Click here for today's Question of the Day for Georgia Milestones practice

March 1st-6th:

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

Support our school and help your child discover new books, favorite characters, complete series, and more by shopping at our online book fair! You'll love the fun new option to shop for Book Fair exclusives directly from the interactive booklist and enjoy free shipping on book-only purchases over $25.

You will be able to shop the BLES Online Book Fair from the link below from now until March 7th:

https://www.scholastic.com/bf/berkeleylake

As a means of improving results for children with disabilities, the Georgia Department of Education is required to survey parents of students receiving special education services. If you are a parent of a student who is receiving services in Gwinnett County, you are able to participate in this year’s survey process. This is an opportunity for your voice to be heard. The feedback you share will help guide local schools’ efforts to improve Special Education services and results for children and families. The survey is available online and can be accessed through this link or QR code below. 

Survey responses must be submitted by May 31, 2021. If you do not have access to a computer or smart phone, you may contact the Georgia Department of Education, Special Education Help Desk at 404-657-9968 in order to complete the survey by telephone. We look forward to your responses.

Dr. Nicole White
Executive Director of Special Education and Psychological Services

If you have any questions, please contact the Parent Mentors as indicated below.

GCPS Special Education Parent Mentors:

Dawn Albanese 

Jackie McNair 

Click here to be added to our chromebook and/or hotspot wait list. We will reach out to you using the email address you provide in the form once we have a chromebook ready for pick up.

Is your child having technology issues? If so, please first look on the right side of this page and see if you can use one of the Technology Help Guides to resolve the issue. If you still need to report a problem, please complete this form and someone will email or call you about the issue. 

If your child is returning to school and will be a car rider, please fill out this survey so we can assign you a car rider number and give your child a car rider tag. Please note: Please only fill out this form one time. Staff will be assigned to ensure a safe and efficient car rider process, but your child will need to open and close his own car door during arrival and dismissal.

If you were unable to attend a live AKS at Home virtual meeting for your child's grade level, there is still an opportunity for you to watch a recorded session of the meeting. Click here to learn more.

We know that it can be overwhelming to understand and manage all of the different technology programs our teachers are using. Some of the websites and apps we use are school-wide, meaning all teachers use them, but others are up to each teacher. We have created a new page on our website to help you through this. The page gives a list of most of the programs our teachers use and a brief description of each. You can find it by clicking on the "Parents" section in the top purple area of the page and then clicking on "Technology."

Please visit GCPS' Return to Learning Hub to view helpful links about both digital and in-person instruction, Covid numbers by school, and much more!

If you need to complete the Free and Reduced Priced Meal Application please click here. The application must be filled out each school year. 

If you are considering purchasing a technology device for your GCPS student to use at school or at home, please refer to this GCPS Guide.

Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) Parent Mentors help provide parents of students who receive special education services in GCPS information, guidance, and resources to help support their children at home, school and in their communities.

GCPS’ parent mentors are parents of a child who receives or have received special education supports in GCPS. We work within the school district to teach and guide families in a variety of ways. We can provide support and information regarding special education services, transition planning, parent support groups, Social Security Income, Medicaid, other disability funding, agencies that support individuals with disabilities, community resources, and other information related to disabilities.

We also collaborate with school administrators and teachers, supporting educators in their efforts to help families and students plan for and achieve their educational and post-secondary goals

Due to the pandemic, the monthly informational meetings and other in-person workshops we have provided for parents during past school years are not being offered the current school year. However, as opportunities arise during the school year that may benefit families, we will send out information through GCPS’s website and though the local schools.

In the meantime, if you have questions or concerns or need our support, we welcome you to email or call us.

Jackie McNair
jackie.mcnair@gcpsk12.org
(678) 301-7149

Dawn Albanese 
dawn.albanese@gcpsk12.org 
(678) 301-7212

www.parentmentors.org

www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us

Did you know that only 48% of children in our community start school prepared to learn? Early brain development is a key factor in making sure children in Gwinnett County are ready to thrive in kindergarten and beyond!

Children exposed to positive early learning experiences—like reading, singing, and talking with caregivers—are less likely to have academic and behavioral problems in school. They are more likely to be strong readers by 3rd grade and graduate from high school.

This early learning initiative is vital to our community's success, Building Babies' Brains Gwinnett offers a toolkit with resources and opportunities to help enhance brain development in children under the age of 5 here: buildingbabiesbrains.com.

These meals are provided at no cost to the individual through the federal School Nutrition Program.

Students Attending School In-Person

Those attending school in-person will receive meals free-of-charge during their school’s scheduled meal times.

Curbside Pick-up for Digital Learners

Digital learners may pick up meals through the curbside pick-up programs at Berkeley Lake Elementary, Monday through Friday, between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Each day’s pick-up includes both breakfast and lunch. . Individuals will not be allowed to enter the school to pick up or eat meals.

Curbside Pick-up for Others 18 Years of Age or Younger:

Curbside pick-up meals also will be available at no charge to anyone 18 years of age or younger, even to children who are not GCPS students, Monday through Friday, between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at Berkeley Lake Elementary. Each day’s pick-up includes both breakfast and lunch. Individuals will not be allowed to enter the school to pick up or eat meals. (please note the Monday - Friday pick up is a new change, as it used to be a Monday - Thursday pick up only.)

Gwinnett County Public Schools encourages families who are eligible for the Free & Reduced Meal Program to complete the annual application to ensure meal benefits continue when this waiver expires. The application is available at https://www.nlappscloud.com/.

Our Care Team and the BLES Counselors are here to help families with non-perishable food items and school supplies. If you would like to access our food pantry or need supplies at home to support on-line learning (paper, pencils, etc.), please contract your child's school counselor.

Lyndsay Murphy, M.A.
Grades K, 2, 4 and Pre K for Ms. Hutt's & Ms. Cmiel's classes
770-582-7523
lyndsay.murphy@gcpsk12.org

Laura Marantz, Ed.S.
Grades 1, 3, 5 and 2nd/3rd Kates & Pre K for Mack's class
770-582-7522
laura.marantz@gcpsk12.org

Play to Learn

Looking for a free program for your younger child that will encourage them and you to play, learn, and grow? Play to Learn is that program! Play to Learn is for children up to age 5 and the parents and caregivers. The program supports learning through play. We offer it here at Berkeley Lake Elementary for 90 minutes, once a week, from September to May. If you are interested in enrolling your child in our Play to Learn program, please reach out to Diana Diazgranados at Diana.Diazgranados@gcpsk12.org or call Sandra Orci at (678) 291-4232.

Gwinnett Grows

If you are a parent of a child from birth to preschool age, please visit this link to see more early learning resources offered by Gwinnett County Public Schools.

Self-guided learning resources have been made available to all through a collaboration between Gwinnett Public Libraries, GCPS, and Lynda.com.  By following this link you will be taken to the Gwinnett County Library webpage. At the bottom of the page, follow the directions. 

• Students' log-in and password are the student ID and login password
• for all others: Library Card number from back of card and 4 digit password that you created with your library account.