Alameda Unified School District

Welcome to "The Power of Voice: Changing the Narrative, an AUSD Black History Month celebration. Please join us to hear black students and facilitators from Kingmakers of Oakland discuss changing the narrative on Black joy, Black history, and the Black experience.

AUSD and AEA have signed a tentative agreement about re-opening schools for in-person instruction for grades TK-5. In order to allow time for both parties to ratify the agreement and to finalize some operational components, the district has moved the date for re-opening schools to March 15. You can find details about the TA (plus reminders about some upcoming events) in today's press release at: https://psqr.io/s0SxGJvDG4.

We're excited to announce an AUSD Black History Month celebration tomorrow, February 25, at 6 pm. This "Power of Voice" presentation will feature conversations with African-American students and Kingmakers of Oakland facilitators on changing the narrative on Black joy, Black history, and the Black experience. Please join us! https://zoom.us/j/97689306829.

Welcome to our Board meeting tonight!

An enormous thank you to Starbucks' Andrew Andehueson for the donation of snack bags for our families picking up meals today. And thank you, too, to the Alameda Grocery Outlet for donating frozen turkeys! Our Food & Nutrition Services was able to provide a LOT of food today for our families, and we are deeply grateful.

A reminder that we are holding our second Family Resiliency event. AUSD Intervention Lead Melissa Saunders will be talking about ways to deepen connections with family members using active listening and other communication strategies. Ms. Saunders is a teacher and licensed school counselor who has specialized training in restorative practices, crisis intervention, and equity/anti-bias work. 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm https://alamedaunified.zoom.us/j/85357151155 Meeting ID: 853 5715 1155

A reminder that AUSD's Food Services will be closed during Winter Break (December 21 - January 1), but if you need food support, you can call the Alameda County Food Bank Helpline at: 1-800-870-Food (3663) or visit FoodNow.net to help you find local food resources.

Student-run KJTZ has issued a challenge to all Alamedans to tune in ten minutes a day! Start at 9:05 am today by hearing a live interview with Superintendent Scuderi; follow it up tomorrow with a live interview of Mayor Ashcraft at 9:10 am! 96.1 FM or encinalradio.com.

Our newsletter today has a bounty of information - including a video message from Superintendent Scuderi, spotlights on the work of our PE and music teachers, an update on library resources, and a community bulletin about a partnership between Alameda Education Foundation and Rhythmix Cultural Works that brings visual and performing arts instruction to students during the pandemic. Plus we have a lot of heartwarming kudos, a lot of upcoming events, and two Board Briefs for this month! Parents can find the newsletter in their ParentSquare accounts. Employees will find it in their Outlook inboxes. And other community members can find it at: https://psqr.io/hv9JcTy4Fb.

We love these crazy monsters that students in the Paden Community made! Every month, students at Paden have a chance to do a maker space project. They receive the materials for the project, along with video instructions, and then are encouraged to upload photos. This month's projects include a pom pom maze challenge, a lego challenge, and a build a boat challenge!

Beginning this week, AUSD's Food & Nutrition Services Department is providing suppers and snacks during the curbside Grab & Go breakfast/lunch pickup! These free meals will be available at all 8 serving locations, Tuesdays and Fridays, 11 am to 1 pm. As a reminder, AUSD meals are free to all children 18 and under.

At its November 10 public meeting, the Board of Education will hear presentations on: AUSD's proposed Re-Opening Plan; updates to the Remote Learning Program; TK, kindergarten, and open enrollment plans; recognition of outgoing Board Members Gray Harris and Ardella Dailey; and an update on AEF's programs this year. The meeting begins at 6:30 pm. Agenda (includes Zoom log-in and public comment details): https://tinyurl.com/AUSD-BoE-11102020

Tonight our partner, Alameda Education Foundation, along with three of our students, will be honored with Community Service Awards from City of Alameda - Local Government. We're super proud of them! You can tune into the awards ceremony at 6:30 pm. And we'll have more information about them in tomorrow's newsletter. Register for tonight's ceremony here: https://www.alamedaca.gov//Commun/Community-Service-Awards

Congratulations to our Food Services Director, James Assia, who just was honored in an Extra Mile Proclamation from City of Alameda - Local Government Mayor Ashcraft! The proclamation recognizes the "extra mile" Food Services has gone by serving meals to so many children during the pandemic. #alamtg

We were excited to learn that Robert Steffani, a senior at Encinal Jr. & Sr. High School, was featured in KQED's story about teens working the polls for this election. Congratulations, Robert, and thank you for supporting our democracy! https://www.kqed.org//the-bay-area-high-school-election-wo

We were delighted to work with Alameda County Registrar of Voters this fall to identify three AUSD campuses that have enough space, parking, and accessibility to serve as polling locations. ROV workers went to Alameda High School, Lincoln Middle School, and Island High School yesterday to set up tables and voting booths. Please note: This year there are six polling places in Alameda for people who want to vote or drop off a ballot in person. The polling locations are open O...ctober 31 to November 2 (9 am - 5 pm) and November 3 (7 am - 8 pm). You can also vote or drop off your ballot at any of the 100 polling places across the county. The full list of polling locations is here: https://www.acgov.org/rov_app/pollinglist?electionid=241 In additions, there are three official ballot box locations in Alameda (where you can leave your absentee ballot): Alameda City Hall, 2263 Santa Clara Ave College of Alameda, 555 Ralph Appezzato Memorial Parkway Bay Farm Island Library, 3221 Mecartney Road

While state and county health authorities are strongly discouraging trick or treating this year due to the risk of spreading COVID-19, there are still opportunities to celebrate Halloween on our island! Consider hosting or joining a virtual costume party or socially distanced costume parade. Or join friends and family in a Zoom pumpkin carving session or spooky Halloween dinner! In addition: Alameda Recreation and Parks Department is hosting a virtual and family-friendly H...alloween Trivia Night at 7 pm on Saturday. Participants are encouraged to dress up and will have opportunities to answer trivia questions and win prizes. https://apm.activecommunities.com/alam/Activity_Search/5152 The Halloween Haunt Your House event is also ON this year a team of judges will be roving the island on Halloween night and giving out trophies and other prizes to homes with the best Halloween decorations. https://www.funameda.com/ahyh2020 And Rhythmix Cultural Works has created a virtual Dia de los Muertos event that gives attendees an opportunity to dance and sing with Cascada de Flores, write messages for deceased loved ones on barriletes (kites), learn about calaveras (sugar skulls), and build an ofrenda (altar). The video is available through November 2. https://www.rhythmix.org/events/dia-de-los-muertos/ The City of Alameda - Local Government has also created posters to put on your front door or window that kindly note that you’re not participating in Halloween this year, but you’ll be back again next year. The posters are available in English, Spanish, and Chinese. http://alamedaca.gov/halloween Please note that large indoor gatherings, haunted houses, indoor mazes, and other large gatherings of people indoors is not allowed. Full details on what is allowed and not allowed this year is available in this joint health order from health officials around the Bay Area. https://covid-19.acgov.org//joint-statement-2020.09.28.pdf

This looks like a helpful session for families who are struggling with the prolonged stress caused by the pandemic. It begins at 12 pm today.

Happening now! Please join us this evening for a Town Hall discussion about distance learning featuring Assemblymember Rob Bonta, Board President Mialisa Bonta, Superintendent Pasquale Scuderi, labor leaders, and other AUSD staff. You can watch the Town Hall from 5 pm to 6 pm on Assemblymember Bonta's Facebook page: facebook.com/RobBontaCA

At its October 27 public meeting, the Board of Education will hear presentations on the district's proposal for re-opening schools, disproportionality in AUSD, the Remote Learning Program, and homework. The Board will also consider board policies about the district's parcel tax programs and approach to equity, as well as a board bylaw about board member conduct. Agenda and Zoom details: https://tinyurl.com/AUSD-BoE-10272020

Please join us tomorrow evening for a Town Hall discussion about distance learning featuring Assemblymember Rob Bonta, Board President Mialisa Bonta, Superintendent Pasquale Scuderi, labor leaders, and other AUSD staff. You can watch the Town Hall from 5 pm to 6 pm on Assemblymember Bonta's Facebook page: Rob Bonta.

Still need a flu shot? Alameda Hospital will be giving free flu shots in their parking lot this Saturday AM, 9 am-12 pm.