Superintendent's Welcome & Updates | New School Lead...

AUSD Newsletter | August 7, 2025     Events Monday, Aug. 11: First Day of School Tuesday, Aug. 12, 6:30 pm,  Board of Education Meeting, District Office Thursday, August 14, anytime between 4 and 8 pm,  Virtual screening of "Counted Out" (see details below) Aug. 26, 6:30 pm,  Board of Education Meeting, City Hall and Zoom Sept. 1:  Labor Day, all AUSD facilities closed Superintendent's Welcome Back Message In his welcome back video message , Superintendent Scuderi: Thanks AUSD summer staff for all their hard work Reviews the 2025-26 academic areas of focus Provides an update on AUSD's culture and climate work Discusses impact of recent education decisions and directions from the federal government To see and translate captions on the video: Click "CC" at the bottom of the video screen. Click the Settings gear icon. Select "Subtitles/CC" Select "Auto-Translate" for a menu of languages available for the captions Five New School Administrators Join AUSD This year, we welcome five new school site administrators to AUSD:  Rahima Abdel-Hamid will serve as the new principal at Bay Farm School.   Sarah Altschul is stepping into the role of Assistant Principal at Lincoln Middle School.   Also new to Lincoln is Jabari Lateef Snowden , who has been hired as an Assistant Principal.   Alifea Davis  will be an Assistant Principal at Encinal Jr. & Sr. High School. Nicole Orlando will be a new Assistant Principal at Alameda High School. We look forward to working with and getting to know our new site leaders! Learn more about our new site leaders. Food & Nutrition Staff Attend Culinary School Sixteen members of AUSD's Food & Nutrition Services (FNS) staff spent three days at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa this summer to improve their food prep and handling skills. In addition to learning knife skills, food safety, and how to chop and dice, AUSD staff prepared a wide variety of dishes, including Cilantro Lime Pasta, Southwest Cabbage & Corn Salad with Smoky Chipotle Dressing, Caribbean Inspired Jerk Bowls and Wraps, Miso Tofu, and Mediterranean Turky Balls, Seasoned Black Beans, and Lentil Mushroom Taco Wraps. All of the participants received professional chef hats and chef coats with “Yes, Chef!” written on the front. A second team of AUSD staff members will attend the CIA training in November. Whole grain, organic, compostable The training is just one of the many leaps forward that the Food & Nutrition Services Department – led by Director James Assia – is making this year. Over the last several months, Assia has developed partnerships with local and regional organic farmers to bring organic produce to school meals; this year the team will also serve more plant-based and vegan protein options. This fall all schools will also serve organic, whole grain breakfast cereals using self-serve dispensers and cardboard bowls. This will dramatically cut down the amount of waste produced by using single-serve plastic bowls of cereal. Reminder: The State of California continues to support free meals for all students in public schools. That’s one free breakfast and one free lunch per student no matter the family income. But we encourage all families to complete the Income Survey during Data Confirmation. It helps AUSD secure funding and may qualify your child for: •    Free afterschool program •    Discounted internet service •    Reduced PSAT and AP exam fees •    ACT fee waivers and college application support We also encourage parents/guardians at Earhart, Bay Farm, Otis, Edison, and Franklin to fill out the Free & Reduced School Meals application, which also may unlock valuable benefits for their families. August 12: Regular Board of Education Meeting At its first meeting of the 2025-26 school year, the Board of Education will hear presentations on: 45-Day Budget Revision  Heat Mitigation in Classrooms project  Impact of Federal Education Policies and Direction   The meeting will be held at the Niel Tam Education Center (2060 Challenger Drive) and begin at 6:30 pm. Agenda & Teams Details   Back to School Checklist! Here's a handy list of tasks to complete so that you and your student are ready for the 2025-26 school year.   Scan the QR codes for more information or use the links below the graphic. AUSD Calendar Data Confirmation Ways to Get Involved Volunteer Registration School Routes Alert: Changed Numbers on Bus Routes AC Transit has announced that after two years of planning and outreach, they will implement the new "Realign" bus service network starting  August 10.   In Alameda, the changes include increased service to Alameda Point and the West End, and a new direct ride to the Chabot Space & Science Center within Oakland's Redwood Regional Park. Changes also include changing the route numbers for Lines 20 & 21,  plus reductions in transbay service, elimination of direct service from Alameda to the Oakland Airport, .  You can learn more via the City of Alameda's a comprehensive guide to the changes going into effect this weekend. Free Student Transit Passes Available The Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) is excited to launch the 10th year of its Student Transit Pass (STP) Program, which provides eligible 6th-12th graders across Alameda County with unlimited free bus rides on AC Transit, Union City Transit, or Wheels and 50% off BART fares.   Eligible students should apply by visiting the “Apply for a Pass” page of the STP website and select "Alameda Unified School District." Flyers in English, Spanish, and Chinese are attached. How to Navigate the Central Avenue Construction Construction along Central Avenue near Encinal Jr. & Sr. High School and Paden Elementary School is still underway. The construction includes three new roundabouts, which may throw the uninitiated for a loop. The City of Alameda has published a  helpful guide to using the roundabouts on their website, along with an alert that Santa Clara Avenue will no longer be a Slow Street. The City has also published a guide to navigating the changes and getting to the two schools: Getting to Encinal Junior & Senior High School Walking or rolling : People can only use the sidewalk on the north and east sides of Central Ave and will only be able to cross Central Ave at Third St to get to Encinal High. The southern sidewalk on Central Ave is closed all the way from the Pacific Ave/Main St/Central Ave intersection to east of Fourth St,  except for the section directly in front of Encinal High.  Biking : Students should ride either on the open sidewalks, safely sharing the space with pedestrians, or in the street in the westbound direction, just like the car traffic. Driving : School driveways, including the drop-off area, will be open, but when exiting driveways on Central Ave, cars will only be able to turn left (traveling west) and may experience delays.  Getting to Paden Elementary School For people driving, access to the Paden drop-off lane from westbound Central Ave is open. Traffic will exit the drop-off lane onto eastbound Central Avenue. Sidewalks are open on both sides of Central Ave near Paden. Pedestrians should cross Central Ave at Fifth Street, since the crosswalk at Fourth St is closed. Learn more about the Central Avenue project Lincoln Lion Leaders Release Locker "How-To" Video Learning to use a locker in 6th grade can be intimidating because students have to figure out a) how to use a padlock; b) when and how long it takes to visit your locker; and c) how to navigate crowds of other -- often bigger -- students in the locker area. To address the fear factor, Leadership students at Lincoln Middle School created an easy-to-understand video for incoming 6th graders that includes an explanation of why lockers are important, close-ups of the tricky padlock instructions, and a humorous warning at the end about the perils of "letting your locker decay."  Highly recommended! W atch this video August 14: Virtual Screening of "Counted Out" This one-night event provides community members with an opportunity to watch the documentary "Counted Out," which details how math is a language for reason, a foundation for truth, and a tool for democracy. Community members can log on anytime between 4 pm and 8 pm on August 14 to watch. Watch trailer and buy tickets  

Thursday, Aug 07 2025

Superintendent's Community Update on Changes to Fede...

AUSD Newsletter | July 11, 2025       Events Monday, Aug. 11: First Day of School Tuesday, Aug. 12, 6:30 pm,  Board of Education Meeting, District Office Aug. 26: 6:30 pm,  Board of Education Meeting, City Hall and Zoom Sept. 1:  Labor Day, all AUSD facilities closed Superintendent's Message about Changes to Federal Funding Several community members have written to me lately asking how recent changes to funding for federal education and social programs might impact Alameda Unified.  While we are still analyzing the details and timing of these developments, we do know that two changes -- President Trump’s so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” and a 45-day freeze on federal grant funds -- could have far-reaching effects on K–12 public education both in our country and in AUSD. Cuts to social programs could also affect community partners who provide much-needed services to our students. Today's community update outlines our current understanding of what has already changed and what we are still watching. Read the full update Encinal Field Update If you walk past the new Encinal athletic field this week, you’ll see that our contractors have made significant - and  exciting! - progress.  Once fully open, the field will host a wide variety of sports and events, including football, soccer, flag football, and track & field activities, such as long jump, pole vault, high jump, discus, and javelin throw. Already:     The subgrade for the track has been laid down.  Concrete for the long jump and pole vault areas has been poured and are ready for rubber surfacing. The bright green turf with the bold “Encinal” lettering has been installed.  The Encinal-blue bleachers are in place.  The 90-foot tall stadium lights have been erected, as has the new LED scoreboard. The press box has been built. It may even look like the field is close to finished. But while the project is moving forward, significant work still needs to be done before the field can be used.   Concrete needs to be poured for the walkways and walls, for instance. Irrigation and plantings need to be completed, and a grand entrance sign will be erected. Asphalt needs to be laid down on the track and basketballs courts; that asphalt then needs to “cure” for 30 days before rubber surfacing can be installed (for the track) and acrylic surfacing can be installed (for the courts). Electrical infrastructure (for power, data, lighting and sound) needs to be completed. And using the field's top-of-the-line features, including the scoreboard, field lighting, and public address system, will entail significant training and testing before full use.   As such, we expect the field to be available for light use, such as practices or limited events, starting in mid-November. Full competitive use, including official games, is expected to begin in January, 2026.   We realize this may seem like a long time, but we’d like to remind the public this is a major facility project, with many complex elements to complete. We appreciate everyone’s patience as we move toward completion, and we look forward to planning an exciting grand opening ceremony once the field is officially open.   AUSD Job Opportunities Looking for a job here in Alameda that offers opportunities to work with students, benefits (including a pension), and wonderful colleagues?  AUSD currently has openings for paraprofessionals, office staff,  maintenance and trade workers, campus security staff, and more! Learn more about our part- and full-time positions on our Employment Opportunities webpage ( https://tinyurl.com/AUSD-Careers ) or via the QR code below.   AUSD Free Summer Meals Program Free breakfasts and lunches are available to all youth ages 18 and under at multiple sites across the island.  No ID needed. ALAMEDA BOYS &   GIRLS CLUB 1900 3rd Street Breakfast Time: 8 - 9 Lunch Time: 12:00 – 1:00 6/16 – 8/1  ALAMEDA POINT   COLLABORATIVE 2471 Orion Street Breakfast Time: 8 - 9 Lunch Time: 12:00 – 1:00 6/9 – 8/8   ACADEMY OF   ALAMEDA 401 Pacific Avenue Breakfast Time: 8 – 9 Lunch Time: 12:00 – 1:00 6/11 – 8/1   SHINSEI GARDEN   APARTMENTS 401 Stargell Avenue Lunch Time: 12:00 – 1:00 (Mon, Wed, Thu only) 6/16 – 8/1   RUBY BRIDGES   ELEMENTARY 351 Jack London Avenue Breakfast Time: 8 – 9 Lunch Time: 12:00 – 1:00 6/23 – 7/18 First Day of School: August 11! We're sure you have this marked in your calendar, but  just in case:  AUSD schools open on August 11.  Data confirmation - the process by which families update contact information, acknowledge annual authorizations, and review AUSD policies - will open during the last week of July.   Be sure to watch for communications from AUSD and your school principal to stay up to date on what's happening when.   Alameda Free Library Seeks Feedback The Alameda Free Library is working on a new five-year strategic plan and looking for feedback  from both people who use the library and those who do not.  Online Survey   Alameda Free Library is seeking community feedback for its strategic plan.  You can take their survey in English, Spanish, or Chinese at this link or via the QR code in the flyer below. Community Conversations Additionally, the library will hold "Community Conversations" this month to hear from residents directly. Meetings will be held on-line and in person in three languages. AC Transit Bus Route Changes AC Transit has announced its new "Realign" service changes to existing routes. While supplementary service to school routes (those in the 600 series) are not changing, families should check other routes their students use to be sure they understand what will be different when school starts.  (Changes to these lines in Alameda are relatively minor.) Review the changes Senior Spotlights Carlos Contaxis Already enrolled in an apprenticeship readiness program, Carlos plans to further build his career by studying carpentry and welding at Laney College starting this fall. At Island High School,  Carlos participated in leadership activities and deeply appreciated the sense of community and safety he found with staff and other students.   Read more about Carlos   Melissa Renee (Cleveland) Melissa Renee started at Island High School as a senior after being away from Alameda for 11 years. Despite her underlying shyness, she bonded with teachers and students and now says the school was like “a second family.” Melissa plans to take a gap year and then study cosmetology at Laney College. Read more about Melissa .  

Friday, Jul 11 2025

Superintendent's Message | Proposal to Name AHS Scor...

AUSD Newsletter | June 10, 2025     Events Tuesday, June 10, 6:30 pm:   Board of Education meeting, City Hall & via Zoom Tuesday, June 24, 6:30 pm: Board of Education Meeting, City Hall & via Zoom Monday, Aug. 11: First Day of School   Superintendent's Message: Upholding Our Core Values We are aware of the significant concerns being raised about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities in recent weeks, including in the Los Angeles area this past weekend.  As a reminder, in February we re-visited, clarified, and communicated our protocols for responding to potential ICE visits to our schools.  While the 2024-25 school year is now complete, we will review these protocols with our summer school and summer session staff, as well as with our school-year staff in August.   We also continue to keep our   Immigrant & Refugee Resources page   up to date with information on the laws and policies that protect immigrants, as well as books, podcasts, and documentaries for and about immigrants and immigration issues. AUSD’s mission explicitly notes our commitment to “upholding our community’s core values of equity and excellence for every student by providing inclusive and safe conditions for learning.”  This commitment  applies to everyone, regardless of immigration status, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or political affiliation.   Please be assured that we are monitoring the situation closely and conferring regularly with our legal counsel, other districts, and educational organizations on how best to prepare, respond, and safeguard the rights of our AUSD community.  Pasquale Scuderi Superintendent     Public Comment Period on AHS Scoreboard Naming Open AUSD has opened a 30-day public comment period on a proposal to name the  scoreboard in Alameda High School’s New Gym after Richard Bullock, Sr., a long-time advocate for youth sports in Alameda. Mr. Bullock, who was born in 1938 and died in 2022, lived in Alameda his entire life and was active in both school and city athletics. He lettered in baseball and basketball at Alameda High School, played ARPD basketball and men’s softball, coached Catholic Youth Organization basketball and Babe Ruth baseball, and served as the president of the Alameda High Athletic Boosters. He was also a longtime announcer for softball, football, and women’s basketball at Alameda High School. Under AUSD Board Policy 7310 AUSD facilities can be named after people who have made significant contributions to the community, state, nation, or world; places (i.e., references to the local geography); or educational/community values.  The Board Policy also mandates that AUSD provide a 30-day public comment period on the proposed naming of a facility (or part of a facility). That public comment period will remain open through June 24, 2025, when the Board will vote on the proposed naming.  Comments on the proposed renaming can be sent to: Susan Davis, Senior Manager of Community Affairs at sdavis@alamedaunified.org or c/o AUSD, 2060 Challenger Drive, Alameda, CA 94501. Learn more Community Members Provide Scholarships for AUSD Seniors Every year more than a dozen AUSD students receive generous scholarships from Alameda community members or their families. We (and our students!) are grateful for this continued support and recognition by people who have long shown an interest in our students' success. The recipients of this year's scholarships are detailed on the A USD website . June 10 Board of Education Meeting Atits June 10 public meeting, staff will present overviews of the Food & Nutrition Services' program and the 2025-26 budget. The Board will vote on staff's recommendation for a screener for early reading difficulties. City Hall, 6:30 pm Agenda & Zoom information     ... Love Elementary School students  in teacher Ryan Brazil's class for writing, illustrating, and publishing "Thank You: A Story About Kindness and Transformation." The story follows a character named Bob as he goes from not being particularly kind to understanding the big effect that even small actions can have. The class gave a reading of the book to a standing room only audience in late May. In 2022, Ms. Brazil's 4th grade class published "The Anti-Bias ABC's." AUSD Free Summer Meals Program Kicks Off Today! Free breakfasts and lunches are available to all youth ages 18 and under starting June 9. No ID needed ALAMEDA BOYS &   GIRLS CLU 1900 3rd Street Breakfast Time: 8 - 9Lunch Time: 12:00 – 1:00 6/16 – 8/1   ALAMEDA POINT   COLLABORATIVE 2471 Orion Street Breakfast Time: 8 - 9 Lunch Time: 12:00 – 1:00 6/9 – 8/8     ACADEMY OF   ALAMEDA 401 Pacific Avenue Breakfast Time: 8 – 9 Lunch Time: 12:00 – 1:00 6/11 – 8/1     SHINSEI GARDEN   APARTMENTS 401 Stargell Avenue Lunch Time: 12:00 – 1:00 (Mon, Wed, Thu only) 6/16 – 8/1   RUBY BRIDGES   ELEMENTARY 351 Jack London Avenue Breakfast Time: 8 – 9 Lunch Time: 12:00 – 1:00 6/23 – 7/18 AHS Student Launches Youth Literary Journal Last year, Olivia Vu – then a freshman at AHS – was struck by a trend she was seeing on Instagram. Students were posting about youth-produced arts magazines that showcased students’ creative writing and visual art.  “It was inspiring to be able to read other youth work,” says Olivia, who has just finished her sophomore year. “And I knew we had nothing like that at our school.” The 15-year-old found an advisor in multimedia art teacher Andrea Szeto, set up a school club, researched best practices for formatting and publishing art journals, solicited contributions, and, as founder and editor-in-chief, put together the first two issues of the illuminate literary arts magazine . The magazine’s mission is to provide a “a platform devoted to empowering student voices through the publication of youth-based literature and art.” The theme of the first issue was “depths,” and of the second issue was “thrive.” Both issues featured the prose, poetry, and art of AHS students in full color pages formatted using Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop, which Olivia learned about in Ms. Szeto's Multimedia Art class. This year, Olivia expanded on the idea. She partnered with her advisor, Andrea Szeto, to find art and creative writing teachers at other local schools (including Encinal High School, ASTI, Saint Joseph de Notre Dame High School, and College Preparatory school in Oakland). Working with the teachers and social media, Olivia and her team found students who could serve as representatives to the magazine and recruit students to submit art and writing samples. In the end students (and some staff) submitted more than 70 art and writing pieces to the Spring 2025 issue, the theme of which is “transcend.”   Vu, who works on everything from soliciting contributions to the actual layout of the magazine, is modest about her contributions. “It’s a great way for me to use my creativity since I’m not taking art in high school,” she says. But she notes the project has also helped her build her collaboration skills and find efficient ways to create publicity for a project via posters, emails, social media, and the AHS newscast. "Olivia came to me with this wonderful vision to share and publicize the creative work of Alameda High students,” Ms. Szeto says. "I was touched by how much she appreciated and valued artistic endeavors.  Through hard work and planning Olivia and the club put out a fantastic first issue.  Then another - and soon Olivia and the club had to revise their ambitions for the magazine! I'm so proud of what they have accomplished and am very much looking forward to what they do next!” See the Spring 2025 issue Earhart Students Collaborate with Texas College Students Students in teacher Will Green’s 5th grade class participated in an innovative partnership with students at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas earlier this year. Working from the theme of “opposites,” the college students sent artwork to the 5th graders so that they could write poetry about it. Then the Earhart students sent poetry to the college students to create original artwork to accompany it.   As a surprise, the graphic design students created a 120-page book of both the images and the poems. The collaboration came about when Mr. Green met Professor Peter Andrew, who teaches graphic design at the college, at an arts festival last summer. The two decided to find a way for the students and the college students to integrate their work. To add an element of surprise, Mr. Andrew didn't tell his students that they would be working with 5th graders, choosing instead to let them find out when the two groups met via Zoom. "They were blown away!" Mr. Green notes.  The students did a reading from their book at Books, Inc. in mid-March. "I am just so impressed with the quality of the work and the language of my students," Mr. Green says. "The language is outstanding." Senior Spotlight: Maliha Karimzada Maliha Karimzada has dreamed of being a pilot since she was a young girl accompanying her mother on her international flights for work. “It made me want to travel and be a pilot myself,” Maliha says, “specifically a commercial pilot.” It was a tall order for a child whose family had no pilots and who had never talked to a pilot. But Maliha was determined. To become a commercial pilot, students first need to earn first their private pilot license (for flying single-engine airplanes) and then their instrument panel license. Then they need to get a commercial multi-engine rating, accumulate 1500 hours of flight time, and go on to pass the exams to earn the commercial pilot certificate. To prepare for navigating this career path, Maliha did an internship with the Hiller Aviation Museum, where she served as a tour guide for younger children. She also applied for (and received) a scholarship from the Upwind Foundation to pursue her studies at Oakland Flyers, an aviation school near the Oakland Airport. Maliha thanks AHS Instructional Coach Amy Burke for helping her research how to become a pilot and writing a recommendation letter for the scholarship. “Becoming a pilot was my childhood dream,” Maliha says. “Ms. Burke is helping me follow it.” www.alamedaunified.org

Tuesday, Jun 10 2025

Board Approves New Senior Director of Special Educat...

AUSD Newsletter | May 20, 2025       Events May 22, 4:00 pm , Board Policy Subcommittee Meeting, District Office May 22,  6:00 pm,  Black Promotion Ceremony, AHS Patton Gym May 26 , Memorial Day Holiday - all schools closed May 27, 6:30 pm,  Board of Education Meeting, District Office June 3, 5:30 - 8:00 pm,  LCAP Community Advisory Committee Meeting,  District Office June 5,  Last day of school June 19,  Juneteenth Holiday, all district facilities closed August 11, First day of school Board Approves New Senior Director of Special Education At its May 13 public meeting, the Board of Education approved Jorge Wahner as AUSD's Senior Director of Special Education.  Mr. Wahner currently coordinates our non-public and private school placements for students receiving special education services. Prior to joining AUSD, he worked as a co-principal and and special educational program manager for Santa Rosa City Schools and an assistant principal and a Director of Special Education in Oakland Unified. He is also an instructor at Berkeley City College. Mr. Wahner received his BA in History from Florida Atlantic University and his MA in Education Administration from Sonoma State University. Paden 4th Grader Treasures Trash Pick-Up Dashiell Schulte spends every recess picking up litter on the Paden Elementary School blacktop.   He also sorts trash after lunch every day, monitors trash sorting in his classroom, and initiated a plastic film recycling box at his school. He is so committed to preventing unnecssary waste, in fact, that last month Paden awarded him the “Stanley’s Plastic Cup.”  The 4th grader started doing this work last year, when he realized “it feels good to clean up trash.” Armed with a grabber and a bucket, he typically picks up one to three buckets of trash per recess. And he is proud of his trash sorting contributions. “It’s incredibly satisfying,” he says of this duty. “It’s like, ‘I just saved this plastic spoon from going in the recycling!’”  Learn more May 13 Board of Education Meeting Summary   A t its May 13 public meeting, the Board of Education heard presentations on three items: Recommendations for Middle School Social Studies and Secondary World Language curricula The 2025-26 budget adoption process A potential new structure for Island High School You can read a brief summary of each agenda item in our May 16 news article .   Upcoming meetings May 22: Board Policy Subcommittee (4 pm, District Office) May 27: Regular Board of Education Meeting (6:30 pm, District Office) ...May Data User of the Month Natalie Abber, who was chosen for her use of data to ensure that student support groups have a holistic understanding of a student's needs and progress.  Nalaie creates spreadsheets that reflect students' attendance, wellness survey information, assessment, and behavior and then uses the metric to monitor students' progress. Congratulations, Natalie!     Maya Lin Students Put on Poetry Slam   Assia Day's second and third graders at Maya Lin School hosted  a poetry slam earlier this month that featured more than  30 poems. Some students recited solo, some participated in duos, and some poems and songs were performed by the whole class. The recitations primarily emphasized black voices, including those of Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, Nikki Giovanni, and Eloise Greenfield. The students began practicing in January; you can get a glimpse of their achievements in the clips below. " Sir Duke " (Stevie Wonder) " Life Doesn't Frighten Me at All " (Maya Angelou) Ms. Day is planning a schoolwide poetry jam in 2025-26. Senior Spotlights Over the next several weeks, we will be profiling seniors who are graduating from AUSD. This week, we are leading with Mikayla Melero, who is graduating from ASTI, and Luke Eastwood, who is graduating from AHS.  You can find more information about them via the QR code on the graphics or the link beneath each image.  Stay tuned for more profiles of our marvelous graduates!  Read Mikayla's profile   Read Luke's profile May 31: Family Fusion Day REAP Climate Center and Pacific Fusion are hosting a Family Day on May 31 to give families an opportunity to learn how fusion works and how it can generate electricity. Pacific Fusion is currently exploring building a fusion energy research facility at Alameda Point.   10 am to 12 pm REAP Climate Center 2133 Tynan Avenue, Alameda  

Tuesday, May 20 2025

New EHS Gym Design Approved | Peer Tutoring Supports...

AUSD Newsletter | May 1,  2025       Events May 9, 6:00 pm ,Queer Prom, Queer Alameda Teen Center May 13, 6:30 pm , Board of Education Meeting, City Hall May 22,  6:00 pm,  Black Promotion Ceremony, AHS Patton Gym May 26 , Memorial Day Holiday - all schools closed June 5,  Last day of school August 11, First day of school Superintendent's Message: A Note on National Principals' Day School principals are the linchpins of a school community, juggling a staggering range of responsibilities every day — from instructional leadership and behavior management to crisis management, parent communication, and staff support. They make dozens of decisions before lunch, often shifting at a dizzying pace between roles as mediator, manager, safety specialist, budget and resource chief, and instructional leader within minutes. As former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan once said, "There are no good schools without good principals. It just doesn’t exist." Their work is complex, relentless, and essential to student success.   If you have a moment during the next week, and feel so inclined, send a simple positive note to your school principal. While affirmations and appreciations are generally the outliers in a principal's inbox, those simple gestures sometimes help fuel them to get through the literal and figurative stacks of requests, challenges, needs and wants, and problems to be solved that they work through every school day. Pasquale Scuderi Superintendent Board Approves New Encinal Gym Design  At its April 15 public meeting, the Board of Education approved the schematic design for the new gynmnasium at Encinal Jr. & Sr. High School. Designed by Quattrocchi Kwok Architects, the new gym will include a basketball court, striping for volleyball and other sports, bleachers, a lobby with restrooms, a weight room, support spaces, and a courtyard with benches and bike parking. Funding will come from AUSD’s Measure B and, potentially, Proposition 2 (a state bond measure for schools approved by voters in 2024). Construction is expected to begin in June, 2026, be complete by September, 2027, and cost $21.3 million. Encinal is also receiving a new stadium and playing field (under construction now), and the old gym (including the stage) will be upgraded. A site-wide modernization was completed in 2022. The Board voted 5-0 to approve the design. Presentation Video T wo New Site Administrators Hired AUSD has hired two new site administrators for the 2025-26 year: a new principal for Bay Farm School and a new assistant principal for Alameda High School. Rahima Abdelhamid (Principal, Bay Farm School) An experienced elementary school teacher and coach, Ms. Abdelhamid comes to Alameda from San Francisco Unified. In addition to teaching 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade there, she served as a reading interventionist and literacy coach, and supported curriculum development and professional learning. She received her BA from UC Los Angeles, her MA from UC Berkeley, and attended the Aspiring Principal Diversity in Leadership Fellowship, which is sponsored by the Diversity of Leadership Institute and Loyola Marymount University. Nicole Orlando (Assistant Principal, Alameda High School) Ms. Orlando has been working in AUSD as a Teacher on Special Assignment and a Special Education Teacher Induction Mentor since 2021. Prior to that she served as a first a resource specialist and then a special education coordinator at a middle school in Los Angeles.   She received her BA from UC Los Angeles, an MA in Special Education from CSU-Dominguez Hills, an MA in Educational Administration from CSU-Los Angeles, and a post-Master’s Certificate in Educational Therapy from CSU-Northridge. We welcome both leaders to their new roles! Ruby Bridges Receives New Trees During an event marked by excited cheers and exuberant jumps last week, kindergarteners and transitional kindergarteners got  to help plant seven new trees in the Ruby Bridges K and TK yard. The trees – two olives and five autumn blaze maples – are the result of a novel private-public partnership and the passion and vision of a new group called “Alameda Green Schoolyards.”  Led by Meg Amarasiriwardena, an AUSD parent and garden educator at Love Elementary School, Alameda Green Schoolyards is a coalition of parents, staff, and students that aims to bring more trees and green spaces to AUSD campuses. The group is a subcommittee of the district-wide PTA Council and was launched last fall.  The Ruby Bridges project was funded by a grant from PG&E through the California ReLeaf – Growing Green Communities grant, in partnership with AUSD and with fiscal sponsorship from Community Action for a Sustainable Alameda. Monarch Tree Services installed the trees, and the Alameda Food Bank provided refreshments. Read the whole story Student-Led Peer Tutoring at AHS Supports English Learners On a recent day this month, about 60 students gathered Alameda High School’s Historic Classroom.   At one table, a native English speaker tutored a 9th grade student from Colombia on his math assignment.   At another, a Russian student translated for an English-speaking student who was helping another Russian student with her homework. And at still another, one student spoke Portuguese to a student who recently moved here from Rio de Janeiro.    The students were part of a new “ELD Task Force” developed by Sunny Xu, an AHS senior. Last year, Sunny recognized that students who are recent immigrants often struggled in school because they were not yet fluent in English. In response, she developed an innovative tutoring program that lets EL students get the help they need in the language they speak.  The program is providing crucial academic supports for English Learners - as well as very real social and emotional benefits to the students who attend.  Read the whole story   April 29, 2025 Board of Education Meeting At its April 29 public meeting, the Board of Education heard updates on: Special education inclusion recommendations Math initiatives for next year; The process for selecting an early reading difficulty screener  The  special education presentation focused on a year-long self study understaken by the Department of Special Education this year. That study reviewed trends in data about IEP qualifications, requests for assessment, enrollment by disability, associated services, outside placements, and transportation.  Current recommendations include developing more inclusion into genderal education for students receiving special education services and providing more targeted interventions for preschool students. Presentation The math initiatives presentation detailed staff's recommendations to improve middle school math outcomes. The district is focusing on math instruction in the 4th and 5th grades  and middle school because success in middle school math is linked to a student's ability to complete algebra, enroll in college, work in a STEM career, and even future earnings. Recommendations include investing in professional development in best math instructional practices, doing more math intervention for 6th graders who need it, and considering an expansion of support classeses and summer math programs. Presentation The early reader screener  presentation reviewed the district's progress on choosing a new program to comply with the 2023 legislation requiring all kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade students to be screened for reading difficulties.   AUSD has been using a screener for the last two years, but it is not included on the state's approved list. Currently, a committee of AUSD administrators and teachers is working to learn about and recommend one of two  screeners for our district.  The state requires the Board of Education to approve a screener  by June 30, 2025. Parents can help evaluate the screeners several ways. (See our April 14 news article for details.) Presentation Video of this meeting will be posted within a few days.   ...Wood Middle School orchestra students who last week won an "excellent" rating in their division plus first place at the Music in the Parks at Great America on April 26. Congratulations also to the Beaver's Concert Band, which received a "good" rating and earned in 5th place in their division! ...Encinal Senior Emilia Arneson,  who has received a nomination for the prestigious Sara Bareilles Award for her performance in Encinal's spring production of Mamma Mia . This regional awards program recognizes outstanding achievement in high school musical theatre from San Francisco and Alameda Counties, extending all the way to the northernmost regions of the state. On May 18, Emilia and other nominees will perform two songs for a panel of judges at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco. The winner of the competition will be announced that night. Mark Your Calendars for Volunteer Registration The online volunteer registration system, which went live in July 2024, has been a resounding success!  As of today, more than 2800 individuals have registered at some level to volunteer in AUSD. We want to extend our gratitude to each of you who have already enrolled and shown your commitment to supporting our students. This new system has brought numerous benefits to our district, including ensuring better compliance with Education Code requirements, providing more time for school site staff to focus on student needs, and creating a safer school environment for all, especially our students.  Looking ahead, registration for the 2025-2026 school year will start on  July 1, 2025 . Please note that all current volunteers will need to register again, but all information will be pre-populated in the system (so you won't have to enter it again manually). The only updates you will need to make will be related to student grade level, the school your child attends (if applicable), and any changes to contact information or required documentation. If you haven’t registered yet, we encourage all parents and community members who wish to volunteer to do so as soon as possible after  July 1.  To ease the process for our school staff, we ask that all volunteers you complete your registration for the 2025-26 school year by the fall.  Looking for TB test sites? Alameda County has numerous locations providing  free TB testing to low-income families. Most of our school PTAs provide Live Scanning for parents at the beginning of the school year.  You may use the QR code below to get registered or find more information on our website . Afterschool Programs Now Registering for Next Year Registration for AUSD's 2025-26 TK-6 afterschool programs is now open. TK-6 families who qualify for the  free program have been sent a unique registration link via Parent Square. Registration information for families that want to participate in the fee-based programs is available on our  Afterschool Care and Activities page.   Families at Ruby Bridges, Maya Lin, and Love should read the program descriptions and registration information for their schools under “Afterschool Education and Safety Program.” Families who will be at Bay Farm School, Earhart, Edison, Franklin, Otis, Paden, Encinal Jr. Jets, Lincoln, and Wood should read the program description and registration information under “Expanded Learning Opportunities Program.” Registration will stay open until the first week of June. Any registrations received after that will go on the waiting list. Questions? Please contact Claudia Medina at cmedina@alamedaunified.org. May 1: Pacific Fusion Project Town Hall Pacific Fusion, a Bay Area company founded in 2023, is collaborating with the City of Alameda to explore building an energy research facility at Alameda Point. Alameda residents are invited to learn more about fusion and the project in Alameda, ask questions, and share feedback. 5:30-7:30 pm College of Alameda, "F Building" The company will also hold a "Family Fusion Day" at the REAP Climate Center on  May 31 , where families can learn more about fusion.   ASTI Junior Finds His Voice in Poetry Contest Jett Setton wasn’t expecting to become an orator.   For the last two years, ASTI has given students a chance to participate in the Poetry Out Loud Contest, a national program  that encourages the study of great poetry through recitation. Last year, Jett wasn't interested. But this past fall, he decided “on a whim” to enter. “My parents were surprised,” he notes. “My friends were surprised. But I thought, ‘maybe I’ll give this a try.’” Jett chose Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” and ended up being chosen as the top reader by the school. “I love that poem,” he says. “I love the sound. I love what it meant.” Because he won the ASTI competition, Jett went on to the Alameda County Poetry Out Loud contest in February.  There he won first prize again with his recitation of “The Road Not Taken.” “I was surprised to win,” he says. “But it was such a good experience. The crowd was very supportive, and the Poetry Out Loud staff was awesome. They talked to us about recitation tips and tricks. They even gave us examples of how to do it. And they helped create a really nice community around the event." As the county winner, Jett next went on to the state competition. “I was very nervous,” he said. “But then I started listening to the other people and really getting into the meaning of their poems and how they were presenting. It was fun.” Jett didn’t win at the state competition, but he says the experience was invaluable, and he is considering doing it again next year – including taking advantage of the opportunity to write one of his poems. “I wasn’t expecting to do any of this,” he says, “but I am really glad I did.” May 18: In Living Colors Maya Lin School's PTA and  Radium Presents are co-spnsoring a free community arts and culture festival at Alameda Point. The event will feature music, food drink, and art - including the Plain Site photo exhibition that features AUSD high school students. Family, bike, and pet friendly.

Thursday, May 01 2025

Student Work Selected for Photography Exhibit | Par...

AUSD Newsletter | April 14 , 2025         Events April 15, 6:30 pm,  Board of Education Meeting, District Office and via Teams April 16, 6:30 pm,  "Inspired by Antarctica," Alameda Free Library (see details below) April 22, 6:30 - 8:00 pm,  LCAP Meeting: "Highlighting the Work," District Office April 22, 6:30 - 8:00 pm , Curriculum Review Meeting, District Office April 26, 10 am-3 pm , Annual Season for Nonviolence Student Speech Contest April 26, 11:30-2:30,  Annual Bike Festival, Paden Elementary School April 26 , 10 am - 12 pm,  AUSD Job Fair April 29, 6:30 pm,  Board of Education Meeting, City Hall & via Zoom April 30, 6:30 pm:  Let's Talk About It: Neurodiversity and Learning Differences May 9, 6:00 pm ,Queer Prom, Queer Alameda Teen Center In This Week's Newsletter AUSD Releases Parcel Tax Program Reports Out and About Bookshop Visits Schools High School Students Selected for Photography Exhibit Pacific Fusion Community Meetings Oakland Alameda Access Community Meetings Soil Testing at Alameda High School Board Briefs Upcoming Events AUSD Releases Parcel Tax Reports The Alameda Unified School District has released its 2023-24 Parcel Tax Program Reports. The report provides details on revenues and expenditures for Measures B1 and A for that year, as well as an overview of the district's parcel tax program and details of the Oversight Committee's work. Last year, Measure B1 (passed in 2016) provided $13 million to AUSD. Those revenues were allocated to the 11 categories mandated in the measure, including: small K-3 class sizes; neighborhood schools; high school sports; art, music, drama, and media centers; AP courses; college and career counselors; and programs to close the achievement gap. Measure A (passed in 2020) provided about $11 million last year. As mandated in that measure, AUSD used that revenue specifically to help attract and retain high-quality employees by raising salaries closer to the county average. Together, the two measures provided more than $24 million to AUSD, or about 20% of the district's budget.  The two measures have an identical structure, which  the California Supreme Court found to be legal and valid  in October 2023.  The 38-page report also includes factual information on Measure E, a parcel tax that will combine and renew Measures B1 and A, without increasing taxes. Measure E goes into effect on July 1, 2025. "I remain deeply grateful to the Alameda community for their support of our students, our staff, and our educational programs," Superintendent Scuderi said in the report's introduction. "At a time of ever-changing educational priorities and budgetary allocations at the federal and state level, having a stable source of funding at the local level allows us to plan and build stronger programs and attract and retain the high-quality teachers our students need and deserve." Both the staff and committee's reports were presented at the March 25 Board of Education meeting and are available on AUSD's Parcel Tax Program web page . Out and About Bookshop Visits AUSD Schools A big thank you to the independent “Out and About Bookshop,” which has brought books by and about LGBTQ+ people to AUSD’s elementary schools this spring. Housed in a purple bus driven by educators Katie Butler and Charlie McDonald, the bookshop gives students a chance to browse diverse and affirming stories that help them better understand themselves, their families, and their friends. “We know it’s important for kids to have books,” Butler told a group of Earhart students last month, “and since kids can’t always get to books, we decided to bring the books to them – in a bus!” At AUSD schools this spring, Butler and McDonald also presented assemblies. Students in grades K-2 talked about what makes a family (at Earhart, the students decided “love” and “peace” were the most important ingredients). Students in grades 3-5 learned about censorship and banned books (including not only books that include racial and LGBTQ+ themes but also Harry Potter  and Captain Underpants ) and pondered who should get to decide which books are in classrooms and libraries.  As part of the program, teacher librarians were invited to provide wish lists of the books they wanted for their classrooms, and Out and About donated 30 percent of the proceeds at each site to the school’s library. Alameda High Soil Testing Update Last week, the Alameda County Environmental Health Department released a fact sheet on soil testing being done at Alameda High School as part of the swim center project. The fact sheet details why the testing is needed, the timeline for the testing, and who to contact for more information. A translatable verision of the fact sheet is available on our AHS Swim Center web page .   April 15: Regular Board of Education Meeting At its April 15 public meeting, the Board of Education will hear about Encinal's new gym project, options for mitigating heat in classrooms, identifying and funding Strategic Plan priorities, and the superintendent's contract. The meeting will be held at the District Office and via Teams at 6:30 pm. Agenda and Teams link   ... Encinal High students Remi Langeweroski, Miles Wilson,  and  Matan Antebi and Island High student Daiana Mojica   for being selected to show their photography work alongside top national and international photographers in the  In Plain Site photography festival .   Students from Alameda High, Encinal High and Island High participated in workshops with Bay Area photojournalist Brooke Anderson to prepare for the "Acts of Hope" photography challenge by refleciting on and documenting  the people and things in our community that give them hope for a more climate positive future. The four finalists were selected for both the narrative and artistic quality of their work.  The opening celebration of the three-week Focus FEST is on May 10 at the Radium Runway; the community is invited to see the students' work alongside an array of world class climate photography.         Emergency Preparation Resource A re you prepared for an earthquake, fire, or other natural disaster in Alameda? Several years ago, the City of Alameda and AUSD teamed up to create an eight-week, easy-to-understand guide to emergency preparedness. Tackling the task over the course of eight weeks, we figured, would be less overwhelming than trying to get everything done in one day. The guide is available on the City of Alameda's website and includes tips on collecting water, storing food, gathering important documents, installing safety measures around the house, and creating "go bags." City of Alameda Be Ready Website Calling K, 1, and 2 Parents! In 2023, Governor Newsom passed legislation requiring Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade students to be screened for  reading difficulties, including dyslexia risk, using an approved list of screeners. School districts must adopt one of these screeners by June 30, 2025 (Ed Code Section 53008) for implementation in the 2025-26 school year. At AUSD, we have been using Star CBM, a practical, valid, and reliable reading difficulties screener, for the past two years with high participation and effective use of the data to support students. Last month, the state released the list of approved screeners, which includes: mCLASS Dibels , Amira , ROAR , &  Multitudes . Unfortunately, Star CBM was not on the approved list. It is unclear why Star CBM was not approved, as it assesses the same skills, and in some cases more skills, than some of the approved screeners. (The state has not provided any insight into their selection rationale.) As such, we will need to transition to one of the approved screeners.  ROAR and Multitudes have been deemed unsuitable for our context. This leaves us with two options: mCLASS Dibels and Amira. A committee of AUSD administrators and teachers is working to learn about and recommend one of the screeners for our district, and we need your input! Here are some ways you can get involved: Check out the committee's work here  (note: this is an ongoing deck that gets updated before and after every meeting). Provide input on the evaluation tool   we will use to determine which screener is a better fit for our context by May 12. Email   Lindsey Jenkins-Stark to visit the district office and "play" in the screener's sandbox environments. A sandbox is a version of the software that you can test without real student data. Attend the presentation about this work at the Community Advisory Committee on April 22 from 6:30-8 pm at the  Di strict Office . Oakland Alameda Access Project Community Meetings The Oakland Alameda Access Project will bring improved safety, bike/pedestrian improvements, and better roadway designs to reduce the impact of freeway traffic on surrounding communities in downtown Oakland, including Chinatown and the City of Alameda around the Webster and Posey Tubes. Construction is anticipated to begin this fall and last approximately 3.5 years. During much of this time, travelers can expect delays through the Webster and Posey Tubes, as well as limited tube closures (during select nighttime and weekend dates). A detour will reroute traffic via Lincoln Avenue to Park Street, then onto northbound I-880, exiting at Oak Street. In Spring 2025 the Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) will host four (4) in-person, informational open house events and one (1) virtual presentation to update the community on project benefits, planned improvements, and the anticipated construction schedule for the Oakland Alameda Access Project. The information and materials provided at these open house events will be the same. As construction approaches, Caltrans will implement a communication plan in collaboration with project stakeholders. Join the project team for one of the following open houses to learn more! S ign up to receive project updates Oakland Alameda Access Project Webpage Open House #1 Wednesday, April 23, 2025, 5:00-6:30 p.m. BLOC15 Event Venue 252 2nd Street Oakland, CA 94607 Open House #2 Thursday, April 24, 2025, 6:00-7:30 p.m. Alameda Chamber of Commerce 2215-A South Shore Center Alameda, CA 64501 Open House #3 Tuesday, April 29, 2025, 4:30-6:00 p.m. Oakland Asian Cultural Center 388 9th Street Suite 290 Oakland, CA 94607 Open House #4 Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 5:00-6:30 p.m. College of Alameda (Student Lounge) 555 Ralph Appezzato Memorial Parkway Alameda, CA 94501 Virtual Presentation Wednesday, May 14, 2025, 5:00-6:30 p.m. Link: bit.ly/OAAPVirtualPresentation May 9: Queer Prom   Students in grades 6-12 are invited to the Queer Alameda Teen Center's Queer Prom at the Veterans Memorial Building on May 9 from 6-9 pm. The theme of the prom is masquerade ball; the evening will feature food, dancing, and the opportunity to create a masquerade mask. Alameda High School Career Panel On March 18, Alameda High School's PTSA hosted its 4th Annual Career Panel, which this year focused on the skilled trades. The panel included: Tara Wachtel, a private chef at Skywalker Ranch;  Eduardo and Jose Reynoso, owners of Ed's Electric in Fremont;  Nick Clark, an Alameda firefighter; and Kyle Garcia, station caption for the Alameda Fire Department.  View all four AHS Career Panels April 15: LWV Forum on Free Speech The League of Women Voters will host "Is Free Speech a Core Value of Democracy," a presentation focused on the Freedom Riders. The guest speaker is Peter Ackerberg, one of the original Freedom Riders. 6-7:30 pm Main Library, Stafford Meeting Room April 16: "Inspired by Antarctica"   Lincoln Middle School 6th graders will be at the main branch of the Alameda Free Library on April 16 to educate the community about the importance of taking care of the planet. The presentation will focus on Antarctica, where teacher Jenny Hartigan traveled in December as part of the National Geographic Grosvenor Fellowship. The event will feature interactive games, art, video, poetry, and other activities. April 16, 6:30-7:30 pm Alameda Free Library, Main Branch April 30: Let's Talk About It: Neurodiversity and Learning Differences  Join District Counselor Melissa Saunders, along with Special Education Coordinators Julie Venuto and Jorge Wahner, to learn constructive ways of talking to children about neurodiversity.  This webinar will cover: What is Neurodiversity? Common Learning Differences & Their Impact A Strength-Based Approach to Neurodiversity How Schools Support Neurodiverse Learners How Parents Can Help at Home Addressing Myths and Misconceptions Creating a Supportive Community Resources and Next Steps How to Talk with My Child  Webinar Details 6:30 pm Teams login May 1: Pacific Fusion Project Town Hall Pacific Fusion, a Bay Area company founded in 2023, is collaborating with the City of Alameda to explore building a first-of-its-kind fusion energy research facility at Alameda Point. Alameda residents are invited to learn more about fusion and the project in Alameda, ask questions, and share feedback. 5:30-7:30 pm College of Alameda, "F Building" The company will also hold a "Family Fusion Day" at the REAP Climate Center on May 31 , where families can learn more about fusion.

Tuesday, Apr 15 2025

Superintendent's Community Message on Federal Change...

AUSD Newsletter | April 3, 2025     Events April 3, 4, 5:  Alameda High production of " Cinderella " April 7-11:  Spring Break April 16, 6:30 pm,  "Inspired by Antarctica," Alameda Free Library (see details below) April 22, 6:30 - 8:00,  LCAP Meeting: "Highlighting the Work," District Office April 26, 10 am-3 pm , Annual Season for Nonviolence Student Speech Contest April 26, 11:30-2:30,  Annual Bike Festival, Paden Elementary School April 26 , 10 am - 12 pm,  AUSD Job Fair Superintendent's Community Message In his video community message this month, Superintendent Scuderi:  Discusses AUSD's budget and how the planned changes at the US Department of Education might impact that budget;  Provides an update on the district's facility upgrades (including Wood's new campus, AHS's new pool, and fencing projects at both AHS and EHS)  Reviews recognitions by Equality California and the CDE  Reminds our community of important dates, including Spring Break and the last day of school   To see and translate captions on the video: Click "CC" at the bottom of the video screen. Click the Settings gear icon. Select "Subtitles/CC" Select "Auto-Translate" for a menu of languages available for the captions AUSD Names 2025 Teacher of the Year Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) announced this week that Mike Wong, a 4th and 5th grade teacher at Paden Elementary School, has been selected as the 2025 Teacher of the Year. Mr. Wong — known as “Teacher Kramer Wong” by his students — has taught at Paden since 2011. He received both his Bachelor’s degree in Social Psychology and a Business Certification from UC San Diego. He earned his teaching credential from California State University East Bay.  Colleagues who submitted recommendation letters described Mr. Wong as a thoughtful, creative teacher who nurtures not only individual student growth but also school culture and leadership. “Within his classroom, Mr. Wong creates a structured, nurturing environment that meets the diverse needs of his students,” wrote Paden Principal Tri Nguyen. “He skillfully addresses behavioral challenges with both tact and compassion, balancing high expectations with strong relationship-building. His classroom is a place where students feel empowered to grow.” Read the full press release Two AUSD Schools Receive State's "Distinguished" Award The California Department of Education (CDE) has selected two Alameda Unified (AUSD) schools — Bay Farm School and Love Elementary School — as 2025 "Distinguished Schools.” The CDE uses multiple measures to identify eligible schools based on their performance on indicators in the  California School Dashboard , including Math and English Language Arts assessment results, chronic absenteeism, suspension rates, student engagement, and positive school climate. Just 336 of the 5856 elementary schools across the state received the award this year.   “I’d like to congratulate the students, staff, and families of both schools for this distinction,” Superintendent Pasquale Scuderi says. “They are each examples of what happens when you combine excellent teachers, hard-working students, and supportive families, and they are each models for the rest of our district.” Adds Board President Gary Lym, “This is the second time that Bay Farm School has been designated as a Distinguished School, and it is the first time for Love. As a Board, we are very, very proud of these two elementary schools, and we look forward to learning more about the secrets to their successes.” Paden Celebrates Pride, Ramadan, and Women's Careers Paden Pelicans hosted three special events in March that celebrated the rich diversity of their community. On March 23, the school held a “ Paden Pride ” event during which students engaged in arts and crafts, read books by LGBTQ+ authors, and made clay sculptures.   On March 28, in honor of Women's History Month, the school hosted a panel discussion by a range of  women professionals , including an aviation attorney, a social worker, two software engineers, a civil engineer, an attorney specializing in consumer rights, an interior designer, a baker, a health economist,  a school psychologist, and a school superintendent. At the end of the panel, students whose mothers were on a panel gave them a gratitude rose. “Through these diverse experiences, students discovered the power of curiosity, asking questions, taking risks, and embracing the “I don’t know” stage,” Principal Tri Nguyen says.  “I’d like to thank the panel for sharing your wealth of knowledge and inspiring our young Pelicans to dream big and pursue their passions.”   Also last month:, author/illustrator Wahab Algarmi visited the school to share a behind-the-scenes look at how he developed his graphic novel,  Almost Sunset, which details a middle schooler’s experience honoring Ramadan while enduring personal challenges of fasting and school.  “Students walked away with an important lesson about the value of revision and the importance of giving their work more than one look,” Principal Nguyen says. “More importantly, students learned that they have the power to share their own stories whether it be through words or pictures.”  March 25 Board of Education Meeting  At its March 25 public meeting the Board heard: An update on AUSD’s AVID Program A report on AUSD's Office of Equity A presentation on the 2023-24 Parcel Tax Program   CSEA 860’s “Sunshine” of Initial Proposals for Collective Bargaining Declaration of Need for Fully Qualified Educators A summary of those agenda items, along with links to the video and slide decks for each item, is available here . The next Board of Education meeting will take place on April 15   April 7 - 11: Spring Break!   Housing Authority's Linnet Corner Wait List Application Opens April 4     The Housing Authority of the City of Alameda (AHA) is opening the housing wait list for Linnet Corner (2000 Lakehurst Circle) on Friday (April 4) at 11am, then will close on Friday (April 18) at 11am.  Linnet Corner is a senior (ages 62+) only housing community.   The wait list application is for 23 studios  (1 studio at 30% AMI, 22 studios at 40% AMI) and the studio apartments are suitable for one to two-person households.   Once the wait list application period begins this Friday (April 4) at 11am,  interested parties can apply via this website .  A preference will be given to those that live and/or work in the City of Alameda.      Separately from the lottery, Linnet Corner will have 16 units (10 studios & 6 one-bedroom units) reserved for senior (ages 62+), disabled, and unhoused veterans.   These 16 units for senior unhoused disabled veterans will not be available via the above-mentioned lottery, these veterans will be referred to Linnet Corner via Alameda County’s Coordinated Entry System (CES).   Call 211 or visit its website for more information.  AHA has created an online interest form to help Alameda County locate senior, disabled, unhoused veterans.   Interest Form        Free Kindergarten Swim Program Opening All kindergarteners are eligible to participate in free swimming lessons April 16 to May 24. No registration needed - just bring your kindergarten student to Franklin Pool on Wednesdays (2-3 pm) and/or Saturdays (11 am - 12 pm).  April 3, 4, and 5: AHS Production of Cinderella All are invited to the AHS production of Roger & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella.” First aired by CBS in 1957 (starring Julie Andrews as the maltreated step daughter) and 1965 (with an 18-year-old Lesley Ann Warren in the lead role) and then made into a feature film (Disney’s 1997 version starring Brandy), the musical features classic songs such as “In My Own Little Corner,” “Ten Minutes Ago,” and “Impossible.” Please come out and support our talented teen actors! Tickets April 16: "Inspired by Antarctica" Lincoln Middle School 6th graders will be at the main branch of the Alameda Free Library on April 16 to educate the community about the importance of taking care of the planet. The presentation will focus on Antarctica, where teacher Jenny Hartigan traveled in December as part of the National Geographic Grosvenor Fellowship. The event will feature interactive games, art, video, poetry, and other activities. April 16, 6:30-7:30 pm Alameda Free Library, Main Branch April 26: AUSD Job Fair Looking for a job that benefits students, families, and staff, offers benefits (including pensions), and is located right here on the island? Join us at our annual AUSD Job Fair to learn about current openings and the many perks of working for AUSD! April 26, 10 am to 12 noon Ruby Bridges Elementary School April 26: Alameda Bike Festival Bring your friends and family to this free annual citywide bike festival for people of all ages! Activities include free bike repairs, helmet fitting and giveaway, bike rodeos, cargo and e-bike expo, food trucks and music, and workshops on urban cycling and learning to ride on two wheels. (Workshops require  pre-registration .)   April 26:  Annual Season for Nonviolence Student Speech Contest The Season for Nonviolence is a 64-day period that takes place from January 30 to April 4 and honors the lives of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. and other peace activists.  The annual Season for Nonviolence Student Speech Contest will be held on Saturday, April 26th at Alameda City Hall from 10 am to 12:00 noon (MS) and 1:00 to 3:00 pm (HS). Each middle school and high school may send up to (3) finalists.  “BELOVED COMMUNITY” is the theme and speeches should be 3-5 minutes and include a quote from a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.  Please contact Ms. Anata Tran at (51) 918-6556 or email atran@alamedaca.gov if you have questions. 

Thursday, Apr 03 2025

AUSD, Staff, and Students Win Awards | Community Vo...

AUSD Newsletter | March 23, 2025     Events March 24, 6:30 pm: North Region SELPA CAC Third Annual Literacy Round Table March 26, 1:00 pm-4:00 pm,  Ninth Annual Youth Career & Job Fair, Encinal Jr. & Sr. High School Gym March 28, 29, 30 & April 3, 4, 5:  Alameda High production of " Cinderella " April 7-11:  Spring Break April 26, 10 am-3 pm , Annual Season for Nonviolence Student Speech Contest AUSD Receives High Marks from Equality California Alameda Unified received a score of 53 (out of a possible 62) on Equality California’s 2024 Safe and Supportive Schools Report Card, making it the seventh highest-scoring district among those that took the survey.  The data informing the report card was gathered through Equality California Institute’s Safe and Supportive Schools Survey, to which 146 districts (of the 345 who received it) responded. The survey asked school district officials to provide objective and verifiable information regarding their districts’ supports, policies, and practices in regards to school climate, curriculum, suicide prevention, and LGBTQ students, including: Tracking and responding to bullying Affinity groups for LGBTQ students Implementing state-mandated inclusive curriculum Suicide prevention AUSD scored 100% on creating supports for students, staff, and the community. Areas to work on further included translating our Anti-Bullying Policy and Uniform Complaint Form into other languages. “I am so proud of our district and dedicated staff for developing and maintaining the programs that helped us score so highly," notes AUSD Board of Education Vice President Ryan LaLonde. " When the survey first came out in 2022, we saw where we could improve and worked to make those improvements. Being number 7 in the State sends a positive message to LGBTQ students and students with LGBTQ parents. As AUSD's gay board member and a dad of a high school junior, I know our schools are there to support students like me and him.” The full report is available here . Bench Installed in Local Park in Memory of AUSD Educator We encourage families and staff alike to visit a new bench installed in memory of Andrew LaBarre at Chochenyo Park.  Mr. LaBarre, who was the husband of Franklin kindergarten teacher Danielle LaBarre, taught at both the former Washington Elementary School (now Maya Lin School) and Ruby Bridges until he passed away in June, 2022.  The bench is located near the intersection of Encinal and Park Avenue West. The memorial plaque includes his picture and mentions both his teaching on the West End and his strong advocacy for social- emotional learning. He was among the teachers who piloted the Toolbox program (now adopted by AUSD), for example, and he was committed to teaching his students mindfulness and self-reflection.  "His students gained so much beyond academics, and he took the time to get to know each student so that he could support them in their interests," his wife noted.   Andrew was born in Philadelphia, but after his family moved to Alameda he attended Edison Elementary School, Lincoln Middle School, and Bishop O'Dowd High School. His mother, Madame (Denise) LaBarre, also taught French at Alameda High for about 25 years.   March 25, 2025 Board of Education Meeting The Board will receive presentations on the 2023-24 Parcel Tax Program, the Office of Equity, AUSD's AVID program, and cooling strategies for classrooms.  The meeting begins at 6:30 pm at City Hall and via Zoom. Agenda and Zoom Details March 11 Regular Board of Education Meeting The Board of Education heard a report about Star Reading and Math scores and an update on the Elementary Literacy Initiative.  The Board voted to approve the Second Interim Financial Report and AUSD's initial proposals for collective bargaining agreements with CSEA-27 (office and technical staff and paraeducators) and CSEA-860 (tradespeople and maintenance, and food service staff). Agenda and Video Note on Board of Education Communications Due to decreased engagement on X (formerly known as Twitter), AUSD will no longer live tweet Board of Education meetings. Instead, we will publish a summary of the Board's presentations and actions on our website the day after the meeting and then promote the summary via Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X, as well as in the next scheduled newsletter.  We will also continue to let the community know about upcoming Board of Education meetings and agendas via our home page, social media platforms, and newsletter. ...EHS student Emlia Arneson for being named a National Merit Scholarship Finalist. As we have reported in previous newsletters, three other AUSD students - Myles Handler and Jacob Song (Alameda High) and Edison Meals (ASTI) were also named finalists. Winners of the scholarship will be announced later this spring and into the summer. ...The four  AUSD eighth grade students  who received  Hope of America Awards from the Alameda Kiwanis earlier this month. Teachers and administrators nominate the students for the award, which honors students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, moral character, and community service.  The AUSD students who received the award this year were:   Leiloa Lyons (Encinal Jr. Jets) Thyago Guerra (Wood Middle School)  Sara Smith (Bay Farm School)  Lucas Williamson (Lincoln Middle School)     (8th grade students from Coastline Christian School, Nea, St. Joseph's, and St. Phili Neri also received awards.) The 27th Annual Hope of America Awards was held at the Elks Lodge. ...Maya Lin School Principal Karen Ringewald , who received the "Mentor of the Year" award from GeoVisions, with whom AUSD partners to hire educators from the Philippines.  Notes Jovany Docusin, the Filipino paraeducator who nominated her: "Ms. Karen, school staff, personnel, and the rest of the team as one have transformed Maya Lin School into more than just an institution – it is a community. From hosting different events and fundraising activities, family engagement to organizing cultural heritage celebrations, Ms. Karen has ensured that every student and family feels seen and valued.” “Ms. Karen’s dedication and vision have left an indelible mark on the lives of students, families, and staff. It is not only for recognizing her remarkable contributions and encouragements but moreover her continued excellence in educational leadership. I am a living testimony that you can be more, you can do more, and you can grow to where you are planted if the people that surround you are on the same boat.” Alameda Unified was awarded "Host Company of the Year," as well. AHS Jazz Band at Yoshi's Alameda High's Jazz Band swung through a wide range of classic jazz tunes at its fourth annual performance at the storied Yoshi's earlier this month. The hour-long set included "Chameleon" (Herbie Hancock), "Jumpin' at the Woodside" (Count Basie);  "It's Only a Paper Moon" (Arlen, Rose and Harburg);  "Catnip Shuffle" (Tim Clarke); and "Big Noise from Winnetka" (Haggart & Bauduc),  as well as a special performance by the student sextet,  "The Pink Hats."  Complex arrangements, skillful solos, and the expert direction of music director Tyra Cable made for a fantastic performance!         Watch the show "They Make the World a Better Place" As part of their 8th grade civic action project at Lincoln Middle School, four students - Michelle T., Kiatlyn Y., Shaun W. and Joshua W. - are advocating for the Alameda Animal Shelter.  "Animals are a huge part of our lives," these young activists say, "from being our friends, supporting us in our darkest times, and they make the world a better place overall. If you have a pet, you would know that they're a great loss whenever they leave our lives. We want to help as many animals as possible."  Learn more about their project on Instagram @alamedaanimalawareness. March 20: Superintendent's Community Message on Federal Funding In his community message last week, Superintendent Scuderi: Noted the proposed shuttering of the US Department of Education Acknowledged the concern and confusion this is causing among public school districts; Reassures the community that AUSD is carefully monitoring the federal situation and continuing to make long-term resource management a strategic priority "While we will likely not be without problems to solve, nor be fully immune to the potential downstream impact of erratic political decision-making," he wrote, "I genuinely believe that we will manage whatever comes our way, collectively, in ways that preserve our commitment to educating all of our kids in a manner that remains unapologetically inclusive." Read the full letter March 19: Webinar: Let's Talk About It: Allyship  On Wednesday, March 19, district counselor Melissa Saunders, MS, ME, PPSC will lead a webinar on helping children learn to be allies. This is part of our ongoing "Let's Talk About It" series, which Ms. Saunders has designed to help parents have constructive, compassionate conversations about sensitive topics with students in grades K-12. The presentation included: Definitions of allyship Ways to be an ally Raising an ally Specific tips on talking to children about allyship Ms. Saunders, who has worked for AUSD for 8 years, holds master’s degrees in both counseling and education and is certified in Mental Health First Aid, crisis prevention and intervention, restorative practices, and educational equity and diversity. Webinar recording See all the modules Community Voices: Ramadan As part of our regular "Community Voices" series, we are sharing the words of three Muslim students at Franklin Elementary School, who talked to their school about what Ramadan is this month. This year, Ramadan, which is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, extends from February 28 to March 29. The end of Ramadan is celebrated with the  Id al-Fitr feast. Student 1: "I want to talk about this month of Ramadan. Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims. Muslims are fasting in this month. Fasting is the 3rd pillar of Islam Religion. Every adult Muslim has to fast the whole Ramadan, fasting from sunrise to sunset. Today fasting starts at 6:06 am to 7:14 pm. We don’t eat or drink during the whole day." Student 2: "Ramadan is considered one of the Holiest months of the year for Muslims. In Ramadan Muslims commemorate the revelation of the Quran and fasting from food and drink during the sunlight hours as a means of drawing closer to God and cultivating self-control, gratitude, and compassion for those less fortunate." Student 3:  "Ramadan is one of the five bases of Islam. During one month we don’t eat and drink between sunrise and sunset. Ramadan is a time to remember those in need, so we fast, or don’t eat during daylight to remember those who don’t have enough food. During Ramadan, we know to always tell the truth. And not to be greedy. And to do as many good deeds as possible, like helping around the house."   March 24: North Region SELPA CAC Third Annual Literacy Round Table The North Region SELPA Community Advisory Committee invites you to our Third Annual Literacy Roundtable. The virtual event will focus on the science of reading and literacy instruction in our member districts. District leadership will present data on literacy and answer questions about how students are taught how to read. Please join us!   Date: Monday, March 24, 2025  Time: 6:30-8:00 PM  Format: Virtual  Moderator: Dr. Kathy Futterman Zoom link March 26: 9th Annual Youth Career & Job Fair March 28 , 29, 30 and April 3, 4, 5: Alameda High Production of "Cinderella" All are invited to the AHS production of Roger & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella.” First aired by CBS in 1957 (starring Julie Andrews as the maltreated step daughter) and 1965 (with an 18-year-old Lesley Ann Warren in the lead role) and then made into a feature film (Disney’s 1997 version starring Brandy), the musical features classic songs such as “In My Own Little Corner,” “Ten Minutes Ago,” and “Impossible.” Tickets

Monday, Mar 24 2025

CAASPP Testing to Begin | Measles Update | Jets Wome...

AUSD Newsletter | March 7, 2025         Events March 7, 7 pm:  All City Band Concert, AHS New Gym M arch 11, 6:30 pm:  Board of Education Meeting March 12 : 6-7:30 pm,  Curriculum Review Meeting March 14, 15, 20, 21, 22:  Encinal High production of " Mamma Mia ! " March 18, 7:30 pm , AHS "PTSA Career Panel: Skilled Trades," via Zoom (open to all AUSD students) March 19, 6:30 pm , "Let's Talk About It: Allyship,"  via Teams March 20, 7 pm,  Free Showing of "Counted Out," Alameda Theater March 26, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm,  Ninth Annual Youth Career & Job Fair, Encinal Jr. & Sr. High School Gym March 28, 29, 30 & April 3, 4, 5:  Alameda High production of " Cinderella " April 7-11:  Spring Break April 26, 10 am-3 pm , Annual Season for Nonviolence Student Speech Contest   CAASPP Testing to Begin Starting this month, students in grades 3-8 and 11 will take the California Assessment of Student Performance and  Progress (CAASPP). These standardized tests help us determine whether students have acquired their grade-level skills for Math, English Language Arts, and Science and identify students who might need additional support. They are just one tool that teachers use to measure students' learning; other ways include classroom work, observations, and other types of tests. The CAASPP and California Alternative Assessments (designed for students with significant cognitive disabilities) are important because they provide information about the effectiveness of our public education system and programs. The more information we have about our system, the more proactive measures we can take to ensure our program benefits all families, equips all students to succeed in reaching the state’s standards, and effectively  closes existing opportunity gaps. More information - including details on how school districts use CAASPP results,  how to help your student get ready for the testing, and how see your student's results - is available in the March 7 letter from the Department of Research, Assessment, and Data. Read the letter  March 11 Regular Board of Education Meeting The Board of Education will hear a report about Star Reading and Math scores and an update on the Elementary Literacy Initiative.  The Board will vote on the Second Interim Financial Report and AUSD's initial proposals for collective bargaining agreements with CSEA-27 (office and technical staff and paraeducators) and CSEA-860 (tradespeople and maintenance, and food service staff). The meeting starts at 6:30 pm at City Hall and via Zoom. Agenda and Zoom details AHS Seniors Myles Handler and Jacob Song , who are now finalists for National Merit Scholarships. Best of luck, seniors!   Otis Teacher-Librarian Paizley Spencer,  who has been selected to be one of the six school librarians on the California Young Reader Medal (CYRM) Committee.   Under the 50-year-old CYRM program, young people nominate titles they think should receive a Young Reader Medal, and teachers and librarians recommend books that are frequently read or requested. The California Young Reader Medal Committee then reads the books, discusses their merits, and develops a list of nominees. Learn more about CYRM   The Encinal Women's Basketball Team , which qualified for the Northern California State Championships and then won their first round game against Argonaut on Tuesday (67-32) and their second round game against Orland High School (67- 36) on Wednesday. Tomorrow night (Saturday) the Jets play Washington High School at 7 pm at Encinal. And if they win tomorrow night? They're off to the championships! So......Go, Jets!  March 10 Update:  The Jets beat Washington 59-37 Saturday evening, which means they play the Washington Christian School in the regional finals on March 11. If they win that game, they play in the state championship on March 14!    Measles Immunizations in AUSD As the number of measles cases rises in Texas and New Mexico, families in other states are becoming concerned about the disease’s further spread.  All students are required to complete the state-mandated vaccination schedule for public schools, including the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) immunization.  You can review the required vaccinations, as well as a list of free immunization sites in Alameda County,  here . As such, our vaccination rates are very high. Across AUSD, fully 97.55% of our students have completed their entire vaccination schedule, and 99.99% of our students have the required measles immunization. (Students may be missing vaccinations for several reasons, including medical conditions or having recently arrived in this country.) We recommend that families talk to their children’s doctor if they have concerns about measles or other contagious diseases or visit the following websites. California Department of Public Health: "Measles" California Department of Public Health: "Shots for School" Let's Talk About It: Being an Ally On Wednesday, March 19, district counselor Melissa Saunders, MS, ME, PPSC will lead a webinar on helping children learn to be allies. This is part of our ongoing "Let's Talk About It" series, which Ms. Saunders has designed to help parents have constructive, compassionate conversations about sensitive topics with students in grades K-12. The presentation will begin at 6:30 pm and include: Definitions of allyship Ways to be an ally Raising an ally Specific tips on talking to children about allyship   Ms. Saunders, who has worked for AUSD for 8 years, holds master’s degrees in both counseling and education and is certified in Mental Health First Aid, crisis prevention and intervention, restorative practices, and educational equity and diversity. Teams link for the webinar See the modules  Lincoln Students' Plastic Straw Survey Several Lincoln Middle School students are working on the issue of plastic straws for their 8th Grade Civic Action Project. During these projects, teams of 8th graders identity a problem in the community and develop a plan to address it that involves partnering with adults. The projects range from helping senior animals get adopted to improving bike lanes, helping victims of natural disasters,  and reducing litter.   We'll have more information about these projects in our next newsletter. In the meantime, as part of their project, one team asked us to circulate a survey about replacing plastic straws in Alameda.  You can review and take the survey below. See the Plastic Straw Survey March 7: All City Band Concert T his free, annual event will feature string and band students in grades 6 to 12 from Lincoln Middle School, Wood Middle School, Academy of Alameda, Encinal Jr./Sr. High School and Alameda High School presenting a wide range of musical numbers. The concert will be held in the Alameda High School gymnasium at 7:00 pm. March 12: Curriculum Advisory Committee Meeting The public is invited to a quarterly curriculum review and update. Topics at this meeting will include: secondary adoptions (6th and 7th grade Social Science and middle and high school world languages); Healthy Kids and Teens update; High School Math (IM3/PreCalculus); and an update on elementary literacy. e The meeting will be held via Teams: 6 pm - 7:30 pm   Join the meeting now March 15 - Encinal Production of "Mamma Mia!" Encinal High School students will be presenting the high-octane musical, “Mamma Mia!” on March 14, 15, 20, 21, and 22. All shows are at 7 pm at the Encinal Jr. & Sr. School gymnasium.  Featuring ABBA hits such as, “Super Trouper” and “Take a Chance on Me,” this crowd favorite tells the story of a young woman who is simultaneously preparing for her wedding and searching for her father.   Tickets March 28 , 29, 30 and April 3, 4, 5:  Alameda High Production of "Cinderella" All are invited to the AHS production of Roger & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella.” First aired by CBS in 1957 (starring Julie Andrews as the maltreated step daughter) and 1965 (with an 18-year-old Lesley Ann Warren in the lead role) and then made into a feature film (Disney’s 1997 version starring Brandy), the musical features classic songs such as “In My Own Little Corner,” “Ten Minutes Ago,” and “Impossible.” Tickets

Saturday, Mar 08 2025

Superintendent's Message: An Update on Hate Speech E...

AUSD Newsletter | February 26 , 2025         Events February 25, 6:30 pm,  Board of Education Meeting February 25, 8 pm,  AHS Jazz Band at Yoshi's February 27, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm,  Stop the Hate Family Forum, organized by Round Table Leaders, Love Elementary School, RSVP March 6, 7 pm - 8 pm:   Parent Information Session : 5th Grade Puberty Education Curriculum March 14, 15, 20, 21, 22:  Encinal High production of " Mamma Mia " March 18, 7:30 pm , AHS "PTSA Career Panel: Skilled Trades," via Zoom (open to all AUSD students) March 19, 6:30 pm , "Let's Talk About It: Allyship,"  via Teams March 20, 7 pm,  Free Showing of "Counted Out" (see below), Alameda Theater March 26, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm,  Ninth Annual Youth Career & Job Fair, Encinal Jr. & Sr. High School gym March 28, 29, April 3, 4, 5:  Alameda High production of "Cinderella" April 26, 10 am-3 pm , Annual Season for Nonviolence Student Speech Contest Superintendent's Community Message: Update on Hate Speech Efforts In his community message this week, Superintendent Scuderi reviews the work done so far this year to reduce slurs and other hate speech on our campuses.  That work includes updating our disciplinary matrix, a reminder about the community compact we asked students and parents to sign, and trainings for teachers and staff on responding addressing hate speech. "Whether it is slurs against racial groups, immigrant groups, or members of our LGBTQ+ community, or any other form of biased or discriminatory actions, AUSD is not the place for such actions,"  uperintendent Scuderi writes. "We are committed to improving our overall climate and culture by both walking the walk and, literally, talking the talk when it comes to inclusion and mutual respect." Read the full letter   AUSD Schools Celebrate Black History Month Schools across AUSD have celebrated Black History Month in a variety of ways this past month, including studying Black history, culture, and achievement and creating presentations. This year’s theme was “Black Resilience and Resistance,” and across the district students had opportunities to learn about the theme by reading books by Black and African-American authors, studying Black artists and scientists, and creating slide decks and posters.  Others held "oratoricals," assemblies, and celebrations. Learn more Bay Farm Literacy Night Celebrates Love of Reading Bay Farm School invited students, parents, and community members to its second Elementary Literacy Night on February 5, an enriching evening dedicated to fostering a love for reading.  Organized by Bay Farm School’s teacher librarian, Kim Chaney, this special event offered an  opportunity for families to engage with literacy in fun and meaningful ways. The evening kicked off with  a guest appearance by local author and illustrator Booki Vivat, a New York Times middle grade book author of the series Frazzled, Ms. Vivat shared insights about her personal journey, the power of storytelling, and the importance of discovering her gifts. She concluded her presentation with a demonstration of how her art drives her creative process.   The Literacy Night also featured four interactive workshops to equip families with strategies for encouraging strong reading habits at home. Those workshops covered the power of picture books, how to help your child find their "just right book," the importance of reading aloud, and free library resources that can help children find more great books to read. Student Volunteers from Lincoln Middle School staffed the event to read and play with students who were not in the workshops. “We believe that literacy is the foundation of a child’s education, and we are thrilled to offer an evening where families can come together to celebrate the joy of reading,” said Kim Chaney, Teacher Librarian at Bay Farm. “With the support of an incredible author and hands-on workshops, our goal is to empower parents with the tools to inspire their children to become lifelong readers.”          February 25 Board of Education Meeting At its February 25 public meeting, the Board of Education heard updates on AUSD's K-12 math program and school site results of increased collaboration, as well as and the initial proposals for bargaining agreements between AUSD and CSEA-27. and CSEA-860. The Board approved resolutions to reduce certain positions due to a lack of work or funding.  Agenda  & video February 11 Board of Education Meeting The Board of Education heard presentations on the 2023-24 Bond Oversight Committee Annual Report, the 2024 California School Dashboard Results, and the 2024-25 Mid-Year LCAP Report The Board voted to approve four easements to Alameda Municipal Power. Agenda and video   ...the AHS Lady Hornet Cheerleaders,  who competed at the United Spirit Association Nationals in Los Angeles on Valentine's Day. The team qualified for the nationals at two regional competitions and missed moving on to the finals by just 1.5%. So close! "This is my 4th year coaching this team and 1st year competing," says AHS Cheerleading Coach Ann Bloxberg. "The kids did GREAT, especially given our 1st year competitor status!" Watch a video of the team 's performance ASTI Junior Jett Setton  who was  the winner of the ASTI's Poetry Out Loud competition in November, in which he read  the poem "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost. Jett then went on to win the county competition with his reading of "The Darkling Thrush" by Thomas Hardy. Jeff heads to the state competition next month! Sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts,  Poetry Out Loud encourages high school students to learn about poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. California's Poetry Out Loud is the largest event of its kind in the country.  ASTI Senior  Edison Meals who is now a finalist for a National Merit Scholarship. We're rooting for you, Edison!   March 6: Puberty Education Information Session AUSD is planning to update its 5th grade puberty education curriculum next year. Staff are considering adopting the 5th grade module from Healthy Kids & Teens for this purpose. AUSD currently uses Healthy Kids & Teens modules for our middle and high school sexual education units as well. A consultant with Healthy Kids & Teens will lead an information session on the 5th grade curriculum on March 6 at 7 pm. We encourage elementary school parents to join us to hear: An overview of the Healthy Kids and Teens Puberty Health curriculum Where to find more information How the lessons align with California state law and standards Topics and resources that families can use to start conversations at home to support health and safety of their students before and during puberty Meeting details March 6, 7-8 pm Teams link     Survey on Mobile Phone Use in Schools Now Available Before the President's Week break, we sent all middle and school students, staff, and families a survey about cell phone use in schools. This survey was designed to help staff  and the Board of Education the community's perspective as it considers updating its cell phone policy.   The survey is available in your ParentSquare portal; the deadline is March 3. Please do take a few minutes to complete it!    City of Alameda: Central Avenue Safety Project Traffic Diversions Construction on the new Central Avenue Safety Project has begun. Once completed, the project will provide bikeways, enhanced pedestrian crossings, three roundabouts, improved bus stops, and street trees between the intersections of Main/ Pacific and Central/Sherman. This promises to improve safety for walkers, cyclists, and drivers alike along this stretch. Construction will have an impact on traffic routes throughout its various phases, however, including for students, families, and staff at our school. During Stage 1 (Winter 2025 - Summer 2025), Central Avenue will be closed to westbound travel between Fifth St and Lincoln Ave. This means: Vehicles can only travel eastbound on Central Ave between 5th St and Lincoln Ave. Westbound vehicles are detoured from Central Ave onto 5th St, then onto Marshall Way/Pacific Ave, then back onto Central Ave. Pedestrians and dismounted cyclists are detoured to cross 5th St or Lincoln Ave. Residents living within the closed limits will have access to their driveways but cannot park on Central Ave. There will also be construction between 5th St/Central and Encinal/Sherman/Central. At least one lane of travel in each direction along that segment will remain open at all times, however. The entire project is expected to be completed in 2026.  More information is available on the City of Alameda’s Central Avenue Safety Project web page .   Community Voices: The Meaning of Black History Month Last year, we launched the “Community Voices” series to acknowledge history and heritage months. In this series, we ask community members from the group being acknowledged to write short essays about what the month means to them. This month, we asked Renate Westbrooks,  a Focal Scholar Advisor at Ruby Bridges Elementary School, to write about Black History Month. This celebration, which was established in 1927 as a week and expanded in 1965 to a month, celebrates Black and African-American history, achievements, and culture.  "Black History Month isn’t just a time to reflect on the past," Ms. Westbrook writes. "It’s a time to celebrate who we are, honor where we’ve come from, and remind ourselves of the responsibility we have to those who will come after us. It’s about recognizing the sacrifices, struggles, and triumphs of those who paved the way for us. It’s about carrying their lessons forward so that each generation is better, wiser, and stronger than the last." Read the whole essay Learn more about Black History Month We'd also like to congratulate Ms. Westbrooks for being named a 2025 "Women Who Dare" Awardee by Girls Inc. of the Island City! Information about her award and the gala event to honor the other designess is available on the Girls Inc. website . February 27: Stop the Hate Family Forum Please join an interactive in-person conversation about bias and hate speech on Thursday, February 27th led by parent leaders of AUSD's Equity Round Tables (including Alameda Mosaic, Alameda Special Education Families, Asian Pacific Islander Round Table, Jewish Round Table, and the LGBTQ Round Table). This is intended to be an honest and respectful space for families to share their experiences with bias and hate speech and ideas to improve our response to incidents and overall school climate. Childcare and dinner will be provided.  Please RSVP here     March 4, 2026: North Region SELPA Screening of "The Truth about Reading" Join the North Region SELPA's Community Advisory Committee for a free screening of "The Truth about Reading," a documentary film that looks looks at the illiteracy problem in America, highlighting people who learned to read as adults, and sharing proposed solutions for working towards a future where every child learns to read proficiently. The screening will be followed by an expert Q&A panel.  The event takes place at 6:30 pm at Oxford Elementary School, 2000 Bonar Street, Berkeley. Register to attend For interpretation services, email kbabcock@ausdk12.org .   March 18: 4th Annual AHS PTSA Career Panel: Skilled Trades Please join us via Zoom for the 4th Annual PTSA CAREER PANEL on Tuesday March 18, 2025 7:30pm (until around 8:30pm). This year we’re focusing on SKILLED TRADES. We’ll hear from a chef, firefighters, electricians, and possibly from a representative of Peralta Colleges about their CTE programs. Come and learn about what they enjoy about their work, what led them to their current jobs, what their days are like, and what advice they have to offer students who might be interested in similar fields of work.  This event is open to ALL AUSD students of any age, so we hope to see lots of you there. Feel free to ask questions, or just watch and listen.    Tuesday March 18, 2025 7:30pm (until around 8:30pm) Zoom link Meeting ID: 973 5805 9069 Password: 788647 Learn more here March 20: "Counted Out" AUSD's Curriculum & Instruction Department and Office of Equity are co-hosting a free showing of "Counted Out" at Alameda Theater on March 20. The documentary examines the need for reforming math education to address societal issues like inequality, climate change, and political polarization, offering an empowering new approach. Ticket information TBA Learn more about the documentary March 26: City of Alameda Youth Career & Job Fair   April 26: Annual Season for Nonviolence Student Speech Contest The Season for Nonviolence is a 64-day period that takes place from January 30 to April 4 and honors the lives of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. and other peace activists.  The annual Season for Nonviolence Student Speech Contest will be held on Saturday, April 26th at Alameda City Hall from 10 am to 12:00 noon (MS) and 1:00 to 3:00 pm (HS). Each middle school and high school may send up to (3) finalists.  “BELOVED COMMUNITY” is the theme and speeches should be 3-5 minutes and include a quote from a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.  Please contact Ms. Anata Tran at (51) 918-6556 or email atran@alamedaca.gov if you have questions. 

Wednesday, Feb 26 2025