Berkeley Lake ES
"Bear Essentials" Weekly e-Newsletter, August 7, 2020
Principal's Message
Dear Parents,
What a whirlwind start to school this is turning out to be! BLES teachers and staff have been so busy these past days preparing for digital learning, putting together supply kits for students, and learning about how to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are so excited to start the school year, even if it is a little nontraditional.
As you know, we are adjusting to changes on almost a daily basis and we appreciate how that affects you and your family. As we prepare for potential in-person instruction, we will have to make some changes to class lists. You probably won't have a change if your child is in 2nd-5th grades but we are trying to better align class assignments to prepare for some children remaining with digital instruction and others returning to the building. We will make every effort to let you know before August 12th if your child's class assignment will change.
Please remember to take the Parent Preference survey (below) and mark your calendars with your assigned school supply kit pick up times. If you have more than one student at BLES, just pick either child's time.
Finally, I want to introduce an important new staff member to our school! Ms. Charlie Langley is joining our admin team and will serve as the Assistant Principal for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. We are excited to have her with us!
Your Principal and Partner,
Dr. Pendleton
Parent Input is Needed
School Kit and Chromebook Pick-Up Times
As your teacher mentioned in her Zoom video conference this morning, Monday and Tuesday of next week will be our school kit pick-up days. On these two days, you will drive to designated areas in the various parking lots around the building to pick up materials your child/chilldren will need for their digital learning at home. You will stay in your car and school staff will bring your child's items out to you.
Your first stop will be to pull up outside of our gym in the lower parking deck. If you have also requested a chromebook or temporary hotspot for you student, you will be guided to drive to the next stop. If you need a chromebook or hotspot and have not yet communicated that information to us, please complete this form.
Pick up times and days are based on your child's teacher's last name. Before you come to school, please make a sign and put it in the front windshield with the following information on it:
Last Name, First Name
Grade
Teacher Name
Monday, August 10 - Kit pick up for Pre-K-2nd Grades
8:00 - 8:20 All PreK students kit pick up
8:20 - 8:40 Students in Ms. Cantrell/Gray's homeroom
8:40 - 9:00 Students in Ms. Molenaar's homeroom
9:00 - 9:20 Students in Ms.Pennington's class
9:20 - 9:40 Students in Ms. Sosa's class
9:40 - 10:00 Students in Ms. Stepp's class
10:00 -10:20 Students in Ms. Velez's class
10:20 -10:40 Students in Mr. Blalock's class
10:40 -11:00 Students in Ms. Jo's class
11:00 -10:20 Students in Ms.Kraeling's class
11:20-11:40 Students in Ms.Tran's class
11:40-12:00 Students in Ms. Smith's class
12:00 -12:20 Students in Ms. Walsh's class
12:20 -12:40 Students in Ms. Kim's class
12:40 -1:00 Students in Ms. Parker's class
1:00 -1:20 Students in Ms. Speese's class
1:20 -1:40 Students in Ms. Thompson's class
1:40 -2:00 Students in Ms. Yoo's class
2:00 -2:20 Students in Ms. Kates' class
Tuesday, August 11: Kit pick up for 3rd - 5th Grades
8:00 -8:20 Students in Ms. Bell’s class
8:20 -8:40 Students in Mr. Bush’s class
8:40 -9:00 Students in Ms. Hudson’s class
9:00 -9:20 Students in Ms. Mason’s class
9:20 -9:40 Students in Ms. Sweet’s class
9:40 -10:00 Students in Ms. Bailey’s class
10:00 -10:20 Students in Ms. Houser’s class
10:20 -10:40 Students in Ms Howard’s class
10:40 -11:00 Students in Ms. Lee’s class
11:00 - 11:20 Students in Ms. Sobh’s class
11:20 -11:40 Students in Ms. Willingham’s class
11:40 - 12:00 Students in Ms. Algard’s class
12:00 -12:20 Students in Ms. Chang’s class
12:20 -12:40 Students in Ms.Morris’ class
12:40 -1:00 Students in Ms.Patton’s class
1:00 -1:20 Students in Ms.Redner’s class
1:20 -1:40 Students in Ms.West’s class
1:40 -2:00 Students in Ms. Schilling’s class
Note: If you are unable to make your kit pick up time, please notify your child's teacher.
Curbside Meal Pick Up Available for BLES Students During Digital Learning
Meals will be available to be picked up at school during digital learning from 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 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 they 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 before August 12.
District-wide Technology Check
Prior to Monday, we are asking that you use the username and password for your child that your teacher emails you, to verify that you are able to log into our student portal system. This is also known as My eCLASS. The button to access My eCLASS can be found on the BLES website.
Then on Monday at 11:00 AM, we are asking everyone that can to again log into My eCLASS but to do a few extra steps to verify everything is working as it should. You will receive an email from your child's teacher that will provide clear directions.
Please try to participate if you can. The information we receive from this test run will be very important to the success of digital learning at our school.
Snapshot of the First Day of School
From there the day will be filled with a variety of "live" lessons through Zoom and independent work through directions and how-to videos. A lunch break will be provided, as well as a recess break. This will give the students time to relax before jumping back into the day's lessons with the teacher.
You will be able to see your child's daily schedule on the teacher's course page, as well as the Specials schedule for the month.
The teacher will spend a lot of time on the first day helping your child to get to know their course page better and setting expectations for the digital learning that will take place.
Resources for our Families:
Positive Intervention Behavior Support (PBIS) Slide of the Week
PTO News
School supplies are here! Thank you for ordering your school supplies through the PTO last year so our school can receive a portion of the sales. The kits have arrived and will be with your child’s belongings during the August 10-11 supply pick up days.
- BLES families need our help! PTO is partnering with the Counseling Department to host a food drive to benefit BLES students. During the August 10-11 school supply pick up days, please bring food pantry donations. Place the items in the contactless donation cart in the car rider parking area. See our flyer below for most-needed items and THANK YOU.
- New online spirit wear and more from PTO coming soon!
A Look Ahead...
Monday, August 10th
School kit and technology equipment pick-up for grades PreK - 2nd
11:00-11:30 AM District-wide technology check
Tuesday, August 11th
School kit and technology equipment pick-up for grades 3rd - 5th
Wednesday, August 12th
1st Day of School
The GASP (Georgia After School Program) is no longer available at Pinkneyville Park as previously advertised.
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!
Our Parent Center
The Berkeley Lake Parent Center is open each day from 7:30-3:30. The Parent Center is located across from the front office. For Parent Center support please call Ms. Sandra Orci, Parent Liaison, at 678-291-4232.
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