On Friday, June 6, BUSD's Class of 2025 graduated in two uplifting ceremonies at Jacket Stadium. Reflecting the beautiful diversity of the district, at the start of the ceremonies, students greeted their graduating classmates in numerous different languages.

During his speech, Berkeley High School (BHS) principal Juan Raygoza "took a trip down memory lane" as he shared "BHS Shoutouts" he collected from the graduating class over the past four years.

These shoutouts included messages of thanks to their friends for "helping them get back in the rhythm of school," how their classmates "made me smile and start being passionate about all things me," and a reminder of how joy matters saying "you are doing so much, I am so proud of you and you should be proud of yourselves."

Graduates looked to the audience to acknowledge and thank their parents and caregivers in attendance.

With her signature enthusiasm, along with a Kendrick Lamar quote, Superintendent Ford Morthel joyfully affirmed that each member of the Class of 2025 had faithfully demonstrated their excellence as a student of Berkeley Unified School District before conferring the Class of 2025 as high school graduates.

Fifty-two Berkeley Adult School students filed into the Oxford theater for their commencement ceremony on May 27.

Congratulations also go out to 52 graduates from Berkeley Adult School who received their diplomas last week. Ranging in age from late teens to their 60s, these inspiring individuals prove, as one graduate beautifully put it at their commencement ceremony: "It is never too late, and you are never too old to do something that inspires you."

Finally, congratulations to BUSD’s rising 6th and 9th graders, celebrated at recent promotion ceremonies. We eagerly await welcoming them to middle and high school in August!

Happy Summer, BUSD!

As the 2024-2025 school year draws to a close, I find myself reflecting deeply on our collective commitment to community engagement and this year’s guiding hashtag: #BerkeleyTogether. Honestly, I'm simply awestruck by how profoundly we've lived up to this ideal. Every step of the way, our actions have truly mirrored Berkeley’s core values and our powerful mission: to enable and inspire every student in our diverse student body to achieve academic excellence and make meaningful contributions to our world.

-Superintendent Ford Morthel

Click here to read the Superintendent's full message to the BUSD community.

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BUSD Celebrates AAPI Heritage Month

Students staffed booths during the AAPI Heritage Month celebration.

In May, BUSD celebrated Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. During a celebration at Longfellow Middle School, participants enjoyed food, fun, and entertainment, including several dance pieces set to live music. During the evening, students took to the stage and shared their experiences being AAPI in Berkeley.

Learn more about AAPI Heritage Month at BUSD.

Several of the dance pieces were performed to live musical accompaniment.

BUSD Celebrates Jewish American Heritage Month

Students presented a summary of the assembly to the BUSD community at the May 21 School Board meeting.

Members of the Jewish Student Union at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School hosted three Jewish Heritage assemblies in celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month in May. During each assembly, students shared personal stories on what it means to be Jewish, their favorite holidays, as well as information on Jewish foods, celebrities, and traditions.

Learn more about Jewish American Heritage Month at BUSD.

Members of King Middle School's Jewish Student Union pose before their presentation.

The seven BHS students featured during the festival display their certificates.

On Tuesday, May 27, members of Berkeley High School's CTE CAS Advanced Film Studio Editing Class were honored during a Film Festival held at Berkeley's Rialto Cinemas Elmwood featuring their work. Read the story about these students in EdSource.

On May 9, Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School's "Playmaking Laboratory" showcased their production of "When There Were Vampires," a play written, produced, and performed by 7th and 8th grade students.

"When There Were Vampires" is a fictional tale rooted in the WWII memories of two student writers' grandmothers. It explores the enduring friendship of two girls growing up in an orphanage, finding solace and stability through make-believe.

PBS Features Berkeley High School Students in Story on Youth Vote

In a story discussing last November's historic youth vote initiative in Berkeley and Oakland, Berkeley High School students, including Student Board Director Zamahra "Winta" Clark," shared their perspective on its impact on students. Watch the full story here.

Hello Summer!

Find your student's next favorite book with BUSD's grade-level targeted summer reading lists of recommended books for preschool through high school.

Thanks to a partnership with the Berkeley Public Library, all students in grades 3 and above have access to ebooks and audiobooks through Sora. Students can use their berkeley.net username and password to access a wide variety of digital reading materials.

We encourage families to visit the Berkeley Public Library and learn more about the library's Summer Reading Challenge for kids and teens beginning on June 5. Learn more about literacy at BUSD on the district's literacy webpage.

Students age 18 and younger can enjoy nutritious, free BUSD breakfasts and lunches this summer. The summer lunch menu is available here.

Click here for additional information on the summer meals schedule.

Workforce Housing Groundbreaking Ceremony

Hybrid School Board Meetings

School Board meeting agendas are posted at least 72 hours before meetings.

The next regular School Board meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. All details for upcoming School Board meetings can be found on this BUSD webpage.

Click here for contact information for School Board Directors.

Recent School Board Meetings

June 4, 2025

May 21, 2025

May 13, 2025

Summer - Fall 2025 Key Dates

View the full BUSD calendar here.

Berkeley Unified School District | 2020 Bonar Street | 510.644. 6150 | www.berkeleyschools.net

Notification of Non-Discrimination Policy

The Berkeley Unified School District is committed to providing equal opportunity for all individuals in district programs and activities. Accordingly, BUSD programs and activities shall be free from discrimination, harassment, intimidation and bullying based on actual or perceived ancestry, age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression; nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. The Board shall promote programs which ensure that discriminatory practices are eliminated in all district activities. (Board Policy 0410, Board Policy 1311, Board Policy 4030, Board Policy 5145.3, Board Policy 5145.7)

The Board also prohibits retaliation against any district employee or job applicant who complains, testifies or in any way participates in the district's complaint procedures instituted pursuant to this policy. (Board Policy 4030)

Complaint forms are available at school sites and on the district webpage at www.berkeleyschools.net/complaints.

For inquiries or concerns regarding BUSD nondiscrimination policy 5145.3 or the filing of discrimination complaints please contact:

Jasmina Viteskic, Title IX Coordinator/Compliance Officer

2020 Bonar Street Room 116, Berkeley, CA 94702

Phone: 510.486.9338  Email: jasminaviteskic@berkeley.net

More information is available at www.berkeleyschools.net/non-discrimination/

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