[BHS Etree] ADMIN: BHS Re-Design Update; Family Workshops in May

Wed Apr 20 14:02:42 PDT 2016

PLEASE do not reply to this email, contact Principal Sam Pasarow,
sampasarow at berkeley.net

April 20, 2016

Dear Berkeley High School Community,

Over the course of this school year, my leadership team and I have been
working with a group known as the “Design Team,” a representative group of
teachers, staff, administrators, parents, and students committed to an
inclusive process of learning, research, and design for school change at
Berkeley High. I am writing with an update on the efforts to bring
structural change to Berkeley High School, and to invite you to participate
in the discussion.

I first informed you about our re-design process in a community-wide email
<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zhti5O90CatLHuC8JDGFCnsrHvKZeWyfdbd4_tFZz5I/edit>
last October, noting that any structural change being implemented would not
go into effect until the 2017-2018 school year for entering 9th graders.
While none of the proposed changes will impact current students or next
year’s incoming 9th graders, we want you to be informed about our efforts
and to have opportunities to give input.

*Work of the Design Team*

Earlier this year, the Design Team worked to develop a shared understanding
of what the research says about effective high school design, and then to
identify the problems we are trying to solve with the re-design.

We recognize that Berkeley High School’s current structure does not align
with research on effective high schools, and we have been unable to
interrupt predictable and inequitable outcomes for students based on race,
ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Berkeley High School must do a better
job of preparing all students to graduate career and college ready.

To further guide the change process, the Design Team developed a
description of what we want for all BHS graduates and used the research
about effective high schools to design proposals for school-wide change.
The Design Team has presented several possible models to staff, student,
and parent groups, and is using community feedback to craft a final
recommendation. We are committed to making changes that will provide:

•           support for incoming students with the middle to high school
transition

•           opportunities for students to develop relationships with their
teachers and peers

•           access to academic rigor for all students.

Some specific elements of the proposals we are considering include:

•           A regular advisory period for students

•           Structures that facilitate stronger relationships between
teachers and students

•           A possible heterogeneous universal 9th grade with houses
(smaller communities of students grouped together with teachers in common)

•           9-12th grade houses for all students

•           Several proposals maintain the current small schools (CAS, AHA,
and AMPS) as well as AP and IB classes while many offer a hybrid of the
existing models

•           All proposals focus on improving instruction in the classroom
through culturally responsive teaching, performance based assessments,
access to academic rigor, and college/career readiness

•           The proposals also include collaboration time for teachers to
work toward building rigorous content and curriculum for all students

*Get Involved!*

We would like to share some of what we have learned so far in the re-design
process, some progress we have already made in strengthening our services
and supports for students, and to ask for your input, ideas, and feedback
as we come together to consider proposals for positive change that will
benefit future Berkeley High School students. Please join us at one of
these upcoming workshops:

BHS Re-Design Family Workshop: May 4, 7:00 - 9:00 pm in the BHS Library

Chicano/Latino Bilingual Family Workshop: May 5, 7:00 - 9:00 pm in BHS
College and Career Center

Chicano/Latino Spanish Only Family Workshop: May 22, 9:00 - 10:30 am in BHS
College and Career Center

African American Family Workshop: Date and Time To Be Determined

Middle School Family Workshops: *the proposed re-design efforts will impact
BUSD's current 7th grade students if they are implemented in 2017-2018.*

Longfellow Middle School: Wednesday, May 11, 2016, 6:00 - 7:30

Willard Middle School: Wednesday, May 18, 2016 7:00 - 8:30

King Middle School: Wednesday, May 25, 2016 7:00 - 8:30

In addition to a series of family workshops, Design Team student members
will be organizing opportunities for current BHS students to give input and
feedback. We will continue to create more opportunities for student, parent
and community groups to participate as we move forward.

*Next Steps*

The Design Team will use feedback and input from these workshops and
meetings with staff, parent, and student groups to inform and strengthen
the design of the final proposal that will be presented to staff for
consideration. My hope is that ultimately our re-design proposal(s) will
garner widespread support from BHS faculty and staff, and include robust
engagement with the community before I make a final recommendation to the
Superintendent and School Board.

We are already making important headway on unifying Berkeley High School
within our current school structure. Examples include a new schoolwide math
course sequence, our 9th grade Ethnic Studies / Social Living course and
curriculum and important first steps in implementing Restorative Justice at
BHS. In response to a racist threat left on a library computer, we “Took
Back the Day” on December 9th and embraced anti-racism teaching across our
campus. Another positive indicator is a 50+% decrease in suspensions from
last school year. Whether or not we redesign Berkeley High for 2017-2018,
there are initiatives under way that will continue to unify BHS and create
a positive and inclusive school culture.

I have been truly inspired by the students, teachers, staff, parents, and
community groups who have been willing to take up the work of making BHS
better for all kids. While making large scale changes to our high school is
a complicated and challenging process, I am hopeful that this school
community will come together to make changes that will significantly
improve the educational experience of every student at Berkeley High
School. Please feel free to reach out to the Design Team by email:
designteam at berkeley.net with any questions or thoughts. We value your input
and participation in this process and look forward to the upcoming
community workshops.

Sincerely,

Sam Pasarow

Principal, Berkeley High School

*Design Team Members 2016-2017*

Amanda Green- Teacher, Academic Choice

Amber Lee- Student, AHA

Amy Crawford-Teacher, CAS

Ardarius McDonald-Dean of Students

Christine Staples- Parent, Academic Choice

Claudia Gonzalez-Teacher, AMPS

Citlalli Garcia-Student, Special Education

Dagny Dingman-Teacher, Academic Choice

Daniella Maaze Merschdorf - Teacher, World Language

David Luu- Intervention Coordinator, OCI

Dave Stevens- Research and Data for BUSD

Erin Schweng- Vice-Principal

Glenn Wolkenfeld-PD Coordinator and Teacher, Academic Choice

Hasmig Minassian-Design Team Co-Coordinator and teacher in CAS

Heidi Ramirez-Weber- Vice Principal

Janelle Bugarini- Vice Principal

Jannya Solwazi- Student, AMPS

Jessica Lopez- Attendance Office

John Becker- Berkeley Federation of Teachers and teacher in AHA

John Fike- Parent, CAS

Kate Garfinkel- Teacher, Math 9 coordinator

Kolondra Harvey-Parent, AMPS

Laura Marlin- Parent, AHA

Leib Sutcher- Volunteer Alumni Consultant, Research Assistant Learning
Policy Institute

Matt Meyer- Teacher, BIHS

Maya Otey- Student, Academic Choice

Naomi Washington Diouf- Teacher African-American Studies Department

Neelam Khan- Student, Newcomers

Nehar Ali-Student, Newcomers

Nya Sandeford- Student, BIHS

Peter Ross-Volunteer BUSD Parent consultant, Chief of Staff at Learning
Policy Institute

Robin Claire Barnes- Parent, BIHS

Ruby Spies-Student, CAS

Sam Pasarow-Principal, Berkeley High

Steven Saunders- Safety Officer

Susannah Bell- Teacher, Special Education

Susi Lopez- Teacher World Languages

Tamara Friedman-Design Team Co-Coordinator and PD Coordinator

Teri Goodman-Counselor

_____________________________

Marguerite Fa-Kaji, Catherine Ference and Dylan Kaufman are the
parent-volunteer facilitators of the Etree; please direct any questions
about the Etree to them at bhs-owner at lmi.net.

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