Alice Kay Tolbert helped generations of students cross the street at Ruth Acty Elementary. When she retired last month, they gave her hazelnut chocolates and praised her in song.
Jefferson Elementary School
Posted inSchools
Jefferson Elementary School could be renamed after the first Black teacher at Berkeley Unified
Ruth Acty taught in Berkeley Unified School District for 50 years, and was a key part of efforts to integrate school staff in the early 1940s.
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BUSD will rename Jefferson and Washington elementary schools in broader ‘Black Lives Matter’ push
Board member Ka’Dijah Brown emphasized that renaming of the schools is only a small step in the district’s work to address systemic racism.
Posted inArts
‘A bunch of third graders’ mount a photography show
Creative wrangler Jeannie Kim Chen gave a group of 9-year-old girls from Jefferson Elementary professional-grade photography lessons. The result is “Miniworlds,” on show until Aug. 31.
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In wake of Florida shooting, Berkeley School Board approves $2M safety project
BUSD will assess school facilities and install more “Columbine locks,” specialized PA systems and surveillance cameras.
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Water at Berkeley schools tested for lead contamination
Preliminary tests at a few sites were negative, but a new law requires EBMUD to test every BUSD school.
Posted inEvents
The It List: Five things to do in Berkeley this weekend
BAMPFA on Jan. 28 when donors were treated to a gala and after-party at the new museum. Photo: Tracey Taylor OPENING OF BAMPFA In case you hadn’t heard, Berkeley has a newly housed museum, and it opens to the public on Sunday, starting at 11 a.m., with a great big, 12-hour long Open House. Get […]
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Berkeley School Board primer: Decision time for board on overcrowding
Turning the Berkeley Adult School into a new grade school is being considered as a long-term solution to overcrowding. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel Turning the Berkeley Adult School into a new grade school is being considered as a long-term solution to overcrowding. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel The Berkeley schools Board of Education meets tonight, Jan. 14, for a closed session at 6 […]
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Kids get new perspective on plastic, make eco-art
Sean Keller, fourth-grade teacher at Jefferson School, fixing one of the eco-art panels that were created by students and are on show at the Rosa Parks School library. Photo: courtesy Ann Kruger Spivack By Ann Krueger Spivack While students in Sean Keller’s fourth-grade class at Jefferson School tie broken toys onto a wire mesh panel, […]
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4 new principals appointed to elementary and middle schools, search continues for new head of Berkeley High
Cragmont Elementary School in Berkeley: one of four schools to have been appointed a new principal last week. Photo: Cragmont School Four new principals have been appointed to Berkeley elementary and middle schools, and the Berkeley Unified Board has decided to conduct a second-round search for a candidate to replace Pasquale Scuderi who is leaving […]
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2 Berkeley school principals move to new district roles
Pat Saddler: moving up from post as principal of Longfellow Middle School. Photo: BUSD Berkeley Unified School District is promoting two of its school principals to new district-level director positions. Longfellow principal Pat Saddler will be the director of special projects and programs, and Jefferson principal Maggie Riddle will be the director of schools, both […]
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Berkeley school recycling gets back on track
Students at John Muir Elementary sort for composting and recycling. Photo: Green Schools Initiative Berkeley schools are making a renewed commitment to recycling and composting after efforts slacked off over the past five years. This year, a local non-profit, Green Schools Initiative, has worked with eight Berkeley schools, revitalizing recycling and composting programs. Green Schools […]
