Bear Essentials

​Hello Berkeley Lake Families,

It is hard to believe our first month of school is complete! Our students and staff are making the most of each day and we’ve already accomplished so much. Thank you for your continued support at home and in our building. We could not do this work without you!

September will be a busy month at BLES. Our student and family events can be found on the calendars on ParentSquare and our school website. Some notable events this month include:

• September 7 - Labor Day (Student and Staff Holiday)
• September 8 – Girl Scout Information Night (5 PM- 6 PM)
• September 15 – First day of Hispanic Heritage Month
• September 17 - Fall Semester Virtual Family Town Hall Meeting
• September 18 – Digital Learning Day
• September 23 – Picture Day

Our next family event will take place in October with our PTO's Bear Scare event. Check out our website, social media pages, and newsletters for more detailed information.

Our first Virtual Family Town Hall meeting will be held online on September 17 at 7:00 PM. Families are encouraged to join us to learn about what's happening at BLES, our schoolwide goals, and other important updates.

If you have a question or topic you would like addressed during this public forum, please submit it using our Town Hall Form.

A link to the meeting will be shared through ParentSquare on September 17. Spanish interpretation will be available.

We look forward to connecting with you and hope to see you there!

Thank you for your ongoing support. My door is always open for feedback. Have a wonderful weekend.

Your proud principal,

Ashley Coughlin

Enjoy your Labor Day Holiday!

Our first Digital Learning Day will be Friday, September 18th. Students will bring their computers home to learn remotely. Teachers will assign activities for students to work on through Google Classroom. Students will return their devices to school the next school day.

The PBIS Team is gearing up to open our student reward store, and we need your support to make it a success! Here is how you can help our Berkeley Bears:

Donate Items: We are looking for donations to stock our store shelves as soon as possible.

🔗 Link to PBIS Store Amazon Wishlist

Volunteer Your Time: We need parent volunteers to assist students during shopping hours.

🔗 Link to Sign Up Genius for PBIS Store Volunteers

Congratulations to our BLES students who participated in the Beanstack Summer Reading Challenge and/or the Gwinnett County Public Library Summer Reading challenge!

Teachers will receive a list of our Summer Reader students, and they will be invited to a Summer Reader Popsicle Party at the beginning of their recess time on the following dates:

Tuesday, September 8th for 4th Grade Students

Wednesday, September 9th for K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th Grade Students

Thank you to all of the students who participated! We can't wait to celebrate all of the reading your students accomplished this Summer!

- Mrs. Norby (BLES School Librarian)

Many of us face economic hardships at various times in our lives. Due to these hardships, we understand that additional help during the holidays may be necessary. Our school anticipates being contacted by a few organizations that have supported BLES families in recent years. If you find your family in a position of need and would like to participate, please contact School Counselor Lyndsay Murphy so that she can contact you when further information is available.

lyndsay.murphy@gcpsk12.org

770-582-7523

Parent Square

Our BLES School Store is now open, and our 5th Grade School Store Leaders are ready to serve! At the store, students can buy snacks, school supplies, and some small fidget toys. The store accepts U.S. currency in the form of coins, one dollar, and five dollar bills; no bigger bills. Store hours are Monday - Friday from 7:45-8:05. The proceeds from our School Store support our Berkeley Lake Care Team in

purchasing items for families in need.

We believe everyone deserves a healthy smile. Let us help our community! ♡

FREE EXTRACTION OR CLEANING

Join us on SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2026, from 8AM - 2PM.

No insurance needed. First come, first served. ♡

PALM CREEK DENTAL CARE, 952 HARBINS RD STE 401, DACULA, GA 30519

📚 Order your yearbook now and save 10%! Take advantage of early bird pricing until 10/31.

Yearbook Order Form

Thank you to Laura Miller and all the parents who have signed up to help as room parents. Class Directories will be released this month!

Thank you to BLES moms Tatiana Arellano and Catherine Bolduc for volunteering at our Spirit Wear table on Curriculum Night!

We need more volunteers for our Fall Fundraiser, and there are many opportunities to support activities and events throughout the school year.

Want to help? Sign up here.

Thank you for the generous donations to Helping Hands. We were able to restock the pantry with $300 worth of nonperishable groceries.

Duluth Youth Basketball is hosting tryouts for 3rd through 6th-grade boys and girls on Tuesday, September 15th, and Thursday, September 17th, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Duluth High School Gymnasium. Don't miss this opportunity for young athletes to showcase their skills, grow on the court, and join a fantastic community program. You can secure your spot ahead of time by completing the online registration form at https://forms.gle/SpXfY5843JMAvbjPA. For any questions or additional details, please contact Coach Rodney Kellum at 470-238-8454 or via email at duluthyouthbball@gmail.com, and be sure to follow @duluthyouthbasketball on Instagram for updates throughout the season.

Thank you for reading our weekly newsletter!

Peachtree Irrigation and Peachtree Christmas Light Installation donated snacks and refreshments for our teachers to enjoy in their newly renovated Teacher Zen Den! Thank you!

Peachtree Irrigation provides complete design, installation, and maintenance services for lawn watering systems across the area. Their water-smart systems are built to ensure healthier lawns and reliable, beautiful results for your home. Reach out today for a free estimate to keep your lawn green and thriving.

Peachtree Christmas Light Installation offers professional installation using premium LED lights to help families brighten their homes for the holidays. They provide reliable service, allowing homeowners to relax while they manage all the setup. Contact them at 770-447-4050 to bring holiday cheer to your neighborhood this season!

Berkeley Lake Elementary

4300 S. Berkeley Lake Rd.

Duluth, Georgia 30096

P: (770)446-0947

F: (770)582-7514