<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The Berkeley Public Education Foundation's 2012 Spring Luncheon was a sold out event with over 460 people in attendance, and it looks like it will raise nearly (if not more than--they’re still counting) $180,000 for BPEF's grant & volunteer programs in all the schools.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>This year BPEF recognized Distinguished Educators Akemi Hamai, Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School; Mary Patterson, Longfellow Middle School and George Rose, from Willard Middle School for going "Above and Beyond" in their commitment to their students and schools.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>BPEF had a special treat for the honorees and the packed room. They asked Berkeley High Sophomore Noah Silverman St. John, nationally recognized spoken word performer, to write and perform a specific piece for the event, capturing his experience of growing up through the Berkeley schools. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Noah incorporated his years at Malcolm X Elementary, King Middle School and now Berkeley High into his piece, titled "Backbone & Education<font color="#1f497d"><span style='color:#1F497D'>,</span></font>"<font color="#1f497d"><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span></font>which brought the crowd to a standing ovation. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The audience reaction brought Noah to tears as he witnessed how his self-proclaimed "Love Letter" brought the love back from the assembled group of public school supporters.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Check out video of Noah’s performance.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Noah Silverman St. John’s “Backbone & Education" on YouTube: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7rh_EjPk3Q" target="_blank"><font color="#1155cc"><span style='color:#1155CC'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7rh_EjPk3Q</span></font></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Noah Silverman St. John’s “Backbone & Education" on Vimeo: <a href="https://vimeo.com/42025291" target="_blank"><font color="#1155cc"><span style='color:#1155CC'>https://vimeo.com/42025291</span></font></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Check out photos of the event: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53901376@N04/sets/72157629688770448/" target="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/photos/53901376@N04/sets/72157629688770448/</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>-- <br>Mark Coplan, Public Information Officer<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Berkeley Unified School District<o:p></o:p></span></font></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="tel:510-644-6320" target="_blank">510-644-6320</a> Cell: <a href="tel:510-472-3811" target="_blank">510-472-3811</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:navy'>______________<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:navy'>Pat Anderson, Diane Douglas, Marguerite Fa-Kaji and Lisa Sibony are the parent-volunteer facilitators of the etree; please direct any questions to them at <a href="mailto:bhs-owner@lmi.net" title="mailto:bhs-owner@lmi.net"><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'>bhs-owner@lmi.net</span></font></a>. </span></font><font color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:navy'>BHS etree archives: <a href="http://lists.lmi.net/pipermail/bhs/" title="http://lists.lmi.net/pipermail/bhs/"><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'>http://lists.lmi.net/pipermail/bhs/</span></font></a>; BHS PTSA website: <a href="http://www.bhs.berkeleypta.org/" title="http://www.bhs.berkeleypta.org/"><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'>http://www.bhs.berkeleypta.org/</span></font></a>. To unsubscribe from the etree, send an email to <a href="mailto:bhs-request@lmi.net" title="mailto:bhs-request@lmi.net"><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'>bhs-request@lmi.net</span></font></a> with one word only in the subject line: 'unsubscribe'. To post a message, send to: <a href="mailto:bhs@lmi.net" title="mailto:bhs@lmi.net"><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'>bhs@lmi.net</span></font></a></span></font><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p></div></body></html>