Berkeley Lake ES
"Bear Essentials" Weekly e-Newsletter, April 16, 2021
Principal's Message
Dear Parents,
It was great to welcome our students back after Spring Break. I hope it was a fun and relaxing time for all of you!
Just a reminder that if you intend for your child to be a digital learner in the Fall, there was a district survey for you to fill out. While the deadline has passed, please let us know if you plan for your child to be a digital learner next year. You can call the front office or email cathy.mettille@gcpsk12.org to let us know. There is no need to do anything special if your child will be an in person learner.
Plans are underway, and more information coming, about the following:
- Summer Enrichment and Acceleration (Summer School) June 14-July 2
- Rising Kindergarten Academy June 14-July 2
- Kindergarten Registration is now open online, and we are making appointments for parents to come in to have their child screened in person and fill out clinic cards. Please call the school to set up your appointment.
Your Principal and Partner,
Dr. Pendleton
Parent Input is Needed
A Look Ahead...
***Specials Rotation Schedule for Digital Learning Students for Week of April 19-23:
- K-2nd: Have Science and P.E.
- 3rd-5th: Have Art and Music
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Saturday, April 17
9:00am Saturday School
Monday, April 19
No events
Tuesday, April 20
Digital Learning Day for ALL Students
Wednesday, April 21
9:00am GCPS Book Mobile Visits BLES
12:30pm Play 2 Learn
Thursday, April 22
8:15am 3rd Gr ELA 1 Milestones
6:00pm Title 1 Planning Meeting
Friday, April 23
Progress reports sent home
8:15am 3rd Gr. ELA 2 & 3 Milestones
PTO News
- Vote for your 2021-2022 Executive Board by Friday, April 30, at this link. View proposed board members on our site. Email us at info@blespto.org if you have any questions about serving your school. We appreciate your support!
- Shop and Give! Don’t forget you can help earn money for our school just by shopping!
School News:
Title I Planning Meeting
We Will Have a Yearbook, After All!
The Yearbook is happening at BLES! Yearbooks will be soft-bound and will cost $20.00. Click here to order one for your child today.
If you have pictures to send of your child, please submit them by clicking here. When submitting a photo for the class page, the photo must have a solid background or we will not be able to use it.
Camp Invention Update
Camp Invention will now be offered in-person and online! See the flyer image or PDF below for details. In order for proper Covid guidelines to be followed, space will be limited, so don't delay registering your child.
We also have a few $100 camp scholarships that will bring the camp price down to $150. It is on a first come need only basis. Please email or drop the form at school by April 23rd. Email Trina Ashadele for more information.
Thank You to the B.B. Harris Elementary PTA
The GCPS Media Services Department Needs Your Help
Our only GCPS Media Services fundraiser for the year, the Book Mobile 5K, is canceled, but we still need your help!
Please help us put books in kids’ hands by ordering the 2021 GCPS Book Mobile T-shirt. Adult sizes are $26, and youth sizes are $22. These shirts are the softest shirts EVER! The more shirts we sell, the more funds we have to purchase books and continue our summer program.
Since the Book Mobile 5K was canceled this year, you can get your t-shirt without breaking a sweat! Support this AMAZING cause. Removing barriers to literacy will help avoid the summer slide. Share this with your friends and family!
Orders can be placed April 12- April 30
T-shirts are $26 for adult sizes and $22 for youth sizes (plus shipping)
T-shirts will be shipped the week of May 10
Buy them here: bonfire.com/bookmobile
The mission of the GCPS Book Mobile program is to put books into the hands of children! Last summer, we were able to give away 61,106 books in June and July. This summer, the Book Mobiles return to a true mobile library visiting 100 stops per week for students to checkout books.
Did you know GCPS operates two Book Mobiles year-round?
- The Book Mobiles visit 120 schools each year
- Over 50,000 Gwinnett students have chosen a new book to keep at the school events
- The Book Mobiles are entering their 4th summer of operation
- Last summer, the Book Mobiles visited every school cluster twice and distributed 60, 106 new books
- Over 14,000 Gwinnett students visited the Book Mobiles and checked out 17,060 books in the summer of 2019
- GCPS School Nutrition and the Atlanta Community Food Bank partner with our summer program to provide meals and snacks to students
Amazon Food Mobile Distribution Coming Up on April 27th
For Parents of Kids Ages 3 - 8:
Parents of 3rd, 4th, and 5th Graders
The Georgia Milestones End of Grade Test (GMAS) is coming up for our 3rd - 5th grade students in late April and May. Click here to view a calendar of test dates, read testing tips, view some helpful links, visit a practice site, and see the Milestones Question of the Day.
Showcase Your Talent!
Supply Reminder for All In-Person Art Students
- Pencil with eraser
- Something to color with (K-1st grade work best with crayons and 2nd-5th grades are recommended to have markers or colored pencils (many really like to have both to have options).
- A bag for items 1 & 2 above to be stored in
Lori VanBuskirk
Art Specialist
We Won the Book Return Challenge So Our Students Will Get to Pick Out a Free Book from the GCPS Book Mobile!!!
Do you remember when we participated in the Book Return Challenge at the beginning of the semester? We want to thank everyone who participated! Our school won a prize for participating in the challenge!
All BLES students (in-person and digital) will get to take home one book from the GCPS Book Mobile!
The GCPS Book Mobile will visit BLES on April 21st, 2021 from 9 am - 1 pm.
- Teachers will receive a schedule for in-person students to choose a book to take home.
- Digital students are welcome to come to school from 9 am - 1 pm on April 21st to take home one book per student. The BLES student must be in-person to receive a book.
The Book Mobile will be parked in front of BLES in the bus lane, so the bus lane will be closed to the public during this time.
Families of digital students who will be picking up lunch or Book Mobile books on April 21st should park in the front parking lot.
Masks are required when participating in the Book Mobile event.
Send any questions about the GCPS Book Mobile event to our BLES Media Specialist, Mrs. Norby at nicole.vanden.hoek@gcpsk12.org
We're excited to get books into all our students' hands!
Mrs. Norby and Mrs. Bingham
Save the Date (for Parents of 5th Graders)
5th Grade Information Page on Our Website
Parents of 5th graders, remember to frequently check the 5th Grade Information page on our website for up-to-date information.
S.T.E.A.M. Opportunity for Rising 6th Graders!
Duluth Middle School is excited to offer a new, innovative experience for 6th graders interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM)! You can now choose to participate in our STEAM Experience by clicking on the link below. The classes will be on the students' schedules and will take place during the school day. If you have already signed up for Fine Arts classes, you can ALSO sign up for the STEAM experience. We can't wait to see you!
- DMS STEAM Interest Form: https://forms.gle/N6feNvaAm2dJPLRz9
- STEAM video English https://youtu.be/lVa4JOctyBY
- STEAM video Spanish https://youtu.be/5NaVui2XJpk
Parents, You Are Invited to a Federal programs Family-School Partnership Advisory Council
See the flyer below.
International Night
Sign Up Today to Receive School System News Online
Sign up to receive Gwinnett County Public Schools e-newsletter... a quick, easy way to learn more about Georgia's largest school system. In this newsletter, you'll find stories on teaching and learning, school leadership and governance, and the partnerships that make Gwinnett County Public Schools successful. Click here to sign up for GCPS eNews or check out online registration on the GCPS home page at http://www.gcpsk12.org.
AKS at Home for the Last Two Months of School
Food Finder
Visit the FoodFinder website or download the app to find places nearby where you can get free food and meal assistance.
Tutor.com
Play to Learn
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