Berkley Beat: May 26, 2023

Berkley Beat: May 26, 2023

What’s inside:

• BHS Seniors Gather to Watch the Sunset 
• Angell Ice Cream Social & Centennial Plaque Unveiling
• Local Author Visits AMS
• BHS Students Capture Memories Before Prom
• Building Blocks Students Enjoy Ice Cream Social
• BHS Senior Clap Out
• Pattengill Families Enjoy Ice Cream Social
• Rogers Second Graders Participate in Community Walk
• Norup Students Raise and Release Salmon
• BHS Life Skills and LINK Program Community Outing
• Unified Bocce Team Plays Royal Oak Middle School
• The Little Creatures Co. Visits Pattengill
• BHS Environmental Class Enhances Bloom Garden
• Rogers 1st Grade Students Celebrate Mother’s Day
• Huntington Woods Juneteenth Celebration
• Kids’ Zone Enrollment for 2023-24 School Year
• Summer Drama Camp Registration is Open
• Travel to Spain in Spring 2024
• May is Jewish American Heritage Month
• May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month
• May is Mental Health Awareness Month
• Join the Berkley Schools Family - Now Hiring!
• Sign Up for Text Alerts

BHS Seniors Gather to Watch the Sunset 

To kick off the start of their senior year, the class of 2023 gathered at Hurley Field for the annual Senior Sunrise. On May 22, 2023, the seniors celebrated the conclusion of their time at Berkley High School with the Senior Sunset. Students painted their cars with the universities and schools they will be attending and posed for photos. They then joined together on Hurley Field where staff members served hot dogs, chips, drinks and ice cream. 

BHS Senior Clap Out

The Berkley High School Seniors said goodbye to BHS and to their teachers by walking the halls one last time during the Senior Clap Out on May 23, 2023. Seniors started by gathering in the auditorium to watch the Senior Video, a collection of photos and videos from their time in Berkley Schools. They then exited the auditorium and were greeted by their friends, teachers, and beloved staff members cheering them on. This emotional final lap is an annual tradition.

New this year, seniors were also invited for a final clap out at their elementary and middle schools. During the afternoon of May 23, seniors gathered at their elementary schools to walk through the halls one last time, greeted by clapping students and teachers. The seniors found their former teachers and gave hugs and high fives and enjoyed looking at the buildings to see what was different and what remained the same. After the elementary clap out, seniors were encouraged to then visit their middle schools and enjoy a clap out there as well. This new senior tradition will carry on!

Angell Ice Cream Social & Centennial Plaque Unveiling

On Friday, May 19, 2023, the Angell community gathered for their annual Ice Cream Social. Before the Ice Cream Social began, however, a brief presentation was made to share about Angell’s 100 year history including a new historical plaque.

The historical marker plaque, dedicated in honor of Angell reaching its centennial year, was a gift from the Berkley Historical Committee. Don Callihan represented the Berkley Historical Committee at the Ice Cream Social and shared a brief summary of Angell’s history, beginning in 1921.

After the presentation, Angell fish and their families went inside for the ice cream social, a quick pivot in plans due to the rain. Ice cream and pizza were served and games took place in the hallways. There were lots of smiles despite the gloomy weather!

Local Author Visits AMS

Local author Jack Cheng visited with Anderson Middle School (AMS) 6th grade students on May 23, 2023. Jack was born in Shanghai, China, and his family moved to Detroit, MI, when he was a child. His presentation to AMS students highlighted the journey of becoming an author. Out of college, he began a career in advertising and later ventured into coding and technology. Jack then found a love of writing and began drafting novels. His first novel, See You in the Cosmos, won the Golden Kite Award, the Great Lakes Great Reads Award, and was also a Junior Library Guild Selection. 

Students were given the opportunity to interact with Jack and ask many questions about the writing and publishing process, his experiences traveling around the world, and his other interests. His new book, The Many Masks of Andy Zhou, is available on June 6th.

Anderson Middle School Library Media Specialist Rachel Aytes shared, “The presentation held many great messages for our middle school students: Staying true to yourself and following your interests and hobbies, never stop growing and learning even as an adult, and the moments in your life, big and small, are all connected and are a part of you and your journey.”

BHS Students Capture Memories Before Prom

On Thursday, May 18, Berkley High School students carried on the tradition of meeting at Mary Kay Davis Park in Huntington Woods ahead of Prom. Students descended upon the park, lovingly known as Prom Park, to capture photos with their friends and classmates. This year, Prom was held at The Mint in Lathrup Village.

Building Blocks Students Enjoy Ice Cream Social

On Thursday, May 18, Berkley Building Blocks students enjoyed their annual Ice Cream Social. At the event students enjoyed a dance party, drew with sidewalk chalk, and played on the playground equipment. Building Blocks teachers handed out ice cream to families as they enjoyed a warm spring evening!

Pattengill Families Enjoy Ice Cream Social

On May 18, 2023, Pattengill held its annual ice cream social. Carnival games, an inflatable

obstacle course, a DJ, balloon animals, crafts and more were enjoyed throughout the playground. An ice cream truck was at the event, too. This event is a celebration of another great school year for the entire Pattengill community!

Rogers Second Graders Participate in Community Walk

On Friday, May 19, Rogers second grade students explored local businesses during their annual Community Walk. This year, 33 businesses welcomed students and chaperones to show their goods, services, and contributions to the community. Students learned about long-time businesses as well new ones that have recently opened. Every student visited at least 10 different businesses. Students also stopped for lunch and enjoyed ice cream at Clark's Ice Cream.

Rogers' second grade teacher Jen Rogers shared, “This event is a wonderful opportunity for students to experience many places they've never been before!”

The second grade team would like to thank the following businesses for their participation:

• Amici's
• Aqua Tots
• Articipate
• Balanced Health and Wellness
• Berkley Collision 
• Berkley First Church
• Berkley Historical Museum
• Berkley Public Library
• Biggby Coffee
• Chop Shop
• Clark's Ice Cream
• Flipside Records
• Garden Central
• Gatekeeper Games
• Have You Any Wool?
• June and December
• Little Lou's Chicken
• Matthew Gross Jewelers
• Mongers Provisions
• Munro's Crafts
• NOVA Chiropractic
• Oddfellows Antiques
• Perch
• Perfect Corners
• Reforming Foundations
• The Artsy Umbrella
• The Neighbor's Shoppe
• The Stamp Shop
• The Wedding Shoppe
• TLC Lunch Cafe
• Toadvine Books
• Vitrine
• Yellow Door Art Market

Norup Students Raise and Release Salmon

On Monday May 8th, Norup 7th grade students traveled to the Valley Woods Nature Preserve in Southfield to release 51 Chinook salmon they raised into the Rouge River. At the start of the school year, students in Brett Greer’s Science 7 classes at Norup received salmon eggs as part of the Michigan Salmon in the Classroom program.

Throughout the year, students learned the history of the Chinook salmon in the Great Lakes and why the species was imported from the American Northwest. Students fed the salmon daily and tested the water quality twice a week to maintain a temperature of 52 degrees fahrenheit. At the end of the project, students helped remove the salmon from the classroom tank into buckets for transport to the release in the river. Valley Woods Nature Preserve was chosen because of its proximity to the Berkley Schools community and that the Rouge River is part of the watershed that will eventually lead to the Great Lakes. 

Mr. Greer shared, “If all goes according to plan, in the Fall of 2025, our salmon will make their way back to the Rouge River at Valley Woods Nature Preserve to spawn and begin the next generation of our classroom pets!”

BHS Life Skills and LINK Program Community Outing

Students in Berkley High School’s Life Skills class along with their LINK friends enjoyed lunch at Panera Bread on May 25, 2023. 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. 

Superintendent Scott Francis joined the group for lunch and shared, “I’m grateful for the weekly opportunities our wonderful high school staff provide for our students to be in the community. It’s a win-win for our kids and the local businesses.”

Unified Bocce Team Plays Royal Oak Middle School

The Berkley High School Unified Bocce Ball team held its first team match against an out-of-school opponent on Thursday, May 25, 2023 at the North Catalpa Field. So far this season, the BHS team has played matches against teammates. For this match, the Royal Oak Middle School Unified Team came to Berkley to take on the Bears. Spectators cheered the teams on as they played against each other and showcased all they have learned so far. This season, the BHS team has learned techniques and rules of Bocce Ball from Paraprofessionals and parent volunteers.

Congrats to both teams for participating in the match!

The Special Olympics defines a Unified Sport as, “A sport that joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. It was inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding.”

The Little Creatures Co. Visits Pattengill 

On May 19, 2023, Pattengill Elementary Kindergarteners enjoyed a visit from Dan ‘The Creature Man’ Briere from The Little Creatures Co. The students met a Mexican milk snake, an albino Burmese python, a tarantula, a giant African bull frog, a panther chameleon, an alligator, a leopard tortoise, and African grey parrot, an eclectus parrot, and a chinchilla.

This visit was sponsored by the Pattengill PTA. 

BHS Environmental Class Enhances Bloom Garden

BHS Environmental Science teacher Sandra Rathburn started a Meditation Garden last year, named the Bloom Garden, with environmental science students and a newly formed Environmental Club. The project was funded in part by a Berkley Education Foundation Innovation-Grant. The grant was used to purchase a greenhouse and necessary tools and materials to keep the garden up and running. This year, Ms. Rathburn received another Innovation-Grant from the BEF to add native plants, a solar bird bath, an enhanced walking path and picnic tables. Students chose a specific project to work on and created gardens in wheelbarrows, tires and created a Monarch waystation. 

The garden is located in the BHS art wing courtyard and consists of native perennials, a vegetable and herb garden, gathering spaces made with repurposed materials, walking paths, student art and more.

The Berkley Education Foundation funds staff innovation-grants twice a year to enrich students' experiences, to enhance their learning and to open opportunities for Berkley Schools staff outside of the traditional school budget. To learn more about the BEF, visit their website. To support the BEF and the grants program, visit the BEF’s donation site.

Rogers 1st Grade Students Celebrate Mother’s Day

On Friday, May 12, Rogers students celebrated Mother’s Day with tea and a dance. Mothers and caregivers visited Rogers to be celebrated as Mother’s Day approached. Students began the celebration by singing special songs they were practicing in class. After the concert, students found their special visitor and spent time dancing together before enjoying a snack and sharing gifts. 

Huntington Woods Juneteenth Celebration

Join the City of Huntington Woods on June 19, 2023  from 6-8pm at the Gillham Rec Center as they gather to celebrate Junteenth. Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States on June 19, 1865. Through this Juneteenth celebration, all are welcome to reflect on the past and look to the future. 

This event will feature a keynote address from Dr. Ollie Johnson, Chair and Professor of the Department of African American Studies at Wayne State University. Dinner will be provided by Baobob Fare, a 2023 James Beard semi-finalist for Best Chef, Great Lakes category. Entertainment will be provided by Roots Vibration and there will be activities for all ages. 

This event is sponsored by the Huntington Woods Anti-Racism Advisory Committee.

Interested in volunteering for the event or want to learn more about the anti-racism advisory committee? Contact hwantiracismadvisorycommittee@gmail.com

Kids’ Zone Enrollment for 2023-24 School Year

The Kids’ Zone Latchkey application window for the 2023-24 school year began on  Wednesday, May 17 and runs through June 1st, 2023. Families with children attending Angell, Norup, Pattengill or Rogers, who will be entering grades TK-5 for the 2023-24 school year are welcome to apply.

Students will be considered in order of their scheduled days, with 5 days/week students first, after all applications are received.  Signing up for 5 days/week and changing to fewer days at a later date may result in families going on the waiting list. Families are encouraged to only sign up for the days needed, so Kids’ Zone can try to accommodate everyone that turned in applications during the application window. If availability allows throughout the school year, Kids’ Zone will accept new students on a first come first served basis until maximum capacity is reached.

Completed forms can be returned online, in person at Berkley Building Blocks, by fax 248.546.9238, or via email by June 1 , 2023.  Families will receive notice of acceptance into the Kids’ Zone program by mid-June, and the first month’s tuition will be due in September.

Once the program is full, students will be placed on a waiting list and contacted when space becomes available. If you are placed on the waitlist for Kids' Zone you will be notified when ANY day you have requested becomes available. 

For any questions reach out to BBB Secretary Andrea Megroet at  andrea.megroet@berkleyschools.org

Application forms are available on the Kids' Zone website.

Summer Drama Camp Registration is Open

Summer Drama Camp, led by Berkley High School Drama Coordinator John Hopkins, consists of multiple classes in different dramatic and performance techniques. The focus of the camps will be on musical theater and acting. The cost is $175 per session, or $150 per session if you book more than one session in one transaction. Drama Camp will be held in the Berkley High School Auditorium, 2325 Catalpa, Berkley, MI 48072.  

Session One: General Musical Theater Camp
For students entering 6-8 grade
June 26 - 30, 2023
Mon-Fri, 10 am - 3 pm including a 45 minute “brown-bag” lunch

Session Two: Musical Theater Camp
For middle and high school students entering grades 6-12
August 7-11, 2023
Mon-Fri, 10 am - 3 pm including a 45 minute “brown-bag” lunch or off-campus lunch for high school students only

Session Three: Acting Camp
For middle and high school students entering grades 6-12
August 14-18, 2023
Mon-Fri, 10 am - 3 pm including a 45 minute “brown-bag” lunch or off-campus lunch for high school students only

Camp will conclude with a final showcase featuring the work of students from all three sessions on Friday, August 18, 2023 at 1:30 pm. Families are encouraged to attend. 

Questions? Contact District Drama Coordinator, John Hopkins at john.hopkins@berkleyschools.org

For additional information and to register visit this link. 

Travel to Spain in Spring 2024

BHS Teachers Tracy Burroughs and Saundra Rathburn are collaborating with EF Tours on a tour to Spain during Spring Break 2024. The group will visit Barcelona, Valencia, Granada, Costa del Sol, Seville, Córdoba, Puerto Lápice, and Madrid. This trip is open to incoming 9-12th grade students at Berkley High School. 

Students and their families are invited to attend an informational meeting on June 1, 2023 at 6 pm in the BHS Collaborative Center. Visit this link to register. ( https://bit.ly/3BiJrYo )

If you have any questions, contact Saundra Rathburn at saundra.rathburn@berkleyschools.org.

May is Jewish American Heritage Month

May is Jewish American Heritage Month – On April 20, 2006, President George W. Bush proclaimed that May would be Jewish American Heritage Month. Jewish American Heritage Month is a celebration of the contributions and experiences of Jewish Americans and highlights how America’s Jewish communities have shaped, and been shaped, by the cultural, social, and economic fabric of the United States.

Learn more about Jewish American Heritage Month:

• Contemporary Jewish Books in honor of Jewish American Heritage Month
• Kid-friendly arts and crafts inspired by Jewish traditions
• The First Jewish Americans: New-York Historical Society
• Tour the DIA with the Jewish Historical Society of Michigan

May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month

May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month – a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. A broad term, Asian/Pacific encompasses all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia) and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Easter Island).

The following information on the history of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month is provided by https://asianpacificheritage.gov:

Like most commemorative months, Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month originated with Congress. In 1977 Reps. Frank Horton of New York introduced House Joint Resolution 540 to proclaim the first ten days in May as Pacific/Asian American Heritage Week. In the same year, Senator Daniel Inouye introduced a similar resolution, Senate Joint Resolution 72. Neither of these resolutions passed, so in June 1978, Rep. Horton introduced House Joint Resolution 1007. This resolution proposed that the President should “proclaim a week, which is to include the seventh and tenth of the month, during the first ten days in May of 1979 as ‘Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week.’” This joint resolution was passed by the House and then the Senate and was signed by President Jimmy Carter on October 5, 1978 to become Public Law 95-419 (PDF, 158kb). This law amended the original language of the bill and directed the President to issue a proclamation for the “7 day period beginning on May 4, 1979 as ‘Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week.’” During the next decade, presidents passed annual proclamations for Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week until 1990 when Congress passed Public Law 101-283 (PDF, 166kb) which expanded the observance to a month for 1990. Then in 1992, Congress passed Public Law 102-450 (PDF, 285kb) which annually designated May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.

The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants.

Resources to learn more about Asian/Pacific Heritage Month:

• Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center: http://smithsonianapa.org/
• A Care Package: The Asian Pacific American Center's online exhibition curated with love in difficult times. This exhibition includes short films, poems, music, and meditations. https://smithsonianapa.org/care/
• Learning Together Resources: Educators and students making a difference, raising awareness, building connections and sharing stories https://smithsonianapa.org/learn/learn-archives/raising-awareness/
• The Asian/Pacific Heritage Month website includes resources, events and collections https://asianpacificheritage.gov/

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental health refers to our emotional and social well-being and impacts how we think, feel and behave. It plays a role in connecting with others, making decisions, handling stress, and many other aspects of daily life.

The Berkley School District has many resources available for families on our Emotional Support and Wellness Resources webpage. https://www.berkleyschools.org/parents/emotional-health--wellness/ From emergency hotlines to community resources, to mindfulness, to grief and loss resources, our mental health professionals have built a comprehensive site for the community to use.

New resources added! Additional resources include:

• Mental Health America: https://www.mhanational.org/
• National Alliance on Mental Illness https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Mental-Health-Awareness-Month
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration https://www.samhsa.gov/programs/mental-health-awareness-month

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:

• High School Art Teacher - Berkley High School
• High School Physical Education/Health Teacher - Berkley High School
• Special Education Teacher of Students with Autism Elementary Level (K-5)- Location TBD
• Early Childhood Special Education Teacher (ECSE) and Tuition Playgroup - Berkley Building Blocks
• Early Childhood Education Lead Teacher (GSRP/Head Start)
• Special Education School Social Worker - Berkley High School
• Lead Young Toddler Teacher - Berkley Building Blocks
• GSRP/Head Start Associate Teacher - Berkley Building Blocks
• Assistant Teacher(s) - 6 Open Positions - Berkley Building Blocks
• Swim Instructor - Berkley High School Kids' Zone Program
• Lunch Aide(s) - Burton Elementary School
• Hurley Field Stadium Manager - Hurley Field (AMS) 
• Middle School Wrestling Head Coach - Anderson Middle School
• Permanent Building Substitute Teacher - 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!