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. 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. 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 25-26 school year, BLES teachers focused on creating more opportunities for academic discourse in the classroom. Teachers purposefully planned for opportunities for all students to discuss their learning with one another and practice using academic vocabulary.
- This year, BLES offered many opportunities for family engagement. School-sponsored family engagement nights included Curriculum Night, Literacy Night, STEM Night, International Night, and Family Fun Night.
- The Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) hosted October's Bear Scare event, the February 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 including Robotics for K-1 and 2-3, Robotics Competition Team for 4th-5th, Multicultural Club, and Art Club. Additional extracurricular opportunities included Student Council, Chorus, Chess Club, Dance Club, Yoga Club, Piano Club, Green Team, K-Kids, IT Girls, Third Grade Reading Club, Club Invention, and a Readers Rally Competition Team.
- BLES offered opportunities for two-way communication and feedback for stakeholders during the 25-26 school year. Families attended Town Hall meetings held in the evening each semester and BLES staff participated a Faculty Feedback Forum four times during the school year. Both forums focused on feedback aligned to our school goals and current happenings.
- BLES partnered with the Gwinnett Master Gardeners and received a grant to upgrade our pollinator gardens. During the spring semester community volunteers and Duluth High School students spent a Saturday morning updating the gardens for the school year. 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.