Berkley High School

Infobox_School
name = Berkley High School


imagesize =
motto =
established =
grades = 9 - 12
district = Berkley School District
type = Public high school
principal = Dennis McDavid
enrollment = 1,330 (as of 2007-08) [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=2605010&ID=260501004187 Berkley High School] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed November 19, 2007.]
faculty = 74.6 (on FTE basis)
ratio = 18.1
teamname = Bears
conference = Oakland Activities Association
colors = Maroon and Blue
newspaper = "The Spectator"
location = 2325 Catalpa
Berkley, MI 48072
information = 248-837-8100
website = [http://www.berkley.k12.mi.us/index.asp?school=27&name=Berkley%20High%20School School website]

Berkley High School is a public high school in Berkley, Michigan with a 2005-2006 enrollment of 1,348 students. Berkley High's colors are Maroon and Blue and the school nickname is the Bears. Berkley is well known for its college prep courses, high standardized test scores, and teachers and administrators. Additional Advanced Placement courses and electives are available to students who elect to attend the Center for Advanced Studies and the Arts (CASA), an afternoon consortium school run jointly by Berkley and neighboring high schools. Their newspaper is The Spectator, which is a member of the High School National Ad Network. The principal is Dennis McDavid. McDavid was named principal when former principal Derrick Lopez left in the summer of 2007 for another school district. The School Day runs from 7:40 to 3:00.

Berkley High School has been accredited by the Michigan North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement since the 1928-29 school year. [ [http://www.ncamichigan.org/member_list.asp?Oakland Oakland County accredited schools] , accessed October 22, 2006]

As of the 2005-06 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,350 students and 74.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 18.1. [ [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=2605010&ID=260501004187 Berkley High School] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed November 19, 2007.]

During the 2007-2008 school year Berkley High School was ranked 6th in the state of Michigan according to Newsweek America's Top Public High Schools. [ [http://www.newsweek.com/id/39380/?s=michigan] , Newsweek's America's Top Public High Schools, 2008. Accessed August 11, 2009.]

Reunions

The Berkley High School Alumni maintain a webpage [http://www.berkleyalumni.org] , which contains reunion postings.

Sports

Berkley high school has many distinct courses available for incoming students of all backgrounds.

Berkley's athletic teams currently compete in the Oakland Activities Association (OAA) with the exception of the Rugby teams (club) and the Junior Varsity hockey team (Southeast Michigan Prep Hockey League). Paul Yowchuang became the Athletic Director in 2006. Yowchuang proceeds Bob Gershman, who lives in Oak Park and served as athletic director for a number of years. Yowchuang is the former varsity Cross Country coach and the varsity Track and Field coach and is also currently an assistant principal at the high school.

Although the school nickname is "Bears," the boys' and girls' Swimming and Diving teams are known as the "Bearracudas" or "Cudas." [ [http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?cmenuid=1&url=bhsswim&sid=315104351 Berkley High School Swimming & Diving League] ] The Bearracuda boys are coached by Berkley alumni Jeremy Landa and Todd Seidl and the divers are coached by long-time faculty member Ron Kinas. The girl Bearracudas' head coach is Berkley alumnus Ashley Seidl (nee Braun) with assistants Todd Seidl and Ron Kinas. Their basketball court is known as the "Bear's Den", and the student section at basketball games is known as the "Catalpa Crazies". This is because the main entrance to the court and school is on Catalpa Drive, which runs through the middle of the city.

The Berkley football team, soccer teams, and track teams compete at Hurley field located less than a half-mile away from the high school at Anderson Middle School. The field was renovated during the spring of 2002 and re-opened with many new facilities at the beginning of the 2002-2003 school year. The field is also used for many other high school tournaments and semi-pro soccer leagues. During last few weeks of summer, the Berkley High School Marching Band holds band camp at Hurley Field from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily (excluding weekends). Next to Hurley Field is Pop Lewis field where the high school baseball games are held along with other community baseball leagues. The softball teams play at the two neighboring fields to Pop Lewis field. The tennis courts are also next to Hurley Field. Berkley Varsity Hockey ["http://www.berkleyvarsityhockey.com] and JV/Prep Hockey ["http://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/default.asp?u=berkleyprep1&sport=hockey&t=c&p=home&s=hockey] compete at the Berkley Ice Arena, which is also adjacent to Hurley Field and tennis courts. Cross-country competes at Catalpa Park, which is about a mile from the school and half mile from Hurley field, led by photographer Billy Soule. The golf team competes at Rackham golf course in the neighboring town of Huntington Woods, and the bowling team competes at Hartfield Lanes. The rest of the teams compete within the school building or outside (rugby) on other school grounds.

Fight Song

March onto victory,
Hail, maroon and blue.
True to our history,
We'll all be true!

Fight, with might and vigor too,
We'll back ol' Berkley School!

Freshmen!
Sosphmore!
Juinors!
Seniors!
To cheer for you.

B... rah
H... rah
S... our standards meet the test
rah rah rah

March onto victory,
Hail, maroon and blue.

Performing Arts

Berkley High School is home to a variety of musical ensembles. The wind ensembles are made up of the BHS Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, and Jazz Band. Marching Band is only the first semester, and Symphonic Band takes its place second semester. Jazz band is second semester only, and takes place after school. The symphonic band, conducted by alto saxophonist and University of Michigan alumnus Ryan Shaw, is reputed for playing difficult pieces such as "On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss", "First Suite for Military Band", and "Second Suite for Military Band". BHS also has two string orchestras, Symphony Orchestra and Concert Orchestra, both lasting all year. The Symphony Orchestra is considered by many to be one of the best public high school orchestras. Show Choir, A Cappella, and Bell Tones are all audition only. Show Choir takes place after school. All of these organizations collaborate through BHS' Musical National Honor Society, known as Tri-M. Tri-M puts on a concert in the spring showcasing the musical talent at BHS. In May of 2007, the Berkley High School A Cappella choir, along with several other high school choirs, performed Beethoven's Mass in C Major in New York City's Carnegie Hall.In addition to the musical ensembles, BHS also has a drama program. Led by the Drama Club, three theatrical events take place each year. It is customary to have a musical in the fall, a drama in late winter, and either in the spring.

Notable Alumni

* Curtis Armstrong (1953-), actor best known for his role as "Booger" in the 1984 hit comedy movie "Revenge of the Nerds". [Sandoval, Emiliana. [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-145164617.html "Five Things: about Curtis Armstrong."] , "Detroit Free Press", May 1, 2006. Accessed May 31, 2007. "Local guy Curtis Armstrong has carved out a steady film career. His most recent movie, "Akeelah and the Bee," came out Friday. STARTING OUT Armstrong was born in 1953 in Detroit and graduated from Berkley High School."]
*Bill Bonds, Detroit TV anchorman
*Marshall Crenshaw (1953-), singer/songwriter best known for his 1982 top-40 hit "Someday Someway" and for portraying Buddy Holly in "La Bamba"
*Bruce Flowers, All-American High School basketball player, followed Notre Dame college career with brief NBA season with Cleveland. [DatabaseBasketball.com. [http://www.databasebasketball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=FLOWEBR01] ]
*Robert Gosselin (1951-), former member of the Michigan House of Representatives. [ [http://www.vgt2004.org/a-detnews/candidate-detail.go?id=1222394 Robert Gosselin] , "The Detroit News" voter guide. Accessed November 19, 2007.]
*Andy Levin, politician.
*Aric Morris (1977-), Football player, followed Michigan State University by playing for the Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots. [ [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/nfl/draft/db/morrisset.htm Aric Morris NFL Draft profile] , "USA Today". Accessed April 22, 2008.]
*Dick Radatz (1937-2005), Relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox and other teams from 1962-1969. [ [http://www.dailytribune.com/stories/032005/obi_obits20001.shtml Obituaries] , "Daily Tribune", March 20, 2005. Accessed April 6, 2008.]

References

External links

* [http://www.berkley.k12.mi.us/index.asp?school=27&name=Berkley%20High%20School Berkley High]
* [http://www.berkleyalumni.org Berkley High School Alumni Society]
* [http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061003/SCHOOLS/610030308/1026 Detroit News, Tuesday, October 03, 2006: Students to share Holocaust lessons. Berkley High School, Lawrence Tech team up in ambassador group that will spread goodwill. Shawn D. Lewis] *
* [http://www.berkley.k12.mi.us/index.asp?item=190&name=Staff%20Directory Berkley Staff Directory]
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0187409/bio "Marshall Crenshaw IMDB entry"]
* [http://www.berkleyrugby.org Berkley High School Rugby Club]