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 last couple of weeks have brought serious and sad tragedies for the families of the Bay Area. It is extremely upsetting to learn of the gun violence that is harming our precious youth. The Emerson School Therapists and Equity and Family Engagement Specialist offered on site support at Berkeley High School this week. In addition, our school staff made space for students to discuss and process these tragedies. Here is an article you may find helpfu when discussing violence with your childrenl: Talking to Children When Violence Happens / Hablando Con los Ninos Cuando Sucede La Violencia.

In spirit of community, we hope you will join us for the All School Meeting on Friday. The Spirit Committee will lead the students in a new song. Student Shout Outs will be presented by teachers and we will enjoy student performances. I also plan to review “Student Safety”, which is one of our “5 B’s”. I will remind students that we want to create a safe environment for all, which means we treat each other kindly and respect each other’s boundaries.

Please mark your calendar for the Latine/X Storytime, hosted by fourth grade teacher, Ms. Elizabeth Medina. The goal is to celebrate the stories and traditions of Latin culture. We are asking for students and caregivers to participate by sharing what Hispanic, Latine/X Heritage Month means to you. Email your response to Elizabethmedina@berkeley.net. Then join us on October 11 from 6:00- 6:45 pm for the Zoom Here.

Big Shout out to the PTA After School Team: Rana Cho, Ariel Clute, Merlin and Christina Edwards, Pamela Hyde, Jenny Nelson and Chelle Putzer! They created a full line up of After School options for families, including scholarships for each session. This was a huge undertaking, completed by this dedicated team of volunteers. Thank you PTA After School Team!

With Halloween approaching at the end of the month, you may be thinking about what costume your child will wear this year. We ask that you avoid costumes that depict a culture, that are scary or include weapons. You are invited to join the Halloween March in the community, which will begin after the last recess at 1:00 pm. If you have costumes that no longer fit your child, and are in good condition, you can donate them to the school. Each Halloween we offer a costume to children who do not have one.

Next Monday, October 10th is a Professional Development Day for the School District. All schools will be closed so we can meet as a group to continue our training regarding improving Literacy outcomes. The Emerson staff will also review our assessment scores from 2021- 2002 and this fall. School will resume on Tuesday, October 11th.

We also want to remind you that the last week of October is a special minimum day schedule, with Kinders released at 12:30 pm and Grades 1- 5 released at 1:10 pm, Monday through Thursday for Parent/ Teacher Conferences. There will not be school on Friday, October 28, 2022. If you have yet to sign up for a Parent / Teacher Conference, please reach out to your student’s teacher as soon as possible. We want to meet with every parent/ caregiver.

Take care,

Jana Holmes

Upcoming Events and Key Dates

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.

International Walk and Roll to School Day - Wednesday, October 12

Join families at Emerson and around the world in active commuting to school. Walk, run, bike, scooter, or roller skate for a carbon-free and physically active start to your day!

The Emerson PTA After-school Program has LAUNCHED!!!

Many thanks to the Enrichment Team! We are: Chelle Putzer, Jenny Nelson, Merlin Edwards II, Christina Edwards, Ariel Clute, Rana Cho.

And thank you volunteers who signed up for the 15-minute shifts between classes - THIS IS A CRITICAL ROLE, as you witnessed firsthand!

Some numbers:

70+ families participating
164 enrollments across 17 classes
8 enrichment providers (local small businesses) receiving $31K
18 scholarships (16 donated by Enrichment Instructors, 2+ donated by families)
= over 100 kids enriched!
= over 2100 hours of enrichment this session!

Please reach out to us with questions, suggestions, comments (we love to hear about how your student is enjoying their class!): enrichment@emersonelementary.org

First Fridays is NOT limited to Oakland! October 7 is our First Friday Coffee hosted by the PTA - join us on the schoolyard after dropoff for coffee and homemade treats, then stay for the All-School Meeting at 9am!

A reminder to RENEW or SIGN UP for your PTA Membership at Emerson! Our first Association meeting will be on October 18 at 7p via Zoom. Joining the PTA is a great way to get to know Emerson and our PTA programs and events which support and serve the entire school. The $10 fee is suggested but optional. And PTA membership is not a time commitment! Come join us to help make Emerson for every student and everyone!

Thank you to our Grade Parents who have stepped up to be the community connections for their classrooms and grades. You’ll hear from them soon about upcoming Grade Playdates, a PTA-hosted playdate AT school on a weekend!

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 month, Joemy Ito-Gates, BUSD Ethnic Studies TSA, has shaared October's Ethnic Studies Newsletter with valuable community information as we begin October-- the culmination of Latinx Heritage month and the beginning of other community and cultural celebrations and significant days: Filipino/x American History Month, LGBTQ+ History Month, Gojoseon (Korea), Yom Kippur, Dussehra, Navratri (link to Youtube Video), Eid Milad un-Nabi, Sukkot, and Indigenous People's Day (October 10, link to video of 5 girls sharing why they are proud to be Native American.

We are thrilled to support the first Latinx Storytelling evening on October 11, 2022; Join Ms. Medina (4th grade) and Ms. Rachel (our librarian) for English and Spanish readings to celebrate our Latinx community. Everyone is welcome-- let's celebrate and read together!

We are also planning our community Ofrenda for Dia de los Muertos and will share more information on our community celebration of this Mexican holiday.

Please email us if you have any suggestions, ideas, or ways we can help share our community celebrations with the entire school! our email is equity@emersonelementary.org

-cielo, rachel, and silvia

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 tomorrow, 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.

ART CORNER

First graders explored shape and color in this abstract art project. First we practiced our ruler skills by drawing straight lines across our papers. Next we used just the primary colors (red, yellow and blue) to create new colors. We used liquid watercolor paints and mixed our new colors right on our papers. We ❤️ mixing colors!

Lucy Ames, Art Teacher (she/her)
Emerson School: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday afternoons

UC Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive

Come spend part of your Saturday with us and participate in the family-friendly programs below:

Second Saturday - October 8, 2022 -

11:30AM - 1:00PM - Gallery + Study: Spirit-Animal Flag

Inspired by the many animal companions in Candice Lin’s art, make a personal spirit animal flag featuring your favorite animal!

2PM - Roundtable Reading: Maizy Chen's Last Chance by Lisa Yee

Enjoy reading about Maizy as she bonds with her grandparents, discovers the joys and pains of growing up, and learns about her family’s Chinese American heritage.

As a reminder, there is no advance registration online for these in-person programs. Please arrive promptly to secure your space and so that you get the full experience! Find more info at bampfa.org/program/family-events

We continue to recommend that our guests wear face masks during their visit to the museum. If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, we request that you visit another day. Thank you for your consideration.

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.