Berkley Beat: March 10, 2023

Berkley Beat: March 10, 2023

What’s inside:

• Off to the Races is Tomorrow - Silent Auction is Open to All
• Berkley 6th Grade Students Explore Mobile Innovation Station
• Berkley Schools 5th Graders Go to Camp!
• BHS Boys Swim Team Success at League Meet
• March is Women’s History Month
• Indoor Field Day Hosted by Parent Advisory Committee - Tomorrow! 
• Travel Opportunity for Students
• Join the Berkley Schools Family - Now Hiring!
• Sign Up for Text Alerts

Off to the Races is Tomorrow - Silent Auction is Open to All

The Berkley Education Foundation’s (BEF) premiere event, Off to the Races, takes place tomorrow, March 11, 2023 at the Kingsley Hotel in Bloomfield Hills! Keep reading to learn about how you can support the BEF and in turn, fund the #BerkleyDifference. The Silent Auction is online and open to the public.

What is Off to the Races?

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.

Watch the Off to the Races video to get ready for the event! (add link into Spark)

Event details.

• March 11, 2023
• 6-10 pm
• The Kingsley Hotel, Bloomfield Hills
• $40/person, ($50/person at the door and starting end of day March 10): Buy event tickets here

Silent Auction - now open.

This year’s silent auction has big prizes (an autographed Star Wars photo, large Berkley business baskets, a limited edition signed Beatles album, a Harry Potter London trip, Miguel Cabrera autographed baseball, golfing in Arizona), goods to take home (jewelry, baskets of goodies, home decor, and items from local businesses), experiences (tickets to the Tigers, hotel stays, weekend at Crystal Mountain), special offers from our schools and so much more. There is something for everyone and items are added every day!

If you can't attend the event, you can still participate in the auction from home. Here’s how:

1. Browse the auction items
2. Start bidding – register with our event once you place your first bid (there’s no cost to participate in the silent auction)
3. Prepare for the event – use this step 

Tickets details

Don’t miss out on all the fun. Buy tickets for $40/person (price does increase to $50 at the door and at the end of day on March 10). Bundle event tickets with OTTR Bucks for a discount. Bucks pay for horse betting and drinks at the event. $20/10 Bucks at the event, or add them on to an event ticket for a $10 discount.

Buy event tickets here on the “Get Tickets” page or pay at the door.

Win a vacation.

This year the Golden Race is a big one - the winner will take home a $2,500 vacation, courtesy of the BEF. The prize is bigger so the stakes are higher: bet on this race with a Golden Ticket!

Add a $50 Golden Ticket to an event ticket or buy at the door. Don’t miss out on a chance for a $2,500 vacation of your choice! Must be present to win.

Watch this video to learn how to win the vacation. https://youtu.be/tgcq_nH8oXc

Why Support Off to the Races?

The Berkley Education Foundation (BEF) has been supporting Berkley Schools for 22 years, and continues to give generously with the support of community members. Since 2010, the BEF has infused $354,000 back into the District. The BEF funds outstanding experiences for Berkley Schools students and staff, including teacher innovation-grants, free elementary enrichment classes, student scholarships and sending all 8th grade students on college tours. Your support of Off to the Races will make a direct impact on student experiences in the District. 

You can help the BEF continue to give back by attending Off to the Races, the BEF’s biggest fundraiser of the year!

Questions?

Reach out to the BEF - berkleyfoundation@berkleyschools.org

www.berkleyedfoundation.org

Berkley 6th Grade Students Explore Mobile Innovation Station 

During the week of February 27, 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!

Berkley Schools 5th Graders Go to Camp!

During March 6-8, 5th graders from across the District went to YMCA Camp Storer in Jackson, Michigan. This is the first year since 2020 that all elementary students went to camp together.

While at the two and a half day overnight camp, 5th graders enjoyed activities such as Michigan Country (a simulation of homesteading in Michigan), Gimme Shelter (learning to make an emergency shelter in the wilderness), Predator-prey (a large game of tag, reinforcing the food web, trophic levels, and energy transfer), Firequest (learning how to make fire and what fuels them), and In Cold Blood (learning about and interacting with cold blooded animals). Students also enjoyed campfire songs and skits, played capture the flag, learned about horses and how to care for them, learned about minimizing food waste and took full responsibility for cleaning cabins and bathrooms. 

5th Grade Camp helped bring together all the learning 5th graders have done throughout the year and gave students the opportunity to meet some new friends from other elementary schools as they prepare for their transition to middle school.

BHS Boys Swim Team Success at League Meet

The BHS boys varsity swim team spent part of their Mid-Winter Break competing in the OAA Blue Division League Championship swim meet at Clarkston High School. The team is coached by Madison Stinebaugh, Joseph Fredal and Jennifer Wisniewski. On February 23rd, the team competed and the following swimmers finished in the top eight, landing them on the podium.

Relay Results:

• 200 Yard Medley Relay: Ben Fredal, Chase Warner, Mo Erreghaoui and Oliver
  Wisniewski finished in 2nd place.
• 200 Yard Freestyle Relay: Zach Weingarden, Nico Bronzetti, Jack Saltsman and
  Aiden Weiner finished in 4th place.
• 400 Yard Freestyle Relay: Jack Saltsman, Chase Warner, Oliver Wisniewski and
  Ben Fredal finished in 4th place.

Individual Results:

• Mo Erreghaoui: 6th place in the 100 Yard Butterfly.
• Ben Fredal: 5th place in the 50 Yard Freestyle and 2nd place in the 100 Yard Backstroke.
• Will Just: 5th place in the 500 Yard Freestyle.
• Jack Saltsman: 7th place in the 200 Yard Individual Medley and 4th place in the 100 Yard Butterfly.
• Chase Warner: 7th place in the 100 Yard Freestyle and 4th place in the 100 Yard Breaststroke.
• Aiden Weiner: 7th place in the 50 Yard Freestyle.
• Oliver Wisniewski: 2nd place in the 200 Yard Freestyle and 1st place in the 500 Yard Freestyle. All League in the 500 Freestyle.

Indoor Field Day Hosted by Parent Advisory Committee - Tomorrow! 

The Berkley School District Parent Advisory Committee is hosting a free indoor field day on March 11, 2023, from 1:30 - 3:30 pm. The event will take place in the West Gym at Berkley High School and will feature inclusive and sensory friendly activities: sack race, egg walk, cornhole, a 3 legged race and more! Water, snacks, and medals will be provided to field day participants. Visit this link to register. 

Please contact Natasha Hamilton for more info: natashakhamilton@gmail.com.

March is Women’s History Month

The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in commemorating and encouraging the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history.

Wednesday, March 8 was International Women’s Day. International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality. Learn more about International Women’s Day on their website.

Here are some resources to learn more about Women’s History Month

• American Women: A guide to Women's History Resources at the Library of Congress A major new online research guide highlights hundreds of sources that tell the stories of women through a wide variety of perspectives and media in the Library of Congress collections.
• Her Story: How Women and Girls Transformed the World! Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative for virtual workshops for children ages 3-6 and their adult companions. Learn about art, history, and more!
• Women Suffrage: Women Fight for the Vote.
• Celebrate Women’s History at The Henry Ford

Travel Opportunity for Students 

Join Norup Middle School and EF Tours on a guided tour of Rome and Pompei during Spring Break 2024! 

Italy is a feast for the senses. Whether you’re sampling mozzarella on a farm in Naples or becoming a gladiator for a day in Rome, you’ll experience the culture and traditions of this Mediterranean country through hands-on activities. This trip is open to all Berkley students, ages 11-15.  

Contact Liz Reynolds at elizabeth.reynolds@berkleyschools.org for more information. 

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
• Intervention Specialist
• Early Childhood Special Education Paraeducator
• Early Childhood Education Lead Teacher (GSRP/Headstart)
• Elementary School Counselor/Social Worker
• GSRP/Head Start Associate Teacher 
• Lunch Aides
• Long Term Substitute Teacher
• Special Education Paraeducator 
• Varsity Volleyball Head Coach - Berkley High School
• Middle School Football Coach
• 8th Grade Girls Basketball Head Coach - Norup International School 
• 8th Grade Boys Basketball Head Coach - Norup International School 
• Varsity Girls Swim and Dive Head Coach -  Berkley High School
• Girls Varsity Basketball Coach -  Berkley High School
• Varsity Cheer Coach (Sideline and Competitive) - Berkley High School

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!