Berea City School District

4/15-4/19 Ohio Military Family Spirit Week

4/15 Board of Education Meeting

4/18 BMHS Parent Teacher Conferences*

4/18 Titans Community Connections

4/19 Key Club Benefit Show

4/20 Grandparents & Other Kinship Caregivers Support Group

4/25-4/28 BMHS Spring Musical

4/28 Titans Community Connections

5/4 2nd Annual School Showcase

*Please note, this date was listed incorrectly in a previous version of this newsletter.

2023-2024 School Year Calendar

Berea City Schools is excited to host its second annual School Showcase at Berea-Midpark High School on Saturday, May 4, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Our School Showcase will highlight the coursework, classroom lessons, and various school and district programs and initiatives that directly support the six competencies of our Portrait of a Titan.

Superintendent Tracy Wheeler will provide an overall update on the district. The event will feature student performances and coincide with our annual district art show. Additionally, the Polaris Marketing and Entrepreneurship satellite program at Berea-Midpark High School will hold its annual May Market. This showcase will spotlight our students, schools, district programs, and initiatives, offering interactive activities for families.

Come discover what learning looks like in Berea City Schools and what the next stage of learning holds for your child. This event offers a fantastic opportunity to meet school leaders, see learning in action, and hear directly from our students and staff. The event is open to the entire community, allowing attendees to enjoy an open house format.

We are thrilled to announce that both the Berea City School District and Berea-Midpark High School have been honored with the Momentum Award by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce for their outstanding achievements on the 2022-2023 state report card. This prestigious recognition is awarded to districts and schools that demonstrate significant improvement in their performance index by 3 or more points from the previous year and receive a value-added rating of 4 or more stars, indicating a high level of student growth.

The Berea City School District saw a remarkable 4.3% increase in its performance index and earned a 4-star rating in value added, showcasing significant evidence that the district exceeded student growth expectations. This achievement is a testament to the dedication, alignment, and hard work of all staff, teachers, and administrators within the district. Out of Ohio’s 611 school districts, only 42 met the criteria to receive the Momentum Award, with Berea City School District standing out as one of only five urban districts to achieve this distinction.

Similarly, Berea-Midpark High School demonstrated exceptional performance by increasing its performance index by 6.2% and achieving a 5-star rating in value added, providing significant evidence of surpassing student growth expectations by a large margin. This accomplishment reflects the commitment and hard work of the staff, teachers, and administrators at the high school. Among Ohio’s 3,136 schools, only 311 received the Momentum Award, making Berea-Midpark High School’s achievement especially notable.

Congratulations to our Titans community on these impressive achievements!

Meet the remarkable students, staff, and community members who were spotlighted at the March 11, 2024 board meeting during our second #BeATitan recognition event of the school year. These Titans have gone above and beyond, showcasing extraordinary dedication and achievement. Watch to discover their stories and celebrate their success. 🧡💙

As part of our ongoing commitment to improving district communication, we are reaching out to gather valuable insights from our Titans community.

We kindly request a few minutes of your time to complete our survey. Your feedback is crucial in helping us understand your needs, experiences, and suggestions for improvement. Thank you for your continued support and engagement.

We're excited to participate in the Ohio Military Family Spirit Week, a celebration taking place from April 15-19, 2024. This week is dedicated to recognizing the enduring strength, resilience, and unwavering spirit of our military families.

We are currently awaiting confirmation on whether additional schools in our district will receive the Purple Star designation. As of last year, Big Creek Elementary School and Grindstone Elementary School have been honored as Purple Star Schools. The Purple Star Award recognizes schools that show a major commitment to students and families connected to our nation’s military. We are hopeful to soon announce that all of our schools have received this distinguished honor, recognizing their commitment to the military community.

• April 15: State-wide Purple Up! Day 2024
  Kick-off the week by wearing purple to show your support for military families. Whether it’s a shirt, a hat, or even purple socks, every bit adds to the support. This day also marks the exciting announcement of new Ohio Purple Star Schools!

• April 16: Red, White, and Blue Day
  Wear our nation's colors with pride to honor the unity and sacrifice of military families.

• April 17: Support Your Favorite Military Branch Day
  Show some love for your favorite branch of the Armed Forces by wearing their colors or gear.

• April 18: Camouflage a.k.a. “Digi” (Digital) Day
  Blend in or stand out with your best camouflage or digital pattern attire.

• April 19: R.E.D. (Remember Everyone Deployed) Friday
  Wear red to remember and honor all those deployed and their families waiting at home.

How can you #BeATitan and #CelebrateDifferences? Support, understand, accept, include, and empower individuals with autism today and every day. Make deliberate choices that help the people around you feel welcomed and safe.

The Portrait of a Titan is a collective vision that articulates aspirations for ALL of our students. The Portrait identifies six key competencies that every student in the Berea City School District should possess by the time they graduate. These competencies are nurtured at every grade level. They are adaptable, communicator, critical thinker, empathetic, innovative, and leader. Our educators are inspiring students to cultivate these essential skills.

The Berea Kiwanis Club has once again demonstrated its support for Berea City Schools by awarding grants to various projects within the district.

The Berea-Midpark Middle School’s Team 7B Crusaders, consisting of Tom Andrews, Christi Thompson, Troy Trzebuckowski, Bryant Ackley, Michelle Piscitelli, and student teacher Ashley Workman, were awarded a grant that will enable students to make and fly kites this spring. This hands-on learning experience integrates creativity, scientific exploration, and mini-STEM activities.

Also at Berea-Midpark Middle School, Amanda Prok received a grant for her initiative to recognize and reward positive student contributions. Staff members award points to students through a digital system, and she is working on opening a school store to be run by an at-risk student population, where these points can also be redeemed.

Kari Novak from Grindstone Elementary School received a grant for her project aimed to provide crucial support for students on Individualized Education Programs (IEP), highlighting the targeted efforts to ensure all students have access to the best possible learning environments.

Jamie Palcisko, Shannon Mullins, and Pam Sheely, three of the seven teachers from the Brook Park Elementary 2nd grade teaching team, received a grant for their innovative "Secret Stories" program, which assists students who need extra help with phonics.

The Berea City School District extends its deepest gratitude to the Berea Kiwanis Club for its generous support of our schools and our innovative staff who significantly enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.

Brook Park Recreation Center

17400 Holland Rd., Brook Park

6:30-7:30 p.m.

People's Community Church

631 N. Rocky River Dr., Berea

11:55 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

The stage at Berea-Midpark High School's Performing Arts Center will come alive from April 25th to the 28th, with performances kicking off at 7:00 p.m. Thursday to Saturday and a matinee at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets go on sale soon! Be sure to join in on a performance that celebrates the joy of music, dance, and summer love!

Summer Camp 2024 is being held at Big Creek Elementary! We are having 8 weeks of programming, starting June 10, 2024-August 1, 2024. We are offering both 4 days/week of summer camp (Monday-Thursday) and a 3 days/week option. We will not be offering programming on Fridays. Our traditional summer camp is from 9:00 a.m. -4:00 p.m. We are also offering before and after camp care. Please note that there will not be any summer programming on 6/19/2024 or 7/4/2024.

Visit our website for more information: https://www.berea.k12.oh.us/Page/5463

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• Berea City Schools makerspaces spur student creativity, confidence
  

• Berea City School District Grateful for Infinite Campus Innovation

BCSD uses Peachjar, an electronic flyer posting and distribution system to distribute school flyers and approved flyers from community groups and organizations that sponsor activities of an educational/enrichment nature for students and staff >> view current flyers

The Berea Board of Education holds regular community conversations to give the public access to board members outside of the formal public participation setting of a meeting. Residents will have the opportunity to meet and discuss any concerns they may have with two board members during a 30 minute time-slot set aside prior to each regular scheduled Board of Education meeting. The goal of this effort is to more effectively connect with the public and learn more about the community.

Additional district financial information such as our annual financial reports, forecasts, budget documents, etc., can be found on the district website under the Treasurer's Department page or by using the QR code.