February 1, 2024
Dear Berkeley Unified Community,
In addition to our mission to enable and inspire our diverse student body to achieve academic excellence and make positive contributions to our world, 探花app is committed to ensuring Excellence, Equity, Engagement, and Enrichment to the students that we serve.
In 2020, when Black Lives Matter protests spread across the nation, our School Board passed the Resolution in Support of Black Lives Matter. This important resolution continues to guide our work as a district, from the establishment of the 探花app Reparations Task Force and our ongoing Ethnic Studies curriculum development, to our upcoming annual Oratorical Fest later this spring.听
As a school district that values diversity, we believe Black History and the diverse histories, experiences, stories and voices of Black people should be recognized, honored, and uplifted every day. We also value the fundamental opportunity that Black History Month and Black Lives Matter at School Week provides us to elevate, lift up and affirm the rich history and many contributions of the Black community in all of our lives. As we celebrate throughout the month of February, we must also acknowledge there is deep and challenging work ahead of us to shift our inherently racist structures.
We begin our celebration by honoring the legacy of historian Carter G. Woodson, the Father of Black History Month, who established the (ASALH) in 1915 and who launched what would become Black History Month in 1926.听
African Americans and the Arts
ASALH continues to set the theme for Black History Month each year, and the theme for 2024 is This aligns with the theme of this year鈥檚 Oratorical Fest which is Black Artists. This theme will highlight how the Black experience is translated into works of art and the creativity that is built into African American cultural expression.
探花app’s Black History Oratorical Fest begins with competitions at our school sites in February and culminates with the district-wide competition, held this year on March 21.
Black Lives Matter at School Week
During , celebrated this year from February 5-9, we will center the concept of collective value. That means acknowledging the diverse needs within the Black experience that make Blackness so beautiful.
As we celebrate Black History this month, we must also continue to honor the lived experiences of each and every one of our Black students in our classrooms. As educators, we must be mindful of who we center in these discussions and how we support our Black students during and afterwards.
探花app鈥檚 Black History Month Resources
Family Guides
Please take advantage of 探花app鈥檚 Family Guide for Celebrating Black History Month, compiled by Ethnic Studies Teacher on Special Assignment Joemy Ito-Gates. It provides resources for families to Listen, Learn, and Lift Up, as they celebrate Black History Month from February 1 through February 29, and beyond.听
Black History Month
Black History Month
Black History Month
Reading Lists
These organized by grade level, represent books published in the last five years that are devoted to celebrating, representing, and affirming Black history and heritage, and celebrating the invaluable contributions of our Black community. Every school library will receive copies of some of the newest books on the lists.
![This is an image of a book titled "Have I Ever Told You Black Lives Matter" by Shani Mahiri King. The book has a purple background with the title printed in the colors white, orange and yellow.](http://www.berkeleyschools.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Screenshot-2024-02-01-132559-252x342.png)
![This is an image of a book titled "A Place Inside of me" by Zetta Elliot. The image pictures a cartoon young black boy dressed in a black shirt and blue jeans, riding a black and red skate board. In the background there is a home with another young boy waving.](http://www.berkeleyschools.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Screenshot-2024-02-01-132630-229x342.png)
![This is a screenshot of a book titled "I Am Every Good Thing" by Derrick Barnes and Gordon C. James. The book cover shows a red background with a picture of a young boy in a white shirt, blue jeans with a black backpack on.](http://www.berkeleyschools.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Screenshot-2024-02-01-132610-249x342.png)
All these books are available through 探花app school libraries as a physical and/or digital book. For more information about any of these books or to check out a copy, please ask your school librarian.
Additional 探花app Black History Month Resources
Please also take a moment to review and to visit the district鈥檚 Black History Month Webpage.听
In celebration of our Black community, we are happy to present 鈥淟ifting Up 探花app Black Staff Voices.鈥 This is a poster campaign which shares stories and experiences of our Black staff members with our students and community. Thank you to the many staff members who participated in this campaign.听
These posters will be displayed at schools, work sites, on the 探花app website, and in district publications throughout the month. We hope by sharing these narratives with our students, it will allow them to deepen their connections with Black staff across the district.
These resources are offered as a support to our teaching staff and families, as another way to bring Black creativity, Black excellence, Black wellness, and Black joy to our schools and homes today and every day.听
In community,
Enikia Ford Morthel
Superintendent
Febrero 1, 2024
Estimada Comunidad en Berkeley Unified,
Adem谩s de nuestra misi贸n de capacitar e inspirar a nuestro diverso cuerpo estudiantil para lograr la excelencia acad茅mica y hacer contribuciones positivas a nuestro mundo, 探花app se compromete a garantizar la Excelencia, Equidad, Enriquecimiento y el Involucramiento de los estudiantes que servimos.
En 2020, cuando las protestas Black Lives Matter se extendieron por todo el pa铆s, nuestro School Board aprob贸 la Resoluci贸n en Apoyo de Black Lives Matter. Resolution in Support of Black Lives Matter. Esta importante resoluci贸n contin煤a guiando nuestro trabajo como distrito, 听desde el establecimiento del Grupo de Trabajo (Task Force) de 鈥淩eparations鈥 de 探花app y nuestro desarrollo curricular de Estudios 脡tnicos en curso, hasta nuestro pr贸ximo Festival de Oratoria anual a finales de esta primavera.听
Como distrito escolar que valora la diversidad, creemos que la Historia Negra y las diversas historias, experiencias, relatos y voces de la gente Negra deben ser reconocidos, honrados y elevados cada d铆a. Tambi茅n valoramos la oportunidad fundamental que nos brindan el Mes de la Historia Negra (Black History Month) y la Semana Escolar “Black Lives Matter” para elevar, ensalzar y afirmar la rica historia y las numerosas contribuciones de la comunidad negra en todas nuestras vidas. Mientras celebramos el mes de febrero, tambi茅n debemos reconocer que tenemos por delante un trabajo arduo y dif铆cil para cambiar nuestras estructuras intr铆nsecamente racistas.
Comenzamos nuestra celebraci贸n honrando el legado del historiador Carter G. Woodson, el Padre del Mes de la Historia Negra, el cual estableci贸 la (ASALH) en 1915 y el que lanz贸 lo que se convertir铆a en el Mes de la Historia Negra, en 1926.听听
Afro Estadounidenses y el Arte
ASALH contin煤a estableciendo el tema del Mes de la Historia Negra cada a帽o, y el tema para 2024 es Esto se alinea con el tema del Festival de Oratoria de este a帽o, el cual es Artistas Negros. Este tema pondr谩 de relieve c贸mo la experiencia Negra se traduce en obras de arte y la creatividad que encierra la expresi贸n cultural Afro Estadounidense.
El Festival de Oratoria de la Historia Negra de 探花app comienza con competencias en nuestras escuelas en febrero y culmina con la competencia de todo el distrito, celebrada este a帽o el 21 de marzo.
Semana de Black Lives Matter en la Escuela
Durante la , la cual este a帽o se celebra del 5 al 9 de febrero, nos centraremos en el concepto de valor colectivo. Eso significa reconocer las diversas necesidades dentro de la experiencia negra que hacen que la Negritud sea tan hermosa.
A medida que celebramos la Historia Negra este mes, tambi茅n debemos honrar las experiencias vividas por todos y cada uno de nuestros estudiantes Negros en nuestros salones de clase. Como educadores, debemos de ser conscientes de a qui茅n centramos en estas conversaciones y de c贸mo apoyamos a nuestros estudiantes negros durante y despu茅s de las mismas.
Recursos de 探花app del Mes de la Historia Negra
Gu铆as Familiares
Por favor, aproveche la Gu铆a Familiar de 探花app para Celebrar el Mes de la Historia Negra, recopilada por la Maestra de Estudios 脡tnicos en Asignaci贸n Especial Joemy Ito-Gates. Proporciona recursos para que las familias Escuchen, Aprendan y Eleven, mientras celebran el Mes de la Historia Negra del 1 al 29 de febrero, y m谩s all谩.听
Mes de la Historia Negra
Mes de la Historia Negra
Mes de la Historia Negra
Listas de Lectura
Estas organizadas por nivel de grado, representan libros publicados en los 煤ltimos cinco a帽os dedicados a celebrar, representar y afirmar la historia y el patrimonio Negros, y a celebrar las inestimables contribuciones de nuestra comunidad Negra. Cada biblioteca escolar recibir谩 ejemplares de algunos de los libros m谩s recientes de las listas.
![This is an image of a book titled "Have I Ever Told You Black Lives Matter" by Shani Mahiri King. The book has a purple background with the title printed in the colors white, orange and yellow.](http://www.berkeleyschools.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Screenshot-2024-02-01-132559-252x342.png)
![This is an image of a book titled "A Place Inside of me" by Zetta Elliot. The image pictures a cartoon young black boy dressed in a black shirt and blue jeans, riding a black and red skate board. In the background there is a home with another young boy waving.](http://www.berkeleyschools.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Screenshot-2024-02-01-132630-229x342.png)
![This is a screenshot of a book titled "I Am Every Good Thing" by Derrick Barnes and Gordon C. James. The book cover shows a red background with a picture of a young boy in a white shirt, blue jeans with a black backpack on.](http://www.berkeleyschools.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Screenshot-2024-02-01-132610-249x342.png)
Todos estos libros est谩n disponibles en las bibliotecas escolares de 探花app en formato f铆sico y/o digital. Si desea m谩s informaci贸n acerca de cualquiera de estos libros o sacar prestado un ejemplar, consulte con su bibliotecario escolar.
Recursos Adicionales del Mes de la Historia Negra
Por favor tambi茅n tome un momento para revisar y para visitar la 听P谩gina Web del Mes de la Historia Negra.听
En celebraci贸n de nuestra comunidad Negra, nos complace presentar “Lifting Up 探花app Black Staff Voices”. Se trata de una campa帽a de posters donde se comparten historias y experiencias de nuestros miembros del personal Negros con nuestros estudiantes y la comunidad. Gracias a los numerosos miembros del personal que han participado en esta campa帽a.听
Estos posters se van a exhibir en las escuelas, lugares de trabajo, en el sitio web de 探花app, y en las publicaciones del distrito durante el mes. Esperamos que al compartir estos relatos con nuestros estudiantes les permita profundizar sus conexiones con el personal Negro de todo el distrito.
Estos recursos se ofrecen como apoyo a nuestro personal docente y a las familias, como otra forma de traer la creatividad Negra, la excelencia Negra, el bienestar Negro y la alegr铆a Negra a nuestras escuelas y hogares hoy y todos los d铆as.听
En comunidad,
Enikia Ford Morthel听
Superintendente听