Berkeley Lake ES
"Bear Essentials" Weekly e-Newsletter, December 6, 2019
Principal's Message
Dear Parents,
I hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving break full of fun, family, and food! Please be sure to keep up with the information we share on the school website and school calendar because December is full of special events. Calendar events are also posted at the bottom of this newsletter.
Speaking of the school website, if you have not seen it yet please visit our new look at gcpsk12.org/berkeleylakees. Many thanks to Ms. Jessica Hill for all her hard work in creating our new site and migrating everything over from the old one. I think it looks fabulous!
Another thing that looks fabulous is our new sign, shown above. The new addition is almost complete and we are moving our media center and art room to the new space at the end of the semester. Stay tuned for an opportunity for the community to tour the new building.
We are looking forward to seeing everyone during the month of December for the Candlelight Luncheons and Winter Parties. Details about Candlelight Luncheon can be found below. While you are here, please stop by the Lost and Found to look for missing items. All items left on December 20 will be donated to a local charity.
Have a nice weekend.
Your Principal and Partner,
Dr. Pendleton
The Lost and Found is Full! Please check it for missing items the next time you visit the school.
Additional Help Offered During the Holidays
Many of us face economic hardships at various times in our lives. Due to these hardships, we understand that additional help during the holidays may be necessary. The Poplar Hill Baptist Church is able to help a limited amount of Berkeley Lake families with holiday gifts (at least one per child). If you find your family in a position of need at this time, consider participating in this program.
If you choose to participate, please fill out the form below and return it to your child’s teacher or one of the counselors over the next few days. Once we have received the form, we will pass it on to the church. The school is not involved with the program after we have given the church the form. The church will contact you directly.
We must receive the form below by December 13, 2019
Join Us for a PTO Spirit Night at the Chipotle at The Forum:
Holiday Book Fair and Special Activities at Barnes and Noble
Chorus Club Performance
K-Kids Club News
The next K-Kids school meeting will be held on Monday, December 9th at 7:45 AM.
Hat and Glove Drive Sponsored by Student Council
Candlelight Lunches
See the lunch schedule below by class:
District Assessments
Save the Dates - December Music Performances
Our Berkeley Lake Elementary Chorus will perform the National Anthem and five Christmas/Holiday-themed songs at the 7:35 PM December 13th Atlanta Gladiator's Hockey game against South Carolina. Tickets are discounted for this event. See the flyer below for more details on purchasing tickets.
Our annual Winter Concert Series will be held on Thursday, December 19. Our Strings Club will perform at 4:30, followed by a chorus performance at 5:15. At 6:00 PM, our 4th graders will perform.
Science Fair
We Still Need Help With the Online Parent Survey from the State
Parents, please take the Georgia School Health Survey if you have not done so already. This state survey can be taken anywhere online but so far only 65 of our parents have taken the survey. This survey is anonymous and can be taken in English or Spanish. Here is the link to the state survey: https://gshs.gadoe.org/parents.
PTO News
Photographers Needed
The PTO offers customized photos at the Candlelight luncheon for $5 as a fundraiser for the school. We are in need of photographers with their own cameras (like Minolta or Canon but not cellphones) to work the lunches each day.
We also need people to sit at the table and take the orders.
Thank you!
Raise Money for BLES While Doing Your Holiday Shopping on Amazon
Remember to Buy Your Yearbooks
Yearbooks are purchased and customized by you online.
Go to www.treering.com/validate
Enter our school code 1015217531682993
Positive Behavior Focus for this Week:
Digital Learning Days
The Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) 2019-2020 school calendar includes two make-up days to address school days missed due to inclement weather. In addition to these days, GCPS also has the option of making up days missed due to inclement weather using Digital Learning Days.
A Digital Learning Day is considered a school day, so students will be accountable for completing the teacher assignments from home, just as they would do at school. The assignments will be found on the teacher’s eClass course page under the Digital Learning Day icon and will be checked by the teacher and considered in the grading process.
Gwinnett Parks and Recreation Free Holiday Event
This Saturday, December 7, from 11:00am - 5:00pm, experience the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center will host a Holiday Arts and Craft Show featuring over 60 local vendors selling handmade crafts, jewelry, clothing, art, holiday decor, and much more! (And you can get all of your shopping done in a single afternoon).
If you need to take a break from shopping and grab lunch, we will have food vendors onsite.
During the show kids will have the opportunity to write their letters to Santa, enjoy our complimentary holiday arts and crafts stations and explore our newest traveling exhibit - Coney Island Visions of An American Dreamland.
Admission is free for this event.
For information, see the flyer below or visit their Facebook link at https://www.facebook.com/events/802008996907771/
A Look Ahead...
Saturday, December 7
8:30am ES Peer Leader Conference
Monday, December 9
Mid Year District Assessments for Grades 1st - 5th
7:45am K-Kids Mtg
2:45pm Orchestra Club
3:00pm Chess club - Media Center
5:00pm Spirit Night at Chipotle
7:15pm Chorus performs at Barnes & Noble @ The Forum
Tuesday, December 10
Mid Year District Assessments for Grades 1st - 5th
7:00am IT Girls
7:30am PTO Board Meeting
9:00am Advanced English Class
3:00pm Green Team
3:15pm Drama Club in room 3.124
Wednesday, December 11
Mid Year District Assessments for Grades 1st - 5th
Candlelight Luncheon Grades 3 & 5
7:15am No Art Club
9:00am Beginner English Class
Thursday, December 12
Mid Year District Assessments for Grades 1st - 5th
Candlelight Luncheon Grades 2nd & Kindergarten
7:00am Chorus Club Semester 1
3:00pm Good News Club (Media Center)
3:00pm Robotics Club
Friday, December 13
Mid Year District Assessments for Grades 1st - 5th
Candlelight Luncheon Grades 1st & 4th
7:30am Witzzle Pro Club meets
7:35pm Chorus Performs at Gladiators Hockey Game
Spring Milestones Schedule Released - 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade 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.
We Have a School Store
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!
Remember to Save Those Box Tops!
One easy way to support your school is through the PTO Box Tops for Education collection. Send in Box Tops from products you purchase. To help with counting, you can download this Box Tops Collection Sheet.
Make sure to put your Box Tops on the sheet or in a bag with your name and teacher on it. Drop it into the wooden box in the main hallway near the water fountain. Doing this automatically enters you into a contest.
Each month, we’ll hold a random drawing of all students who submit Box Tops. Winners will be announced on the morning announcements at the end of each month. The prize? A coupon for a free ice cream or an item from the student store. This fundraiser has helped us earn hundreds of dollars for our school!
Our Parent Center
The Berkeley Lake Parent Center is open each day from 7:30-3:30. The Parent Center is located across from the front office. For Parent Center support please call Ms. Sandra Orci, Parent Liaison, at 678-291-4232.
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