

Bear Essentials
Weekly eNews from January 13, 2023
Principal's Message
It's been another great week of learning at Berkeley Lake Elementary School! Thank you to everyone who attended Coffee Talk this week. If you were not able to sit in, here are some key take-aways from our chat:
- Our projected enrollment for next year is roughly the same and we anticipate having six home rooms in each grade level, K-5
- We were excited to welcome Ms. Julie Asztalos to a new role in our school as Assistant Principal!
- Upcoming school enhancements include two large shade structures and four picnic tables on the playground, parent center upgrades, and an electronic sign to replace our brick sign.
- Title I updates - we are using Title I carryover funds to provide basic classroom supplies for all students next year, which will lessen the supplies that parents will need to buy. Other carryover budget items include funding for a new color printer, stipends for teacher planning and professional development, new iPads for the media center, and online subscriptions for Brain Pop, Imagine Learning, PikMyKid and Typing Agent.
- We are in the process of administering ACCESS testing to our students who speak a second language as well as finishing mid-year assessment for all students in reading and math.
I look forward to seeing you at our upcoming STEM Night on January 19!
Have a nice weekend.
Your Principal and Partner,
Dr. Pendleton
Looking Ahead:
Saturday, January 14
- 8:00am Robotics Club Super Regional Tournament
Monday, January 16
- MLK Holiday - no school for students or staff
Tuesday, January 17
- Report cards will be printed and mailed by the county
- 9:30am Play to Learn
Wednesday, January 18
- 9:00am Basic English Class in the Parent Center
Thursday, January 19
- 5:00pm STEM Night
Friday, January 20
- No events
Details of Next Week's Events:
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
We Hope Your Family Will Join Us for STEM Night
Our annual STEM Family Night will take place on Thursday, January 19th from 5:00-7:00 pm. We have a lot of presenters and activities planned, so we hope your family will be able to attend. If you'd like a sneak peak at the sessions and activities being offered so you can plan ahead, click here.
Friday - no events
Other School News:
Imagine Learning High Usage Students
We are happy to announce that students John Cruz-Zuniga from Ms. Sweet's 3rd grade class and Kailan Sandoval Torres from Mr. Bush's 3rd grade class were rewarded with new Imagine Learning backpacks filled with school supplies for being top users of Imagine Learning in the 2nd quarter of school.
Weekly eTips for Parents
Each week, the GCPS Department of Family Engagement, sends out eTips for parents in both English and Spanish. The English tips are towards the front of the document and the Spanish on pages following the English.
Check out the tips for next week here
or
take a look at all of the previous eTips by week here.
These tips can also be found on our website under the Family Engagement Quicklinks area.
New AKS at Home Sessions, Jan. 30 - Feb. 1
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, and gain tools 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 session series.
Visit the AKS at Home webpage to learn more and to see session dates and times.
A PBIS Thank You!
Ms. Morgan, Ms. Ashadele, and the PBIS (Positive Interventions Behavior Support) Committee would like to thank the following supporters for donating prizes to our new PBIS Store:
- The Sung Family
- Arielle Sullivan-Harris
- Tuyet Hong Thi Nguyen
- Eva McLanahan
- Ysabel Morales
- Stephanie Villamil
- Dawn Perozzi
- Rachel Aissen
- Denise Stempler
- Kay
- Alma Olvera
- Juan Carlos Banda
- The Vickery Family
- Liting Zhao
- Michelle Walker
- Lisa Ribeiro
- Lana Koyfman
- The General Family
- Molly Stanton
- Nancy Lopez
- Mega Saad
- The Smith Family
- Nicolle Baird
- Nicolle Marshall
The purpose of the PBIS store is to reward students for following our three school-wide expectations of being respectful, responsible, and safe.
If you would like to view our PBIS Store, click here.
If you would like to support our PBIS Store, please click here.
Upcoming Title I Parent Workshop in February
"Discipline That Teaches"
This workshop will be led by our school counselors in our media center on Thursday, February 2, from 6:00-7:00 p.m., with Spanish interpretation provided. A Zoom options will also be available with the Zoom Link will be sent via Class Dojo closer to the presentation date.
During the workshop you will:
Learn about how to use discipline that teaches children through choices, navigating regret, and how to properly apologize and make amends.
Learn about the Wheel of Connection and how it can be used at home.
Receive the tools you need to implement the Wheel of Connection at home.
We hope to see you there or online!
Yearbook Discount Ends as of February 1st
Yearbook Sales are open! Don't miss your opportunity to order your copy of this year's memories. We are offering a discount on the books between now and February 1, 2023 with the cost of $30.00. The book price will go up to $35.00 until the sale ends April 19, 2023. Click here to order your child's yearbook today.
Music - Recorders on Sale at the School Store
Mr. Green, our music teacher, will be selling recorder instruments at the school store. They cost $6 to purchase. Students may use the recorders to play for recorder karate belts. They can find these songs on his eCLASS page and play them for special colored belts. Recorders will be sold through February.
Bottle Caps Still Needed
Our Green team is collecting plastic bottle caps of all colors and sizes. There is a bin for collections by the Parent Center door. Students can drop off any donations on the way into the building.
Thank you!
K-Kids
Will meet again on January 27th.
Next Little Learners Academy for Babies and Toddlers
February 10th will be the next Little Learners Academy date.
Parents of 3rd, 4th and 5th Graders - Save the Dates for GMAS
The end of year Georgia Milestones Assessment (GMAS) will take place the following dates and attendance on these dates will be important. Please do not schedule appointments or schedule out-of-town trips during this period if at all possible.
Click here for general information about the Georgia Milestones Assessment.
GCPS Calendar for Next Year
Food Pantries
Baseball Sign-up
Reminder About Sending in Treats for Student Birthdays
Per the Student Handbook: Parents may provide snacks only, no drinks, favors, balloons, or flowers for the child’s birthday. Whole cakes that need to be sliced by staff are not permitted. All students should be included. Nutritious snacks are encouraged. Birthday treats should be handed out and eaten in the cafeteria during the last ten minutes of the lunch period. Please make sure that students mainstreamed in your classroom are included in the count for treats. Buying ice cream at school for each class member is encouraged. Students may not pass out invitations to parties at school unless all members of the class are invited.
Georgia After School Program Offering Discount for New Sign Ups
GASP! is offering a special holiday promotion for new enrollments. See the image below for more details:
Camp Invention Discount for Early Sign Ups
Camp Invention will be held at our school again next summer, and if you register early, you can save money. The camp will be held from June 5-8 from 8:00 - 4:00PM. Extended day will also be offered from 7:30 - 5:30 PM for an additional $100. If you have any questions, please reach out to Trina Ashadele. See the bilingual flyer and image below for details.
GCPS is Hiring
Bus Drivers:
Our drivers enjoy competitive pay rates ($19.07 - $27.03 per hour), outstanding health benefits with employer contribution, and a work schedule that fits their busy lifestyle! GCPS provides 100% fully Commercial Driver’s License training – our training team is one of the best in the nation and we will make you successful. Make a difference in the life of a child today, and enjoy the satisfaction that comes with preparing the children in your community for their future. Click here to learn more about our upcoming recruiting events, and to apply today!
School Nutrition Employees
We are looking for caring individuals who want to make a difference in our students' lives by preparing and serving nutritious meals. No experience is required and training is fully paid. GCPS provides outstanding health benefits with employer contribution for you and your family. Join the Café Gwinnett Team for a family-friendly work schedule and competitive pay. Click here to learn more.
Other Repeat Reminders from Our School
Support for BLES Families
The Care Team at BLES has many ways to support our families. We have a food pantry at school that you can come shop at, and we can also assist with helping provide school supplies, deodorant, and feminine hygiene products for your child. If you would like to access these resources please contact:
Lyndsay Murphy (K-2-4)
770-582-7523
Laura Marantz (1-3-5)
770-582-7522
Sandra Orci (Spanish)
678-291-4232
Afternoon Transportation Changes:
Parents, please remember that afternoon transportation changes must be made by 1:30 and there are only two ways for you to make an change for your child:
1. Use the PikMyKid app
2. Send in a signed note.
Dojos, emails, or phone calls to change afternoon transportation will not be accepted.
Thank you for helping us enforce this rule and keep our kids safe!
We Can Help
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 Fridays. 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.
To participate, please email one of us, call either school counselor, or Mrs. Orci (Spanish speaker) to request participation.
Please call us with any questions or concerns:
Lyndsay Murphy
School Counselor
School Counselor
770-582-7523
Laura Marantz
School Counselor
770-582-7522
Sandra Orci (Spanish)
Parent Liaison
678-291-4232
Did You Know BLES is on Various Social Media Apps?
Do You Have a MyPaymentsPlus Account?
Gwinnett Public Schools uses MyPaymentsPlus as a site for school-related payments and documentation sign off. If you do not yet have an account with this site, you will need to set one up. Click here to learn more.
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!
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.
We Collect Box Tops (Online)
Georgia After School Program (GASP)
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.
- Mathnasium
- Ultra Baby LLC (Ultrasound and Photography)
- Atlanta Urgent Care - 5246 Peachtree Pkwy
Contact Us:
Berkeley Lake Elementary
4300 S. Berkeley Lake Rd.
Duluth, Georgia 30096
P: (770)446-0947
F: (770)582-7514