BearFacts News
May 10, 2018
Message from the Principal
Dear Families,
The month of May has some important events so let's mark those calendars! Read-a-thon pledge envelopes are due this Friday, May 11th to be eligible for prizes. Let's see if we can meet or even beat those numbers from last year. Thursday, May 17th is Open House. This is a great opportunity to visit the school to see the culmination of your child's activities for the school year and to visit other classrooms as well. Of course, there will be baby chicks to visit in Kindergarten and don't miss art portfolios and science displays upstairs. Our last SGC - School Governance Council - meeting of the year is on Wednesday, May 23rd at 5:30 in the library. On the agenda for our last meeting will be a review of our Annual Survey results, a quick budget update, appreciations for current attendees, and election planning for the fall. These meetings are open to the public so please feel free to drop by, especially if you are interested in serving in the future. It takes some time to acclimate to all the terminology so feel free to attend as a guest.
Finally, another reminder that State Testing for grades 3-5 runs from May 22nd through May 31st. It is a set of assessments – two in language arts (reading/writing) and two in math. Our students are well prepared for these tests, generally speaking, and they did quite well last year. In fact, it was their performance that triggered the Distinguished School application! These assessments are taken on Chromebooks and are spread over four days within the testing window listed above. You can help out on the home front by making sure your children are well rested and arrive to school on time, each and every day. The testing periods can be long for some students – everyone works at their own pace – so lots of encouragement and hugs are helpful. Students use headphones during testing which we provide. We also invite you to send in a pair for your student if he or she prefers to use those from home. (We can always use extra sets). We provide lots of encouragement here along with some extra treats to keep the mood and setting upbeat and supportive. Thank you for partnering with us to help your children show what they know and do their very best.
Sincerely,
Ms. Hodge
Upcoming Events & Important Dates
- Thursday, May 10 and Friday May 11, Performances of “Mission Improvable”, 6:30pm on the Emerson Stage
- Friday, May 11, Free coffee & baked goods on the yard at 8am followed by All School Meeting at 8:30am
- Friday, May 11, Arab Heritage Celebration with food, drums, music, food (lunch recess)
- Thursday, May 17, Emerson Open House, 6:30pm
- Friday, May 18, Free coffee & baked goods on the yard at 8am
- Monday, May 21, NO SCHOOL (Malcolm X's Birthday Holiday)
- Wednesday, May 23, SGC meeting in the library, 5:30pm - all welcome
- Monday, May 28, NO SCHOOL (Memorial Day)
- Friday, June 1, Spring Enrichment Performance, 5-6pm in the cafetorium
- Thursday, June 7, End-of-year Social - free dinner and fun for the entire Emerson community
Find more dates/details https://emerson.berkeleypta.org/calendar
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Weekly Zumba Classes
Wednesdays 5:15 – 6:15; $5 per class (no childcare)
The Emerson Elementary School Yearbook
The yearbook captures moments throughout the school year as images you can keep forever. Yearbook order forms came home in Look Folders this week and are due next Thursday, May 17. You can also print one out by clicking on the URL below.
Each book costs $15. If you’d like, you may also make a donation for yearbook scholarships. Scholarships this year will go to 5th graders in need. Please fill out the form and return by next Thursday, May 17. This is a firm deadline. We only order enough books to cover the orders placed by the deadline. Please make out checks to Emerson PTA.
Online order form: https://bit.ly/2wosKfm
Get in Those Read-a-Thon pledges!!
There’s still time to turn in your child’s Read-a-thon reading log and pledges. Deadline is this Friday, May 11th!
Please send the manila folder with the log form and pledges into school with your child this week. Even if your child did not collect pledges we want your child’s reading minutes to count! Thanks!
Mission Improvable this Thursday and Friday!!
Come watch your 3rd-5th graders perform in an Emerson’s spring play - Mr. Gamba’s “Mission Improvable!” Two performances: Thursday 5/10 & Friday 5/11 at 6:30pm.
Kids 11 & under are free, otherwise $10/ person -no pressure donation- accepted to keep Emerson Playhouse in our school!
Got Books? May Is Emerson Book Drive Month!
We need BOOKS, BOOKS, and more BOOKS!
Please donate new/gently used children's books of all levels (K - 5th grade). Books will be collected for our summer book giveaway and classroom libraries.
Bring books to Ms. Jeannie's room (across from the Main Office) or to Ms. Zoe in the Emerson Library. Book donations accepted through the month of May!
Contact Ms. Jeannie for any questions: jeanniewang@berkeley.net. Thank You!
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