Berkeley Lake ES
"Bear Essentials" Weekly e-Newsletter, April 17, 2020
Principal's Message
Dear Parents,
I hope that you had a good week and are settling into a routine with Digital Learning. Once again, I want to thank you for all you are doing to keep learning going for your children and to remind you to set reasonable limits. One way to do this is to decide what a reasonable amount of time is to spend on an assignment and then stop. You can always come back to it later or just move on. Your child's teacher can give you an idea of how long that might be.
We have distributed close to 70 Chromebooks to students in need and continue to provide breakfast and lunch each day from 11:00-1:00. Thanks to many generous donations from members of the Berkeley Lake community, we are continuing to provide free groceries on Mondays and Fridays. Please come help yourself if you need groceries.
Just a reminder that we will not be providing paper packets next week. By now, all students should be prepared to access eCLASS and learn online. If this creates a hardship for your family, please let me know and we will find a way to support you.
Thank you to those of you who responded to our Digital Learning survey that I sent out earlier this week. If you have not done so already, please let us know your feedback by accessing the survey here, on our website, or on our Facebook page.
I hope you have a great weekend and that you will let me know if there is anything I can do for you.
Your Principal and Partner,
Dr. Pendleton
Need to Register a New Student or Withdraw a Student?
BLES Virtual Career Week Recap
Student Art Assignments Using Career Week Theme
Celebrating Spirit Week from Home Next Week
Deadline Monday, April 20th: Dick's Sporting Goods Writing Competition for 4th and 5th Grade Students
Dick's Sporting Goods and Scholastic are holding a writing competition in which 4th or 5th grade students can write about 'Sports Matter'. Students will be given two prompts to chose from and will write a persuasive essay based on the prompt they choose. Submit your child's essay for a chance to win a $500 or $250 American Express card!
You will find the 'Sports Matter Writing Competition' Attachment below this section, but here is a brief description of what the attachment provides.
- Pages 1-2: Overview of the contest- Everything you need to know to write and submit your entry.
- Page 3: Criteria judges will use to determine the winner.
- Pages 4-8: 'Official' Rules from Scholastic. No need to read these unless you like to look at the fine print- the most important information from this document is provided in the Overview.
There are 3 ways to submit your essay. (More detailed information can be found in the Overview)
- Student to complete this Google Form
- Email entries
- Send via the US Mail to Wendy Shaw, c/0 Berkeley Lake Elementary, 4300 S Berkeley Lake Rd NW, Duluth, GA 30096
The deadline to submit your essay to Mrs. Shaw is Monday, April 20th.
After you read the Overview, please reach out to Mrs. Shaw, our Instructional Coach, if you have any further questions: wendy.shaw@gcpsk12.org
Good Luck!
Georgia Special Needs Scholarship/SB10
Letters to parents explaining the program, as well as the transfer request forms are posted on the Gwinnett County Public Schools Special Education website for parents to view and download. Here is the address - http://publish.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/gcps/home/public/about/curr-inst/content/seps/georgia-special-needs-scholarship
Opportunity to share artwork on the High Museum of Art's Social Media Pages
The High Museum of Art wants to celebrate all of the work that art teachers, teachers, students, and caregivers who-are-now-teachers are doing at home! The High Museum team has worked really hard to create a Virtual Student Exhibition gallery that will live on Facebook and most likely be shared out in Instagram and Twitter. They want submissions! This is for students who are Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade. Students can submit their artwork through this link:
https://hmaatl.wufoo.com/forms/high-museum-online-student-exhibition/
Gwinnett Book-It 5K
How does this virtual 5K work?
• On May 2, registrants will receive a short form to complete. A self-reported time will be optional.
• Whether you were able to run the full 5K or complete a .5 mile fun run, you will receive a Book Mobile race day shirt in the mail.
• Everyone who completes the form will be entered in a drawing for great prizes – Stripers tickets, Fox Theater tickets, and more!
Runners are encouraged to post pictures of their 5K/Fun Run on social media - #bookitforthe bus, and tagging @gcpslibraries. Let’s connect and encourage each other!
Click here for more information or to register for the event.
Parents of Current 5th Graders
P.E. Right From Your Home!
Hello BLES Families! You can have P.E. right in your family room or living space where you have some room. Click here to get the YouTube Channel for The Body Coach TV. It is led by Joe, a a personal trainer from England. He does a daily workout for each day, that includes a warm-up and cool down. You will feel energized and ready to start your day after completing his workouts. Enjoy and keep healthy by eating your fruits and veggies, proteins, and building up that immune system by exercising! Have FUN!! Play ON!!
Ms. Birozes, BLES P.E. Teacher
PTO News:
Yearbooks:
Go to this site for news about online ordering, shipping to your home, and uploading pictures to help us finish designing the book, customizing your own pages and signing yearbooks virtually. We’ve extended the deadline to May 8: All purchases, photo uploads, customizing pages and online yearbook signing must be completed by that date. Upload your photos and customize your book now to help us commemorate this historic year!
(If you have any trouble loading your photos to share in this year’s yearbook, we’ve created this site in addition to the Tree Ring site. You can load your photos in either place.)
Purchase Your School Supply Kits for Next Year Before May 29:
Updated PTO Planning for 2021:
Helping Families in Need
There are several ways to help our BLES and Duluth Cluster families during this challenging time:
- Computer Donations for BLES Families – Our school is looking for donors to help us assist families who need computers to access digital learning assignments and online learning opportunities. If you know of a company – or individual(s) – who can donate computers, laptops or iPads/Chrome Books, etc. that are in good shape and professionally cleaned for giveaway, please contact us at info@blespto.org.
- 700 for 700 Campaign – A grassroots Duluth Cluster initiative involving PTAs, PTOs and community supporters that has so far provided over 500 meals for our neighbors in need. 700 for 700 is now partnered with Satisfeed, a Duluth based Food Co-Op. Each Saturday during the COVID-19 crisis, Satisfeed is hosting a food box pick up for struggling families. For each $5 donation, a family can receive approximately 40 lbs of food. 700 for 700 Campaign is now asking its donors to direct their @DMSPTA VENMO donations directly to Satisfeed. If you’d like more information or to help staff the Saturday food pickups, please contact dmsptaga@gmail.com. See more information below under Food Resources.
Food Resources:
Food from BLES
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)
Other Resources:
Need an Internet Hotspot?
Remember you can also turn your cell phone into a hotspot using these directions.
Parent Support Group
Need to Reach One of Our BLES Counselors While School is Out?
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 Dates!
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