Ever since then, Olson, now 20, has wanted to compete on Jeopardy! When he was a student at Berkeley High, he took the online test to get on the show, but didn’t make it. In … Continue reading »]]>

Alex Trebek and Matt Olson, the Berkeley resident competing on Jeopardy! Photos courtesy of Jeopardy!

In 2004, when Matt Olson was 12, he was captivated by Ken Jennings, the 30-year old man who won 74 Jeopardy! Games in a row.  It was the longest-winning streak ever on the popular game show and Jennings’ success catapulted him into national celebrity.

Ever since then, Olson, now 20, has wanted to compete on Jeopardy! When he was a student at Berkeley High, he took the online test to get on the show, but didn’t make it. In 2010, when he was a freshman at Stanford, he took the test another time. Again he failed.

But in 2012, Olson beat 12,000 other college students to win a spot on the Jeopardy! College Championship, which runs through February 14. If Olson triumphs (and he is contractually required not to reveal the outcome of the contest) he will win $100,000. His first appearance on the show is Tuesday Feb. 7. The show airs at 7 pm on KGO, channel 7.

“I’ve watched Jeopardy! Since I was a kid,” said Olson, now a sophomore at Stanford majoring in Symbolic Systems. “I’ve wanted to be on the show for a really long time. It’s pretty cool. I got my dream.”(...)

Read the rest of 20-year old Berkeley native competes on Jeopardy! (389 words)

By Frances Dinkelspiel. | Permalink | 13 comments |
Post tags: Alex Trebek, Jeopardy, Jeopardy College Championships, Matt Olson, Quiz Bowl, Stanford

CPA’s current program is distinguished by internships with local non-profit organizations, engineering, biotech, IT, government and health institutions. AMPS will also have an intership program. The revised course offerings include a renewed focus on science with Forensic Science, Chemistry, Biological Health Science, and either an AP science elective, … Continue reading »]]>

Berkeley High School. Photo: Lance Knobel

Berkeley High School is renaming and reconfiguring one of its so-called small schools, the Community Partnerships Academy. From next September, CPA will metamorphose into the Academy of Medical and Public Service (AMPS).

CPA’s current program is distinguished by internships with local non-profit organizations, engineering, biotech, IT, government and health institutions. AMPS will also have an intership program. The revised course offerings include a renewed focus on science with Forensic Science, Chemistry, Biological Health Science, and either an AP science elective, ROP Sports Medicine or Emergency Medical Careers. The Public Service pathway will have a new elective offering, Psychology/Sociology.

“We are extremely pleased with the evolution and new direction of one of our schools and the new pathways that the Academy of Medicine and Public Service will provide,” said Principal Pasquale Scuderi in the statement announcing the change. “With multiple analysts projecting the most notable job growth to be in health care fields over the next decade, we believe that our efforts will yield a curriculum that is relevant and applicable to the world our students will enter into upon graduation.”(...)

Read the rest of Berkeley High renames, revamps a small school (100 words)

By lance. | Permalink | 5 comments |
Post tags: Academy of Medical and Public Service, Berkeley High School, Principal Pasquale Scuderi

While it might seem worrisome that 60% of the school’s 3,300 students are routinely skipping class, the situation is actually better than last year thanks to new programs on preventing truancy, according to Daniel Roose, the dean of attendance.

While in 2010, only about 90.7% of the students attended regularly, … Continue reading »]]>

Berkeley High School. Photo: Charlotte Wayne

In the last two weeks, Berkeley High officials have sent out close to 2,000 letters telling students they have been truant, but they are regarding the number as an achievement.

While it might seem worrisome that 60% of the school’s 3,300 students are routinely skipping class, the situation is actually better than last year thanks to new programs on preventing truancy, according to Daniel Roose, the dean of attendance.

While in 2010, only about 90.7% of the students attended regularly, the number is up this year, said Roose. Attendance in September, October, and November of 2011 was more than 94%, he said.

“It’s still way too high,” said Roose. “The state of California would like all California schools to be in the high 90s. We are below average for our peer schools in California.”(...)

Read the rest of Truancy high, but improving, at Berkeley High School (738 words)

By Frances Dinkelspiel. | Permalink | 22 comments |
Post tags: Daniel Roose, Karen Hemphill, truancy

Berkeley High hosted its annual holiday meal on Saturday and hundreds of people came to enjoy the ham, turkey, salad, fruit, rolls, and pumpkin pie.

Each year, hundreds of high school students and their families collect canned goods, coats, toiletries and other items for the homeless or low income families and distribute them at the meal. Community members donate cooked hams and turkeys, and student bake pies, make the salad and cranberry sauce, and decorate the lunchroom at the … Continue reading »]]>

Berkeley High hosted its annual holiday meal on Saturday and hundreds of people came to enjoy the ham, turkey, salad, fruit, rolls, and pumpkin pie.

Each year, hundreds of high school students and their families collect canned goods, coats, toiletries and other items for the homeless or low income families and distribute them at the meal. Community members donate cooked hams and turkeys, and student bake pies, make the salad and cranberry sauce, and decorate the lunchroom at the high school. Musicians donate their time and even Santa plays a visit.

Mark Coplan of the Berkeley Unified School District took the photos shown here.(...)

Read the rest of Hundreds enjoy holiday meal at Berkeley High (2 words)

By Frances Dinkelspiel. | Permalink | No comment |
Post tags: Berkeley High Holiday Meal, Mark Coplan

By Pete Rosos

Doris Moskowitz was born in 1966, the youngest daughter of Moe and Barb Moskowitz. After graduating from Mills College 1990 with degrees in English and Music, she began working with her dad, Moe, at the legendary Berkeley store he founded in 1959 on Telegraph Avenue. Now it is Doris who owns and operates Moe’s Books, keeping her father’s legacy alive. In 2003, she and her husband, Johnny Williams, opened Boss Robot Hobby on College. … Continue reading »]]>

By Pete Rosos

Doris Moskowitz was born in 1966, the youngest daughter of Moe and Barb Moskowitz. After graduating from Mills College 1990 with degrees in English and Music, she began working with her dad, Moe, at the legendary Berkeley store he founded in 1959 on Telegraph Avenue. Now it is Doris who owns and operates Moe’s Books, keeping her father’s legacy alive. In 2003, she and her husband, Johnny Williams, opened Boss Robot Hobby on College. Their son, Eli Williams, is a freshman at Berkeley HIgh. She is a proud resident of Berkeley, graduate of Griffin Preschool, Walden School and Berkeley High, and a member of an elite class of those who attended the Berkeley Co-op’s popular “Kiddie Corral.”

When did you arrive in Berkeley?
I was conceived in Berkeley on McGee street. I was born at the French Hospital in San Francisco because my dad, Moe, wanted to be a part of my birth on his birthday in 1966. I grew up on the most beautiful street, Lewiston, near College and Woolsey.

What’s your ‘hood?
I am most often found on The Ave or in the Elmwood… where I grew up.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
For a while a wanted to be a vet, but I don’t handle blood very well. Then a forest ranger. Then a great writer. Then a torch singer. I still wish this were true!(...)

Read the rest of Snapshot: Doris Moskowitz, owner, Moe’s Books (345 words)

By guest. | Permalink | 4 comments |
Post tags: Doris Moskowitz, Griffin Nursery School, Moe's Books, Pete Rosos, Walden School

“We’re counted on by teachers who are now looking under every rock for funding,” said Molly Fraker, executive director of BPEF. “There’s not any public funding left for this kind of thing.”

The largest award is a single $44,000 grant to complete a two-year effort to build permanent book collections in every classroom throughout Berkeley’s … Continue reading »]]>

A BPEF grant of $44,000 will help complete the establishment of over 160 K-5 classroom libraries with consistent collections of titles. Photo: BPEF

The Berkeley Public Education Foundation (BPEF) announced this week a record total of $244,000 in grants funding over 400 teachers in Berkeley public schools.

“We’re counted on by teachers who are now looking under every rock for funding,” said Molly Fraker, executive director of BPEF. “There’s not any public funding left for this kind of thing.”

The largest award is a single $44,000 grant to complete a two-year effort to build permanent book collections in every classroom throughout Berkeley’s 11 elementary schools, done in conjunction with the school district. But awards range widely, with most being for a few hundred dollars for projects like teaching nutrition while making smoothies for preschoolers at Hopkins, to purchasing a color printer for visual materials at the Arts Magnet, to plants and supplies for the school garden and chickens at John Muir Elementary. The complete list can be downloaded as a spreadsheet.(...)

Read the rest of Record $244,000 in grants to 400 Berkeley teachers (182 words)

By lance. | Permalink | 16 comments |
Post tags: Berkeley Public Education Foundation

Simmons had been a leader at Berkeley High. He played on the varsity basketball and tennis teams, took many AP classes, got mostly As, and served a semester as student body president. Half-white and half-black, Simmons had been selected by the administration to attend a conference in Cleveland Heights on the achievement gap, an appointment … Continue reading »]]>

Nathan Simmons, also known as Sliggitay, from his Facebook page

When Nathan Simmons graduated from Berkeley High School in 2003, he was lauded as an example of a student who seemed destined to go far.

Simmons had been a leader at Berkeley High. He played on the varsity basketball and tennis teams, took many AP classes, got mostly As, and served a semester as student body president. Half-white and half-black, Simmons had been selected by the administration to attend a conference in Cleveland Heights on the achievement gap, an appointment that garnered him mentions in the San Francisco Chronicle, the Daily Californian, and the Daily Planet.

And then there was his acceptance to Harvard.

“When I first got there I was on the Harvard trip — like, I’m gonna do this shit, I’m gonna get a great job, and I’m gonna be living my life,” Simmons told the East Bay Express in April. “Somewhere along the way, that changed.”(...)

Read the rest of A Berkeley High star-turned-rapper takes tumble (479 words)

By Frances Dinkelspiel. | Permalink | 79 comments |
Post tags: Nathan Simmons, Sliggitay

The students, along with some faculty, staff, and alumni attempted to enter into the Guinness Book of World Records by having 211 people dance their way through a central courtyard at Berkeley High. And according to a certificate presented to the group, they did it.

“Berkeley High School set a Soul Train Guinness World … Continue reading »]]>

Berkeley High students dance the Soul Train. Photos by Mark Coplan

More than 300 Berkeley High students stayed after school on Monday to try and set a new world record for the longest Soul Train dance line.

The students, along with some faculty, staff, and alumni attempted to enter into the Guinness Book of World Records by having 211 people dance their way through a central courtyard at Berkeley High. And according to a certificate presented to the group, they did it.

“Berkeley High School set a Soul Train Guinness World Record today (November 14, 2011) by having 211 dancers dance down the “Soul Train,” school spokesman Mark Coplan wrote in an email. “I was number 296, and there were three people after me, so the numbers were strong. It was the time it took to herd all of us together (4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.) that made it difficult for everyone to stay for the final count, so a lot more participated. Great job Berkeley High!”(...)

Read the rest of Berkeley High sets new world record for Soul Train dance (147 words)

By Frances Dinkelspiel. | Permalink | 18 comments |
Post tags: Guinness Book of World Records, Mark Coplan, Soul Train, Soul Train line dance

The week was topped off by the football team’s 41-7 thrashing of league rival Pinole Valley. Yellowjackets kicker Sam Boyden had two field goals, … Continue reading »]]>

Monday of Spirit Week was "Nerd Day". All photos: Mark Coplan

Spirit Week at Berkeley High was, well, as spirited as one would expect. Students put their all into the daily costume themes, and the red and gold hued Friday finale of Spirit Rally included performances at the community theater and two special tributes to friends who passed away recently: Malik Grayson and Tim Moellering.

The week was topped off by the football team’s 41-7 thrashing of league rival Pinole Valley. Yellowjackets kicker Sam Boyden had two field goals, including a 51-yarder. The Yellowjackets are undefeated in league play with two games left in the regular season.

Update, 9:22am: The photos shown here are just a tiny selection taken by BUSD Public Information Officer Mark Coplan. To see the full collection (and try to spot you and your friends) visit these six galleries: Monday/Nerd Day, Tuesday/Tie-Dye Day, Wednesday/Toga Day, Thursday/Pajamas and 70s-80s Day, Friday/Senior Spell, Friday/Spirit Rally.

Day two, Tuesday, was Tie-Dye Day

(...)

Read the rest of Photo gallery: A week of high spirits at Berkeley High (64 words)

By Tracey Taylor. | Permalink | 4 comments |
Post tags: Berkeley High School, Berkeley High Spirit Week, BHS