Thank you so much to those of you who attended Coffee Talk this week! We had some great conversations, and I always appreciate hearing from you. One resource that I shared is a COVID case report that GCPS publishes each week. Click here to access. If you were not able to participate, but have questions, please feel free to contact me at the school. You can also watch a recorded version of the Coffee Talk by clicking here.

Picture make-up dates will be

December 16th from 3:15pm-7:15pm for digital students

December 17th for In-person students

The Digital code to order pictures online is FM345732.

We will send out a sign-up link for the digital picture make ups, as soon as the photography company provides us with one.

Now is your time to make the decision about how your children will learn during second semester. Like this semester, you may select either in-person instruction at the school or digital learning at home. Please note that the decision you make will be for the entire semester.

The Spring Instructional Preference Questionnaire is now available in the Parent Portal until November 29th. If you do not have a parent portal account, you need one. Please click here for information or contact our front office to request one.

If you have already made your selection for next semester, use these directions to verify your selection in the web version of the Parent Portal  or  use these directions to verify your selection in the Parent Vue app.

The Turkey Trot is Back in Business – Virtually!

Week of Nov. 2-6

• K-2nd: Have Science and P.E.
• 3rd-5th: Have Art and Music

Week of Nov. 9-13:

• K-2nd: Have Art and Music
• 3rd-5th: Have Science and P.E.

Week of Nov. 16-20

• K-2nd: Have Science and P.E.
• 3rd-5th: Have Art and Music

Week of Nov. 23-27: 

• Thanksgiving Holiday Break

Week of Nov. 30-Dec. 4:

• K-2nd: Have Art and Music
• 3rd-5th: Have Science and P.E.

Week of Dec. 7-11:

• K-2nd: Have Science and P.E.
• 3rd-5th: Have Art and Music

Week of Dec. 14-18:

• K-2nd: Have Art and Music
• 3rd-5th: Have Science and P.E.

Weeks of Dec. 23-Jan. 5th:

• Winter break, no school

You are an important partner with your child’s teacher, whether your child is learning at home or at school. To help you support your child’s learning, GCPS is launching a new initiative called AKS at Home. With this project, families will learn ways to help their child practice skills they are learning in class as part of the district’s Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) curriculum.

The live Zoom meetings for this second nine weeks have already occured at this time, but if you can still find the parent tip sheet and a recording of the meetings on the county website:

http://publish.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/gcps/home/public/parents/content/general-info/aks-athome/aks-at-home

From now until December 31st this year, any student that reads four books and submits everything online through the link below will be eligible to receive a free ticket to a 2021 Gwinnett Stripers game. These books can be any books that the students are required to read for school or separate from their required reading at school. Once the student has completed the reading they just simply need their parents to fill out the online submission form at this link: https://www.milb.com/gwinnett/community/reading-challenge and then email the titles and authors of the books to the email listed on the page. Once those requirements are met, the student will be eligible to receive the ticket to a 2021 Stripers game. Plus, the Stripers and Georgia Power will be honoring a Power Reader of the Month on our social media platforms that students could be eligible for as well.

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 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.

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."

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.

Having problems with your child's school technology during Digital Learning? Check out the technology help guides area on the left side of this page.

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.

Congratulations to Melissa Redner, Berkeley Lake's Teacher of the Year. Melissa is a 5th grade teacher and was nominated by the other teachers in the building.

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/.

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.

Click here to learn more about our virtual job fair.

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.

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.

Hello parents! For this on-going fall semester, Duluth High School’s National Honor Society (NHS) has offered to provide an exciting and innovative free tutoring service. Through Covac Education, a student organized corporation that strives to support the community through academic enrichment, student instructors from Duluth High School’s National Honor Society are providing free tutoring sessions for elementary students (1st-5th) in math--these sessions take place on Mondays through Thursdays from 4:00 - 6:00 pm.
As well as being completely free, these tutoring sessions are paired with Common-Core/Georgia Standards worksheets to help students make the most of their time. Sessions are 20 minutes long, and all instructors are trained and have access to teaching directions based on specific Georgia standards.
For students to take advantage of this, they just simply sign up online using an appointment form provided on Covac Education’s website (links below). After doing so, students are individually paired with an instructor from an NHS or other honor societies/volunteer organizations. Considering the hardships of digital learning, we believe that this is a great opportunity for every student!
This free tutoring service will begin the week following Labor Weekend on September 8th and sign-ups will begin September 4th. Please feel free to visit this link to learn more and sign up using this form.

Sincerely,
Duluth High School's National Honor Society

Last year, the Gwinnett County Public Library teamed up with Gwinnett County Schools to offer a free online tutoring program to help students who needed some additional support with daily digital learning assignments. We are happy to announce that the Tutor.com program is continuing this fall by offering online homework support. Click one of the help links below for more information.

Click here to learn how to use Tutor.com

Click here to learn how to access Tutor.com

Click here to log into Tutor.com

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.

Kindergarten

About Promotion to 1st Grade

To earn promotion to the 1st grade, students must demonstrate proficiency of the current grade-level Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS). Readiness for the 1st grade will be determined by the child's classroom grades, assessments, and/or input from the school's Student Support Team (SST).

1st Grade

About Promotion to 2nd Grade

To earn promotion to the 2nd grade, students must demonstrate proficiency of the current grade-level Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS). Readiness for the 2nd grade will be determined by the child's classroom grades, assessments, and/or input from the school's Student Support Team (SST).

2nd Grade

About Promotion to 3rd Grade

To earn promotion to the 3rd grade, students must demonstrate proficiency of the current grade-level Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS). Readiness for the 3rd grade will be determined by the child's classroom grades, assessments, and/or input from the school's Student Support Team (SST).

3rd Grade

About Promotion to the 4th Grade

To earn promotion to the 4th grade, students should score Grade Level or Above on the Reading and Vocabulary domain of the Language Arts Georgia Milestones End of Grade (EOG) Assessment. Students who do not score Grade Level or Above on the Reading and Vocabulary domain of the Language Arts Georgia EOG Assessment may have the opportunity to attend summer school for targeted instruction. These students may be required to retest after summer school. Students should also possess the academic knowledge and skills necessary to be successful at the next grade level.

Students who do not score Grade Level or Above on the Reading and Vocabulary domain of the Language Arts Georgia Milestones EOG but who have a yearlong average that is passing (70 or higher) in Reading may be promoted.

4th Grade

About Promotion to the 5th Grade

To earn promotion to the 5th grade, students should have a yearlong average of 70 or better in Reading and Mathematics and possess the academic knowledge and skills necessary to be successful at the next grade level in Science and Social Studies.

5th Grade

About Promotion to the 6th Grade

To earn promotion to the 6th grade, students should score Grade Level or Above on the Reading and Vocabulary domain of the Language Arts Georgia Milestones End of Grade (EOG) Assessment and achieve the perfomrance level of Developing or higher on the Mathematics Georgia Milestones EOG. Students who do not score Grade Level or Above on the Reading and Vocabulary domain of the Language Arts Georgia Milestones EOG Assessment and/or whoe do not acheive the perfomrance level of Developing or higher on the Mathematics Georgia Milestones EOG may have the opportunity to attend summer school for targeted instruction. These students may be required to retest after summer school. Students should also possess the academic knowledge and skills necessary to be successful at the next grade level.

Students who do not meet grade level proficiency on the  Reading and Vocabulary domain and/or achieve the performance level of Developing or hgihger on the Mathematics EOG assessment but who have a yearlong average that is passing (70 or higher) in the corresponding course may be promoted.

Note: Promotion for an English Learner (EL) or a student with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) is guided by his or her English Learner Proficiency Plan.

• Click here to view the school supply lists for digital learning

• Click here to view the school supply lists for in-person school learning.

• Need to borrow a chromebook or internet hotspot for your student? Please note that there is a waiting list for chromebooks. We will reach out to you through email when we have one for you to pick up for your student. In the meantime, your student can use another home computer, a tablet, or a cell phone. Please do not complete the form if you have already contacted the school about needing to borrow a chromebook. The form is only for brand new requests. Click here to add your student to the chromebook waitlist.