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,

The staff at Emerson is working diligently to create an inclusive environment in which students see the value in all cultures. For our community to thrive, we continually examine our school practices, policies and procedures, discovering areas we can improve and building upon our successes. This week, the staff will engage in an hour long workshop, led by Educational Consultant Pamela Harrison- Small. The topic will be confronting bias and microaggressions in the classroom and school yard. Our goal is to create common language and practices that will enable our students to learn to respect each other and celebrate differences. We hope you will consider partnering with us in this work by joining the Spring PTA Equity Circle. As part of our comprehensive commitment to an inclusive community, the circle will be available to parents and staff. Stay tuned for more information in the months ahead.

Today is the last day to vote for this year's School Site Council Parent/ Community Representatives. The ballot consists of nominated individuals, who, if elected will have voting privileges. This committee makes important decisions regarding the use of funding from the state and federal government. They also learn about BUSD’s programs and apply them to our school site. Please vote for 5 board members and two alternates. The ballot closes on September 30. Use this link to vote: https://forms.gle/rkDq2ho9RRYenz849. Anyone can attend the School Site Council meetings, but only the elected individuals can vote. Our first meeting will be on October 20, 2022 from 6- 8 pm via Zoom (link to follow).

Would you take a moment now to fill out the application for free and reduced lunch? It is vital that each family completes this form. Federal funding for our school is directly related to the percentage of students who qualify for free or reduced priced means. An application is available at EZMealApp. The information you enter is confidential and secure. Please help us secure funding for Emerson by completing the form. The deadline for the application is Friday, September 30.

Halloween falls on a Monday this year. We will plan to reintroduce our community Halloween march on College Avenue after lunch/ recess. Parents are welcome to join us for this fun and traditional event. When considering costumes, please avoid scary costumes and/ or any weapons. Please steer clear of costumes that characterize cultures. As always, the staff will have a secret theme, which will be revealed on the big day!

Mark your calendar for the next All School Meeting, which will be held outside on the blacktop on Friday, October 7th at 8:30 am. We look forward to recognizing our students with some teacher shout outs and enjoying exciting student performances. We have talented students who are eager to show their skills. Go Emerson Bear Cubs!

Take care,

Jana Holmes

Upcoming Events and Key Dates

Thursday, October 6: Picture Day

Friday, October 7: All School Meeting, 8:30 (Parents welcome)

Monday, October 10: Teacher Work Day, No School

Tuesday, October 11: Latine/x Zoom Storytelling Night, 6 - 6:45 (Zoom)

Wednesday, October 12: Walk and Roll to School Day (details to follow)

Friday, October 14: End of 1st Grading Period

Tuesday, October 18: 1st PTA Association Meeting, 6 pm, via Zoom

Friday, October 21: Health Screening (Grades K, 2, & 5)

Saturday, October 22: Cal Football Parking Fundraiser - 2nd Grade hosts (more info here)

October 24-27: Parent Teacher Conferences (Special Minimum Day Schedule)

Friday, October 28: No School

Saturday, October 29: Cal Football Parking Fundraiser - 1st Grade hosts

Monday, October 31: Halloween March after Lunch/Recess (Parents welcome)

Saturday, November 19: Cal Football Parking Fundraiser - All Grades host

Saturday, November 25: Cal Football Parking Fundraiser - Kindergarten hosts

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.

EMERSON FAMILY HANDBOOK

The 2022-23 Emerson Family Handbook is now available online in English and Spanish. If you would like a hard copy, you may pick up one from Ms. Michelle in the front office at morning drop-off, or by emailing her at Leahlopez@berkeley.net to send one home in your student's backpack.

EQUITY CORNER

This coming month, we will be reaching out to invite you to celebrate Dia de los Muertos by helping our children to decorate our yearly ofrenda in the library, share stories, make art, and connect. If you are interested in joining our group (there are many more celebrations to come!), please reach out to us at equity@emersonelementary.org

-cielo, rachel, and silvia

PTA After School Classes

By the time you’re reading this, we have opened signups for PTA-sponsored Afterschool Classes! AND we have a deadline of Friday September 30 5pm PST to meet minimum class signup requirements, so encourage your friends to sign up together!

The PTA is volunteering to set up and manage this process with no markup, and scholarships (1 for every 7 paid) are built into the pricing. You are paying the class instructor/organization DIRECTLY through the Homeroom registration site (instructions here).

As smooth as it may be on the signup side, we are having classes cancelled and replaced at the last minute - it is rough resuming this after a three year break!

We have eight providers, up from two (Yama Yoga and KALA Art Institute) last spring during our pilot mentioned in Berkeleyside. With limited space and volunteers, we can only grow and adjust in phases while the district catches up with our resourceful and responsive Enrichment Team: Chelle Putzer, Jenny Nelson, Merlin Edwards II, Christina Edwards, Ariel Clute, Rana Cho.

We need help with on-site day-of coordination managing class changes. Sign up HERE for a 30-minute shift, a single “day” or a series of days, the most important being the first two weeks of our program starting October 3rd.

Volunteering for on-site day-of coordination “Logistics”: sign up here

Do keep reaching out, this helps us finetune for Spring '23: enrichment@emersonelementary.org

Our Homeroom registration site: www.homeroom.com/sites/emerson-elementary-2800-forest-ave-berkeley-berkeley

PTA letter explaining Afterschool Classes: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aFX9fkbRTUBhYUaLLYa3-2m6mFTCcROm/view?usp=sharing

Calling all bakers!

Looking for families that want to bake or bring pastries for the PTA’s First Friday Coffee on the yard. Our next First Friday Coffee will be October 7th. We’re looking for 1-3 bakers to donate baked goods for coffee on the yard. If interested in baking for October (or in the future) please contact cluteariel@gmail.com for details.

Teachers’ Corner

Thank you, Emerson PTA! Emerson teachers would like to thank the amazing Emerson PTA for their generosity and support. Emerson PTA contributions are providing for essential online programs, updating classroom libraries, and helping with parking costs. We appreciate you!

ART CORNER

Kindergarteners have been learning all about different kinds of lines-- straight and curved, horizontal, vertical and diagonal. We've drawn zigzag lines, loop de loop lines, wavy lines and more. They've used markers and paintbrushes, crayons and paper strips. Last week in art class the artists turned their paper strip lines into shapes and 3 dimensional sculptures. Some of their sculptures reminded us of roller coasters and playgrounds. There are so many ways to create art!

Find Emerson Online

Website: https://emersonelementary.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 emersonelementary.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 bearfacts@emersonelementary.org. 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 and include alt-text. The deadline is each Monday at 6 p.m.