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Berkley Beat October 14, 2022

What's Inside?

  • School Board Recognizes Safety Partners Leading Up to Safe Schools Week
  • Norup 6th Graders Make Connections During Orientation Day
  • Burton, Angell & Rogers Fun Runs
  • Berkley Public Safety Visits Rogers to Talk Fire Safety
  • Marching Band Receives Top Scores at Festival
  • Middle School Drama Day Focuses on Courage
  • Travel Opportunities for Middle and High School Students
  • BHS Students Selling Halloween Boo Bags
  • October is LGBT History Month
  • National Hispanic Heritage Month
  • City of Oak Park Seeks Feedback on Street Closures & Pocket Park
  • Join the Berkley Schools Family - Now Hiring!
  • Sign Up for Text Alerts

School Board Recognizes Safety Partners Leading Up to Safe Schools Week

At the October 10 Board of Education Regular Meeting, the Board honored many District safety partners during Board Recognition. The following groups and individuals were recognized ahead of Safe Schools Week - October 17-21. Safe Schools Week will kick off with an email from Superintendent Francis which will arrive in inboxes on Friday, October 14 at 6 pm.

Berkley, Huntington Woods and Oak Park Public Safety

The public safety departments from Berkley, Huntington Woods and Oak Park were honored for being partners with the District on all safety initiatives, conducting safety drills, visiting our schools on a regular basis, providing counsel for safety related issues, and being committed to the safety and well-being of our students and staff.

Reunification Site Partners

Our Lady of La Salette Church, Huntington Woods Lutheran Church, Congregation Beth Shalom and Berkley First United Methodist Church were honored for providing a safe space for our students to evacuate in case of an emergency.

Crossing Guards

Crossing Guards from the cities of Berkley, Huntington Woods and Oak Park were honored for keeping our students safe when they travel to and from school. Their friendly faces bring comfort and security to our students and families.

Internal Crisis Prevention Trainers

Teachers Jen Hiltunen and Amy Sarris as well as Paraeducator Sheri Sienkiewicz were honored for leading the District’s Crisis Prevention Institute Nonviolent Crisis Intervention training for Berkley Schools staff. By being in-house trainers they share their time and talents with colleagues to ensure District staff are properly trained to de-escalate situations and create a culture of safety for our staff and students.

Safety Trainers

Easterseals was honored for partnering with the Berkley School District to provide trauma informed training and mental health training for our staff.

Tri-Community Coalition was honored for training District staff in NARCAN® response. NARCAN® is a potentially lifesaving medication designed to help reverse the effects of an opioid overdose in minutes.

Beaumont Hospital was honored for partnering with the District to offer STOP THE BLEED® training. By learning how to STOP THE BLEED®, District staff have gained the ability to recognize life-threatening bleeding and act quickly and effectively to control bleeding and potentially save lives.

Liz Fiorini was honored for partnering with the District to offer CPR and AED training.

Norup 6th Graders Make Connections During Orientation Day

On October 6, Norup 6th grade students participated in a day-long orientation. Teachers created the day with the goal of having students reach out to new classmates and creating connections with them. Their hope, shared teacher Lisa Werber, is for students to make connections in order to use their new friends' names in the hallways when they see them in passing. In the morning, students are divided into small groups, making sure students from all elementary schools are included. The groups participate in team building activities throughout the morning and in the afternoon they all go to Skateworld to have a skating party.

Asher Tainsky, Norup 6th grader, shared a little about how the day was structured. “In the morning we did activities and we were split into five groups. In the morning we did five activities planned by the teachers. All the activities helped us learn new things about people we didn’t know and work with new people that we have never met before. Everybody can say that they made at least three new friends in those activities or became closer with people they already knew, but didn’t know well,” he said.

“Skating was so fun, everyone seemed to have a blast,” shared Norup 6th grader Ethan Rouse. Ethan continued, “We played arcade games and won prizes. We played tag in the rink. We played a game where whoever screams the loudest gets a prize. After all of this we went back to school and I was able to name everyone's name in the entire grade!”

Asher shared, “At Skate World, everybody had a fun time roller skating or blading but the best part of Skate World was everybody helping each other. It was my first time roller blading and I didn’t have a clue what I was doing, but some people who did know how to blade taught me how and now I am friends with all of those people.”

Both Ethan and Asher also shared the event was a great opportunity to meet new people and that it was really fun.

View photos from Norup's 6th Grade Orientation Day below. Click to enlarge.

It’s Fun Run Season!

The Fall is Fun Run season at all elementary schools. Last week, Angell, Burton and Rogers all held their annual fun runs, sponsored and organized by their PTAs.

Angell Elementary School

Angell students enjoyed their annual Fun Run on Friday, October 7. Students lined up under the starting line banner and were sent off by Principal Vince Gigliotti. They then ran around the block and were greeted by friends and family cheering them on.

Students raise funds leading up to the Fun Run, with the goal of earning prizes for the top fundraisers and top classrooms. The Fun Run is the largest fundraiser that the PTA holds all year. Angell met their fundraising goal which means Principal Gigliotti will sing “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from Encanto to the whole school!

Burton Elementary School

Burton students participated in the annual PTA sponsored Fun Run on Friday, October 7. They warmed up with music from Star Trax and ran with their classmates around the field and track.

Students raise funds leading up to the Fun Run, with the goal of earning prizes for the top fundraisers and top classrooms. The Fun Run is the largest fundraiser that the PTA holds all year. Students were thrilled to have a bubble machine add to the fun of their morning.

Rogers Elementary School

Rogers Fun(d) Run was held on Friday, October 7. Students warmed up with exercises led by physical education teacher, Terri Lubanski. Students then ran around the block, were greeted by Roger the Racoon and received a medal.

Students raise funds leading up to the Fun(d) Run, with the goal of earning prizes for the top fundraisers and top classrooms. This year, Rogers students raised the most funds in the history of the Fun(d) Run! As their top prize, students get to turn principal Jack Gitler into an Ice Cream Sundae.

Angell Fun Run Photos: Click to enlarge

Burton Fun Run Photos: Click to enlarge

Rogers Fun Run Photos: Click to enlarge

Berkley Public Safety Visits Rogers to Talk Fire Safety

On Wednesday, October 12, Berkley Public Safety Sergeant Dave Arney visited Rogers TK and Kindergarten classes to talk about fire safety. Sergeant Arney talked with the students about fire safety, put on the full fire gear and showed kids what he would look like if he was in their house during a fire, so the children wouldn’t be afraid, and took the students outside to learn about the fire truck. As part of the visit, students received their own Berkley fire safety hats to take home.

View photos of the Fire Truck Visit, below. Click photos to enlarge.

Marching Band Receives Top Scores at Festival

On Monday, October 10, the BHS Marching Band participated in the Michigan School Band and Orchestra District IV Marching Band Festival at Bloomfield High School. The event was adjudicated by three professional judges for music, marching and general effect/showmanship. The BHS Marching Band earned All A's in every sub-caption and straight Division I ratings from each judge and earned a Division I rating overall.

Marching Band Director Jon Thomann said, “The band achieved this through their hard work and dedication to each other and our process. I am very proud of the students for this achievement and growth through the season, and I hope you are too. Congratulations to the students in the marching band. Thank you to all the music educators in the Berkley School District, administrators, support staff, School Board, Berkley Instrumental Boosters, and all of our students' families for their support.”

Watch the Marching Band Festival performance on YouTube, below.

Middle School Drama Day Focuses on Courage

On Saturday, October 8, the high school drama department hosted the first middle school Saturday Drama Day. Thirty-six students attended Drama Day. District Drama Director John Hopkins shared the day was a huge success. “Our focus was coming out of their shell and taking the risk,” Mr. Hopkins said.

The next Saturday Drama Day is on Saturday, November 5 from 10:30 am - 3 pm on the BHS Auditorium stage and will focus on audition tips and requirements for the Middle School Musical, "High School Musical, Jr." If you have an interested middle school student, sign up through the Saturday Drama Day registration form.

Travel Opportunities for Middle and High School Students

Many Berkley Schools teachers are supporting international travel opportunities for students in 2023 and 2024. The details of all the trips as well as upcoming informational meetings are below.

Costa Rica - Spring Break 2023

  • Open to grade 9-12 students
  • Trip Sponsor: Tracy Burroughs, BHS Spanish Teacher
  • Next Informational Meeting: October 19, 2022 at 6:30 PM, Berkley High School Room 137
  • RSVP

Scotland - Spring Break 2023

  • Open to Berkley middle school students ages 11-15
  • Trip Sponsor: Liz Reynolds, Norup Kindergarten Teacher
  • Trip Details: Norup MYP will be collaborating with EF Tours on a guided tour of Scotland for Spring Break 2023! Go beyond seeing Scottish landmarks and experience the kingdom of the north through the stories of the Scots. View the slideshow for more information.

Thailand - June 2023 (after school is out)

  • Open to grade 9-12 students, parents and guardians
  • Trip Sponsors: Andy Meloche, BHS Principal, & Adina Rubenstein, BHS Science Teacher
  • Next Informational Meeting: November 15, 2022 at 7:00 PM, Berkley High School Media Center
  • RVSP
  • Trip Details: Berkley High School and CASA are planning a trip to explore the wonders of Thailand! This 11-day trip to Thailand will include visits to the Grand Palace in Bangkok, the floating markets, national parks, UNESCO world heritage sites, an elephant sanctuary, famed temples, and more. Take a look at the tentative itinerary and the short slideshow about the tour!

Galapagos Islands - Spring Break 2024

Rome & Pompeii - Spring Break 2024

  • Open to Berkley middle school students, ages 11-15
  • Trip Sponsor: Liz Reynolds, Norup Kindergarten Teacher
  • Next Informational Meeting: October 25, 2022 at 6:30 PM, Norup International School Media Center
  • RSVP
  • Trip Details: Experience the culture and traditions of this Mediterranean country through hands-on activities.

BHS Students Selling Halloween Boo Bags

Students in the BHS Work Skills class are selling Boo Bags for all staff in the Berkley School District this Halloween season. For $6, you can send a goodie bag filled with candy and snacks to a favorite staff member. Visit the BHS Peer 2 Peer website to order. All funds raised will go towards the Work Skills class.

October is LGBT History Month

LGBT History Month celebrates the achievements of 31 lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender Icons. Each day in October, a new LGBT Icon is featured with a video, bio, bibliography, downloadable images and other resources.

Visit the LGBT history month website to learn about each of the 31 icons being highlighted in 2022, including Amy Schneider, Jazz Jennings and Hans Christian Andersen.

October 11th is also National Coming Out Day. For more information and resources, visit the American Psychological Association website on National Coming Out Day.

Information on why we celebrate Pride Month in June and LGBT History Month in October - Why Do We Celebrate Pride Month in June and LGBT History Month in October?

National Hispanic Heritage Month

September 15th - October 15th is nationally recognized as Hispanic Heritage Month. The month-long celebration highlights the culture, achievements and contributions of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation and society.

Share in the learning about Hispanic Heritage Month with your family by visiting these resources:

City of Oak Park Seeks Feedback on Street Closures & Pocket Park

The City of Oak Park has shared the following information regarding a temporary street closure. They are seeking feedback on this as well as their pocket park in the Water Tower Social District.

Gardner Street at Kingston Street (just south of 11 mile) will be temporarily closed for the month of October for the installation of a temporary pocket park. This temporary closure and installation is part of the City's planning process for a potential permanent pocket park in the Water Tower Social District. The closure will begin on Friday, Sept. 30 during the workday and the city anticipates the road to re-open on either Monday, Oct. 31 or Tuesday, Nov. 1.

This temporary closure will allow the City to determine the impact a permanent closure could have on our road users; additional traffic studies in the area will be conducted in October to help determine the long-term impact.

The City would appreciate any feedback and concerns people have about this temporary closure or a potential permanent closure. Please send any feedback to kmarrone@oakparkmi.gov.

Those wishing to provide their input on the Water Tower Social District Parking Lot and Public Spaces Design Concept can also do so by taking the City of Oak Park’s survey.

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:

  • ECSE Long-term Substitute
  • High School Counselor
  • School Psychologist
  • School Social Worker
  • Berkley Building Blocks Assistant Teachers
  • GSRP/Head Start Associate Teacher
  • Kids’ Zone Latchkey Assistant Teachers
  • JV Boys Tennis Coach
  • Middle School Girls Swim Coach
  • Interim High School Girls Dive Coach
  • High School Assistant Wrestling Coach
  • Middle School Football Coach
  • Custodians
  • Lunch Aides

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!

District News Online

Want to keep up with the latest District news stories? Visit our new News page to see stories, messages from principals, weekly reminders and more. News articles posted on the District News page will also populate each respective school’s News page. Articles that don’t make it into the Beat will also be posted on our News pages, Facebook and Twitter.

Connect with us on our social channels @BerkleySchools
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Credits:

Created with images by Christian Delbert - "Passports to world travel" • Nick Fox - "Catarata del Toro waterfall with surrounding mountains in Costa Rica" • MarekPhotoDesign.com - "September 15 - October 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month - handwriting in Huun paper handmade in Mexico, reminder of cultural event" Berkley Schools Communications Office