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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:red">PLEASE do not reply to this email, contact Jorge
Melgoza, </span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial"><a href="mailto:jorgemelgoza@berkeley.net">jorgemelgoza@berkeley.net</a></span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">Dear
Parents and Guardians, </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">This
is the time of year dedicated to bringing special attention to, and celebration
of, the accomplishments and contributions of our Spanish Speaking Community to
this country. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">In
1968, Lyndon Johnson made the first "official" effort to recognize
the accomplishments of citizens whose ancestors hail from Spanish Speaking
countries. The fact that September 15 is the beginning of this period of
celebration is significant because it is a day when Costa Rica, El Salvador,
Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua celebrate their day of independence. Mexico
celebrates its day of independence on September 16, and Chile on September 18.
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">Rather
than devote this space to the numerous and well documented resources
highlighting the rich and robust contributions of the Chicano/Latino community
to this country from every walk of life and in every facet of our society
dating back to before the United States of America became the U.S.A, I would
prefer to draw attention to the contributions of some of our own Chicano/Latino
members at Berkeley High School who have contributed to moving us beyond the
simplification of our rich history and contributions to heroes and holidays.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">In
collaboration with numerous members of the community dating to back to the late
1980's, teachers, staff, students, and parents from Berkeley High School were
pivotal in creating the Chicano/Latino Studies Program at Berkeley High School
in 1993-1994. The program offered students the option of taking classes in
Chicano/Latino History, Chicano/Latino Literature, Chicano/Latino Drama, Baile
Folklorico, Chicano/Latino Freshmen Orientation, Spanish for Native Speakers,
Chicano/Latino Club, the Chicano/Latino Graduation, and more importantly, a
home away from home for many of our students and staff.<br style="mso-special-character:
line-break">
<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">In
addition to graduating many students who are still playing key roles at
Berkeley High School as teachers and staff members, the Chicano/Latino Studies
Program was instrumental in stopping the practice of profiling and harassing of
our Chicano/Latino students by the school and the police because of the
clothing they wore. Over the next few years it grew to become the largest
program of it's kind in the United States and supported countless students and
their parents. Unfortunately, and due to a variety of reasons, the
program began its slow and steady decline and was in hiatus for ten years, with
the last remnants of the program being the Chicano/Latino Graduation.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">From 1993-1994 to
the present, numerous staff members, some currently on site, were pivotal in
keeping the program thriving in various forms. The classroom where
the program began and became the second home for many of our students was
located on the second floor of the C Building. Those who entered the room
were greeted with a mural, covering the entire west side of the room, designed
and painted by Miguel Perez, a BHS alum. Ironically, that space has since been
gutted and the empty space is now used to highlight student artwork. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">Last
year, Rosa Guzman brought the Chicano/Latino Literature class back to life,
which was the cornerstone class of the program when it first began, and through
her efforts, has successfully taken this class to a new level. As of this
year, students can now fulfill their American Literature requirement by taking
Chicano/Latino Literature and the efforts to make this happen is largely due to
Rosa Guzman. Additionally, last year, she was successful in having Jimmy
Santiago Baca speak to her students and because of his positive experience with
our students, has agreed to allow us to showcase a film documenting his life
later this year that will be open to the public titled, A Place to Stand.
Feel free to click on the link to learn more about his life. <a href="http://t.sidekickopen18.com/e1t/c/5/f18dQhb0S7lC8dDMPbW2n0x6l2B9nMJW7t5XX463RDMYN1qwnWgf6BG8F2mWBprJqDdf5SZzJ203?si=4542843120517120&pi=549B4CC6-5D25-4236-98A1-2A0C3D9B5792&t=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eaplacetostandmovie%2Ecom" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">www.aplacetostandmovie.com</span></a> and
we are also working to see if we can't convince him to return for a second
speaking engagement. All proceeds will go to benefit the
Chicano/Latino Studies Program.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">Additionally,
Susi Lopez and Rosa Guzman have joined forces to create a new group on campus
called Chicano Latino United Voices. The goal is, <b><i>to create
unity at Berkeley High School by creating an inclusive space where students and
staff can come together to learn about a new culture, celebrate the voices of
Chicano and Latino students and give back to our community. Our hope is that
our organization invites and inspires all students from different backgrounds
to bring awareness about their culture to Berkeley High School.</i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">Some
of the accomplishments of the new club include informing all students about
Hispanic Heritage Month at the Welcome Assembly, decorating a table that
celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month that is on display in the main office,
making announcements every Tuesday during Hispanic Heritage Month that bring
awareness about the Latino community, history and culture, AND participating in
this year's club fair to recruit members and successfully received over 70
sign-ups! They meet every Monday in room H207 at 3:35pm.<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">
<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">Chicano Latino United Voices</span></b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"> is sponsoring an event
on September 29 during lunch in the upper courtyard. They seek to
encourage all students and staff to join them in making posters welcoming
freshmen and sending the message that Chicano Latinos United Voices will
intervene on their behalf whenever they witness acts of bullying or harassment
and are seeking to play a larger role in shaping the culture and climate on
campus.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">The
efforts behind creating and building the Chicano/Latino studies program has
always been and will always be a team effort. It is therefore important
to recognize the past and current efforts of Regina Segura, Mercedes
Sanders, Maria Vargas, Julia Luna, Lupe Gallegos, Blas Guerrero, Octavio I
Romano, Salvador Murillo, Pablo Gonzalez, Victor Rios, Hugo Ramirez, Mario
Huerta, Father Crispin, Isabel Toscano, Lalo Duarte, Marcela Taylor, Jessica
Lopez, Heidi Ramirez-Weber, Adriana Beti, Patricia Stewart, Leticia Amezcua,
Janelle Bugarini, Rosa Guzman, Susi Lopez-Platt and countless others for their
many contributions, past and present, to the program. Let us take this
time to celebrate our own doing their share to promote the greatness of the
Chicano/Latino Community at Berkeley High School. If you would like
to work with Susi or Rosa in their efforts to build a vibrant program again and
strengthen our community, please do not hesitate to reach out to them as I am
sure they would appreciate your support.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">Respectfully,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">Jorge
Melgoza</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">Vice
Principal<br>
Berkeley High School</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(79,129,189);background:white none repeat scroll 0% 0%">_____________________________</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(79,129,189);background:white none repeat scroll 0% 0%">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 </span><a href="mailto:bhs-owner@lmi.net" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,176,240);background:white none repeat scroll 0% 0%">bhs-owner@lmi.net</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(79,129,189);background:white none repeat scroll 0% 0%">.</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(79,129,189);background:white none repeat scroll 0% 0%"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(79,129,189);background:white none repeat scroll 0% 0%">BHS etree archives: </span><a href="http://lists.lmi.net/pipermail/bhs/" target="_blank" title="http://lists.lmi.net/pipermail/bhs/"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,176,240);background:white none repeat scroll 0% 0%">http://lists.lmi.net/pipermail/bhs/</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(79,129,189);background:white none repeat scroll 0% 0%">BHS website: </span><a href="http://bhs.berkeleyschools.net/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,176,240);background:white none repeat scroll 0% 0%">http://bhs.berkeleyschools.net/</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial"> </span></p>
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the etree, send an email to </span><a href="mailto:bhs-request@lmi.net" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,176,240);background:white none repeat scroll 0% 0%">bhs-request@lmi.net</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(79,129,189);background:white none repeat scroll 0% 0%"> with one word only in the
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To <u>subscribe </u>to the etree, send an email to </span><a href="mailto:bhs-request@lmi.net" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,176,240);background:white none repeat scroll 0% 0%">bhs-request@lmi.net</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(79,129,189);background:white none repeat scroll 0% 0%"> with
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