, English &
social studies.
- Take students outside the classroom into the world for applied,
experiential learning.
- Offer comprehensive student support via: personalized learning plans,
staying with the same teacher-advisor for all 4 years, learning for mastery
instead of failure (opportunities to revise work until it meets standards),
focus on critical thinking, tutoring by peers and others, and support for
all students toward high achievement.
- Involve the whole family via: regular communications, family involvement
in every aspect of school, regular open meetings.

SSJE builds supportive relationships among students, teachers, and family
members through integrated core curriculum, blocked scheduling, and
consistent student advisories.  Experiential learning opportunities within
the school and internships in the community abound.

SSJE students will graduate: prepared for college (UC requirements, exit
exam, SATs, planning); with a strong foundation in math, science and
humanities; as capable and critical thinkers; as people who love learning;
with a mastery of essential literacy skills; with technological literacy;
and with higher order thinking and analysis skills from a math curriculum
designed to address the achievement gap.

For more information, call SSJE at 644-6325, ext. 25.  You can also contact
the SSJE lead teachers: Joel Hildebrandt, mailto:senorjoel at comcast.net; and
Deborah Godner, mailto:kungfumama93 at yahoo.com.

5.  Academic Choice (AC) -- a program within the large school

Academic Choice is a program within the large school at Berkeley High,
dedicated to serving students who want to challenge themselves academically.
It offers both a rigorous college preparatory curriculum and a community of
academically motivated students working with teachers, parents, and peers to
realize their full intellectual and creative potential.

Academic Choice (AC) students take their English and History classes with
other AC students.  All other classes -- math, science, foreign language,
and arts electives -- are selected from the full range of courses offered in
the large school.  AC students start taking science in 9th grade.  They are
encouraged but not required to take Advanced Placement (college level)
courses in 11th and 12th grades.  Academic Choice credit is given for AP
English and History classes and classes taken within the African American
Studies department.  Students who graduate from the program after completing
all subject requirements for admission to the University of California and
submitting their senior seminar research project will be recognized by
Berkeley High with the Academic Choice Certificate of Completion.

There are no prerequisites for enrolling in Academic Choice.  Because the
curriculum is rigorous, it is expected that many AC students will need extra
help at times.  The program is committed to ensuring that all students
receive the support they need.  Students have access to the Academic
Pathways Project (AP Project), a program that offers support and tutoring to
Berkeley High students.  The AP Project's main goal is to help low-income
and underrepresented students be academically successful at Berkeley High
and be prepared to succeed in college.

For more information about Academic Choice, visit www.bhsacademicchoice.com.
You can also contact: AC lead teacher Matt Carton,
mailto:mcarton at berkeley.k12.ca.us, 644-6899 (phone).

6.  Berkeley High Comprehensive -- the large school, not within a program or
small school

The large school at Berkeley High offers a wide range of introductory,
regular, honors, Advanced Placement (college level), and specialized and
elective courses.  Students in the large school, not enrolled in Academic
Choice or in one of the small schools, have maximum choice and flexibility
in planning their course of study and taking classes with many different
students in the school.  They also have access to the full range of support
programs at the school, such as the Academic Pathways Project (described
above).
______________________________
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