Berry Middle School

6th grade Assistant Principal: Mrs. Dana Ricks

7th grade Assistant Principal: Mr. Ted Flannery

8th grade Assistant Principal: Ms. Kari Tibbs

At Berry Middle School, we aim to be caring and supportive, challenging and engaging, and innovative and relevant. We create a safe and inviting environment for every student and staff member by building “Berry PRIDE” and creating a “No Put-Down Zone”

• Spirit Week - Monday - Friday, September 30th - October 4th
• Magic Club - Monday, September 30th, 7:30-8 AM, Choir Room
• Volleyball vs. Pizitz @ Berry - Monday, September 30th, 5-7:30 PM
• PEEHIP Flu Shot Clinic - Tuesday, October 1st, 8:30 AM
• James Spann 6th Grade Presentation - Tuesday, October 1st, 8:30-9 AM
  
• Wrestling Parent Meeting - Tuesday, October 1st, 5:30-6:30 PM, Media Center
• HCS Board Meeting - Tuesday, October 1st, 5:30-6:30 PM, Farr Administration Building
• Football vs. Liberty Park @ SPHS - Thursday, October 3rd, 5-8:30 PM
• Volleyball Metro Tournament (7th @ Clay & 8th @ Thompson) - Friday, October 4th
• Table Tennis Club - Friday, October 4th, 7:30-8 AM, Aerobics Room

October 18, 2019

November 15, 2019

December 13, 2019

January 17, 2020

February 21, 2020

March 13, 2020

April 17, 2020

May 15, 2020

| PTO meetings take place monthly at 8:30 in the first floor conference room - all Berry families are welcome and invited to attend! |

1. November 14, 2019 - Hoover High School, 6-7:30 PM
2. January 21, 2020 - Metropolitan Church of God, Hoover, 6-7:30 PM
3. March 2020 - DATE & LOCATION TBD, 6-7:30 PM

This program is an evidence-based program that teaches students to recognize the warning signs of suicide and the steps they can take to intervene responsibly to get help for a suicidal friend. Students are given the opportunity to develop their empathy and communication skills through interactive and role play exercises. These lessons will be done with all 7th graders at Berry during the month of October. The schedule below outlines when Crisis Center Birmingham will be with each 7th grade team.

Thursday, October 10: 7-3

Friday, October 11: 7-4

Tuesday October 15: 7-2

Tuesday October 22: 7-1

In order to earn our annual school-wide field trip to the Alabama Theater, students and staff must collectively read and log 12,000 books. Students should aim to read at least 10 books this school year at or above their reading level and can log their titles here.

Students may also choose to accept the optional genre challenge and will need to read 20 books - one from each of the categories on the chart below. You can also find a printable PDF on our website (make sure to scroll down to the bottom of the page). Please note that you cannot use the same book for multiple squares. Prizes will be awarded at the end of the year for students who complete this challenge. Also, we will reward the top 5% of students who have read the most books. The completed chart should be turned in to the library after January 1, 2020, and students are encouraged to stop by the library for assistance.

If you were a student a Greystone, we would love for you to share a memory using the following link: https://forms.gle/NEyqR3WqcxDZtLRN6

The Hoover City Schools Foundation is hosting three Drug Awareness and Prevention Breakfasts for parents focused on vaping and marijuana use among our teens. Parents are encouraged to attend any of the three events to learn about trends, risks, and consequences from law enforcement officers, district attorneys, prevention specialists, and treatment specialists. The programs will cover everything from prevention to signs and symptoms and how you can intervene appropriately. 8:15-9:15 AM

October 3 - Simmons Middle School

October 8 - Bumpus Middle School

October 22 - Berry Middle School

See the information below about two upcoming flu clinics. You can also access the linked forms on the Berry website in the resources tab under "flu shot information."

PEEHIP Flu Clinic

• October 1st
• for students with PEEHIP insurance
• need to schedule an appointment here
• send completed form to Nurse Ferrell

HNH Flu Clinic

• October 9th
• for a student with any other insurance
• send this form (Spanish version) to Nurse Ferrell

When you are paying for your registration fees at secure4.myschoolfees.com, after entering the required fees in the cart, choose "continue shopping", This will take you to another green box that says "registration optional fees". Click on this box, and it will take you to another screen where you can purchase a p.e. uniform, yearbook, make donations to the classroom, pay PTO dues and donations or pay for a sport pass. Check the items you want to purchase, then add them to the cart. This way you can pay all the fees in one transaction.

Hoover Youth Lacrosse is hosting TryLax, an introductory Lacrosse Clinic for boys and girls 6-14 years old on Nov 3rd at the Hoover Met Complex. Participants will receive a Lacrosse Stick, ball, and a one year Membership to US Lacrosse! Please visit www.gbyla.org for more details and to register.

Exploring is our career-focused, coeducational program that gives young men and women an opportunity to get a hands-on, behind the scenes look at a career area of their interest. Traditionally, Exploring has focused on young people ages 15-20, but we have in recent years added Explorer Clubs as an option for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. The Hoover Police Department, which has been a long-time sponsor of a Law Enforcement Explorer Post, has added a Club to their program.

Interested students are invited to their Open House next Tuesday, October 1st, 7 p.m. at the Public Safety Center on Valleydale Road. This information meeting usually lasts about an hour, and parents are also welcome. This is a great way for young men and women to learn more about careers in Law Enforcement from a top-notch organization.

If anyone has questions or needs more information, they can contact Officer Eric Meyers – eric.myers@hooveralabama.gov.

The theatre teachers from all three middle schools (Ashley Bishop from Bumpus, Delle Kincaid from Simmons and Dianne Rowe from Berry) are in the process of creating our first district-wide theatre festival, just for our middle school theatre students. Named using a mash-up of both mascots, the all-day event will be at Spain Park High School on Saturday, November 16. It will include short performances from all schools, workshops in choreography, makeup, stage combat, improvisation, and more. Both Spain Park and Hoover high schools are also supporting this event, with Nancy Malone and Dustin Helmer and their students leading workshops.

Registration is now open for the Jaganeer ThesFest. The fee is $35 (payable on myschoolfees.com) and includes a t-shirt, lunch and all workshops. Go to this link to register: http://bit.ly/JaganeerThesFest19

Berry Middle School's theater and choir departments present Schoolhouse Rock LIVE, Jr on October 11 -12 at the Spain Park auditorium. The production showcases all your Schoolhouse Rock favorites, including "Conjunction Junction," "The Preamble," and "Three is a Magic Number." Featuring veteran Berry teacher David Coker as Tom, the nervous teacher encouraged by the Schoolhouse Rock kids and a cast and crew of 53 students, this is a wonderful show for all ages. Tickets are $5 at the door. Public performances are Friday October 11 at 7 PM, and Saturday, October 12th at 3 PM and 7 PM.

Berry’s Junior Thespians believe that Knowledge Is Power, and that every student should have books to read. Each spring, Berry teachers Kelsey Manley and Jon Schneider sponsor a free book giveaway so students have books to read over the summer, when they can’t take advantage of our wonderful library.

To help this amazing program, the Junior Thespians are sponsoring a book drive, to give students lots of choices for this year’s giveaway. Anyone who attends Schoolhouse Rock Live, Jr and brings a new or gently used book for the Great Book Giveaway 2020 will receive one free item of their choice from our concessions/bake sale table.

We are collecting titles appropriate for 4th through 8th grade, read-aloud books, and contemporary YA titles.

This team is open to both boys and girls in grades 6-12. Please contact the sponsor Kristine Toone kristine.toone@gmail if you are interested in participating. The season begins in October.

Click on table below for a larger view. You can also visit the Berry website "clubs" link.

There will be a parent meeting for wrestling this coming Tuesday, October 1st at 5:30 in the Berry library. If your child signed up for wrestling, at least one parent MUST attend the meeting. If your child did not sign up but is considering wrestling, a parent should attend so we can answer any questions you might have. Please contact Coach Smith with questions/concerns at rismith@hoover.k12.al.us

All interested 7th and 8th graders can sign up for Indoor Track during PE class. The deadline to sign up is Friday, November 1st. Students interested must complete the online Dragonfly registration as soon as possible to be eligible to practice and compete. It is very important that all students have a current physical. All pertinent information such as track meet dates, the practice schedule, and the spirit pack will be discussed at the mandatory parent meeting. You will be notified about the date and time of the parent meeting via email and the School Newsletter at a later date. Please contact Coach Streeter at dstreeter@hoover.k12.al.us if you have any questions.

NEW DATES FOR BBALL TRYOUTS!! Friday, September 27th, 3:15-5 PM & Saturday, September 28th, 8-9:30 AM.

Paperwork needed to participate: An updated physical form uploaded to a Dragonfly account. A physical form and information on creating a Dragonfly account is located on the Berry website under Programs > Athletics.

Please contact Head 8th Grade Coach Rusty White at Ruswhite@hoover.k12.al.us with questions. Thanks and Go jags!

Spain Park Girls Soccer tryouts will be held on the SPHS soccer field September 30th- October 3rd @ 4:00pm. Any girl interested should have a completed physical form on file. Contact Coach Starr or Coach Prater with any questions.

Berry girls' basketball tryouts for any student new to Berry will be held Wednesday October 9th and Thursday October 10th. Students that have any questions about their eligibility to tryout please come see Coach Miller or Coach Jolley. All students must have an updated physical on file before tryouts. If you have any questions please contact Coach Miller (memiller@hoover.k12.al.us) or Coach Jolley (jjolley@hoover.k12.al.us).

Berry softball tryouts for the 2020 season will be held on Monday, October 7th - Wednesday, October 9th from 3:30-5:15 pm at the Spain Park Softball Field. Players must attend at least 2 days of tryouts. All athletes must have an updated physical on file before tryouts. Players are responsible for their own equipment each day. Meet in the main lobby dressed and ready by 3:20 pm. We will walk together as a group to the field. If you have any questions stop by Rm. 305 or contact Coach Ritenour and Coach Miller via. email aritenour@hoover.k12.al.us

We look forward to seeing you there!

See our P.E. syllabus to find out more about uniforms, grades, and how to contact teachers.

Hoover City Schools is partnering with IMPACT Family Counseling to provide the Family Strengthening Program. This program will be offered for free to families with middle or high school students. The program consists of one evening session a week for six weeks total and will be offered multiple times throughout the school year. The first sessions begin on Tuesday, September 24th. If you are interested in participating or learning more about this opportunity, please contact your child’s counselor.

6th grade - Ericka Leonard eleonard@hoover.k12.al.us

7th grade - John Aufdemorte jaufdemo@hoover.k12.al.us

8th grade - Kathy Hartwiger khartwiger@hoover.k12.al.us

Click on the picture below to visit the Impact Family Counseling website.

The Aga Khan Development Network works in communities in Africa and Asia to develop poverty solutions through partnerships with businesses and empowerment of the community. Read more about the foundation here. Sign up for the walk/run in Birmingham at Railroad Park on October 20, 2019 here.

Neighborhood Bridges works alongside our existing school-level efforts to assist students in need, helping counselors quickly meet individual needs of children and families. Learn more on our website or check out the Hoover Neighborhood Bridges page and join the #KindnessIsCool effort.

6th grade office: 205-439-2015

dharrington@hoover.k12.al.us

7th grade office: 205-439-2065

apowell@hoover.k12.al.us

8th grade office: 205-439-2000

dcorley@hoover.k12.al.us

Website: https://www.hoovercityschools.net/berry
Location: 4500 Jaguar Drive, Birmingham, AL, USA
Phone: 205-439-2000
Facebook: facebook.com/berrymiddle
Twitter: @BerryMiddle

Please visit https://bit.ly/30rE8BO