Berkeley Lake ES
"Bear Essentials" Weekly e-Newsletter, September 4, 2020
Principal's Message
Dear Parents,
We were so excited to welcome our 2nd and 3rd grade students back into the building this week! Thank you for remembering to send your child with a mask each day. As a reminder, BLES has a Universal Breakfast program this year, so any student may eat breakfast free of charge. Students should first go to class, get their lanyard with their ID card, and then visit the breakfast cart nearest their hallway.
As we prepare for our last transition of students returning to the building on September 9th, I also want to remind you that teachers are using Dojo as their primary means of communicating important information to you. However, we always need current phone numbers and emails in the Parent Portal, so if you change one of those, please call the front office.
I hope you enjoy this three day weekend. See you on Tuesday!
Your Principal and Partner,
Dr. Pendleton
Is Your Child in 1st, 2nd, or 5th Grade? If So, Please Read Below:
If your child is a digital learner in 1st, 2nd, or 5th Grade, you have the option to bring him/her to the school for the Cognitive Abilities (CogAT) test. If you would like to do this, please fill out this form by Friday, September 11th. If you do not want to do this, please do NOT fill out the form.
Imagine Learning
Both Imagine Learning programs are web-based, so they can be accessed anywhere, as long as there is an internet connection. If your student will be using a tablet or iPad to use the program, it is best to download the Imagine Learning app. If your child is using a chromebook or laptop, he/she can access it through the Imagine Learning website.
When students first begin both programs, they will take an assessment to see what their current level is. It is VERY important that students take this assessment without any help from parents, tutors, day care workers, or older siblings, in order for the student to be placed at the correct level for support. If your child is working on Imagine Learning at home, you are welcome to help him/her get logged in, but after that we ask that you do not help your child with answers.
Once the initial assessment is complete, your child will automatically be given content in the program that is specific to the level at which she/he tested.
In order for Imagine Learning to best support your child academically, we encourage you to have him/her get on the program for 15-20 minutes per day if at all possible. The more time students spend on the program, the more gains they will make; however, the program is meant to be used in short but frequent time blocks so a session longer than 30 minutes would be too much.
Our students may begin Imagine Learning Literacy on Tuesday, September 8th, and Imagine Learning Math on Monday, September 14th.
Usernames and passwords to access the programs will be the student id number. Our school code for access is 1302550. All of this information can be found on the student log in cards.
If you have any questions about the program, feel free to email Jessica Hill at jessica.l.hill@gcpsk12.org.
You Are Invited to Join Us for Title I Meetings
The first meeting will take place on Thursday, September 10th, from 5:30 - 6:30 PM. This meeting will the Planning meeting. The second meeting will take place on September 24th, also from 5:30 - 6:30 PM, and will be the Annual meeting. Both meetings will take place as Zoom video calls. Links to the Zoom meetings will be shared out closer to the dates through Class Dojo and School Messenger.
If you would like to learn more about our Title I program, click here to visit the Title I page on our BLES website and click here to watch a video that will tell you more about the program.
BLES Student's Dynamic Shapes Artwork Chosen for High Museum Exhibit
Last year, the High Museum of Art in Atlanta was planning to exhibit one piece of artwork from each school in Gwinnett County Schools as an art exhibit. This exhibit was put on hold due to the Covid pandemic. Now the High Museum has decided to do an online exhibit of the student's artwork that was gathered from last school year. Gwinnett County is a long-standing district partner with the High. The schools and the Museum both understand the importance of high-quality art classes, as well as the power of integrating the study of art into all subjects. This virtual exhibition is a component of the partnership, showcasing the talents of students in Kindergarten through grade 12. Eva Petritis' second grade art was chosen to be on display for our school. She is now a 3rd Grader at our school. Please take time to go online and see her work and the work of many other creative and talented Gwinnett County Artist. The link for the exhibit is https://high.org/students/gwinnett-student-exhibition/. You can also see Eva's drawing below.
Duluth High School National Honor Society Students Offering Free Tutoring
Hello parents! For this on-going fall semester, Duluth High School’s National Honor Society (NHS) has offered to provide an exciting and innovative free tutoring service. Through Covac Education, a student organized corporation that strives to support the community through academic enrichment, student instructors from Duluth High School’s National Honor Society are providing free tutoring sessions for elementary students (1st-5th) in math. These sessions take place on Mondays through Thursdays from 4:00 - 6:00 pm.
As well as being completely free, these tutoring sessions are paired with Common-Core/Georgia Standards worksheets to help students make the most of their time. Sessions are 20 minutes long, and all instructors are trained and have access to teaching directions based on specific Georgia standards.
For students to take advantage of this, you will need to sign up online using an appointment form provided on Covac Education’s website (links below). After doing so, students are individually paired with an instructor from an NHS or other honor societies/volunteer organizations. Considering the hardships of digital learning, we believe that this is a great opportunity for every student!
This free tutoring service will begin on September 8th and sign-ups will begin September 4th. Please feel free to visit this link to learn more and sign up using this form.
Sincerely,
Duluth National Honor Society
Play to Learn
PTO News
- Our Spirit Wear Pop-Up Shop Closes September 9! Wednesday, September 9, is the last day to get three new BLES spirit wear designs and styles. These t-shirts are only available now. To prepare for the change of seasons, we’ll have another pop-up store in October with new designs for sweatshirts and long-sleeved t-shirts. To save you shipping fees, we’ll set up times/dates for contactless pick up at the school. Shop now at https://pswear.com/BerkeleyLake.
- Grandparents Day is September 13. Let’s Celebrate - Digitally! We’ve created a picture frame for you to snap your photo and send to your grandparents. It’s free to use to make your Grandparents’ Day! Download your PNG or JPEG file, snap a picture with the frame and send it. (We typically sell these at our Grandparent’s Day luncheon as for $5. If you’d like to provide a donation, please see MyPayments Plus, PTO section, and type in the amount you’d like to give.)
- PTO Membership and Donations: If you have a student enrolled at BLES, you’re a Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) member. In lieu of a formal membership enrollment, we’d like for everyone who can to donate to the PTO so we can continue to provide financial support to our school. We’ve added two options for PTO donations on MyPaymentsPlus – the place where you already go to sign annual paperwork and pay for meals. Our general PTO fund helps pay for activities like STEM Night and teacher supply reimbursements. We’ve added a Helping Hands donation to go directly to buy essential items for our BLES food pantry. The suggested donation is $15 per family, however, we thank you for any amount you can contribute. Look for PTO in the “other payments” section. Email info@blespto.org if you have any questions.
- This Year’s Budget is Approved! Thanks to all for listening to our first membership meeting of the year at Curriculum Night. We have a quorum and the budget is unanimously approved. We can now move forward with operations for this school term. You can always find a copy of our budget and more about our PTO on our site.
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.
School Supplies & Food Pantry
Please contact your child's school counselor if you should need assistance with school supplies or would like to access our food pantry.
Lyndsay Murphy, M.A.
Grades K, 2, 4
Pre K for Ms. Hutt's & Ms. Cmiel's class
770-582-7523
Laura Marantz, Ed.S.
Grades 1, 3, 5
2nd/3rd Kates & Pre K for Mack's class
770-582-7522
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.
Meals Available for Students During Digital Learning
On Wednesday, August 13th, we began our curbside meal pick up to provide our students meals during digital learning. If you are interested in picking up a meal for your child, there will be a table outside in the front of the school. You will pull into the front drive and walk up to the table outside to pick up the meals. Meals will only be available for pick up between 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM, Monday-Thursday. Thursday’s pick-up will include meals for both Thursday and Friday. Students will be offered the choice of both a breakfast and a lunch each day. Students will need to present their Student ID cards. This allows us to process and properly account for the meal. We will give those out the first day you come for a meal. The student does not need to be present to receive a meal. A Parent/Guardian may pick up a meal for their child, but he/she must have the Student ID card in order to validate their child’s enrollment and eligibility. Students will be charged for their meals based on their current eligibility of Free, Reduced, or Full Pay. In order to limit direct contact, we strongly encourage parents to add money to their child’s account via MyPaymentsPlus.
If you need to complete the Free and Reduced Priced Meal Application please click here. The application must be filled out each school year. Please complete as soon as possible.
A Look Ahead...
Monday, September 7
Student/Teacher Labor Day Holiday- No School
Tuesday, September 8
Students may begin using Imagine Learning Literacy
Wednesday, September 9
4th and 5th Grade students return to school for those whose parents chose in-person on the digital survey
Last day to order BLES Spirit Wear
Thursday, September 10
5:30 PM Title 1 Planning Meeting on Zoom. School will send out Zoom link closer to date.
Thursday, September 17
9:00 AM Coffee Talk with Dr. Pendleton
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