Dear Pattengill Families,

Happy Friday! We have had a fantastic week at Pattengill, highlighted by the unforgettable experience of spending time with our 5th grade students at YMCA Camp Storer in Jackson, Michigan. I remember attending camp as a 5th grader and how meaningful the experience was. It was incredible to see our students embrace new challenges, build teamwork skills, create lasting memories, and square dance—just as I did so many years ago!

As we continue to partner in your child’s education, we look forward to meeting with you soon for our Spring Parent Teacher Conferences which will be held virtually. These conferences are a valuable opportunity to discuss progress, celebrate achievements, and collaborate on next steps for success. Please find more conference information below.

Additionally, I hope to see many of our families at Off to the Races this weekend. Off to the Races is always a fun event that brings our community together, and I look forward to connecting with you there.

Thank you for your continued support and have a wonderful weekend!

Proud to be your principal,

Shamika

Today's Weekly Waddle includes:

• Off to the Races!
• Parent Teacher Conferences
• March is Reading Month
• Support the Pattengill Pantry
• Leader in Me Student Applications
• BEF Off to the Races
• Safety Reminders
• Reporting Absences
• Pattengill Music Concerts & Schedule
• Friday Bagels
• Meals Information
• Penguin Pulse
• Pattengill Spirit Wear
• Varsity Tutors
• PTA News
• Upcoming Events

Please join us at the Berkley Education Foundation’s Off to the Races fundraiser on March 8, 2025 at 7 pm at The Kingsley Hotel in Bloomfield Hills. The Berkley Education Foundation (BEF) is a non-profit organization that raises funds to support all students in the Berkley Schools. Their purpose is to maintain and enhance educational opportunities and programs for Berkley Schools students. Every dollar the BEF raises during Off to the Races supports teacher innovation-grants, free enrichment programs, student scholarships and the 8th grade college tour program.

How has the BEF impacted Pattengill?

Enrichment Courses: The BEF has supported Pattengill students who have enrolled in 18 free enrichment courses since 2018, including: Cooking, crocheting, balloon animal making, gardening, Lego, drama, newspaper, art, and kindness club

Teacher Innovation-Grants: The BEF has funded 16 teacher innovation-grants since 2017, including: My house books for literacy, soft seating for reading, student garden, cooking curriculum, Geology Rocks!, a coffee cart, STEM supplies, STEM bins, sensory learning, flexible seating, and Scholastic News

Off to the Races Details

• Saturday, March 8, 2025

• 7-10:30 pm

• The Kingsley Hotel, A DoubleTree Hotel, Bloomfield Hills

• $60/ticket

• The event includes simulated horse racing, owning & naming horses, a silent auction (powered by mobile bidding), a vacation give-away, and most importantly, funding the #BerkleyDifference.

• It is a fun event and I hope to see you there. You can learn more and buy tickets on the Off to the Races website.

• Come cheer on our Pattengill PTA horse

• If you can’t make it, consider buying and naming a horse to run in the races for $30. Horses can be purchased on the Buy Tickets page of the Off to the Races website

Parent Teacher Conferences will be held on March 20th and 21st. These Spring conferences will be virtual. Pattengill is excited to be using the MyConferenceTime platform to schedule our Spring conferences.

Please follow the steps below to sign up for your preferred conference date and time with your student's teacher.

Directions for Pattengill Spring Virtual Conferences Sign-ups

1. Please go to https://www.myconferencetime.com/pattengill/

2. Find and click on the name of your child’s teacher.

3. Select your preferred date and time.

4. Enter required information. (E-mail address is not required, but if you enter one, you will receive an email confirmation.)

5. Click “Sign Up for Your Conference” near the bottom of the screen.

6. You’re done! That’s all there is to it.

The videos below will detail how to schedule conferences if you need additional support.

Thank you to all of our families who donated to the Pattengill Pantry! We are so appreciative of your kindness and generosity. The snacks provided through this pantry go directly to our students in need, helping them stay focused and energized throughout the day. All contributions, big or small, make a meaningful impact on our Penguins' well-being and success. Thank you!

Thank you to all of our student leaders who applied to be on our new Leader in Me Student Action Teams! Students will receive Action Team notifications next week.

It is time for the BHS Spring Flower Sale!! All profits support the Senior All Night Party (SANP). The online runs through Tuesday, March 11th.

Safety is our top priority at Pattengill. To ensure the well-being of all students, please follow the Pattengill Traffic Pattern (see below), adhere to all traffic rules, use designated crosswalks, and obey crossing signs, crossing guards, and our Safety Patrols.

Unfortunately, I have noticed students crossing in the middle of the street and cars pulling up directly next to our building instead of parking in the designated areas across the street. These actions create serious safety hazards. I would rather students arrive a few minutes late to school than risk their safety to arrive on time.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our students safe. Your support makes a difference!

Please remember to report your child's absence or late arrival (such as for a doctor’s appointment) using MiStar or our attendance line 248-837-8730. If we do not receive a report by 9:00 AM, our system will automatically send a robocall to notify you of the unreported absence. Thank you for helping us keep accurate attendance records!

• Kindergarten - 4/22/25, 6:00 P.M. @ Norup
• 1st Grade - 4/22/25, 6:45 P.M. @ Norup
• 5th Grade Orchestra Junior String Extravaganza - 4/9/25, 7:00 P.M. @ Anderson
• 5th Grade Band Junior Band Jam - 4/10/25, 7:00 PM @ Anderson
• 5th Grade Choir Concert - 5/22/25, 7:00 P.M. @ AMS (with Angell, Rogers & AMS)

Pattengill is in need of volunteers to sell bagels for the second semester. Bagel sales are not possible without the many parents who volunteer to sell. Please use this link to sign up to help sell bagels this school year. Thank you!

Bagel Punch Cards are available for purchase. Be on the lookout for the Dads Club to have someone selling the cards at one of the two picnic tables in front of the school. A Bagel Punch Card is $10. We accept cash or you may buy online for a small fee. If you buy online, please be ready to show your proof of purchase.

Link for online purchase:

https://pattengill.givebacks.com/store/items/1135170

Kind regards,

Extra slices of cheese or pepperoni pizza may be purchased for $2.75. Students may pay for the pizza using their MiStar account. Thanks!

• Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
• Traffic Patterns
• Join the Berkley African American Parent Network
• Monday WIN Rotations
• Lunch Information
• Breakfast Information
• Bond Construction Updates
• Spiritwear
• iCalendar Updates

• PTA

Berkley Schools has partnered with Varsity Tutors for Schools, an online platform with access to free learning tools.

The Varsity Tutors Platform gives students more opportunities to learn at their own pace, to get support on subjects they might be struggling with, to explore subjects they are learning in class and to support their curiosities.

The platform includes the following:

• 24/7 on-demand chat tutoring and on-demand essay review to help students with any questions about homework, classwork, or test prep.

• Live group classes, recorded classes and celebrity-led StarCourses allow students to learn more about the subjects they’re interested in and add a touch of fun.

• Assessments and self-study practice problems provide opportunities to drill skills towards mastery.

• College prep & admissions resources ensure that students have the best resources available.

Sign in to the Varsity Tutors platform through the student Clever portal. To learn how to log into Clever with your child’s Berkley Schools Google account, follow these directions.

Learn More & Get Started!

• Varsity Tutors Berkley Schools Launchpad

• Frequently Asked Questions

• Varsity Tutors video overview

Looking for more ways to get involved in your school community? Join the PTA board! There are four roles open - President, Co-VP, Treasurer and Secretary. To learn more please reach out to Ashley Erard (ASHLEY.D.WATKINS@gmail.com)

We are back on Instagram! Follow us @PattengillPTA to get a closer look at what's new in the PTA! Stay updated on school events and all the ways the PTA is impacting our school thanks to our amazing Pattengill community!

• March 13 - Battle of the Books
• March 13 - Family Reading Night, 6 PM in Media Center
• March 19 - PTA Tie Dye Day
• March 19 - PTA Dine to Donate at Uncle Andy's & Mochinut, 3-9
• March 20 - Spring Evening Conferences, 5 PM - 8 PM (virtual)
• March 21 - Spring Conferences, 8 AM - 4 PM (virtual)
• March 21 - No School for Students
• March 24 - March 29 - Spring Break

Email: shamika.womble@berkleyschools.org
Website: https://www.berkleyschools.org/schools/pattengill/
Location: 3540 Morrison Avenue, Berkley, MI, USA
Phone: 248-837-8700
PTA Facebook: facebook.com/PattengillPTA
Twitter: @PattengillEl