December 5, 2022

Berkley Beat: December 2, 2022

Berkley Beat: December 2, 2022

What’s inside:

  • Sources of Strength: A Focus on Mental Health at Berkley High School
  • Culture Fest at BHS
  • Norup Hosts a Thanksgiving Parade
  • BHS Student Creates Large United States Map
  • Berkley School District Giving Opportunities
  • Tickets on Sale for Off to the Races 2023
  • Tri-Community Coalition Invites the Community to Upcoming Drug Prevention Programs
  • Join the Berkley Schools Family - Now Hiring!
  • Sign Up for Text Alerts

Sources of Strength: A Focus on Mental Health at Berkley High School

Sources of Strength, a suicide prevention program that uses peer leaders to share the importance of mental wellness, launched at Berkley High School in 2017. Sources of Strength started as a club at BHS and has shaped student perspectives about mental health and well-being. The goal of the program is to make students aware of their own Sources of Strength, including the eight pillars of the program: Mental Health, Physical Health, Mentors, Healthy Activities, Positive Friends, Family Support, Generosity and Spirituality. These pillars are illustrated in the Sources of Strength color wheel, which is posted around the school.

Robyn Weiss, a counselor at BHS, has wanted to expand the Sources of Strength club into a dedicated class ever since its launch. Ms. Weiss shared that a class would allow students to develop in-depth school wide initiatives and campaigns. This year, Ms. Weiss’ wishes came true. Under the direction of BHS teacher Susie Sims, Sources of Strength is now an elective course at BHS. Watch our video below to learn more about the class and the impact it has on the BHS community. 

Culture Fest at BHS

At this year’s Culture Fest, sponsored by the Berkley High School Diversity Council, BHS students had a chance to sample dishes and enjoy performances from all over the world. During lunchtime on November 18, 2022, students had the opportunity to expand their palette and try a variety of foods. Diversity Council members brought dishes such as samosas, a flaky Indian pastry, Jamaican jerk chicken, Middle Eastern chicken shawarma, Mexican wedding cookies and more. The students were then treated to performances by the BHS Jazz Band, the K-Pop Club and the Acapella Choir. This event showcased the many cultures belonging to the Berkley Schools family. 

Norup Hosts a Thanksgiving Parade

Norup elementary students participated in a Thanksgiving Parade on November 23, 2022. Norup’s English Learner Instructional Specialist, Kristi Metz and 3rd grade teacher Lindsay Morse coordinated the parade. Elementary students read the book "Balloons Over Broadway," which tells the history of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon floats and how they were created. Then, students worked to create their own mini balloon float, showcasing some of their favorite characters. There were also special appearances from the Norup Hawk, the 7th & 8th Grade band, and journalism students from The Daily Dose podcast, who provided commentary on the parade. Ms. Metz shared, “We were thrilled to have a celebration with the entire Norup school community, and the elementary students especially enjoyed the band and the Hawk!”

BHS Student Creates Large United States Map

Throughout the fall, from September until the last week in November, Berkley High School junior Jonas Rhymer worked on creating a large mural for a class art project. Jonas’ art teacher Julie Bergasse shared, “Jonas is fascinated by geography. He is so passionate about maps, demographics, transportation, etc., and can tell you facts about the country.” Ms. Bergasse merged Jonas’ love for cartography and geography with a special class project: create a large United States map out of posterboard paper to display on the wall outside of the art room.

Jonas created every piece of the map by himself, by hand drawing the states and cutting them out, or using a projector to get the sizing and difficult sections just right. On top of cutting out and hanging each state correctly, Jonas labeled the map from memory! Ms. Bergasse said, “Jonas has been coming before class, during lunch and working diligently in every class period since September to complete the map. I am really so very proud of him!

Jonas shared, “I’m pretty proud of myself. It took my half of the semester and went through several redesigns to get to the final piece. I added cities as I went. I’m making sure now that it stays on the wall, checking the tape often, but I’m happy with the final material.”

Jonas said he added the cities by memorization, notating the ones on the map that are significant in population as well as historically significant. He did not identify suburbs. He started studying maps about a year ago by looking at city layouts on Google Maps, first starting with the state of Michigan and then moving on to the rest of the states. Jonas shared he is interested in urban planning and city layouts. He wants to study urban planning in college and eventually work for the city planning department for the City of Detroit.

Congratulations, Jonas, on such a detailed and amazing piece of art.

Berkley School District Giving Opportunities 

In the Berkley School District, there are two organizations that are raising funds to give back to our school community: the Berkley Area PTSA Council and the Berkley Education Foundation. Read on to see how you can support these organizations to directly impact Berkley Schools students and families.

Berkley Area PTSA Council: Caring & Sharing

Caring & Sharing is a Berkley Area PTSA Council annual event that provides holiday meals to families in the Berkley School District and local Veterans. The PTSA Council is collecting funds through online fundraising, hoping to raise as much money as possible so that they are able to give families generous gift cards to purchase groceries to meet their needs. In 2021, Caring & Sharing raised $27,650, fed 105 families, and gave $1,000 to the American Legion.

To make a donation between now and December 7, visit the Caring & Sharing donation website. Donations are currently at 27% of the goal of $25,000 

If you know of a family in need, or your family is in need this holiday season, please complete the Caring and Sharing referral form.  All referral information will be used confidentially to provide families in need with a gift card to purchase food this holiday season.

Any questions? Contact this year’s Caring & Sharing Chair: Amy Phillips, amylacyphillips@gmail.com

Berkley Education Foundation: Dollars for the District

Every November, the Berkley Education Foundation launches its annual Dollars for the District giving campaign. Through the generosity of the Berkley Schools community and the efforts of many dedicated volunteers, the BEF has invested more than $354,000 into the Berkley School District since 2010. These funds have gone directly into the classroom through teacher innovation-grants, supporting STEM activities with the annual Maxfield Science Symposium scholarships, and enrichment programs in every school. The BEF also sends every 8th grade student on a college tour annually. This year, the BEF sent 300 8th grade students from both Anderson and Norup to the University of Michigan to tour their Ann Arbor campus. This tour allows students to begin to envision their own post-Berkley options. For many, it is their first time in a college environment.

Supporting the BEF provides enriching opportunities for Berkley Schools students. Every gift helps provide the fuel and energy to keep these programs moving forward. For example, every $150 donated will send five 8th graders to college campuses. You can make your gift safely online at bit.ly/GiveBEF.

Tickets on Sale for Off to the Races 2023

The Berkley Education Foundation is excited to announce the date and new location for the 2023 Off to the Races fundraiser. Mark your calendar for the 14th annual Off to the Races, taking place on Saturday, March 11, 2023, from 6-10 pm at The Kingsley Hotel in Bloomfield Hills

What is Off to the Races?

Off to the Races is an annual fundraiser for the Berkley Education Foundation. This fun social event and party is centered around simulated horse racing. Guests watch races, "bet" on the horses running in the races and win prizes. The event also includes an expansive silent auction (powered by mobile bidding), vacation give-away (the winner of the Golden Race will take home a $2,500 vacation), connecting with friends and colleagues, and most importantly, funding the #BerkleyDifference. You can even “buy” and name a horse!

Buy Tickets, Horses, Sponsorships online!

Visit the BEF’s new Off to the Races website to buy tickets, horses, OTTR Bucks, sponsorships and Golden Tickets. Tickets are $40 per person.

Buy tickets today: https://my.onecause.com/event/organizations/sf-001C000001dlvdzIAA/events/vevt:a48411c7-5789-4514-8b56-f1252505d520/home/story

Tri-Community Coalition Invites the Community to Upcoming Drug Prevention Programs

The Tri-Community Coalition (TCC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization formed to prevent the abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs through education, community action and involvement, and the promotion of a drug-free lifestyle. The TCC has two upcoming events for families to attend: Drugs 101 and Cannabis & Vaping Overview: Protecting Our Youth. See the details, below.

Drugs 101 - For Parents and Families

  • December 6, 2022
  • 7-8 pm
  • Virtual Program

Participants learn:

  • Trends in teen drug use
  • Facts regarding vaping, marijuana, opioids and prescription drugs

Register online: tinyurl.com/jaradrugs101

Cannabis & Vaping Overview: Protecting Our Youth

December 9, 2022

  • 9 am - 12 pm
  • Oakland University
  • Oakland Center, Banquet Room B
  • 312 Meadow Brook Road, Rochester, MI 48309

An educational presentation and learn about current trends affecting youth.

Keynote Speaker: Vicky Loveland, LMSW, CPS

Panelists:

  • Honorary Travis Reeds, 52-1 District Court, Oakland County
  • Detective Dan Caldwell, Milford Police Department
  • Fire Marshall Paul Biliti, Madison Heights Fire Department
  • Dr. Brian Spitsbergen, PhD, LPC, CAADC

Register online: tinyurl.com/cannabiseducation12922

For more information: 248-221-7101, info@achcmi.org

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:

  • Berkley Building Blocks Assistant Teachers
  • Custodians
  • ECSE Long-term Substitute
  • GSRP/Head Start Associate Teacher 
  • High School Math Teacher
  • Interim High School Girls Diving Coach
  • JV Boys Tennis Coach
  • JV Wrestling Coach 
  • Lunch Aides
  • Learning Specialist
  • Middle School Swim Coach
  • Middle School Football Coach
  • Special Education Paraeducator 
  • School Psychologist

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!