What's Inside
- Annual Clap Outs, Ceremonies Celebrate Students’ Last Years in Their School
- It’s Field Day Season!
- District Community Survey: Share Your Thoughts on Equity & Inclusion Progress
- Norup 8th Graders Use Teamwork to Transform School Courtyard
- BHS Kicks Off Summer Reading
- Rogers Garden Club Supported by BEF
- Norup Student Honored in Detroit Music Publication
- Burton PTA Hosts Ice Cream Social
- Pattengill Media Center Transforms Into Wax Museum
- BHS Students Perform Romeo & Juliet
- Care Solace Available All Summer Long
- Berkley Building Blocks Now Enrolling for Half Day Preschool
- Berkley Huntington Woods Youth Assistance Sponsors Little Yogis Summer Camp
- Have a Cool Job? Tell Our Students About It!
- What is the Oakland County Parent Advisory Committee?
- June Calendar Highlights - Pride Month, Flag Day, Juneteenth
Annual Clap Outs, Ceremonies Celebrate Students’ Last Years in Their School
Elementary and middle schools ended their years with clap outs and ceremonies celebrating 5th and 8th graders as they transition to a new school. Berkley High School and Berkley Adult Transition celebrated their graduates.
Clap outs are an opportunity for older students to say goodbye to classmates, younger grades and teachers. Families often complete the event outside where many students can be found embracing friends and teachers before leaving for the summer.
Angell: 5th Grade Clap Out & Car Parade
On June 12, Angell 5th graders walked the halls one last time on their last afternoon of school. They paraded through Angell, shaking hands and giving high fives to their peers and staff members lined along the halls as they made their way out to their families who were cheering them on as they completed their last day as 5th graders and students of Angell.
On June 13, Angell 5th grade families lined up outside of Angell to drive their 5th graders through the annual car parade. Angell students lined the sidewalks to wave and cheer for the 5th graders one last time. Families decorated their cars, honked their horns and waved to the audience.
Burton: 5th Grade Clap Out & Promotion Ceremony
On Friday, June 6, Burton families gathered for the annual Burton 5th grade promotion ceremony, Wings of Wisdom. Principal Lauren Fragomeni wished the students well, the 5th grade choir performed and teachers called students up to receive their certificates.
On Friday, June 13, Burton 5th graders walked the halls one last time during the annual clap out. Students and the 5th grade teachers enjoyed the high fives and hugs and were met with families outside to continue the celebration.
Norup: 5th Grade End of Year Presentations
Norup 5th graders ended their year with a final project that told their life story. Students presented poster boards or digital stories showcasing their growth through Norup, the moments that stood out to them, as well as what their wishes are for the future. After presenting their stories to family and friends, 5th graders gathered to watch an end-of-year slideshow highlighting all the fun and learning that took place.
Pattengill: 5th Grade Clap Out & Promotion Ceremony
On Friday, June 13, Pattengill 5th graders started their day with a clap out that merged right into their promotion ceremony. After walking the halls to cheers, high fives and hugs, students lined up inside and were called out to the ceremony one at a time to receive their certificates. Teachers and families celebrated the students, wishing them a farewell. One student shared her reflections with the audience and then students took photos with their Pattengill peers to end the morning.
Rogers: 5th Grade Clap Out & Graduation
On June 12, Rogers Elementary 5th graders and their families gathered for the graduation ceremony outside of the school. Students listened to a speech from Principal Hasse and parting words from their teachers. Students were then called up individually to receive their certificates and share a quote that was special to them.
On June 13, Rogers students celebrated their 5th graders with a clap out on the last day of school. Students and teachers lined the halls and families made a tunnel outside to greet their 5th graders. Many students were overcome with emotion as they said farewell to their elementary school.
Anderson: 8th Grade Clap Out & Promotion Ceremony
On Wednesday, June 11, Anderson students and staff lined the halls and clapped out their 8th grade friends. That evening, Anderson 8th grade students were honored for completing their middle school careers. Students arrived at school ready for their ceremony with family and friends, celebrated on Hurley Field. Michael Ross, AMS Principal, addressed the 8th graders, sharing well wishes for the students. Special awards were given out with scholarships, students were recognized for special academic achievement and one student addressed their classmates in a speech. When the recognition from the podium was complete, students had their names called one-by-one and were celebrated as graduates of Anderson Middle School.
Norup: 8th Grade Clap Out & Promotion Ceremony
Norup 8th graders gathered on the afternoon of June 12, to hear words of wisdom from Principal Paul Yowchuang and to receive their end-of-year certificates. Special recognition was given to students who spent their entire educational career at Norup (Kindergarten through 8th grade), to students who received the John Norup award, the Assistant Principal’s award and the Principal’s award. Each member of the class was called up individually, receiving certificates and a handshake from Assistant Principal, Kaitlin Eickemeyer and Principal Yowchuang.
Norup 8th graders were treated to a clap out after their promotion ceremony. Families started the clap out tunnel outside and as the 8th graders entered the building one last time, students and teachers lined the halls to send well wishes with the soon to be 9th graders.
Adult Transition Program Graduation
On June 12, the Adult Transition Program held a graduation for three students who completed the program. During the ceremony, ATP interim supervisor Sharon Berke, Special Education Supervisor Nic Farquhar and Director of Student Services Heather Lackey, spoke to the students and families as well as teachers Sarah Gerds and Joe Altizer. The graduates were presented with plaques as part of the ceremony. Everyone enjoyed a reception following the festivities.
Berkley High School
Berkley High School’s graduation is so big, we made a separate Berkley Beat to cover it. Visit the link to see photos, videos, quotes from speeches, the Class of 2025 facts and statistics, and even more photos.
It’s Field Day Season!
The end of the school year brings lots of outside fun for our students. During the last weeks of school, schools host field days and students play games, participate in competitions and enjoy popsicles. The Berkley Beat covered Burton and Pattengill’s Field Days in past issues – this edition includes details and photos from Berkley Building Blocks, Angell, Norup, Rogers and Anderson.
Berkley Building Blocks
On Wednesday, June 4, Building Blocks students participated in their annual Field Day. Throughout the day, classes took turns heading outside to enjoy games on the field and the playground, where students participated in a variety of water-themed activities, bubbles and toys, especially running through the shark sprinkler set up on the lawn.
Angell Elementary School
On Friday, June 6, Angell students rotated through Field Day stations set up along the perimeter of the building. Students enjoyed egg races, water games, tug of war, potato sack races, basketball games, parachute games, yoga and team building.
Norup Elementary School
Norup’s Elementary Field Day was held on Friday, June 6. Students had relay races that included hula hoop games, parachute games, rock paper scissors and enjoyed popsicles.
Rogers Elementary School
Rogers students had fun at their Field Day on Friday, June 6. Students tried egg races, water balloon toss, relay races, dunking parents in the dunk tank and more!
Anderson Middle School
Anderson 6th and 7th grade students participated in Field Day on Friday, June 13. Students cycled through kickball, capture the flag, tag and more on both the AMS field and Hurley Field. Students cooled off and talked about summer plans in between activities.
Norup Middle School
On Friday, June 13, Norup 6th and 7th graders enjoyed their Field Day. Students played dodgeball, tug of war, and lawn games on their last day of school.
Closing On Monday - Share Your Feedback with Us!
District Community Survey: Share Your Thoughts on Equity & Inclusion Progress
In 2022, the Board of Education approved our new Strategic Plan, the guiding document for our work as a District. As part of that plan, we updated our Vision, Mission and Tagline, created a Portrait of a Learner and established new goals for the next five years. In order for us to know if we are being successful with our work, we will be seeking your feedback and input through this annual survey.
The survey addresses components of the Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan includes five goal areas. Embedded throughout the goal areas are a focus on culture and equity. Those are the areas we're focusing our survey on today. Your feedback will help inform programs, learning and investment.
In addition, District administrators are working on revising the Student Code of Conduct through an equity lens. Your feedback on three questions related to the Code of Conduct will help guide our work.
This survey should take no longer than 10-15 minutes and has both multiple choice and open response questions. Many of the questions may look familiar to you and that is purposeful. It allows the District to monitor progress on the related topics. You can take the survey online here. The survey will remain open until June 23, 2025.
Norup 8th Graders Use Teamwork to Transform School Courtyard
On Wednesday, June 11, Norup Principal Paul Yowchuang put his 8th graders to work. The students spent the day working in the school’s courtyard to beautify the space and transform it into an outdoor classroom. Students built picnic tables, cleared out former planting beds, trimmed trees and bushes, built raised garden beds and learned new skills. The students worked in teams throughout the day to accomplish all the work. Journalism 2 students worked to document the day for Mr. Yowchuang with photos and videos, too.
The end goal was a revamped courtyard that can serve as an outdoor classroom. In addition, Mr. Yowchaung shared that next year’s classes will adopt garden beds to grow fruit and vegetables.
This activity replaced the 8th grade community project where students would work in small groups to impact the community in a positive way.
BHS Kicks Off Summer Reading
Berkley High School students often have summer reading to complete for their English classes before the school year begins in the fall. To help students be successful and come fully prepared for the 2025-26 school year, BHS hosted a Summer Reading Kickoff on June 9. Over 900 students cycled through the media center visiting with teachers and learning which books are on the summer reading list. Students were able to shop for their books and check them out with a QR code stick on the covers with links directly to summer reading assignments.
Representatives from Berkley, Oak Park and Huntington Woods libraries were also onsite to register students for library cards, so they can check out their summer reading from the local libraries as well.
Rogers Garden Club Supported by BEF
This spring, Rogers parent Dionna Baker started a Garden Club to give students another hands-on learning experience that they can take with them as they grow. The Berkley Education Foundation provided the supplies for the club: soil, mulch, shovels and plants, as part of the BEF Enrichment Program for elementary and middle school students.
Students spent time weekly at the end of the school year to clean up garden beds, plant flowers and beautify Rogers.
Norup Student Honored in Detroit Music Publication
Ethan Johnson is a 7th-grade student at Norup. He participates in Band, Jazz Band and Drumline. Recently, Ethan was featured in the Detroit Federation of Musicians Local Number 5’s publication, The Keynote, as a new member.
In the feature write up, The Keynote states, “In addition to his school academic and performance obligations, Ethan is often provided with opportunities to sit in at jam sessions and music sets at the legendary Baker’s Keyboard Lounge and Aretha’s Jazz Cafe. He has performed with established musicians such as Ralphe Armstrong, Scott Gwinnell, Roland Chandler, Sr., Gerard Gibbs, and 'young lions' Jacob Hart and Nate Topolewski. Ethan greatly appreciates the mentorship and guidance from percussionists Gayelynn McKinney, Treaty Womack, Michael Reed, and Louis Jones III. Ethan has a natural interest in jazz and funk, and he is equally enthusiastic about exploring other genres to expand his repertoire and musical exposure. He is particularly eager to meet and learn from other members of Local 5, a testament to his humility and willingness to grow as a musician. This experience will help him develop his professionalism and promote the appreciation of jazz for current and future generations.”
Burton PTA Hosts Ice Cream Social
On Friday, June 6, Burton’s PTA hosted the annual Ice Cream Social. This year, students enjoyed dancing with a DJ, a prize walk, food trucks, inflatable activities and ice cream from Treat Dreams. Students played in the field and on the playground, too.
Pattengill Media Center Transforms Into Wax Museum
On Monday, June 9, Pattengill students transformed into wax figures of famous and noteworthy individuals from both the past and present.
Visitors who "pushed their buttons" learned all about each figure’s childhood, the steps they took on their journey to fame, and the legacy they left or are still creating. Students dressed in creative costumes to bring their characters to life, adding details like hats, props, literature, bowties, mustaches, wigs, and more. The Pattengill Media Center was filled with friends, parents, and students eager to learn and explore.
To prepare for the Wax Museum, students read biographies, took notes, wrote speeches, and studied timelines.
BHS Students Perform Romeo & Juliet
At the end of the school year, Drama Director John Hopkins teamed up with BHS teacher Stacey Walters to infuse performance into the 9th grade English classes. Students in Ms. Walters’ classes practiced scenes and monologues from Romeo & Juliet after reading the play. Students rehearsed and performed their lines on Thursday, June 12 for friends, family and classmates. In past years, a professional group was brought to BHS for students to watch Romeo & Juliet after finishing their unit, and this year the staff decided to go in a different direction, allowing students to bring the words to life.
Care Solace Available All Summer Long
Care Solace is available all summer long to support Berkley Schools families, students and staff.
The District joined with Care Solace earlier this year to provide a free mental health resource to connect our families with care. If you or a family member are looking for help with mental health or substance use, Care Solace will quickly connect you to community providers matched to your needs. Call 888-515-0595 at any time or search on your own at the specialized Berkley Schools Care Solace website.
Care Solace also created a Transition into Summer Kit—a ready-to-use resource designed to guide families through a healthy, intentional transition.
Berkley Building Blocks Now Enrolling for Half Day Preschool
Berkley Building Blocks is currently enrolling for Sunshine Club, a half day preschool program for the 2025-2026 school year.
Students are enrolled in the three day or two day program:
- Monday/Wednesday/Friday: 8:30 am - 12 pm
- Tuesday/Thursday: 8:30 am - 12 pm
Interested?
- Email: sarah.pinch@berkleyschools.org
- Call: 248-837-8904
Berkley Huntington Woods Youth Assistance Sponsors Little Yogis Summer Camp
Berkley Huntington Woods Youth Assistance (BHWYA) invites students ages 6-8 who are enrolled in the Berkley Schools to attend the free Little Yogis Summer Camp.
Camp sessions are Friday, July 18th 9:30 am - 12:00 pm or 1-3:30 pm at Bacon Park.
Camp includes breathing techniques with mindful poses and a fun craft.
Yoga mats, water and snacks provided.
The camp is sponsored by BHWYA.
To register, email info@BHWYA.org
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.
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: June
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.
Pride Month
June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month in the United States. During this month, many pride events are held to recognize the impact LGBTQ+ people have had in the world. Pride Month is also celebrated annually in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots, and works to achieve equal justice and equal opportunity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) Americans.
To learn more about Pride Month, and to see resources to share with your children, check out the list of resources below.
- Affirmations Detroit Affirmations LGBTQ+ community center has been the hub for southeast Michigan LGBTQ+ communities and its allies for the last 30 years. Affirmations provides a welcoming space where people of all sexual orientations, gender identities & expressions, and cultures can learn, grow, socialize and access the vital support they need.
- Celebrate Pride with Us - Human Rights Campaign The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) strives to end discrimination against LGBTQ people and realize a world that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all. HRC envisions a world where lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people are ensured equality and embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community. The HRC has developed a website full of Pride month activities, videos and resources.
- GLSEN: Terms and Concepts This collection of Key Concepts and Terms is designed to provide a basic understanding of words, phrases and ideas related to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and their experiences. All language is constantly evolving; new terms are introduced, while others fade from use or change their meaning over time.
- It Gets Better Project The It Gets Better Project’s mission is to uplift, empower, and connect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) youth around the globe.
- PFLAG: OUR CHILDREN OUR CHILDREN offers a fresh eye for families and others about what to do when a loved one comes out. Full of useful knowledge, helpful tips, expert opinions and first-person stories, OUR CHILDREN--which has a focus on sexual orientation and gender expression--is a must read for anyone looking to learn more about how to support LGBTQ loved ones...or looking for support for themselves.
- Trevor Support Center A place where LGBTQ youth and their allies can find answers to frequently asked questions, and explore resources related to sexual orientation, gender identity and more!
Flag Day - June 14
Flag Day commemorates June 14, 1777, when the Continental Congress determined the composition of the nation’s banner: “Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”
President Woodrow Wilson issued a 1916 proclamation of June 14 as Flag Day and in 1949, President Harry S. Truman signed the formal observance into law.
Learn more about Flag Day and American Flag history on the History website.
Juneteenth - June 19
Did you know that Juneteenth is a holiday that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States? Other names for the holiday include Emancipation Day, Freedom Day and Juneteenth Independence Day.
Learn more about Juneteenth by visiting these websites:
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
- Special Education Coordinator
- Elementary Teacher (1st Grade) - Burton
- Elementary Teacher (4th Grade) - Rogers
- Elementary Teacher (Kindergarten) - Rogers
- Elementary Teacher (4th Grade) - Angell
- Middle School English Teacher - Norup
- Permanent Building Substitute Teacher - Anderson
- Accounts Payable Clerk - Admin Center
- Early Childhood Special Education Teacher - BBB
- Lead Teacher - GSRP Extended Program Teacher - BBB
- School Psychologist - 2025-26 School Year
- School Social Worker - Early Childhood Education
- Permanent Substitute Custodian - District
- Head Custodian - Angell
- Kids’ Zone Assistant Teachers (3 positions) - Angell, Pattengill, Rogers
- Lunch Aides - Angell, Burton, Pattengill
- Middle School Football Coach - Anderson
- JV Girls Golf Coach - BHS
- Sideline Cheer JV Coach - BHS
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