BASE Information Night: May 13th from 6:30-7:30pm

BASE High School is Now Enrolling for Fall 2010!

Alternatives in Action's Bay Area School of Enterprise (BASE) High School works with youth who have leadership potential and prepares them for college, career and community.

Invite youth!

OR

Enroll now!

Come to our Information Night on Thursday, May 13th, 2010 from 6:30 - 7:30 pm or call (510)748-4314 x 301 to schedule an enrollment interview and tour!

2010 BASE Recruitment Nights

Alternatives in Action's Bay Area School of Enterprise High School (BASE) will be hosting three recruitment information nights for prospective families. BASE is an innovative tuition-free high school in Alameda. BASE welcomes youth with leadership potential to apply for the 2010-2011 school year.

Date: Thursday January 28, 2010
Time: 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Place: Alternatives in Action's Big Room
1900 Third Street, Alameda, CA 94501


Date: Thursday March 25, 2010
Time: 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Place: Alternatives in Action's Big Room
1900 Third Street, Alameda, CA 94501


Date: Thursday May 13, 2010
Time: 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Place: Alternatives in Action's Big Room
1900 Third Street, Alameda, CA 94501

We look forward to meeting you!

Home Sweet Home Open House Nights

Home Sweet Home, the preschool of Alternatives in Action, will be hosting three Open House nights for prospective families of the 2010-2011 school year. We welcome any families who are interested in a nurturing, creative and playful Reggio Emilia environment. Children must be two years of age to be considered for enrollment.

Date: Wednesday January 20, 2010
Time: 6 PM to 7 PM
Place: Alternatives in Action, Room 2
1900 Third Street, Alameda, CA 94501

Date: Wednesday March 24, 2010
Time: 6 PM to 7 PM
Place: Alternatives in Action, Room 2
1900 Third Street, Alameda, CA 94501

Date: Wednesday April 28, 2010
Time: 6 PM to 7 PM
Place: Alternatives in Action, Room 2
1900 Third Street, Alameda, CA 94501


We look forward to meeting you!

2010

Happy New Year to you and yours from everyone here at Alternatives in Action!

Give a day, Get a (Disney) day

Check this out! Give a volunteer day. Get a day at a Disney Park FREE. http://bit.ly/3o9ldz (We will be a participating organization!)

Spa treatments with the Big Friends

Today at Alternatives in Action's Home Sweet Home Preschool, the young children were treated to a Spa Day with the BASE High School Big Friends. The children waited patiently to get their hands massaged and nails painted by teachers and Big Friends. It was a fun time for everyone involved.

Cookie decorating at Home Sweet Home Preschool

Gabriel, one of our preschoolers at Home Sweet Home Preschool, decorated sugar cookies with his classmates as part of a pre-holiday celebration in the classroom.

BASE High School is Now Enrolling for Spring 2010!

Alternatives in Action's Bay Area School of Enterprise (BASE) High School works with youth who have leadership potential and prepares them for college, career AND community. Students benefit from a challenging academic program that includes:

• Small class sizes and personalized attention
• Real-world experience through social action projects and community involvement
• College prep curriculum, career exploration and internship experiences
• Engaging, project-based teaching
• Access to college credit courses
• Leadership opportunities
• Being with adults and youth who believe in you

Enroll now! Call (510)748-4314 x301 to schedule an enrollment interview and tour!

Our Vision

Thank You

Happy Thanksgiving to all our supporters! Thank you for investing your time, expertise and dollars to develop the leadership potential of our youth.

Board of Directors 2009-10

Alex Kexel

Angela Sterling-Vick

Apolonio Valdovinos

Bruce Bothwell, DDS

Deborah Hodgkinson

Gail Ann Greely

Jonothan D. Soglin, Esq

Justin Harrison

Lisa Laigo­

Mary Gallagher

Patricia Murillo

Reginald Hillmon

Rob Siltanen

Shani Washington

Susan Pieper

William H. Paris III

Board of Directors 2008-09

Alex Kexel

Angela Sterling-Vicks

Belule Michael

Bruce Bothwell, DDS

Donna Wyatt

Gail Greely

Justin Harrison

Lisa Laigo

Mary Gallagher

Patricia Murillo

Reginald Hillmon

Robert Bonta

SamZie Hudson

Susan Pieper

William Paris III

Volunteers

Abraham R. Epton

Aditya Palande

Alex Kexel

Alex Vila

Aliza Z. Parpia

Angela Sterling-Vicks

Anurag Agarwal

Belule Michael

Ben McBride

Brittany Staffield

Bruce Bothwell, DDS

Carrie Zhou

Casey Fenton

Cesy Martinez

Christina Martinez

Christy Elder

Ciana Presco

Dan Cheng

David Mears

David Smydra

Derek Turner

Donna Wyatt

Edna Cabcabin Moran

Ellen Liu

Fern Kruger

Gail Ann Greely

Girts Folkmanis

Google Volunteers

Grace Webber

Greta Kirshenbaum

Howard Lindsay

J. Ramsey Arlington

James F. Keller

Jeff Cambra

Jun Yang

Justin Harrison

Kai Moran

Kai Shen

Karthik M. Nagaraj

Kimberly Cross

Kirsten Davidson

Lauren Lohnberg

LeRoy Francis

Linda Nhem

Lisa Laigo

Luke Moran

Mark Moran

Mary Gallagher

Matthew Beaumont-Gay

Matthew Gabler

Mike Brownlee

Mohan P. Salunke

Nandu Ramani

Owen Prater

Peter Klier

Rawan Hakeem

Reginald Hillmon

Rob Bonta

Rob Siltanen

Sam Wu

SamZie Hudson

Sandra Liu

Scott S. Benson

Scott Z. Cunningham

Senoit M. Lafortune

Stephanie Movahhed

Susan H. Pieper

Team Up for Youth

Victor Valenzuela

Vladimir Berson

Williams H. Paris III

­

Donors

Adalberto & Socorro Contreras

Adrian Nunez

Alberto Contreras

Alex Kexel

Alex Vila

Allan Sperling

Alvin & Janice Humphrey

Amanda Kruger Hill

Amy Fauver

Amy R. Kermott

Anastasia Alvarado

Andrew and Rosemary Dubois

Ann Casper & Mark Irons

Ann Folk

Ann Jenson

Anne Neale

Apolonio Valdovinos & Isaiah Hurtado

Argelia Macias

Aubrey O. Dent, M.D.

Barbara Hedin

Bartalini Scholarship Fund

Ben Lovejoy

Benjamin & Gynelle McBride

Beverly & Robert Buhnerkempe

Bruce & Kathleen Bothwell

Cameron Miranda

Casey Fenton

Catherine Kexel

Chris & Julie Neale

Chris Duderstadt

Chris Glubka

Christian D. Joos

Christopher Martin & Kimberly Cross

Colette Collester

Daniel & Mary Shields

David & Fran Lieberman

David & Martini Newhall

David Neale

Deborah Madden

Denise Ranish

Dennis & Susan Chaconas

Diane Coler-Dark

Donna Folliard & Sally Frangieh

Donna Wyatt

Dora Macias

Edwin & Nina Fong

Elliotte A. Bowerman

Esperanza Pallana

etsuko kubo

Fern Kruger

Franklin Hysten

Gail Greely & Lowry Fenton

Gayle Thomas

Geneva Lee

Greg Murphy

Gregory & Sandra Orloff

Hamilton & Helena Lengel

Hank Duderstadt

Harry Hartman

J. Silverman

Jane & David Pfeifer

Jane Sperling Wise

Jeanne Collester

Jim Franz

Joe Mariscal

John & Jennifer Paulus

John & Marty Booth

Joseph & Carrie Gray

Justin Harrison

Kandra Rivers

Karen Raz

Karl & Tamara Schirrmacher

Kathryn Young

Kim Coulthurst

Kimberly Cross

Laura Peck

Lawrence Escott

Lisa Laigo

Marcy Kates

Margery Trevithick

Mark & Edna Moran

Mary Gallagher

Mary Lou Greely

Mary Robillard

Matthew & Katherine Sperling

May Chow

Monica Brown

Nancy Challed

Nancy Gordon

Nathan Tan

Patricia Murillo

Patrick M. Tracy

Peter Hill Family

Rachel Rothman

Randall Stettler

Richard & Ruth Goldstein

Ring Family

Ritchie Garay

Robert & Mialisa Bonta

Robert Spevak

Robert Toth Jr.

Robyn Young

Ronald & Kathleen Palmer

Ronald Mooney

Rusty Carlson

Ruth Goldstein

Sandra Jones

Silvia Perez

Stephen A. Dexter & Elizabeth J. Sullivan

Stephen Carlson

Stephen Young

Steve Gordon

Sue Presco

Susan H. Pieper

Tricia Collins-Levi

Vicky De Monterey & David Richoux

Vicky Mattson

Victor Miller

Victor Valenzuela

Victoria D. Mycue

Vincent & Irene Cutaia

Vivian Forny

Walter Hong

Business Supporters

31 Design & Media

Alameda County Supervisor

Alice Lai Bitker’s Office

Alameda Sun

Alameda Theatre & Cineplex

Angela’s Restaurant

Avenue, Emeryville

Bank of Alameda

Blue Oak Therapy Center

C’era Una Volta-Once Upon A Time

Chevron

Chipotle

Comcast Cable Communications, Inc.

Donsuemor

East Bay ROP

ecmARTS

Economy Lumber

Google

Ex’pression College for Digital Arts

Fast Imaging

Mark’s Paint

Mission Minded

Netflix

Peet’s Coffee &Tea

Ploughshares Nursery

Poppy Jasper Film Festival

Pottery Barn, Emeryville

Purdy

Radical Media Group

Rosenblum Cellars

San Francisco Security Traders Association, INC

Slow Food Alameda

TWENTY20 Marketing

Vitec Group Communications IIC.

Wells Fargo

West Elm, Emeryville

Williams-Sonoma, Bay St.

Funders

Alameda Community Development

Alameda County Office of Education

Alameda Rotary Club

California 21st Century Learning

California Department of Education

City of Alameda Community

Development Block Grant

Comcast Foundation

Cricket Island Foundation

DonorsChoose

Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream Foundation

East Bay Community Foundation Donor-Advised Fund

Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund

First 5 Alameda County Child Care Facilities Fund

Gifts In-Kind International

Kiwanis Club of Alameda

Morris Stulsaft Foundation

Oakland Fund for Children & Youth

Oasis High School Foundation

Philanthropic Ventures Foundation

San Francisco Foundation

Shinnyo-en Foundation

United Way of the Bay Area/

JC Penney Foundation

W. Clement and Jessie V. Stone Foundation

Walter & Elise Haas Sr. Fund

Wayne & Gladys Valley Foundation

Whitman Institute

1st Build of school year = Successful Build

Many thanks to the following people who made our first Build a huge success: Sheri Hogsland, Jerome Bagget, Mike Brownlee, Jacqueline Bruhn, Federica and Roberto Attias, Elisabeth Wholfsky, Kevin Plottner, Peter Allison, Adam Jennings, Jon Sorrenson, Kimberly Cross, Chris Martin, Patrick Baggett, Emily Plottner, Lucy Allison, Alessandro and Elisa Attias, Makayla and Violet Sorrenson, Jasper Jennings, Eve Martin, Sky and Ginger.

The following projects were completed on Saturday November 14, 2009 in the Alternatives in Action preschool, Home Sweet Home:

Thanks to Adam Jennings and Mike Brownlee, the blinds are up in Room 2 and replaced the broken ones in our main classroom. It is already so much cooler in both rooms.

Jacqueline was enough to leave her warm home to drop off instructions and seeds early in the morning - then Federica, Elisabeth, Sky, Kimberly and the children weeded and reseeded both gardens! It's amazing how much they accomplished!

Jerome hung up the staff bulletin board outside - Ginger covered with paper, trimmed the edges and put up a heading "Staff Board." By the end of the week, you should find the weekly lesson plans, monthly snack menu and notice for upcoming evetns. Sheri Jerome also created a writing surface on the cabinet doors - we have to wait a few days before we can fully utilize. Look here to find quick daily messages and reminders.

Mike Brownlee brought in all of the parts needed to create balance beams and with the help of Jon Sorrenson, Chris Martin and Roberto assembled we now have at least 6 balance beams of various sizes. They were the hit of the playground today. We still need to varathane before the rains set in.

Kevin Plottner, Peter Allison and Roberto Attias - installed the privacy door to the bathroom. As an added safety precaution to avoid having small fingers crushed, I've purchased a device to prevent the door from closing all of the way; Sky is installing this afternoon. We did let the children try it out today; the older ones seemed very pleased to be able to finally get some privacy.

Inside Job (our contractors) are in the process of installing the kitchen cabinets in Room 2!

So thank you again to all who came by and made it all happen.

California College Tour 2009

On November 12 and 13, 2009, coaches Jason Gardner and Jonna Justiniano had a great time taking ten BASE High School youth on a California college tour. It was a huge success! In 36 hours, they toured the campuses of San Francisco State University, UC Santa Cruz, Cal State Monterey, and Cal State East Bay. In addition to touring the campuses, they spoke with admissions advisors, ate lunch in a student union, checked out dining halls, wandered around the spacious college libraries, spoke with college students about their experiences, sat in lecture halls that seat 300 students, and much more!

Thanksgiving x 2

BASE High School students, staff and families:
On Friday, November 20, 2009, we are having our Annual Thanksgiving Potluck Lunch in the Big Room. It is an opportunity for us to come together, share what we are thankful for, enjoy good food and have a memorable, positive community experience.

Youth and adults bring food to contribute. Sign up sheets will be available on campus.

Questions? Contact BASE High School Principal, Amanda K. Hill at ahill@alternativesinaction.org

------------------
Home Sweet Home Preschool students, Big Friends, staff and families:
On Friday, November 20, 2009, we are having our Annual Thanksgiving Potluck Lunch in Room 2. This year's Thanksgiving Lunch will be shared by the children and parents of Home Sweet Home Preschool and the Big Friends that work in Home Sweet Home and their parents.

Sign ups for attendance as well as entrees, salads, dessert and drinks will be posted outside the preschool classroom today.

Questions? Contact Home Sweet Home Preschool Director, Debbie Shapiro at dshapiro@alternativesinaction.org

Friday, October 30

Quick FYI: BASE High School youth don't have classes on Friday October 30, 2009.

But Home Sweet Home preschoolers do...and they will be celebrating at their annual Harvest Festival from 4-6 PM. Costume parade at 5:30 PM.

Report Out: Citywide College Night

photo by Jonna Justiniano

Courtney Talmadge and Keith Lewis of Bay Area School of Enterprise (BASE), the high school of Alternatives in Action, meet with Emilio Ortega, an alum from Morehouse College, a historically male black institution of higher learning in Atlanta, GA.

Jonna Justiniano, Academic Coordinator for Alternatives in Action, accompanied 12 BASE High School and Home After-school Project youth for the 19th Annual Citywide College Night, a free event for students and families, at College of Alameda on October 21, 2009. There was a large representation from a variety of U.S. colleges. Next week, the youth that attended this college fair will spend time organizing and presenting the information and brochures for the rest of the Alternatives in Action youth community.

11/5/09: Alameda Sun coverage!

Dads Club Pumpkin Decorating Party

ATTENTION ALL HOME SWEET HOME PRESCHOOL DADS:

This Saturday, October 24, 2009, the HSH Dads Club presents a great pumpkin decorating party from 11 am to 2 pm at Franklin Park, Alameda, CA. Bring at least one small child and a smaller pumpkin. Snacks, carving and decorating tools will be provided.

Building community through Community Builds

In our grand tradition of building community through Community Builds, Home Sweet Home, the preschool of Alternatives in Action, is hosting its first Community Build Day of the school year.

What is a Community Build Day? It's a wonderful way for you to take positive action by volunteering your time to help improve our youth spaces.

When is it? November 14, 2009

Where is it?
Alternatives in Action
1900 Third Street
Alameda, CA 94501


We will have many projects to renovate our preschool classrooms for a variety of skill sets. Please contact Debbie (dshapiro@alternativesinaction.org) and let her know if you are interested in giving some of your time for this wonderful event.

We need your help.

*You* are invited to...

Alternatives in Action's Fall Open House and Youth-Led Conferencing

See what's growing at Bay Area School of Enterprise, the high school of Alternatives in Action.

6:30 pm - Tours of our campus, including our preschool, sound recording studio, and college and career center

7:00 pm - Celebration of our new sound recording studio, performances and highlights of our Alameda programs

7:30 pm - Youth-led Conferencing

Date: November 5th, 2009, 6:30pm - 8pm

Location: Alternatives in Action

Address:
1900 3rd Street
Alameda, CA 94501

RSVP HERE

H1N1 Flu prevention

The California Department of Public Health, Immunization Branch created this website: http://www.calpanflu.org

Here's what you can do to prevent getting the H1N1 Virus:

Symptoms: The symptoms of H1N1 influenza are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with H1N1 influenza. If you are sick or think you have H1N1 influenza infection, please contact your healthcare provider.

Prevention: In addition to getting vaccinated for the seasonal flu and the H1N1 virus when vaccine is available, all Californians should practice the following prevention steps:

Wash your hands often with soap and water. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and throw the tissue in the trash after use.

Stay home when you are sick and remain at home until at least 24 hours after you are free of fever.

Right now the priority is getting the vaccine to children from age 6 months to 24 years of age and people in contact with infants under 6 months of age. This flu hits children harder than the typical seasonal flu. Children will require two doses. After the first vaccine is given, it needs ten days to develop the immunity. The next vaccine happens 21-28 days after the first one. It's important to get children in now for the first shot since it takes so long.

Thank you Slow Foods

photos by Rusty Carlson

Home Sweet Home, the preschool of Alternatives in Action, was the recipient of a generous donation from Slow Foods Alameda. The donation will benefit the preschool's organic garden.


Alternatives in Action's Home Sweet Home preschoolers and Alameda residents, Emily Plottner, 4, Scarlett Deveno, 4 and Eden Cesareo-Dense, 4, enjoy spending time in the garden they helped build.