What's Inside
- 2025-26 Calendar Now Available
- Berkley Schools 5th Graders Go to Camp!
- Unified Basketball Wins Game at Little Caesars Arena
- AMS Orchestra & Band Receive Top Rating at Festival
- BHS Hosts Third Annual Inclusion Week
- Board of Education Recognizes State Skiers
- Director of Student Services Announces Retirement
- 2025 Off to the Races Results Are In
- BHWYA Announces Child Safety Fair
- Huntington Woods Men’s Club Invites Community to Annual Auction Benefiting Berkley Schools
- 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?
- March Calendar Highlights - Ramadan, International Women’s Day, World Down Syndrome Day, Purim, Holi
- How to Subscribe to the District Calendar
- Join the Berkley Schools Family - Now Hiring
2025-26 Calendar Now Available
The 2025-26 District Important Dates Calendar is ready to share and is posted to our website. This calendar includes school starting before Labor Day, two weeks off for Winter Break, a full week for Mid-Winter Break, a full week for Spring Break and finishing the second week of June.
As you may know, the State of Michigan mandates the number of student days and hours of school per year. Every district starts from that point and builds a schedule that tries to balance respect for major religious holidays, adequate breaks for students, time for professional learning, and traditions among other considerations. We also try to follow the Oakland Schools common calendar as much as possible.
The District's detailed printed calendar with all school events will be mailed in August 2025.
Berkley Schools 5th Graders Go to Camp!
During March 5-7, 5th graders from across the District went to YMCA Camp Storer in Jackson, Michigan.
While at the two and a half day overnight camp, 5th graders enjoyed activities such as Michigan Country (a simulation of homesteading in Michigan), Gimme Shelter (learning to make an emergency shelter in the wilderness), Predator-prey (a large game of tag, reinforcing the food web, trophic levels, and energy transfer), Firequest (learning how to make fire and what fuels them), and In Cold Blood (learning about and interacting with cold blooded animals). Students also enjoyed campfire songs, rode horses, tried to build the best fort, learned about minimizing food waste and took full responsibility for cleaning cabins and bathrooms.
5th Grade Camp helped bring together all the learning 5th graders have done throughout the year. Just over 400 students, staff and Berkley High School counselors worked together to provide 5th graders an incredible camp experience and gave students the opportunity to meet some new friends from other elementary schools as they prepare for their transition to middle school.
Unified Basketball Wins Game at Little Caesars Arena
On March 13, 2025, the Berkley High School Unified basketball team played their last game of the season at Little Caesars Arena against Clarkston. The Berkley Unified team scored 52 points to Clarkston’s 48 as part of the Unified Showcase. Congratulations to coaches Amy Sarris and David Phillips, the students and support staff for an outstanding season!
Unified sports joins people with and without disabilities on the same team. It is dedicated to promoting social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experience. It was inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding.
AMS Orchestra & Band Receive Top Rating at Festival
During the week of March 3, both the Anderson Middle School 7th and 8th Grade Orchestra and Band students traveled to Waterford Kettering High School to participate in the Michigan School Band and Orchestra (MSBOA) Festival. At Festival, ensembles perform for a group of professional adjudicators who assign ratings based on intonation, rhythm, dynamics and sight reading. Ensembles prepare three pieces of music to play for the three judges then move to a different room where they perform a piece they have never played before and receive a rating on sight reading.
Both the 7/8 Orchestra and 7/8 Band received straight 1s and an overall rating of 1 which is the highest rating that can be earned. Orchestra Teacher Audrey MacDonald shared, ”This means that all four judges who listened to us today rated our orchestra with the highest score possible. While there are many categories and grades within that rating, their scores averaged out to be 1s across the board!”
BHS Hosts Third Annual Inclusion Week
The week of March 3, 2025 was the third annual Inclusion Week at Berkley High School. This week was hosted by LINK and Peer-to-Peer students.
The purpose of Inclusion Week is to encourage acceptance, understanding and inclusion of others no matter what differences may exist. Students participated in a week of fun events that included PJ day, wearing a color that represents how it feels to be included, taking the pledge (signing inclusion banner), sports and snacks in the gym and a Talent Showcase.
BHS Teacher Kim Sclafani shared, “It was a fantastic week that brought to light all of the amazing attributes each and every student brings to BHS every day! We encourage everyone to Spread the Word about Inclusion.”
You can learn more about the Spread the Word: Inclusion campaign by checking out the Spread the Word website.
Board of Education Recognizes State Skiers
At the March 10 Regular Board of Education Meeting, the Board recognized three students who qualified for the State Ski meet. The students are members of the Berkley/Troy Athens combined ski team. The following students received Board recognition.
Patrick Oatley, BHS Junior, qualified in the Giant Slalom and finished in 37th place in the state. Patrick was also a member of the boys Ski Team which had the 3rd highest GPA in Division 1 for the third year in a row.
Tessa Rontal, BHS Junior, for qualifying in the Giant Slalom and Slalom events. Tessa finished in 7th place in the state in the Giant Slalom and 8th place in the state in the Slalom, earning her All-State status for both events.
Emma Pollock, BHS Junior, qualified in both the Slalom and Giant Slalom events.
Director of Student Services Announces Retirement
Director of Student Services, Heather Lackey, announced she will retire at the end of this calendar year. Heather has been the Director of Students Services for the last nine years. And for all of those years, has made a tremendous impact on many students and staff across the District.
Superintendent Scott Francis shared, “I greatly appreciate the leadership Heather has provided in special education, social emotional learning, and in many other ways for our students, staff and families. Heather’s commitment to every student, problem-solving skills and positive outlook will be missed. Please join me in wishing Heather a heartfelt congratulations.”
2025 Off to the Races Results Are In - BEF Raises over $85,000
The Berkley Education Foundation held its 16th annual Off to the Races fundraiser on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at The Kingsley Hotel in Bloomfield Hills. The BEF would like to thank all who attended the event, donated, bought horses, sponsored the event, bet on horses and bid on auction items.
This year’s Off to the Races event raised $85,284.76, the most money ever raised at Off to the Races in its 16 years. BEF Executive Director, Jessica Stilger, said to those who supported the event, “With all your support we can continue to fund the #BerkleyDifference and provide enriching experiences for all Berkley Schools students. Thank you!” Every dollar the BEF raises during Off to the Races supports teacher innovation-grants, the elementary enrichment program, student scholarships and the 8th grade college tour.
The Off to the Races Flash Sale is now open!
Just a few items remain in the silent auction. The community is welcome to take a look to help the BEF raise even MORE funds for Berkley Schools students!
Congratulations to the Golden Race winner Rich Lewis!
Rich will work with Magical Memory Planners to plan a vacation and the BEF will fund $3,000 of the trip.
Thank you to the following event sponsors.
Silver Sponsors
- Clark Hill
- EDSI
- McCarthy & Smith
- Stantec
Bronze Sponsors
- Eagle Rock Insurance
- Green Lantern - Berkley
- Holiday Market
- Interior Environments
- Jim Shaffer & Associates
- PFM
- Plasti-Fab, Inc
- Spalding DeDecker
- Star Trax
- Stifel, Nicolaus & Company
Golden Race Sponsor
- M3 Investment Services
OTTR Bucks Sponsor
- Lifetime Financial Growth, LLC
Five-Star Dash Race Sponsor
- Foresite Design
Race Sponsors
- Alpha Auto
- Collens Estate Law
- Four Seasons Garden Center & Custom Landscape
- Exchange Capital Management
- Huntington Bank
- Huntington Woods Pools & Spas
- Imperial Dade
- Meijer/Woodward Corner Market
- Savings Coach
- Star Trax
- Thrun Law Firm, P. C.
- Yeo & Yeo CPAs & Business Consultants
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.
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.
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: March
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.
Ramadan - February 28 - March 30
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
Women’s History Month
Women's History Month is an annual observance to highlight the contributions of women to events in history and currently. Celebrated during March in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, corresponding with International Women's Day on March 8.
In 1987, after being petitioned by the National Women's History Project, Congress passed a bill designating the month of March 1987 as Women's History Month.Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women's History Month.
Today, the Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in commemorating and encouraging the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history through a Women’s History Month website.
Learn more about Women’s History Month on the following sites:
- American Women: A guide to Women's History Resources at the Library of Congress A major new online research guide highlights hundreds of sources that tell the stories of women through a wide variety of perspectives and media in the Library of Congress collections.
- Celebrate Women’s History at The Henry Ford
National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month is observed in March in the U.S. NationalToday.com shares, “The campaign seeks to raise awareness about including people with developmental disabilities in all facets of community life. It also creates awareness of the difficulties that people with disabilities still face in fitting into the communities in which they live.”
Here are resources to learn more about National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month as well as resources to learn more about disabilities and equity.
- Visit the NationalToday website to learn more.
- ASD 365: Inclusion & Equity Every Day
- The Arc Michigan - The mission of The Arc Michigan is to ensure that people with Developmental Disabilities are valued in order that they and their families can participate fully in and contribute to their community.
Mardi Gras - March 4, 2025
Mardi Gras (also known as Shrove Tuesday) is the final day of Carnival or Shrovetide before Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday," reflecting the practice of the last night of consuming rich, fatty foods in preparation for the fasting season of Lent.
In countries such as the United Kingdom, Mardi Gras is more usually known as Pancake Day or (traditionally) Shrove Tuesday (the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday).
In the United States the principal Carnival celebration is in New Orleans, Louisiana. This period is filled with elaborate parades, both day and night, building up to Mardi Gras. Beads of yellow, gold, green, and purple are commonly distributed, and the eating of king cake is an iconic part of the celebration.
Source: Britannica
Ash Wednesday - March 5, 2025
Ash Wednesday, in Western Christianity, is the first day of Lent, occurring six and a half weeks before Easter. For those who observe the Christian faith, Ash Wednesday is a solemn reminder of human mortality and the need for reconciliation with God and marks the beginning of the penitential Lenten season. It is commonly observed with the distribution of ashes and with fasting. Eastern Orthodox churches begin Lent on Clean Monday and therefore do not observe Ash Wednesday.
It was the practice in Rome for penitents and grievous sinners to begin their period of public penance on the first day of Lent in preparation for their restoration to the sacrament of the Eucharist. They were sprinkled with ashes, dressed in sackcloth, and obliged to remain apart until they were reconciled with the Christian community on Maundy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter. When these practices fell into disuse (8th–10th century), the beginning of the penitential season of Lent was symbolized by placing ashes on the heads of the entire congregation.
Today, in the Roman Catholic Church, the ashes are applied in the shape of a cross on the forehead of each worshiper on Ash Wednesday. These ashes are obtained by burning the palms used in the previous year’s Palm Sunday service.
Source: Britannica
International Women’s Day - March 8
Wednesday, March 8 is International Women’s Day. International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality. Learn more about International Women’s Day on their website.
Holi - March 14
Every spring, people across India and around the world celebrate the Hindu festival Holi, throwing colored water and powders on one another in joyous celebration. It marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring, celebrating love, rebirth, and the victory of good over evil. The festival is rooted in Hindu mythology, particularly the story of Prahlada and Holika, and the divine love between Radha and Krishna.
Learn more on the Britannica website.
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
- Director of Student Services - Administrative Offices
- Permanent Building Substitute Teacher - Norup
- Long-Term Substitute Middle School Language Arts/Speech Teacher - Norup
- Secretary, Human Resources & Communications - Administrative Offices
- 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
- 8th Grade Girls Basketball Coach - Anderson
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