Berkeley Lake ES
"Bear Essentials" Weekly e-Newsletter, May 15, 2020
Principal's Message
Dear Parents,
As we reach the end of our school year, I want to thank all of you for your patience and diligence in supporting students during DLD. I hope that you have a safe and rejuvenating summer break. I will send out updates periodically throughout the summer when I get new information for you. Here are some important dates for you to remember in the coming days.
Student Belongings
Parents may drop off school items (including Chromebooks) and pick up student belongings on May 20, 21, and 22 from 11:00-1:00 on the following days:
May 20 - Pre-k/kindergarten and 1st grade
May 21 - 2nd and 3rd grades
May 22 - 4th and 5th grades
Put any items you are returning in your car trunk, truck bed, or back of your van
Pull through the car rider line and stop at the gym (there will be signs)
Display your child’s name and homeroom teacher on a paper that can be read through your car window; show that paper to the staff member
A staff member will retrieve your child’s belongings and place them in your trunk while retrieving the school’s items
If you are returning a Chromebook; please pull up to the awning/stairs by the door to the school and a staff member will check in your device
Items to Return to School
Library books from the Media Center
Chromebooks that have been borrowed from the school
Any other books that belong to the teacher or school, especially “baggie” books
Items borrowed from the Parent Center
We will not be collecting paper packets from earlier in DLD
End Of Year Celebrations
On Wednesday, May 20th, we will have End Of Year Celebrations via Zoom. These will include good-byes from teachers, a dance party, and a slide show or video of special moments from the year. Students should be supervised by an adult during the celebration. Please join us at the following times:
9:30-Pre-K/K and 1st grade
10:00-2nd and 3rd grades
10:30 4th and 5th grades
Additionally, 5th grade will have other activities that will be communicated by the homeroom teachers.
Summer School
There is a possibility that we will have summer school in either July or August. You will be contacted if your child is recommended for summer school. It will be held here at BLES for children in Kindergarten through 5th grade. Students will attend from 8:30-2:30 each day. Those dates are either July 6-21 OR August 3-25.
We will continue to have groceries available through Monday, May 18th. School lunches will be available until May 15th.
Your Principal and Partner,
Dr. Pendleton
Frequently Asked Questions
Last Day for Meal Preparation and Delivery at BLES
Summer Meals Program from Gwinnett County
Gwinnett County’s program, now in its second year, will expand to add locations and free grab-and-go breakfasts and lunches for children 18 years old and younger, and adults with physical or mental disabilities 19 and older. Families can pick up nutritious meals to take home to their children at 18 park locations around the county. The meals, which consist of things like sandwiches and wraps, meet USDA guidelines. The program begins Monday, May 18th. Meals are available Monday-Friday 11-1. There are several locations near our school including Pinckneyville Park.
Please see the flyer for information in several languages and to see all 18 locations.
Seamless Summer Meals Program from Gwinnett County Public Schools
- Gwinnett County Public schools will provide meals for pick-up only from June 8 through June 26 during the hours of 11am – 1pm.
- Meals are available for anyone ages 18 and under.
- GCPS will serve meals Monday through Thursday only – with Thursday’s meals including meals for both Thursday and Friday.
Meals May Be Picked Up at the following Locations:
- Archer Cluster - Lovin Elementary only
- Berkmar Cluster - Berkmar Middle School, Bethesda Elementary, and Corley Elementary
- Central Gwinnett Cluster - Jenkins and Winn Holt
- Collins Hill Cluster - McKendree
- Dacula Cluster - Alcova
- Discovery Cluster - Baggett and Discovery High School
- Duluth Cluster - Duluth MS and B.B. Harris Elementary
- Lanier Cluster - Sycamore Elementary
- Meadowcreek Cluster - Lilburn MS and Radloff
- Mountain View Cluster - GIVE East
- Norcross Cluster - Norcross ES and Norcross HS
- Parkview Cluster - Arcado
- Peachtree Ridge Cluster - Jackson and Northbrook
- Shiloh Cluster - Annistown Elementary and Shiloh ES
- South Gwinnett Cluster - Britt Elementary and Magill Elementary
Note: Berkeley Lake Elementary will not be a pick up location.
Report Cards
Technology Available to Students Over the Summer
- eClass Teacher Course Pages until July 17th
- Imagine Learning Literacy for K-5 until July 31st
- Brainpop, Brainpop Jr. and Brainpop Espanol throughout summer
- Prodigy Math throughout summer
Summer Reading
Camp Invention News
This year’s Camp Invention program originally scheduled at Berkeley Lake June 1- 4, will now be at Chattahoochee Elementary School during the week of July 13-16, 2020 with Cheri Jones as the Director. This is contingent upon State and District decisions. If future guidelines do not allow for an in-person Camp Invention program, we will offer Camp Invention Connect™, an alternative, at-home program developed by the National Inventors Hall of Fame® to balance virtual collaboration with independent, hands-on exploration.
Camp Invention has always taken great care in developing and maintaining the highest standards in health and safety practices. Our team of local, certified educators will continue this protocol as they facilitate an exciting week of hands-on FUN and creativity that turns our curious students into innovative thinkers.
We hope that you will stay connected with us and give your children something to look forward to! If this new location doesn’t work for you, please contact the National Inventors Hall of Fame Customer Relations Department and they will be able to assist you with all your needs. Feel free to reach them at 800-968-4332 or invent.org for more information.
Thank you for your continued support. We can’t wait to see everyone at camp this summer!
Library Books
Wondering what library books your student has checked out? Here is a 30 second video that will show you how your student can view their current checkouts:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1EtEccZnuSfGjk8McC0mfEMSAgw9kDlFz
Please look for these books at home. If the books are in the student's classroom, they will be checked in within the next two weeks. If they are at home, you may drop them and any other school items off, as well as pick up student belongings on May 20, 21, and 22 from 11:00-1:00
Thanks so much for your help!
Square 1 Art
I was a week away from sending all of the artwork to Square 1 when we were all sent home to do Digital Learning. Due to current situation, the company has not been able to take orders. I have talked to them about how we can still be able to showcase student's hard work. We came up with several plans and have finally decided that I will keep the artwork safe this summer and send them off to the company in the fall. I will take the first month of school for the new Kindergartners to complete a project and will send them all off in early September. Look for flyers to follow soon after that. I will be putting the 5th Grade artwork with the rest of their artwork to return, since they will be moving to Middle School. I am excited for you all to see their hard work and creativity in the fall. We will have another chance next school year to do a Square 1 drive again in the Spring. Have a great summer. I look forward to seeing all my creative students in August. Mrs. VanBuskirk
COVID-19: Tips for Elementary School Families from The Parent Institute
Digital Learning Daily Dozen
Parents of Students with Special Needs
As a means of improving results for children with disabilities, the Georgia Department of Education is required to survey parents of students receiving special education services. This is an opportunity for your voice to be heard. The feedback you share will help guide local schools’ efforts to improve Special Education services and results for children and families.
The survey is available on-line and can be accessed on the Georgia Department of Education website. You may enter the following direct link into your browser - www.gadoe.org/parent-survey or you may utilize the QR Code provided. Survey responses must be submitted by June 30, 2020. If you do not have access to a computer or smart phone, you may contact the Georgia Department of Education, Special Education Help Desk at 404-657-9968 in order to complete the survey by telephone.
Need to Register a New Student or Withdraw a Student?
Need to Reach One of Our BLES Counselors While School is Out?
Georgia After School Program
News for 5th Grade Parents:
Music Survey for Rising 6th Graders:
If you have not done so already, please complete this short survey regarding your child's middle school music and connection choices for 6th grade. Please be aware that no 6th graders will be scheduled for fine arts connections classes until after the school year begins in August. The first few days of school, the students will have the opportunity to visit the different music programs during their connections time, and then make a choice. (Note: You will need to be logged into your child's eClass G Suite for Education account to gain survey access.)Duluth Middle School Information for Rising 6th Graders:
Please click here to visit the DMS page of information for rising 6th graders.
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) News:
Yearbook Deadline
Today is the absolute deadline for yearbook purchasing, online signatures and custom pages to be completed! We’ve extended the deadline until today so you can finish your custom pages, finalize online signature sharing and purchases. We are no longer accepting pictures as we’re wrapping up the final pages of the book. We’ll go to print next week and your books will be shipped to your homes in June. More information found here: http://www.blespto.org/give-stuff-get-stuff/.
Your Input is Needed
May 29 is the Deadline to Purchase Your School Supplies Kits for Next School Year
700 for 700 Campaign
Please consider donating to the 700 for 700 Campaign, a grassroots Duluth Cluster initiative that is providing food boxes and other resources for struggling families.
How you can help:
- Donate food items at Life Church International, 4830 River Green Parkway, Suite 200, Duluth GA 30096.
- Money donations can be made at @DMSPTA VENMO or Satisfeed.org/Donate.
- Volunteer at the Saturday food pickups. Contact dmsptaga@gmail.com for more information.
- Spread the word to others to donate.
- Spread the word to families in need. Food boxes include forty pounds of fresh food for a suggested five dollar donation. Pickup is each Saturday 10:00- 1:00 at Life Church International. See more information below under Food Resources.
Food Resources
Duluth Co-Op
Now appointments only for food pick up because of shelter in place order.
Food, Personal Care Items, Baby Items & Clothing
3395 Fox Street ,Building 101
Duluth ,GA 30096
770-623-9563
www.duluthco-op.org
serving 30096 and 30097 zip codes
Norcross Co-Op
Please call to verify times
Food & Clothing, School Supplies, Financial Assistance
500 Pinnacle Ct.
Norcross, GA 30071
770-263-0013 (Contact person – Shirley Cabe)
shirley@norcrossco-op.org
www.norcrossco-op.org
serving Norcross and Peachtree Corners zip codes
*Address has been updated from the first time information was sent out. Please use this address.
Cross Pointe the Church at the Gwinnett Center
Please call to verify times
Food, Personal Care Items, Clothing
1800 Satellite Blvd.
Duluth ,GA 30097
678-812-4500 (Contact person – Linda Mann)
Satisfeed.org
Life Church International
4830 River Green Parkway
Suite 200
Duluth, GA 30096
Pick up Saturdays from 10am-1pm
Receive a 40 pound food box for $5.00 per family (suggested donation)
NEW: Trinity Outreach International Inc.
Food Delivery for Families in Need
Call Mrs. Silvia Heemana at 786-566-1369
The number of children, seniors and total number of people in the house will be asked
The organization will follow up with a home delivery of food
Other Resources:
Need an Internet Hotspot?
Remember you can also turn your cell phone into a hotspot using these directions.
Parent Support Group
GCPS offers the following resources to continue our mission of teaching and learning while looking out for the health and safety of our students, staff, and learning communities.
Get Georgia Reading
New - Gwinnett Public Library Offering Free Online Tutoring for Students:
A partnership with the Gwinnett County Public Library (GCPL) is bringing online tutoring to GCPS students. Gaining access is as easy as 1-2-3. View or Click on the PDF flyer below for more information.
Additional Resources Offered by the Gwinnett Public Library:
Save the Date!
Open House/Meet Your Teacher Day for the 2020-2021 School Year
Meet Your Teacher Day for the 2020-2021 school year will take place on Friday, July 31st. Normally, Meet Your Teacher Day falls on the first Thursday in August, but since school is set to start on August 5th next year, the date was moved up.
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.
Remember to Save Those Box Tops!
Box Tops for Education is changing the way we submit Box Tops products to benefit our school. We’ve earned hundreds of dollars from this fundraiser. We hope this will continue as we switch over to this new, online effort. The change is: No more clipping! All you need is your smart phone to download the Box Tops for Education App, select Berkeley Lake Elementary School and scan the receipts with Box Tops products to help our school earn cash. Download this flyer for more details.
Our Parent Center
The Berkeley Lake Parent Center is closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. We look forward to opening back up for you to check out instructional materials once we return to school. If you have questions or comments please do not hesitate to contact our Parent Outreach Liason, Sandra Orci 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