Birmingham Education Foundation was thrilled to be one of the many supporters behind this year's Seaholm Career Day.  Consider this - three students were in the delivery room when a baby first entered the world while different students witnessed a cardiac surgery and others still participated in at least seven medical specialties.  Several students visited the Frasier sinkhole and discussed the engineering and infrastructure complexities behind it.  Still other students visited a GM plan, a Ford plant, an aerospace lab, and multiple construction and architecture facilities.  Students shadowed teachers and marketing execs, physical and speech therapists, banking, accounting and finance leaders.  Several kids rode along with Oakland County Sheriff deputies and the Birmingham Police while others participated in a simulation with local DEA agents.  Three veterinarians hosted students to watch animal surgeries while other kids worked retail or spent time with a nutritionist.  The list goes on and on and on and on.
 
At BEF, we understand that different kids have different interests. That's why we take pride in presenting a multitude of new and different opportunities.  In this way, we hope kids can direct their own path and pursue whatever it is that inspires them.  We couldn't do any of it without the generous support from the community!  Thank You!  If you'd like to continue to support BEF's ongoing effort, please log into supportBEF.org to make your end of the year donation.

This fall, the BEF awarded a grant of $1,611 to the Kindergarten and First Grade Teachers at Pembroke Elementary School for the purchase of nonfiction books for their classroom. In the grant application the teachers explained that they are trying to incorporate nonfiction literature in to their curriculum all year long, but found that their classroom libraries contained far more fiction than nonfiction. 

Funds from the grant were used to purchase 6 books packs, each with 60 books, for a total of 360 new books for their classes! 

Ms. Djokaj said "Our new nonfiction books have given our students the opportunity to dig deeper on concepts. The class is eager to learn and record their findings after each read! We are so grateful for the BEF! Students are constantly telling me that they have learned new ideas from our grant books! Thank you so much!!"

Ms. Djokaj asked the students what they thought of the books. They said: 

​“I like our new books because I can learn about new things I didn’t know about.”
“I like that we have more new books in our classroom”
“I like our new non-fiction books because they teach you things!”
“They’re awesome!”
“They have really cool pictures!”

The common core standards are heavily based on non-fiction, informational texts and the strategies that students need to learn from nonfiction texts. Having these exciting new books in their class will help the students to develop skills that will help them throughout their education! 

The Birmingham Education Foundation has launched its annual fund campaign to raise funds from the community and businesses to support exceptional educational experiences for all Birmingham Public School students. 
 
BEF is particularly proud that 100% of all elementary school teachers, plus the vast majority of middle and high school teachers donate to the fund.  “Our teachers are our front line ambassadors,” said Alison Hendry, BEF’s executive director.  “When they have innovative and fun ideas to better reach and inspire their classroom students, they know that BEF grants are available and can often provide the necessary funding to make the ‘extras’ happen.”
 
BEF typically returns about $150,000 to BPS classrooms to help inspire students and nurture their passion in art, athletics, robotics, science, math, literature or service learning projects.  The BPS 2016 state of the district annual report describes the need for BEF as follows:

“Why do we need an Education Foundation for Birmingham Public Schools?” The simple answer is this - the kids! It is difficult to predict what will inspire a student, so BEF resources are used to expand on the exceptional curriculum provided by BPS.
 
“Sometimes it is the little things that make a difference, like studying bees in science class all year long, or visiting a planetarium to help solidify that astronomy lesson. It could also be bigger things, like attending the global finals competition for champion problem solvers, or visiting with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra to learn appreciation for the fine arts and music. The BEF has supported literacy programs, helped at-risk students, provided the extras to make a program better or stronger and supported the teachers who come up with better ways to deliver curriculum to their students.”

On October 6, 100 seventh grade students had the opportunity to participate in Challenge Day at Berkshire Middle School, thanks to a partnership between the BEF, the Berkshire PTA and Berkshire Middle School.

Students spent 6.5 hours together with 26 adult volunteers and facilitators from the Challenge Day organization. The day began with a dance party (yes! a dance party at 8:30am), and then moved on to team building exercises, working to bring everyone together. 

Once everyone was feeling pretty good, and comfortable around each other, the program turned toward the serious. Students and adult volunteers were given the chance to share about their life experiences in a family group, and to to get to know one another just a little better. 

The afternoon culminated with "Cross the Line". an exercise meant to highlight how different life experiences have impacted each participant, and to show love to each other. Everyone present was visibly moved during and after this exercise.