If your family attended our STEM Night event on Thursday, we would like to get some feedback so as we plan the event again next year, we can make any suggested adjustments when possible. Please click the feedback link here or scan the QR code shown here to give us your input. Thank you.
A key improvement strategy calls on organizations to study the user experience. Therefore, it makes sense to include our students in the work we are doing to improve our schools, as they are the primary user and beneficiaries of what we do. The Educational Effectiveness Survey (EES) measures what students in grades 4-12 think about their school experience, asking about their school, practices that affect student learning, and how well their school is performing. The student survey will be available to GCPS students between January 19 and February 3.
The family survey that we are asking parents/legal guardians to take will be open February 28-March 10, 2023. Additional information about the surveys can be found here.
Here's what you need to know about our upcoming fair:
Every dollar spent will benefit our school directly
You can sign up for Book Fair eWallet on our Book Fair Homepage (link below). The Book Fair eWallet is a convenient digital payment account, so your child can shop the Fair cash-free. Family members and friends can contribute to the eWallet to help build your home library.
Save these dates for our in-person Book Fair, and view our school’s Book Fair site:
Monday, February 6th – Friday, February 10th, with online sales beginning on February 2nd.
We need helpers: If you are interested in helping out as a Volunteer during our Book Fair at BLES, please click the link here to sign up for a time slot. We would like to have two volunteers for each time slot. We appreciate your help!
When your child has well check appointments or dental appointments, please do not have them miss the whole day of school if not medically necessary. While providing a note from the doctor may excuse your child from school, it does not make up for the learning missed. Checking in and/or out of school on appointment days will minimize missed instruction and learning. Teachers always do their best to help students with missed work, but being with the class and in the moment of the lesson produces the best learning experience. Thanking for keeping the school schedule in mind when making appointments for your children.
As part of Gwinnett County Public Schools’ family engagement initiative, the school district seeks to empower parents with tools that allow them to help their children at home. Our AKS at Home project provides math and language arts resources to support families of children in grades K-5 so that they truly are partners in their children’s learning. This support is available for families to access in the format that suits them and their schedule best. They can attend live virtual meetings, view recorded information, and gain tools and suggestions on how to best help their children through tip sheets on a wide variety of topics.
We invite our families to sign up for a virtual session to learn more about how they can support their children.
Tip Sheets and Recordings can be accessed by selecting the appropriate grade level. Recordings will be available at the end of each session series.
Visit the AKS at Home webpage to learn more and to see session dates and times.
Each week, the GCPS Department of Family Engagement, sends out eTips for parents in both English and Spanish. The English tips are towards the front of the document and the Spanish on pages following the English.
Check out next week's eTips here.
Check out All eTips by week here.
These tips can also be found on our website under the Quicklinks area > Family Engagement.
The purpose of the PBIS store is to reward students for following our three school-wide expectations of being respectful, responsible, and safe.
If you would like to view our PBIS Store, click here.
If you would like to support our PBIS Store, please click here.
Pictured below: Our kindergarteners checking out the items at the PBIS store and liking what they see :)
"Discipline That Teaches"
This workshop will be led by our school counselors in our media center on Thursday, February 2, from 6:00-7:00 p.m., with Spanish interpretation provided. A Zoom options will also be available with the Zoom Link will be sent via Class Dojo closer to the presentation date.
During the workshop you will:
Learn about how to use discipline that teaches children through choices, navigating regret, and how to properly apologize and make amends.
Learn about the Wheel of Connection and how it can be used at home.
Receive the tools you need to implement the Wheel of Connection at home.
We hope to see you there or online!
Yearbook Sales are open! Don't miss your opportunity to order your copy of this year's memories. We are offering a discount on the books between now and February 1, 2023 with the cost of $30.00. The book price will go up to $35.00 until the sale ends April 19, 2023. Click here to order your child's yearbook today.
Per the Student Handbook: Parents may provide snacks only, no drinks, favors, balloons, or flowers for the child’s birthday. Whole cakes that need to be sliced by staff are not permitted. All students should be included. Nutritious snacks are encouraged. Birthday treats should be handed out and eaten in the cafeteria during the last ten minutes of the lunch period. Please make sure that students mainstreamed in your classroom are included in the count for treats. Buying ice cream at school for each class member is encouraged. Students may not pass out invitations to parties at school unless all members of the class are invited.
Camp Invention will be held at our school again next summer, and if you register early, you can save money. The camp will be held from June 5-8 from 8:00 - 4:00PM. Extended day will also be offered from 7:30 - 5:30 PM for an additional $100. If you have any questions, please reach out to Trina Ashadele. See the bilingual flyer and image below for details.
The Care Team at BLES has many ways to support our families. We have a food pantry at school that you can come shop at, and we can also assist with helping provide school supplies, deodorant, and feminine hygiene products for your child. If you would like to access these resources please contact:
Lyndsay Murphy (K-2-4)
770-582-7523
Laura Marantz (1-3-5)
770-582-7522
Sandra Orci (Spanish)
678-291-4232
Afternoon Transportation Changes:
Parents, please remember that afternoon transportation changes must be made by 1:30 and there are only two ways for you to make an change for your child:
1. Use the PikMyKid app
2. Send in a signed note.
Dojos, emails, or phone calls to change afternoon transportation will not be accepted.
Thank you for helping us enforce this rule and keep our kids safe!
We Can Help
Many of us face economic hardships at various times in our lives. Due to these hardships, we may need additional help with basic needs like food. At this time, Berkeley Lake Elementary can help by providing a small amount of groceries for your family each week. They will be sent home in your child’s backpack on Fridays. The food is provided by donation. Your name and your child’s name will not be revealed to the donor. The Berkeley Lake Staff will get the food to your child in a discrete manner.
To participate, please email one of us, call either school counselor, or Mrs. Orci (Spanish speaker) to request participation.
Please call us with any questions or concerns:
Lyndsay Murphy
School Counselor
School Counselor
770-582-7523
Laura Marantz
School Counselor
770-582-7522
Sandra Orci (Spanish)
Parent Liaison
678-291-4232
Local School Plan for Improvement
Did You Know BLES is on Various Social Media Apps?
Do You Have a MyPaymentsPlus Account?
Gwinnett Public Schools uses MyPaymentsPlus as a site for school-related payments and documentation sign off. If you do not yet have an account with this site, you will need to set one up. Click here to learn more.
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!
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.
We Collect Box Tops (Online)
Georgia After School Program (GASP)
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
We Thank Our Business Partners
- The Tutoring Center, Duluth, Ga.
- Mathnasium
- Ultra Baby LLC (Ultrasound and Photography)
- Atlanta Urgent Care - 5246 Peachtree Pkwy
