BearFacts News
Message from the Principal
January 25, 2018
Dear Families,
This is another reminder that the due date for registering your 5th graders for Middle School is Friday, February 2nd. Enrollment Packets were sent to every current 5th grade family several weeks ago so you should have all forms and requirements on hand. If you need help, please drop in or contact Lily Howell, our Family Equity Coordinator, on Wednesday—Fridays at Emerson or email her at lilyhowell@berkeley.net.
You'll need current report cards, proof of address in Berkeley, etc. so you should not wait until the last minute. Also, the Student Enrollment Office at 2020 Bonar St. cannot take an incomplete application, so all the more reason to take care of this now if you haven't done so already. If you did not receive this packet in the mail, please update your current mailing address at 2020 Bonar St. so that you will receive all future mailing.
In addition, if you happen to have an incoming K student, Friday, February 2nd is also the due date for Kindergarten enrollment. In order to get school placement in the first round, be sure to meet this deadline. Please pass this information on any friends and acquaintances who have children ready for K in the fall.
Much Appreciation,
Ms. Hodge
Upcoming Events & Important Dates
- Friday, Jan. 26, Spring Enrichment Class Registration Opens
- Friday, Jan. 26, Free coffee on the yard (8:00-8:30am)
- Monday, Jan. 29, No School (Staff development day)
- Friday, February 2, All School Meeting (8:30am) & Free coffee on the yard (8:00-8:30am)
- Friday, February 2, Entering K & Middle school applications due to BUSD admissions office
- Saturday, February 3, Pancake breakfast (8:30-10:30am, free)
- Wednesday, February 7, PTA Association Meeting – everyone welcome (5:30 – 7:30pm)
- Friday, February 9, Black history month assembly (8:30am)
- Friday, February 16 & Monday, February 19th – No school (Lincoln’s Birthday/Presidents’ Day
- Wednesday, February 21 – School Governance Council Meeting, 5:30pm
- Monday, February 26 – PTA spring enrichment classes begin
- Friday, February 23, Free coffee on the yard (8:00-8:30am)
Find more dates/details: https://emerson.berkeleypta.org/calendar
Kindness Challenge and Emerson Day (January 26)!
Don’t forget: Students should wear Emerson t-shirts, sweatshirts, or anything in Emerson colors (blue and yellow) on Friday, January 26th!
Free Pancakes for Everyone!
Come enjoy some pancakes and sausages on Saturday, February 3, from 8:30-10:30 am when the PTA hosts its annual pancake breakfast!! The entire Emerson community is invited to this special winter event so pack up the kids and come hungry.
We could use a couple more folks to help with clean up, so please sign up here if you can help out: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0F44A9A82BA3FA7-pancake3
PTA Association Meeting: Emergency preparedness! February 7th, 6-7:30pm (5:30-6pm pizza!)
All Emerson families are invited to the PTA Association meeting to discuss emergency preparedness with special guest speakers from CERT and our local firehouse. Also, hear from the Emerson Safety Committee on our school’s efforts! Pizza and salad in the Cafeteria from 5:30 - 6:00p, followed by presentation and discussion, 6pm - 7:30pm. Everyone welcome!
The Association will be voting on amendments to the 2017/18 budget and will be asked to approve disbursements since the last Association meeting in October. A link to the Treasurer's Report is here. The report lists disbursements and the proposed amendments to the budget. Here is a link to the current budget with the blue text showing the proposed amendments.
Please let us know if you are able to attend! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/S2S3SND
Register for Spring Enrichment Classes
Hello Emerson families! Registration for our spring enrichment classes opens this Friday, January 26th and closes the following Friday, Feb. 2 at 6pm. We have the same great lineup of classes. Please check out the catalog that comes home with your student, and go to enrich.hero.net to register.
One change for spring - we will offer up to two scholarship classes to students in need. Please check that you are interested in a scholarship when registering. Questions? Email: emersonenrichment@gmail.com
Mark Your Calendars ** March 23rd from 6 – 9 pm ** Emerson Auction Party
This year we’ll have an Online Auction followed by a Silent Auction & Party. The Online Auction will include great deals on summer camps, dining, local services and more. It will run from March 7th through March 21st.
On Friday, March 23rd, 6 – 9 pm, you’re invited to Emerson’s 2018 Silent Auction & Party! Free childcare will be provided by our friends at Kids World. Come eat, drink and hang out with a terrific group of grownups from the Emerson parent community. We’ll have a special menu of fantastic items to bid on that you won’t want to miss!
More information soon on how to bid online, where to buy tickets for the party and how you can help make both activities a great success for our school!
Girls on the Run Starts again in February!
Girls on the Run is back for its fourth season at Emerson! We focus on girls’ empowerment while training for a 5K run in May. GOTR is open to girls in grades 3-5, with practices on Tuesdays and Fridays from 2:30-3:45 p.m. starting February 27. Online registration opens soon at www.gotrbayarea.org, or you can enroll using the paper forms in your child’s folder. Fee is sliding scale.
Call/email/text Michele Byrnes for more information: (510) 282-4741, micheleoakleybyrnes@gmail.com.
Help us Expand Discovery Zone!
Discovery Zone is a sensory-based recess in the garden area offered during lunch recess on Fridays. Kids draw, play with play-dough, blocks and other toys. It’s a great opportunity for unstructured, quieter play. We would like to offer this recess on other days, and we depend on parent volunteers to make this happen! Can you volunteer 2-4 times/month from 11:30 - 12:45? Call/email/text Michele Byrnes: (510) 282-4741, micheleoakleybyrnes@gmail.com.
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