What's Inside:
- The Graduation Edition of the Berkley Beat
- Hurley Field & AMS Parking Lot Closes June 15
- Board of Ed Recognition: June 8, 2026
- Burton 4th Grade Gets In Depth Look at Cow Eyes
- Burton PTA Hosts Ice Cream Social
- Berkley High School Students Write a Novel in 30 Days
- Beekeeper Visits Norup Second Grade Class
- Pattengill Transforms Into Wax Museum
- Rogers Media Center Transforms Into Living Museum
- BHS Yearbook Sale: New & Old
- Pattengill Students Showcase Talent
- Burton 4th Graders Perform at the Annual Talent Show
- Pattengill 3rd Graders Share Animal Knowledge at Annual Zoo
- AMS Students Earn Recognition in County-Wide Sticker Design Contest
- Pattengill 1st Grade Performs Readers Theatre
- District Community Survey: Share Your Thoughts on Culture & Equity Progress
- Oakland County Regional Enhancement Millage Frequently Asked Questions - NEW
- Meet Up & Eat Up: Summer Food Program Locations
- Summer Program Registration Open for High School Students
- Ask Me Anything - Superintendent Francis Edition
- Calendar Highlights: June
- Website: Subscribe to our Calendars
- Join the Berkley Schools Family - Now Hiring!
- Follow us on Social Media
The Graduation Edition of the Berkley Beat
To see all of the photos, moments and speeches from this year’s Class of 2026 graduation, visit this Graduation Edition Berkley Beat.
Hurley Field & AMS Parking Lot Closes June 15
Hurley Field and the AMS Parking Lot will be closing due to construction starting on June 15. No public access will be allowed. It’s anticipated that part of the field will reopen on July 6, weather depending, however the parking lot will remain closed through August. Public access will likely be removed throughout the summer due to the large projects taking place including replacing the field lights and scoreboard, upgrading the team rooms, locker rooms and restrooms, increasing pedestrian flow throughout the property and expanding the parking lot.
Board of Ed Recognition: June 8, 2026
At the June Regular meeting, the Board of Education honored staff, athletes, engineers and debaters.
2026 Retirees
This year, 20 staff members are retiring. They have 473 years of service combined and have served from 7 months through 40 years. The Berkley Schools debuted the annual retirement video at the Board meeting, which can be viewed below. Congratulations to the following staff members on their retirement. They will be missed!
- Amy McVeigh, 24.5 years, Angell, 4th Grade Teacher
- Brett Greer, 26 years, Norup, Science Teacher
- Athena Troher, 40 years, Anderson, Language Arts Teacher
- Brenda Wilke, 7 months, Rogers, Paraeducator
- Charlene Belevender, 34 years, BBB, Tuition Lead Teacher
- Christopher Sandoval, 18 years, Deputy Superintendent of Schools and Human Resources
- David Bebeau, 17 years, BHS, French Teacher
- Dewayne Green, 10 years, BHS, Campus Monitor
- Howard Sherman, 4 years, Anderson, Paraeducator
- Kathy Milia, 26 years, Anderson, Math Teacher
- Kristy Watkins-Visnaw, 40 years, Rogers, 5th Grade Teacher
- Leonard Waldman, 30 years, BHS, Social Studies Teacher
- Mary Austin, 26 years, Norup, Math Teacher
- Melissa Watkins, 31.5 years, Angell, Kindergarten Teacher
- Nancy McChesney, 27 years, Anderson, Special Education Teacher
- Patricia Kurz, 18 years, Burton, Instructional Secretary
- Sarah Mahoney-Yallum, 24 years, Pattengill, 3rd Grade Teacher
- Theresa Cabalum, 31.5 years, Anderson, Language Arts Teacher
- Theresa Savich, 33 years, Norup, Media Specialist
- Tracy Grabowski, 32 years, Burton, Physical Education Teacher
Support Person of the Year
The Board honored Harry Jemkort, Head Custodian at Berkley Building Blocks for being named the Berkley Schools Support Person of the Year. Mr. Harry was also nominated for the Oakland Schools Support Person of the Year. On the nomination, Early Childhood Supervisor Katie Fotiu shared, “Mr. Harry strengthens and improves the learning environment in countless ways through both his work and his relationships with students and staff. As Head Custodian, he ensures that the building is clean, safe, and fully functioning each day, creating spaces where students can focus, feel comfortable, and be ready to learn. His attention to detail and proactive approach mean that classrooms and shared areas are consistently well-maintained and welcoming. Beyond the physical environment, Mr. Harry plays an important role in building a positive school culture. He makes a genuine effort to connect with students, taking the time to learn every child’s name and greet them personally each day. These small but meaningful interactions help students feel seen, valued, and excited to be at school. His special handshakes and fist bumps with students are moments they look forward to and help build a strong sense of belonging.”
Debate Team
Nine Berkley High School Debate Team members were honored for qualifying for and competing at the State Debate Tournament. Five of these students also qualified for National Tournaments and traveled to Harvard and Washington D.C. to compete. In addition, the team finished in 3rd place in the New York online debate league tournament as a team. Congratulations to the following students for an outstanding Debate season:
- Sadie Degenias, Junior
- Audrey Duggan, Sophomore
- Sophia Dunlap, Sophomore
- Noa Feinberg, Sophomore
- Nadia Fobbs, Senior
- Morgan Hines, Sophomore
- Vinnie Holder, Junior
- Aidan Horowitz, Junior
- Maya Wittenberg, Junior
FIRST Robotics: Team 247 Da Bears
The Board honored the Berkley High School FIRST Robotics Team, Team 247, for qualifying for and competing at the State competition. The team finished 30th overall and closed the season ranked 72 out of 531 teams in Michigan. In addition, team captain and BHS junior Sophina Runde was honored for being named a State Finalist for the Leadership Award. It recognizes outstanding 10th or 11th-grade students for their exceptional leadership, dedication to FIRST Core Values and efforts to advance the FIRST mission. Coach Kevin Schokora was also recognized at the state level as a nominee for the Woody Flowers Award, which honors mentors and coaches who inspire students through gracious professionalism and dedication to the FIRST mission.
Boys Varsity Golf Team
The Board honored the BHS Varsity Golf Team that qualified and competed at the Division I MHSAA Lower Peninsula State Golf Finals. The Golf Team qualified for the State Finals by finishing 2nd at the Regional Match. At States, the team finished 18th. Congratulations to the following golfers:
- Jonah Sterling - Sophomore - won the Individual Regional Championship after shooting a 65
- Hunter Kozlowski - Senior
- Isaac Lathwell - Senior
- Trey Barry - Junior
- Owen Lancaster - Senior
BHS Track & Field
The Board honored three members of the BHS Track and Field team for outstanding accomplishments. Senior Nicole DeCoster qualified for the State Track Meet in the 100 and 200 meter races. Nicole earned All-State honors for finishing 7th in the State in the 100 meter and finished 12th in the State in the 200 meter race. In addition, Nicole was named All-County in the 100 and 200 meter races, earning third and second, respectively. Junior Gabrielle McCauley qualified for the State Track Meet in the shot put, finishing in 7th place and earning All-State honors. Gabrielle was also named All-County in the shot put by finishing third. Sophomore Paige Rohda was honored for breaking a 41-year-old school record in the 3200 meter race on May 2, 2026. Paige was also named All-County in the 3200 meter race by finishing fourth.
Burton 4th Grade Gets In Depth Look at Cow Eyes
The Burton 4th grade students had an in-depth science lesson on June 4, 2026, dissecting cow eyes. Teacher Keely Galdes, who teaches science to all 4th graders at Burton, was awarded a Berkley Education Foundation Innovation-Grant for the materials for this lesson. Ms. Galdes shared in her grant application, “In our life science unit, students learn the internal and external structures of plants and animals, which includes learning about animal and human eyes. To provide hands-on learning, I would like students to dissect the eye of a cow.” Students had mixed reactions including being engaged, uncertain and intrigued. It was a science lesson to remember for a lifetime! The Berkley Education Foundation funds staff innovation-grants twice a year to enrich students' experiences, to enhance their learning and to open opportunities for Berkley Schools staff outside of the traditional school budget. To learn more about the BEF, visit their website. The BEF has an annual $15,000 allocation to support Innovation-Grants. If you’d like to donate to the BEF to support the Grant program, you can do so online.
Burton PTA Hosts Ice Cream Social
On Friday, June 5, Burton’s PTA hosted their annual Ice Cream Social with a theme of 100 years of celebration. This year, students enjoyed dancing, a dunk tank, a prize walk, food trucks, inflatable activities, ice cream from Treat Dreams and snow cones from Kona Ice. Students played in the field and on the playground, too.
Berkley High School Students Write a Novel in 30 Days
BHS students in Honors English 11 recently completed a remarkable challenge: writing a full-length novel, more than 50,000 words, entirely from scratch in 30 days.
The project, inspired by the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) challenge, was a whole-class collaboration where students worked together to build every element of a novel: genre, characters, plot, scenes and dialogue. Before putting pen to paper, students spent weeks "reading as writers," studying how canonical authors make decisions about structure, language and storytelling. Then they brought those same skills to their own work. Teacher John Duffy shared, “The result is something extraordinary: a complete, book-length manuscript that students conceived, drafted and finished together. The project reflects a growing body of research on what it looks like for students to engage in real disciplinary work, at scale, and with real stakes. Our students are immensely proud of what they produced, and they absolutely should be!”
Beekeeper Visits Norup Second Grade Class
On June 9, second grade students at Norup welcomed a special guest, Preston Zale, the grandfather of one of their classmates. Mr. Zale, who has been a beekeeper for 12 years, visited to share his knowledge and passion for bees. During the presentation, Mr. Zale answered questions and helped students address their concerns and fears about bees. He began the visit dressed in his full beekeeper suit and even brought child-sized suits for students to try on. Students also got an up-close look at a living honey bee hive while learning about the important role bees play as pollinators in our food chain. Students learned about the different responsibilities of the queen bee, female worker bees, and male drones. To wrap up the presentation, each student received a honey bee educational coloring book and honey sticks to enjoy. "We are incredibly lucky to have community members who take the time to share their passions and experiences with our students," said second grade teacher Lindsay Schindler.
Pattengill Transforms Into Wax Museum
On Tuesday, June 9, Pattengill 4th grade 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 Multi-Purpose Room 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.
Rogers Media Center Transforms Into Living Museum
On June 1, Rogers 4th grade students transformed into famous figures from both the past and present as part of the school's annual Living Museum. Visitors who "pushed their buttons" learned about each individual's journey, accomplishments, and the impact they made on the world. Students brought their characters to life with creative costumes and props, including hats, books, bowties, mustaches, wigs, and more. The Rogers Media Center was filled with families, staff, and fellow students eager to learn from the interactive exhibits. To prepare for the Living Museum, students read biographies, took notes, researched timelines, and wrote speeches about their chosen figures.
BHS Yearbook Sale: New & Old
Berkley High School has an assortment of school yearbooks from 1945-present that are now for sale. Prices range from $50-100. Copies have been archived in the school library and main office, plus Berkley Public Library and the Berkley Historical Society. If you are interested in purchasing an old yearbook, reach out to Yearbook advisor Matt Breen to inquire on the year and cost. At this time, yearbook sales are cash only. Mr. Breen can be reached at matthew.breen@berkleyschools.org.
Pattengill Students Showcase Talent
Pattengill held its annual talent show outside for family and friends on June 5, 2026. The Pattengill community gathered on the front lawn to watch third, fourth and fifth graders showcase musical performances, dance routines, puppet shows, comedy acts and more. Congratulations to all participants!
Burton 4th Graders Perform at the Annual Talent Show
On Tuesday, June 2, Burton 4th graders showcased their skills in their annual talent show. The students performed in their new Multi-Purpose room for classmates and family members. They sang songs, danced, played the keyboard, showcased card tricks, told jokes and more. Some students volunteered as stage crew, while others took on the role of emcee. Congratulations to all the students on your wonderful performances!
Pattengill 3rd Graders Share Animal Knowledge at Annual Zoo
On Tuesday, June 9, Pattengill 3rd graders presented at their annual 3rd Grade Zoo. This event showcased student knowledge on an animal they researched. Each student created a diorama about their animal and presented their research to friends and family during the event. The project connects to the third grade science curriculum.
AMS Students Earn Recognition in County-Wide Sticker Design Contest
In celebration of America’s 250th year of Independence, the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court sought to raise youth awareness of the importance of jury duty by holding a jury service sticker design contest. The contest was open to all students in grades K-12 who live in or attend school in Oakland County. Out of the 190 submissions the court chose three winners, and nine runners-up. Two Anderson Middle School 8th grade students, Addy Chapman and Olivia Kramer, were chosen as runners-up. Addy Chapman's submission "Greetings from Jury Duty" and Olivia's "I Survived Jury Duty" were recognized. Congratulations!
Pattengill 1st Grade Performs Readers Theatre
Pattengill 1st grade students performed a Readers Theatre for family and friends on June 9. The students took turns reading and performing short plays for the audience in small groups. Students made props and costumes out of paper and string to help tell their stories.
District Community Survey: Share Your Thoughts on Culture & Equity Progress
In 2022, the Board of Education approved a 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 feedback and input through this annual survey. We hope all families, students and community members take the time to share their thoughts. The annual 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. Over the last four years, the community has shared their thoughts with us that are now available to the public. We have developed a dashboard to show the results of what our community has shared. You can review the dashboard to see what progress the District is making and where we need to grow. Here are a few key results:
- 2,269 people took this survey in total over four years
- 3.9/5 overall satisfaction with the Berkley Schools culture
- 4.1/5 welcoming environment
- 80.5% on average feel diversity, equity and inclusion are valued in the Berkley School District
- 72.5% on average see evidence of Berkley Schools living into our Vision
Take the Survey
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 18, 2026.
Oakland County Regional Enhancement Millage Frequently Asked Questions - NEW
The August 4th ballot will include a proposal for a county-wide Regional Enhancement Millage. If approved by Oakland County voters, the proposal would levy 1.5 mills for six years to provide additional funding to all public school districts and eligible public school academies in Oakland County. Why can’t districts do their own operating enhancement millage? Why does it have to be county-wide? After Proposal A passed in 1994, local school districts were only allowed to request funding from their school district residents for the following reasons:
- Standing operating millage, capped at 18 mills. This funding is included in the formula for how schools receive their per-student allocations, and is levied on non-homestead properties only.
- Asking voters for approval to levy mills for debt (i.e., capital outlay to build or renovate facilities, instructional technology, equipment, furniture, site improvements)
- Asking voters for approval for a sinking fund (i.e., purchase of land for future building projects, construction/repair, security, instructional technology)
State code does allow voters to enhance funding for local school operations on an Intermediate School District-wide basis only, which is referred to as a Regional Enhancement Millage. State code prohibits individual school districts from raising funds for operational costs above the standard 18 mills.
Berkley Schools Impact
If approved on the August 4, 2026 ballot, the top priority for Berkley Schools would be to invest the additional funds in attracting new staff members and retaining our outstanding staff. If the Millage passes, the Board of Education has committed to use 90% of the funding for staffing. Additional priorities include: maintaining small class sizes, supporting social and emotional well-being, closing special education funding gaps, and more. Additional information regarding the millage, including a tax calculator and a FAQ page, can be found on the Oakland County Regional Enhancement Millage website. If you have any questions regarding the Regional Enhancement Millage, please email communications@berkleyschools.org.
Meet Up & Eat Up: Summer Food Program Locations
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is a federal food program created to ensure that children can continue to receive nutritious meals during long school vacations, when they do not have access to the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Programs. The SFSP, known nationally as Meet Up and Eat Up, is operated at the local level by program sponsors (such as school districts and community agency partners) and is administered in Michigan by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), Office of Health and Nutrition Services. If you are in need of food assistance this summer, visit the State of Michigan website or text ‘FOOD’ to 304-304 to find a site in your area.
Summer Program Registration Open for High School Students
All details on summer program offerings can be found on the Berkley Schools Summer Programs webpage.
High School Program: Credit Recovery
The high school summer program will be focused on Credit Recovery Courses. Credit Recovery Courses should be selected in consultation with each student’s school counselor. Credit Recovery coursework will be delivered through the APEX online learning system, assisted, facilitated, and overseen by certified teachers. Students will complete the coursework in person. These courses are tailored to each student and are mastery-based, which means the length of time students must spend in Credit Recovery will vary and is dependent upon mastery of course objectives.
Program Details for Credit Recovery
- June 29 - July 23, 2026
- Classes will be held at Berkley High School
- Monday - Thursday, 8:00 am - 10:15 am or 10:20 am - 12:30 pm
- Fee: $100 per credit recovery class for students attending Berkley Schools. Any Berkley Schools student who is eligible for free/reduced meals will receive a reduced rate of $25/class.
- Students must bring headphones, a notebook and writing utensils.
- Additional details are available in the High School Summer Learning & Credit Recovery document
Registration
Follow these instructions on how to register via MISTAR ParentConnection
High School
- May 15 - June 25, 2026
- Families will register via MISTAR ParentConnection
Ask Me Anything - Superintendent Francis Edition
Scott Francis is in the middle of his 5th school year as Superintendent. He's a dad, husband and District resident. This school year, the District is launching an Ask Me Anything series, Superintendent Francis Edition. What questions might you have for Superintendent Francis? Submit your questions in this Google Form and he'll choose a few every couple of months to answer via video. Follow the District on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to see the answers, or see them in the Berkley Beat.
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. Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth Through Language and Community This post defines some common terms — and promotes the use of accurate, authentic and inclusive language — so that social workers, educators, foster parents and others are better equipped to support LGBTQ+ youth, serve as their advocates and help them thrive, from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. 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. TrevorSpace TrevorSpace is a welcoming online social community for LGBTQ+ young people between the ages of 13-24 years old. With over 700,000 members across the globe, you can find support groups and make friends in a moderated online safe space intentionally designed for you.
Website: Subscribe to our Calendars
Did you know, families can subscribe to our calendars to sync to your mobile device? Follow these instructions to get this set up.
In addition, if you download the Berkley Schools App, you can choose to see the school calendars that matter most to you. To do this, follow these steps:
- Click on Events at the bottom
- Click in the inverted triangle at the top right
- Uncheck the calendars you want to see
- See an event you’d like on your calendar? Click on it, and then select the “Add to calendar” button.
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 Teacher - Students with Cognitive Impairments (K-5)
- Special Education - Early Childhood Special Education Teacher - BBB
- Middle School English Language Arts Teacher (2 positions) - AMS
- Middle School Science Teacher - Norup International School
- High School Physical Education/Health Teacher - BHS
- Long Term Substitute Teacher (1st Grade) - Angell
- Special Education Paraeducator (10 positions) - Burton, ATP, Norup, AMS, Pattengill
- Learning Services Secretary - Administrative Office
- Permanent Substitute Custodian - District
- Kids' Zone Lead Teacher - Norup
- Lunch Aides - Angell, Burton, Norup, Pattengill
- Berkley Middle School Robotics Coach
- High School Varsity Wrestling Associate Head Coach
- Middle School Volleyball Coach - Norup
- Varsity Girls Golf Head Coach - BHS
- Middle School Football Coach - Anderson
- 7th Grade Boys Basketball Coach - Norup
- eSports High School Coach - Fall and Spring Season - Berkley High School
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