Berkley Beat October 25, 2024

What's Inside

• BHS Seniors Receive Over $886,000 in Scholarship Offers During Onsite Admission Day
• Bond Groundbreaking Ceremony - October 28, 2024
• Pattengill Fun Run Includes Quiet Run
• Norup Students Enjoy Annual Color Fun Run
• Elementary Teachers Pilot Math Curriculum and Work Together to Implement Vision
• Berkley Building Blocks Celebrates Halloween at Trunk or Treat
• BHS Fall Play Tickets on Sale
• BHS Unified Soccer Plays Six Games in 2024 Season
• BHS Football Team Raises $2,500 for Gilda’s Club
• The Scooter Meets Freddie Story to Air on October 30
• Berkley High School Dance Team to Perform at Pistons Game
• Register Today for Saturdays for Success
• Berkley Schools PTAs Sponsoring Reflections Art Contest
• Berkley Schools Announces Varsity Tutors - Free for Students
• Have a Cool Job? Tell Our Students About It!
• Calling All Golfers - Tickets on Sale for The BEF Open
• Autism Alliance of Michigan Partners with Berkley Schools
• What is the Oakland County Parent Advisory Committee?
• October Calendar Highlights - LGBTQ+ History Month, National Down Syndrome Awareness Month, Rosh Hashanah, National Custodial Worker’s Recognition Day, Yom Kippur, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Sukkot, Boss’s Day, Simchat Torah, Halloween, Diwali/Deepavali
• How to Subscribe to the District Calendar
• Join the Berkley Schools Family - Now Hiring

Berkley High School Dance Team to Perform at Pistons Game

The Berkley High School Dance Team will perform on the court at Little Caesars Arena before the Pistons game on Saturday, January 11, 2025 at 7 pm. The Dance Team invites the Berkley Schools community to support their program while also enjoying a Detroit Pistons game vs the Toronto Raptors.

Dancers, parents, family and friends receive exclusive ticket savings for the game if tickets are purchased through the Dance Team’s ticket website. Ticket includes: Access to the performance, a free Pistons item and post-game free throw on the Pistons court!

Section 101 tickets are $60 each, and section 208 tickets are $35 each.

Tickets are mobile tickets and details will be emailed to you immediately after purchase.

To access mobile tickets you must log into the Pistons App.

Register Today for Saturdays for Success

The Saturdays for Success Program (S4S) is sponsored by the Berkley African American Parent Network (BAAPN) in partnership with the Berkley School District. The purpose of S4S is to help all Berkley students have a successful K-12 academic experience by providing educational opportunities in literacy and math, and developing study skills that will ensure long-term success. The S4S Program builds on concepts students are currently learning in their classes.

S4S Schedule

• October 26
• November 2, 9, 16, 23
• 9:30-11:00 am
• Berkley High School

The cost of the program is $20 per child (fee covers all 6 sessions). If your family is eligible for free and/or reduced meals the cost is $10 per child.

Register today!

Berkley Schools PTAs Sponsoring Reflections Art Contest

All Berkley Schools PTAs are participating in the 2024-25 National PTA Reflections art contest. The Reflections program was founded in 1969 and since its founding, millions of students have participated in the program. The goal of the program is participation in and appreciation for the arts.

This year’s Reflections theme is “Accepting Imperfections” Students of all ages are invited to create visual art, dance, photography or literature connected to the theme. Berkley PTAs will judge all entries and choose up to four winners in each age range and category. Those winners then move on to be judged at the state level. Top winners at the state level go on to national judging.

General Rules

• Only new pieces of artwork inspired by the theme may be submitted.
• Students may only submit one entry per category.
• Each entry may only be submitted by one student. For example, if more than one student appears in an entry (like for dance choreography), only the person who is responsible for creating the concept and leading the project can enter their name on the entry form.
• The work must be the child’s. Parents or other grown-ups may not help. (Exceptions apply for the Accessible Arts division.)
• To keep the judging anonymous, do not include the student’s full name on the work. That means no signatures on visual arts pieces and no full names written or spoken in other pieces.
• Use of copyrighted material is prohibited, except for background music in dance choreography and specific exceptions in visual arts entries. See category guidelines for details.
• Digital technology and/or software can be used to develop, enhance and/or present an entry but may not provide the primary design and/or concept.
• Each entry must have an entry form. This form will include an artist statement, which tells the judges how the project fits with the theme of “Accepting Imperfection”
• Artists must include a consent form for any person whose face or voice is included in an entry.

Artist Statements

Artist statements must be between 10 and 100 words and must describe what the work is and how it relates to the theme. Artists can share how they got the idea for the project or what “Accepting Imperfection” means to them. Artist statements are an important part of the judging - make sure they are student words – not grown-up words.

How to Enter - Due November 6

Use the Reflections Entry Form.

Learn more details on the PTA Reflections Information Sheet.

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.

Calling All Golfers: Tickets on Sale for The BEF Open

Save the Date for the Berkley Education Foundation’s (BEF) annual BEF Open, an X-Golf Tournament, Friday, November 8, 7-10 pm. Guests will have the chance to support the BEF by playing a round of golf, being a spectator, playing golf-related games for prizes and/or sponsoring the event.

Golfers, in teams of four, will have the chance to play 18 holes at X-Golf on a world-renowned course. Teams will play an alternate ball scramble and enjoy hot dogs at the turn. Only 3 teams remain! Teams can utilize mulligans and sabotages to help their scores.

Golfers can also enter the Longest Drive contest, Closest to the Pin contest and Putting Challenge. Winners of the contests and the overall tournament will take home big prizes.

Not a golfer? Come for a Friday night out!

Enjoy an evening out, courtesy of the BEF, as a spectator. For those who are not golfers, don't want to commit to playing 18, or have never swung a club, stop in and enjoy the party. Spectator tickets are $25/person and include appetizers & hot dogs and an opportunity to play in the individual golf competitions.

Mark Your Calendar

• Friday, November 8
• 7-10 pm
• X-Golf, Royal Oak

Price

• $500/team
• $25/spectator

Support the Event

Businesses and organizations have several opportunities to underwrite the event costs - there are many ways to be involved:

• Sponsor the Event: $1,500
• Sponsor Hot Dogs at the Turn: $1,000 - Sponsored by Interior Environments
• Sponsor Longest Drive: $500
• Sponsor Closest to the Pin: $500
• Sponsor Putting Challenge: $500
• Sponsor a Team: $500

Interested in sponsoring? Email berkleyfoundation@berkleyschools.org.

Every dollar the BEF raises supports teacher innovation-grants, the enrichment program, student scholarships and the 8th grade college tour.

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

October Calendar Highlights

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.

Down Syndrome Awareness Month

October was first designated as Down Syndrome Awareness Month in the 1980s by the National Down Syndrome Society and has been recognized every October since. It is a time to celebrate people with Down syndrome and make others aware of their abilities and accomplishments and to promote advocacy and foster inclusion through community.

Down syndrome is a condition in which a person has an extra chromosome. Typically, a baby is born with 46 chromosomes. Babies with Down syndrome have an extra copy of one of these chromosomes, chromosome 21. According to the CDC, even though people with Down syndrome might act and look similar, each person has different abilities. Learn more on the National Down Syndrome Society website.

LGBTQ+ History Month

LGBTQ+ History Month is an annual month-long observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history, and the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements. It was started in 1994 by high school teacher Rodney Wilson of Missouri along with his fellow community members and was endorsed by GLAAD, the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the National Education Association and other national organizations. October was chosen for history month because October 11 is National Coming Out Day.

The LGBT History Month website https://bit.ly/3LJbTrU celebrates the achievements of 31 lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender icons. Each day in October, a new LGBT Icon is featured with a video, bio, bibliography, downloadable images and other resources.

National Custodian Worker's Day - October 2

National Custodial Worker's Recognition Day is celebrated annually on October 2 in honor of our custodial and maintenance teams!

Did you know...

• Berkey Schools has 33 members of the maintenance and custodial team
• On average, each custodians cleans 33,000 sq ft every night each
• The Head Custodians take care of the HVAC systems, the outside grounds including weed whipping, hedge trimming and flower bed care, snow removal of all sidewalks, and general maintenance in each of their buildings (plumbing, painting, drywall repair, lunchroom clean up)
• The 4-member Maintenance team is responsible for parking lot snow removal, mowing all District properties as well as adding field lines where needed for sporting events, and taking care of any needs at Hurley Field
• The custodial team sets up for and takes down events in every building

All of this while developing and maintaining relationships with their school families.

Rosh Hashanah - October 2 -4

Rosh Hashanah, a Jewish High Holiday, begins at sundown on Wednesday, October 2, and ends at sundown on Friday, October 4, 2024.

This two-day Jewish celebration of the New Year literally translates to “head of the year” in Hebrew and is the beginning of the Jewish New Year. It is observed on the first and second days of the Jewish month of Tishrei, the first month in the civil calendar and is marked by the blowing of the shofar (ram's horn).

Rosh Hashanah is a religious and festive time when family and friends gather together for meals and worship. It’s a time for looking forward to a new year with anticipation and reflecting on the past year to improve for the next. A traditional greeting for Rosh Hashanah is "Happy New Year" or "Shanah Tovah."

Yom Kippur - October 11-12

Yom Kippur, a Jewish High Holiday, begins on the evening of Friday, October 11 and ends at sundown on Saturday, October 12. Yom Kippur is the holiest day in the Jewish faith. This Day of Atonement takes place on the 10th day of Tishrei and is a time to atone for the sins of the past year. Yom Kippur traditions include fasting, refraining from work and attending services at a synagogue.

National Coming Out Day - October 11

October 11th is National Coming Out Day, an annual LGBTQ awareness day observed on October 11, to support anyone "coming out of the closet."

According to the Human Rights Campaign, the first National Coming Out Day was organized by Jean O’Leary and Dr. Robert Eichberg. It was first observed on October 11, 1988, the first anniversary of the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.

For more information and resources, visit the American Psychological Association website on National Coming Out Day and the Human Rights Campaign website

Indigenous Peoples’ Day - October 14

Indigenous Peoples' Day is a holiday in the United States that celebrates and honors indigenous American peoples and commemorates their histories and cultures. It is celebrated across the United States on the second Monday in October, and is an official city and state holiday in various localities. In 2021, President Biden formally commemorated the holiday with a presidential proclamation, becoming the first U.S. President to do so.

Learn more on how to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day on the Smithsonian website.

Sukkot: October 16 - October 23

Sukkot is a weeklong Jewish holiday that comes five days after Yom Kippur. Sukkot celebrates the gathering of the harvest. Sukkot is named after the booths or huts in which those who observe Judaism are supposed to dwell and/or eat during this week-long celebration. According to rabbinic tradition, the sukkot represent the huts in which the Israelites dwelt after the exodus from Egypt.

Boss’s Day - October 16

National Boss’s Day is celebrated in the United States each year on October 16. Patricia Bays Haroski registered "National Boss' Day" with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 1958. The holiday began as a chance for employees to express their gratitude to their employers or managers. It’s also seen as a way for the relationship between managers and employees to be strengthened. Indeed shared an article on How to (and How Not to) Celebrate Boss’s Day. This celebration day has also come under criticism for celebrating management instead of celebrating the workforce. Whether you choose to celebrate or not, Berkley School District is grateful for our District and school administrators who set the tone and vision for the District.

Simchat Torah - October 24-25

Simchat Torah begins at sunset on October 24 and ends after nightfall on October 25. It is a celebration marking the conclusion of the annual cycle of the past year’s Torah readings and the beginning of a new cycle. It is celebrated on the 23rd day of the month of Tishrei in the Hebrew calendar.

Halloween - October 31

Halloween takes place on October 31 annually. According to History.com, celebrating Halloween on October 31 originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. In the eighth century, November 1 was designated as All Saints Day to honor all saints, which incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before All Saints Day became known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween. Now, Halloween is primarily celebrated in North America and Europe as a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, wearing costumes and eating treats.

Diwali/Deepavali - October 31

Diwali, or Deepavali, is India's biggest and most important holiday of the year. Diwali is a “festival of lights” that celebrates the triumph of light over dark, good over evil, and the blessings of victory, freedom, and enlightenment. The name comes from Sanskrit dipavali, meaning “row of lights.” On the night of Diwali, celebrants light dozens of candles and clay lamps (called diyas), placing them throughout their homes and in the streets to light up the dark night.

In most of India, Diwali consists of a five-day celebration that peaks on the third day with the main celebration of Diwali.

Followers of the Hindu, Sikh, and Jain faiths primarily celebrate Diwali. However, the holiday is celebrated throughout India, Singapore, and several other South Asian countries as a national holiday, meaning that people outside these religions may participate in Diwali celebrations, too. Source.

Learn more:

National Geographic Kids: Diwali, Festival of Lights

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

• High School Spanish Teacher - BHS
• Kindergarten Teacher - Norup
• Special Education Teacher - Autism Spectrum Disorders - BHS
• Long-Term Guest Teacher - 1st Grade - Angell
• Long-Term Guest Teacher - 2nd Grade - Norup
• K-8 School Counselor - Norup
• Permanent Building Substitute Teacher - Norup
• Paraeducator - Four positions (BHS, BBB, Pattengill, Rogers)
• Afternoon Custodian Shift Leader - Norup
• Permanent Substitute Custodian - District
• Assistant Teachers - BBB
• Lunch Aids - Pattengill & Burton
• Food Service Workers - 5 Open Positions
• Varsity Competitive Cheer Coach - BHS
• JV Wrestling Head Coach - BHS

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!