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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Dear BHS Community:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>At least four physical altercations occurred just off of
campus shortly after school today and led to large crowds of onlookers, mostly
BHS students. There was a significant response from the Berkeley Police
Department that resulted in much congestion and commotion in multiple spots
downtown. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Thus far we know that the various incidents, which we are
still very much sorting through, involved <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Berkeley</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">High School</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
students, some non-students in the area of <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address
w:st="on">Shattuck Avenue</st1:address></st1:Street>, and a very small number
of students who attend Berkeley Technology Academy (BTECH). Preliminarily, we
believe that at least three of the incidents were not connected, but we should
have a clearer understanding tomorrow. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>We feel fortunate to report no injuries. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>At the moment we know that there were four (4) arrests made;
we know at least one of those parties was a Berkeley High student, one was a
student at BTECH, and we are waiting on confirmation of the status of the other
parties. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Additionally, we can tell you that multiple suspensions will
also be administered at the school site.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>One of the most disturbing aspects of this afternoon was the
way that so many kids rushed toward the scenes of these incidents and in a few
cases, albeit unintentionally, made it difficult for school safety staff and
administrators to get to where they needed to get to provide assistance
quickly.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I am asking all parents to speak with their students about
this issue as so many kids were involved, and even those kids who were not can
benefit from the discussion. For some human beings there is clearly a tendency
and grim curiosity to run towards these type of conflicts, but the best course
of action for personal safety is to move away from the conflict. A student
crowding around a physical or potentially violent conflict puts themselves in
danger and makes getting help to the situation more difficult. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Berkeley</span></font></st1:PlaceName><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">High School</st1:PlaceType></span></font></st1:place><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'> will in fact
consider suspension for any student who willingly or unwillingly contributes to
a physical conflict by obstructing the work of staff members or adults responsible
for responding and intervening. We will review this issue with students at
school, but also ask all of our families to discuss this with their kids as
well.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Given the size of the crowd and the nature of the incident
we are counting on several hundred versions of the story making their way home
tonight, and given the seriousness of the afternoon we felt best to share with
you what we could as soon as possible. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Most of the semester has seen a notable decline in incidents
and suspensions and we will work very hard to ensure that today's events are an
exception, and that our positive trend in school climate continues. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Respectfully,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Pasquale Scuderi<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Principal<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Berkeley</span></font></st1:PlaceName><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">High School</st1:PlaceType></span></font></st1:place><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>_________________</span></font><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
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;color:navy'>Diane Douglas, Marguerite Fa-Kaji and Lisa
Sibony are the parent-volunteer facilitators of the etree; please direct any
questions to them at </span></font><font color=black><span
style='color:black'><a href="mailto:bhs-owner@lmi.net"
title="mailto:bhs-owner@lmi.net"><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>bhs-owner@lmi.net</span></font></a></span></font><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>. To post a message, send to: </span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'><a href="mailto:bhs@lmi.net"
target="_blank" title="mailto:bhs@lmi.net"><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>bhs@lmi.net</span></font></a></span></font><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>; BHS etree archives: </span></font><font color=black><span
style='color:black'><a href="http://lists.lmi.net/pipermail/bhs/"
target="_blank" title="http://lists.lmi.net/pipermail/bhs/"><font size=2
color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>http://lists.lmi.<wbr>net/pipermail/bhs/</span></font></a></span></font><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>To <u>unsubscribe</u> from the etree, send an email to </span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'><a href="mailto:bhs-request@lmi.net"
target="_blank" title="mailto:bhs-request@lmi.net"><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>bhs-request@lmi.net</span></font></a></span></font><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'> with one word only in the subject line: 'unsubscribe'; To <u>subscribe</u>
to the etree, send an email to </span></font><font color=black><span
style='color:black'><a href="mailto:bhs-request@lmi.net" target="_blank"
title="mailto:bhs-request@lmi.net"><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>bhs-request@lmi.net</span></font></a></span></font><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'> with one word only in the subject line: 'subscribe'</span></font><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#333399" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#333399'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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