Ms Gonzales kindly shared the below information for parents, beginning with a meeting tonight 3/3 about What to do about Teacher Turnover.  Thank you Director Gonzales for keeping parents in the know.

Also, March 10 is the deadline for submitting a Statement of Interest Form for serving on a Site-Based Committee for the Call for Quality Schools.  These committees have the important role of informing the proposal-writing (design) teams of the needs of the students and community, evaluating the proposals received and making recommendations to the district regarding the proposals received.  The form needs to be turned into the appropriate school (Brookfield, Castlemont, Frick, Fremont or McClymonds) by 3 pm on March 10.  Download the English form here and the Spanish form here.

Upcoming Events and Board Meetings

3/3 6 pm What Can We Do About Teacher Turnover? (Featuring Dr. Kimberly Mayfield Lynch, Education Department Chair at Holy Names University)  Cesar Chavez Branch Library, 3301 E 12th Street, 2nd Floor.  A stable, committed teaching force is key to addressing academic success in all schools.  Since 2009, Teach Tomorrow in Oakland has worked to address the barriers that face communities of color in entering the teaching profession, and has placed over 100 teachers from Oakland into our schools, with a 78% retention rate.  Attend to learn more about the challenges and benefits of such programs. Please RSVP so we know you are coming!

3/5 6 pm Frick Community Quality School Committee  Frick Middle School Library, 2nd Floor.  This group is working diligently to plan for making Frick the middle school of choice for East Oakland.  They would love to hear your ideas about school culture, academics, and leadership, so please consider attending.  This committee meets every other Thursday at 6 pm.

3/11 5 pm OUSD Board Meeting  La Escuelita, 1050 2nd Avenue.  You can see the agendas for the upcoming meetings here.  I know many people did not get to speak at the last meeting.  I recommend requesting a speaker card online, and requesting to speak on the first item on the agenda, to avoid having to wait until the end of the night to speak, in the event that there are many people wanting to make comments.

3/18 6 pm John George Democratic Club Education Forum  Buttercup Grill, 229 Broadway Avenue.  I will be speaking at this Education Forum.  Please RSVP so we know you are coming!

3/31 6 pm District 6 Education Advisory Committee  Parker Elementary School, 7929 Ney Avenue.  This is a monthly opportunity to come and share what’s on your mind about education with me.  Please RSVP so we know you are coming!

4/14 6 pm Challenges for Special Education Parents and Teachers  Cesar Chavez Branch Library, 3301 E 12th Street, 2nd Floor.  This discussion will feature special education teachers and parents sharing their challenges and strategies for supporting one another.  Please RSVP so we know you are coming!

Other Opportunities for District 6 Residents

3/7 9 am – 1 pm Dog Etiquette for King Estates Open Space  Meet at Sterling, Crest and McCormick streets, at the King Estates Open Space.  King Estates Open Space now allows off-leash dogs!  We took our dog their last weekend and she loved it.  This is a discussion to help dog owners who use the area to play nicely with the other users of this great public resource.

3/21 1 pm  Free Self-Defense Workshop for Oakland Teens  81st Avenue Branch Library, 1021 81st Avenue.  Suigetsukan Martial Arts School is doing free self-defense workshops for Oakland teens ages 12-18.  A permission slip is needed to participate.  This workshop will also be held 3/4 at the Asian Branch, 4/25 at the Chavez Branch and 5/13 at the Rockridge Branch.  Pick up a permission slip at the branch.  More info on this workshop here.

3/22 2:30 – 7:30 pm  Finals for the 36th Annual MLK Jr Oratorical Festival Phillip Reeder Performing Arts Center, Castlemont High Schoool, 8601 MacArthur Blvd.  Elementary schools will be on from 2:30 – 4:30 and secondary schools from 6:00 – 7:30 pm.  Click here for more details.

Also, OreMi Mentoring Program is looking for volunteers who want to mentor Oakland youth with incarcerated parents, or who are foster children.  Volunteers commit to meet with their mentee once a month for at least a year of service.  They are holding a Mentor Training on March 21.  More information here or email oremi@fssba-oak.org.

Thank you for all that you do,
Shanthi

Gonzales for School Board
http://gonzalesforschools.nationbuilder.com/