<div dir="ltr"><span id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-24c84adf-7fff-b292-00de-aa1baa204241"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(255,0,0);font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">PLEASE do not reply to this email</span><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;padding:10pt 0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Good afternoon BHS Families,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 10pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">I am writing with a longer update and response to this past week’s worth of events at Berkeley High.  Our whole admin team has spent time listening to students, in large groups and often one on one, and hearing their pain and anger as well as their requests and demands for change.  It has been heartbreaking.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 10pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">I know that it is not possible in one email communication to address all of the questions and feedback from our families and community, but I do want to write and share some short term and long term actions and plans with you.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">I read the list of demands (attached here for your reference) that the students presented to the Superintendent yesterday, and I just finished meeting with the student leaders who wrote them.  Our team joins them in advocating for the entire list.  Some of the items on the list (additional staffing, and training both at BHS and district-wide) will certainly need to be part of larger budget discussions this spring.  But here are some things that we are working to immediately put in place:</span></p><ul style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;margin-left:11pt"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">In the coming weeks, we will begin classroom presentations for students covering topics like consent, how to report sexual harassment and assault, “upstander” behavior, and more.  Because our 9th grade students cover many of these topics in the Fall with the SPARK assembly, and in the Spring in their Social Living classes, we will target our 10th-12th grade classrooms over the next several months.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;margin-left:11pt"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We are bringing in some members of our community that are specifically skilled at working with students to restore the harm that sexual assault has caused.  This is on the list of student demands, and I want to carefully frame what this actually means. This work is not simply about bringing together a student who was harmed and the person who harmed them to talk it out, but rather a deep process to create accountability and begin healing.  Those involved can choose whether or not to participate.  For students who have asked for this, we want it to happen as soon as possible, starting this week and next.  We will also explore how and when to involve our wider community.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;margin-left:11pt"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Additional stories and reports of sexual harm have come up in the last several days, and we are following up with every student who has come to speak with us. Students can report to any trusted adult on campus, and I’m attaching the reporting guide we use that outlines the process.  We are also distributing posters with these guidelines to every classroom this week and next.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;margin-left:11pt"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Our entire counseling staff is available to talk to students who need support, as is the health center staff.  We are working to bring in other counselors to be on campus, potentially from other schools. We’ll keep you all updated on those efforts.</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 10pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">For the longer term, in addition to advocating for funding for the items mentioned above, we do want to continue the dialogue both within BHS and with our community.  Thank you again for the many offers of support, programming, and expertise. Our team will be meeting with district office staff on Tuesday to further examine all of those and prioritize next steps. Changing our school’s culture is a school and community-wide effort, and we are here in partnership with you, working hard on behalf of our students, as we move forward.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 10pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Sincerely,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Erin and the Admin Team</span></p></span><br class="gmail-Apple-interchange-newline"><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 4pt"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(56,118,29);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">------------------------------------</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(87,124,173);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Nicole Chee, Jenny Fosket, and Chaghig Walker 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:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(87,124,173);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">bhs-owner@lmi.net</span></a><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(87,124,173);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(87,124,173);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">BHS Etree archives: </span><a href="http://lists.lmi.net/pipermail/bhs/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(87,124,173);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">http://lists.lmi.net/pipermail/bhs/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(87,124,173);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">BHS website: </span><a href="http://bhs.berkeleyschools.net/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(87,124,173);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">http://bhs.berkeleyschools.net/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(87,124,173);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">BUSD 2019-2020 Calendar: </span><a href="https://www.berkeleyschools.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/BerkeleyUSDCalendar-K12-2019-20-v6.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(87,124,173);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">http://bit.ly/BUSDCalendar1920</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(87,124,173);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">BUSD Non-Discrimination Statement / la Política de No Discriminación: </span><a href="http://bit.ly/BUSDNDPolicy" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(87,124,173);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">http://bit.ly/BUSDNDPolicy</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(87,124,173);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">To post a message, send to: </span><a href="mailto:bhs@lmi.net" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(87,124,173);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">bhs@lmi.net</span></a><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(87,124,173);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(87,124,173);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">To </span><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(255,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><u>unsubscribe</u></span><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(87,124,173);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> from the Etree, send an email to </span><a href="mailto:bhs-request@lmi.net" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(87,124,173);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">bhs-request@lmi.net</span></a><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(87,124,173);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> with one word only in the subject line: unsubscribe.  The request must be sent from the email address that is subscribed to the list.  If that does not work, visit the URL at the bottom of each message, or put your email address at the end of this URL:  </span><a href="http://lists.lmi.net/mailman/options/bhs/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(87,124,173);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">http://lists.lmi.net/mailman/options/bhs/</span></a><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(87,124,173);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, or contact the Etree moderators at </span><a href="mailto:bhs-owner@lmi.net" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(87,124,173);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">bhs-owner@lmi.net.</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(87,124,173);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">To </span><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(87,124,173);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><u>subscribe</u></span><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(87,124,173);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> to the Etree, send an email to </span><a href="mailto:bhs-request@lmi.net" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(87,124,173);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">bhs-request@lmi.net</span></a><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(87,124,173);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> with one word only in the subject line: subscribe</span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>