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<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-style:italic'>Dear
BHS Families:<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-style:italic'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-style:italic'>Dr.
Evans and I have conferred with our partners at the Berkeley Police Department
as well as the BHS Administrative Team. The following information was provided
to BHS staff tonight and we thought parents might be interested as well. <o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-style:italic'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-style:italic'>- Pasquale
Scuderi<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<div style='mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal style='border:none;padding:0in'><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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<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>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Dear BHS Staff and Families:<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>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>School districts and school personnel in
many cities across the country are planning for a variety of potential
responses to the forthcoming announcement of grand jury deliberations on the
fatal shooting of Michael Brown, the <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:State>
teenager whose passing has generated national attention, demonstrations, and
concern. There are multiple ways in which this event could impact individual
kids, classroom environments, and community dynamics, and while we have no
specific or explicit concerns at this time, we thought it would be prudent to
consider the potential impact and provide some basic guidelines, directions,
and tools to staff in advance.<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>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'>Individual
Student Needs<o:p></o:p></span></font></u></b></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>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>We understand that such a case, and its
outcomes, may stir deep and varying emotions for many of our students, some of
whom have experienced the traumatic impact of comparable violence within their
own families or community.<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>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>We remind all staff to first refer
students who need support to their counselors who will then help students
access additional supports as necessary.<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>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'>Classroom
Considerations<o:p></o:p></span></font></u></b></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>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>We also want to share a basic resource
for managing discussions in the classroom, in particular discussions of topics
like the one in Ferguson; topics that can often generate varying perspectives,
pronounced emotions, and require a teacher to provide complex and nuanced
facilitation to keep all students feeling safe, and to increase the probability
that such challenging content and subject matter expands understanding rather
than fuels conflict and division.<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>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>The brief article, </span></font><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'><a
href="http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/html/icb.topic58474/hotmoments.html"
target="_blank">Managing Hot Moments in the Classroom</a><font color=black><span
style='color:black'>, published by the <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Bok</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceType> for Teaching and Learning at <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Harvard</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>, provides some useful
perspectives on how to deal with classroom conflict and/or tension generated by
the discussion of issues such as race and/or gender, and is a helpful refresher
on things to consider when managing such discussion. <o:p></o:p></span></font></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>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'>Community
Response and Public Demonstrations<o:p></o:p></span></font></u></b></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>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>As a District we know that there is
certainly a chance that protests in either neighboring communities or
neighboring areas of the city are a possibility. We have conferred with our
partners at the Berkeley Police Department and believe our recommendations are
largely in line with theirs.<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>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>While we will assume positive intent on
behalf of those who organize demonstrations, and support the rights of peaceful
and productive demonstration and assembly, we cannot, as a district, recommend
or encourage students to join protests outside of the school, particularly
during school hours when we are collectively responsible for them. There are
too many variables and liabilities in these types of crowd situations or off
campus events.<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>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Students who wish to organize or create
space for discussion or demonstration on campus are encouraged to seek support
and cooperation from school staff so that peaceful and effective processing,
demonstration, or protest can be facilitated and coordinated in a way that
prioritizes and maximizes student and campus safety.<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>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>As always, we will support students'
rights to expression, opinion, and speech, and will only take issue with those
who conflate those concepts with an entitlement to jeopardize the safety of
themselves or others. <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>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Respectfully,<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>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Dr. Donald Evans <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'>Superintendent<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>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Pasquale Scuderi<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'>Assistant Superintendent, Educational
Services<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>
<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'>Marguerite Fa-Kaji and Catherine Ference
are the parent-volunteer facilitators of the Etree; please direct any questions
about the Etree 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'>BHS website:</span></font><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font><font
color=black><span style='color:black'><a href="http://bhs.berkeleyschools.net/"
target="_blank"><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>http://bhs.berkeleyschools.<wbr>net/</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><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'>To </span></font><u><font size=2
color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:red'>unsubscribe</span></font></u><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> 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: <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>unsubscribe</span></b><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'>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: <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>subscribe</span></b> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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