What's Inside
- Channel 7 Highlights Adult Transition Micro-Business Hoppy Puppy
- Superintendent Francis Takes on Paraeducator Role at Burton
- Anderson Middle School Raises $15,000 to Benefit Camp Casey
- Choral Festival and Encore Competition Successes
- Rogers Students Learn from Visiting Author
- BHS Celebrates Charity Week
- Berkley Schools is Designing a New Website - Share Your Feedback
- Employee Health & Wellness Fair Vendor Application
- BHWYA Announces Child Safety Fair
- State of Michigan Alert: Summer Grocery Benefits Available for Qualifying Families
- Huntington Woods Men’s Club Invites Community to Annual Auction Benefiting Berkley Schools
- Child Protection Registry Available to Families
- Livable Neighborhoods Community Needs Survey
- 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?
- April Calendar Highlights - Autism Acceptance Month, Arab American Heritage Month, Paraprofessional Appreciation Day
- How to Subscribe to the District Calendar
- Join the Berkley Schools Family - Now Hiring
Channel 7 Highlights Adult Transition Micro-Business Hoppy Puppy
On Wednesday, April 2, a Channel 7 reporter visited Berkley’s Adult Transition Program to learn more about their micro-business, Hoppy Puppy. The reporter interviewed students and staff, filmed students making their product as well as engaging in their business meetings.
Hoppy Puppy is a collaboration between Berkley Schools’ Adult Transition Program (ATP), Dog & Pony Show Brewery in Oak Park, and Our Neighborhood Academy in Berkley. Students make/bake the treats using “spent grain” provided by Dog & Pony Show Brewery, which is a nutritious byproduct of the beer brewing process. Students bake the treats in their kitchen at ATP, package and market the product at Our Neighborhood Academy in Downtown Berkley and sell the dog treats at Monarch Market Cafe in Huntington Woods.
Superintendent Francis Takes on Paraeducator Role at Burton
During the Berkley Schools staff opening day celebration on August 22, 2024, Superintendent Scott Francis and the District administrators auctioned a “Substitute for the Day” for seven staff members - those leaders would then take the place of the lucky winner for the day and the staff member would get a vacation day.
On April 2, 2025, Superintendent Francis spent his day at Burton filling in for paraeducator Melissa Sheridan. Mr. Francis supported students in Stacey Reynolds’ class as his substitute role.
Superintendent Francis shared with Ms. Reynolds, “I'm so glad that Melissa’s name was pulled to allow me to sub in your room. It truly was a rewarding experience for me and such a helpful reminder of the important and challenging work you and our paras do every day.”
Anderson Middle School Raises $15,000 to Benefit Camp Casey
On March 19, Anderson Middle School hosted its annual March Miracles basketball tournament final. March Miracles is a school-wide fundraising initiative in support of a charity chosen by the Anderson community. Students form teams, compete, and showcase their skills in a March Madness-style basketball bracket competition that began with preliminary rounds earlier in the month.
To kick off the event, AMS welcomed Detroit Lions linebacker #53 Trevor Nowaske, who shared his personal story and offered words of advice and encouragement to students and staff. Trevor was introduced by his cousin, AMS 6th grader Evan Nowaske.
This year’s event raised $15,000 to support Camp Casey, a nonprofit organization that provides horseback riding programs to children with cancer, rare blood disorders and other life-threatening illnesses. The money was raised through tournament entry fees, sponsorships from local businesses, concession sales and team sponsorships from AMS staff.
Students enjoyed the event as they cheered on their peers during skill competitions and the basketball championships. Mike Ross, AMS principal, gave a shout-out to teacher Karen Saltsman, who coordinated the event, along with Mrs. Bajorek, Mrs. Burke, Mrs. Cabalum, and Ms. Combs, the staff members who helped with planning behind the scenes to make this event possible.
Choral Festival and Encore Competition Successes
Choral Festival: Middle & High School
On March 11th and 12th, choirs from Anderson, Norup, and BHS participated in the MSVMA District Choral Festival held at Walled Lake Northern. All choirs performed two contrasting choral selections for a panel of expert adjudicators who gave the choirs scores based on their tuning, musicality, presentation and engagement onstage. The choirs participated in a one-on-one clinic with a judge and enjoyed listening to other choirs from across Oakland County. Each choir also demonstrated their sight reading ability for a judge and the scores were added together for a composite “Rating.”
Directors Ms. Julie Anne Smith and Ms. Sarah Noble are so proud of all the hard work and passion students put into not only their preparation and performance, but also for being excellent representatives of the Berkley School District at the event. The following are the distinguished ratings each choir received:
- Anderson 7th/8th Grade Choir: Division II Rating (Good)
- BHS A Cappella Choir: Division I Rating (Excellent)
- BHS Belle Tones: Division I Rating (Excellent)
- BHS Concert Choir: Division I Rating (Excellent)
- NIS Choir Blue: Division I Rating (Excellent)
- NIS Choir Yellow: Division I Rating (Excellent)
BHS Encore! Performs at Show Choir Invitational
During the weekend of March 14-16, the BHS Encore! Show Choir traveled to Ossian, Indiana, to compete in the Norwell Show Choir Invitational. They performed their 18-minute competition show, titled "Encore! Meets the Mouse." Songs included in the set were "Cruisin' for a Bruisin'" from Teen Beach Movie, "Dig a Little Deeper" from Princess and the Frog, "Lava" from the Disney short film of the same name, "Go the Distance" from Hercules and "Life is a Highway" from Cars. At the competition, students performed for a panel of judges and received a one-on-one clinic. They got to watch many other unique performances from choirs across the country and spend quality time together, bonding as an ensemble and celebrating their hard work.
Senior Dance Captain, Lilah Conger, was awarded an "Outstanding Performer" award by the Norwell Judges. Director Sarah Noble is immensely proud of Encore! for persevering toward a performance level that pushed them musically and inspired them to dream BIG! A special acknowledgement must also be given to all the families and many individuals that helped fundraise and prepare Encore! for a truly memorable and productive weekend.
Rogers Students Learn from Visiting Author
On March 20, Rogers Elementary students had the opportunity to engage with DeAnn Wiley, the author of Homegrown, a book that follows a young girl who, while getting her hair done, asks what it means to be "homegrown." Through warm memories and family connections, it’s explained that home is not just a place, but a reflection of love and support from those around us.
As part of March is Reading Month, Ms. Wiley read her book aloud while displaying the pages on a projector, allowing students to follow along visually. Throughout the read-along, Ms. Wiley actively engaged the audience by asking questions and later inviting students to participate in a short Q&A session.
Following the reading, students took part in an arts and crafts activity inspired by the themes of the book. The event not only encouraged a love for reading but also provided a meaningful connection between literature and creative expression.
BHS Celebrates Charity Week
During the week of March 17-21, Berkley High School’s Student Leadership held its annual Charity Week, featuring a series of themed dress-up days, daily activities and a pep assembly.
Monday's theme was St. Patrick’s Day, with students wearing green, Tuesday was "Adam Sandler Day," Wednesday was Denim Day and Thursday was Spirit Day, where students wore their class colors for the Spirit Pep Assembly.
Fun activities throughout the week included: Ticket it to skip it (where students could play board games and make slime instead of go to class), a euchre tournament and a powerbuff volleyball game (junior and senior boys play volleyball)
At the assembly, students cheered for their classmates, recognized winter sports teams and clubs, the marching band provided the music and the dance team performed for the crowd. The event also included a series of competitions involving both students and staff.
In addition to fostering school spirit, the week served as a fundraiser for Focus: HOPE, a Metro Detroit nonprofit that combats poverty, racism and injustice through education, job training, food services and support services to empower individuals and communities. Organized by the BHS Student Leadership class, the fundraising efforts resulted in a total of $1,971.69 raised for the organization. Planning for Charity Week began in mid-February, with the goal of maximizing student participation and fundraising efforts.
Charity Week provided an opportunity for students to engage with their school community while contributing to a charitable cause.
Mayor Bridget Dean Visits Angell
On Friday, March 14, Mayor of Berkley, Michigan, Bridget Dean visited Angell Elementary School to read with students. Mayor Dean read two books to Angell's 5th graders. One of the books selected was How to Solve a Problem: The Rise (and Falls) of a Rock-Climbing Champion by Ashima Shiraishi. This book follows the story of one of the world’s youngest and most skilled climbers and how she applies rock climbing to problem-solving, and how those lessons can be utilized beyond climbing. The second story Mayor Dean read to the students was I Have a Little Problem, Said the Bear, a story that follows a bear with a problem who asks multiple individuals for help. However, they are too concerned with their own matters to take time to listen. These stories served as a catalyst for discussions around what students thought about the subject matter of the books, and the session concluded with a Q&A where students asked various questions about things such as the government, what the Mayor does, and getting to know her better.
Berkley Schools is Designing a New Website - Share Your Feedback
The Berkley School District is in the process of redesigning the District’s website and the Communications Office is seeking feedback from the community as the design process takes place. This short survey will allow you to share your thoughts and suggestions on your current website usage and what you'd like to see change in the new design. Our goal is to create a user-friendly and engaging online platform that serves the needs of our community.
This short survey should take no more than 5-7 minutes to complete. The survey will remain open until Monday, April 7.
Employee Health and Wellness Fair Vendor Application
The Berkley School District is hosting an Employee Health and Wellness Fair on May 6, 2025 from 11 am - 12:30 pm at Berkley High School. Businesses that offer a service or product that promotes a healthy lifestyle are welcome to attend.
This is an opportunity to promote your business for free and interact with over 600 Berkley School District employees. If your business is interested in participating, register at this link (https://bit.ly/bsdfair)
BHWYA Announces Child Safety Fair
Berkley Huntington Woods Youth Assistance is partnering with CARE House of Oakland County to bring a Child Safety Fair to the Berkley Schools community. This interactive event is designed to help children and families learn valuable tools and techniques for protecting children in various unsafe situations, such as bullying, cyberbullying and digital safety.
Event Details
- Tuesday, April 8th at 6 pm
- BHS Collaborative Center, 2325 Catalpa, Berkley
- For elementary aged students and their families
- Pizza, snacks and giveaways provided
The event will be centered around activity stations where families will discuss safety themes, make crafts and play games. Please note: the conversations around safety will be high level and age appropriate.
The Safety Fair introduces children and families to five essential safety rules:
- Know What’s Up – Knowing what’s up means you are aware of your environment and people around you, both online and in other parts of your life.
- Spot Red Flags – Help children understand boundaries, personal safety, and recognizing signs of potential dangers, whether online or in person.
- Make a Move – To stay safe, teach children how to move away and stay away from unsafe situations. Take action if a child reports unsafe behaviors, including notifying relevant authorities to ensure safety.
- Talk it Up – Teach children to use their voice to talk to a safe adult. Reinforce safety concepts through frequent, everyday conversations to keep these practices top-of-mind.
- No Blame / No Shame – Emphasize that children are never at fault for unsafe situations, promoting a supportive, open environment for discussing concerns.
State of Michigan Alert: Summer Grocery Benefits Available for Qualifying Families
The State of Michigan is offering a summer EBT program called Sun Bucks. Applications must be received by April 15, 2025 to start receiving benefits in May. Details are below.
- Eligible families of school-age children will receive $120 per child for qualifying groceries.
- Qualifying groceries include fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, breads, cereals, and non-alcoholic drinks.
- SUN Bucks can be spent at many locations in-store or online.
- Families can receive SUN Bucks on top of other nutrition benefits like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
- Funds will expire 122 days after issuance – so we encourage families to use them sooner rather than later.
Eligibility
Families will be automatically enrolled in SUN Bucks if they are already enrolled in SNAP, TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), or FDPIR (Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations) benefits or meet the requirements for free or reduced-price school meals. In other words, keep an eye out for $120, per child, at the beginning of summer! Families that are not automatically enrolled should apply for SUN Bucks directly on the MI Bridges website.
Additional Resources Available
Additional resources are available like the Food Assistance Program (FAP) at MI Bridges, WIC benefits, and Child Development & Care (CDC) benefits.
Huntington Woods Men’s Club Invites Community to Annual Auction Benefiting Berkley Schools - Tickets on Sale!
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 are on sale now 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.
Child Protection Registry Available to Families
The State of Michigan offers a Child Protection Registry available for all families to protect their children online. Modeled after the national Do-Not-Call legislation it is a “Do-Not-Contact” program that allows families to prevent adult product solicitations to their electronic contact points. This registry blocks advertisements or promotions of products that minors are prohibited from purchasing, including alcohol, tobacco/vaping, gambling, pornography and illegal drugs/marijuana. The Michigan Child Protection Registry is administered under the Michigan Secretary of State Office.
Why is a registry like this important?
Children as young as two are spending more time on computers, tablets and cell phones than ever before. Marketers, selling adult-oriented products, are also using technology more and more to promote their brands and services. Unfortunately, the solicitations these companies are sending are falling in front of the eyes of minors through their email, text messages, and certain apps.
How does it work?
Individuals interested in not receiving adult product solicitations can register their email addresses, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Discord, Twitch, YouTube and cell phone numbers on the Child Protection Registry website. Adult-oriented solicitors will then scrub their contact lists against the registry. Registered emails and other “contact points” will then be removed. The marketers will NOT have access to the actual contact point information. The registry does not store in its database a list of identifiable subscribers.
Do children still use email?
Social media sites and mobile apps require an email address to register for their service. Many schools require children to have email addresses to correspond with their teachers. Email is still a preferred form of communication and will continue to be into the future.
How is the registry enforced?
Violations will be reported by recipients, at which point fines may be assessed. Marketers have 30 days to scrub registered contact points from their lists before complaints may be filed.
Livable Neighborhoods Community Needs Survey
Every year, Oakland County's Neighborhood & Housing Development (NHD) Division creates a plan for how U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds will be spent in Oakland County. Completing this questionnaire will help NHD create an Annual Action Plan to utilize funds for community improvements like upgrading sidewalks, public parks and senior center updates.
The community is invited to complete the questionnaire by Friday, May 16.
Questions about the survey can be directed toward Oakland Connects at 1-800-848-5533.
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!
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: April
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.
Arab American Heritage Month
The Arab America Foundation launched the National Arab American Heritage Month initiative in 2017. In 2021, President Biden recognized the month nationally to recognize the 3.5 million Arab Americans that exemplify “so much of what our country stands for: hard work, resilience, compassion, and generosity.”. For National Arab American Heritage month, across the country, cultural institutions, school districts, municipalities, state legislatures, public servants, and non-profit organizations issue proclamations and engage in special events that celebrate the Arab American community’s rich heritage and numerous contributions to society.
Did you know that the first and only museum in the United States devoted to documenting and sharing Arab American contributions that shaped the economic, political and cultural landscapes of American life is a 20 minute drive from the Berkley Schools? The Arab American National Museum (AANM) is located in Dearborn. The Museum brings to light the shared experiences of immigrants and ethnic groups, paying tribute to the diversity of our nation.
The museum tells the Arab American story through the voices and experiences of Arab Americans.
Learn more about the museum on their website, or go for a visit at 13624 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, MI 48126.
Autism Acceptance Month
Autism Acceptance Month, previously named Autism Awareness Month, aims to celebrate and promote acceptance for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which occurs in one in every 54 children as of 2020 in the United States. Autism, a complex developmental condition affecting the person's ability to interact, communicate, and progress, has not one but many subtypes. First held in the year 1972 by the Autism Society, Autism Acceptance Month emphasizes the need for public awareness to promote acceptance, celebrate the differences and be more inclusive towards autistic individuals around us.
To learn more about Autism and Autism awareness, the START project is a great place to begin. The START project is housed in the Grand Valley State University Autism Education Center, supported by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. It is funded by the Michigan Department of Education Office of Special Education to provide evidence-based training, technical assistance and coaching support and resources to school-based teams in Michigan that support students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). START is a statewide collaborative effort to make systems level changes to improve the educational programming and quality of life for students with ASD.
START developed an Autism Acceptance, Advocacy and Action webpage as part of the ASD 365: Equity and Inclusion Every Day campaign to promote autism acceptance and advocacy through action in April and the months after. START encourages the community to use these resources to assure everyone is using practices focused on equity and inclusiveness that value the voices and perspectives of the autistic community. An active, collaborative approach that involves listening, understanding and taking action will help everyone grow into a truly diverse, equitable community where all perspectives and people are heard and valued.
Want to read more on awareness vs acceptance?
Acceptance vs. Awareness Article
Then: Puzzle piece as the symbol for Autism
Now: Rainbow colored infinity symbol
Then: "Light it up blue" for Autism
Now: Gold, Red, Rainbow - anything but blue
Then: Autism Awareness
Now: Autism Acceptance
More Resources
• ASAN’s Autism Acceptance Page
Paraprofessional Appreciation Day - April 3
On Paraprofessional Appreciation Day, Berkley Schools says thank you to all our Paraprofessionals for going above and beyond every day to support our students. We are so grateful for all of you!
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
- Permanent Building Substitute Teacher - Norup
- Long-Term Substitute Middle School Language Arts/Speech Teacher - Norup
- Afternoon Custodian Shift Leader - Norup
- Afternoon Custodian - Burton
- Permanent Substitute Custodian - District
- Lunch Aides - Angell, Burton, Pattengill
- Kids’ Zone Assistant Teachers (3 Positions) - Angell, Pattengill, Rogers
- Varsity Girls Golf Head Coach - Berkley High School
- Middle School Football Coach - Anderson
- 7th Grade Boys Basketball Coach - Norup
Follow us on Social Media
Did you know the District has Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube pages? Follow us to see the latest news and photos!