Unity in Our Community

by Livy Perez

Entering the charter school building, you must first pass a tall black gate at 6038 Brann St. You walk across the parking lot, bright orange cones at your side. Again you pass a tall fence and walk into the courtyard. You might see a group of girls giggling. Or some students doing last-minute studying for a test. On the left side you might see a friendly basketball game going on. Looking ahead, you see the classrooms where all the learning goes on. Sounds you might hear are music and students singing along, or the conversation of planning for something might reach your ears. Whatever your eyes see or your ears hear, it's all different, yet classy.

There are two grades at Unity, 9th and 10th grade. Many different subjects are taught here, such as Algebra II for the 10th grade, English, Ethnic Studies, Human Evolution, Spanish at both level I and II. Each teacher is dedicated and loves to teach. They each take the time to help any student and bring back the true meaning of an educator. The students are happy and confident to ask for help and to answer teachers' questions.

After-school programs include MESA, which involves science and mathematics. The Speech and Debate and Yearbook projects are mostly run by students. Students who need extra help in a class or just want help planning for college are offered a Mentor Program. Basketball includes a talented girls' team. A few people are even trying to start a Film Club. Those talented and interested in technology belong to an I.T. group that helps run the school's computers.

So far we have had many cool events going on. A Halloween dance was enjoyed by both staff and students. Field trips to Alcatraz, for the sunrise ceremony, celebrated indigenous people everywhere. A trip to the zoo involved the ninth-grade students studying a certain animal and writing a report on it. Tenth-grade students went to SFMOMA to see the work of Diane Arbus. The school had an End-of-Semester Ceremony where students' improvements and accomplishments were awarded. There is much more to come ahead.

Unity High also is part of Roots and Shoots, a program started by Dr. Jane Goodall to promote peace, community help, and cultural understanding. This group started a tutoring group at Saint Zero. They are raising money to send to an orphanage in Haiti. They will also be cleaning Martin Luther King Park by the Oakland Airport.

Unity High School is a traditional high school but with a focus on understanding world problems, culture, and so on. It's well rounded and tries to make everyone feel welcome. The whole staff teaches students to have open minds. They know a closed mind won't get students anywhere. The school knows the importance of helping your community, because it will always be your home no matter where you are.