Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Currently, Birmingham Public Schools expose students to world languages in elementary school, and require students to take at least two credits of foreign language before graduation.
Hoping to free up more options for students when it comes to high school electives, the House Education Committee recently approved two bills in Lansing that would eliminate the foreign language requirement for graduation. The Birmingham Public Schools requires two high school credits of foreign languages, where one of those can be earned at middle school, said district spokeswoman Marcia Wilkinson. The district also notes foreign languages as an important aspect to any college admission process in its College and Career Planning Guide, according to the district website. The competitive, highly-competitive and most-competitive college admissions screeners require two years or more. The World Language Department of Birmingham Public Schools…
Friday, May 10, 2013
Teams from Berkshire Middle and Pierce Elementary schools advanced to the global finals in Tennessee and will compete against 1,200 teams from the United States and more than a dozen other countries.
A handful of Birmingham Public Schools students will head to Knoxville, Tennessee later this month to showcase their creativity and problem-solving skills against some of the best students on the planet. Two teams representing Berkshire Middle School and Pierce Elementary School will compete in the Destination Imagination Global Finals after qualifying in the state finals last month. The teams worked independently in the extracurricular program designed to help students develop creative solutions to complex challenges, according to the Michigan Creativity Association. The Birmingham Education Foundation (BEF) will provide $8,200 to support registration, hotel accommodations and meals during the competition while the 13 students are in …
42.53308
-83.21429
Pierce Elementary School
1829 Pierce St, Birmingham, MI
/articles/birmingham-students-headed-to-destination-imagination-in-tennessee
1472549
/locations/9373064
42.530633
-83.261681
Berkshire Middle School
21707 W 14 Mile Rd, Beverly Hills, MI
/articles/birmingham-students-headed-to-destination-imagination-in-tennessee
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/locations/9373065
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Three educators in the Birmingham Public Schools are among 58 nominees from nearly two dozen school districts who will be recognized Thursday at the Oakland Schools campus in Waterford.
Oakland County schools will honor three teachers from the Birmingham Public Schools Thursday during the 26th annual Outstanding Teacher of the Year Awards in Waterford. Candace Wanicke, a Birmingham resident and an elementary school teacher in the district; Patrick Lalko, a Troy resident and middle school teacher; and Groves High School teacher Bonnie Bartnick, of Beverly Hills, are among the 58 nominees from 22 local school districts who will be recognized during National Teacher Appreciation Week for their contributions in the classroom. Outstanding Teacher of the Year Awards are given each year to teachers at the elementary, middle and high school levels who excel in the following areas. The 2013 winners are Berkley resident Angela …
West Maple staff, students and family pulling together to soften blow of the slain teacher's death.
The staff at West Maple Elementary School had a difficult day as students returned Wednesday following the devastating news of beloved teacher Harry Berkowitz's death. Yet the building and district staff, the students and school family are helping each other through it, Birmingham Public Schools spokeswoman Marcia Wilkinson said. "(They) have pulled together to support one another during this very sad time," she said late Wednesday afternoon. The district had grief counselors and additional support staff at the building and will continue to do so this week. Berkowitz, 72, was shot multiple times by his roommate Thomas Ian Matthews in the Franklin home they shared on Charles Lane Tuesday, police confirmed. Matthews, 33, later ended his own…
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Students, staff and graduates of the Birmingham Public Schools begin to cope with the death of long-time West Maple Elementary teacher Harry Berkowitz.
As students returned to West Maple Elementary School for regular classes this morning, the shock and grief over the loss of a beloved teacher Harry Berkowitz is starting to set in. Birmingham Public Schools Superintendent Daniel Nerad confirmed that Berkowitz, 72, died Tuesday, and that grief counselors would be available to students and staff at the school where he taught for nearly two decades. Police are investigating his death as a homicide, and said the suspect, Thomas Ian Matthews, 33, ended his own life during a standoff with police in a Royal Oak home Tuesday afternoon. The two were reportedly long-time roommates, authorities said. The Franklin-Bingham Farms Police Department is coordinating the investigation with the help of the…
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-83.32153
West Maple Elementary School
6275 Inkster Rd, Bloomfield Hills, MI
/articles/who-would-murder-a-teacher-and-one-that-is-so-well-liked
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/locations/9363467
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Police are investigating the suspicious death of the longtime teacher that appears connected to a barricaded gunman situation in Royal Oak Tuesday.
Longtime West Maple Elementary School teacher Harry Berkowitz died Tuesday, Birmingham Public Schools Superintendent Daniel Nerad said at a late afternoon press conference at the administration building. Police are investigating his death, but officials would not comment any further about related police situations in Royal Oak and Franklin that unfolded earlier in the day. Franklin-Bingham Farms police officers responded to 26000 block of Charles Lane, just north of the Birmingham border this morning and discovered the dead resident, a press release stated. The victim's identity was not released Tuesday afternoon, pending notification to relatives. The Oakland County Sheriff's Department is assisting with the investigation at the scene, …
42.545085
-83.220226
Birmingham Public Schools — Administrative Offices
550 W Merrill St, Birmingham, MI
/articles/birmingham-schools-react-to-suspicious-death
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/locations/9361729
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
A Northville mother says students need parental permission before reading the unedited 'Diary of Anne Frank.' Do you agree?
Birmingham Public Schools will not change how it offers the Diary of Anne Frank to students despite a recent controversy about the book stoked by a Northville mother. "We have no plans to remove the Anne Frank book," said district spokeswoman Marcia Wilkinson, who acknowledged hearing about the controversy early this week. "Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl" is a first-hand account from a 13-year-old Jewish girl as she and her family lived in hiding in Nazi-occupied Holland for two years during World War II. They were finally captured by the Gestapo and many, including Frank, died in the Holocaust. Several versions of Anne Frank’s diary exist. The first version was edited by Frank’s father, Otto Frank, and released in English in 1952. …
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
The Destination Imagination teams from Berkshire and Pierce will participate in a four-day tournament in Tennessee.
Destination Imagination teams from Berkshire Middle School and Pierce Elementary School recently qualified to compete in the prestigious Global Finals in Tennessee next month. The team advanced after participating in the State Finals competition on April 20, according to a recent school district newsletter. Destination Imagination is an extracurricular activity in which students work in teams to develop creative solutions to complex challenges, according to the Michigan Creativity Association. Teams present solutions at sanctioned tournaments, where they display creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork skills that they have developed as a team. The Global Finals, a four-day tournament, will be held in Knoxville, Tennessee May 22-25 and …
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Have you signed your child up for preschool yet? Here's a look at some of the options in Birmingham.
If you're thinking about signing your child up for preschool this fall, here's a look at some of the options in Birmingham that are currently accepting registrations. Here are some other preschools in the area along with contact information to inquire about current openings: Did we miss your preschool? Add it in the comments!
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Interested parents can meet current members Wednesday, April 10 or Thursday, April 11 at Starbucks.
The Birmingham Public Schools Special Education Parent Advisory Committee is seeking new members for the 2013-14 school year. According to the district's web site, the purpose of the Parent Advisory Committee is to collaborate with the special education department to promote the development of programs and services that optimize the academic and functional achievement of students receiving special education support services. Parents interested in becoming a member of the committee are encouraged to review the PAC web site and frequently asked questions. Parents can also meet and ask questions of current PAC members at two events this week, both held at the Starbucks at Maple and Lahser. The deadline to apply to be on the committee is April…
Marsha Stanislaw
9:37 am on Saturday, May 11, 2013
Mr B. was my son's teacher at Quarton School in 1977. He was a fabulous teacher!! His love for teaching was evident to me as a mom of one of his students. He was patient and nurturing. Mr. B instilled confidence . He had the ability to bring out the best in his students . I still think about the gentle man who loved his work and the lucky kids who benefited from his gift. Thanks Mr. B Love, Steve… more ›