Berkley Beat February 14, 2025

What's Inside

• Elementary Students Celebrate the 100th Day of School
• Rogers Student Council Hosts Occupation Day
• Board of Education Recognizes Athletes and Musicians
• Kindergarten Information for All: Registration and Schools of Choice
• Time to Fill Out an Intent to Return Form - For All Students Grades TK-11 - Due Today!
• Berkley Education Foundation’s Off to the Races Tickets on Sale with Video
• Rogers Dad’s Club Invites the Community to Trivia Night
• Huntington Woods Men’s Club Invites Community to Annual Auction Benefiting Berkley Schools
• BHS Spring Flower Sale
• Berkley Schools Announces Varsity Tutors - Free for Students
• Have a Cool Job? Tell Our Students About It!
• Autism Alliance of Michigan Partners with Berkley Schools
• What is the Oakland County Parent Advisory Committee?
• February Calendar Highlights - Black History Month, Groundhog Day, Student Count Day, Valentine’s Day
• How to Subscribe to the District Calendar
• Join the Berkley Schools Family - Now Hiring

TK & Kindergarten Registration and Schools of Choice Information

TK & Kindergarten Registration for Berkley School District Residents - Finish Your Paperwork Today

Berkley School District resident registration for both Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten begins February 3 and runs through February 14, 2025. Registration takes place entirely online, including the required document uploads. Visit the enrollment webpage to begin your registration, verify your residency through our District boundaries document and see what paperwork you need to upload to complete your registration. We can’t wait to meet our new students!

Schools of Choice Window for TK-Grade 5

The Berkley School District Board of Education has approved limited Schools of Choice (Section 105) openings (up to 150 slots) in Kindergarten through 5th grade for Oakland County residents for the 2025-26 school year. Those who are interested in attending the Berkley School District, but who do not live within District boundaries may apply.

Important Schools of Choice details include:

• Schools of Choice application period is February 10-28, 2025
• Completed applications must be submitted online
• No applications will be accepted after the deadline of 5:00 pm, February 28, 2025
• Applicants will receive email notification of their student's Schools of Choice status mid to late April following the lottery
• On the application, families will select which school they’d prefer to attend: Angell, Burton, Norup, Pattengill or Rogers
• For current Schools of Choice families, if you have an incoming TK or Kindergarten student, please be sure to fill out this year’s application as well. Priority is given to siblings.

Questions

If you have any questions regarding the enrollment process, please contact the Enrollment Office at 248-837-8026 or visit the Enrollment website.

If you have any questions regarding Schools of Choice, please contact Stephanie Helterbran, Pupil Accounting and Central Enrollment Supervisor, at 248-837-8045 or visit the Schools of Choice website.

Time to Fill Out an Intent to Return Form - For All Students Grades TK-11 - Due Today!

It’s time to let us know if your children will be returning to the Berkley School District next year.

The District has created a simple form for all families with students in grades TK-11 to fill out inside of the MISTAR Parent Portal. Your responses will help us create our classroom communities and courses for next year. Follow the steps below to complete the form, once per child. Form entries are due Friday, February 14 at the end of the day.

How to fill out the form on a Computer:

1. Log into MISTAR Parent Portal.
2. In the top right corner click on Intent to Return in bold, red lettering.
3. Click on your child’s picture.
4. Answer the questions listed. If the question does not apply to you, please type n/a in the open fields.
5. Click the Submit button at the top.
6. Repeat for additional children.

Instructions for Mobile Devices & the MISTAR App:

DOWNLOAD THE APP

1. In your mobile device app store, download Q ParentConnection.
2. Inside the app, select the State, County and District.
3. Select Enter ParentConnection.
4. In the upper right, select Log In.
5. Enter your MISTAR Parent Portal Pin and Password.

HOW TO NAVIGATE IN THE APP/MOBILE DEVICE

1. In the triple line menu, select My Information.
2. Click the Edit button next to your child’s name.
3. Answer the questions listed. If the question does not apply to you, please type n/a in the open fields.
4. Click the Submit button at the top.
5. Repeat for additional children.

Please fill out the form by Friday, February 14.

QUESTIONS?

If you are having problems logging in, have questions about completing information online or are experiencing technical difficulties, contact Oakland Schools Service Desk at 248.209.2060 or submit a ticket to the OS Help Desk.

Berkley Education Foundation’s 16th Annual Off to the Races Tickets On Sale

• March 8, 2025
• 7-10:30 pm
• The Kingsley, Bloomfield Hills, A DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel
• Tickets on sale now

The Berkley Schools community is invited to the Berkley Education Foundation’s 16th annual fundraising event Off to the Races to support the Berkley School District and fund the #BerkleyDifference.

Off to the Races will take place on Saturday, March 8, from 7-10:30 pm at The Kingsley, Bloomfield Hills, a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. Join the BEF for all the fun: simulated horse racing, owning & naming horses, silent auction (powered by mobile bidding), vacation give-away, connecting with friends, and most importantly, funding the #BerkleyDifference. This year the food theme is desserts and late night snacks.

The Berkley Education Foundation (BEF) is a non-profit organization that raises funds to support all students in the Berkley Schools. Their purpose is to maintain and enhance educational opportunities and programs for Berkley Schools students. Every dollar the BEF raises during Off to the Races supports teacher innovation-grants, free enrichment programs, student scholarships and the 8th grade college tour program.

Tickets on sale.

Don’t miss out on all the fun. Tickets are on sale now: $60/person

• Bundle event tickets with Off to the Races (OTTR) Bucks for a discount.
• OTTR Bucks pay for horse “betting” and beverages at the event.
• Buy 10 Bucks for $40 at the event, or add them on to an event ticket for a $10 discount.

Horses on sale now.

Buy and name a horse that will race during Off to the Races! 75 regular horses ($30) and 6 golden horses ($300) are available. Horses can be purchased through the ticket section of the website. For those who can’t attend the event, buying a horse is an easy way to support the BEF.

Tables on sale for reserved seating.

Buy a table for 10 to guarantee the best seats of the night.

• VIP Tables: Includes 10 event tickets, $200 worth of OTTR Bucks, two bottles of wine at the table and reserved seating in a prime location. $1,200
• Reserved Table: Includes 10 event tickets and a reserved table to have guaranteed seating together. $800

Win a vacation.

Don’t miss the Golden Race - the last race of the night. The winner will take home a $3,000 vacation, courtesy of the BEF.

• The prize is bigger so the stakes are higher: guests can “bet” on this race with a Golden Ticket!
• $50 Golden Tickets can be added to event tickets or at the door.
• Must be present to win.

Sponsorships available!

Event sponsorships, race sponsorships and prize sponsorships available for all budgets, ranging from $500 - $10,000. Investing in Off to the Races includes a variety of incentives from social media shoutouts to tickets to the event. Visit the BEF’s Sponsorship Booklet for details.

Interested in sponsoring? Buy sponsorships online or Email berkleyfoundation@berkleyschools.org

• Event Sponsorship Form
• Race Sponsorship Form
• Buy Sponsorships online!

Rogers Dad’s Club Invites the Community to Trivia Night

The Rogers Dad's Club is having a trivia fundraiser with a prize raffle on Friday, February 28th at the Berkley American Legion Hall from 7-11 pm. Event entry is $20. The community is invited to a night out that supports the Rogers school community. Learn more on the event on their Facebook page.

Huntington Woods Men’s Club Invites Community to Annual Auction Benefiting Berkley Schools

A message from our community partners, The Huntington Woods Men’s Club:

The Huntington Woods Men’s Club’s 44th annual Service Auction is coming up and, this year, it is raising money to improve Burton Community Field, adjacent to Burton Elementary School.

The plan includes improving the field’s drainage and grading, removing the south baseball field, upgrading the north T-ball field and putting up new fencing. The changes would make the green space so much better for students and would drastically decrease the number of indoor-recess days because of mud and puddles!

The Berkley School District also plans to contribute to the project and will continue to manage the field, as the owner of the land. The HWMC contribution helps offset District costs allowing more projects to take place across the District through the Sinking Fund.

You can help by supporting the Huntington Woods Men’s Club Service Auction on April 26 at the Gillham Recreation Center. Tickets go on sale March 1, and there will be online bidding for those who can’t make it to the event.

Find more information on the Huntington Woods Men’s Club website.

BHS Spring Flower Sale

The Berkley High School Senior All Night Party invites the community to order from their annual Spring Flower Sale. All proceeds support the Senior All Night Party.

The sale begins online February 25th and runs through March 11th.

Flowers will be available for pick up on Thursday, May 22 from 1:30-5:30 pm in the BHS athletic parking lot.

Visit the flower sale website to place your order.

Berkley Schools Announces Varsity Tutors - Free for All Students

Berkley Schools has partnered with Varsity Tutors for Schools, an online platform with access to free learning tools.

The Varsity Tutors Platform gives students more opportunities to learn at their own pace, to get support on subjects they might be struggling with, to explore subjects they are learning in class and to support their curiosities. The platform includes the following:

• 24/7 on-demand chat tutoring and on-demand essay review to help students with any questions about homework, classwork or test prep.
• Live group classes, recorded classes and celebrity-led StarCourses allow students to learn more about the subjects they’re interested in and add a touch of fun.
• Assessments and self study practice problems provide opportunities to drill skills towards mastery.
• College prep & admissions resources ensure that students have the best resources available.

How to Access Varsity Tutors

Sign into the Varsity Tutors platform through the student Clever portal. To learn how to log into Clever with your child’s Berkley Schools Google account, follow these directions.

Learn More & Get Started!

• Varsity Tutors Berkley Schools Launchpad
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Varsity Tutors Video Overview

Have a Cool Job? Tell Our Students About It!

Berkley Schools is seeking community members willing to share their time and expertise in their career fields with our students! There are a variety of ways to share your journey and knowledge:

• Speak with a group of students or class about your job/career field (in-person or virtual)
• Serve on an Advisory Committee (ex. BHS Marketing Program, etc.)
• Host a student tour/field trip of your workplace
• Host a student job shadow experience at your workplace
• Conduct a student informational interview at your workplace
• Present at Career Fairs and/or Parent Nights
• Participate in other career-related activities (mock interviews, judging career-based projects, etc.)
• Receive emails about any future opportunities or needs
• Participate in an audio and/or video recorded interview with students

Counselors and select teachers will have access to this database of Berkley community contacts from a variety of different professional backgrounds to plan career exploration and readiness experiences with Berkley students.

Share your cool job with us by filling out this form.

Autism Alliance of Michigan Partners with Berkley Schools

Berkley Schools and Autism Alliance of Michigan (AAOM) are pleased to announce a 2024-25 partnership! This partnership strives to elevate neurodivergent students' experiences and increase opportunities across the spectrum. Both groups are committed to continuing to better their resources and experience to best serve the Berkley Schools community.

To learn more about the Autism Alliance of Michigan and the services they provide, visit the AAOM website.

What is the Oakland County Parent Advisory Committee?

The Oakland County Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) is comprised of parents of students with an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) or Individualized Education Program (IEP) within Oakland County. The Oakland Schools PAC typically meets on the first Wednesday of the following months: October, November, December, February, March, May and June at Oakland Schools or Virtually from 7-9 pm. Meetings include membership work, legal updates, and training on various topics related to special education, and are open to the public.

Two Berkley Schools parents serve on the Oakland County PAC and are available to support Berkley Schools families with questions or to collaborate in celebrating and advocating for all students with IEPs. Reach out to the Berkley Schools PAC reps, below.

• Natasha Hamilton: natashakhamilton@gmail.com
• Carolyn Durant-Blair: cnaomidb@gmail.com

Calendar Highlights: February

The Berkley Schools printed calendar highlights heritage months, holidays, days of observances and recognition days. In the Berkley Beat, we’ll highlight these days with more information for community learning to help us achieve the District goal of creating an environment where all staff, students and community members feel a sense of belonging.

Black History Month

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Also known as African American History Month, the event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month.

Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history. Read more on the origins of Black History Month on the History Channel website.

Take time to learn more about Black History and attend events by visiting the following resources:

• Check out the Oakland County blog for a number of programs, film screenings, and more taking place in person and virtually to explore Black history and culture
• PBS: Celebrating Black Leaders
• PBS: Teaching Your Child About Black History
• Common Sense Education: Free Learning Resources for Black History Month (and beyond)

Groundhog Day - February 2

Groundhog Day is a tradition observed in the United States and Canada on February 2 of every year. It derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and sees its shadow, it will retreat to its den and winter will go on for six more weeks; if it does not see its shadow, spring will arrive early.

Since 1887 a groundhog in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, has been the center of a staged appearance each February 2. In what has become a media event, the groundhog “Punxsutawney Phil” is the center of attention of television weathermen and newspaper photographers.

Student Count Day - February 12

Counting every student is important for school funding - please make sure your children attend school on Wednesday, February 12, 2025.

Count Day determines our state funding and is based on attendance for the day. If your child will not be in school, please make sure to call in their absence to the school office.

Valentine's Day - February 14, 2025

Valentine’s Day occurs every February 14. Across the United States and in other places around the world, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine.

Learn more about the history and origins of Valentine’s Day on the History Channel website.

Ramadan - Begins February 28

Ramadan, in Islam, is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar and the holy month of fasting. It begins and ends with the appearance of the crescent moon. Because the Muslim calendar year is shorter than the Gregorian calendar year, Ramadan begins 10–12 days earlier each year, allowing it to fall in every season throughout a 33-year cycle.

Islamic tradition states that it was during Ramadan, on the “Night of Power” (Laylat al-Qadr)—commemorated on one of the last 10 nights of Ramadan, usually the 27th night—that God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad the Qurʾān, Islam’s holy book, “as a guidance for the people.” For Muslims, Ramadan is a period of introspection, communal prayer (ṣalāt) in the mosque, and reading of the Qurʾān.

Source: Britannica

Here’s a helpful resource to learn more about the facts and traditions of Ramadan

• Visit the Britannica article about Ramadan to learn more

Subscribe to the District and School Calendars

Did you know you can subscribe to our school and District online calendars?

Sync the online calendar to your personal device to ensure you won’t miss a thing!

The District’s online calendar system uses iCal Feeds. To access all the iCal links, visit the District’s Calendar page, and click on the red and white calendar link to the top right of the calendar that’s displayed on the page.

Use this Foxbright tutorial to walk you through connecting our calendars to yours.

Be sure to subscribe to both the District AND your school calendar to ensure you have all important dates in your device.

Join the Berkley Schools Family - Now Hiring!

The Berkley School District is hiring! We are looking for talented individuals to fill a variety of positions. Visit our website to apply and share our postings with your networks!

Open Positions

• Principal - Angell Elementary School
• Permanent Building Substitute Teacher (3 positions) - Norup, BHS, Pattengill
• Long-Term Guest Teacher 1st Grade - Angell
• Long-Term Substitute Middle School Language Arts/Speech Teacher - Norup
• Long-Term Substitute Social Studies Teacher - Berkley High School/CASA
• Special Education Paraeducators (6 Positions) - Anderson, BHS, Burton, Pattengill
• Afternoon Custodian Shift Leader - Norup
• Afternoon Custodian - Burton
• Permanent Substitute Custodian - District
• Lunch Aides - Angell, Burton, Pattengill
• Food Service Worker Lead Position
• Kids’ Zone Assistant Teachers (3 Positions) - Angell, Pattengill, Rogers
• Varsity Baseball Assistant Coach - Berkley High School
• Varsity Girls Golf Head Coach - Berkley High School
• JV Head Baseball Coach - Berkley High School

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