Berkley Beat: February 3, 2023

Berkley Beat: February 3, 2023

What’s inside:

• Kindergarten Information for All: Registration (Begins Next Week) and Schools of Choice
• Burton Celebrates Black History Month with Assembly
• Justice 101 at Rogers Elementary
• Berkley Building Blocks Students Create “I Have A Dream” Board
• BHS Life Skills and LINK Program Community Outing
• Black History Month Resources for Families
• Berkley Schools Seeks Input - Community Survey Now Open
• BAAPN Black History Essay Contest
• Kids’ Zone Mid-Winter Break Opportunities
• Tickets on Sale for Off to the Races 2023
• Join the Berkley Schools Family - Now Hiring!
• Sign Up for Text Alerts

Kindergarten Information for All:  Registration (Begins Next Week) and Schools of Choice

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 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.

Burton Celebrates Black History Month with Assembly 

The Burton Elementary community welcomed Madelyn Porter from the Detroit Historical Society on January 31, 2023, to perform her original historical reenactments titled, “The Underground Railroad” and “The Great Migration,” for the students at Burton. Ms. Porter has worked as a professional actress and storyteller for forty years. 

“The Underground Railroad” presentation focused on the mid 1800s, when thousands of African Americans escaped through Detroit on their way to freedom in Canada. Students learned songs of the Underground Railroad like “Wade in the Water'' and “Follow the Drinkin' Gourd.” 

“The Great Migration'' highlighted the nearly six million Black southerners who left the South and fanned out across the United States. Ms. Porter portrayed three Detroit women from the 1920s, 1940s and the 1960s and shared their experiences following their family’s migration. 

Ms. Porter shared with the students, “Telling stories is a way to share history and experiences while making it fun and real.” 

Justice 101 at Rogers Elementary

Judge Derek Meinecke, a judge for the 44th District Court, spent time with Mrs. Kristy Watkins-Visnaw fifth grade class at Rogers on January 30. Judge Meinecke visited the class, to discuss aspects of the judicial branch of government. He was also there to prepare the students for their courthouse visit where the students will tour the court and observe an open court session from the jury box.

This visit is part of the Justice 101 program which was started by the local 44th District Court. The goal of this program is to teach students about the court system and to provide context and understanding for the field trip to the 44th District Court. 

Berkley Building Blocks Students Create “I Have A Dream” Board

Lisa Soffa’s preschool class at Berkley Building Blocks (BBB) created a bulletin board inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have A Dream” speech. Students wrote their dreams on paper speech bubbles that were then arranged around a collage of colors representing the Earth. Additional speech bubbles were left blank so other BBB students can add their dreams to the installation. The bulletin board has grown throughout the month of January, and will continue into February, full of our youngest learners’ dreams.

BHS Life Skills and LINK Program Community Outing

Students from Berkley High School’s Life Skills class and the LINK Program enjoyed lunch at Crispelli’s on January 2. The outing was an opportunity for students to practice what they have learned in class like counting money, placing food orders, purchasing and finding items and practicing communication skills with peers and community members. Students with complex communication needs use voice output technology like Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices during outings to assist students in placing orders and getting their needs met.

BHS Speech and Language Pathologist, Chrissie Brooks shared, “Students and staff love being out in the community! Some students have not had the opportunity to explore the Berkley area and surrounding communities. Outings allow students to become familiar and comfortable in new environments.”

Black History Month Resources for Families

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:

• Take a Virtual Trip: Visit the African American Heritage Sites, a searchable database that features almost 2,000 historical sites, museums, and trails to visit online, or you can even plan a field trip to visit. After all, Black history is American history, so any month is a good time to see these cultural assets that have survived time.
• 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: http://ow.ly/7wVO50MH9ws.
• 27 Black American Women Writers You Should Know - https://www.thoughtco.com/african-american-women-writers-3528288

Berkley Schools Seeks Input - Community Survey Now Open

Last spring the Board of Education approved the Berkley Schools new Strategic Plan, the guiding document for the work as a District. As part of that plan, the District updated its Vision, Mission and Tagline, created a Portrait of a Learner and established new goals for the next five years. In order to know if the plan is successful, the District will be seeking community feedback and input twice this year through surveys. 

The surveys will address 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 focused on in the survey today. Community feedback will help inform programs, learning and investment for this school year and beyond.

This survey should take no longer than 10-15 minutes and has both multiple choice and open response questions. The survey is online here. The survey will remain open until February 10, 2023.

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.

BAAPN Black History Essay Contest

The Berkley African American Parent Network is hosting a Black History Month essay contest, open to all Berkley Schools middle and high school students.

Students are being asked to answer the following question in their essay: What is an example of African American influence on American culture, and how does that impact you as a youth?

Essay contest details:

• The essay contest is open to all Berkley middle and high school students.
• The essay should be typed and double-spaced using Microsoft Word. The essay does not have a minimum number of words. The essay should be submitted using either a Microsoft Word or pdf format only.
• Interested students may individually submit their essay and completed contact form by emailing baapninfo@gmail.com between Wednesday, February 1, 2023 through Friday, February 17, 2023. (Students, please do not use your school Google email account to email the essay and contact form.)
• The BAAPN will select three middle school and three high school winners from the submitted entries.
• The first-place prize is $100, second-place $50, and third-place $25.
• Winners may be referenced in a future BAAPN email blast in February 2023 highlighting the BAAPN Black History Month essay contest and winners.

For more information please contact: baapninfo@gmail.com

Kids’ Zone Mid-Winter Break Opportunities

Kids’ Zone Latchkey is offering Mid-Winter Break (February 20-24, 2023) care for current Kids’ Zone families. The program will run at Norup International School, 14450 Manhattan, Oak Park, Monday-Friday from 7 am - 6 pm. Students must already be registered in the Kids' Zone program to attend.

Fees

• $260 for the week
• $65 per day

Program Details

Students will need to bring a bag lunch and snack daily. Students will have options for STEM activities, art and games everyday. 

• Tuesday 2/21 - Bring pajamas and a blanket for movie day!
• Wednesday 2/22 - Slurpee day (Bring $2)

How to Register

Pre-registration is required. To register, call Building Blocks at 248-837-8904 or email Andrea Megroet, andrea.megroet@berkleyschools.org.

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

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
• Early Childhood Special Education Paraeducator
• GSRP/Head Start Associate Teacher 
• Lunch Aides
• Learning Specialist
• Long Term Substitute Teacher
• Special Education Paraeducator 
• Varsity Head Volleyball Coach
• Middle School Football 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!