Berkeley Lake Elementary School
Principal: Ashley Coughlin
4300 S. Berkeley Lake Road, Duluth, GA 30096
School Highlights
The following school highlights showcase how Berkeley Lake Elementary School is fulfilling Gwinnett County Public School's four strategic priorities of Empathy, Equity, Effectiveness, and Excellence. Visit the School Profile Dashboard to find more detailed data on our school.
- Berkeley Lake Elementary School (BLES) is a "No Place for Hate" school. Students engage in lessons throughout the year and participate in three school-wide projects.
- Berkeley Lake is a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) school. PBIS encourages positive behaviors with recognition for students who exhibit appropriate school conduct. The Georgia Department of Education recognized BLES as implementing PBIS at the Operational level. Our schoolwide expectations included being safe, respectful, and responsible.
- Literacy continued to be a focus for all students. All classrooms implemented the structured literacy model. We also opened our Book Vending Machine, where students could choose a brand-new book with their PBIS Paw Points. The GCPS Book Mobile also visited the school, and all students picked a new book to take home. We celebrated literacy with Book Character Day, March Madness Book Edition, and Literacy Night.
- During the 23-24 school year, BLES focused on student and staff well-being by implementing schoolwide restorative practices and community circles and targeted small group support by our school counselors.
- This year, BLES increased opportunities for family engagement. School-sponsored family engagement nights included Curriculum Night, Literacy Night, STEM Night, International Night, and Family Fun Night. Additionally, BLES offered multiple family workshops and classes, including the Annual Title I meeting, Weekly English Classes, an Internet Safety workshop, a Sixth Grade Transition workshop, a Kindergarten Transition workshop, a Multilingual Learner family workshop, and our Title I Planning Meeting.
- The Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) sponsored in-house field trips for all grade levels. Additionally, they hosted October's Bear Scare event, the Spring Family Dance, and BINGO Night. The PTO also partnered with the school for the annual Candlelight Luncheon and the 5th-grade celebration and ceremonies.
- BLES increased the extracurricular opportunities for students by offering new clubs. Extracurricular opportunities included Student Council, Chorus, Chess Club, Dance Club, Green Team, K-Kids, IT Girls, Reading Club, Club Invention, Click-Create Club, and Robotics Team.
- The BLES Robotics Team was recognized as a winner of the Core Values Award for their teamwork and sportsmanship. They also advanced to the Super Regional Competition for the 23-24 school year.
- BLES partnered with the Gwinnett Master Gardeners and received a grant to add permanent signage to our pollinator gardens. Students use the gardens to experience authentic learning opportunities that are aligned with our science AKS.
- Children, ages birth to 5 years, from our school's surrounding community are offered the opportunity to participate in our Play 2 Learn program. Classes are offered twice a week.