Berkeley Lake ES
"Bear Essentials" Weekly e-Newsletter, September 25, 2020
Principal's Message
Dear Parents,
I want to thank everyone who attended our Annual Title I meeting on Thursday, as well as those who attended my Coffee Talk last week. I appreciate the time you take to participate in these opportunities. I would also like to thank our PTO Executive Board. We met last week, and they are busily working behind the scenes to support our school this year!
September, like every month since March, has been one of change and a need for patience and flexibility! We did our final student enrollment count last week and our numbers were better than I expected. We did have to lose the equivalent of a teacher position because we did not hit our enrollment forecast but, all things considered, this was better than I anticipated.
At the very beginning of the school year, our kindergarten enrollment was very low but those numbers have continued to rise. We have moved one of our 4th grade teachers, Ms. Jasmin Bailey, to kindergarten, in order to get the in-person class size in kindergarten down to 17-18 students per class. I want to extend my deep appreciation to Ms. Bailey for making that change, as well as to our 4th grade families for their continued understanding. Hopefully, we will not see much will change with class lists until we prepare for the second semester.
As a reminder, if you have extenuating circumstances that make it necessary to change your child from digital to in-person for the second nine weeks, I need you to send me an email with an explanation of your situation no later than October 1st. Students who will be returning for the second nine weeks should come to school beginning October 13th. This is the day right after Fall Break.
Finally, I would like to announce our 2020-2021 Berkeley Lake Elementary School Teacher of the Year: Ms. Melissa Redner!
Your Principal and Partner,
Dr. Pendleton
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.
2020 Census - Respond by September 30th to be Counted
By now, more than 90% of U.S. households have been counted in the #2020Census. Census takers are visiting every household that has not already responded to make sure all households are counted. If you haven’t responded yet, it’s not too late! The deadline to respond is September 30. You can respond online at 2020census.gov, by phone, or by mail. If a census taker comes to your home, please cooperate. Your community needs your response. Results of the census shape many aspects of our community, from funding for schools, highways, emergency services, and libraries to representation in Congress. Visit 2020Census.gov today to get started!
Special Areas
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.
Parents of 2nd grade students:
Overwhelmed by all of the Technology Programs Our Teachers Use?
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.
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
BLES Students Social Distancing During Media Specials
Positive Behavior and Intervention Support Theme for the Week:
GCPS Offering Meals at No Charge for Students and Children 18 and Under
These meals are provided at no cost to the individual through the federal School Nutrition Program.
Students Attending School In-Person
Those attending school in-person will receive meals free-of-charge during their school’s scheduled meal times.
Curbside Pick-up for Digital Learners
Digital learners may pick up meals through the curbside pick-up programs at Berkeley Lake Elementary, Monday through Friday, between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Each day’s pick-up includes both breakfast and lunch. . Individuals will not be allowed to enter the school to pick up or eat meals.
Curbside Pick-up for Others 18 Years of Age or Younger:
Curbside pick-up meals also will be available at no charge to anyone 18 years of age or younger, even to children who are not GCPS students, Monday through Friday, between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Each day’s pick-up includes both breakfast and lunch. Individuals will not be allowed to enter the school to pick up or eat meals. (please note the Monday - Friday pick up is a new change, as it used to be a Monday - Thursday pick up only.)
Gwinnett County Public Schools encourage families who are eligible for the Free & Reduced Meal Program to complete the annual application to ensure meal benefits continue when this waiver expires. The application is available at https://www.nlappscloud.com/.
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
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.
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.
Georgia Covid19 Emotional Support Resources:
A Look Ahead...
Tuesday, September 29
Iowa Testing 2nd Grade
Wednesday, September 30
Iowa Testing 2nd Grade
12:30pm Play 2 Learn
Wednesday, October 7
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
Wednesday, October 14
12:30pm Play 2 Learn
Thursday, October 15
6:30pm Parent Workshop- Parenting During a Pandemic: Helping Children Cope and Thrive
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