[CAS-BHS] CAS UPDATES. . .

Sun Apr 16 12:30:51 PDT 2006

From:  Rick Ayers rayers at berkeley.k12.ca.us

April 16, 2006

Dear CAS Families,

            I hope you had a wonderful spring break.  We have many important & exciting developments coming up for this last quarter.  Here are five updates to mark in your calendar.  

1)  Watch for announcements on CAS graduation (set for May 29 at the Berkeley Repertory Theater).  Our next planning meeting of senior parents will be Monday, April 17, at 7:30 PM at  2942 Ellis St. (traveling west on Ashby, below MLK, turn right on Ellis across from Malcolm X playground.)  Note:  We badly need Junior Parents to help with food for this graduation ceremony - a tradition we have established so senior parents can be inside watching their students on stage!

2)  Watch also for updates on fundraising activities for the two CAS summer trips:  one to Morelia, Mexico, and the other to Shirati, Tanzania.  

3)  ISRAEL/PALESTINE PANEL DISCUSSION

Please come to this public event organized by CAS senior Sara Shor as part of her service learning internship.  It is Tuesday, April 18 at 7:00 PM.  Note that we had planned a CAS poetry slam for this Tuesday but we are going to postpone it until next week, April 25.

FEATURING TWO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, ONE PALESTINIAN AND ONE ISRAELI -- ALSO, AND ISRAELI-AMERICAN AND PALESTINIAN-AMERICAN ADULT FROM HERE IN THE BAY AREA

WHERE: The Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center

1414 WALNUT ST

BERKELEY, CA

WHEN: TUESDAY, APRIL 18TH

7PM-9PM

COST:  SLIDING SCALE $1-15

The conflict between Israel and Palestine is one of the most prevalent international issues today, yet how often are the personal and emotional aspects brought up? On April 18th, two high school students - one from Afula, Israel, and the other from Ramallah in the West Bank - will be here to speak on a panel about their experience around the conflict. Joining them will be both an Israeli-American and Palestinian-American adult from the Bay Area to share their perspectives on the conflict. 

Event sponsored by Jewish Youth for Community Action (JYCA)

4)  New Book on Berkeley High!

            Remember the Diversity Project, that extensive and gigantic study-research project on Berkeley High?  From 1996 to 2002, dozens of people from UC Berkeley Department of Education along with parents, students, and staff at Berkeley High, engaged in a wide-ranging and powerful study of the causes of racial divisions and the achievement gap at Berkeley High.  Now, a new book by the director of the Diversity Project, Pedro Noguera, and the lead researcher, Jean Yonemura Wing, has just been released by Jossey-Bass publishers.  

            Entitled Unfinished Business, Closing the Achievement Gap in Our Schools, the book reminds us of the powerful lessons of the Diversity Project and the reasons that drive our work for small schools.  Get a copy today!

5)  Interesting summer opportunity: 
Full Scholarships Available for Summer Language Study in Egypt
12 Full AFS-USA Scholarships for Summer Language Institute in Egypt
Seeking Teen Scholars to Live in Cairo & Learn Arabic
            We are writing to inform you of some very exciting news! AFS has been asked to offer an extraordinary exchange experience in Egypt to American teenagers. After hosting Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Scholars from Egypt, who introduced Americans to their language and culture, U.S. students will now have a chance to experience "real" life in Egypt and begin learning the Arabic language.

            This summer, 12 high school students will be selected to live with an Egyptian family in Cairo and learn all about their culture and customs. They will participate in an intensive Arabic language program from June 28 to August 17, 2006. Along their journey, our YES Program Returnees will be their guides, accompanied by AFS Egypt Staff and a US-based program leader.
            Applicant Eligibility Requirements:  15-18 year old male or female; eager to learn Arabic and continue their language study upon return to the US; academic achievement--3.0GPA or above; outstanding representative of the US; able to meet cross cultural challenges with maturity, respect, and humor; prepared to share their own culture with their Egyptian hosts
            While AFS's normal recruitment period has passed, we are asking for your help with finding outstanding young people, ready to embrace this opportunity. To submit a nomination, please download and complete the following form: http://www.cooleremail.net/users/afsdevelop/library52.doc and send it to Karissa Cain in the AFS Admissions Center either by fax: 503.419.9628, or by email at karissa.cain at afs.org by April 28, 2006 - application deadline May 19, 2006.
            We do welcome your questions about this scholarship opportunity, so please feel free to contact Karissa Cain at 1.800.AFS.INFO ext 1546.
            Domestic airfare, cost of travel documents, and spending money are not included in this special scholarship. However all other program costs, including international airfare, secondary medical coverage, orientation and on-program expenses, are included. The normal AFS application fee of $75 will apply.
            While in Egypt, the students will be briefed by officials from the U.S. Embassy in Cairo. Students will receive a thorough orientation program, both prior to departure and upon arrival in Egypt, as well as a debriefing at the close of the program. Alongside an intensive language program, students will have opportunities to interact with Egyptian parliamentarians, educators, and leaders. Excursions to Alexandria, the pyramids of Giza and other important historical sites, will help bring Egypt into its extraordinary historical
perspective.
Sincerely,
Margaret Hunt
Vice President
AFS Intercultural Programs/USA
ofadahunsi at afs.org  AFS-USA Inc.

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