Welcome to Kindergarten

Kindergarten Links	ABC's of Kindergarten	Tips for Parents
Parent Resources
	Staff Biographies
	Peg Gonzalez Sharon Hickmon Nicole London Jennifer Miles Melissa Page Webpage	Alison Pennington Lynnette Rigg Paula T. Smith Maricruz Sosa Ann Tiberghien

Kindergarten Links:

Mouse Skills
   Headsprout
    Hit the Dot

Language Arts & Math Web Sites
    Rhymes
    Bookshelf
    Giggle Poetry
    Rebus Rhymes
    Sight Words
    Sight Word with Samson
    Rhyming Words
    Jan Brett
    Build Words
    Paw Park
    Literacy Center
    ABCya.com
    Starfall.com
    Nickjr.com
    PBS Kids
    Room 108
    Splat Squares
    Harcourt Math
    Scholastic- Clifford Interactive
     

 

Bear Bits about our teachers:

• Peg Gonzalez returned to Gwynedd Mercy College to complete her teaching degree after the birth of her fourth child. She began teaching in Pennsylvania in 1990 where she taught for 13 years. She earned her MA in Education from Gratz College while still in Pennsylvania. She began teaching in Gwinnett County in 2003 after moving to Dunwoody with her family. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, gardening and walking her Westiepoo, Cali.
  
  

• Sharon Hickmon is a Georgia native who has lived in Duluth for 22 years. She  began teaching in 1993 at Berkeley Lake. She has a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Brenau College and a Masters in Early Childhood Education from Georgia State University. She has taught kindergarten, SIA, and 1st grade and loves to watch children discover the joy of learning.  She enjoys spending time with her family and crocheting afghans for her grandchildren.

• Nicole London is originally from New York but has lived in Atlanta for over 20 years. She has a Bachelors in Early Childhood Education and a Masters in Instructional Technology both from the University of Georgia and is a big DAWG fan. Mrs. London also completed a Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Piedmont College as well as her leadership certification from UGA. She has been teaching since 1997. She has taught kindergarten, first, second, and preschool. She enjoys watching sports, spending time with her family, reading a good book, and the beach. Ms. London enjoys teaching and wants to help her students enjoy and appreciate the learning process.
  
  

• Jennifer Miles is originally from Birmingham, AL. She graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education in 1998. Jennifer taught 3rd grade in Birmingham for 1 year and moved to Atlanta. In 2000, she started teaching in Gwinnett County at Kanoheda Elementary as a 3rd grade teacher. She joined the Berkeley Lake in 2002 and loves it!
  
  

• Melissa Page is a former student of Berkeley Lake and is honored to be returning to the Bear Nation. She is a recent graduate of Georgia Southern University with a degree in Early Childhood Education. Needless to say, this has made her a huge GSU football fan, GO EAGLES! Ms. Page loves animals, especially her dog Honey. Honey is probably one of the most spoiled dogs on the planet. She also enjoys jogging, rock climbing, painting, reading, and cooking. Webpage
   
  

• Alison Pennington  is a native of Atlanta and grew up in Marietta just down the street from the “Big Chicken”.  She attended Young Harris College and Berry College for her undergraduate degrees.  Alison taught kindergarten and first grade in North Carolina from 1996-2005.  During that time, she received her M.A. Ed. from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.  She has taught kindergarten and first grade for 3 years in Georgia.  Alison joined the Berkeley Lake staff in 2005.  She enjoys sewing and spending time with her family of 2 nieces and 2 cats.
   

• Lynnette Rigg is originally from Ohio.  Georgia has been her home since 1982.  She is married and has three children of her own.  Two of those children are Berkeley Lake graduates.  She graduated from The Ohio State University, GO BUCKEYES!  She received her teaching certificate from Mercer University.  She received a M.A. Integrating the Arts in Elementary Education from Lesley University.  She taught preschool (three and four year olds) for twelve years, was a Special Ed. Paraprofessional for three years, and has taught kindergarten for seven years.  Being a lifelong learner herself, teaching is the perfect profession.
  
  

• Paula Smith  is originally from Carbondale, Illinois. She attended college at the University of Illinois and Southern Illinois University where she completed both her B.S. and M.S. degrees. Peachtree Corners has been her family's home since 1988. She is married and has a daughter at GSU, who attended BLES and a son at GCSU. She was a licensed daycare provider working with pre-schoolers while her own children were at home for 14 years and worked at Simpson Elementary for 3 years before coming to BLES in 2006. She loves teaching and helping young children learn!  Paula is currently in graduate school at Mercer University in Education.

• Maricruz Sosa is a native of Los Angeles, California. She and her family moved to the Atlanta area in 1986. She is a graduate of Brenau University, with a B.S. in Early Childhood Education. Mrs.Sosa began teaching kindergarten in 1996 in DeKalb County, and joined the Gwinnett County School System in 2003 here at BLES. Mrs. Sosa and her husband have two children, one at BLES and the other at DMS.

• Ann Tiberghien is a native of Duluth, Georgia and a product of the Gwinnett County schools. She is married and has 2 sons, Grant and Jackson.  She is a die-hard Wildcat and "Dawgs" fan. She has her BS in Early Childhood Education from the University of Georgia and her MS in Integrating the Arts from Lesley University. She taught in Forsyth County from 1990 to 2003 and has experience in K, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade. In fall of 2003, she joined the staff at Berkeley Lake Elementary. She loves teaching and looks forward to learning and laughing with her students each day!