Greetings Berkshire Families:

It has been another fantastic week at Berkshire as we all enjoyed the warmer weather. In addition, throughout the week, we recognized over 70 Berkshire 6^th, 7^th and 8^th graders who were nominated as Students of the Month by their teachers and other Berkshire support staff. These students were specifically nominated because they have all exemplified the character trait of DEPENDABILITY. Congratulations to those students that were nominated!
Coming up next, we look forward to:

• Welcoming our future Wildcats that are now 5^th graders on Monday (5/16) between 4 – 7 pm as our current Berkshire Student Ambassadors provide guided tours of our building. I
• n addition, many of our talented Berkshire students will be performing this Friday (5/20) in our Mock Rock lip-synching and dance competition.
• Finally, we need volunteers to come help clean up our school grounds on Saturday (5/21) for the annual Proud Dads Berkshire Spring Clean Up effort.
  Have a phenomenal week and thank you for reading the following Berkshire Family Update!

Jason Clinkscale
Principal
Berkshire Middle School

Upcoming Dates

Monday 5/16
Bagels and Books 7:30am
Girls Soccer vs. Cranbrook 4pm
5^th grade tours 4-7pm  

Tuesday 5/17
Honors Orchestra 7am
8^th grade French Students: Van Gogh Field Trip
Track vs. BCS 4pm
Boys Tennis @ Anderson 4:30pm

Wednesday 5/18
Green Club 3:15-4:15pm
Girls Soccer @ BCS 4pm

Thursday 5/19
Forensics 3:30pm, room 217
Boys Tennis @ BHMS 4:30pm

Friday 5/20
Mock Rock (All School Assembly Schedule)
Morning Bagel Sales - $1

Saturday 5/21
Proud Dads Work Day (Volunteers Needed)
Saturday School

COVID-19 Case Notifications
Throughout this past week, we were alerted to two positive cases of COVID-19 positive individuals at Berkshire. Those two students were last present at Berkshire on either Monday (5/9) or Tuesday (5/3). Thank you for your continued support and patience as we continue to navigate the COVID virus and keeping your school community healthy and safe. The CDC has provided a new tool to help communicate and decide what preventative steps to take based on the latest data. The COVID-19 Community Levels are based on the latest data. Levels can be low, medium, or high and are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area. Increase in transmission and positive cases has raised the Community Level of awareness for COVID-19 to “Medium” in Oakland County. The following opportunities are available to families:

• Test to stay – available M-F each morning from 7a-9a and upon request. Call 947-235-1063 to schedule a time.
• Individuals are strongly recommended to test when 2 or more symptoms are present and on the COVID symptom check list. Influenza and seasonal allergies are emerging, encourage staying home when sick and get tested.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Kathleen Van Wagoner: kvanwagoner@birmingham.k12.mi.us or 947-235-1063.

Congratulations to Mr. Allan LaVigne!
Mr. Allan LaVigne (8^th Grade American History Teacher, Black Student Union Staff Sponsor, and Football and Track Coach) has accepted a new position in Southfield Public Schools as an assistant principal. Although we are very happy for Mr. LaVigne and his new leadership opportunity, we are also very sorry to see him leave Berkshire and BPS. Mr. LaVigne has shared this news with his students/families and his last day at Berkshire will be on Friday (5/20). After this date, Mr. LaVigne’s classes will be taught by former Berkshire and Groves student Mr. Henry VanFaussien. Mr. LaVigne and Mr. VanFaussien will be coordinating with each other to ensure a smooth transition. We wish Mr. LaVigne great success and look forward to reconnecting with him in the future.

Berkshire Forensics
This Saturday, 10 Berkshire Middle School students participated in Michigan Interscholastic Forensic Association (MIFA)'s Middle Level Spring State Finals Tournament. Students from Berkshire competed virtually against students from all over the state.
Overall, our students did really well! Everyone ended up in the top 10 of their event. Many congratulations to all the students who worked so hard this season! Below are the results for Berkshire students separated by event:

Declamation:
Mamy Diop: Semifinalist (9^th place overall)
Zoe Lusk: State Finalist! (4^th place overall)
Extemporaneous Speaking:
Carl Xie: Semifinalist (7^th overall- but 3-6 were in a 4 way tie! He had the 4^th highest speaker score)
Informative Speaking:
Daphne Breen: Semifinalist (10^th place overall)
Duo Interpretation:
Isla Lim/Emma King: State Finalist! (6^th place overall)
Isabella Haseley/ Willow Shannon: Semifinalist (9^th place overall)
Neta Arieli/ Laila Robleh: Semifinalist (10^th place overall)
Congratulations again to all of these students for their hard work!

5^th Grade Visit and Ambassadors
On Monday, May 16^th, Berkshire will be holding tours for our incoming 6^th graders. If you have a current 5^th grader and would like to have them come for a tour, sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F4CAFA62DA4FA7-berkshire5

Mock Rock (5/20)
On Friday (5/20) 11 groups of Berkshire students will be performing in our Mock Rock talent competition. The groups will be performing lip-synching and dance routines to songs that span multiple genres and decades. Friday’s schedule will be an All School Assembly Schedule (slightly shortened class periods with the All School Assembly occurring after 6^th hour and normal school hours of 8:15 am – 3:14 pm).

Proud Dads Work Day: Saturday (5/21)
Mark your calendar for our annual Proud Dads Work Day on Saturday, May 21^st from 9am-12pm. The whole family is welcome! We will mulch trails, the gaga pit and the garden and tend to our grounds.

Cedar Point Trip for 8^th Graders:
The Berkshire office is going to be more involved in the PTA run 8th grade trip to Cedar Point.  In order to help organize the information and answer any questions that may arise, please read through the following:

• Registration Information:
• Log onto: https://myxxtours.com/product/8th-grade-xplosion/
• After logging onto the site select “Click Here” to complete the Traveler Registration Form.
• After registering, log back into the site and select your payment option to secure your payment.
• When processing your payment you will see a note section, please list your child’s name.
• Please complete your permission slips, scan and email it to:   students.xstreme@gmail.com 
• Registration Deadline: 5/27 (they will fill the last bus if seats remain after the 27th) 
• Covid Test Requirement:
• The travel company that the PTA is using requires a negative PCR test to go on the trip.
• They will be accepting proof of a negative test result between 6/6 & 6/7
• Please send proof of your results to xstremetours@gmail.com
• The test must be ran on or after 6/2
• Mask Requirement Dropped:
• Originally the company stated that everyone would have to wear a mask on the bus.  That requirement has been dropped. Those that want to wear a mask can but nobody has to.
• Specific trip related Questions can be directed to:
• Crystal Dozier, (313) 588-0912, xstremetours@gmail.com 
• If you are interested in Chaperoning:
• Please contact Luz Martinez-Lawton: jandllawton@gmail.com 

Berkshire Bound Signup
For those families with current 5^th graders, signup for Berkshire Bound is open. Due to construction this summer, we have needed to plan for Berkshire Bound to be virtual Monday-Wednesday, August 15-17. We will then have our annual Berkshire Bound field day in person on Thursday, August 18^th. Sign up for the session you would prefer (morning from 8-11am, or afternoon from 12-3pm). Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfxuwg5jQBEv0l83Qz37ozAo9LzZ1FJVYHaL62WVrJSxk3Qlw/viewform?usp=sf_link

8^th Grade Student Spotlight
With the start of their last quarter here at Berkshire, we are thinking of our 8^th graders and would like to celebrate their growth. If you would like your student to be featured in our 8^th grade student spotlight, please fill out this google form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdwKk6mGAOcPQw5pS_C83JYcrctUXSQL6bnoKozbi7_4KWzZQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
Photos can be uploaded to the google form, or can be sent to Mrs. Lucken. Contact info available on the form.

Bingham Farms and Beverly families – help honor Mrs. Broomfield
After 25 years of teaching, with 15 years at Bingham elementary and 4 years at Beverly Elementary; the beloved Stacey Broomfield will be retiring. The community is invited to celebrate her farewell on Thursday, June 2 at Beverly Elementary. Details are included in the invitation below: https://www.evite.com/event/033C7VVZTZ7AMIF2SEPMZPWPVLNNHI/

 “The Power of Pride: A Panel Discussion on Being LGBTQIA+”
Featuring students, educators and parents from Berkshire, Derby, Groves, Seaholm and BCS
Tuesday May 24 from 6:30-8pm
BCS Library or on Zoom Webinar (Passcode: h3m632)
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83672244908?pwd=L21iYnFmaXNzb3lQbEsxczRKaE1rZz09
This event will provide panelists with the opportunity to share their experiences and thoughts on issues relating to people in the LGBTQIA+ community in BPS and beyond. Free and open to people of all ages. Moderated by the BCS Diversity Committee.

Laptops
We continue to use laptops daily; please make sure your student has a laptop at school with them. If you have borrowed a school laptop and no longer need it, please send it in as soon as possible.

K-8 Mathematics Resources Recommended for Pilot
The K-8 Mathematics Curriculum Design Team is excited to share that they have come to consensus around two excellent resources for math instruction to recommend for pilot in the fall! The team is seeking approval to pilot Learn Zillion's Illustrative Mathematics K-8 and i-Ready Classroom Mathematics K-8 in the fall of 2022. These recommendations were shared with the board on Tuesday evening, and the board will vote at their regular board meeting on May 24th. If the board approves this recommendation, information about piloting will be shared soon after. Please visit the K-8 Math Review site for more information.  Additionally, if you are interested in reviewing these materials, you can email Stacey Summerhill at ssummerhill@birmingham.k12.mi.us to set up an appointment.

Summer Volleyball Camps
Sign your child up for one of the many volleyball camps run by Seaholm Varsity Coach and Berkshire math teacher, Mrs. Gambone, during the month of July. Heather and Jason Gambone are entering into their 17^th year as coaches at Seaholm High School, and their 19^th year of coaching National level club volleyball. Students grades 1^st-10^th can train with the coaching staff and high school players from both Seaholm and Groves! Camps will be held at Seaholm and Groves High School.
Questions can be sent to Heather at Seaholmvball@gmail.com For more information and to sign up, see this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdcVws_DifCrWaducO1XqE322ygdsQqScqyAZT2tYb4qTkU6Q/viewform

Birmingham Unified Hockey Summer Training Camp
Registration is now LIVE. Camp is for all returning players, current high school players and incoming freshman who are interested. You can register at this link – https://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/default.asp?u=MCK1196&s=hockey&p=registration
For new players, we are also hosting a Zoom intro meeting on May 10th at 8pm with our varsity head coach, Zack Warson.  Zack has a long history of coaching success at all levels, including college and AAA.  He is excited about the future of our program and to meet all potential players.  You can reach him directly at: (810) 287-7877 or zack.warson@gmail.com.  If interested in the Zoom meeting, please email jimwalsh582@gmail.com and he can provide the Zoom link.
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