“Dreaming Big: Public Education in Berkeley” Community Event

"Dreaming Big: Public Education in Berkeley," sponsored by the Berkeley Federation of Teachers, will be held on Thursday, December 10th, from 6:00pm-7:30pm in the Berkeley Technology Academy multipurpose room, 2701 Martin Luther King Jr. Way.

Pizza will be served starting at 5:30, and at 6:00 we'll begin with a panel discussion framed around two big questions:

  • What is working in public education today?
  • In thinking about how to improve public education, what should we strive for?

The panel will include BUSD Board President Judy Appel, both student BUSD School Board Directors, a LeConte parent, a Longfellow teacher, and education scholar Peter Ross, Chief of Staff at the Learning Policy Institute at Stanford University.

After the panel, there will be significant time for table discussions about the same questions.  We expect a great turnout of teachers, staff, parents, students, and elected officials.  There's a lot to talk about in BUSD this year, with BSEP renewal, Local Control Funding, and other important ballot measures coming up!  Our goal is to spark robust discussion in the community about the kinds of schools our children deserve.

Please direct any questions to BFT Vice President John Becker at johnbecker@berkeley.net.

Order Holiday Cards Through TinyPrints and Support MX

Ordering holiday cards and gifts online this year?  Support Malcolm X and use coupon code TPPH66C9A7 on Tiny Prints to receive 40% off!  (The code expires on December 31, 2015.)  Simply log on to http://malcolmxelementary.shutterflystorefront.com, and choose Tiny Prints from the storefront, and you can apply the 40%-off code at checkout.  The best part: Malcolm X gets a portion of the sale price!  MX earned over $500 last year using this storefront.

First Annual MX Craft Fair Coming Up on December 12th!

Come to the MX Craft Fair to do some winter holiday shopping and connect with our communities within Malcolm X as well as our larger Berkeley/East Bay neighborhoods!  Bring your friends, family, and neighbors.  In addition to shopping for locally handmade goods and services, we're planning crafts for the kids, a raffle of goods donated by the vendors, a bake sale, and a gift wrap table.

Date: Saturday, December 12, 2015
Time: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Location: the MX Auditorium

Want to help or get involved?  We'll need a hand with set up, break down, gift-wrapping – and at the bake sale and kids' craft activities tables.  We can also use some help with organizing donations of home baked goodies!  If you're interested in volunteering, please email Erin Jurnove at mx@jurnove.com.

All proceeds from vendor table fees, the bake sale table, volunteer gift wrap services, raffle ticket sales, sales of any donated student artwork, etc. will go directly to the MX PTA to support the students and teachers at Malcolm X.

Middle School Information Night for MX Families

Come and hear from parents and students from Longfellow, Williard, OSA, King, and REALM!  The event will be held on Wednesday, December 9th at 7:00pm in the MX Auditorium.

Open to all families who are interested in learning more about public school options for their students!  Childcare will be available; no dinner, but a few snacks will be provided if you are coming from work.

Know a current middle school parent or student who might want to be on the panel?  If you know any former MX students and/or their parents who would like to be on the panel, they can provide their info in this spreadsheet and they will be contacted: http://tinyurl.com/o72wtsv

Office of Family Engagement Wish List

General Items

  • Backpacks which are new and gently used
  • Socks: Sizes 4-10
  • Shoes: Sizes 7 children to size 7 for men/women
  • Rain Coats
  • Shoe Laces
  • Sweaters
  • Coats
  • Underwear
  • Belts

Toiletries

  • Toothpaste
  • Face Towels
  • Bar Soap/Body Wash
  • Deodorant

Snacks

  • Cheese crackers
  • Canned soup
  • Raisins/ Trail mix
  • Top Ramen
  • Bottle Water
  • Oatmeal Packs

First Annual MX Craft Fair

Put Saturday, December 12, 2015 on your calendar!

Come to the MX Craft Fair to do some winter holiday shopping and connect with our communities within Malcolm X, as well as our larger Berkeley/East Bay neighborhoods! Bring your friends, family, and neighbors.  In addition to selling locally handmade goods and services, we're planning crafts for the kids, a raffle of goods donated by the vendors, a bake sale, and a gift-wrapping table.

Date: Saturday, December 12, 2015
Time: 10 am to 2 pm (set up starts at 8:30 am)
Location: the Auditorium at Malcolm X Elementary

Interested in vending?
We’re still looking within our Malcolm X community for makers and small businesses to sell their wares.  A moderate/reasonable table fee will apply and vendors will be chosen by application.  For more information, please visit: http://bit.ly/1jxrnjp

For any questions about vending or applying, email Angel Huntington-Ortega (mom to 1st grader, Amalia and MX alum, Paloma) at angelhasemail@gmail.com.

Want to help or get involved?  We'll need a hand with set up, break down, gift wrapping, and at the bake sale table.  We can also use some help with organizing donations of home baked goodies, coordinating the raffle and student art sales, and coordinating kids' craft activities.

If you're interested in volunteering (whether it's a specific task or you just want to help/learn more/be involved), email Erin Jurnove (mom to 2nd grader, Isaac) at mx@jurnove.com.

All proceeds from vendor table fees, the bake sale table, volunteer gift wrap services, raffle ticket sales, sales of any donated student artwork, etc. will go directly to the MX PTA to support the students and teachers at Malcolm X.

Volunteer Opportunity: Kindergarten Tours

Volunteer to lead a school tour for prospective families.

It's time again to share our amazing school with prospective Kindergarten families for the 2016 - 2017 school year!

Are you interested in volunteering to be a Parent Tour Guide? We are looking for a few more volunteers to help lead tours. This is a terrific way to volunteer and support MX school.

It takes minimal training. Most of the incoming families are Kindergarten parents, so parents of K and 1st- graders are excellent guides, giving their first-hand knowledge of the process. Parents of upper-grade
students are also excellent for sharing their experiences throughout the years at the
school.

Tours will be given on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, starting November 17 and running through January 28. Tours begin at 8:30am and end at 9:30am. Occasionally, parents stay a little longer, asking questions or touring upper-grade classrooms. There are 17 morning slots to fill, with two tour guides each.

If you who would like to “train” as a guide, you are welcome to accompany the Tuesday, November 17, Thursday, November 19 or Tuesday, November 24 tours.

Please contact Pam Waller at radiantpam@aol.com if you would like to volunteer or want to learn more.

Thank you!

Thank You, Malcolm X Farmigo Customers!

Thank you all Farmigo customers for your amazing support.  We are a community of 142 strong!  In order to keep this amazing program alive at Malcolm X, delivery of Farmigo will be any time after 1:30pm on Wednesdays at the organizer’s home on Ellis Street, just four houses south of MX.  (If you drive to school, you probably park further than her house!)  So continue to eat well, continue to raise money for your school!  So far we've raised $6363.15 in the two years Farmigo has been going!

Farmigo offers fresh, local, and organic food through its online marketplace.  You place your order, and pick it up after school on Wednesdays -- and 10% of the weekly proceeds go directly to the Malcolm X PTA!

Some great things about Farmigo:

  • You only order what – and how much – you want.  No sign-up fees, no ongoing commitments, no minimum orders.
  • Farmigo offers fruits and vegetables, milk, eggs, cheese, yogurt, frozen meats, breads, fresh pastas, and other items.  

Check it out: https://www.farmigo.com/malcolmxelementary

For more information, contact Becky Matthews at rebecca.a.matthews@gmail.com or 510-499-1975.

International Walk & Roll to School Day a Big Success!

What a great way to kick off the year!  Our first Walk & Roll Wednesday was a smash success, with over 200 students stopping by the mode chart at the picnic tables and recording how they got to school.

Here’s the results:

  • Walk - 29%
  • Roll - 23%
  • Carpool - 11%
  • Bus - 14%
  • Car - 23%

There was also a strong group of bikers who joined the inaugural bike train down Russell.  Email Sofia Zander at szander@gmail.com if you’re interested in starting your own (or want to know more about how that bike train went)!

Join us again on these 2015-16 Wednesdays:

  • November 4
  • December 2
  • January 6
  • February 3
  • March 2nd (Golden Sneaker Contest!)
  • April 6th
  • and Thursday, May 12th (Bike to School Day)!

And there's more!  You can help!  Adults are needed to help hand out goodies on the morning of these events.  Even if you only can stay for a few minutes, many hands help keep everything running smoothly. Just show up, or email Sofia if you have questions or ideas!

Together we can!

Garden Work Party, Saturday October 24, 2015

Hello MX Families!  Saturday, October 24 is Berkeley Project Day, a day of community volunteer service for UC Berkeley students and community members.  The work day is from 10:00am-3:00pm.

Ms. Rivka will have a team of students working with her on a range of projects in the MX school garden. She is looking for an adult with CARPENTRY SKILLS to work with a few students to repair a garden bed.  If you can help, please contact Rivka at rivka77@cs.com, or swing by the garden to talk to her in person.

In addition to carpenters, any MX families interested in volunteering are welcome!  For more information, contact the Malcolm X Garden liaisons: Bridget, at bhughesmanda@gmail.com or Louise, at louiseceleste@hotmail.com.

First Annual Malcolm X Craft Fair - December 12, 2015

Put Saturday, December 12, 2015 on your calendar!

Come to the first annual Malcolm X Craft Fair to do some winter holiday shopping and connect with our communities within Malcolm X as well as our larger Berkeley/East Bay neighborhoods!  Bring your friends, family, and neighbors.  In addition to shopping for locally handmade goods and services, we're planning crafts for the kids, a raffle of goods donated by the vendors, a bake sale, and a gift wrap table.

The Craft Fair will be held on Saturday, December 12, 2015 from 10:00am-2:00pm in the MX Auditorium.

All proceeds from vendor table fees, the bake sale table, volunteer gift wrap services, raffle ticket sales, sales of any donated student artwork, etc. will go directly to the MX PTA to support the students and teachers at Malcolm X.

Interested in vending?  We’re looking within our Malcolm X community for makers and small businesses to sell their wares.  A moderate/reasonable table fee will apply and vendors will be chosen by application.  Keep your eye on your E-Tree for applications in October!

For questions about vending or applying, email Angel Huntington-Ortega at angelhasemail@gmail.com.

Want to help or get involved?  We'll need a hand with set up, break down, gift wrapping, and at the bake sale table.  We can also use some help organizing donations of home-baked goodies; coordinating the raffle; coordinating student art sales; coordinating kids’ craft activities; and are seeking a graphic designer to put together an awesome flyer (for use in print and social media); and a promotions coordinator (put up flyers, update MX Facebook, etc).

If you’re interested in volunteering, please email Erin Jurnove at mx@jurnove.com.

Order Your Thanksgiving Turkey Through Farmigo and Support MX

If you’ve been wondering if Farmigo will be offering locally raised turkeys for Thanksgiving, I’m happy to announce that the answer is YES!!  Four different turkey options, ranging in size to feed 5-11 people, are now available to pre-order.  They will be delivered frozen on Wednesday, November 18.  Farmigo uses a pre-order system because the small local farm providing these turkeys relies on Thanksgiving as a main source of income and has a limited supply, so it’s especially important to estimate demand among our Farmigo members.  Best of all, 10% of the purchase price will go to Malcolm X.

You can pick your turkey up at 3112A Ellis Street (4 houses south of MX) anytime after 1:30pm on November 18, 2015.

Turkeys are local, coming from BN Ranch in Merced County, as well as pasture-raised in the fresh outdoors and fed non-GMO vegetarian feed, with corn to supplement their natural diet.  You can search for “Thanksgiving” in the Farmigo marketplace to see all four options!

To pre-order a turkey, you’ll be asked to pay a $30 deposit up front, and the remainder of the price is charged when turkeys are delivered.  Price estimates are listed in the marketplace, but you’ll be charged based on the actual weight of the turkey.  If you have any more questions about the ordering process, visit

Visit https://www.farmigo.com/market/malcolmxelementary-berkeley (and click on “Meats & Seafood”).

Phil's Sliders Fundraiser for Malcolm X - Nov 3 & 4, 2015

Join us on November 3 and 4, 2015 at Phil's Sliders (2024 Shattuck Avenue) AND raise money for the MX PTA! 

Phil's Sliders donates 10% of the entire day's revenue to MX PTA!  Phil's will also give 10% of delivery orders (through Trycaviar.com) and call in orders for curbside pick-up.  Also, if anyone places catering orders on their website (www.philssliders.com) and notes the MX fundraiser, Phil’s will give 10% of those orders as well.  Catering is great for birthday parties, etc.  Phil's also has gift cards for sale.

Phil's is making sure to be heavily staffed to avoid any delays in service.  SO... Grab your family and friends and head to downtown Berkeley for lunch or dinner at Phil's Sliders.

Phil's serves delicious beef sliders made from Marin Sun Farms grass-fed beef, portabella mushroom sliders, homemade potato tots, milkshakes made with homemade organic ice cream, fresh coleslaw made with organic veggies, and daily baked desserts.  They also serve beer on tap and seasonal, house-made sangria.

Phil's is family-friendly and features a giant chalk wall, outdoor seating, and kid combo meals – so bring the whole family!  

Mention you are with the MX PTA when placing your order.  See you there!

For more information, visit http://www.philssliders.com or email Erika Pollak at ErikaY_@Hotmail.com.

“The Mask You Live In” Film to be Shown at Malcolm X - Oct 21, 2015

On Wednesday, October 21, 2015 from 6:00pm-8:30pm in the MX Auditorium, the PTA will present a showing and discussion of “The Mask You Live In.” The film explores how our culture's narrow definition of masculinity is harming our boys, men, and society at large and unveils what we can do about it.  

Dinner and childcare will be provided.  (This film is not recommended for children under 14 years of age.)

This event is open to Malcolm X and Washington Elementary School families.  RSVP for the event here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-mask-you-live-in-tickets-18790099694.  For more information, contact Lisa at lcjuachon@gmail.com.

5th Graders Create Play About Transgender Teenager

Across the country, transgender children and adults often struggle to find acceptance in their communities. But one school community in California is changing that story.

Inspired by the story of Jazz Jennings, an HRC Youth Ambassador, Jessica Arroyo’s fifth grade class at Malcolm X Elementary in Berkeley recently created and performed a play based on the text from I Am Jazz, Jenning’s autobiographical picture book......  Read full Story.

MX to Get Donations From Whole Foods Bag Donations! (Ashby and Telegraph)

Malcom X has been chosen to be one of the two charities for Whole Foods' Nickels for Nonprofits this quarter! The program runs now through July 5th.  This means when customers bring in their own bags for groceries, they have the option of receiving a 5 cent credit, per bag, or donating it to MX or another charity.  Be sure to bring your bags when shopping at Whole Foods at 3000 Telegraph Avenue (near Ashby Ave.) in Berkeley and support Malcolm X!  For questions about this program, contact Julie Cowles at julie.cowles@mxpta.org

Sports Basement - Grand(ish) Opening, Berkeley

Find out about the Malcolm X PTAs partnership with Sports Basement to receive an ongoing 5% back on all purchases.... And about their grand opening celebration below.

Greetings!

We are officially opening our Sports Basement Berkeley doors (2727 Milvia) on Saturday, Nov. 15th! The ribbon cutting ceremony, with city officials and the Mayor, is at 10am followed by our kick off to the winter season running until 4pm. It's our "Snowpening" :)

Remember just say your school name at the registers for 10% off, and 5% goes back to the school.

Enjoy games and snacks, celebrate winter, give away a bunch of free stuff, and bask in the beauty that is our new home in Berkeley!

We will be raffling off schwag from brands such as K2, Rossignol, Volcom, Marmot, Spyder and Volkl/Marker, RIDE, Gordini Gloves, Smartwool, Superfeet, Arc'teryx, Quiksilver/Roxy/DC, Orage, Dynastar/Lange and Thirty Two!

Win lift tickets and season passes to Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, Sierra-at-Tahoe, and Bear Valley! Beer will be provided by Lagunitas, Strike and Pyramid.

-Toni Lum

Family Day - Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive

Family Day @ Berkeley Art Museum/Pacific Film Archive. Sunday, 11.16.14, 11:00am–5:00pm.

A Day of Art, Film, & Music

Free admission!

11:00–3:00 Art-Making & Family Tours

2:00  Live Music with Santos Perdidos

3:30  Family matinee: Microcosmos

Join us for a full day of special family activities at BAM/PFA. Start off in the galleries making art with artists.

Get creative with clay and collage in Kids Club and make your own quilt squares in a workshop inspired by American Wonder: Folk Art from the Collection.

After exploring the galleries with exhibition tours designed for families, enjoy the rich harmonies and rhythmic sounds of acoustic Latin band Santos Perdidos, playing a mix of traditional music from Cuba, Peru, Columbia, Mexico, and Spain.

Top off the day at the PFA Theater with a special free screening of Microcosmos, a stunningly beautiful view of the teeming wonders of insect life found below and between the blades of a meadow lawn. Pick up your free tickets at the PFA Theater box office beginning at 2:30.

We hope to see you there!

Best,

Julianne Fraker

--

Julianne Fraker Education Assistant UC Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive (BAM/PFA) Woo Hon Fai Hall 2625 Durant Avenue #2250 Berkeley, CA 94720-2250 T: (510) 642-2349

http://bampfa.berkeley.edu http://www.facebook.com/bampfa

http://www.twitter.com/bampfa

Malcolm X Mosaic Signs Unveiling: Sat. Nov. 15th 2:30pm to 4pm

Join Youth Spirit Artworks Young Leaders at Ashby & Ellis St. on Saturday, November 15th from 2:30pm - 4:00pm as we unveil our glorious new MX Mosaic Signs!

There will be Speakers, Food & Drinks, Youth Poetry, Kids Artmaking and more.

This project was cosponsored by S. Berkeley Neighbors, MX PTA & School, S. Berkeley Sr. Center, Lifelong Medical Center & Adeline Street Merchants Association! Rain or drizzle location: Youth Spirit Artworks, 1740 Alcatraz Ave, Berkeley, 94703. For info text: 282-0396.

Sally Hindman, Executive Director, Youth Spirit Artworks, 1740 Alcatraz Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94703, 510-282-0396, www.youthspiritartworks.com