Berkeley Lake ES
"Bear Essentials" Weekly e-Newsletter, October 2, 2020
Principal's Message
Dear Parents,
You may know that we receive thousands of dollars each year through the federal Title I program, but you might not know exactly what that means for us at Berkeley Lake. Title I Funds pay for all or most of the following:
- Our invaluable Parent Outreach Liaison, Ms. Sandra Orci
- 2-3 extra classroom teachers each year (more teachers mean smaller class sizes for your children)
- Imagine Learning and other web-based resources such as Quaver, BrainPop, Spelling City, Learning A-Z, and Nearpod Lesson Library
- Important professional development (this year we are participating in Anti-Bias training)
- Resources available in the Parent Center and classrooms to support students, such as books or manipulatives
- Parent workshops
- Chromebooks and other technology
- Interpreters and translators
How do we get these dollars? They are directly linked to the number of students who qualify for Free or Reduced lunch, but we don't get these funds if parents don't apply. We are currently providing breakfast and lunch to all students free of charge through a grant, but our Title I status is still tied to our Free and Reduced lunch numbers.
How can you help? It's so easy. Just clink on this link and fill out an application. Families will often qualify and not realize that they are eligible. Even if your child is only eating at home right now, filling out the application will ensure that we keep our Title I funding. Thank you in advance for doing your part to support our school and our future.
Your Principal and Partner,
Dr. Pendleton
FIRST LEGO League Robotics Club Competition Team
Is your child in 4th or 5th grade this year?
Does he/she love to build with Legos?
Is he/she good at math and science?
Would he/she be interested in computer programming?
Does he/she love a challenge?
Does he/she get along well with their peers?
Does he/she love to research and create?
If you answered yes to some of the questions above, then the robotics club sounds like a club for him/her! If your child is interested in applying to be on this competition team, then please complete the application sent through School Messenger by Dr. Pendleton or click here. Applications must be submitted by October 13th to be considered for this team. Please note that this team has less than 10 members.
Upcoming Parent Workshop Opportunity
Parents, mark your calendars for Thursday, October 15. On that night, our counselors will be hosting a Zoom session from 6:30 - 7:30 PM with the topic of Parenting During a Pandemic: Helping Children Cope and Thrive.
In this workshop, we will discuss remote learning, wearing masks, discussing COVID-19 with children, and more. Join us for a conversation about the impact these issues have on emotional and behavioral health, and how to help children during this challenging time.
Please note that Spanish interpretation will also be provided for this workshop.
The Zoom link will be sent out privately closer to the date. We hope you will join us.
Best of Bus Program
On October 5, we will kick-off our Best of Bus (B.O.B.) program! This program helps bus drivers strengthen positive relationships with students and their parents. It also connects our Positive Behavior Interventions Support (PBIS) expectations on the bus to the school building.
The school supports the bus drivers with added recognition programs for individual students and student groups. Additionally, the school will routinely check with drivers regarding successes, challenges, and needs.
Individual students' positive behavior will be recognized by bus drivers giving an “Ask Me” sticker to any student who is displaying an exceptional desired behavior. The bus driver always includes a simple statement about the positive behavior which earned the sticker. Adults in the school reinforce the “Ask Me” sticker by asking those students wearing them to explain what they did to earn it.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
This year, all of our conferences will be virtual. The sign up button will go live on our website on October 7th at 9:00 AM and will remain there until the end of the day on October 13th.
Teachers will contact you with Zoom links closer to your conference date. Conferences are for both in-person and digital learning students.
If you need help scheduling a conference, please reach out to your child's teacher or our parent liason, Sandra Orci at Sandra.Orci@gcpsk12.org or call her at 678-291-4232.
Special Areas Are Taking Grades and They Count
The Special Areas teachers for Art, Music, P.E., and Science would like to remind you that we provide digital lessons on our eClass pages for students learning from home. We all work very hard to help your child learn the Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) for Gwinnett County students in each of these specials. The expectation is that the students will complete those assignments and submit them through eClass to the Special Areas teachers. Students will receive grades (E, S, N, U) on their report cards for these classes. Assignments that are not turned in/submitted will receive an "NTI" (Not Turned In) in our gradebook. The "NTI" will become a zero in the gradebook and will drop the overall grade. Please help us support your child's learning by encouraging them to complete the digital assignments if they are learning from home.
An Announcement from your Media Specialist, Mrs. Norby:
Digital Student Book Check outs will begin the Week of October 12th, 2020. Pick up will be every other week on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm.
Start putting your books on Hold TODAY! Click on the link here to see more details about Digital Student Book Checkout Procedures.
For video instructions on how to put your books on Hold, please visit the BLES Media eClass page here, using your child's eClass log in.
Thank You and Happy Reading!
The Book Fair is Coming
Our school's Scholastic Book Fair will be ONLINE this semester!
The dates for our school's book fair will be Monday, October 26th - Sunday, November 8th
There will be more information to come!
We hope all of our in-person students, digital students and staff will be able to participate in this Online Book Fair!
Overwhelmed by all of the Technology Programs Our Teachers Use?
Building Babies' Brains in Gwinnett
Did you know that only 48% of children in our community start school prepared to learn? Early brain development is a key factor in making sure children in Gwinnett County are ready to thrive in kindergarten and beyond!
Children exposed to positive early learning experiences, like reading, singing, and talking with caregivers, are less likely to have academic and behavioral problems in school. They are more likely to be strong readers by third grade and graduate from high school.
Building Babies' Brains Gwinnett offers a toolkit with resources and opportunities to help enhance brain development in children under the age of 5. Click here to learn more about this initiative.
Gather for Good
Please save the date for a fundraiser for the BLES Care Team! The Care Team raises money to directly help BLES families with "hurdle help" for unmet economic needs. Liz Seymour with Noonday will be donating the entire commission to our Care Team for this event. Noonday Collection aims to make a difference in the world by partnering with artisans in some of the world's most vulnerable communities. In purchasing beautiful fair trade jewelry and accessories, you not only provide dignified jobs to those who need them, but in this instance you also support our BLES families.
Stay tuned for information on the Zoom Link for the live trunk show on Tuesday, October 13th at 8:00pm, which will offer chances for a prize drawing. Ready to shop now? Use this link to support our BLES Care Team and spread the word! If you have questions about this fundraiser, please reach out to Ms. Lyndsay Murphy at lyndsay.murphy@gcpsk12.org.
Shoe Giveaway on Monday
Monday, October 5, 2020 4:00 pm - Until supplies last
First United Methodist of Lawrenceville
395 W Crogan St Lawrenceville, GA 30046
Community volunteers will provide Hope Totes with brand new shoes and socks, a hygiene kit, and encouraging messages to about 300 elementary students.
You must be present to receive shoes. This will be a curb-side pickup event to ensure social distance, health, & safety protocols. This event is sponsored by Truist.
AKS at Home
Where: Virtual meeting via Zoom, links can be found here: http://publish.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/gcps/home/public/parents/content/general-info/aks-at-home/aks-at-home
Who: All Families of students in K - 5
Why: To learn an activity to help support your child at home in math and language arts.
If you are unable to attend the meeting, you can find the parent tip sheet and a recording of the meeting on the county website:
See the chart below to find times specific to each grade level:
Register to Vote
Like everything else during this time of COVID-19, election season is going to be different. Most notably, it will be important for Georgians to request an absentee ballot as soon as possible if they want to vote by mail. A completed application to vote absentee must be received by the Elections Office before an absentee ballot is issued.
You may request a ballot in one of several ways:
If you are registered in Gwinnett, call the Elections Office at 678-226-7210 to request an application be mailed to you.
Download the application, complete it (including signature), then return the application to the Elections Office.
Request your absentee ballot online at https://ballotrequest.sos.ga.gov/
You also have several options for returning your completed absentee ballot application:
Fax it the Elections Office at 678-226-7208;
Scan and email to absentee@gwinnettcounty.com; or
Mail or deliver it to 455 Grayson Highway, Suite 200, Lawrenceville, 30046
While registered voters can request a ballot up to the week before Election Day on November 3, election officials urge voters to request their absentee ballot as soon as possible to avoid mail delays.
Online, check out FAQs on absentee voting. Locations, dates, and times for in-person advance voting have not been released yet, but will be posted by the Elections office once available.
Call the Gwinnett County Office of Elections at 678-226-7210 with questions about voting in Gwinnett.
The deadline to register to vote in Gwinnett County (or make changes to an existing registration) is October 5.
Citizens can register by mail, online, or in many public buildings, including Gwinnett schools and the J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center in Suwanee. On the Secretary of State’s website, log on to MVP— My Voting Page— for voter registration status, mail-in application and absentee ballot status, sample ballot, poll and advance voting locations, and more.
Weekend Food Program
Many of us face economic hardships at various times in our lives. Due to these hardships, we may need additional help with basic needs, like food. At this time, Berkeley Lake Elementary can help by providing a small amount of groceries for your family each week. They will be sent home in your child’s backpack on Thursdays, or if you child is a digital learner; you can pick the food up at school during school lunch pick-up. The food is provided by donation. Your name and your child’s name will not be revealed to the donor. The Berkeley Lake Staff will get the food to your child in a discrete manner, or you can pick-up the food between 10:30-12:30 each Thursday.
To participate, please email or call one of the counselors below or Mrs. Orci (Spanish speaker) to request participation.
If you would like to participate, and your child is a digital learner, but you cannot pick-up the food from school between 10:30-12:30, please let us know. We will see what other ways we can help.
Please call us with any questions or concerns.
Lyndsay Murphy
lyndsay.murphy@gcpsk12.org
School Counselor
770-582-7523
Laura Marantz
laura.marantz@gcpsk12.org
School Counselor
770-582-7522
Sandra Orci (Spanish)
sandra.orci@gcpsk12.org
Parent Liaison
678-291-4232
Positive Behavior and Intervention Support Theme for the Week:
PBIS Team:
Hello Parents,
We wanted to make sure you knew who made up our PBIS Team. Here is our Team and their roles. Please know that we will be doing all we can to ensure there is a Positive Behavior Climate at Berkeley Lake.
PTO News and Information:
- Join the PTO Board and BLES Counselors and Staff at Satisfeed: We’re volunteering October 31 and November 14 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. We’re asking our PTO members to join us to help Duluth Cluster families get fresh food that many need so desperately during the pandemic. Satisfeed Volunteer Sign-up Sheet. Location: Life Church International- 4830 River Green Parkway, Duluth GA. There is a need for 4-5 Spanish speakers each day. If you’d like to donate, visit www.satisfeed.org/donate.
- PTO Donations to Benefit BLES: You can also give to our local BLES food pantry by going to MyPaymentsPlus. PTO has two giving options: 1) Helping Hands donation to go directly to buy essential items for our BLES food pantry. 2) Our general PTO fund helps pay for activities like teacher meals and supply reimbursements. The suggested donation is $15 per family. However, we thank you for any amount you can contribute as we are unable to host one of our biggest fundraisers this year. Look for PTO in the “other payments” section. Email info@blespto.org if you have any questions.
- Annual Turkey Trot Cancelled: We will reevaluate the possibility of having a spring run or finding an online fun-run event to continue to raise money for the school. We thank you for your patience as we navigate our situation this fall. Thank you for your support each year. We will miss this community tradition, too!
GCPS Virtual Substitute Job Fairs
Gwinnett County Public Schools is hiring individuals with two or more years of college to work as part of our substitute team! This involves going out to local schools and providing instruction through an in-person, digital, or hybrid format – you get to choose the assignments that you accept and determine your own schedule! Daily rates range from $98/day to $120/day.
Play to Learn
Looking for a free program for your younger child that will encourage them and you to play, learn, and grow? Play to Learn is that program! Play to Learn is for children up to age 5 and the parents and caregivers. The program supports learning through play. We offer it here at Berkeley Lake Elementary for 90 minutes, once a week, from September 23 to May. If you are interested in enrolling your child in our Play to Learn program, please reach out to Diana Diazgranados at Diana.Diazgranados@gcpsk12.org or call Sandra Orci at (678) 291-4232.
Gwinnett Grows
If you are a parent of a child from birth to preschool age, please visit this link to see more early learning resources offered by Gwinnett County Public Schools.
Mobile Food Pantry
Gwinnett County Public Library in partnership with the Atlanta Community Food Bank will hold a drive-through food pantry September 29th – 11:00 AM (until supplies run out) at the Norcross Branch (6025 Buford Hwy., Norcross, GA 30071). Food will be distributed starting at 11:00 AM on a first-come, first-served basis, one package per family while supplies last. Each package will contain up to 20 lbs of produce in addition to shelf stable items. Distribution will be a drive-through process with volunteers bringing food packages out to cars.
Duluth High School National Honor Society Students Offering Free Tutoring
Visit the Berkeley Lake Elementary website and look under the Announcements section to learn more.
Help for the Holidays
Need Tech Help During Digital Learning?
- Check the BLES website for troubleshooting guides.
- If you are not able to resolve your problem with the help guides, reach out to your child's teacher.
- If the teacher is unable to help you resolve the issue, complete the form in the Technology Help section of the website and someone in Tech Support will get back to you.
GCPS' Return to Learning Hub
Click here for information, resources, how-to’s, and more related to Gwinnett County Public Schools’ plans for Fall 2020. No matter if you are learning digitally or plan to transition to in-person... this is your go-to source.
Georgia Covid19 Emotional Support Resources:
A Look Ahead...
Monday, October 5
"Best of Bus" program kick off
Wednesday, October 7
Link for signing up for parent-teacher conferences goes live on website
12:30pm Play 2 Learn
Thursday, October 8
Fall Break Student/Teacher Holiday
Friday, October 9
Fall Break Student/Teacher Holiday
Monday, October 12
Student Holiday/Teacher Work Day
Tuesday, October 13
Second Nine Weeks Begins
Robotics Club application deadline
Deadline to sign up for parent teacher conferences using link on website
Wednesday, October 14
12:30pm Play 2 Learn
Thursday, October 15
6:30pm Parent Workshop- Parenting During a Pandemic: Helping Children Cope and Thrive
Monday, October 19
Unity Anti-Bullying Week
Parent Teach Conference Week
Wednesday, October 21
Early Release for students at 12:00
Unity Day (Wear Orange)
12:30pm Play 2 Learn
1:00pm Parent Preview- Child Lures-Abuse Prevention
Thursday, October 22
Early Release for students 12:00
1:00pm Parent Preview- Child Lures-Abuse Prevention
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