After being displaced by a devastating arson fire in March 2007, Peralta Elementary students and staff return home to begin the new school year at the Peralta campus.

Large donors to the post-fire fundraising campaign known as Peralta Rising will be honored with special commemorative gifts. These donors include the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians, Home Depot, Safeway, the Oakland A’s, Jennifer Bury, and SEIU Local 1021. OUSD’s Facilities Department will receive special acknowledgment and a commemorative gift as well. Elected officials and members of the community will be recognized for their support and advocacy following the fire.

DETAILS: Peralta Elementary School, a small and very successful diverse public school in North Oakland, suffered extensive damage in an arson fire on March 26, 2007. No suspects were ever identified. Damage from the fire forced Peralta to relocate to the then-vacant Carter Middle School campus for the remainder of the 2006 – 2007 school year. Hundreds of parents, students, staff and community members immediately mobilized to help Peralta and OUSD prepare and beautify the Carter campus, which had been closed since June, so that Peralta students could have a temporary home for learning during the fire rebuild. It was an inspiring transformation.

Oakland businesses, civic organizations and individuals from all over the country joined together with Peralta and the Oakland Unified School District to help renew, restore, and re-grow the unique, beautiful Peralta Elementary school campus via the Peralta Rising campaign. OUSD has completed major structural repair work and Peralta is back home. Peralta has risen from the ashes and now, thanks to the strength of the community and the support Peralta has received, the “renew, restore, re-grow” process is underway.

Parents and staff will be available to speak about struggles overcome and milestones achieved, as well as the tasks and challenges that still lie ahead.

Students will form an appreciation circle and staff and families may participate.

COORDINATION:
Christopher Waters and Kathy Rieves, Peralta Parent Teacher Group
Rosette Costello, Principal, and Representatives of the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD)
Kerry Hamill, District 1 Director, Oakland Unified School District
Peralta parents, students and staff