Berkeley Lake ES
"Bear Essentials" Weekly e-Newsletter, October 30, 2020
Principal's Message
Dear Parents,
It was a great, if unusual, week at BLES! Thank you for your support during our two district-wide digital learning days. Like you, many school staff are still without power. If your child missed digital learning this week, rest assured that there will be opportunities to make up missing assignments.
I do want to remind you of several important things that need your attention or could use your support. There are further details about each in this newsletter.
- You now have access to the Spring Instructional Preference Questionnaire if you plan to make a change for your child for the second semester. It is very important that you think carefully about your choice because we will not be honoring requests to change after Thanksgiving. You must have a Parent Portal account to do this. Please call the front office, the Parent Center, or ask your child's teacher, if you need help doing this.
- Please support our online Book Fair and PTO Charleston Wrap fundraiser!
- Please consider working as a substitute! They are greatly needed, and this is a good way to be involved in your neighborhood school.
- Don't forget to set your clocks back this weekend!
- Please vote! There is no school on Election Day, November 3rd.
I hope you have a great weekend!
Your Principal and Partner,
Dr. Pendleton
Our United Way Student Campaign
Students, thank you for doing your part to help others! Be sure to check out your artwork on our Kindness Rocks bulletin board!
Five Reasons Why We Still Need You to Submit Your Free and Reduced Lunch Applications by End of Day Today:
Click the School Lunch App link below to get started.
Good Samaritans Clinic of Gwinnett
Help Sessions for Parents - AKS at Home
As a new initiative this year, GCPS is offering help sessions to parents in nine-week increments. These sessions are broken down by grade level, and will cover things you can do at home to help your child better learn the required AKS for each nine week period. The sessions currently focus on Language Arts and Math, but in the future will also include Science and Social Studies. The meetings will be virtual and recorded. Please see the information and schedule below:
Where: Virtual meeting via Zoom, please visit the website provided to access
the zoom link: http://publish.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/gcps/home/public/parents/content/general-info/aks-at-home/aks-at-home
Who: All Families of students in K - 5
Why: To learn an activity to help support your child at home in Math and Language Arts
If you are unable to attend the meeting, you can find the parent tip sheet and a recording of the meeting on the county website:
The Plan/The Promise
Please go to My Payments Plus and sign off on the acknowledgement of this document. While you are logged into your account make sure that you have signed off on all of the school documents from the beginning of the year.
Specials Rotation Schedule for Digital Learners
The Specials Rotation for Digital Learners for the Week of November 2 - 6 will be:
- K-2nd: Science and P.E.
- 3rd-5th: Art and Music
To better help you support our digital learning students with their Specials Class assignments, we have posted the rotation schedule in four places:
1. In this newsletter- it will be updated each week
2. On the BLES website under the Announcements section
3. In eClass under My Courses > BLES Landing page
4. On each teacher's eClass course page under the round purple button labeled "Specials Rotation"
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.
Parent Portal Now Available on iPhones and Android
If you have a Parent Portal account, a mobile app is now available for use. The app is called "Synergy Parent" mobile app and can be found in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. Parents who have a parent portal account will be able to view schedules, grades, see when assignments are due, view graduation requirements, find missing assignments, and view other important student information. Remember, an active parent portal account is required to log in to ParentVUE. Need more information on getting a Parent Portal account? Click here.
Need more information on getting a Parent Portal account? Click here.
Making the Choice for Digital or In-Person Learning for Second Semester
You can now make the decision about how your children will learn during second semester. Like this semester, families may select either in-person instruction at their child’s school or digital learning at home. As students and families are more familiar with these two options and what they entail, the decisions families make will be for the entire semester.
The Spring Instructional Preference Questionnaire is now available in your Parent Portal account until 11:59 p.m. on November 15.
If you do not have a parent portal account, please click here for information or contact our front office to request one.
Place Your Book Fair Orders Today!
Our school's Scholastic Book Fair is here and is ONLINE this semester! You can order between now and November 8.
The link for the book fair is:
https://www.scholastic.com/bf/berkeleylake
We hope all of our in-person students, digital students and staff will be able to participate in our Online Book Fair! Please share our school's book fair link with your friends and family!
Niki Norby (Vanden Hoek)
Media Specialist
Book Check Outs for Digital Learners
Start putting your books on Hold TODAY! 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
PTO News and Information:
- Tomorrow and Nov. 14 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Join the PTO Board and BLES Counselors and Staff at Satisfeed. We are asking our PTO members to join us to help Duluth Cluster families get fresh food that many need so desperately during the pandemic. We still need 15 more people for both days. Click here to sign up. Location: Life Church International- 4830 River Green Parkway, Duluth GA. There is a need for 4-5 Spanish speakers each day. If you’d like to donate, visit www.satisfeed.org/donate.
- Make the most of your Charleston Wrap® shopping experience! It’s super easy to share our BLES account with all your family and friends to get everyone shopping today – just in time for the holidays!
Here’s how to get started:
1. Click here to register today! Use organization ID number 11515.
2. We have an email invitation tool ready as soon as you register. Send 10 unique and valid shopping email invites to your friends and family.
3. Let the shopping begin! With over 2,500 gift ideas, you can check off your holiday gift list and support BLES, too.
PRO TIP: The more email invites you send, the more supporters we’ll get! So, break out your email contact list, share on social media and help spread the word!
If you have any questions or issues, customer support is available at 1-866-395-2926.
Instructional Resource Public Review
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.
Promotion Requirements for This School Year:
The Empty Stocking Fund Offers Help for the Holidays
Many of us are facing difficult economic times. The Empty Stocking Fund is a resource that may help. This program provides gifts for children under 12 if you are found eligible. The site is in Spanish and English. Please apply soon, as spots fill up.
Free Groceries Available to Those In Need
When: Fridays 3:00 - 4:00 PM and Saturdays 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Where: Friendship Baptist Church
3375 Church Lane, Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 497-8227
email: friendshipduluth@att.net
Pastor: Ronald L. Bowens
First Come, First Served
Positive Behavior and Intervention Support Theme for the Week:
PBIS Team:
Hello Parents,
We wanted to make sure you knew who made up our PBIS Team. Here is our team and their roles. Please know that we will be doing all we can to ensure there is a positive behavior climate at Berkeley Lake.
Mathnasium of Berkeley Lake
NEW: YMCA Now Offering After-School Care
As students are phasing back to in-person instruction, the YMCA has started afterschool care. The YMCA will pick up students from our school and transport them to the YMCA branch where they will serve them until 6:30 p.m. The cost is $60.00 per week for Y facility members and $80.00 per week for Y program members. We also offer different rates for part-time care and discounts for Gwinnett County educators. The YMCA has financial assistance available for families who may need additional help. Please see the flyer below for more information.
Help for the Holidays
Websites and Apps that Our Teachers and Students Use
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.
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.
A Look Ahead...
Saturday, October 31
Online Book Fair continues
PTO Charleston Wrap Fundraiser continues
BLES Staff and PTO Satisfeed Volunteer Day 8:00 AM - noon
Halloween
Sunday, November 1
Online Book Fair continues
PTO Charleston Wrap Fundraiser continues
BLES Staff and PTO Satisfeed Volunteer Day 8:00 AM - noon
Daylight Saving Time ends
Monday, November 2
Online Book Fair continues
PTO Charleston Wrap Fundraiser continues
Tuesday, November 3
Online Book Fair continues
PTO Charleston Wrap Fundraiser continues
Election Day - Student/Teacher Holiday
Wednesday, November 4
Online Book Fair continues
PTO Charleston Wrap Fundraiser continues
12:30pm Play 2 Learn
Thursday, November 5
Online Book Fair continues
PTO Charleston Wrap Fundraiser continues
Friday, November 6
Online Book Fair continues
PTO Charleston Wrap Fundraiser continues
Saturday, November 7
Online Book Fair continues
PTO Charleston Wrap Fundraiser continues
Sunday, November 8
Last day for online Book Fair
PTO Charleston Wrap Fundraiser continues
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