Family Resources

Attendance Procedures

School attendance is the responsibility of students and parents. Punctual and regular attendance is necessary for students to do well in school. If an absence is necessary, parents should call the school before 8:15 am, (248) 837-8330, giving the reason for a student’s absence. Please note that this is a 24 hour absence line. Please speak slowly and clearly. The Berkley School district participates in an automated attendance system that will begin calling all students who are absent without notice at 9:00 a.m. All calls sent to the attendance line (248-837-8330) prior to 8:15 am will not receive a phone call from this system.

Make-up work is the student’s responsibility. Students have the number of days equal to the number of days absent to make up work when the absence is excused. If a student is absent for an extended period (at least 3 days) and able to do school work, parents may request homework through the school office. Please allow 24 hours for teachers to gather assignments.

Pre-excused Absences

Should it be necessary for students to be absent for family vacations or travel, a pre-excused absence should be obtained by submitting a written request one week prior to the absence. Whenever possible, work should be completed in advance of the trip.

Morning Bell Schedule

Students should arrive to school by 8:05 am when the entry bell rings. Instruction will begin promptly at 8:15 am when the final morning bell rings.

Please refer to the attached building map for the appropriate morning door entrance for your student.

Tardiness

School instruction begins at 8:15 am. A little late is too late! Tardiness not only limits your child’s learning but is also disruptive to others. Late students who arrive between 8:15 to 8:30 am will be directed to their classroom and will not need an office pass. They will still be marked tardy, however, and will miss important instructional time. Students arriving after 8:30 am must be signed in by a parent/guardian in the main office and receive a tardy slip before they are admitted to class as attendance will have been processed by that time. Middle school tardiness during the day will be handled by the classroom teacher.
 

We are happy to help celebrate student birthdays at Norup! Families who wish to send in a birthday treat may do so. Please let your student’s teacher know if you would like to bring something in. All treats should be dropped off in the Main Office, and teachers will pass them out at 3:15 p.m., just before dismissal. Sending a birthday treat is completely optional.

For the safety of our students, building doors remain locked throughout the school day. All parents and other visitors must enter the building through the main door, sign in at the office, and receive a visitor’s pass to enter the building. This policy must be followed at all times, including student entry and dismissal times (drop-off and pick-up).

Berkley Schools recognizes that each student's mode of dress is a representation of personal style and individual preference. We will not interfere with the right of students and their families to make decisions regarding their appearance, except when their choices interfere with the educational program of the schools. 

Dress Code parameters are listed in the Student Code of Conduct. 

The Student Code of Conduct was updated in 2026 by the Berkley Schools Administrative team along with input from students, teachers, and parents/guardians. The Code of Conduct is a Google Doc that is searchable, the table of contents is clickable, and it outlines the Berkley Schools new philosophy regarding student behavior and creating a safe school environment together.

Please take time to review the following drop-off information and safety procedures.

Kindergarten & First Grade

Enter though the northeast doors on Gardner.
Students should be dropped off along the east side of Gardner or cross with the crossing guards. For everyone’s safety, do not allow students to cross the street without being at a crossing guard station. Children should wait in line with their classmates. Teachers will meet their students outside when the bell rings.

Second, Third and Fourth Grade

Enter through the parking lot doors off of Tyler (northwest side of the building.)
Students should be dropped off at the Tyler Street drop off circle. Please remember that this is a no parking zone. To keep the flow of traffic moving, please pull forward as far as possible to drop off students. Drop-off is at the turn-around only. (The back parking lot area. Behind the building is reserved for staff only; and, for the safety of the children, there is no drive through or drop off allowed in that area.) Students should wait in line with their classmates. Teachers will meet their students outside when the bell rings.

Fifth & Sixth Grade

Enter through the southeast door on Gardner (nearest Manhattan Street.)

• It is suggested that you car pool and identify drop off and pick up locations that are at least a half block from the school.
• When at all possible, walk to the school with your child or have them walk with a group of friends.
• Obey all traffic markings, signage and speed limits.
• School building doors will open at 8:05 am. Please do not drop of your child too early as they will not be allowed to the enter before that time. Students should be at the school by 8:10 am when the bell rings.
• School building doors close at 3:35 pm. Students are expected to leave the school grounds when dismissed at 3:20 pm. Please make sure that you make arrangements for your child after school. Staff is not available to supervise students after school, with the exception of students enrolled in Latchkey and other after school activities or sports.

Seventh & Eighth Grade

Enter through the Main Entrance on Manhattan Street.
For the safety of students and improved traffic flow, we encourage parents to drop off students a block from the school so that they may cross at the corner with the crossing guards.

In order to limit the disruption of instructional time, Norup International has implemented a procedure for students who need to be dismissed early or who need to leave school in the middle of the day. This will prevent phone calls to classrooms, which are highly disruptive to the learning process.

In the event that your child needs to leave school early on a given day, please notify the office that morning, by 8:30 a.m. You may notify us by using a "Student Pass for Early Dismissal", or by simply writing a note. Phone calls to the main line or attendance line are also acceptable. Please be sure to include your child's name, the teacher's name, the reason for the early dismissal, and the time at which your child should be in the office. This way, the student will simply be dismissed from class at the appropriate time, without a disruptive phone call being made to the teacher.

Thank you for your cooperation and support with our efforts to preserve instructional time.

Student Pass for Early Dismissal

Online Payments

You can now make 5th grade camp payments online!

Instructions for making camp payments through Parent Portal will be posted closer to the due date.

The Berkley School District offers before and after school child care for elementary age children at Norup. The Kids' Zone Latchkey program is managed by the Berkley Schools Teaching & Learning Department. Registration forms can be found on their webpage. If you have additional questions regarding payment or registration please call Marie Fisher-Dowell, Kids' Zone Coordinator at 248-837-8012.

Elementary students will be assigned lockers by their classroom teachers the first week of school. Middle school students will be assigned a locker on packet pick-up day (indicated on students’ schedules.) Most students will share a locker with another student from the same grade and gender, depending on the size of the locker. Students in grades 6-8 should also bring a combination lock to school for their gym lockers. Students are advised to purchase only high quality locks (we suggest Master or American brand locks).

Lunch Procedures

It is school district policy that middle school and elementary students, district wide, remain in school and on campus for the lunch hour.  Students eat lunch in the cafeteria and remain on campus throughout the lunch period, unless they are signed-out in the office by a parent or guardian.

Lunch & Recess Schedule

6th-8th grade: 10:58-11:41 am

4th & 5th grade: 11:45 am - 12:26 pm

• Eat: 11:45-12:05 / Play: 12:05-12:26

2nd & 3rd grade: 11:45 am - 12:26 pm

• Play: 11:45-12:05 / Eat: 12:05-12:26

1st grade: 12:31-1:12 pm

• Eat: 12:31-12:51 / Play: 12:51-1:12

Kindergarten: 12:31-1:12 pm

• Play: 12:31-12:51 / Eat: 12:51-1:12

Breakfast

Breakfast is served from 7:30-8:05 am. 

What is PBIS

PBIS is a process for creating safer and more effective schools. It is a systems approach to enhancing the capacity of schools to educate all children by developing research-based, school-wide, and classroom behavior support systems. The process focuses on improving a school’s ability to teach and support positive behavior for all students. Norup International has developed a set of expectations or rules for your child’s behavior at school. We will teach these expectations to all of our students, and we will recognize students who meet them. The expectations will be the same for students in all areas of our school, including the playground, the cafeteria, the classroom, and in the hallways. 

Hawks Honor

We are calling this program Hawks Honor and all elementary students will be participating. They will be able to earn Hawks Honor tickets when staff members observe them following school rules. Students will be able to earn rewards via a weekly name drawing and also for accruing a certain numbers of tickets. The elementary class with the highest number of tickets will also win a monthly prize! The goal is to focus on the positive behavior of students; however, we know that all students make mistakes and we will be using Fix It Tickets to help students learn and grow. If a student receives a Fix It Ticket the family will be informed and it will be sent home. 

Hawks Honor Printable Flyer

Hawks Honor Expectations

Printable Hawks Honor Expectations

Middle School Bell Schedule
  1st Hour: 8:15-9:07
  2nd Hour: 9:11-10:03
  3rd Hour: 10:07-10:59
  LUNCH: 10:59-11:40
  4th Hour: 11:40 - 12:32
  5th Hour: 12:36-1:28
  6th Hour: 1:32-2:24
  7th Hour: 2:28-3:20

Half-Day Schedule
*Dismissal is at 11:30am
MYP Speed Day:
  1st Hour: 8:15 - 8:39
  2nd Hour: 8:44 - 9:08
  3rd Hour: 9:13 - 9:37
  4th Hour: 9:42 - 10:06
  5th Hour: 10:10 - 10:34
  6th Hour: 10:38 - 11:02
  7th Hour: 11:06 - 11:30

For all scheduled half days except for two in the middle school. The PSAT day in April for 6th and 7th grade will be hours 1-3 and then they are off while 8th grade will take the PSAT in the afternoon. The 6th grade orientation date in June will be hours 1-5 and then they are off.

Find medication forms and learn more about staying healthy on the Student Health & Medication section on the District's Family Resources page.

Illness Dismissal

If students become ill during the school day, they should report to the office where the office staff will contact a parent or guardian. No medication can be given to a student by the office staff without completion of a “Permission to Dispense Medication” form, found on the District's Family Resources page

Family members are encouraged to volunteer in classrooms, chaperone field trips, and be a volunteer driver. In order to volunteer, all persons volunteering in the classroom or during school sponsored functions or field trips must complete the Volunteer Release Form prior to any activities. Persons driving or chaperoning a field trip must have the Volunteer Driver Form and Chaperone Responsibility Form completed in addition to the Volunteer Release Form. All forms can be found on the District Volunteer/Chaperone page.

Wireless Electronic Communication Devices (Cell Phones, etc)

The Berkley School District Board Policy 5136 outlines the Wireless Electronic Communication Devices parameters that follow State of Michigan law. The following grade-level details expand upon the Board Policy.

Elementary Students

• Students may possess wireless communication devices (cell phones), however, these devices will be stored out of sight during the school day, unless required for medical purposes. 
• Wireless communication devices are not permitted in classrooms or during the lunch period. 
• Smartwatches will not be allowed in classrooms. They will need to be kept in backpacks and/or added to a phone caddy in the classroom throughout the school day. All communication between home and school should be adult-to-adult through the main office or teacher.

Middle School Students

• Middle school students will follow an “away for the day” policy. Students may possess wireless communication devices (cell phones, smart watches, etc) however, these devices should be stored out of sight during the school day, including lunch. 
• Each teacher will have phone caddies in their classrooms to facilitate this requirement. 
• Students are not permitted to bring their personal iPads/tablets or laptops to school. It is expected that students will use the District-issued Chromebooks to complete their school work in class.