Greetings Berkshire Families:

A special thank you to all of our Berkshire Proud Dads Club members, staff, and student volunteers that came out last Saturday (10/17) to help with our Berkshire Outdoor Cleanup. Throughout our morning, we were able to put together outdoor furniture for our school courtyard and also spread woodchips around our gaga ball pit and our environmental study area trails. Please stay tuned for additional Dads Club events that will be taking place throughout the school year
As we look forward to next week, please remember that all BPS schools have a half day of school this Friday (10/29). Dismissal at Berkshire take place at 11:25 am and we will utilize the following schedule:

1^st          8:15 – 8:43 am
2^nd         8:47 – 9:15 am
3^rd         9:19 – 9:47 am
4^th         9:51 – 10:19 am
5^th         10:23 – 10:51 am
6^th         10:55 – 11:25 am
Dismissal 11:25 am
Have a great week and thank you for reading the following Berkshire Family Update!

Jason Clinkscale
Principal
Berkshire Middle School

Upcoming Dates

• Monday – 10/25
• Tennis Finals @ BHMS and WHMS 4 pm
• SPIRIT WEEK- Pajama Day!
• Tuesday – 10/26
• Honors Orchestra 7 – 7:50 am
• Girls Hoops @ Cranbrook 4 pm
• Tennis Finals @ BHMS and WHMS 4 pm
• Band Halloween Concert 7 pm
• SPIRIT WEEK- Decade Day!
• Wednesday – 10/27
• CC League Meet @ Cranbrook 4 pm
• Football against Derby @ Seaholm 6:30 pm
• SPIRIT WEEK- Western Day
• Thursday – 10/28
• Girls Hoops home against DCD 4 pm
• SPIRIT WEEK- Halloween Costume Day
• Friday – 10/29
• Half Day
• SPIRIT WEEK- UM vs MSU Day

Berkshire Winter 1 Sports Update
Winter 1 Sports are coming up!
Berkshire families, as we begin to wrap up our fall sports season, Winter 1 sports are right around the corner.  Specifically, Boys Basketball and Girls Swimming will begin November 8th.  Following is the registration link and some sport specific information:

Registration Link: https://secure.infosnap.com/family/gosnap.aspx?action=25690&culture=en 

• Who can participate:
• Boys Basketball: 7th and 8th grade boys
• IM Basketball (mornings): 6 grade boys
• Girls Swimming: Girls of all grades
•  Physicals
•  Participants will have to have a physical on file dated on or after April 15, 2021. If you have trouble getting on your doctor’s schedule, physicals can be procured on a walk-in basis for $25 at Emcura Immediate Care - 4050 W Maple Rd #101, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301.
•  Physicals may be dropped off at the main office or emailed to Ms. Borovsky at Wborovsky@birmingham.k12.mi.us.
• Start Date: 11/8
• Schedules: Forthcoming from our coaches
• Coaches:
• Black Basketball: Brian Baldridge: Bbaldridge@birmingham.k12.mi.us
• Silver Basketball: Scott Bruyneel: Sbruyneel@birmingham.k12.mi.us
• IM Basketball: Scott Bruyneel: Sbruyneel@birmingham.k12.mi.us
• Girls Swim (Black & Silver): kurt.knoper@gmail.com 
• Sport Specifics:
• Girls Swim: We have two teams. In order for Coach Knoper to plan out practice and who will be on what team, please fill out the following questionnaire ASAP: https://forms.gle/egoHrEALnXroF6Jj8
• Boys Basketball: Basketball is a cut sport.  If we have more than 30 players tryout, cuts will have to be made.  Tryouts will be held the week of the 8th.  Our top 15 players will play for our “Black” team and our second 15 will play for the “Silver” team. 
• Boys IM Basketball: This is where our 6th graders can begin to learn to play organized basketball.  Practice days vary but generally are Monday and Wednesday mornings before school from 7 - 8 am.  Doors open at 6:50 and lock at 7:10 am.

Sign up for “Berkshire Athletics” Remind: Text the message @9699fg to the number 81010.

Berkshire Snow Club

Berkshire Snow Club is back!  The club will be open to all grades this winter and aims to provide a safe, fun environment for students to ski or board.  Open to all skill levels, including beginners.  We will travel via motorcoach to Pine Knob each Wednesday.  Registration will be first come, first serve this year and will begin on Nov 8th.  Parent meeting is scheduled for Nov 22nd.  Please check our Snow Club Website at https://sites.google.com/bps-schools.com/berkshire-snow-club/home for more information as it becomes available or contact Diane Guzmán at dguzman@birmingham.k12.mi.us

Berkshire Media Center Availability for Students

7^th Grade Field Trip and Assemblies
On Thursday (10/21), our 7^th grade students had an excellent time on their field trip to see the play Clue. Overall, the students were well behaved and enjoyed being able to travel outside of the school as a grade level. Thank you to all of our 7^th grade team who organized this trip and served as chaperones.
After their field trip and following their lunch/rec period, 7th grade girls had an assembly led by our school psychologist (Faitmah Muhammad) and our school social worker (Kathy Dittrich). The assembly was focused on educating females on topics such as sexual harassment and female empowerment.
In addition, at the same time as the assembly with our young ladies, Mr. Babcock and Mr. Clinkscale facilitated a separate discussion with our 7th grade boys. Our assembly centered around topics such as LGBTQ sensitivity, showing respect for their peers (male and female), and discussing things that stress them out as young men. Overall, it was a very positive discussion.

Noon Aides Needed at Berkshire
We are still in need of several noon aides to help supervise our students during the lunch and rec hours here at Berkshire that usually run from about 11 am – 1 pm Monday through Friday. This is a great way to be a part of the school and to help support our students. If you or someone that you know is interested in serving in this role, please reach out to Principal Jason Clinkscale jclinkscale@birmingham.k12.mi.us

Saturday School
We are happy to announce that the BPS Saturday School is once again operating throughout the school year to offer academic support and tutoring for all BPS students grades K – 12.  BPS Saturday School takes place every Saturday (excluding holidays and breaks) throughout the school year. Saturday School operates virtually through Zoom from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. each Saturday on the following dates:
Nov. 6, 13, 20
Dec. 4, 11, 18
Visit the  BPS Saturday School page for more information. 

2021-22 Yearbook Order
The 2021-22 yearbook staff is working hard to create a book full of memories to capture the events of this school year! Please CLICK HERE to purchase a book. Yearbooks are on sale now for $35 (plus $1.25 service fee). Prices will increase in December. Berkshire is working with Walsworth Publishing Company this year to create our book, and all sales will made online through their platform.
If you have taken any pictures during sporting events or other special events, we’d love to use them in the yearbook! The Yearbook Snap app will allow you to upload photos that our yearbook staff can use (the access code to upload photos is Berkshire).
If you have any questions or concerns, the Yearbook Advisor, Chelsea Gacki, can be reached at cgacki@birmingham.k12.mi.us.

Detroit Pistons Fundraiser for Berkshire
Berkshire students are selling Detroit Pistons tickets to the upcoming Golden State Warriors game that will take place at Little Caesars Arena on Friday (11/19) at 7 pm. Every ticket sold will generate $5 for Berkshire Middle School. Students can also earn cool Pistons prizes by selling tickets. Please click on the link at the bottom of this email for the flier with information on how to order discounted tickets.

BPS Parent Pride Meeting
Tuesday, Oct. 26, 7 p.m.
The BPS Parent Pride Support Group invites you to attend their next meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 26. The meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. in the BCS Media Center. This is a great place to meet other parents, ask questions, learn how to be an ally and give and receive support. Please contact Angela Lemont with any questions, angelalemont@gmail.com.

Halloween Dance Ticket Sales and Volunteers (Thursday 10/28)
Our Halloween Dance is currently sold out! Thank you to all of the families that purchased tickets in advance for this fun event.

It’s Reflections time! 
PTA Reflections is a nationally acclaimed student recognition program to encourage artistic creativity in the classroom and at home. Students of all grades and abilities may participate. 
Each year, more than 300,000 students in Pre-K through Grade 12 create original works of art in response to a student-selected theme. This 50+ year-old program helps them explore their own thoughts, feelings, and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence, and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful in school and in life.
The theme for the 2020-2021 program year is I Will Change The World By.... Students submit their completed works of art in one or all of the available arts categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, Visual Arts.  Students can turn in submissions to the PTA mailbox. All entries are due on Wednesday, November 17. For more information, please contact Jennifer Rass rassjenn@gmail.com on how to enter, entry and consent forms:

How to Enter / Official Rules
Entry Form
Consent Form

Masks at School Board Meetings and Sessions
Please see the statement from BPS regarding wearing masks at Board meetings and sessions.