Greetings Berkshire Families:
We are now in the full swing of 2019 with lots of great learning and fun at Berkshire this week. Our 8th graders did a phenomenal job presenting their law cases in front of our special guests that included Judge Elizabeth Gleicher (Michigan Court of Appeals, 2nd District), Judge Cynthia Arvant (46th District Court), Mrs. Lori Ajlouny (Former Berkshire teacher and current BPS School Board Trustee) and Mr. Dean Niforos (BPS Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources). A special thanks goes out to Mr. Babcock and Mr. Fairchild for organizing this event and for thoroughly preparing our 8th grade students. Overall, the judges were very impressed with the students’ thorough presentations of their cases.
In addition, as you will read below, our Berkshire students showed off their outstanding spelling skills throughout the week in our annual Spelling Bee. Nice job super spellers! Finally, we wrapped up the week with many of our students dressed in white for our “White Out” themed Fun Friday.
Stay Informed by …
…receiving and reading Mr. Clinkscale’s Berkshire Weekly Update email.
…signing up for Mr. Clinkscale’s Remind text messages by texting the message @berks to 81010 from your mobile device.
…visiting the Berkshire Middle School webpage (http://www.birmingham.k12.mi.us/Berkshire).
…following us on Twitter (@Berkshiremiddle) and FaceBook.
Upcoming Events:
Monday (1/14)
Tuesday (1/15)
Show Choir
Boys Basketball Black vs. Derby Red (4 pm)
Boys Basketball Silver @ Cranbrook (4 pm)
Snow Club Session 1, Trip 3
Wednesday (1/16)
Improv Club
Homework Club
PTA Meeting (7 pm)
Thursday (1/17)
NJHS Animal Cracker Fundraiser to adopt endangered species
Forensic Field Trip
Girls Swim League Meet (Seaholm High School @ 3:30 pm)
Diversity Club
Friday (1/18)
Saturday (1/19)
Saturday School (9 – 11 am)
Ninth-grade Scheduling – January
Mark your calendars with important dates below for eighth-graders’ scheduling procedures.
Thanks in advance for your attention to these important dates!
Mark Your Calendars: 2019 Spring Assessment Schedule
Winter is here and spring is soon to follow! Your child’s springtime curriculum is filled with district and state-wide mandatory testing. As you make vacation plans, dental/ doctor appointments, please consider the following dates:
8th grade PSAT test April 9th
8th grade NWEA test April 11th-May 3rd
8th grade MSTEP test April 22nd-May 3rd
7th grade NWEA test April 11th-May 3rd
7th grade MSTEP test May 6th-May 17th
6th grade NWEA test April 11th-May 3rd
6th grade MSTEP test May 6th-May 17th
*Your child’s presence at school on testing dates is extremely helpful.
Congratulations to all participants in Berkshire’s Spelling Bee!
Thanks to Mrs. Booth, Mrs. Cummins, Mrs. Dohanyos, Mrs. Lincoln, Mrs. Lucken, Mr. Jackson, and Mrs. Schultz, the 2019 Spelling Bee went off without a hitch! We commend all of the student participants (and the parents, guardians, and teachers who encouraged them to participate).
The top five participants from each grade-level bee today were:
|
6th grade |
7th grade |
8th grade |
|
Alex Lustig |
Erika Rice |
Sam Walsworth |
|
6th grade winner: Jennah Alaouie |
7th grade winner: Jackson Quinn |
8th grade winner: Ella Limbaugh |
Congratulations to all of the above students who participated in the final round of the spelling bee! We are so proud of your efforts and your commitment to this academically challenging event!
The final round results are as follows:
In third place, we have sixth-grade spelling-bee champion,
Jennah Alaouie.
In second place, we have seventh-grader
Erika Rice.
In first place, we have the eighth-grade spelling-bee champion and now Berkshire school champion,
Ella Limbaugh!
We are certain that Ella will represent Berkshire well at the Oakland Schools Scripps Regional Spelling Bee on Saturday, February 23rd, 2019. Congratulations, Ella!
Character Corner – check out what is happening and join in!
On Thursday, January 17th, NJHS students will be selling animal crackers before school to help Berkshire support the World Wildlife Fund ($1 for a packet of animal crackers). Bring your dollar to support the work to save endangered species!
Monday, January 21, 2019
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Groves High School
Join BPS and the BPS Community Councils for the fourth annual Day of Service honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day On, Day One 2019 will take place on Monday, Jan. 21, 2019 at Groves High School. This district-wide morning of service is an opportunity to make serving our community a habit! Students in grades K-12 and their families will pack buckets for Disaster Relief at Work (DRAW), make animal toys for a local shelter, assemble care kits for the homeless and help with other caring community projects. Registration is required ahead of time and sign in begins at 9:00 a.m., with the program beginning at 9:30 a.m. Spots go quickly, so sign up soon at bit.ly/dayondayone. If you can’t join us that day, you can still support the work being done! We are collecting 5 gallon buckets and lids for DRAW, to support their work with the victims of natural disasters. Drop off your buckets at the Berkshire front office before Friday, January 18th. In addition, that day we are collecting donations of food for nearby food banks (pasta, sauce, canned tuna or chicken, peanut or other nut butters and jelly – no glass jars please!). Those can be brought to the auditorium lobby of Groves High School at 9am on January 21st.
Berkshire PTA Directory
If you would like your information in the Berkshire PTA Directory, please go to join.myschoolanywhere.com and enter the code Berkshire2016
All PTA members will be given access to this online directory. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Pam Lucken (plucken@birmingham.k12.mi.us).
Berkshire PTA Update
Your Support for the BEF Matters! Please consider a donation.
Donations from parents, teachers and community members just like you have allowed the Birmingham Education Foundation to grant $4,225 to Berkshire so far this year! These grants supported the Berkshire Garden, helped to fund Challenge Day and allowed Mr. Lince to update his classroom library! Overall, the BEF has granted nearly $50,000 to support BPS students during the 2018-2019 school year. This holiday season, please consider making a gift to support innovation and enrichment in our schools. Gifts of any size will help us to provide teachers with the funds needed to bring exciting opportunities to all BPS students. If you've already made a gift to the BEF this year, THANK YOU for making amazing things happen in our schools!
Click to make your gift today!
8th Grade Band – Groves Band Informational Meeting Monday, January 14th, 6:30pm
The Groves Band Boosters will be hosting an informational meeting about the Groves Band program for incoming (Class of 2023) band members on Monday, Jan. 14 at 6:30pm in the Groves band room. Join us to learn more about marching band and band camp from the directors, students and parents.
Sixth Grade ONLY Skate Night – Wednesday, January 23rd, 2019 – 6:15 – 8:15 pm - Skate World of Troy, 2825 E. Maple Rd, Troy MI 48083
Sorry 7th and 8th …….Only Berkshire sixth graders and their parents are invited for a fun night of skating, including races and the famous "Lucky Star" game!
Proud Dads Club Trivia Night (3/1)
The Berkshire Proud Dads Club’s 2nd Annual Trivia Night event will take place at Ginopolis in Farmington Hills on Friday March 1st starting at 6:00. The venue holds 80 people (ten tables of eight people each) and will feature Ginopolis' famous pizza, pasta, salad and sides along with your choice of soft drink for $25 per person. Cash bar is available (and recommended!) The main event will be a trivia game in which tables will team up against each other for fun, prizes and bragging rights. Mostly fun!
A silent auction accompanies the main event where attendees can bid on items of various value and where proceeds contribute to the Dads' Club fund. We are in need of auction items and please click on the SignUpGenius link below to RSVP, donate auction items and for more event information.
Trivia Night is scheduled from 6:00 to about 10:00 pm and you are encouraged to recruit friends and family and ideally have a full table of your own smart people! If you prefer, just plan to attend and join another table which many people will do. Since alcohol is available on premises, this is a parents/adults only event.
Please click the Trivia Night SignUpGenius below:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f054facaa2ba6f94-berkshire1
Proud Dads Club Game Night (3/15)
Game Night is focused on the kids and takes place at the School from 6PM to 8PM on Friday, March 15. Kids get the "run of the roost" as they can enjoy video games in the mobile arcade, music, dancing and other activities in the cafeteria, basketball contests in the gym and Karaoke in the media center. Have your kids grab their friends and have a fun night hanging out with their other schoolmates. Cost $10 per person at the door or in advance (advance payments can be made in the office). Pizza, refreshments, and snacks will be available for purchase.
Also we ask that attendees bring some non-perishable food items with them to drop off at the door as they arrive. The Dads will make sure that food is provided to Gleaners or other notable food charity organization. This is a critical time of year (after the holidays) to be bolstering food stuffs for needy families and individuals.
Please click on the SignUpGenius link below to let us know if you will plan to volunteer or at least make sure your kid(s) participates:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f054facaa2ba6f94-berkshire2
Save the Date for the Unabashed Bash – February 9th, 2019, Townsend Hotel
You are invited to join us for the 2019 Unabashed Bash, featuring student entertainment, dinner, dancing, and silent & live auctions to benefit Birmingham Public Schools. Early Bird Tickets are available now!
Click for More Information
Homework Club – Wednesdays weekly 3:15-4:15 room 124a (not on ½ days)
The Berkshire Homework Club has resumed and will throughout the school year on Wednesdays from 3:15-4:15pm in room 124a. It is a great place for students to get caught up, get organized, print off work, or get that little extra help they might need. No sign-up is needed and there is no cost to attend. Parents should be ready to pick-up students promptly at 4:15pm. If you have any further questions, please contact Todd Wriska @ twriska@birmingham.k12.mi.us. *Note: there is no Homework Club on half-days for students.
Want to see a calendar of events by grade level?
Now you can! Simply visit the Berkshire Homepage; click “Quick Links” along the left-hand side; select your child’s grade and check out the calendar events posted on the page. https://www.birmingham.k12.mi.us/Page/27
Looking for a travel opportunity for Spring Break 2019 or 2020?
2019 Travel to Dominican Republic: We have a couple of spots left for our Spring Break Trip to Dominican Republic. Would your child like to go or maybe you as well? This is your chance!
https://www.eftours.com/tour-website/2138033WF
2020 Travel to Spain: DON’T MISS THIS WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY! 8 DAYS IN SPAIN DURING SPRING BREAK NEXT YEAR! How can two cities that share so much history still have their own unique cultures and character?
In bustling Barcelona step inside the playful and imaginative mind of Antoni Gaudí. In elegant Madrid the scene is just as artistic and lively, as you'll discover at the Prado (arguably the world's best museum) and during your very own flamenco lesson.
Would you love to send your students on this once in a lifetime opportunity or perhaps share this experience with your child? Looking for more information? Please click on the link below or contact Mrs. Goldberg!
www.eftours.com/2148389nn
Pictures Requested for Berkshire Yearbook – follow directions below to upload your pics!
Dear Parent(s), Guardian(s), Students and Staff,
If you took pictures at a school event, we would appreciate you sharing your photos to be considered for the yearbook. In a few short steps you can upload your pictures to Pictavo. From there, the yearbook staff will view them and upon approval will add them to the yearbook! Because of the late start getting the yearbook contract settled, we missed Cross Country, football and Flag football. The memories you share may just end
up on the pages of our yearbook!
Thank you in advance for your support,
Sincerely,
The Yearbook Crew
Directions:
Pictavo Community
Go to: commpe.pictavo.com
BERKSHIRE MIDDLE SCHOOL
School ID: 80205
BEVERLY HILLS, Michigan
Berkshire Yearbook Orders
The Berkshire Middle School 2018-2019 yearbooks are on sale now! All sales are online and the company managing all yearbook sales is Kaiser. Visit our website to place your yearbook order now (https://www.birmingham.k12.mi.us/Page/1606). Here are other important details
Thanks for ordering your Berkshire yearbook to help preserve your Berkshire memories!
Berkshire Media Center Parent Note
Did you know the Media center webpage https://www.birmingham.k12.mi.us/domain/729 has everything you need to know about:
Berkshire PTA Directory
Welcome back to school! If you would like your information in the Berkshire PTA Directory, please go to join.myschoolanywhere.com and enter the code Berkshire2016
All PTA members will be given access to this online directory. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Pam Lucken (plucken@birmingham.k12.mi.us).
International Academy Information - www.iatoday.org
The IA is a public, tuition-free high school featuring a rigorous and engaging all-international baccalaureate curriculum. The IA-Okma campus in Bloomfield Hills accepts students in the following districts: Avondale, Berkley, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Clawson, Lake Orion, Rochester, Royal Oak, Waterford and West Bloomfield. Are you interested? Check out the important dates below:
Step 1: Attend a 9th grade Student and Parent Enrollment Night (Jan. 16, 2019, 7-8:30 pm 1020 E. Square Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304)
Step 2: Fill out the online application and pay the $20 application fee (“Prospective Students” at www.iatoday.org)
Step 3: District Lottery: All districts hold their lottery in early February
Step 4: Demonstrate math competency on the math assessment. For space reasons, only those selected in the lottery and the next 30 on the list should attend the math assessment session (Tuesday, February 12th 4-6:30 pm OR Wednesday, February 13th, 6-8:30 pm).
Step 5: Enroll in the class of 2023 @ the IA
BPS Family Pride 2018-19 School Year
Four years ago Greenfield's LGBTQ parents wished to bring families from around the district together for informational meetings and social gathering on a monthly basis. We want to continue to gather ways to be more inclusive of our district's diverse families. Below are a list of monthly meetings and social events that BPS Family Pride has organized. Everyone is welcome and we have activities for students who attend as well.
2018-19 Meetings – Greenfield Media Center
Monday, March 4th – 6:30-7:30 p.m. – guest speakers – BPS counselors- Sherree Wilson & Nicole Festian
Monday, May 13th – 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. - Review mission statement
2018-19 Social Events
Tuesday, Jan. 29th – 6:00 p.m. – Skate World of Troy
District end of Year Picnic – Friday, May 31st 6:30-8:00 p.m. – playground at Greenfield
BPS District Code of Conduct
https://www.birmingham.k12.mi.us/cms/lib/MI01908619/Centricity/Domain/45/CODE%20OF%20CONDUCT.pdf
Birmingham Youth Assistance Presents: Every Brilliant Thing – Thursday, January 17th, 2019 @ 7 pm, Seaholm High School Media Center
*Free event but must RSVP - Registration required: (248) 203-4300 or email: office@birminghamyouthassistance.org
Ages 14+, Parent participation is encouraged
You’re seven years old. Mom is in the hospital. Dad says she finds it hard to be happy. So you start to make a list of everything that’s brilliant about the world.
Everything worth living for: 1. Ice cream 2. Water fights 3. Staying up past your bedtime and being allowed to watch TV 4. The color yellow 5. Things with stripes 6. Rollercoasters
“As he grows, so does the list, when he aims to reach one million items. This poignant and funny show addresses growing up with mental health challenges in a family and leaves audiences laughing, thinking and ready to have an honest conversation about an often difficult topic.”
“A heart - wrenching, hilarious play ... One of the funniest plays you’ll ever see about Depression and the lengths we will go to for those we love.”
This interactive, in the round performance is performed by James R. Kuhl of Tipping Point Theatre. It has received rave reviews and was featured on Detroit Public Television’s “Detroit Performs.”
To minimize disruptions late arrivals will not be permitted entrance.
Panel discussion and resources to follow performance.
DKI Acting Company – class starts Tuesday, January 15th (Pierce Elementary)
Hey Berkshire Students- here’s your chance to be a star and shine on stage when you join the DKI Acting Academy Class. This exciting DRAMA PROGRAM –just for middle school students -- meets on Tuesday nights at Pierce Elementary School.
When you become an Acting Academy student you will learn improv, sharpen your acting and auditioning skills, and stage actual performances. It’s a blast!
For more information, stop by the main office and pick up a DKI Acting Academy flyer. Bring it home and have your parents enroll you. But do it quickly – class starts Tuesday, January 15th!
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to e-mail me or call me at 248-738-8823. If you want more information about our program, please visit our website: www.dramakids.com/mi2.
BYA 38th Annual Kids’ Dog Show – Sunday, February 3rd, 2019 – Berkshire Middle School – show begins at 1:00 PM – for kids ages 4 – 14 years
The cost is $15 per dog and includes admission for the whole family. Registrations at the door are not accepted. You must register in advance for this event.
Do you have a dog with the Waggiest Tail? Could yours have the Best Trick? Then we want to see you and your pooch at the Birmingham Youth Assistance Kids’ Dog Show! Win prizes, goodies, and more!
Best Dog Costume * Best Looking * Most Obedient * Best Trick * Waggiest Tail * Best in Show
Show Rules:
As always, thanks for taking time to read the Berkshire Weekly Update. Please feel free to contact me with any important information that you would like to see included in our next Update!
Have a great week!
Jason Clinkscale
Principal
Berkshire Middle School
BPS is happy to announce that PowerSchool Registration, powered by InfoSnap, is also being implemented for Athletic Registration.
You may find the link, by clicking below:
https://registration.powerschool.com/family/gosnap.aspx?action=16417&culture=en
(As a reminder, this is an online student registration/data validation system, which allows the district to verify all student demographic, emergency and medical information, prior to the start of the athletic season. It is critical to ensure we have the most up-to-date contact and medical information for all students. The system is a secure and green process supporting our focus on safety and security. Electronic registration platforms of all kinds engage parents to ensure that information is entered properly, significantly reducing errors. The system will also allow families to electronically sign the annual permission forms. Reminder: you must still submit a physical to the Athletic Offices prior to participating. All physicals must be dated after April 15, 2018.)
