Berkley Beat: March 17, 2023

Berkley Beat: March 17, 2023

What’s inside:

• Off to the Races Recap - Berkley Education Foundation Raises over $70,000!
• Rogers Community Combines Love of Reading with Heart Health
• DTE Energy Visits with Rogers 4th Grade
• BHS Students Excel at DECA State Competition
• March is National Nutrition Month
• Three Berkley Staff Members are Published Authors in the Michigan Reading Journal
• March is Women’s History Month
• Travel Opportunity for Students
• Join the Berkley Schools Family - Now Hiring!
• Sign Up for Text Alerts

Off to the Races Recap - Berkley Education Foundation Raises over $70,000!

At the March 11, 2023, Off to the Races event, the Berkley Education Foundation (BEF) raised over $70,000 to support the Berkley School District. 

Off to the Races is the annual fundraiser for the BEF, centered around simulated horse racing and a silent auction. 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 took home a $2,500 vacation), connection with friends and colleagues, and most importantly, funding the #BerkleyDifference.

In its recap message to supporters, the BEF shared, “Thank you for attending, donating, buying horses, sponsoring, betting on horses, bidding on auction items and believing in what we do. With all your support we can continue to fund the #BerkleyDifference and provide enriching experiences for all Berkley Schools students. Thank you for being the #BerkleyDifference.”

Silent Auction - flash sale is open

This year’s silent auction has closed, but the Off to the Races Flash Sale is open! The last few items that didn’t sell in the Off to the Races auction are now back on the site with discounts applied. The Flash Sale will stay open until Sunday, March 19!

The BEF would also like to thank the event sponsors:

• Silver Sponsor: EDSI & Artichoke Garlic Foundation
• Bronze Sponsors: Eagle Rock Insurance Agency, Green Lantern Pizza, Holiday Market, Jim Shaffer & Associates, Lifetime Financial Growth, LLC, McCarthy & Smith, Plasti-Fab, Inc., Stantec, Star Trax Events
• Golden Race Sponsor: M3 Investment Services
• Prize Sponsor: Clark Hill
• Race Sponsors: Berkley Area PTSA Council, Berkley City Council, Catching Fireflies, Dog & Pony Show Brewing, Greenleaf Home Services, Huntington Woods Pools & Spas, Michigan Educational Credit Union, MSU Federal Credit Union, Nichols Paper & Supply, SES, Stransky and Company, Thrun Law Firm, P.C., Woodward Corner Market, Yeo & Yeo CPAs and Business Consultants
• Golden Horse Owners: Berkley Bears Athletics Boosters, Cruise Planners, Galloway & Collens, PLLC, Gayle & David Heller, Greg Kreiner of Lifetime Financial Growth, June & December, McCarthy & Smith, McCourt’s Music, Nova Chiropractic

Rogers Community Combines Love of Reading with Heart Health 

March is celebrated nationally as Reading Month to promote the joys and the importance of reading. This March, Rogers students are celebrating March is Reading Month and are participating in the American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge which educates young people on the importance of healthy eating, healthy habits and the power of exercise. The Rogers Reading Month committee combined these two events and designated, “We Heart Reading, Be a Heart Hero” as the theme of this year’s Reading Month. The committee created a calendar for the month that included activities to complete at school and at home revolving around reading, as well as staying active.

To kick off March is Reading Month, Rogers second grade teacher, Jennifer Rogers and Physical Education teacher, Terri Lubanski wanted to introduce the students to a personal heart hero. They produced a video telling the story of Mrs. Rogers' nephew Declan, who was born with a heart defect, his journey and where he is now. Ms. Lubanski shared, “Students truly saw that when you fight hard and you have people who love you, fight for you and support you, great things can happen.”

Rogers students will be giving to the Kids Heart Challenge throughout the month of March as they collect pennies and ask for pledges. The money raised will be going toward children who need supplies and medical attention for their heart disease through the American Heart Association. 

DTE Energy Visits with Rogers 4th Grade

On Wednesday, March 15, Rogers 4th graders enjoyed DTE Energy’s “Think! Energy” presentation. Students learned about energy sources, what’s needed to conduct electricity, electrical hazards and safety, energy saving tips and more! This presentation is in correlation with the Energy unit the students covered in class. Students received a high efficiency showerhead, LED light bulbs, a shower timer, pipe insulation, a sink aerator, LED night light, and more as part of the presentation.

BHS Students Excel at DECA State Competition

Marketing students who are members of the Berkley High School DECA Club had the opportunity to showcase their skills at this year's DECA State Career Development Conference, held in downtown Detroit's Huntington Center from March 9-11, 2023. The event brought together more than 4,200 students from all over the state of Michigan, who competed in various marketing events and activities.

44 Berkley High School students participated in the DECA State competition. These students competed in a wide range of categories, including merchandising, business operations, community awareness, sales and school based enterprise, participating in presenting projects, role play and more. 

15 students qualified for the International DECA competition and conference in Orlando, Florida, April 21-26, 2023. 

Congratulations to the following  students who will represent Berkley High School and the state of Michigan at the International Career Development Conference.

Business Operations Research Written Event

Buying & Merchandising Operations Research

• Audra Bergman, Rikki Newman and Maddie Welsh

Business Services Operations Research 

• Luke Winter and Jonah Wolfe

Project Management Event

Sales 

• John Pasanen, Ben Clous and Freddie Greenfield

Community Awareness 

• Sophia Dines, Lily Hesano and Arielle Wittenberg

School Based Enterprise 

• Grace Debbrecht and Kaytlyn McPherson

Qualified to Attend DECA Leadership Academy 

• Francesca Haley and Hailey Serlin

March is National Nutrition Month

In March, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program is joining with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to encourage Michiganders to focus attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits during National Nutrition Month. 

“The 2023 theme, Fuel for the Future, encourages everyone to eat with sustainability in mind,” said Christina Herring, WIC Director. “It is a reminder to fill our bodies with healthy foods during every phase of life as well as protect the environment.”

Fuel for the Future highlights ways everyone can eat with the environment in mind, such as enjoying more plant-based meals and snacks, buying food in season, shopping locally, or starting a container or backyard garden to grow food at home. 

During National Nutrition Month, the Michigan WIC Program encourages everyone to eat a variety of foods from all food groups and in various forms, including fresh, frozen and canned food. In addition, Michiganders are encouraged to include their favorite cultural foods and traditions, avoid fad diets promoting unnecessary restriction and practice gratitude for their body by giving it the fuel it needs.

WIC is a federally funded program that serves low-income women, infants and children up to age five by providing nutritious food, nutrition education, breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals to health and other services. WIC foods are selected to meet nutrient needs such as calcium, iron, folic acid, and vitamins A and C.

WIC also provides families with access to registered dietitians or registered dietitian nutritionists. These food and nutrition experts specialize in assessing one’s unique needs and providing personalized nutrition education and counseling to meet individual health goals.

To learn more about WIC or find an agency near you, call 211 or visit Michigan.gov/WIC.

Rogers Community Celebrate Reading Month 

Vocabulary Day

On March 14, 2023, Rogers students celebrated March is Reading Month with their annual Vocabulary Day. Students are encouraged to select a word to wear as a way to strengthen their vocabulary. Students wrote their word on a card and wore it all day, some using additional costume pieces to bring their word to life. Some students selected shirts with the word already on it and accessorized to add depth to their vocabulary choice. Students were very proud to share their words with friends, classmates and teachers.

Family Reading Night

On March 15, 2023, Rogers families were invited to Family Reading Night. During Family Reading Night, stations were set up around the school to engage students in literacy activities and fun. The stations included a make your own bookmark, scavenger hunt, storytelling and a photo booth. In celebration of the Kids Heart Challenge also taking place at Rogers this month of March, families could try yoga and listen to their heart with stethoscopes

Three Berkley Staff Members are Published Authors in the Michigan Reading Journal

Congratulations to Stacie Angel, Supervisor of Instructional Services, Jen Wilcox, Curriculum Coordinator, and Angie Church, Secondary Instructional Coach, on being published in the Michigan Reading Journal!

The three wrote an article with Jenelle Williams, an Oakland Schools Literacy Consultant, about Disciplinary Literacy work in the Berkley Schools. In the article, the authors describe the various ways they have centered community while implementing disciplinary literacy in the Berkley Schools. They outline how the work began, the role of professional learning, and the systemic approaches that are effectively moving the work forward. This story offers an alternate approach to implementation--one that honors educators' expertise, differentiates approaches, and develops collective efficacy.

Congratulations!

Read the article on the Michigan Reading Journal Website

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

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 Intervention Teacher or Speech Pathologist - Berkley Building Blocks
• Early Childhood Special Education Paraeducator
• Early Childhood Education Lead Teacher (GSRP/Headstart)
• GSRP/Head Start Associate Teacher - Berkley Building Blocks 
• Intervention Specialist 
• Lunch Aides
• Long Term Substitute Teacher - 8th Grade Algebra - Norup International School
• Special Education Paraeducator - Adult Transition Program 
• Special Education Paraeducator - Pattengill Elementary School 
• Special Education Teacher of Students with Autism - Pattengill Elementary School
• Special Education School Social Worker - Burton Elementary School
• 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
• Middle School Girls Tennis Coach - Anderson Middle 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!