Berkeley Lake ES
"Bear Essentials" Weekly e-Newsletter, February 26th, 2021
Principal's Message
Dear Parents,
It was so nice to have a week of five full days of classes and a return to sunny weather! This time of year, between Winter Break and Spring Break, can be tough for everyone. I encourage you to help your child look for the fun and joy in the little things each day. Small changes in routines, or even something like a new pencil, can help children persevere when the days are long. For our digital students, the opportunity to get up and stretch, or even get outside, is a great way to stay alert and ready to learn.
Today is the last day to take the Parent RBES Survey so please take a moment to do that, if you haven't already. Links to that survey have been emailed to you from the district as recently as Wednesday. Thanks so much for your feedback.
Take care and enjoy your weekend!
Your Principal and Partner,
Dr. Pendleton
A Look Ahead...
***Specials Rotation Schedule for Digital Learning Students for next week:
- K-2nd: Have Science and P.E.
- 3rd-5th: Have Art and Music
Saturday, February 27
Online Book Fair
9:00am Saturday School
Sunday, February 28
Online Book Fair
Monday, March 1
Online Book Fair
Wear crazy socks to school
Tuesday, March 2
Online Book Fair
Digital Learning Day for ALL Students
Students should dress up as what they want to be when they grow up
Wednesday, March 3
Online Book Fair
Students should wear their favorite hat
12:30pm Play 2 Learn
Thursday, March 4
Online Book Fair
Students should wear their favorite color
Friday, March 5
Progress reports sent home
Students should wear their pajamas
Online book fair
Saturday, March 6
Online Book Fair
9:00am Saturday School
Sunday, March 7
Last day to shop the Online Book Fair
Read Across America Week is Next Week
Read Across America week is next week! Below, you will see the dress up themes for each day.
There are 2 options available to be part of the virtual Read Across America Parade culminating activity on Friday:
Option 1: Students will take a picture with their favorite book. They can even dress up as a character in the book when they take their picture.
Option 2: Students will take a picture on Tuesday, when they are dressed up like what they want to be when they grow up. They should hold a sign stating what they want to be.
Parents may email the pictures to Jessica.L.Hill@gcpsk12.org
We wanted to give you an ample heads up to prepare for a fun and memorable week of reading!
PTO News
Teacher Appreciation Week (First Week in May) Planning
Lots of ideas, itty bitty budget!
We have our allotted Teacher Appreciation Week (TAW) budget of $250 as ratified by membership during our August meeting. We typically supplement that amount with food donations from BLES families to host a luncheon for the teachers during TAW. This year, our ability to raise funds has been limited. In addition, our buffet lunch with homemade treats is not advisable under the current pandemic guidelines. We’d like to fund a nice individually packaged lunch for the teachers. To do that, we need additional funds.
We’d like to ask your help in raising that money. Every PTO donation made through MyPaymentsPlus or sent in via your teacher from March 1 - March 31 will be specifically earmarked for TAW. (This does not include Helping Hands donations. Those monies will continue to directly fund the BLES food pantry.) Our goal is to raise $600 ($10 per each of ~ 90 faculty and staff.) Should we find a restaurant to give a discount, we hope to use any leftover funds to do something additional for our teachers, such as a gift basket with cleaning supplies, a gift card and some snacks – depending on how much money we raise.
This year has been especially challenging for our teachers and staff. We hope to show them some special appreciation during TAW. If each family contributed just $1, we would make our goal. Thank you for any support you can give. Contact info@blespto.org with any questions.
March 18 Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) General Membership Meeting
If you have a student enrolled at BLES, you are a Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) member and invited to attend.
This year, our annual spring membership meeting will be held virtually starting at 6:30 on Thursday, March 18. Mrs. Orci from the Parent Center has graciously offered to do live Spanish translation of our meeting. We are inviting a speaker from the Federal Programs Family-School Partnership Advisory Counsel (PAC) to provide an overview of the breadth of offerings from Gwinnett County Public Schools from pre-school to high school. We’ll review our proposed slate of PTO officers for the 2021-2022 school year to allow for 30 days’ notice prior to voting the officers in during the month of April. We’ll review what we’ve accomplished this year, our outlook for spring school support and take ideas/feedback for next year’s planning process.
Call for 2021-2022 PTO Executive Board Members
Each year, we call on all parents to consider service on our executive board or chair one of our many committees to serve the school. We present the candidates for consideration at our March membership meeting and vote them into office in April. This allows time for a May transition meeting prior to the former board members departing.
Getting involved with the PTO helps you develop relationship with our teachers, Dr. Pendleton and staff. You’ll receive updates on what’s happening around the school and the Duluth cluster in addition to a lot of fun meeting families and community members.
This year, our voting will be virtual and we will provide the bios of our candidates on our blespto.org website at least 30 days before voting. Position descriptions and more information about the PTO are available now for your review.
We hope to return to some normalcy for next year and it is a great time to come aboard and make even stronger our purpose of (1) Enhancing the educational environment at Berkeley Lake Elementary through volunteer and financial resources, (2) Promoting communication between the school administration, staff, parents and students and (3) Fostering pride in Berkeley Lake Elementary throughout the community.
More School News
Spring Travel
GCPS's "Shine"
Parents of 3rd, 4th, and 5th Graders
Spring Picture Day is Coming
If you are a parent of an IN-PERSON student, your child will have the opportunity to have his/her picture made in school on March 18th.
Berkeley Lake's Robotics Team News
The 4th and 5th grade BLES BearBots Robotics Competition Team competed in the First LEGO League Rock Springs Virtual Competition on January 29th. The competition included elementary and middle schools from the metro Atlanta area. The competition consisted of 4 different areas, and the BearBots won the Robot Design Award!
March is Music in Our Schools Month
March is Music in Our Schools month and to celebrate it, I will be sharing some music ideas and photos of our students enjoying music. The photo below shows the middle school Strings program performing at last year's Duluth Fall Festival Parade.
To kick off music in our schools month a few days early, I would like to congratulate 5th grade student Valeria Herrera for being selected to sing in the GCPS Virtual Honors Chorus. She has been working hard and will soon make a video singing. That video will be shared with Gwinnett County Public Schools virtual chorus that is being built this year.
Mr. Green
It's Heart Awareness Month! See Some Fun Heart Facts from the American Heart Association (AHA) below:
Did you know?
Everyday your heart will beat over 100,000 times and pump about 2,000 gallons of blood!
Take 10+ Program
- Gwinnett Technical College is currently offering Medical Administrative Assistant, Phlebotomy Technician, and Welding for Manufacturing as the certification training options.
- Class are available both 100% online and Hybrid formats.
Documents
If you have not done so already, please log into your MyPaymentsPlus account and make sure that you have signed off on all of the required school documents that the teacher notified you about at the conference. Click here for help with My Payments Plus.
Gwinnett County Public Schools Virtual Transition Fair 2021
Save-the-Date for the Virtual Transition Fair 2021 for students with disabilities, their families, and educators. Attendees will have the opportunity to watch virtual presentations from local agency representatives regarding various options available for school-aged students as well as transitional services to post-school activities and employment. Presentations and resources will be available virtually, in the following categories: Day Programs, Community Living Supports, Recreation & Leisure, and Vocational & Career Services.
Who: For parents, students with disabilities, and educators
When: Saturday, March 20, 2021, 8:00am
Where: Website: https://www.gcpsk12.org/Page/23404
Making Summer Plans Already? Sign Up for Camp Invention: Recharge At-home
6/21/2021 - 6/24/2021 from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Your Program: The all-new 2021 program lineup is the best one yet! Featuring take-apart microphones, robotic crickets, duck-launching devices and morphing vehicles, this summer is packed with super fun, confidence-boosting STEM activities!
- Camp At Home: This year, your local camp will be an at-home program, so activity kits will be delivered directly to you and optional virtual sessions will be led by a certified local educator — your child will have everything they need for an amazing week of STEM fun.
- Your Child’s Registration:
- As promised, we held last year’s price and Saved Your Spot by preregistering your child for the program. Your credit on file has been applied to your registration!
- To complete your registration, please follow the link below. If you have more than one child attending, be sure to update all camper information before completing your registration.
Biggest discount ever! When you complete your registration, be sure to use promo code ALUMNI40 to SAVE $40!
Discount ends 3/31/2021. Redeem online. Cannot be combined with other discounts. All 2020 Save Your Spot credits will expire on 9/1/2021. All funds resulting from unused credits will be allocated toward program
Mathnasium of Berkeley Lake
www.mathnasium.com/berkeleylake
Starbucks Center off South Old Peachtree 4895 Peachtree Industrial Blvd #104, Norcross, GA 30092
(770) 881-8462
GCPS District Information:
2020-2021 GCPS Promotion Criteria for Elementary Students:
Do You Have a Parent Portal Account?
If you need to register with the portal, please print and complete this registration form and turn it in to the main office. Along with the completed form, you are required to show a photo I.D. for verification.
Berkeley Lake Recycles
Berkeley Lake recycles aluminum cans and old clothes and shoes (in any condition) in the two bins in the upper parking lot. The Green Team receives 10¢ per pound of donations, which helps pay the fee for the weekly paper and cardboard pick-up. The aluminum cans are recycled at Progressive Recycling on Simpson Circle. Please support our Green Team by recycling these items here at Berkeley Lake. Thank you!
We Collect Box Tops (Online)
Our Parent Center
The Berkeley Lake Parent Center is located across from the front office and it's providing services by appointment. For Parent Center support please call Ms. Sandra Orci, Parent Liaison, at 678-291-4232 or email her at Sandra.Orci@gcpsk12.org
Our Mission
To provide learning experiences in a secure and stimulating environment where every child can develop to his/her fullest potential academically, socially, and emotionally.
Our Vision
BLES is a positive safe, nurturing environment that fosters respect among all students, teachers, parents and community members, while forwarding world-class achievement that successfully maximizes each student's individual potential through engaging instruction.
Contact Us:
Berkeley Lake Elementary
4300 S. Berkeley Lake Rd.
Duluth, Georgia 30096
P: (770)446-0947
F: (770)582-7514