Bear Essentials, Jan. 14, 2022
Weekly eNews for Parents and BLES Families
Principal's Message
It's been another great week of learning at Berkeley Lake Elementary, but it has not been without its challenges. Due to the sharp increase in COVID cases, we have suffered from a sub shortage, and I am so very grateful to our school staff for pulling together to ensure every child had a caring and qualified teacher this week. Likewise, we continue to have disruptions in our bus service due to a bus driver shortage. We are happy to pass any concerns to the transportation department or you may contact them directly by calling or emailing Ms. Sandra J. Williams at sandra.j.williams@gcpsk12.org or 678-473-6241.
Thank you to everyone who joined me for Coffee Talk this week. I welcome your questions and feedback at all times and hope you feel comfortable in reaching out. Enjoy the three-day weekend!
Your Principal and Partner,
Dr. Pendleton
A Look Ahead...
Monday, January 17
- Student/Teacher Holiday for Martin Luther King Jr.
Tuesday, January 18
- 2nd- High Touch High Tech- STEM LAB
Wednesday, January 19
- 2nd- High Touch High Tech- STEM LAB
- 12:30pm Play to Learn
- 3:15pm Green Team
Thursday, January 20
- No events
Friday, January 21
- No events
GCPS "Shine Student"
and says he is challenged to do his best every day! Click here to meet him and other students featured in the SHINE campaign.
Class Preference for Next School Year
It's time to work on class lists for next year and we want your input! Please complete this form by January 28th:
Clinic is In Need Of
Our Clinic urgently needs:
- pants (boys-girls-adults) all ages and sizes. (sweatpants, stretch pants, yoga pants, running pants or any pants )
- groceries bags
Please drop them by the clinic if you have any to donate. Thank you.
Excuse Notes for Absences
Communication between home and school is a key component of your child's success in school. We appreciate phone calls, Dojo's and emails letting us know the morning of your child's absence. That helps us not wonder and worry about why your child is not here, and helps us anticipate when they will return to school.
It is also important to send an excuse note with your child following any absence. We have students returning from being out due to illness without excuse notes. This causes their absence to be coded as unexcused. Students with 10 or more unexcused absences are considered truant. If it is more convenient, you can email the excuse note to the teacher and they will print it for you. A Dojo message cannot be printed as an excuse note.
Please contact our school counselors with any questions.
Laura Marantz
Counselor for K, 2, 4
Lyndsay Murphy
Counselor for 1,3,5
Kids Heart Challenge is Coming!
Register Early:
Our American Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge event will begin on January 31st! Your student will learn about heart, brain, and vascular health, and meet kids with special hearts!
Our goal is to have all students register online and take the challenge. They’ll even earn a free wristband for registering! Plus, the classrooms with the most students registered in each grade level will earn a mystery surprise!
Here’s how you can help:
- Register today at: http://www2.heart.org/goto/berkeleylake
- Take the challenge: Be Active or Be Kind
- Share with friends and family through social media, text and/or email
Click on the image below showing the three steps to learn more about what the American Heart Association is doing to make an impact in our community.
Lost and Found
PTO News
- Spirit Wear- we are searching for a volunteer(s) to chair the Spirit Wear this year. We have local vendors we work with but are looking for someone to coordinate and help arrange the sales. If you would be interested in volunteering for this position, please contact us at info@blespto.org
- Yearbook - it’s not too late to order the yearbook, but the discounted price of $30 is now over. The price has gone up to $35.00. Orders must be placed by April 27, 2022. Click here to order one for your child today.
Think First and Stay Safe
The annual personal safety lessons designed to prevent sexual abuse will begin the week of January 10th and continue until counselors are able to deliver these lessons to all classes K-5. A letter will come home the day your child receives their lesson. The Think First & Stay Safe™ program is a research-based program that teaches specific personal safety education by way of interactive classroom lessons, classroom posters, role playing and corresponding activities. Think First & Stay Safe™ enables students to take an active and necessary role in protecting themselves from abuse and exploitation. A committee of professional school counselors reviewed the program and selected components that were developmentally appropriate for elementary students and developed lessons around those concepts.
K Kids:
The next meeting will be January 21, 2022 in Mrs. Ashadele's room. No need to arrive early, since we will start when the bell rings.
Family Engagement Tips
Instructional Resource Review Committee Applications Now Available
Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) is inviting parents and community members to apply for the district’s Instructional Resources Review Committee (IRRC), a group charged with evaluating print and digital instructional resources. Feedback from the IRRC and teacher reviews will be considered in the selection of resources to pilot in the district. This year’s IRRC will convene on Feb. 22 at the J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center (ISC) located at 437 Old Peachtree Road, NW, in Suwanee. Instructional resources will be reviewed for courses in the areas of Health (grades K-9), Mathematics (grades K-5 and select High School courses), Career and Technical Education (select courses in grades 6-12), and Social Studies (select elective courses in grades 9-12). Learn more about the IRRC and complete the application online. The deadline to submit completed applications is Jan. 24.
Report Cards for Semester 1
School Calendar for Next Year Approved and Released
AKS at Home for 2nd Semester Begins January 25th!
As part of Gwinnett County Public Schools’ family engagement initiative, the school district seeks to empower parents with tools that allow them to help their children at home. Our AKS at Home project provides math and language arts resources to support families of children in grades K-5 so that they truly are partners in their children’s learning. This support is available for families to access in the format that suits them and their schedule best. They can attend live virtual meetings, view recorded information at a time that best fits their schedule, and gain tips and suggestions on how to best help their children through tip sheets on a wide variety of topics.
We invite our families to sign up for a virtual session to learn more about how they can support their children.
Tip Sheets and Recordings can be accessed by selecting the appropriate grade level. Recordings will be available at the end of each unit series.
- Language Arts: Tuesday, Feb. 1, 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. Register
- Math: Tuesday, Jan. 25, 9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Register
- Language Arts: Tuesday, Feb. 1, 9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Register
- Math: Tuesday, Jan. 25, 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. Register
- Language Arts: Thursday, Feb. 3, 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. Register
- Math: Thursday, Jan. 27, 9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Register
- Language Arts: Thursday, Feb. 3, 9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Register
- Math: Thursday, Jan. 27, 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. Register
- Language Arts: Wednesday, Feb. 2, 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. Register
- Math: Wednesday, Jan. 26, 9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Register
Positive Interventions and Behavior Support (PBIS)
PBIS Corner Respect Links:
Will Your Child Be Withdrawing as a Student from Our School?
Recreational Spring Soccer Sign Up:
First Ever GCPS Relay for Life Car Show:
Camp Invention Is Coming Summer 2022
Berkeley Lake Elementary is a Georgia After School Program (GASP) School
T-Mobile Offering Cellular Plan for Gwinnett Families
Please note: For questions regarding the program, please contact
LeanStream support at info@leanstreamrp.com or 833-943-4463.
COVID 19 Help
Gwinnett County Substitute Teacher Incentive Plan
In Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS), our people are our greatest resource, including our substitute teachers and the tremendous support they provide to our students, staff members, and schools. GCPS substitutes play a critical role in our students’ education, making a difference in the lives of children every day! Click here to learn more about the GCPS substitute teaching program.
Do You Have a Young Child at Home That is Not Yet in School? If so, Get Involved With Play to Learn.
We Collect Box Tops (Online)
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.
Do You Have a MyPaymentsPlus Account?
Did You Know BLES is on Various Social Media Apps?
Opportunity for Discounted Portable WiFi Hotspot for Families
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!
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.
We Thank Our Business Partners
- The Tutoring Center, Duluth, Ga.
- Barnes & Noble
- Chick-fil-A
- Mathnasium
- Publix at Tree Summit
- Ultra Baby LLC (Ultrasound and Photography)
Contact Us:
Berkeley Lake Elementary
4300 S. Berkeley Lake Rd.
Duluth, Georgia 30096
P: (770)446-0947
F: (770)582-7514