Berkeley Lake ES
"Bear Essentials" Weekly e-Newsletter, September 18, 2020
Principal's Message
Dear Parents,
It was another great week of learning at Berkeley Lake Elementary! Thank you to those of you who attended my virtual Coffee Talks on Thursday.
As a reminder, if your child has returned to in-person instruction, and you have a Chromebook and/or hotspot your borrowed from us at home, please return them as soon as possible. When returning the chromebooks, please make sure the power cord is included.
Please mark your calendars for Parent-Teacher conferences the week of October 19th. We will continue to have two early release days and this year they will be on October 21st and 22nd. School will dismiss at 12:00 on those two days.
Your Principal and Partner,
Dr. Pendleton
Parents of 2nd grade students:
Title I Draft Document Review
Thank you to all the parents who were able to attend the Title I Planning Meeting held virtually on September 10th. During the meeting, Title I documents were reviewed and parents were given the opportunity to submit input. Those documents are posted both below and on our website. We are asking all parents to review them and provide input on this form by September 22, 2020.
- Click here to review the LSPI Summary
- Click here to review The Plan & The Promise
- Click here to review the Budget
- Click here to review the Wish List
If you would like to learn more about our Title I program, click here.
You Are Invited to the Next Title I Meeting:
Our next Title I meeting will take place on September 24th from 5:30 - 6:30 PM, and will be the Annual Meeting. This meeting will take place as Zoom video call and the link to the meeting will be shared out closer to the date through teachers' eClass course pages, Class Dojo, and School Messenger.
If you would like to learn more about our Title I program, click here to visit the Title I page on our BLES website.
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports Staff Team Members:
The staff members below will be leading the charge in Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports this year. We will look to assist teachers, parents and anyone who engages with students in how to support positive behaviors in school, online, and in our community. Please let anyone on our team or staff know if you have questions, need help with behavior concerns, or want to let us know about great behaviors.
- Mel Bush 3rd grade
- Bonnie Walsh 1st grade
- Melissa Berry Special Education
- Kerry Hutt Pre-K
- Matt Green Special Areas
- Andi Schilling 5th grade
- Kathy Bentley - Special Areas
- Leslie Guerin - Para Professional Sped
- Jenna Sobh - 4th grade
- Laura Marantz and Lindsay Murphy - Counselors
- Rachel Thompson - 2nd grade
- Raj Thacker - Para Professional
- Charlie Langley Assistant Principal
- Trina Ashadele PBIS Coach
Imagine Learning has Officially Kicked Off
Students are now enrolled in both Imagine Learning Literacy and Math and we encourage them to work in both programs on a daily basis. Literacy sessions should last 20 minutes, but Math sessions may vary in length, depending on the lesson.
Remember that both Imagine Learning programs are web-based, so they can be accessed anywhere, as long as there is an internet connection. If your student will be using a tablet to use the program, it is best to download the Imagine Learning app. If your child is using a chromebook or laptop, he/she can access it through the Imagine Learning website.
When students first begin both programs, they will take an assessment to determine their current instructional level.
It is VERY important that students take this assessment without any help from parents, tutors, day care workers, or older siblings, in order for the student to be placed at the correct level for support.
If your child is working on Imagine Learning at home, you are welcome to help him/her get logged in, but after that we ask that you do not help your child with answers.
Once the initial assessment is complete, your child will automatically be given content in the program that is specific to the level at which she/he tested.
Usernames and passwords to access the programs will be the student ID number. Our school code for access is 1302550. If your child is logging into Imagine Learning for the first time, he/she may have to click the check mark beside the school code to verify it.
If you have any questions or problems with either program, feel free to email Jessica Hill at jessica.l.hill@gcpsk12.org.
Upcoming Parent Workshop Opportunity
Parents, mark your calendars for Thursday, October 15. On that night, our counselors will be hosting a Zoom session from 6:30 - 7:30 PM with the topic of Parenting During a Pandemic: Helping Children Cope and Thrive.
In this workshop, we will discuss remote learning, wearing masks, discussing COVID-19 with children, and more. Join us for a conversation about the impact these issues have on emotional and behavioral health, and how to help children during this challenging time.
Please note that Spanish interpretation will also be provided for this workshop.
The Zoom link will be sent out privately closer to the date. We hope you can join us.
GCPS Offering Meals at No Charge for Students and Children 18 and Under
These meals are provided at no cost to the individual through the federal School Nutrition Program.
Students Attending School In-Person
Those attending school in-person will receive meals free-of-charge during their school’s scheduled meal times.
Curbside Pick-up for Digital Learners
Digital learners may pick up meals through the curbside pick-up programs at Berkeley Lake Elementary, Monday through Friday, between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Each day’s pick-up includes both breakfast and lunch. . Individuals will not be allowed to enter the school to pick up or eat meals.
Curbside Pick-up for Others 18 Years of Age or Younger:
Curbside pick-up meals also will be available at no charge to anyone 18 years of age or younger, even to children who are not GCPS students, Monday through Friday, between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Each day’s pick-up includes both breakfast and lunch. Individuals will not be allowed to enter the school to pick up or eat meals. (please note the Monday - Friday pick up is a new change, as it used to be a Monday - Thursday pick up only.)
Gwinnett County Public Schools encourage families who are eligible for the Free & Reduced Meal Program to complete the annual application to ensure meal benefits continue when this waiver expires. The application is available at https://www.nlappscloud.com/.
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
Looking for a free program for your younger child that will encourage them and you to play, learn, and grow? Play to Learn is that program! Play to Learn is for children up to age 5 and the parents and caregivers. The program supports learning through play. We offer it here at Berkeley Lake Elementary for 90 minutes, once a week, from September 23 to May. If you are interested in enrolling your child in our Play to Learn program, please reach out to Diana Diazgranados at Diana.Diazgranados@gcpsk12.org or call Sandra Orci at (678) 291-4232.
Gwinnett Grows
If you are a parent of a child from birth to preschool age, please visit this link to see more early learning resources offered by Gwinnett County Public Schools.
Mobile Food Pantry
Gwinnett County Public Library in partnership with the Atlanta Community Food Bank will hold a drive-through food pantry September 29th – 11:00 AM (until supplies run out) at the Norcross Branch (6025 Buford Hwy., Norcross, GA 30071). Food will be distributed starting at 11:00 AM on a first-come, first-served basis, one package per family while supplies last. Each package will contain up to 20 lbs of produce in addition to shelf stable items. Distribution will be a drive-through process with volunteers bringing food packages out to cars.
PTO News
Want to expand your project management skills? Volunteer to manage an online fall fundraiser. Let us know if you have any questions. info@blespto.org.
- PTO Membership and Donations: If you have a student enrolled at BLES, you’re a Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) member. In lieu of a formal membership enrollment, we’d like for everyone who can to donate to the PTO so we can continue to provide financial support to our school. We’ve added two options for PTO donations on MyPaymentsPlus – the place where you already go to sign annual paperwork and pay for meals. Our general PTO fund helps pay for activities like STEM Night and teacher supply reimbursements. We’ve added a Helping Hands donation to go directly to buy essential items for our BLES food pantry. The suggested donation is $15 per family. However, we thank you for any amount you can contribute. Look for PTO in the “other payments” section. Email info@blespto.org if you have any questions.
Duluth High School National Honor Society Students Offering Free Tutoring
Please note - the links in this section were incorrect in last week's Bear Essentials but the links in the last paragraph are correct now.
Hello parents! For this on-going fall semester, Duluth High School’s National Honor Society (NHS) has offered to provide an exciting and innovative free tutoring service. Through Covac Education, a student organized corporation that strives to support the community through academic enrichment, student instructors from Duluth High School’s National Honor Society are providing free tutoring sessions for elementary students (1st-5th) in math--these sessions take place on Mondays through Thursdays from 4:00 - 6:00 pm.
As well as being completely free, these tutoring sessions are paired with Common-Core/Georgia Standards worksheets to help students make the most of their time. Sessions are 20 minutes long, and all instructors are trained and have access to teaching directions based on specific Georgia standards.
For students to take advantage of this, they just simply sign up online using an appointment form provided on Covac Education’s website (links below). After doing so, students are individually paired with an instructor from an NHS or other honor societies/volunteer organizations. Considering the hardships of digital learning, we believe that this is a great opportunity for every student!This free tutoring service will begin the week following Labor Weekend on September 8th and sign-ups will begin September 4th. Please feel free to visit this link to learn more and sign up using this form.
Sincerely,
Duluth NHS
Help for the Holidays
GCPS' Return to Learning Hub
Click here for information, resources, how-to’s, and more related to Gwinnett County Public Schools’ plans for Fall 2020. No matter if you are learning digitally or plan to transition to in-person... this is your go-to source.
Need Tech Help During Digital Learning?
- Check the BLES website for troubleshooting guides.
- If you are not able to resolve your problem with the help guides, reach out to your child's teacher.
- If the teacher is unable to help you resolve the issue, complete the form in the Technology Help section of the website and someone in Tech Support will get back to you.
Join Cub Scouts
A Look Ahead...
Wednesday, September 23
12:30pm Play 2 Learn
Thursday, September 24
5:30pm Title I Annual Meeting Virtual (Zoom)
Tuesday, September 29
Iowa Testing 2nd Grade
Wednesday, September 30
Iowa Testing 2nd Grade
12:30pm Play 2 Learn
Wednesday, October 7
12:30pm Play 2 Learn
Thursday, October 8
Fall Break Student/Teacher Holiday
Friday, October 9
Fall Break Student/Teacher Holiday
Monday, October 12
Student Holiday/Teacher Work Day
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