BearFacts News
April 19, 2018
Message from the Principal
Dear Families,
I can't believe it is mid-April already and we have only 9 weeks of school remaining. While we are all excited about the upcoming summer break, we aren't ready to rest yet. We still have lots to do and we want to make sure we finish strong. To that end, I am sending recommendations for things to do at home that will have a positive impact on your child here at school.
For students in grades 3-5, in addition to nightly reading, we'd like them to practice typing at least twice each week. Touch typing is a very important skill for our students to learn. However, we don't have a lot of time to practice here at school so remind your child to use the link to Typing Club from the Emerson Library website as part of their homework. Our goal for the end of the year is that 3rd graders type 10 wpm (words per minute), 4th graders type 15 wpm, and 5th graders type 20 wpm. You can see their progress once they log into Typing Club. To get to Typing Club, go to http://library.berkeleyschools.net/emerson-library/ and click on “typing” (http://sites.berkeley.net/typing/).
Another area that needs more practice for many students and is an expectation in grades 3-5 is memorization of basic facts. To that end, all students in those grades have an account with Reflex Math that they may access on the Emerson Library website as well. To find Reflex Math, go to http://library.berkeleyschools.net/emerson-library/ and click on “Class Projects”, then “Special Class projects” (or go to https://www.reflexmath.com/). This program gives them individualized, targeted practice in the facts they have not yet mastered. Ask your child to show you his or her "fact pyramid" on Reflex Math so you can see how he or she is progressing. If you do not want your child to have screen time at home, feel free to do the old fashioned, but effective flash card method!
For students in Grades K-2, please continue nightly reading. The more your children read at home, the stronger and more confident they'll be reading here at school. Reading for both enjoyment and information are life-long skills that we would like all our students to develop and keep. Thanks for your continued support!
Ms. Hodge
Upcoming Events & Important Dates
- Friday, April 20, Free coffee & pastries on the yard, 8am
- Friday, April 20 – Sunday, April 29 Emerson Read-a-thon
- Monday, April 23 – Friday, April 27, Principal & Secretary Appreciation week
- Wednesday, April 25, School Governance Council Meeting, 5:30pm
- Friday, April 27, Free coffee & baked goods on the yard, 8am
- Friday, May 4, Free coffee & baked goods on the yard, 8am; All School Meeting, 8:30am
- Friday, May 4, PTA association meeting, 8:15 am (on the yard)
- Monday, May 7 – Friday, May 11, Teacher Appreciation week
- Tuesday, May 8 – Asian Pacific Heritage Day (library during recess)
- Monday, May 21 – NO SCHOOL (Malcolm X birthday)
Find more dates/details: https://emerson.berkeleypta.org/calendar
Read-a-Thon Kicks Off THIS FRIDAY, April 20th!
The Read-a-Thon officially begins on Friday, April 20th. For the next 10 days (through Sunday, the 29th), please encourage your students to read, read, read! Use the reading log that was sent home with your student to track the number of minutes your student spends reading outside of school - in the morning, on the way to/from school, after school, at Kids World, in the library, at-home, etc. Teachers will be using a classroom log to track in-class minutes.
Need an extra pledge form or an extra reading log? See Ms. Jeannie!
Questions? Email Sam Lekus at samanthalekus@gmail.com.
Last PTA Association meeting of the year, May 4th.
Join us Friday, May 4th, 2018 during Morning Coffee on the yard for the last PTA association of the year. During the meeting we will vote on the board for next year, approve the budget for 2018-2019 and discuss exciting volunteer opportunities.
Can't wait to see you there!
Family Zumba this Friday, April 20th, 5:30-6:30
Emerson's own Ms. Snyder invites all Emerson families to family Zumba night THIS Friday, April 20th, from 5:30-6:30 in the Emerson cafetorium.
No dance experience required. Just bring your kids, come have fun, and try out a ~ 1-hour Zumba dance class with other Emerson families. Comfortable clothing and athletic shoes encouraged.
Suggested donation of $10 to $25 per family (100% of proceeds go to support PTA programming).
RSVP if you can make it (and come even if you don't RSVP): kirstinsnyder@berkeley.net
Volunteers needed : Asian Pacific Heritage Day, Tuesday, May 8th
We are looking for a couple more volunteers to help supervise and assist (as needed) at the craft tables. No experience is needed and it is lots of fun!!
When: Tuesday, May 8th during the lunch recesses:
11:30 -12:10 for K-2nd grades
12:10-12:45 for 3rd-5th grades
Where: Library
If you are able to volunteer, please contact Rose Lynn (roselynn20@gmail.com) or Yoko Kawai(formulamcp@gmail.com).
Join the PTA Board
The Emerson PTA Board is a diverse group of volunteers who meet monthly to oversee the planning and organization of community events and fundraisers, as well as plan and implement the PTA budget. We are looking to fill the following PTA Board positions for the 2018-2019 school year.
Contact emersonbearcubspta@gmail.com or reach out to any current Board Member to ask any questions or express your interest as soon as possible.
VP of School Support and Academic Enrichment
(1 or 2 positions available)
- Oversees and provides support as needed to the afterschool enrichment coordinators
- Coordinates support for school events, such as cultural events, Hour of Code, the Winter Performance, and the Math Wall
- Oversees principal, teacher and staff appreciation events in the spring
VP of Community Outreach
(1 position available)
- Manages PTA membership drive
- Oversees and provides support for the incoming kindergarten events (summer playdates, kindergarten fair, kindergarten night, kindergarten tours, kindergarten buddy program)
VP of Advocacy
(1 position available)
- Keeps abreast of issues in education and local/state PTA initiatives; organizes parents to support CA PTA initiatives or local issues, as needed
- Attends PTA Council and District meetings and reports back to the Emerson community
Principal and Secretary Appreciation week begins on April 23rd!
Please take a moment to let Ms. Hodge know how much you value her leadership and dedication and to let Ms. Sonia, and Ms. Sandra know how much you appreciate their hard work. The PTA gives all three of them a gift. A card, flowers, or just a kind word from you would be much appreciated, as well.
Author Kwame Alexander at Mrs. Dalloway’s Bookstore May 2nd (6pm)
Kwame Alexander will present his book “Rebound”, the prequel to his Newberry medal-winning “The Crossover” (2014). For more information, go to:
https://www.mrsdalloways.com/events
4th Annual Berkeley Book Fair, April 28th-29th
Meet hundreds of book authors over an exciting literary weekend in downtown Berkeley. See https://www.baybookfest.org/ for more information. For kids, see https://www.baybookfest.org/children/.
(Free outdoor fair 11am-6pm; Indoor events $10; $15 for the weekend)
Weekly Zumba at Emerson: 5:15-6:15 pm; $5 per class (no childcare).
Shop for Emerson!
Click here 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 © 2018. Emerson Elementary PTA. All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
2800 Forest Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94705