What's Inside?
- Students Throughout BSD Celebrate the 100th Day of School
- BBB Hosts Snowball Dance
- Berkley 6th Grade Students Explore Mobile Innovation Station
- Board of Education Honors Athletes, Thespians and National Merit Commended Students
- Three BHS Students Named National Merit Finalists
- Norup Choir Students Learn Through Chalk Art
- BHS Unified Basketball to Play at LCA - Tickets on Sale Now
- It’s Time to Fill Out an Intent to Return Form - Deadline Today!
- City of Oak Park Hosts Juneteenth Competition for Oak Park Residents
- Free Heart Checks for Students Ages 13-18
- Kindergarten Information for All: Registration & Schools of Choice
- Travel Opportunities for 2025: The South Pacific, Japan, France and Spain
- Berkley Education Foundation’s 15th Annual Off to the Races Tickets On Sale
- Calendar Highlights - Black History Month, Groundhog Day, Lunar New Year, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, Valentine’s Day
- How to Subscribe to the District Calendar
- Join the Berkley Schools Family
- Sign Up for Text Messages
Students Throughout BSD Celebrate the 100th Day of School
February 13, 2024, marked the 100th day of school. Kindergarten and first grade students throughout the District celebrated in a variety of ways. Some students dressed up as 100 year old people, others brought 100 items in from home and counted them with their classmates, teachers read books about the 100th day of school, students made art out of the 100 digits, wrote numbers up to 100 and wrote about what it might be like to be 100 years old.
It was a fun day throughout the District!
BBB Hosts Snowball Dance
On Friday, February 9, 2024, Berkley Building Blocks hosted their Snowball Dance, providing students, staff, and families with a wonderful opportunity to dress up and enjoy a fun-filled evening together. The event featured tasty snacks, refreshing drinks, and a DJ who kept the energy high with a playlist that matched the crowd's enthusiasm. A particular highlight was the bubble maker, which had students jumping up and down with excitement as they danced to their favorite tunes. It was an adorable occasion that gave everyone involved an opportunity to bond and create lasting memories outside the classroom.
Berkley 6th Grade Students Explore Mobile Innovation Station
During the week of February 12, every Berkley 6th grade student had the opportunity to explore Oakland Schools’ STEMi. STEMi is a 1,000 square foot mobile innovation station (located within a semi truck) containing high tech, industry grade, interactive STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) experiences. Students rotated through four stations on the STEMi.
Station 1: Collaborative Robots: Students worked to physically program a collaborative robot to perform a pick and place task.
Station 2: Autonomous Vehicles: Students worked with autonomous vehicles on a course and learned about sensing and vehicle communication.
Station 3: Xtended Reality: Students used mixed reality headsets to explore ways they could interact with virtual reality layered into their physical environment.
Station 4: Smart Manufacturing: Students used ZSpace, an artificial and virtual reality learning experience, to design custom objects or creatures in 3D.
The goal of STEMi is to demonstrate to students connections between classroom instruction, current industry applications and future careers for students. The experience was facilitated by the Oakland Schools STEM consultants and Career Readiness consultant.
The STEMi is rotating through all 28 districts in Oakland County and is part of a 5 year project, so it will return to Berkley Schools in upcoming years to continue to build STEM career readiness!
Board of Education Honors Student Athletes, Thespians and National Merit Scholars
At the February 12th, 2024, Board of Education regular meeting, the Board honored middle school swimmers, high school thespians and National Merit Commended students.
Middle School Swimmers
On January 27, 2024, ten swimmers from the combined Berkley Middle School swim team (Anderson and Norup students) qualified for and swam at the State swim meet. The Board of Education honored the following swimmers for their State performances in individual events and in relays: Claire Bradley, Grace Burnham, Ava Glibota, Isabella Glibota, Maggie Loree, Sydney Marchak, Keira McEvoy, Liliana McLachlan, Stella Peters and Paige Rhoda.
50 Free
- Maggie Loree placed 31st
- Sydney Marchak placed 26th dropping .56 seconds
- Keira McEvoy placed 41st
- Stella Peters placed 39th
- Paige Rhoda placed 20th in the state, dropping .28 seconds
100 Back
- Claire Bradley placed 23rd
- Maggie Loree placed 24th
100 Breast
- Isabella Glibota placed 17th
- Sydney Marchak placed 20th
200 Medley Relay
The team of Maggie Loree, Sydney Marchak, Liliana McLachlan, and Stella Peters placed 10th in the state with a time of 2:13.15! Isabella Glibota was the alternate in this race.
200 Free Relay
The team of Maggie Loree, Sydney Marchak, Stella Peters, and Paige Rhoda placed 9th in the state! Claire Bradley was the alternate in this race.
400 Free Relay
The team of Ava Glibota, Paige Rohda, Grace Burnham, and Liliana McLachlan placed 17th in the state!
BHS Thespians
On December 8 & 9, 24 BHS Thespians (Troupe 6439 of the International Thespian Society) competed, went to workshops and auditioned for college programs and scholarships at the Michigan Thespian Festival. The Board of Education honored the students for performing and competing along with 1,700 other thespians and chaperones. Students received individual and group awards, earned perfect scores, earned a combined $1.1 Million in scholarship offers and more.
Congratulations to all BHS Thespians who participated in the Thespian Festival: Lily Ameloot, Lily Bernstein, Sophia Bernzweig, Charley Burns, Julia Carroll, Grace Comstock, James Crowe, Tyan Eades, Mia Echlin, Aria Gassman, Jacob Gonzales, Sebastian Hames, Angel Harris, Margo Hartzell, Stella Krzysiak, Jessica Mack, Nathan Raimi, Jordan Rowan, Shaya Schreiber, Hannah Schueler, Cecilia Shaw, Russell Sousanis, Taryn Stone and Tegan Stone.
National Merit Commended Students
The Board of Education honored two Berkley High School seniors Caroline Reaume and Alex Wright for earning the Commended Student standing in the National Merit Scholarship Program.
According to the National Merit Scholarship Program website, “Of the 1.6 million entrants, some 50,000 with the highest PSAT/NMSQT® Selection Index scores qualify for recognition in the National Merit® Scholarship Program. In September, these high scorers are notified through their schools that they have qualified as either a Commended Student or Semifinalist. More than two-thirds (about 34,000) of the approximately 50,000 high scorers on the PSAT/NMSQT® receive Letters of Commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise.”
The National Merit Scholarship Program was created by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation in 1955. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.
Three BHS Students Named National Merit Finalists
Congratulations to three Berkley High School seniors for being named National Merit Finalists. Leo Benner, Oliver Moss and Lillian Tuite met all the requirements to advance to Finalist standing in the competition. Previously, these students were named as National Merit Semi-Finalists.
15,000 students nation-wide are selected as National Merit Finalists, representing less than 1% of the nation’s high school graduating seniors. These high school seniors are eligible for some 7,140 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered this spring. Approximately half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title.
The National Merit Scholarship Program was created by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation in 1955. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.
Norup Choir Students Learn Through Chalk Art
On Friday, February 9th, Norup students from Choir Yellow and Choir Blue took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and went outside for a "Treble Clef Competition." Students used sidewalk chalk to craft their treble clefs on a giant musical staff. Choir director Sarah Noble took photos of each class' efforts and presented them anonymously to her BHS choral ensembles for a vote. The high school students were asked to consider each treble clef and select the one with the best proportions and correct placement on the staff. The winner from each class will receive a candy prize and ultimate bragging rights.
Ms. Noble shared, "Sometimes play is where the best learning takes place. As our middle school students worked on their treble clefs outside, the playground was filled with elementary students who marveled at their drawings and watched with wide eyes. It was so special to see their excitement for music literacy grow."
BHS Unified Basketball to Play at LCA - Tickets on Sale Now
The Berkley Unified Basketball team is excited to invite the community to come watch the team play at Little Caesars Arena on March 17. The BHS team will play after the Detroit Pistons play their game against the Miami Heat as part of the LCA Unified Night, where three Unified Games take place after the pros play. Tickets include access to both the Pistons and Unified Game, a Unified Showcase t-shirt and proceeds from each ticket will go back to the Berkley Unified Program.
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.
Details
- Sunday, March 17, 2024
- Detroit Pistons Game: 3-5 pm
- Unified Night at LCA: 6-8:30 pm
- Berkley Unified (Game #3) - 8 pm
- Little Caesars Arena, Detroit
- Guests can attend the Unified Game only, if they choose
Tickets
$34/person
Buy tickets to the March 17 activities today - tickets are limited!
For any questions please contact Andy Myers at amyers@pistons.com or (313) 771-7588.
Tickets are mobile tickets and details will be emailed to you immediately after purchase. To access mobile tickets you must login to the Pistons App. Details can be found here: www.Pistons.com/mobileticket
The Fine Print
This offer cannot be redeemed at LCA Box Office. All tickets are subject to availability and handled on a first-come, first-served basis. All prices on orders received after the indicated deadline are subject to change. Refunds or exchanges will not be issued. Please provide an accurate cell phone number and email address in order to access your tickets. All tickets purchased will be available on your Pistons Account. You will receive an email once they are available.
It’s Time to Fill Out an Intent to Return Form - Deadline Today!
It’s time to let the District know which students will be returning to the Berkley School District next year.
The District has created a simple form for all families with students in grades TK-11 to fill out inside of the MISTAR Parent Portal. Responses will help schools create classroom communities and courses for next year. Follow the steps below to complete the form, once per child. Form entries are due Friday, February 16 at the end of the day.
How to fill out the form:
- Log into MISTAR Parent Portal.
- In the top right corner click on Intent to Return in bold, red lettering.
- Next to each student, click the Edit button on the right hand side.
- Answer the questions listed, if applicable, and once completed, click the box next to “Click to confirm you have reviewed this section…”
- Click the Submit button at the top.
- Repeat for additional children.
You can also find the Intent to Return form in the MISTAR App. To download the app, follow these directions:
- In your mobile device app store, download Q ParentConnection.
- Inside the app, select the State, County and District.
- Select Enter ParentConnection.
- In the upper right, select Log In.
- Enter your MISTAR Parent Portal Pin and Password.
- To complete the Intent to Return Form in the App:
- Click the three lines in the upper right corner.
- Click on Re-Enrollment.
- Next to your student's name, click the Edit button.
- Complete the Intent to Return steps.
- Click the submit button.
Please fill out the form by Friday, February 16.
QUESTIONS?
If you are having problems logging in, have questions about completing information online or are experiencing technical difficulties email mistarhelp@berkleyschools.org. Be sure to include your name, the name of your child and a phone number where you can be reached.
City of Oak Park Hosts Juneteenth Competition for Oak Park Residents
The City of Oak Park is sponsoring a student self-expression contest to recognize the Juneteenth holiday. This year, the City of Oak Park Juneteenth Sub-Committee has increased the number of scholarships being offered to seven $500 scholarships. The contest welcomes various forms of expression, including music, poems, paintings and more. The City encourages all K-12 students who either live in Oak Park and/or attend schools in Oak Park to submit a piece of self-expression to highlight what Juneteenth means to them.
Submissions are due by March 31 and can be made electronically or turned in at Oak Park City Hall. Along with submissions, students must also submit a contact form. The Juneteenth Sub-Committee will serve as the judging body and students selected as winners will be notified in advance of the Sunday, June 16 event.
Additional information is available on the City of Oak Park’s website.
Free Heart Checks for Students Ages 13-18
To help detect young people who are at risk for sudden cardiac arrest, Beaumont offers free heart checks to high school students that include:
- medical history evaluation
- blood pressure check
- physical examination
- electrocardiogram, or ECG
- echocardiogram, quick look
On Saturday, February 24th from 9 am to 1 pm, teens aged 13 to 18 are eligible to attend an upcoming Beaumont Heart Check. The event will be held at Avondale High School in the gym: 2800 Waukegan St. Auburn Hills, MI 48326.
Beaumont’s Student Heart Check program combines a simple health history with a noninvasive screening to look for signs of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a serious heart condition that is the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes. HCM affects approximately one in 500 people and does not usually have any symptoms. The stress on the heart during strenuous activities puts our students at higher risk for sudden cardiac death.
Please direct all questions to Jennifer Shea at jennifer.shea@corewellhealth.org.
Kindergarten Information for All: Registration and Schools of Choice
While it might be hard to believe, it’s time to start thinking about Kindergarten for Fall 2024. In the Berkley School District, Kindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten information nights, enrollment and the Schools of Choice application windows happen in January and February each year. Starting early allows the District to plan staffing, class sizes and support for students before the year ends. If you have an incoming Kindergarten student this is important information to save. If you know someone who has a child who will be five years old by September 1, 2024, please share this information with them!
Kindergarten Registration for Berkley School District Residents
If you missed the TK and Kindergarten registration window, don’t worry - you can still register your students online! Visit the enrollment webpage to begin your registration, verify your residency through our District boundaries document and see what paperwork you need to upload to complete your registration. We can’t wait to meet our new students!
Schools of Choice Window for TK-Grade 5
The Berkley School District Board of Education has approved limited Schools of Choice (Section 105) openings (up to 150 slots) in Kindergarten through 5th grade for Oakland County residents for the 2024-25 school year. Those who are interested in attending the Berkley School District, but who do not live within District boundaries may apply.
Important Schools of Choice details include:
- Schools of Choice application period is February 12 - March 1, 2024
- Completed applications must be submitted online
- No applications will be accepted after the deadline of 5:00 pm, March 1, 2024
- Applicants will receive email notification of their student's Schools of Choice status mid to late April following the lottery
- On the application, families will select which school they’d prefer to attend: Angell, Burton, Norup, Pattengill or Rogers
- For current Schools of Choice families, if you have an incoming TK or Kindergarten student, please be sure to fill out this year’s application as well. Priority is given to siblings.
Questions
If you have any questions regarding the enrollment process, please contact the Enrollment Office at 248-837-8026 or visit the Enrollment website.
If you have any questions regarding Schools of Choice, please contact Stephanie Helterbran, Pupil Accounting and Central Enrollment Supervisor, at 248-837-8045 or visit the Schools of Choice website.
Travel Opportunities for 2025
Travel to France & Spain in Spring 2025
Students in grades 6-12 (during the time of travel) are invited to travel to France and Spain during Spring Break 2025. This trip will explore cultural experiences, local immersion, and iconic sights.
If you have any questions, contact Athena Troher at athena.troher@berkleyschools.org
Travel to The South Pacific & Fiji in June 2025
Students in grades 6-12 (during the time of travel) and family members are invited to join an educational travel experience to The South Pacific and Fiji in June 2025! The trip includes visits to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. View the itinerary on the EF Tours website.
If you have any questions, contact Athena Troher at athena.troher@berkleyschools.org
Travel to Japan in Summer 2025
Students in grades 9-12 (during the time of travel) are invited to travel to Japan during the Summer of 2025. This trip will explore cultural experiences, local immersion and iconic sights of the country.
If you have any questions, contact Saundra Rathburn at saundra.rathburn@berkleyschools.org or Tracy Burroughs at tracy.burroughs@berkleyschools.org
Berkley Education Foundation’s 15th Annual Off to the Races Tickets On Sale
- March 16, 2024
- 7-11 pm
- The Kingsley, Bloomfield Hills, A DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel
- Tickets on sale now
The Berkley Schools community is invited to the Berkley Education Foundation’s annual fundraising event Off to the Races to support the Berkley School District and fund the #BerkleyDifference.
Off to the Races will take place on Saturday, March 16, from 7-11 pm at The Kingsley, Bloomfield Hills, a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. Join the BEF fun: simulated horse racing, owning & naming horses, silent auction (powered by mobile bidding), vacation give-away, connecting with friends, and most importantly, funding the #BerkleyDifference. This year the food theme is desserts and late night snacks.
Tickets on sale.
Don’t miss out on all the fun. Tickets are on sale now: $50/person.
- Bundle event tickets with Off to the Races (OTTR) Bucks for a discount.
- OTTR Bucks pay for horse “betting” and beverages at the event.
- Buy 10 Bucks for $20 at the event, or add them on to an event ticket for a $10 discount.
Horses on sale now.
Buy and name a horse that will race during Off to the Races! 100 regular horses ($30) and 10 golden horses ($250) are available. Horses can be purchased through the “Buy Horses” section of the website. Horses can also be added onto ticket orders! For those who can’t attend the event, buying a horse is an easy way to support the BEF.
Win a vacation.
Don’t miss the Golden Race - the last race of the night. The winner will take home a $2,500 vacation, courtesy of the BEF.
- The prize is bigger so the stakes are higher: guests can “bet” on this race with a Golden Ticket!
- $50 Golden Tickets can be added to event tickets or at the door.
- Must be present to win.
Sponsorships available!
Event sponsorships, race sponsorships and prize sponsorships available for all budgets, ranging from $500 - $10,000. Investing in Off to the Races includes a variety of incentives from social media shoutouts to tickets to the event. Visit the BEF’s Sponsorship Booklet for details.
Interested in sponsoring? Email berkleyfoundation@berkleyschools.org
Calendar Highlights - February
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.
Black History Month
Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Also known as African American History Month, the event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month.
Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history. Read more on the origins of Black History Month on the History Channel website.
Take time to learn more about Black History and attend events by visiting the following resources:
- Check out the Oakland County blog for a number of programs, film screenings, and more taking place in person and virtually to explore Black history and culture
- PBS: Celebrating Black Leaders
- PBS: Teaching Your Child About Black History
- Common Sense Education: Free Learning Resources for Black History Month (and beyond)
Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day is a tradition observed in the United States and Canada on February 2 of every year. It derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and sees its shadow, it will retreat to its den and winter will go on for six more weeks; if it does not see its shadow, spring will arrive early.
Since 1887 a groundhog in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, has been the center of a staged appearance each February 2. In what has become a media event, the groundhog “Punxsutawney Phil” is the center of attention of television weathermen and newspaper photographers.
Lunar New Year - February 10, 2024
Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, falls on Saturday, February 10th, 2024, and celebrations culminate with the Lantern Festival on February 24th, 2024.
Lunar New Year is a celebration of the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new year on the lunisolar calendar. It is the most important holiday in China, and it is also widely celebrated in South Korea, Vietnam, and countries with a significant overseas Chinese population. While the official dates encompassing the holiday vary by culture, those celebrating consider it the time of the year to reunite with immediate and extended family.
Commonly known as the Spring Festival in China, Lunar New Year is a fifteen-day celebration marked by many traditions. At home, families decorate windows with red paper cuttings and adorn doors with couplets expressing auspicious wishes for the new year. Shopping for holiday sundries in open-air markets and cleaning the house are also beloved traditions. The Lunar New Year’s Eve reunion dinner is the highlight that kicks off the holiday, a feast with a spread of symbolic dishes, such as a whole fish representing abundance, that bring good luck and fortune. The fifteenth and final day of the holiday is the Lantern Festival, during which people have tangyuan, or sweet glutinous rice balls, and children carry lanterns around the neighborhood at night to mark the end of the celebration.
In the Chinese zodiac, 2024 is the year of the dragon.
Source: The National Museum of Asian Art
Mardi Gras - February 13, 2024
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 - February 14, 2024
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
Valentine's Day - February 14, 2024
Valentine’s Day occurs every February 14. Across the United States and in other places around the world, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine.
Learn more about the history and origins of Valentine’s Day on the History Channel website.
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!
Now Hiring:
- Lead Teacher: GSRP/Head Start Blend - Berkley Building Blocks
- Campus Monitor Paraeducator - BHS
- Assistant Teacher(s) - 6 Open Positions - Berkley Building Blocks
- Lunch Aides - Pattengill
- Permanent Substitute Custodian - District
- Afternoon Custodian Split Position - Norup & Pattengill
- Afternoon Custodian Split Position - Administrative Offices/Berkley Building Blocks
- Food Service Worker - 5 Positions
- High School Girls Swim and Dive Program Head Coach
- High School Boys Tennis Program Assistant
- High School JV Girls Tennis Head Coach
- Middle School Football Coach
- Middle School Softball Coach - Anderson
- Middle School Wrestling Head Coach
- Middle School Baseball Head Coach - Anderson
Sign Up for Text Alerts
Quick Steps to Receive Text Alerts from Berkley Schools
In order to receive text messages from the District or your school, you must opt-in. Text messages will be sent out when the District closes or there is an emergency situation. Texts may also be sent from the District and schools for reminder messages during the day that are not urgent.
In order to receive text messages, every parent/guardian must opt-in each cell phone listed in MISTAR.
Steps to Opt-In
- Text the word YES (in the message field) to the phone number 67587 (in the To field). Then you are all set!
District News Online
Want to keep up with the latest District news stories? Visit our new News page to see stories, messages from principals, weekly reminders and more. News articles posted on the District News page will also populate each respective school’s News page. Articles that don’t make it into the Beat will also be posted on our News pages, Facebook and Twitter.