Berkley High School
Encyclopedia
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's mascot is the Bears. Berkley is well known for its college prep courses, high standardized test scores, and teacher
s 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 Randy Gawel. The assistant principals are Michael Ross and Ronald Kane.
Berkley High School has been accredited by the Michigan North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement since the 1928-29 school year.
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.
During the 2009-2010 school year Berkley High School was ranked 9th in the state of Michigan and 333rd in the nation according to Newsweek
America's Top Public High Schools.
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). Ronald Kane became the Athletic Director in 2010 and is also currently an assistant principal at the high school.
Although the school nickname is "The Bears," the boys' and girls' Swimming and Diving teams are known as the "Bearacudas" or "Cudas." The Bearracuda boys are coached by MSU alumnus Chris Parker, and the divers are coached by long-time faculty member Ron Kinas. The girl Bearracudas' head coach is Berkley alumna Ashley Seidl (née 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 & field 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, community sporting events, and semi-pro soccer leagues. 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 located south of Pop Lewis field. The tennis courts are also next to Hurley Field. Berkley Varsity Hockey and JV/Prep Hockey compete at the Berkley Ice Arena, which is also adjacent to Hurley Field and tennis courts. The Cross-country team, lead by Mark Keegan, competes at Catalpa Park, which is about a mile from the school and half mile from Hurley field. The golf team competes at Detroit Golf Club and won their league with an undefeated record in 2009. The bowling team competes at Hartfield Lanes. The rest of the teams compete within the school building or outside (rugby) on other school grounds.
. BHS has two string orchestras, Symphony Orchestra and Concert Orchestra, both lasting all year. In January 2009, the Symphony Orchestra took first place at the Presidential Inaugural [Heritage Festival). BHS also has three choirs: Concert Choir, Encore! and A Cappella. Encore! and A Cappella are audition only. All people from these organizations are able to collaborate through BHS' Musical National Honor Society, known as Tri-M, if they wish to dedicate their time to the group. Tri-M puts on a concert in the spring showcasing the musical talent at BHS. In May 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. In the past few years, BHS has had a couple of different directors. The most recent, and current, is Mr. Kevin Savel, who is also the choir teacher of all three choirs at the high school and amazingly the choir teacher for the four choirs at Anderson Middle School.
Berkley, Michigan
Berkley is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is an inner suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the total population was 14,970.-Downtown, Dream Cruise, etc.:...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
with a 2005-2006 enrollment of 1,348 students. Berkley High's colors are Maroon and Blue and the school's mascot is the Bears. Berkley is well known for its college prep courses, high standardized test scores, and teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
s and administrators. Additional Advanced Placement courses and electives are available to students who elect to attend the Center for Advanced Studies and the Arts
Center for Advanced Studies and the Arts
CASA is a public consortium high school in Oak Park, Michigan offering students from surrounding schools afternoon classes in Advanced Placement classes; art, dance and music courses; and courses that might not have enough demand at a single high school...
(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 Randy Gawel. The assistant principals are Michael Ross and Ronald Kane.
Berkley High School has been accredited by the Michigan North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement since the 1928-29 school year.
As of the 2005-06 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,350 students and 74.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE
Full-time equivalent
Full-time equivalent , is a unit to measure employed persons or students in a way that makes them comparable although they may work or study a different number of hours per week. FTE is often used to measure a worker's involvement in a project, or to track cost reductions in an organization...
basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 18.1.
During the 2009-2010 school year Berkley High School was ranked 9th in the state of Michigan and 333rd in the nation according to Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
America's Top Public High Schools.
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
Oakland Activities Association
Oakland Activities Association is a Southeast Michigan high school athletics conference. It is made up of 29 schools located throughout Oakland County....
(OAA) with the exception of the Rugby teams (club) and the Junior Varsity hockey team (Southeast Michigan Prep Hockey League). Ronald Kane became the Athletic Director in 2010 and is also currently an assistant principal at the high school.
Although the school nickname is "The Bears," the boys' and girls' Swimming and Diving teams are known as the "Bearacudas" or "Cudas." The Bearracuda boys are coached by MSU alumnus Chris Parker, and the divers are coached by long-time faculty member Ron Kinas. The girl Bearracudas' head coach is Berkley alumna Ashley Seidl (née Braun) with assistants Todd Seidl and Ron Kinas. Their basketball court is known as the "Bear's Den", and the student
Student
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
section at basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
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 & field teams compete at Hurley field located less than a half-mile away from the high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
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, community sporting events, and semi-pro soccer leagues. 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 located south of Pop Lewis field. The tennis courts are also next to Hurley Field. Berkley Varsity Hockey and JV/Prep Hockey compete at the Berkley Ice Arena, which is also adjacent to Hurley Field and tennis courts. The Cross-country team, lead by Mark Keegan, competes at Catalpa Park, which is about a mile from the school and half mile from Hurley field. The golf team competes at Detroit Golf Club and won their league with an undefeated record in 2009. The bowling team competes at Hartfield Lanes. The rest of the teams compete within the school building or outside (rugby) on other school grounds.
Demographic
Berkley High School has 1303 total students, 627 male, 676 female. Of these students from Berkley High School, 354 are ninth grade students, 339 are tenth grade students, 304 are eleventh grade students, and 306 are twelfth grade students. Berkley High School maintains a student to teacher ratio of 21:1. The school is 70% Caucasian.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 is reputed for playing pieces such as "On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss", First Suite in E-Flat for Military Band, and Second Suite in F for Military BandSecond Suite in F for Military Band
The Second Suite in F for Military Band is Gustav Holst's second and last suite for concert band. Although performed less frequently than the First Suite in E-flat, it is still a staple of the band literature...
. BHS has two string orchestras, Symphony Orchestra and Concert Orchestra, both lasting all year. In January 2009, the Symphony Orchestra took first place at the Presidential Inaugural [Heritage Festival). BHS also has three choirs: Concert Choir, Encore! and A Cappella. Encore! and A Cappella are audition only. All people from these organizations are able to collaborate through BHS' Musical National Honor Society, known as Tri-M, if they wish to dedicate their time to the group. Tri-M puts on a concert in the spring showcasing the musical talent at BHS. In May 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
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
.
In addition to the musical ensembles, BHS also has a drama program. In the past few years, BHS has had a couple of different directors. The most recent, and current, is Mr. Kevin Savel, who is also the choir teacher of all three choirs at the high school and amazingly the choir teacher for the four choirs at Anderson Middle School.
Notable alumni
- Curtis ArmstrongCurtis ArmstrongCurtis Armstrong is an American actor best known for his portrayal as Booger in the Revenge of the Nerds movies, as Herbert Viola on Moonlighting, and as famed record producer Ahmet Ertegün in the film Ray.-Early life:...
(1953-), actor best known for his role as "Booger" in the 19841984 in film-Events:* The Walt Disney Company founds Touchstone Pictures to release movies with subject matter deemed inappropriate for the Disney name.* Tri-Star Pictures, a joint venture of Columbia Pictures, HBO, and CBS, releases its first film....
hit comedy movie Revenge of the NerdsRevenge of the NerdsRevenge of the Nerds is a 1984 comedy film satirizing social life on a college campus. The film stars Robert Carradine and Anthony Edwards, with Curtis Armstrong, Ted McGinley, Julia Montgomery, Brian Tochi, Larry B. Scott, John Goodman, and Donald Gibb...
. - Bill BondsBill BondsBill Bonds is an American television anchor and reporter, best known for his work at WXYZ-TV in Detroit, Michigan. Born in 1933, Bonds became an Action News anchorman beginning in the early 1970s.-Early career:...
, Detroit TV anchorman - Marshall CrenshawMarshall CrenshawMarshall Crenshaw is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist best known for his song "Someday, Someway".-Biography:...
(1953-), singer/songwriter best known for his 1982 top-40 hit "Someday Someway" and for portraying Buddy Holly in "La Bamba" - Bruce FlowersBruce FlowersBruce Flowers is a former American basketball player. A 2.04 m tall forward, he was drafted 26th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1979 NBA Draft, but only appeared in one NBA season...
, All-American High School basketball player, followed Notre Dame college career with brief NBA season with Cleveland. - Robert GosselinRobert GosselinRobert Gosselin is a conservative Republican politician in Oakland County, Michigan and is an Oakland County Commissioner.- Biography :...
(1951-), former member of the Michigan House of Representatives. - Andy LevinAndy LevinAndrew S. "Andy" Levin is the founder and managing partner of Levin Energy Partners, LLC, a firm he established in 2011 to provide innovative financing tools to increase energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements in American buildings...
, politician. - Aric MorrisAric MorrisAric Morris is a former American football safety in the National Football League. He played four seasons in the NFL for the Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots. He played college football at Michigan State University.Morris played high school football at Berkley High School in Berkley,...
(1977-), Football player, followed Michigan State University by playing for the Tennessee TitansTennessee TitansThe Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
and New England PatriotsNew England PatriotsThe New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
. - Dick RadatzDick RadatzRichard Raymond Radatz , nicknamed "The Monster" or "Moose", was an American right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who had a scorching but short-lived period of dominance for the Boston Red Sox . Radatz also played for the Cleveland Indians , Chicago Cubs , Detroit Tigers and...
(1937–2005), Relief pitcher for the Boston Red SoxBoston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
and other teams from 1962-1969.