This document contains a description of ways that parents can participate in CAS.

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We are sorry to have said goodbye to several staff members. Last year's counselor, Elisabeth Sandberg, has taken a leave of absence, Bill Pratt, our long-time history teacher, is on sabbatical, Spanish teacher Alexander Klose has gone to teach elementary school in Tanzania, and Maggie Heredia-Peltz, last year's administrator, is now working with the World Languages department and Academic Choice.

New to our staff this year are Ana-Luisa Delgado, CAS Spanish teacher, Amy Frey, the administrator assigned to small schools within BHS, Hasmig Minnassian, US History, and our new CAS PE teacher, Michael McEvoy. We are thrilled to have these fine people join the CAS community. To contact one of your student's teachers, consult the email directory, below. (At back to school night, teachers may provide other ways to reach them.)

Name/Email

Appel, Dan -- dappel@berkeley.k12.ca.us

Crawford, Amy -- acrawford@berkeley.k12.ca.us

Delgado, Ana-Luisa -- analuisa_delgado@yahoo.com

Eisen-Martin, Biko -- em_biko@yahoo.com or Biko_Eisen-Martin@berkeley.k12.ca.us

Frey, Amy --afrey@berkeley.k12.ca.us

Halpern, Phil -- philiphalpern@mac.com

Katz, Leah -- leahkatz@earthlink.net

McEvoy, Michael -- Michael_McEvoy@berkeley.k12.ca.us

Martinez, Ingrid -- bookworm@troublemaker.com

Minassian, Hasmig -- hminassian@berkeley.k12.ca.us

Moran, Dana -- dana_moran@berkeley.k12.ca.us

Murphy, Mary -- mmurphy@berkeley.k12.ca.us

Quindel, Jessica -- jquindel@berkeley.k12.ca.us

Rasiah, Dharini -- drasiah@berkeley.k12.ca.us

CAS Parent Participation

CAS is committed to interrupting historical patterns of educational inequity, commonly known as "the achievement gap." We believe that the success of each student is the most valid measure of the success of CAS and of each of its member groups. Ultimately, the strength of our learning community depends on the willingness of every CAS student, parent, and staff member to build a partnership that takes collective responsibility for the success of each student. In order to fullfil this mission we are asking every parent to step forward next year to fill the leadership roles and do the work of a strong parent community within CAS. It is only with your help that we can build a type of small school and learning community that serves every student and offers a meaningful and relevant education. The following committees need parent volunteers:

CAS Leadership Council (LC): Student, parent and staff representatives meet throughout the year to review, develop and implement overall CAS policy. Next year we will need 3 parents to represent the 12th, 10th and 9th grades. The Leadership Council includes four parent representatives, four student representatives and the vice-principal, lead teachers, counselor and three teachers.

Parent Coordinating Committee (PCC): All parents are welcomed and needed to come to monthly meetings of the PCC. The PCC provides input to the LC representatives, sponsors and directs the CAS all parent meetings throughout the year, directs and recruits parent involvement in CAS activities, facilitates communication regarding the CAS program to families and helps build a strong parent community.

CAS College Committee: The College Committee regularly meets throughout the school year to assist families and students with the college application process including essay writing, SAT/ACT preparation, financial aid, choosing a college, gap year information, etc. The committee also reviews and updates the CAS informational brochure distributed to colleges and universities and surveys students as to what they will be doing after high school.

BSEP Committee: Parent representatives from CAS are needed to be members of this committee to add their voice and recommendations on how Measure A funds are distributed at Berkeley High. It is a critical committee that needs strong parental involvement and advocacy for small schools and effective programs that require funding commitments, particularly the CAS Video program.

School Governance Council: This is the body that governs BHS as a whole. It consists of the principal, other administrators, lead teachers of small schools and programs, department heads, 4 parents and 4 students. It's very important to have CAS parents and students participating in over-all governance.

Fund-Raising and Community Building Events: The crab feed is our main fundraiser for CAS. The Freshman Welcome Picnic is the most important community builder. Student international summer trips need parent catalysts.

Communications: This committee facilitates the CAS etree, phone tree, web site, publicity flyers, mailings and database. You can help out from your home computer or phone, without attending any meetings. People with web, database, computer, Spanish language skills needed, and also people who can just make phone calls or stuff envelopes.

Data Inquiry and Student Support Committee: This group of parents, teachers, students and the BAYCES coach meets to analyze the data about student achievement in CAS and formulate plans to address the needs that are observed.

August
Sat. 8/26 Welcome Potluck

September
Wed. 9/27 Parent Coordinating Committee 7-9
Thurs. 9/28 Back to School night

October
Mon. 10/9 No school
Thurs. 10/12 Leadership Council 5-7
Tues. 10/17 All CAS meeting 7-9

November
Wed. 11/1 PCC
Fri. 11/3 No school
Fri. 11/10 No school
Tues. 11/14 College committee
11/23-24 Thanksgiving holiday
Thurs. 11/30 LC

December
12/2,9,16,23 Calendar sales
Sat. 12/16 All CAS potluck
Wed. 12/6 PCC
Tues. 12/12 College committee
Thurs. 12/14 LC
12/22-29 Holiday

January
1/2-5 Holiday
Tues. 1/9 College committee
Wed. 1/10 PCC
Mon. 1/15 No school
Thurs 1/18 LC
1/22-26 Finals
Mon. 1/29 No school

February
Wed. 2/7 PCC
Thurs. 2/8 LC
Sat. 2/10 Crab Feed
Tues. 2/13 College committee
Fri. 2/16 No School
Mon. 2/19 No School
Wed. 2/22 BHS Open House

March
TBA 8th grade meeting, BHS
Thurs. 3/8 LC
Tues. 3/13 College committee
Wed. 3/14 PCC

April
4/2-6 Spring break
Tues. 4/10 College committee
Wed. 4/11 PCC
Thurs. 4/12 LC
TBA April Advice for Seniors & Parents

May
Wed. 5/2 PCC
Tues. 5/8 All CAS parent meeting
Thur. 5/10 LC
TBA Mex Ex Brunch?
Fri. 5/18 No school
TBA Senior Advice Night for Juniors
Mon. 5/28 CAS graduation
Thurs. 5/31 Video Festival

June
Wed. 6/6 PCC
Tues. 6/12 College committee
Fri. 6/15 BHS graduation

The March meeting of the CAS parent coordinating committee will be next Wed.
March 14 from 7-9 at 3017 Hillegass, 486-8013.

We will be planning an all-parent meeting for May 8, providing input to and
getting information from the Leadership Council, overseeing year-end
activities and planning for next year.

9th, 10th and 11th grade parents and guardians: If you have attended or
thought about attending in the past, please come to these last few meetings of
this year. Lots of active 12th grade parents are moving on and would like to
share their ideas for continuing parent participation.