Berkley Beat: December 16, 2022

Berkley Beat: December 16, 2022

What’s inside:

• BHS Student Leadership Year-End Initiatives 
• Angell 5th Graders Enjoy "A Taste of History"
• Burton Students Create and Test Earthquake-Proof Structures 
• Pattengill’s New Diversity and Ally Club Creates Safe Space and Support for All
• Norup Students Present Market Day to their Peers
• Board of Education Honors Students, Student Athletes and Retiring Board Members
• Kindergarten Information for All: Information Nights, Registration and Schools of Choice
• Berkley and Royal Oak Partner to Honor Dr. King on MLK Day - Save the Date
• Tickets on Sale for Off to the Races 2023
• Join the Berkley Schools Family - Now Hiring!
• Sign Up for Text Alerts

BHS Student Leadership Year-End Initiatives 

After a successful Kindness Week last school year, BHS student leadership set the goal of finding ongoing opportunities to serve the community both in and out of school this school year. This goal has led to initiatives such as therapy dogs for the BHS student body and preparing home cooked meals at the Ronald McDonald House of Detroit. 

On Friday, December 9, therapy dogs from Pawsitive Changes greeted students in the East Gym. Students shared that the dogs served as a welcomed distraction from final projects. On Thursday, December 15, members of student leadership prepared fresh soup to serve to residents of the Ronald McDonald House of Detroit. They also donated over 20 handmade blankets. 

BHS Student Leadership advisor, Stefanie Coburn shared, “It's been such a treat to see the true spirit of these young leaders come out as they are serving their community.”

Angell 5th Graders Enjoy "A Taste of History"

Angell 5th grade teacher Danielle Ozanich is sharing her love of history and cooking through a weekly live stream titled “A Taste of History.” Each week, Ms. Ozanich shares a recipe that has historical significance with her students. Students make the dish alongside Ms. Ozanich while she shares the historical context. During the club’s first meeting, they discussed primary vs. secondary sources and made lemon bars from a primary source, Ms. Ozanich’s grandmother. Students learned a brief history of the Wyandotte Nation in Michigan and the Battle of Fallen Timbers during the second meeting. They then made “Three Sisters Stew,” a traditional Native American recipe. The third meeting coincided with the anniversary of the Boston Tea Party and students baked colonial gingerbread. 

The “Taste of History” Club is open to all fifth grade students. This has given Ms. Ozanich the opportunity to get to know other students who are not in her class. She shared, “If anything positive came out of the pandemic, it is the idea that in the world of teaching, anything is possible and that technology is amazing.” 

This club is made possible through funding by the Berkley Education Foundation (BEF) Enrichment Program. The Berkley Education Foundation funds enrichment courses free of charge to bring unique experiences to students and to enhance their learning. To learn more about the BEF, visit their website. To support the BEF and the Enrichment Program, visit the BEF’s donation site.

Burton Students Create and Test Earthquake-Proof Structures 

Keely Galdes and Jill Burton teach science to all 4th graders at Burton. This semester they introduced the theory of plate tectonics and how they cause earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis to their science classes. Students spent part of the lesson observing the real world challenges that scientists and engineers face when building structures that can withstand these natural disasters. They also learned about the variety of testing and experiments used such as the “shake test.” The “shake test” simulates the ground motions that take place during an earthquake through underground mechanical devices called actuators.

After completing the lesson, Ms. Galdes and Ms. Burton challenged students to come up with a solution to this real world issue through designing and testing their own “earthquake-proof” structures. Teams of students used a variety of building materials such as popsicle sticks, toothpicks, marshmallows, masking tape, index cards, straws, pipe cleaners, and more. Students constructed a shake test by placing the structures on graham crackers, simulating the Earth’s crust, on top of a tray of jello, representing the Earth’s mantle. Students then shook the tray to test the stability of the structures. 

Ms. Galdes shared, “Students enjoyed collaborating with peers and working together as a team!”

Pattengill’s New Diversity and Ally Club Creates Safe Space and Support for All

This year at Pattengill, third grade teacher Sarah Mahoney-Yallum saw a need for students to learn more about each other and the differences that make everyone unique. As a result, she started the Diversity and Ally Club, which is funded through the Berkley Education Foundation Enrichment Program. The club meets twice a month, once to have a day of conversation on topics such as gender stereotypes, able bodied and disabled people, inclusion and anything that falls under the umbrella of DEI. The second meeting is a day of action.

This week, students had their action meeting. They created a bulletin board for Chanukah because Christmas is talked about a lot in the community, and the club wanted to create learning around a holiday not talked about as often. The bulletin board has information, symbols and slips of paper for students and staff to write about their favorite Chanukah tradition to add to the board.

Ms. Mahoney-Yallum shared about the current club members, and why they joined the club. “Some students joined the club because they themselves feel different,” she said. “They also see other students who are different and they want to talk about those differences and make sure everyone feels welcome.”

Parents of students in grades 2-5 have the option to enroll their children in the club. Ms. Mahoney-Yallum emphasized that the club is a safe space and a safe group of people to talk with. “Our goal is to expose our students to differences in the building and celebrate them,” she shared.

To learn more about the BEF, visit their website. To support the BEF and the Enrichment Program, visit the BEF’s donation site.

Norup Students Present Market Day to their Peers

Norup 4th grade held its annual Holiday Market on Wednesday, December 18. Market Day marked the end of their Social Studies lesson on economics. Students in Mr. Bowering, Ms. Goldberg and Ms. Rawlik’s classes were tasked with coming up with their own business and creating a product to sell to schoolmates and family members during Market Day.

The students learned a variety of lessons during this project including how to price an item, understanding the prices of the competition as well as supply and demand. Some of the products the students created included jewelry, ornaments, stress balls, piggy banks, paintings and more. Some of the proceeds from Market Day will go towards the 4th grade field trip fund and to a charity that the classes will choose. 

Board of Education Honors Students, Student Athletes and Retiring Board Members

At the December 14, 2022, Regular Board of Education meeting, the Berkley School Board honored Berkley High School swimmers, volleyball players, a student for academic achievement and two Board members who are retiring from the Board.

BHS Girls Volleyball

The 2022 BHS Girls Varsity Volleyball Team was recognized for their outstanding season on the court and academically. Under the guidance of coach Eric Wachterhauser, the team finished the season as District and Regional champions and made it to the State Quarterfinals. The team set a new school record, 38-8, and finished in 2nd place in the OAA White Division. This team also achieved All-State Academic status for having a combined GPA average over 3.3. In addition, Ava Beard, Jordan Budzinski, Sophia Dawkins and Hannah Roddis, all seniors, earned All-State Academic achievement for having a GPA above 3.7.

BHS Girls Swimming

Five BHS students were honored by the Board for being a part of the 2022 Girls Swim & Dive State Team. The team included senior Molly Hamilton, junior Bryce Scully, sophomore Alana Horwitz, sophomore Lucy Pugh and freshman Maddie Collins.

Relay Teams

The 200 Yard Freestyle Relay team (Maddie Collins, Lucy Pugh, Bryce Scully, Alana Horowitz) finished in 19th place in the State and in 4th place at the OAA White championships.  

The 200 Yard Medley Relay team (Maddie Collins, Lucy Pugh, Bryce Scully, Molly Hamilton) finished in 14th place in the State, 1st place at the OAA White championships and set the pool and school record.

Individual Results

Maddie Collins: Maddie competed in the 100 Yard Butterfly and the 50 Yard Freestyle. For the 100 Butterfly, Maddie finished in 29th place in the State. In the 50 Yard Freestyle, Maddie set the pool and school record, finishing in 17th place in the State.

Bryce Scully: Bryce competed in the 100 Yard Butterfly and the 100 Yard Breaststroke. For the 100 Butterfly, Bryce set the school record with her time, finishing in 5th place in the State, qualifying her for All-State honors. In the 100 Yard Breaststroke, Bryce finished in 7th place in the State, qualifying her for All-State honors.

Alana Horwitz: Alana competed in the 100 Yard Breaststroke finishing in 33rd place at the State and 4th at the OAA White championships.

National Merit Commended Student

The Board honored Matthew Short, BHS Senior, who was named a Commended Student in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Over 1.5 million juniors entered the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the PSAT/NMSQT in 2021. 

Commended students are selected in recognition of their outstanding academic promise among the top 34,000 students nationwide who took the PSAT/NMSQT exam.

Retiring Board Members

Sheryl Stoddard

The Board honored fellow Trustee Sheryl Stoddard for her 13 years of service. She began her time on the Board on January 1, 2010 and served as a Trustee, Secretary, Vice President and a member of the Policy committee before her retirement from the Board in December 2022. She earned a Level 4 Master Board Member Award from the Michigan Association of School Boards for the time she dedicated to taking courses and deepening her knowledge of Board issues. Sheryl’s final act as a Board member, leading the work to update the Board Culture Guide, will affect future Boards for years to come.

Mitchell Moses

The Board honored fellow Trustee Mitchell Moses for his 11.5 years of service. Mitchell began his time on the Board on July 12, 2011 and served as a Trustee, five years as Treasurer, and a member of the Finance and Facilities committees before his retirement from the Board in December 2022. He earned a Level 4 Master Board Member Award from the Michigan Association of School Boards for the time he dedicated to taking courses and deepening his knowledge of Board issues. His passion for Board work and dedication to ensuring the District was led with fiscal responsibility will be remembered.

Kindergarten Information for All: Information Nights, Registration and Schools of Choice

While it might be hard to believe, it’s time to start thinking about Kindergarten for Fall 2023. 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, please share this information with them!

Kindergarten Information Nights

If you have an incoming Kindergarten or Transitional Kindergarten student, mark your calendar for an upcoming Kindergarten Information Night to learn about the kindergarten curriculum, how to prepare for the big first day, enrollment options, and Kindergarten/Transitional Kindergarten readiness. All TK and Kindergarten students need to be five years old by September 1, 2023.

During the evening, families will be able to ask the Principal questions, learn more about each school and hear about the #BerkleyDifference. You do not have to be a resident to attend the Kindergarten Information Nights, they are open to all who are interested in the Berkley School District. Learn more about Kindergarten enrollment and readiness by visiting our Enrollment webpage.

• Angell Elementary School: Wednesday, January 18, 2023 | 6:30 pm
• Burton Elementary School: Thursday, January 19, 2023 | 6:30 pm
• Norup International School: Wednesday, January 25, 2023 | 6:30 pm
• Pattengill Elementary School: Tuesday, January 17, 2023 | 6:30 pm
• Rogers Elementary School: Tuesday, January 24, 2023 | 6:30 pm

Kindergarten Registration for Berkley School District Residents

Berkley School District resident registration for both Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten begins February 6 and runs through February 17, 2023. Registration takes place entirely online, including the required document uploads. 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 120 slots) in Kindergarten through 5th grade for Oakland County residents for the 2023-24 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 13 - March 3, 2023
• Completed applications must be submitted online
• No applications will be accepted after the deadline of 5:00 pm, March 3, 2023
• 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 upcoming Kindergarten Information nights, please reach out to school secretaries and/or principals.
• 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.

Berkley and Royal Oak Partner to Honor Dr. King on MLK Day - Save the Date

The cities and school districts of Royal Oak and Berkley are proud to announce their joint MLK Day event for the entire community to remember, participate, and honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Virtual Keynote & Presentation

On Monday, January 16, 2023, the community is invited to honor Dr. King through learning and action. The commemoration, “A Day On, Not a Day Off,” will include a virtual presentation hosted on the Berkley Schools and Royal Oak Schools Facebook pages at 9:30 am. The virtual event will include a keynote, student musical performances and messages from local elected officials.

Freedom Walk

At 9:30 am, the community is invited to gather at Berkley High School, for a freedom walk in the BHS neighborhood. After the walk, the community is invited to participate in service projects: blanket making and sorting donations to deliver to local nonprofits. The first 250 guests will receive a commemorative button. All ages and members of the community are invited to attend.

Donation Drive

The event committee will also be collecting the following donations prior to the Freedom Walk to support the following groups:

• Redford Brightmoor Initiative
• Cass Community Social Services
• Judson Center
• Gleaners Community Food Bank

Items that the committee will be collecting are listed below:

• Non-perishable food: Canned goods, pasta, peanut butter, jelly, granola bars, boxed food items
• Home items: Toilet paper, dish soap, paper towels, laundry detergent
• Toiletries: Shampoo/conditioner (including the following brands: Shea moisture, As I Am, Curls, Aunt Jackie's), deodorant, shaving cream, feminine products
• Diapers and pull-ups: All sizes, no unopened packages
• New children's books: Infant through middle school age
• Clothing: Socks (all sizes), underwear (men and children), winter hats (adult) 

Items will be collected through 12 pm and then delivered that day by volunteers. 

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

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
• Elementary Study Skills Teacher
• Facilities/Operations Project Coordinator
• GSRP/Head Start Associate Teacher 
• High School Math Teacher
• Lunch Aides
• Learning Specialist
• Special Education Paraeducator 
• Speech Pathologist 
• Varsity Head Volleyball Coach

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!