Students in the elective Interactive Computing and Electronics, taught by Ms. Kolluri, present their final projects to their peers and parents. Among their projects were a smart alarm clock, a robot that that can be used to get a video feed and has the capability to self-charge, a camera to calculate the distance to an object using lasers, and using the internet of things to build a safety system for senior citizens.
How did the United States change from 1877-1924? Answering this broad question about turn-of-the-century America was the guiding task for juniors in their US and the World history class, led by teacher Daniel Song.
The class explored the themes of immigration, labor & capital, social reform, women's suffrage, African-American Civil Rights, and the city in American life. In doing so, they created Museum Projects to make the argument that the events of the turn-of-the-century transformed the United States into a modern nation and redefined what it meant to be an American.
After careful consideration by faculty and staff observers, six exhibits were chosen, from over thirty student projects, and are on display at the downtown Oakland Public Library’s TeenZone.
Themes include:
The Statue of Liberty
Immigration Restriction - Lady Liberty Times
The Anarchist Cases: Labor, Immigration, and Politics
The Hornet Chronicle
Life Magazine - Turn of the Century Portrayals of People of Color
With thanks to the East Bay Regional Park District park rangers, Katy Yan’s AP environmental science class learned about the watershed around Lake Temescal. Students then designed and conducted their own research on water quality indicators at the lake.
A group of College Prep students from history teacher Daniel Song's Constitutional Law Seminar attended an oral argument before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco. They attended three arguments before the court: an immigration case about deportation of an asylum seeker, a First Amendment case about a Olympic swimmer alleging defamation against a magazine that suggested she had taken performance enhancing drugs, and an administrative law case about whether PG&E may raise rates as part of a federal incentive program even though it already participates in the desired program under California state law. They also had an opportunity to meet presiding judges, Hon. Stephen S. Trott, and Hon. Stephen Reinhardt, who stayed after to answer questions from the students.
Congratulations to College Prep junior Elliot Irving who was one of 16 pilots recently invited to participate in the California Drone Speed Challenge at the Palace of Fine Arts. He reached his goal of placing in the Top 6, by finishing in 6th place! The day was filmed by NBC Sports, and he was one of two pilots featured in the 30-minute episode, which was aired in early August. You can watch the episode here.
The Partners Program Summer Academy celebrated its 31st year of academic enrichment for Oakland public middle school scholars, June 17-July 15. This summer, the theme was "Roots," so both the Partners mentors (College Prep alumni and current College Prep students) and the middle school'ers engaged in curriculum and activities that focused on family and community-building!
Congratulations to Grant Fairbairn ’17 who was named the male recipient of the 2017 USGA-AJGA Presidents’ Leadership Award for “demonstrating leadership, character and community service through their involvement with the Leadership Links program, a joint initiative created by the USGA and AJGA in 2005 to further develop junior golfers through volunteerism.” Read more here.
Seniors from Nancy Steele's spring poetry seminar share their poems with the community in what has become a cherished springtime tradition at College Prep.
The College Prep community gathered for a special Assembly to honor three retiring members of our faculty who have shared their enthusiasm and passion for teaching and learning for a combined 103 years!
We express our deepest gratitude to:
Sharon Barzilay, Science Teacher and Administrator Kurt Patzner, Instrumental Music Teacher Susan Swerdlow, Choral Music Teacher
Richard Lyons, Dean of UC Berkeley's Haas Business School and College Prep parent of a junior, led a Life Prep workshop What we Teach in Business School. The session touched on three basic elements: core curriculum, experiential learning, and leadership development. Dean Lyons also covered some of the hot topics in business school such as business analytics and behavioral science. The College Prep juniors and seniors in attendance came away with a clearer idea of whether or not a business education might be a good fit for them. Life Prep is a weekly series of events, conversations and workshops offering practical knowledge for life beyond College Prep. A menu of choice-based opportunities are led by College Prep faculty, parents, alumni, and other guest speakers who address a wide variety of topics.
The upcoming Annual Dance Showcase Performance, BODYStories is not to be missed! Eight months of hard work by 75 dancers, 10 choreographers, and numerous techies will culminate in 16 featured works performed during this year's show. The annual dance event, filled with incredible dancing, inspiration, and fun is held in the Buttner Auditorium.
PERFORMANCES Thursday, April 27, 7:00 pm Friday, April 28, 8:00 pm Saturday, April 29, 8:00 pm
Congratulations to Laura Pierson ’17, who took 6th place in the Regeneron Science Talent Search—the oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. You can read more about her use of theoretical algebra to study the representation theory of mathematically symmetric groups here.
Dean Chabon sent this email to the College Prep Community:
The Imaginary Invalid script is outrageously funny and a perfect vehicle for our talented and hilarious actors. Every single actor brought their character to life with a deep commitment to the words and with a comedic timing matched only by true professionals. I found myself laughing the entire time except when I was swept away by the sincerity of the more serious moments. As a high school theater director for 17 years, I have rarely walked out of a show (even the ones I directed) feeling this proud of a cast and crew. Bravo!
The tech elements were flawless and served the show perfectly. The leadership and vision of Charles Neifeld, Drama Tech Teacher, were absolutely on point. The awesome sets, fantastic costumes, illuminating lights, and outrageous props created by our tech students played a critical role in the show's success. Drama Teacher Salil Sing’s directing was seamless and inspired. Whatever you do, do not miss this show! I promise you, it will be well worth your time.
Directors, cast, crew, and parent volunteers your hard work has clearly paid off.
Last Thursday, the annual Bay Links Challenge brought golfers from nine schools to Metropolitan Golf Links. College Prep made a strong showing and placed second in the tournament. The course was playing tough and only three golfers in the field broke 80. Two of those three were College Prep Cougars: Alex Lin placed 3rd with a 79 and Grant Fairbairn shot an impressive 68 to place 1st!
Please join us for Moliere's classic with a contemporary twist! Prepare for a jubilant, farcical, musical-comedy version of The Imaginary Invalid brought to you by the inimitable College Prep drama ensemble.
Professional actor and choreographer Marie Walburg-Plouviez is back for a second consecutive year to work with French III students on an excerpt of Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, a comédie-ballet, written by seventeenth century playwright Molière.
“Language learning can take on many forms, and this workshop is a wonderful opportunity to step outside the traditional classroom setting, bring language and art to life, and have fun doing it.” says French teacher Patricia Quierzy-Rossoukh.
Marie Walburg-Plouviez studied theater and dance at the University of Nice and received her Masters Degree from the National Acting Conservatory of France. She has toured nationally and continues to create shows and engage in theater art.
Connections, Pride, and Spirit (CPS) Day is an opportunity for our school community to learn about equity and inclusion through workshops, performances, and play. These unique and varied offerings were unified around the theme: Homeland. We thank all of our tremendous speakers and the students and faculty who worked hard to make CPS Day a meaningful and fun expression of our values. Here are a few of the 47 of offerings:
13TH: VIEWING AND DISCUSSING THE FILM
1 IN 4: DISCUSSING SEXUAL VIOLENCE ON CAMPUS
ADL: CLASSROOM OF DIFFERENCE INTRODUCTION
AFRO-CUBAN POLYRHYTHMS
AMERICAN DREAM: ONE FAMILY'S STORY OF IMMIGRATION TO THE U.S.
AMERICA'S MOST WANTED: HIP HOP, THE MEDIA, & MASS INCARCERATION
AN EXPLORATION IN GENDER
AN IMMIGRANT'S EXPERIENCE: THE MEMORY OF HOMELAND
CARIBBEAN STEEL
COMMUNITY CONSCIOUS POLICING
HOMELAND AS A MIND STATE: TALES FROM THE DIASPORA
HOW TO BE A PHILANTHROPIST
I HEAR AMERICA TALKING
INDIAN CULTURE: LEARNING THROUGH GAMES
INSIDE THIS PLACE, NOT OF IT: EXAMINING ABUSES IN WOMEN'S PRISONS
INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCE
JUSTICE FOR OUR LIVES ART PROJECT
KNITTING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
LIVING IN BETWEEN
MINORITIES IN TODAY'S AMERICA
MORE THAN JUST A PIECE OF LAND
MY NARRATIVE: MUSIC, PROTEST, POLITICAL ADVANCEMENT, & BLACK POWER
RACISM & DISNEY: UNDERSTANDING U.S. RACISM THROUGH THE "MAGIC" OF DISNEY
RETHINKING LEADERSHIP FOR STUDENTS OF COLOR
RICE CAKE: BEYOND FOOD
SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE
STORIES OF HOME
THE INCARCERATED STATES OF AMERICA
THE LANDSCAPE OF SEX TRAFFICKING IN OAKLAND
Thank you to our guests who shared their time and expertise with us:
Brandon Lee, co-founder and President of Training for Transformation, LLC.
Christy Godinez, Director of Student Inclusion, Leadership and Civic Engagement at Lick-Wilmerding High School.
Derek Smith, steel pan, vibraphone, and percussion musician and teacher at Solano Community College and East Bay Center for the Arts.
Gyasi Ross, author, speaker and storyteller. Gyasi comes from the Blackfeet Nation and resides on the Port Madison Indian Reservation near Seattle.
Jasiri X, Hip Hop artist and activist.
Jules Greene, Diversity and Inclusivity Coordinator and an 8th History Teacher at Hillbrook School.
Manny Guisa, Assistant Program Manager for Scholar Support for the A Better Chance (ABC) Program.
Marley Pierce, Program Manager for Lick-Wilmerding High School’s Center for Civic Engagement.
Mitch Bostian, Head of The Berkeley School.
Colin Douglas, Grammy Award winning percussionist and drummer .
Isabel Detre, Sierra Luce, and Emily Miller knit (and find others to knit) hats, scarves, blankets, and sweaters for homeless men, women, and children.
Oree Original Daniel Aguilera Jimenez, artist and activist.
Holly Joshi, Executive Director at MISSSEY, a youth serving non-profit dedicated to providing direct services and advocacy for survivors of commercial sexual exploitation.
Robin Levi (p ’19), women's human rights attorney with an emphasis on marginalized women, and most recently focused on human rights abuses against people in women's prisons.
Lisa Marie Rollins, Resident Artist with Crowded Fire Theater and Artist-in-Residence at BRAVA Theater for Women in San Francisco
Congratulations to Laura Pierson ’17, one of forty finalists in the Regeneron Science Talent Search—the oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. You can read more about Laura’s work on patterns in group theory here . Laura will travel to Washington, DC in March to participate in the final judging that will determine the top ten winners, with awards ranging from $40,000 to $250,000.
Andrew Alden, a renowned geologist and the author of the Oakland Geology blog, visits campus to speak with the Science Olympiad Team about rocks, identification, plate tectonics in California to prepare for the events Dynamic Planet and Rocks and Minerals in their upcoming tournaments on February 11 and March 11.
A group of College Prep students, faculty, and families honor Dr. King's dream of beloved community by working together with Brookfield Elementary School in Oakland planting trees. The event was sponsored by Urban Releaf and Pray 4 Oakland.