BearFacts November 9, 2017

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BearFacts News


Message from the Principal

November 9, 2017

Dear Families,

I hope you have been enjoying your parent teacher conferences this week. As a teacher, I always appreciated the opportunity to have one-on-one time with parents and guardians to review student progress and strategize around challenges if need be. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend these important meetings. 
 
Another meeting I am inviting you to attend is next week's SGC (School Governance Council) meeting. On Wednesday, November 15th, we'll be meeting in the library from 5:30 to 7:00pm to see a presentation on the range and types of intervention supports and services we offer at Emerson. Please join us to learn about reading, writing, and math supports, counseling and special presentations on friendship and bullying, family engagement supports, Positive Behavior Supports and the many other ways we work together to create a safety net for our students. SGC meetings are always open to the public and we hope you will attend. We have light snacks, and, while we don't have babysitting services, students can read books and play on computers in the corner while we meet. 
 
Finally, I'd also like to invite you to a short but special performance by the Berkeley High School Jazz Band on Tuesday, November 21 at 8:55am. We'll be right here in the Emerson cafeteria so feel free to join us. What a great way to send us off for Thanksgiving Break. 
 
Sincerely, 
Susan Hodge
 

Upcoming Events & Important Dates

  • November 6-9, Shortened days (parent-teacher conferences) & No PTA enrichment classes (classes resume 11/13)
  • Thursday, Nov. 9, Racial Equity Study Circle #4, 6-8pm
  • Friday, Nov. 10, NO SCHOOL (Veteran’s Day)
  • Friday, Nov 10 – Sun., Nov 12, Mrs. Dalloway’s Fundraiser
  • Wednesday, Nov. 15, Make-up school pictures & SGC Meeting, 5:30-7:00pm
  • Thursday, Nov. 16, Racial Equity Study Circle #5, 6-8pm
  • Friday, Nov. 17, Coffee on the yard; All School Meeting 8:30am
  • Wed., Nov. 22 – Fri., Nov. 24: NO SCHOOL (Thanksgiving Holiday).

Find more dates/details: http://emerson.berkeleypta.org/emerson-calendar

Emerson Community Thanksgiving Gift Card Drive
 
This year we would like to come together as a community to support each other during the Holidays. We want every family to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving. We are taking supermarket gift card donations (preferably Safeway, Grocery Outlet, or Food Maxx) to distribute to Emerson families who can benefit from extra help for Thanksgiving. We will be collecting supermarket gift card donations for our families through Friday, Nov. 17th.
 
Please bring them to front office or to the Family Engagement Office. If you would like to receive a gift card look for a flyer coming home in your child’s folder or contact Lily Howell, Family Engagement Specialist, at 510-295-7791 or lilyhowell@berkeley.net. 

Buy Books and Raise Money For Emerson – THIS WEEKEND!

Mrs. Dalloway's bookstore (2904 College Ave.) will reimburse Emerson School for 20% of the total purchases made by the school community this weekend, November 10-12. This is a great opportunity to stock up on holiday gift items such as children's books, cookbooks, adult fiction and nonfiction, gardening books, merchandise, art, and gift certificates for teachers, family, and friends. 

Online sales welcome: shop at our online store at http://www.mrsdalloways.com/

Please make sure to keep your receipts (or, for online purchases, print out your order confirmation email) and turn them in to the Mrs. Dalloway's box in the Emerson front office no later than Friday, November 17.
 
Questions? Email Rachel: rachel.antell@gmail.com
 

A few Kindergarten tour Volunteers still needed!

We still need a few more tour guides to make incoming K tours happen! Share your love of Emerson with prospective Kindergarten families! Tours take place Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30am to ~ 10am, starting November 14 through the end of January. Please sign up below! Questions? Email Liz White (lizowhite@gmail.com).

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0e4da5a82eaafd0-emerson

BUSD Kindergarten Fair – Volunteers Needed!
 
The BUSD K Information Fair will take place Saturday, December 02, 2017, from 10:00 AM—1:00 PM at Le Conte Elementary School. We need parent volunteers to talk to prospective Emerson families at this event.  If you are interested and able to help or would like more information, please contact Susan Bessler at suebessler@yahoo.com.

Don’t Forget: Walkathon Pledge Envelopes with donations are due Tuesday, November 14th.

All Super Walkers, Top walkers and top money earners will be honored at All School Meeting on Friday, 12/1.Emerson PTA Membership Drive – FINAL DAYS TO SIGN UP!
 
Thanks to all the parents and teachers who have signed up for the Emerson PTA! So far, we have 211 member sign-ups. Can you help us meet our goal of getting 300 member sign-ups this school year? Please sign up as the drive ends Friday, November 17.
The more members we have, the stronger our voice in the community. Your child also gets a treat when you sign up.

  • Membership gives you the power to vote on decisions related to your child’s health, safety and education, including how the budget gets spent. 
  • Membership does not require any time commitment, and both non-members and members are invited to all PTA events. 
  • No payment is required to join, and families must sign up each new school year (your membership from last year does not carry over). 

There are 3 ways to get a sign-up form:

Thanks for supporting Emerson PTA!

 

Now is a great time to donate to the Heart of Emerson! Join the 62 families whose gifts have already gotten us halfway to our goal of raising $60,000 by December 31st. If you haven't yet had a chance to give, please take a moment to show your support by:
 

  • Placing cash or a check made out to “Emerson PTA” in your child’s “Look Folder” or in the secure Heart of Emerson box outside the office; or
  • Clicking on the “Donate Now” button below or on the Emerson PTA website at emerson.berkeleypta.org. 

Every dollar counts -- and when you donate (any amount!) your child(ren)'s artwork will be added to the fabulous heart display on the fence by the monkey bars! Thank you for supporting the Heart of Emerson!

Fourth graders are entitled to a free National Parks pass

For their entire fourth grade year (through Aug 31), 4th graders get into National Parks for FREE.  If you don't have it already, get it here:
https://www.everykidinapark.gov/get-your-pass/

Weekly Zumba Classes

Emerson Community Adults are welcome to join us in the Cafetorium for weekly Zumba classes, led by our own Kirstin Snyder! $5 per class, Wed. 5:15 – 6:15 (no childcare).

Shop for Emerson!
Click below to raise money for Emerson when you shop at Amazon

 

Find Emerson Online

Website: emerson.berkeleypta.org

Email: Not getting BearFacts via email? Email us to subscribe: emersonschoolnews@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emersonpta (or follow @emersonPTA)

 

 

 

About BearFacts News:
BearFacts News is a weekly publication created by parent volunteers. It is distributed each Thursday in students' Look Folders and via email. 

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. The deadline is each Monday at 6 p.m.

Copyright © 2017. Emerson Elementary PTA. All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
2800 Forest Ave.
Berkeley, CA  94705