Oakland – The week of September 16 was the start of Latinx Heritage Month across OUSD, as the Board of Education declared September 15 through October 15 this special time for honoring Latinx culture and heritage. This time of year marks the Independence Days for many countries which our Latinx students, families, and staff represent.
There are Latinx events planned across the District throughout the month, and they started on Monday, September 16 with a Latinx Heritage Independence Day Celebration at Montera Middle School. On Wednesday, September 18, United for Success Academy will hold a Latino Cultural Potluck & Know Your Rights Session. All of this is aimed at celebrating the history, culture, and remarkable contributions of people of Latinx heritage, and supporting students, families and staff of Latinx descent.
Also on Monday, there’s was a continuation of the celebration for the State Champions in girls basketball, Oakland High and Oakland Tech. It’s now been six months since the two teams wrapped up their magical seasons with big wins in the CIF title games. Last March, Oakland High won the Division III title and Oakland Tech won the Division IV title. The teams were honored with numerous celebrations in the spring semester, including a parade around the city. In continuing to celebrate the champions, the Oakland Public Education Fund was able to secure a major donation for all the student-athletes, which will pay long-term dividends for them in their studies and in their lives.
The Ed Fund connected with technology firm, Salesforce, which donated a refurbished Apple laptop computer to each of the players on the championship teams – including the players who graduated in the spring. On Monday afternoon, the Ed Fund and Salesforce will hand out the computers to the players in separate ceremonies first at Oakland High then at Oakland Tech. This donation, of course, comes at the same time as the $11.2 million dollar donation for OUSD that Salesforce announced in San Francisco on Thursday, September 12.
On Thursday evening, Westlake Middle School is celebrating the grand opening of a new facility that will serve its young scholars as they build their skills as authors, poets and scribes. The school is unveiling its new Writers’ Room. Chapter 510 and the Department of Make Believe, which created the Writers’ Room, is hosting the event. “This Writers’ Room has been a labor of love for us, our partners (thank you, Gensler Oakland!), and our donors, and we are excited to share the final product with you,” said Janet Heller, Executive Director of Chapter 510. “Designed to inspire creativity and imagination, this space will serve hundreds of middle school students at Westlake this year alone.”
Media is invited to cover these exciting events.
WHAT: Grand Opening of Westlake Middle School’s Writers’ Room
WHEN: 6:30 p.m., Thursday, September 19
WHERE: Westlake Middle School, 2629 Harrison Street