Berkeley Lake ES
"Bear Essentials" Weekly e-Newsletter, February 12th 2021
Principal's Message
Dear Parents,
It was a great week at Berkeley Lake Elementary! We were happy to have students from our two classes that had to be quarantined back at school this week. I am hopeful that we have seen the worst of the winter holiday spike in cases. Please continue to let us know if your child has COVID symptoms or has been in close contact with someone with COVID.
I hope that everyone is planning to attend a Parent-Teacher Conference next week. The teachers will be working on Monday to finish their preparations for some great conversations with you about your child's progress. All conferences will be via Zoom. Don't forget, students dismiss at 12:00 noon on Wednesday and Thursday.
I want to remind everyone of an amazing new resource, AKS at Home. Please take a few moments to check it out!
I hope that you enjoy your long weekend!
Your Principal and Partner,
Dr. Pendleton
A Look Ahead...
***Specials Rotation Schedule for Digital Learning Students for next week:
KG - 2nd: Science and PE
3rd - 5th: Art and Music
Saturday, February 13
no events
Sunday, February 14
Valentine's Day
Monday, February 15
Student Holiday/Teacher Work Day (Presidents' Day)
Parent teacher conference week
Tuesday, February 16
no events
Wednesday, February 17
Early Release-12:00 NOON
Parent-teacher conferences
12:30pm Play 2 Learn - Cancelled due to Early Release
Thursday, February 18
Early Release-12:00 NOON
Parent-teacher conferences
Friday, February 19
no events
Reminder - Early Release on Wednesday, February 17th, and Thursday, February 18th
Since next week will be parent-teacher conference week, students will be released from school at noon on both Wednesday, February 17th, and Thursday, February 18th. Please make sure you have made afternoon transportation and after-school arrangements for your child on those two days.
The button to sign up for conferences has now been removed from our website, so any further communication about conferences will need to go through your child's teacher or our parent liaison, Sandra Orci. Ms. Orci can be reached by email at Sandra.Orci@gcpsk12.org or by phone at 678-291-4232.
Results Based Evaluation System Survey for Parents
Class Lists for Next School Year
Click here to see the form in English
PTO Items:
Be a BLES Valentine!
We might not be able to celebrate Valentine’s Day the same way, but let’s celebrate digitally! Our special PTO artist has created a picture frame for you to snap your photo and send to your family, friends and teachers. It’s free to use to make someone’s Valentine’s Day! Download your PNG or JPEG file, snap a picture with the frame and send it. Thanks Monique Somervell!
The Book Fair is Coming
Mark your calendars! This semester, our Book Fair will be online from February 22nd - March 7th!
Support our school and help your child discover new books, favorite characters, complete series, and more! You'll love the fun new option to shop for Book Fair exclusives directly from the interactive booklist and enjoy free shipping on book-only purchases over $25.
You will be able to shop the BLES Online Book Fair from the link below starting on February 22nd:
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
Instructional Resource Review Committee Application
AKS at Home Help
If you were unable to attend a live AKS at Home virtual meeting for your child's grade level last week or the week before, there is still an opportunity for you to watch a recorded session of the meeting. Click here to learn more.
Positive Behavior and Intervention Supports:
We had our annual PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) Walkthrough on 2/2 and we had an amazing visit. We appreciate our entire school always remembering to Be Respectful, Be Responsible and to Be Safe. Thank you to Mrs. Sosa's and Mrs. Walsh's classes for answering questions about Positive Behavior in our school. Many thanks to all the staff and students for continuing to focus on Berkeley Lake's Behavior Expectations. We have new signs that will go up around the school so that we can continue to have great behavior at BLES!
Reminder: There will be no Play 2 Learn next Wednesday due to early release and parent teacher conferences.
Supporting Your Children's Mental Health During a Pandemic
BLES Food Pantry and Care Team
All BLES families have access to our Care Team Food Pantry. If you find yourself in need of pantry food items, please let us know. A counselor will gather food items for pick-up at a time that is convenient for you. If you find you have other basic economic living needs our BLES Care Team may be able to help. Our school counselors will help connect you to other resources. Please reach-out to your child's school counselor to learn more.
Lyndsay Murphy (Ms. Hutt, Ms. Cmiel, Grades K,2,4)
lyndsay.murphy@gcpsk12.org, 770-582-7523
Laura Marantz (Ms. Mack, Grades 1,3,5)
laura.marantz@gcpsk12.org, 770-582-7522
Sandra Orci ( Spanish)
sandra.orci@gcpsk12.org, 678-291-4232
Need to Find Food?
Adult Education Division Rolling Registration
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
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
Camp Invention: Sign up for a chance to WIN!
Sign up for your child to have the chance to win free scholarship to our Virtual Camp Invention. Fill out this google form between now and February 28th, and your student's name will go into the drawing for a Free Scholarship.
If you attend a virtual meeting throughout February, you will earn an additional name in the drawing. The drawing will be video-recorded and shared on Class Dojo Stories. Good luck on earning the Summer adventure to spark your kid’s imagination with new hands-on STEM fun at Camp Invention®!
This K-6 program comes to Berkeley Lake from June 21 to June 24. Register using code SUM40 by March 31st to save $40 at invent.org/ mylocalcamp.
During this energizing program, young innovators (a.k.a. campers) will:
- Design morphing vehicles to travel across land, then find inspiration in nature to add prototype elements for moving through air and water.
- Experiment with fun physics concepts like trajectory and velocity as they build, test and modify a device to launch rubber ducks to reach international landmarks.
- Make and adopt their own robotic crickets and apply empathy to build customized habitats and protective gear for their solar-powered bots.
- Reverse engineer their own wireless microphone to discover sound waves, then use their unique voice to create and promote an extraordinary invention.
GCPS District Information:
Sign Up Today to Receive School System News Online
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