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Berkeley Lake Elementary School
Bear Essentials - September 25, 2015
Early Release Parent Conference Week
Early Release Parent Conference Week is one of my favorite events of the year. Wed. and Thur. of this week, the days when parents visited the school to meet with their child’s teacher, is always a great time to be reminded of the important partnership between home and school to provide the best possible education for every Berkeley Lake student. Thank you to each of you who came to speak to your child’s teacher and showed the commitment to support the programs that foster educational success. An initial tally shows our teachers conferenced with the majority of our parents. This is commendable and truly appreciated by our staff. Thank you to Ms. Schoenknect in the Parent Center and to all the folks who translated—Ms. Orci, Ms. Diazgranados, Ms. Madison, Ms. Nancy Ramos, Ms. Mariella Ramos, Mr. Carter and the Duluth High School Juntos Club and sponsor, Amanda Guske, which enhanced communication.
K-Kids
Last week Ms. Ashadele and Ms. Lehman, K-Kids sponsors, had a great time teaching the students how to vote for officers. Congratulations to the 2015 – 2016 Officers:
President - Amy Gonzalez – Mr. LaMotte
V. President - Alan Taylor – Ms. Clement
Secretary - Faith Covey – Ms. Fain
Treasurer - Charley Quintanilla – Ms. Clement
K-Kids also planned their role in the school wide "No Place for Hate" program. The students will make videos to share with the school about anti-bullying. Oct. is National Fire Safety Month and Mr. Rhodes, our Duluth Kiwanis sponsor, has lined up a speaker. Thank you to parent volunteers, Ms. Jones and Ms. Mansfield, teachers Ms. Sentell and Ms. Chung, and community volunteer, Ms. Pelletier, for all of their support. K-Kids meets again Oct. 2, 2015.
Duluth Cluster Fine Arts Night
We are looking forward to participating in the Duluth Cluster Fine Arts Night this evening at the Duluth High School football game pre show. Our 5th grade students under the direction of Mr. Green will join the other elementary schools in the cluster to sing the National Anthem at 7:00 prior to the start of the game. Student singers are to be dropped off at 5:30 and must be accompanied by an adult.
Duluth Fall Festival Parade
Tomorrow morning, Sat., Ms. Worthy, our TOTY, will lead the Berkeley Lake Elementary group in the Duluth Fall Festival Parade in Duluth Town Center. Please come out and join us to walk in the parade. Wear your paw print spirit wear or purple and bring the entire family. The parade begins at 10:00 so we need to line up at 9:15 in front of the Monarch School at #19. All students must be accompanied by adults.
Club News
Clubs are part of our extended learning at the Lake. Art Club has twenty-five 4th and 5th grade students that meet with Ms. VanBuskirk weekly on Wed. mornings. The purpose of the Art Club is to promote, encourage and explore the arts. The members act as Art Ambassadors for our school. Chorus has thirty 4th and 5th grade students and will begin Thur., Oct. 1, from 7:15-7:45 in the music room with Mr. Green. This club encourages singing and performing skills. Our chorus will perform at Berkeley Lake and around the local area throughout the school year. Green Team meets each Tues. after school under the direction of Ms. Bentley and Ms. Frazer. Students collect all the paper bins from classrooms and offices for recycling. Club Invention will start after school on Thur., Oct. 1, and run six weeks with forty-four 3rd graders participating in STEM activities to brainstorm and create inventions that may provide a solution to ocean pollution. Ms. Herson and Ms. Bentley will facilitate two groups.
Witzzle Pro Math Club will organize next month and will meet Fri. mornings with Ms. Mayorga, our math coach. The students will compete in a Witzzle Pro tournament next semester. Chess Club is offered every Mon. and Strings lessons every Wed.
IT Girls Club
This fall we are adding a club called, IT Girls. As part of our Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) focus, we are exploring the benefits of incorporating technology at BLES. Our female students who are interested in science and technology will have a structured extra-curricular program to explore and develop their interests and talents. IT Girls will meet Thur. mornings beginning Oct. 6 at 7:15. The curriculum was planned and developed with parent volunteer, Grant Shih, and teachers, Ms. Bentley, Ms. Hill, Ms. Page and Mr. Carter.
Save Your Box Tops
PTA announces an upcoming Box Tops Contest so please save Box Tops for an Oct. 17 collection! If you have not joined the PTA, please consider a $7 membership by sending your dues to your child’s teacher or join the PTA through MyPaymentsPlus. Please get involved with our school through our PTA.
International Literacy Night
In planning ahead, mark your calendars for our annual celebration of PTA International Literacy Night Thur., Oct. 8, at 6:00. We are planning an evening of entertainment through displays of books, art, clothing, toys/games and food. Families celebrate their culture and countries in this festive family event. Parents and students participate in activities to support literacy standards through storytelling, letter writing, cultural presentations, literature connections and visiting the book fair. Prior to International Literacy Night, there will be a Title I Literacy Parent Workshop Oct. 8 at 5:15. Parents will learn reading comprehension activities and strategies to use at home to help children to become independent readers.
E-SPLOST is on the Nov. 3 ballot!
Gwinnett County voters will be asked to extend the special purpose local option sales tax for education (E-SPLOST) on Nov. 3. Over the years E-SPLOST has funded education capital projects that have benefited all students in Gwinnett County. It is important for Gwinnett citizens to be aware of the E-SPLOST and the district’s plan for meeting the classroom and technology needs of Gwinnett’s growing student enrollment. For more information please go to the GCPS website gwinnett.k12.ga.us
Cafeteria Volunteers
Thank you to our recent cafeteria volunteers : Emily Shih, Alina Morgan, Ji Sun Lee, Mary Mansfield, Maribel Duran, and Lenka Taylor. We appreciate you!
Important Dates
9/25—6-7:00 Duluth Cluster Fine Arts Night @ Duluth HS football game
9/26—Duluth Fall Festival Parade
9/28—3-4:00 Chess Club
9/29—3-4:00 Green Team
9/30—7:15 Art Club
9/30—2:45-4:45 Strings Club
9/30—3-4:30 Good News Club
10/1—7:15-7:45 Chorus Club
10/1—7:45 Readers Rally Interest Mtg
10/1—3-4:30 Club Invention
10/2—Spirit Wear Day!
10/2—Hat Trick for Rdg bookmarks due
10/2—7:45 K-Kids Mtg
10/2—10-11:00 School Tour
10/5—3-4:00 Chess Club
10/6—7:15 IT Girls Club
10/6—3-4:00 Green Team
10/7—7:15 Art Club
10/7—2:45-4:45 Strings Club
10/7—3-4:30 Good News Club
10/8—7:15-7:45 Chorus Club
10/8—9:00-2:30 Book Fair Open
10/8—3-4:30 Club Invention
10/8—5-8:00 Book Fair Open
10/8—5:15 Title I Parent Workshop—Literacy
10/8—6-8:00 International Literacy Night
10/9—Last day for AR points
10/9—End Quarter 1
10/9—9:00-2:30 Book Fair Open
Our Parent Center
The Berkeley Lake Parent Center is open each day from 7:30-3:30. The Parent Center is located in room 1.122 in the Media Center. Ms. Angela Schoenknecht, the Parent Instructional Coordinator (PIC), is available by appointment. Please call 678-291-4233 for Parent Center support or Ms. Sandra Orci (Parent Liaison) at 678-291-4232.
Berkeley Lake's Vision Statement
Our Vision : Berkeley Lake Elementary School 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.