Si tiene alguna duda sobre esta nota debido a la traduccion,
por favor comuniquese con Rafael Friedmann via email: rfriedmann@aol.com
Message from the Principal
Dear Emerson Families,
Welcome to November! We are excited to learn that the FDA and CDC have approved Emergency COVID-19 vaccinations for 5- 12 year olds. As a result, BUSD will begin to offer vaccination clinics as soon as this weekend. For Emerson families, the closest location is Malcolm X Elementary. A limited amount of vaccines will be offered this Saturday, November 6, from 9:00 am - 3:30 pm. BUSD and the City of Berkeley want to prioritize families who have limited options to receive the vaccine. Lily Howell, our Office of Family Engagement and Equity Coordinator will reach out to identified families to make sure they are aware of the vaccination clinics. We want equity and opportunity for vaccines for everyone to be at the core of this effort.
Let us continue to keep sick children home from school. Please let Ms. Michelle, Attendance Clerk (leahlopez@berkeley.net), and your child’s teacher know of any absences. The office staff will let you know the steps to return a sick child to school, which include either a supervised negative COVID-19 test result or a doctor’s note of clearance. You may now take your child to get a supervised COVID-19 test in the back parking lot of the Berkeley Adult School, Monday through Friday, from 2:00- 4:30 pm. These are rapid tests that do qualify to return a child to school if negative. Forward copies of the results to Ms. Gaby (Gabriellaparra@berkeley.net) or Ms. Michelle (Leahlopez@berkeley.net).
This week we are celebrating Zero Waste Week at Emerson. This week, staff will teach and encourage students to reduce the school’s carbon footprint by sending less trash to landfill. Emerson’s current diversion rate (meaning we recycle or compost) is 64%. We believe we can do better than that and will work as a school community to improve our diversion rate. If you would like to partner with us, please talk to your child about recycling and composting at home. How about composting your Halloween pumpkin?
Please remember that the Heart Of Emerson campaign is underway. As we move further into the “season of giving” we ask that you consider making a donation to the school. The PTA contributes approximately $680 for each student to support Art, PE, Office Staff and activities. If you are able to contribute more, for families who can not, please consider doing so. We are happy to report that we have reached about a third of our fundraising goal. To donate visit: https://emerson.berkeleypta.org/heart-of-emerson.
Thank you for your continued support,
Jana Holmes
Upcoming Events and Key Dates
Saturday, November 6: Second Grade Welcome Back Playdate 12:00 - 2:00 pm
Saturday, November 6: First Grade Welcome Back Playdate 4:00 - 6:00 pm
Thursday, November 11: Veterans’ Day (NO SCHOOL)
November 11 - 14: Mrs. Dalloway’s Bookstore - School Fundraiser (details below)
Saturday, November 13: Cal Football Parking - Kindergarten
Sunday, November 14: Third Grade Welcome Back Playdate 9:30 - 11:30 am
Sunday, November 14: Fifth Grade Welcome Back Playdate 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Sunday, November 14: Fourth Grade Welcome Back Playdate 1:30 - 3:30 pm
November 22 - 26: Thanksgiving Holiday- No School
Add the Emerson Google Calendar to yours!
Note to Readers: BearFacts articles and calendar items are based on submissions from the community and reviewed and edited under the PTA communication policy. Inclusion of an item in BearFacts by itself does not indicate sponsorship or endorsement by the PTA, Emerson school staff, or BUSD.
COVID Vaccine and Testing Resources
COVID vaccinations are available at a number of locations within our community. Please review and share this document for vaccine and testing locations often. It will be updated with new information as it becomes available. If you have information to add to this list, please email: cielo@magicspoon.net
Heart of Emerson: Please Donate
Please donate to the Heart of Emerson Campaign. We have raised $46,000 of our goal of $110,000 to fund Art, PE, student programs and family engagement activities. We need your support! If you can, please donate at least $680, which is the amount the PTA spends per student. Donate more to support students and families who can't afford to donate.
Please watch this NEW PE Heart of Emerson dance video that shows what can be created when members of our community work together—a reminder of the power of a collective. Huge thank you to our PTA funded PE teacher, Coach Robinson, for this great activity and Mr. Phil for all his work on creating the video for the community.
Be on the lookout for more student videos and for information about Giving Tuesday coming this month! Thank you for your support.
Mrs. Dalloway’s Bookstore: School Fundraiser
Mrs. Dalloway’s Bookstore School Benefit Fundraiser is happening next week (November 11-14)! This fundraiser is limited to online purchases and only for four days. Purchase gift certificates online between November 11-14 and Mrs. Dalloway's will donate 15% of your purchase to Emerson. It's a wonderful way to support your school and your local bookstore and it's perfect for holiday gift giving!
Note: Please be sure to include the name “Emerson Elementary, Berkeley” in the ORDER COMMENTS field so the store knows which school you are supporting. Click here for a flyer.
Thanks in advance for your support!
KindergartenERS Create Jack-O-Lanterns
Kindergarten Artists created some fun jack-o-lanterns. First we drew a pumpkin, making sure that the lines were curved to make it look round. Then Ms. Ames asked them to paint it orange---- but she didn't give them any orange paint! They mixed red and yellow to make different versions of orange for their pumpkins. The following week we cut them out and then created the faces by cutting and gluing eyes, noses and mouths (and eyebrows and mustaches, and.....)
Lucy Ames, Art Teacher (she/her)
Emerson School: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday
Berkeley Independent Study, Thursday
Equity Corner: Indigenous and Native Heritage Month
We are so fortunate to get to celebrate Filipinx and Indigenous Heritage Month this November! As this month begins, I encourage you to learn more about the Chochenyo, the Ohlone people who live in the East Bay. Specifically, I hope you learn about Territory Acknowledgments (link to PBS’ Molly of Denali Q&A) as a way to create an awareness of Indigenous presence and land rights where our students learn, and where we live— as we continue to benefit from the use and occupation of this beautiful land. One way to begin is to recognize that our school, Emerson, sits on the territory of xučyun (Huichin), the ancestral and unceded land of the Chochenyo speaking Ohlone people, the successors of the sovereign Verona band of Alameda County. Learn even more here where Sogorea Te’ Land Trust is a women-led land trust in the SF Bay Area facilitating the return of Indigenous land to Indigenous people. -cielo
Esquina del Equidad: Mes de la herencia indígena y nativa
¡Somos muy afortunados de poder celebrar el Mes de la Herencia Indígena y Filipinx este noviembre! Al comenzar este mes, espero que aprendas más sobre los Chochenyo la gente Ohlone que vive en el East Bay. Específicamente, espero que conozca los reconocimientos territoriales (enlace a las preguntas y respuestas de Molly of Denali de PBS) como una forma de crear conciencia sobre la presencia indígena y los derechos a la tierra donde nuestros estudiantes aprenden y donde vivimos, a medida que continuamos beneficiándonos del uso y ocupación de esta hermosa tierra. Una forma de comenzar es reconocer que nuestra escuela, Emerson, se encuentra en el territorio de xučyun (Huichin) la tierra ancestral y no cedida del pueblo Ohlone de habla chochenyo, los sucesores de la banda soberana de Verona del condado de Alameda. Obtenga más información aquí donde Sogorea Te ’Land Trust es un fideicomiso de tierras liderado por mujeres en el Área de la Bahía de San Francisco que facilita la devolución de tierras indígenas a los pueblos indígenas. -cielo
BUSD AAPI Survey - deadline extended to 11/5
BUSD Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) invite you to take this brief survey about community safety and access to district resources. This survey is for students, staff, alumni, and caregivers of all ethnic/racial backgrounds with a focus on AAPI community needs and experiences. Survey responses are now due by Friday, Nov 5th. Personal data will be kept confidential. Questions can be directed to busdaapis@gmail.com
Translated SURVEY LINKS below as available >> Click to begin:
English Survey
Chinese Survey
Farsi Survey (intro only)
Hindi Survey
Korean Survey
Japanese Survey
Spanish Survey
Thai - Survey
Vietnamese Survey
More information about BUSD AAPIs and the survey: This group was established earlier this year during the Spring 2021 in response to increasing anti-Asian harassment in Berkeley and across the nation. We are releasing this community survey to better understand the extent to which racism and xenophobia have impacted the experiences of Asian Americans at BUSD. We hope this data will also help guide our work with BUSD leadership to identify possible solutions that would improve your and your family’s experience and safety in BUSD.
The primary audience for this survey is AAPI students (ages 5-18), families, teachers and staff at BUSD. However, allies of the AAPI community are also welcome and encouraged to respond with their perspective. Please help us spread the word about this survey to those who you think would be interested.
HALLOWEEN
Thanks to the PTA and Grade Parents who gave out Halloween Treat bags on the day of our Halloween Parade, Thursday October 28! Some families came out to watch and cheer on. Stay tuned for pictures and a video from Mr. Phil!
How to Connect!
Do you want to talk to another parent about Emerson, learn ways to connect with other families and support the school? Here are four things you can do:
1) Visit the PTA table on Friday mornings at drop-off!
2) Set up your profile in Where’s Waldo, Emerson’s online family directory.
3) Join the PTA .
4) Learn about the Heart of Emerson campaign!
Find Emerson Online
Website: emerson.berkeleypta.org
Remind: Text @7f6hb to 81010; or go to www.remind.com/join/7f6hb
Facebook: www.facebook.com/emersonpta (or follow @emersonPTA)
About BearFacts News:
BearFacts News is a weekly publication created by parent volunteers and posted online at emerson.berkeleypta.org.
BearFacts articles and calendar items are based on submissions from the community and reviewed and edited under the PTA communication policy. Inclusion of an item in BearFacts by itself does not indicate sponsorship or endorsement by the PTA, Emerson school staff, or BUSD.
If you have a news item or announcement to include in the BearFacts News, please send an email to emersonschoolnews@gmail.com. Please keep your message brief and include all the pertinent details including dates, times, locations and contact information. Send images as an e-mail attachment. The deadline is each Monday at 6 p.m.
Copyright © 2021. Emerson Elementary PTA. All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
2800 Forest Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94705