Special Edition Bear Essentials
All the best to you as we work together to put kids first!
March 27, 2020
Parent Request Form
3/27/20 Update
Dear BLES Families,
We are so fortunate to have been able to give groceries to over 100 families this week! We hope to continue this after Spring Break on a more limited basis. After Spring Break, we will distribute food on Mondays and Fridays only from 11:00-1:00. Please call the front office at 770-446-0947 with questions.
There will be no lunches, paper packets, or new Digital Learning lessons posted next week due to Spring Break.
Paper packets for the week after Spring Break will be available beginning Monday, April 6th at 8:00AM.
Calls from Ms. Orci
Spring Break Food Resources
Dear Families,
To ensure that students have “at home” learning opportunities during this time of school
closures, Get Georgia Reading and Renaissance are partnering to provide readers free,
anytime/anywhere access to digital books and news with myON.
Unlimited, 24/7 access makes it easy for students to continue reading and learning at
home. Students can read online using any Internet-enabled device, or read offline with
free mobile apps.
• The myON library includes more than 6,400 enhanced digital books, with titles for
a wide range of reading levels and in diverse genres, including fiction, nonfiction,
and graphic novels.
• myON News provides five age-appropriate articles, Monday through Friday, on US
and world events, arts and entertainment, sports, science, and technology.
Getting started is easy!
1. Go to www.myon.com/login/index.html to login
and start reading.
a. School Name: Get Georgia Reading
(type the first few letters and select from the
drop-down menu)
b. Username: yourcounty (e.g. cobbcounty)
c. Password: read
2. Click the Sign In button and start reading!
Unlimited, free access will be provided until school closures end and students are able to
return to the classroom. Please join me in encouraging students to read and continue
learning at home during this time.
Internet Resources
The following offers by providers are not affiliated with GCPS. Contact each provider for more information.
NEW--- https://www.cox.com/residential/internet/connect2compete.html
https://www.everyoneon.org/find-offers
Spectrum
Be a household with a student enrolled in a K-12 school or college
Call 844-488-8395; installation fees will be waived for eligible households
Comcast
Be an eligible "qualified low-income household"
Go to http://InternetEssentials.com or call 855-846-8376 for English or call 855-765-6995 for Spanish
All new customers will receive "a free self-install kit" with no shipping fee.
Other Resources
United Way has a special webpage with many resources, everything from employment, to accessing SNAP, to childcare, to food services, to COVID testing, a wide variety of resources that is continually being updated. https://www.unitedwayatlanta.org/coronavirus/
Resources for parents in talking to children about COVID-19
To reach Ms. Marantz or Ms. Penland:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/10pbjNHP9PBj-qi_vcJUCfEIXIZXD5IKtWvCVNaR5vj8/edit?usp=sharing
Counselors will still check their BLES office numbers as well.Local Food Resources: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KGji6hcVViAwYcYDO8PxEr9BevJKCFAD/view?usp=sharing
Gwinnett County Resources:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/12uFPgHs0F8YIRLKCZwHT9n_ELF0bYas7_aBstgvJ_50/mobilebasic
Outside Food Resources (updated)
March 2020
Dear BLES Families,
As you all prepare to spend more time at home due to school and business closures, we want you to be aware of food resources in our area. Below is a list of food pantries and resources in our community. Please contact a school counselor at the information listed below if your family had an economic need.
Sara Penland Laura Marantz
770-582-7523 770-582-7522
sara.penland@gcpsk12.org laura.marantz@gcpsk12.org
NEW---Good Word Brewing in downtown Duluth is operating as a soup kitchen each day from noon until the food runs out. All meals are free.
Duluth Co-Op
10am- 2pm Monday, Wednesday, Friday
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
M/W/F 10am-2pm, Tue 6-8pm, Sat 10am-12pm
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
10am - 12 noon; 6pm - 8pm, Wednesday and Saturday
Food, Personal Care Items, Clothing
1800 Satellite Blvd.
Duluth ,GA 30097
678-812-4500 (Contact person – Linda Mann)
Please visit foodfinder.us for more locations
Contacting Your School Counselor During School Closure
Berkeley Lake Virtual School Counseling Instructions:
- Our counseling department is committed to providing school counseling services and support during our digital learning days.
- Please contact your counselor for any social/emotional or behavior needs for your child.
- Parents and students can make direct contact with their counselor using the contact information below.
- Counselors can help with connecting you with community resources.
How to Contact Your Counselor:
- Email your counselor at the email address listed below.
- In your email, include your full name, teacher name, and your concern/question.
- If you would like to make contact via phone, please call the numbers listed below.
- If you would like to schedule a phone conversation, please email your counselor.
Mrs. Marantz
Kindergarten, 2nd, and 4th grades
Office Phone – 770-582-7522
Mrs. Penland
1st, 3rd, and 5th grades
Office Phone – 770-582-7523
Digital learning hours for counselors are Monday – Friday 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. Email and voice messages will be checked hourly. Messages and emails sent after these hours may be returned the following school day.
If the counselors are not in the school building, due to building closure, and you would
like to talk by phone or online audio conversation, your counselor can send you a link to a
Google Meet session or a phone and pin number to talk by phone through Google Meet.
Read eBooks and Magazines from the Gwinnett County Public Library
GCPL offers many ebooks, digital magazines, and other online resources. All GCPS students have access to these resources for free using Branch Out library accounts. Students who have opted in to the Branch Out program may access by using their student ID number for the username and 4-digit birth month and date for the password (ex. February 8th birthday --> 0208). If you have NOT opted in to the Branch Out program and do not have a public library card, you may opt in through the Parent Portal on the GCPS website.
How do I access digital materials? Visit https://gwinnett.overdrive.com/ OR download the Libby app to begin browsing ebooks. Login using your library or Branch Out account. Use the search bar or Collections tab on the left to narrow your search results. You also may view all digital resources available to children, teens, and adults by visiting here: https://www.gwinnettpl.org/digital-resources/.