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Monday, September 3, 2007 Welcome new and returning CAS families! We are excited to have begun a new year and to be working with you and your children. The consensus among the staff is that we are going to have a great year. We are writing to let you know about some changes to CAS and about some of the things we are planning. (Please save this letter. It contains information you’ll want to have later in the school year.) CAS StaffWe 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.)
CAS This Year: 2007-2008Welcome PicnicThis past Sunday, about forty CAS families and members of the CAS staff assembled at BHS for our annual "Welcome to CAS" potluck, organized by members of the Parent Coordinating Committee. We all had a good time meeting one another, breaking bread and talking about the coming year. Much of what we discussed at the picnic is described in this letter. CAS Leadership CouncilThis year, Amy and I intend to build upon past successes of the Leadership Council. On Friday, September 14 from 4:30-7:00, I’ll be hosting a potluck bbq for parents/guardians who are considering serving on this important body. The event will take place at my house, 3037 Fulton St., Berkeley, 94705. The bbq will give us a chance to get to know one another better and to discuss our objectives for the year. I hope you will be able to attend. Please RSVP so we can plan accordingly. CAS AdventuresWe are proud to announce an exciting for 12-14 CAS seniors; for the first time, CAS and Cal Adventures have formed a partnership that will allow CAS students to earn a year’s worth of PE credit by participating in a unique expeditionary learning experiences including rock climbing, sea kayaking, backpacking and snow shoeing. If you’d like to learn more, please come to an informational meeting for parents and students. (Fliers went home with students last week, but in case your son or daughter forgot to give it to you… Date: Wednesday, Sept. 5 Time: 6-7:00pm Location: BHS College and Career Center (Second floor of the d-bldg. Enter at the corner of Milvia and Alston.) Independent ReadingThis year, CAS is emphasizing reading in our curriculum. Students will analyze and keep track of their reading habits, choose their own reading materials, and get in-class time to read. What does this mean for students?
What can parents do?
CAS WednesdaysAgain this year, CAS has a special schedule on Wednesdays. Our students spend 1st and 2nd period doing an Independent Project or attending our Academic Support Center. What can parents do?
CAS Wednesdays are described in detail in the document that follows.
CAS Wednesdays. 2007-2008
Introduction In order for CAS to better educate young people- to remind them that ultimately they are in charge of their learning and that their interests and curiosity are vitally important to their intellectual growth- CAS teachers, parents and students support innovation and experimentation. Over the years, the CAS community has done just that many times. CAS Wednesdays are a three-tiered challenge to the status quo… an opportunity to deepen connections between students, their teachers and our small school, to increase relevance and passion in students’ educational experience, and to break the cycle of inequity in which struggling students, often students of color, are too-often underserved. Please Note: The 2007-2008 Calendar of CAS Wednesdays can be found at the end of this document AdvisoryObjectives
3. Provide adult mentors for all studentsOverview• Advisories meet almost every Wednesday for 55 minutes in lieu of third period. See the CAS Wednesday Calendar 2007-2008, attached.
• In this, the second year in which we are running Advisories, all CAS students will be participating.
• Leadership Class representatives are chosen in each Advisory so that all students will directly or indirectly participate in running CAS.
• Advisories are balanced by grade level and gender. These groupings will remain intact year after year. Incoming ninth graders will be added as seniors graduate.
Advisory Grades (Quarter Grades)• Advisory grades are based on…
Advisory Grades (Semester Grades) • Advisory grades are based on…
• Students choose which two of their CAS classes they want their Advisory grade to effect.
• Advisees will earn a grade of “Outstanding,” “Satisfactory,” or “Unsatisfactory.” o “Outstanding” results in a 1/3 grade increase. (Ex. B+ becomes an A-) o “Satisfactory” results in no change.o “Unsatisfactory” results in a 1/3 grade decrease (Ex. B- becomes an C+)
Please note: o The CAS staff is currently considering altering the Advisory grading system o The curriculum map for Advisory can be found at the end of this document.
Independent Projects and Staff Collaboration Time
ObjectivesThe goals of “I.P’s” are two-fold; first, we want to provide a structured opportunity for students to explore an area of genuine interest to them, to draw students’ passion and curiosity into the school day. Second, we want to increase the amount of time CAS staff has to collaborate from four to twelve hours per month.
Overview• For two hours every Wednesday, students work independently off campus on a project that they design for themselves.
• Students must have an adult IP supervisor and their parent or guardian sign their Independent Project Log sheet every week. Log sheets are submitted to Advisors at the last Advisory meeting of every month.
• Students must be at a particular location every week.
• Independent Projects must fall under one of the following categories… 1. Art/Music 2. Community Service 3. Academic Enrichment
• IP’s take place during first and second period almost every Wednesday. (When Berkeley High has a “late start” schedule, CAS Wednesday does not take place.)
• Examples of recently approved Independent Project Proposals… o Build a boat. o Tutor in the classroom of a Washington Elementary School teacher. o Form a four-person band and record and mix a CD. o Apprentice with a bicycle frame builder.
• Examples of what CAS teachers do during collaboration time: o Evaluate student work o Track student progress o Meet in grade level teams o Develop curriculum o Meet in subject-specific teams o Create interdisciplinary projects o Develop student support plans o Conduct crisis intervention meetings o Plan one-day and overnight retreats o Schedule guest speakers o Organize field trips o Plan international travel Independent Project GradesStudents’ IP grades are based on…
IP Presentations and Exhibitions· At the end of each quarter, all students will make an informal, informational presentation to their Advisories explaining their progress on their IP or in the ASC. · At the end of each semester, IP students will present a well-developed exhibition to their Advisory. Parents, guardians, IP supervisors and community members may attend. · CAS Wednesday packets will be turned in to Advisors at the end of every quarter. These consist of a log sheet and a one-page synopsis of progress made during CAS Wednesdays. (anything else?)
Academic Support CenterObjective CAS is committed to eliminating the achievement gap and to helping students fulfill their potential as students and as individuals. The ASC provide students with tutorial help to reach those goals.
Overview • We want to provide students who are struggling academically with intensive support. Students with two or more D’s or F’s are required to attend the ASC two hours per week either during IP time on Wednesday or for two after school sessions per week. (Placements will be reviewed every quarter.)
• During IP time, ASC participants meet in groups focused on either math and science or English and history.
• Participation in the after school component of the ASC is voluntary except for those students with two or more d’s or f’s who want to pursue an IP.
• CAS math teacher Dan Appel will be coordinating the ASC and it will be staffed with Berkeley School Volunteers, parents, student teachers and other adults. (Volunteer opportunities available! Contact dappel@berkeley.k12.ca.us)
In closing, we would like to thank you for helping make these innovations successful. With your help, we are confident that students will be better served but we can’t ensure success without your help. Most importantly, we ask that you share responsibility for your children during IP time. Work with them on their IP Proposal and be sure to sign it when you approve of their project… Call to confirm that they are where they are supposed to be… Ask them what they have learned during her IP and what they are planning for their presentations and exhibitions… Be sure to ask to see and sign their IP Log Sheets at the end of the day every Wednesday… Learn who you’re their Advisor is and stay in touch with that person… With all three groups, teachers, parents and guardians, and students working together, CAS Wednesdays will continue to be a success.
Sincerely, Phil Halpern and Amy Crawford, CAS Lead Teachers and Dan Appel, ASC Coordinator
CAS Wednesday Calendar 2007-2008
Advisory A—Periods 1,2,3 are in the afternoon Advisory B—Period 4,5,6 are in the afternoon
CAS Advisory Curriculum Map 2007-2008
1st Semester
Goal: Build Community within CAS and Advisories. Develop and familiarize students with IP structure and requirements.
Artifacts: Community building curriculum. IP/ASC exhibition report
Meeting 1 (9.19.07)—Only 3rd Period Meeting: Orientation and IP Proposals are approved or revised
Meeting 2 (9.26.07)—Advisory Norms and Purpose
Meeting 3 (10.10.07)—Each advisory will develop a community building curriculum that will be taught to another advisory
Meeting 4 (10.17.07)—Develop community building curriculum
Meeting 5 (10.24.07)—IP/ASC Check-in. 3 minute presentations given by all students on what they are doing with their IP time.
Meeting 6 (10.31.07)—Combine advisories and teach curriculum that was developed (rotation #1)
Meeting 7 (11.14.07)—Combine advisories and teach curriculum that was developed (rotation #2)
Meeting 8 (11.21.07)—Cultural sharing around Thanksgiving
Meeting 9 (11.28.07)—Whole CAS assembly—can be moved
Meeting 10 (12.12.07)—IP/ASC Exhibition preparation and advisory evaluations
Meeting 11 (12.19.07)—IP/ASC Exhibitions (NO IP TIME)—IP/ASC Reports Due
2nd Semester
Goals: Focus on College and Career Planning
Artifacts: Students will develop a 4-year plan, a Career Plan and an IP/ASC Exhibition Report.
Meeting 1 (1.30.08)—College Goals & Personality Profile
Meeting 2 (2.13.08)—College Goals and College Overview
Meeting 3 (2.20.08)—CSU & UC Systems
Meeting 4 (2.27.08)—Private & Out of State Schools
Meeting 5 (3.12.08)—IP/ASC Check-in. 3 minute presentations
Meeting 6 (3.19.08)—4 Year Plan
Meeting 7 (3.26.08)—4 Year Plan
Meeting 8 (4.16.08)—Career Plan
Meeting 9 (4.30.08)—Career Plan
Meeting 10 (5.14.08)—Whole CAS Assembly
Meeting 11 (5.21.08)—Exhibition Prep and Advisory Evaluations
Meeting 12 (5.28.08)—IP/ASC Exhibitions (NO IP TIME)—IP/ASC Reports Due
Congratulations! You made it through a too-long, too-jargon-y letter! I hope it contains useful information and that it manages to communicate some of the exciting things that make CAS unique and successful.
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Sincerely, Phil Halpern Amy Crawford |
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