News

Board President Laura Babitt will pass the presidency to Director Ana Vasudeo.

School board: Director Vasudeo to become new board president

On Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, the Berkeley Unified School District School Board convened, beginning with the announcement of the meeting’s agenda, made by Laura Babitt, the president of the board.

Hygiene product drives are an easy way for community members to give back.

Women’s Student Union hosts hygiene product drive for shelter

Berkeley High School’s Women’s Student Union began hosting a hygiene drive for the Dorothy Day House on Monday, Nov. 13, 2023 and that is continuing up until Friday, Dec.

Jessica Hipona and other students operate tables at Multicultural Week.

Berkeley High hosts Multicultural Week

Monday, Nov. 13, 2023, marked the first day of Berkeley High School’s Multicultural Week, a school-wide event celebrating the variety of cultures and cultural clubs at BHS.

Illustration of a person surrounded by renewable energy sources.

School board meeting: Speakers discuss the district’s goals

On Wednesday, Nov. 15, the Berkeley Unified School District School Board convened, during which the BUSD superintendent recognized Berkeley’s United Against Hate Week.

The BHS Community Theater is located alongside the A Building.

After long wait, BHS Community Theater soon to be completed

In January of 2024, the nearly four-year-long remodel to the Berkeley High School Community Theater is expected to reach completion. The COVID-19 shutdown delayed construction, but the majority of structural and aesthetic renovations have been completed.

An illustration of a handshake with the word fiction in a box and a turkey behind the handshake.

Teachers combat the misrepresentation of  Thanksgiving’s history 

At Berkeley High School, as Thanksgiving approaches, history teachers grapple with how to go about teaching the authentic history of Thanksgiving and how to educate their students on the experiences of Indigenous peoples in general.

Illustration of a head with flowers growing out of the top.

School board discusses student wellness

On Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023, the Berkeley Unified School District School Board convened, discussing the upcoming Wellness Center at Berkeley High School, the impact on students from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the upcoming modernization of Sylvia Mendez Elementary.

Sami Khayatei Houssiani and Lenka Simon are on the SSC.

BHS Site Council: Representatives share impact of lack of clarity

When Berkeley High School junior Lenka Simon ran for the Berkeley High School Site Council at the end of their freshman year, they said they weren’t entirely sure what they were running for.

A BHS student examines a table of crafts on display at the Fall Craft Fair.

Fall craft fair promotes student creativity

On Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023, Berkeley High School hosted its first Fall Craft Fair on the campus green during lunch, providing a platform for students to showcase their artistic talent.

Seniors rally outside of the A building.

Red and Gold Day: Crowds of students celebrate Jacket pride 

Berkeley High School celebrated Red and Gold Day, previously known as Rally Day, on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. On Red and Gold Day, the BHS campus is transformed into a sea of red and gold, as students and teachers alike celebrate school spirit.

Firefighting helmets from the 1923 Berkeley Wildfire.

New Berkeley Historical Society exhibit explores 1923 wildfire

On Sunday, Nov. 5, the Berkeley Historical Society and Museum will be holding a reception for the opening of their new exhibit, The 1923 Fire: Berkeley’s First Wildfire Disaster.

Illustration of a Yellow Jacket putting out a fire consuming books.

BHS reacts to book bans across country

In Universal Ninth Grade English teacher Zia Grossman-Vendrillo’s classroom, students are learning to write their own picture books. They read examples from the library like “Julián is a Mermaid” by Jessica Love.

Illustration of a person looking at a multiple choice test question on a screen with floating books surrounding them.

Digital SAT format, positives and negatives

Beginning in Spring 2024, the SAT will transition from a paper format to being fully digital. The new test format is scored the same way and tests the same content, but is one hour shorter.  Berkeley High School students took a digital PSAT on Friday, Oct.

Image of the student walkout in support of Palestine.

BHS students walk out in support of Palestine

On Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023 at 10:30 a.m., over 150 Berkeley High School students walked out in support of Palestine in regards to the recent events in Israel and Gaza.

A construction project near UC Berkeley plans to provide more housing.

Construction booms across Berkeley to relieve housing shortage

On Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, one of the Berkeley Walgreens locations closed for good, soon to be demolished to make way for a 25-story, 326-unit apartment building, according to Berkeleyside.

Stack of books with a tiny person on top and a person with a sign with "Phonics" on it to the left of the stack of books

BUSD maintains use of the Lucy Calkins reading curriculum 

In 2017, families of students with dyslexia, sued Berkeley Unified School District. The federal class action lawsuit was filed stating that BUSD failed to provide legally required accommodations to students struggling with reading.

Illustration of various Filipino cultural and historical symbols

Berkeley High students celebrate Filipino heritage month

October is Filipino American History Month, which was created by Filipino American activists and first celebrated in 1992. At Berkeley High School, students are using the month to learn about  and discuss Filipino and Filipino American history and culture.

The chess spot served as a community hub.

City shuts down chess spot on Telegraph

The corner of Telegraph Ave. and Haste St. in Berkeley is a historical place, steeped in meaning. It was previously known as “Cody’s Free Speech Corner,” after Pat Cody, the late owner of Cody’s Books, which resided on Telegraph Ave.