Berkeley Lake ES
"Bear Essentials" Weekly e-Newsletter, January 8th, 2021
Principal's Message
Dear Parents,
Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful Winter Break. We are refreshed and ready for a great semester 2. I have a few reminders about how to keep the lines of communication open between home and school. The first is to make sure you are set up with Dojo. This is the quickest and easiest way for you and your child's teacher to share information. We also use Dojo to send out a few school-wide announcements for everyone. Second, please sign up for a Parent Portal account, if you haven't already. This will require you to provide your ID, either in the front office or by sharing with your child's teacher in a Zoom meeting. Finally, check your email each Friday for this newsletter and let us know if your contact information has changed.
It is wonderful to have so many more students in the building but please be vigilant in ensuring your child has a properly-fitting mask each day and that you let us know immediately if your child, or anyone they have been in close contact with, has symptoms of COVID. In this way, we can keep everyone safe and healthy!
Your Principal and Partner,
Dr. Pendleton
"Think First and Stay Safe" Sexual Abuse Prevention Program
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We all share a common goal for our children to be safe and protected from all things harmful. Related to that goal, school counselors are required to present annual personal safety lessons designed to prevent sexual abuse. The Think First & Stay Safe™ program is a research-based program that teaches specific personal safety education.
Due to the importance of this topic, you may preview the materials used for these lessons. Please contact your child's counselor, Lyndsay Murphy (K, 2, 4) at 770-582-7523 or Laura Marantz (1, 3, 5) at 770-582-7522 to schedule a preview in January, or if you have any questions or concerns.
During the months of February and March, our school counselors will offer the sexual abuse prevention and safety lessons to all K-5 students.
Please click below for a letter from Dr. Pendleton with more information about the program, how to preview the materials, virtual learning considerations, and if needed, how to opt your child out of these lessons.
Spanish Think First & Stay Safe sexual abuse prevention information letter.
Vietnamese Think First & Stay Safe Thư thông tin phòng chống lạm dụng tình dục
Chinese Think First & Stay Safe 預防性虐待通知書
Save the Date! Parent Workshop: Strategies for your 2021 Toolbox
Would you like a few new ideas for your parenting toolbox in 2021? Join the Berkeley Lake Counselors for a presentation and conversation about parenting strategies you can use right away!
Thursday, January 28
6:30-7:30 p.m. via Zoom, with Spanish translation
Zoom link will be sent out via Class Dojo and classroom teaches closer to the presentation date.
School Store
We have an exciting announcement! Our BLES School Store will open on Monday, January 11! It will be open each morning from 7:45-8:05. At the store students can buy snacks and school supplies. They can also use the school supply vending machines located in the school store area. To buy items students need to bring the right kind of money. The store accepts one and five dollar bills only, no bigger bills. Students can also use coins at the school store. The vending machines only accept quarters. Not only can students buy snacks and needed school supplies at the school store, any profits made go to help families in need right here at our school. The school store is run by some wonderful 5th grade student leaders. We are so happy to have the store open. Happy shopping!
Important Reminder About Dropping Children Off in the Morning
Specials Rotation Schedule for Digital Learners
Digital Specials Rotation for the Week of January 11th - 15th:
- K-2nd: Have Art and Music
- 3rd-5th: Have Science and P.E.
Please remember that the Special Area teachers are taking grades and they do count. You can see your child's progress in your parent portal under the Grades section.
Book Check Outs for Digital Learners
If you checked out books over winter break, please return them, so you can check out new books!
The next digital student book check-out and check-in days will be Wednesday, January 13th, and Thursday, January 14th, from 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM.
Click on the link below to see more details about Digital Student Book Checkout Procedures.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ay9krj0rByRrDmowyr7tRRTJJpUK2Hv9ZW8279vbeC0/edit?usp=sharing
For video instructions on how to put your books on Hold, please visit the BLES Media eClass page: https://instruction.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/d2l/home/1736615
Thank You and Happy Reading!
Mrs. Norby - BLES Media Specialist
Positive Behavior and Intervention Support Theme for the Week:
BLES Food Pantry
Many of us are facing difficult financial challenges right now. Our BLES community is here to care and support each other. One way we can do this is to share our Care Team pantry. Our PTO and community members have well stocked the pantry and any BLES family can have access to it. Please call a school counselor or our parent liaison for access.
Lyndsay Murphy, School Counselor (K,2,4), 770-582-7523
Laura Marantz, School Counselor (1.3.5), 770-582-7522
Sandra Orci, Parent Liaison (Spanish), 678-291-4232
GCPS District Information:
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
Making Summer Plans Already? Sign Up for Camp Invention: Recharge At-home
6/21/2021 - 6/24/2021 from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Your Program: The all-new 2021 program lineup is the best one yet! Featuring take-apart microphones, robotic crickets, duck-launching devices and morphing vehicles, this summer is packed with super fun, confidence-boosting STEM activities!
- Camp At Home: This year, your local camp will be an at-home program, so activity kits will be delivered directly to you and optional virtual sessions will be led by a certified local educator — your child will have everything they need for an amazing week of STEM fun.
- Your Child’s Registration:
- As promised, we held last year’s price and Saved Your Spot by preregistering your child for the program. Your credit on file has been applied to your registration!
- To complete your registration, please follow the link below. If you have more than one child attending, be sure to update all camper information before completing your registration.
Biggest discount ever! When you complete your registration, be sure to use promo code ALUMNI40 to SAVE $40!
Discount ends 3/31/2021. Redeem online. Cannot be combined with other discounts. All 2020 Save Your Spot credits will expire on 9/1/2021. All funds resulting from unused credits will be allocated toward program
A Look Ahead...
Monday, January 11
no events
Tuesday, January 12
no events
Wednesday, January 13
12:30pm Play 2 Learn
Thursday, January 14
10:30 - 11:15 am Coffee Talk with Dr. Pendleton for parents
Friday, January 15
no events
Monday, January 18
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
No School - Digital or In-Person
Tuesday, January 19
no events
2020-2021 GCPS Promotion Criteria for Elementary Students:
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